Balancing Light Emotion and Heavy Action
Although it is a typical story of saved-by-a-mobster, it has a story to tell of its own. The shortness of the duration keeps you upbeat with the plot and will not make it boring. Also, given that most KBLs are either frozen, angle-changing, ultra-conservative kisses; this one defies it all like the 2008 Korean movie "A Frozen Flower". Even so, from outside of their culture perspective, it is not considered as vulgar. It was made carefully to wield the plot and adds intensity of the clashing story.As said, the story is quite typical clashing mafia groups, but not too obvious where still you can think of what will happen next. Yet, it still discusses the issue of family, loyalty, and a touch of humanity. Whether humans are tools and commodity or can be treated as with emotion and belongingness. And as for their relationship, from betrayal to forgiveness and love conquers all.
The cast, although I'm not really into actors, I did find them into each other. The main leads I mean. This adds the tension of the plot because they fall for each other but they are on the opposite sides. I also like the contrast of the two clashing leaders. One portrays consideration while the other is full of vengeance and retribution. It could gain respect that even if "wild leopard" is a mob leader, he did not care about the relationship of "flying dagger" and "wild dog". Unlike "wild rose", he felt betrayed when one found love and wants to stop.
The music is quite superb. Although again, I'm opt for the story, the music adds emotion to the plot. Especially on the fighting scenes including the part as they fight knife with a knife. The music and sound adds tension to the emotion.
Re-watch value. It can be recommended. Maybe this is the positive of making the series short. The story and acting is good, and it is light and easy. You can get away of boring, unrealistic, uni/school-type BL stories without taking much of your time.
Overall, the story is still kept hanging whether someone is still alive and seeking vengeance towards them; or will he continue his novels? But for the very least, the MLs are together with their true love; and the other ML now find new family that loves him. I admit, part of re-watch value are their passionate and intimate moments. lol.
Was this review helpful to you?
Cynically ambiguous--just keep in mind it's about mental disorder.
without reading the reviews, maybe i too would be devastatingly confused. but knowing the plot about mental disorder, every event is understandable especially in conflicting with oneself who's REAL. In the end, one may be invincible and beating every conflict except the "self" and there's no other choice but to let it loose. nice adult movie and good actors.I would agree with other reviews that the movie is quite dragging. 2 long hours is really too long to build the other self and to be in conflict to the old self or which one is the REAL self. but the ambiguity of the plot really depends on the viewers' perspective. looking at the BPD mental condition, every personality has its own fears that haunts them. it also has its own personal desires that they want to consummate. yet in the end, when these personalities collide, they can conquer all their fears and desires but they could not conquer themselves. (could not kill one other personality).
I haven't known the actors, main lead or support alike. i just stumbled in the recommendation from The Untamed chinese drama. Still, the casts portrayed their roles well, including the "heavy" scenes. I have been watching kdramas and kmovies in a typical conservative acting. that is why i admire the casts for having been performing the explicitly obscene erotic scenes.
Rewatch value supposedly low (4/10) but like what other clamor for not understanding the movie, i set it to 8. although i did not watch it again because you can understand the circumstances if you think that its about the mental disorder. if i haven't read previous reviews, i myself would watch it again just to understand the story. beyond that, i will not spend another 2hours to watch it again.
Overall, it's really a good movie depending on your own perspective towards BPD. It's up to you to read between the lines of the story. Again, just bear in mind that it is the about the one with mental disorder. With the character's mental condition, (between "the thug" and "the mummy") it's up to you also which one is REAL.
Was this review helpful to you?
"The Necessary Enemy"
Like any other comments, I really did not expect that it would turn-out to be distinct from previous series with the same story. What makes it more unique is compressing the whole story in a 24-minute, 8-episode series. Not only that, the story unfolds as they thrive in their journey before the world ends. That would make you grasp to each and every episode while understanding the "why". Besides, you'll never expect how the story connects each and every character.Among the casts, flashbacks of course evolves on the MLs but with their convo, it also reveals the story of SLs and the other person. Haters gonna hate but Ritso is the necessary enemy that intensifies the story; throw your morals aside because even Misumi's obsession (my personal bias) is another necessary enemy for them to beat in 10 days.
The music is too lovely that drives your emotion in each and every scene. Especially in their intimate moments, it alienates the vulgarity of the scene into lovely ambiance. From the beginning to end of each episode, plus the subbing, you can really feel the vibe especially when the world comes to an end soon.
Quite low in re-watch value because if you already know the story, everything will be predictable. But not that low because from the cast to production, surely you will miss them soon...and the steamy not too conservative moments...lol!
All in all, it is just a simple story as the title denotes with some countdown. But the execution of every counts matters. It made the simple to amazing. Things you would never expect that from a common countdown , it's not just about the journey but it's about the story behind every character portrays.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
It Leaves a Mark to Your Heart
Not just a slice-of-life but slices-of-life because it transcends beyond it. Aside from gay relationships, it tackles about family, youth, being an orphan, unwanted pregnancy, single parenthood, person with disability, daily survival, among others we can witness in our society in a daily basis. But in the end, there is forgiveness, reconciliation, and healing.This is a story of Jim, owner of a famous chicken rice diner that only opens in the evening. He is being helped by his nephews Li Ming, a graduating student and Saleng, who has a girlfriend. One night, upon closing, a drunk Wen was the only customer left sleeping on the table. Waking him and having beers together as they walked to the main street. Since Wen is totally wasted, he brought him home and let him sleep in his room. Quite sober, one-night-stand occurs. The next morning, Jim is decided to leave it as it is. They did not even got their names. But Wen could not forget what happened and came back to the diner applying as waiter as his second job just to pursue Jim. Then their story evolves.
Uncle Jim as they call him is struggling to make both ends meet as he raises his two nephews’, the nagging-hater Li Ming and sexually active Saleng. As Li Ming delivers an order to Heart's house (which is deaf), expensive liquor was broken and it was accused to Li Mings fault. That is why Li Ming volunteered to work with the family to pay the amount with an ulterior motive of escaping the work at the diner. While Saleng announced to his uncle that his girlfriend is pregnant. They could not propose marriage because they could not afford any dowry and the girlfriend's parents are in the province.
Wen is a person who tries to break-free from suffocating relationship but still living as "friends" with his ex, Alan. While Alan still hopes to make their relationship work and goes back as a couple. When Wen knew Jim in an unusual one-night-stand, Wen tries to pursue Jim which also has issues from his past.
Heart is a person with disability. For the past three years, he was unable to hear. He was kept home by his parents to avoid social ridicule. When Li Ming works in their home to pay the broken expensive liquor, enemy to friends develops and ends into deep feelings.
Personally speaking, I almost discontinue watching after the end of episode 3. (**SPOILER) That is because Wen made all the efforts to be in good terms again and Wen let Jim meet his father; but as Wen went home, some guy is sleeping in Wen's bed. More so, I misunderstood because in the picture it wears some glasses, I thought it was Jim's ex...(gosh, looks can be deceiving). It made me read all the reviews and comments as to what will happen next. And yet, as you continue watching, you can't help but shed tears non-stop.
Was this review helpful to you?