Things I love:
1. The soundtrack. This show has some of my favorite OST music ever. I hear the soundtrack and I immediately feel emotions, it suits the show and sounds phenomenal, which is a tragically rare thing I can say about drama soundtracks. This doesn’t mean that a majority of soundtracks are absolute stinkers, but rather that they are, at best, a handful of memorable and suitable songs and a bunch of forgettable generic songs with a sprinkle of duds that do not fit the show in any way. This attention to detail just shows how much effort and care went into this show. Also, this show just looks like it had a sizable budget compared to other dramas at the time.
2. The editing and cinematography. I am aware that some will be put off by it but I am obsessed with it. It’s experimental in a way that is extremely rare for dramas of any level. I think it’s a shame that people (companies, directors, etc.) aren’t willing to take more risks like this, especially those with a higher budget.
3. Kim Sa-rang. I have to admit, I am the leader of the Kim Sa-rang fan club - this is the drama that woke me up to her. I am obsessed with her performance, she did the most for this drama and was paid dust in return. It is sickening that she has yet to be the lead in a character-driven, award-winning drama. She has the range. I know that she doesn’t have an agency behind her, and honestly considering the way the entertainment industry is (especially the acting industry), it’s probably for the best. She most likely was getting absolute shit roles, not getting the right pay (the classic “you owe us cause we made you”), or being exploited and harassed. Like people know that these companies often, sometimes even openly, pimp out or at least encourage their talent to “thank” certain individuals. So like Kim Sa-rang deciding to represent herself makes 100% sense and people should give her good material.
4. This is the melodrama to end all melodramas. The acting choices are always the most. Everything that can happen will happen. All is life or death. Simultaneously everything and nothing matters. If you like over the top melodramas, then this is the show for you.
5. The fashion! I know not many pay attention to the wardrobe department of a drama unless an outfit looks like an absolute joke, but whoever was in charge of this production did a very good job.
Okay, so I’m now going to complain about a lot of things. Just know that I do on some level like this show.
Things I didn’t love:
1. The writing. I know I may have implied earlier that I liked the story, and in theory, I do. But this is reality, and I want to sleep forever when I try to analyze the text. There are certain scenes, even episodes, that are phenomenal, but this was written during a time that was…not nice towards women. To quote a notable critic, me, “I literally don’t know how this is a career-high point for Rain like his image should have tanked thanks to this show. Guess the public didn’t believe women were people yet.” This is a warning for all coming fresh into this, this show treats it’s female leads (especially Shin Min-ah) awfully. Explaining how bad can be inferred by a reaction I had while rewatching the series. In one of the mid-ish episodes, Rain’s character drags Shin Min-ah to the hospital. And I mean that in the most literal, brutal sense. She is dragged for an uncomfortably long amount of time. Anyways, halfway through watching this crime unfold, I yell “Wait, is that actually Shin Min-ah!” Not a dummy, but an actual living, breathing woman. (I cannot confirm if it was Shin Min-ah or a body double, but that is still a person who was put through that.) While you can do a feminist analysis, it would be interesting but I don’t think anyone is strong enough to go through with it, it is by no means a feminist text or even woman positive.
2. The writing (the remix). Yeah, I’ma complain about the writing twice, but I swear it’s for a different reason. It’s for the pacing and relationship building of this show. It’s not the best. Especially in regards to Rain and Shin Min-ah’s relationship, it feels rushed. Like, when you get to the point where he loves her I’m like does he really though? Considering all of the insane shit he puts her through? And why does she love him? I just wish there was a natural progression from hating her to guiltily loving her and failing to repress it. Most of the issues I have with this stem from weird or right out bad writing choices.
3. The acting choices. I love most of them, but some…let’s just say I have to question some acting coaches real quick. While some of it is due to the material given to them, the stars all do phenomenal performances (let’s give it up for Ms. Kim Sa-rang). But there is one that just gets me every time, that has me questioning everything I know about acting: Kim Young Jae. Everything this man does is a Choice. He is on a whole other level of melodrama, he is at 100 constantly. I love and hate it in equal parts.
Overall, this drama comes with some warnings for quite a few yikes moments - they are supposed to add to the melodrama but the framing of these events leaves much in the air. I’d say A LOVE TO KILL is a solid 5 on the yikes scale. This is, however, not as bad as QUE SERA, SERA which is the most melodrama of all and has approximately one million warnings before you go in. (Apparently there is going to be a remake? Pour one out for the sucker who’s going to have to adapt that mess and all the crimes it commits against women for a 2020 audience. I think a QSS remake should have been killed in its inception, unless they get the original writer for it there is no way it’s going to be palatable. And from what I’ve seen already, it looks like they already don’t understand what made the original good.)
CW: violence, violence against women, attempted rape, sexual assault, just treating women poorly, coerced relationships, poor handling of disability, poor handling of trauma, poor handling of mental illness, on-screen death, not enough Kim Sa-Rang.
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
MAY BE YOU GET SPOILER BE CAUTION
STORY
story is really great i never expected that it took my heart and make me smile with tear eyes it hook me from episode one i didn't skip a sec of drama till i found epi 12 from here i thought that i should skip or drop it story is going wrong way thank god i didn't skip/drop it till end of drama other wise i regretted it the mention epi is also worth to watch cause before and after it make worth
love is painful when comes to love became hatred or hatred became love or guilt in love that time people find themselves breathless
CHARACTER
2nd ML try to impose himself to FL basically its force love and ML try to get revenge from FL or can say revenge love this is my 1st show and as well as unique show where both ML approach FL as a same time for not only for soft love but to satisfy itself and both end up to fall for her both ML have gray character but not as much dark to hate them from start to end i love both ML even for 1 sec i didn't think to hate them there is love revenge guilt jealousy respect every emotion are convey in their manner in right time and for FL her character match to real world
RECOMMENDATION
YES : if you really believe in love then watch it i'm sure once you watch you're not enough to watch for once
NO : for those who don't believe in love stories or expecting action or some kind of practical things , it is story you need to left your logic/practicality and lost themselves in show
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
Some things that i Liked:
- Everything - the Actors were amazing (especially Rain), the music is amazing and the vibe just sets the right mood for the scenes in this drama.
- The story is amazing, being a romance drama, its even more than that. This Drama has more to offer than you can expect.
Some things that i hated:
-nothing
This Drama is just really amazing. You have to watch it to understand. Everything about this drama (acting, story, Music) is brilliant. I personally watched this Drama 3 times ^.^
This Drama is one that I recommend to everyone!
Was this review helpful to you?
Anyway, it is a good drama. It starts smoothly, just later it gets addictive. The actors have chemistry, and I have to admit Rain surprised me with his acting. 'Full House' was a complete disaster, but in this one he was really awesome.
The characters were great, even though I wish they made them less confusing. We almost never knew what the main guy was thinking, if it was revenge or love, nothing at all.... But somehow it gave us suspense.
I always thought this would be a really sad drama, but now I realised it's not. It's just dramatic, but also romantic.
This drama would have been perfect if it ended some episodes before, from my point of view, but it's a nice drama!
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
When I watched I didn't know who any of the actors were (not even Rain), but I must say I fell in love with all of them almost instantly. Shin Min Ah is actually my favourite korean actress so...
This drama is so intense. The story and the drama in it are very korean, a tragic story that envolves love and family. Even though I never cried seeing this drama it has a very emotional side. Lifes of people that connect to each other in very tragic ways.
I loved the romance in this drama (Rain and Shin Min Ah have great chemistry), and it's a real love story like no other. The power of forgiveness, of letting go of the past and above all love.
Kim Young Jae was really amazing here too. Even today he has made one of the best performances I've seen (I find it a pity he didn't was so good in others works I've seen with him).
You definitly must watch this. Even though it may be a little sad, it will leave you with a great feeling (at least it did to me).
Was this review helpful to you?
The total stupidity of the ending just infuriated me - not whether sad or happy but the complete, total lack of intelligence, logic, character consistency, left me aghast that I had watched this whole thing for this! I just cannot fathom what these writers were thinking. It's taken 12 years of dramas to produce one that had this badly written & conceived an ending (that would be Missing 9).
So if you must watch everything Rain (a worthy goal), you won't be disappointed if you watch all but the last episode then make up your OWN ending!
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
I must say that I expected something more - maybe because so many people recommended me to watch it and I expected a really good cry.
I didn't cry - this drama was just depressing. It was really sad - but maybe the reason is in me that I didn't cry - not in this drama.. I don't know. I expected a good cry, but I didn't get it.
I'm suspect that the reason mught be that I knew what was going to happen in the end. I accidentally read a comment as I was looking for a soundtrack. SUGGESTION - DON'T FIND OUT HOW IT ENDS BEFORE YOU REACH THERE !!
Acting was superb! This depression and sadness was so believable that I almost became depressed.
I really becan to love those actors as I wached this drama. At the beginning I was a little dissapointed as they weren't what I expected but throughout the story they became the best.
I love this sad tango in the background. The music was great!
But this drama won't get more than 8, because even though it was a good drama in a unique way, it wasn't exactly what I expected or had wished for. Maybe I'm just not into sad dramas as I thought I might be...
(It was addictive for sure - like any other drama - that's why I finished it)
Anyways, if your into sad dramas - you've found something precious - go ahead and enjoy !
Was this review helpful to you?
I download it's for like 3-4 weeks ago but i start watching it at this morning...
I watch it just a 9 episode first and it's already feels so heavy for me, the problem of the story is about revenge...
about some Love and Hate thing... but i still need to finish it, right? so after 4-5 hours i watch it again....
THIS ONE!!! it's just a WOW old korean drama revenge story cliche, like any others 2000's korean drama revenge story.
BUT WHY?? why it still make my heart broken...?
There are a few minus points I want to mention, like :
* What happen with Han Da Jung back story? I think that is less explained in more detail
* I know that this is a 2005 korean drama, but i think the camera works is so lame... (sorry bout that)
Was this review helpful to you?
