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  • Location: Canada
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  • Join Date: March 21, 2014
Completed
Bubblegum
60 people found this review helpful
by Zhaoul
Dec 16, 2015
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 9.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.0
Overall, this is a really lovely drama but it won't suit everyone's taste. It has a very laid back feel and has strong indie vibes. It's not really a rom com, but on the other hand there are some parts that are absolutely hilarious. It has some melodramatic tendencies, but the drama as a whole is very uplifting and encouraging. The character's are very down to earth and very likeable. I like the fact that the character's weaknesses show, but that they also grow as individuals, learn about themselves, get happier and grow stronger as a result.

The romance is unique. In many ways I find it extremely realistic. The actors made the romantic scenes look fun and the chemistry was strong. The type of love they portray is very meaningful too, because it's a couple that was first friends, and really consider each other family. It's not a flighty love, but a deep rooted love of loyalty and understanding. But even knowing this, love is challenging and there are often obstacles.

I think the re-watch value of this drama is high, because there are subtle things that can be missed. A lot of imagery and symbolism is used. The side stories and side characters were also really good.

I think if you're in the mood for a very artistic style drama which focuses on characters, it's a good way to go. If you want something fast paced where you don't have to think too much about it, Bubblegum might not really hold your attention for all 16 episodes. There's so much love and beauty in this drama though. I personally feel it's worth watching. I really enjoyed it a lot. I guess what I really loved is, it doesn't feel like every other drama I've watched; it has it's own lovely vibe. It pops and makes you feel happy, want to smile - like bubble gum.

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Completed
Robber
22 people found this review helpful
by Zhaoul
Apr 21, 2014
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
I thought this drama was really good. I feel it's underrated. Some people may have trouble liking it at first because Oh Joon's character is hard to tolerate. He brings "jerk" to a whole new level. I liked it because it's really a story about redemption and it's also a beautiful love story. It has some really cute and funny moments as well as some very sad, hard to watch ones. I think this is the drama where Jang Hyuk and Lee Da Hae have the best chemistry.
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Completed
Innocent Thing
20 people found this review helpful
by Zhaoul
May 1, 2014
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.0
This movie is a must watch for any Jang Hyuk fan. There are some explicit scenes but they are crucial to the storyline. I really enjoyed the acting in this movie although I felt there were some holes in the storyline which made it challenging for the actors. The movie mixes different movie genres, so it is difficult to describe. Even though I don't necessarily agree with what the director was trying to portray, this movie is very fun to analyze. It's the kind of movie that I want to critique and find additional meaning in. It makes you question peoples behaviour. There were some violent scenes and this movie may make you uncomfortable at times. Because of that, I feel it is successful.

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Completed
Searching for the Elephant
18 people found this review helpful
by Zhaoul
Apr 21, 2014
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
I'll start by saying this movie is not for everyone. It has a lot of sexual content, some very violent scenes and can be quite disturbing. The story is very interesting.

What's so great about this movie is you feel like you are watching it through the eyes of Hyun Woo, the schizophrenic. Hyun Woo is searching for inner peace, but he has a beautiful heart. Because of this, your not sure if what you're seeing is really happening or not. There is definitely a message in this movie, but you may need to watch it a few times to fully understand what it's about. Also, there may be many different interpretations of the meaning, and I think they are all valid. I missed a lot the first time I watched this, and appreciated more when I re-watched it. The acting is outstanding. I applaud Jang Hyuk with a standing ovation.

I hesitate recommending this movie because it's so disturbing in parts, I really feel some people with very much dislike it. Because it's confusing and somewhat open ended, some people may not feel satisfied. It really depends on what kind of tolerance you have for oddities.

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Completed
Dame na Watashi ni Koishite Kudasai
16 people found this review helpful
by Zhaoul
May 1, 2016
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.5
All in all, I feel this was a cute series and easy to watch. I enjoyed the humor and the chemistry between the leads. I did find it strange however, that I didn't really feel the chemistry until the much later episodes. It wasn't that they didn't have chemistry early on, but rather I had a difficult time reading into what they really thought of each other. The lines were pretty blurred. I couldn't really pinpoint the moment of realization for one of the leads. That doesn't really matter though. And it could be just me. Later on, everything became more clear and I could feel the chemistry through the screen.

So where do I get a meat pillow? This is what I want to know....

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Completed
The Slave Hunters
17 people found this review helpful
by Zhaoul
Apr 21, 2014
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.0
Chuno is action packed, heartfelt and emotional. The characters and cinematography are breathtaking. Lee Daegil is the most beautiful character I have met in a drama so far. I found the drama was a little slow at first, but once you get past the half way mark it really picks up. This drama made me feel a wide range of emotions. I really felt connected to the characters.
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Completed
My Love from the Star
14 people found this review helpful
by Zhaoul
May 19, 2014
21 of 21 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
I can't deny that this was a pretty good drama. The two main leads had very good chemistry and there was also a very strong supporting cast. What I enjoyed the most about this drama was how there were many flashback scenes which helped fill in the gaps. This is the perfect watch if your looking for a very sweet romance. There's some really fun scenes, but there's also a lot of heart in this drama. I didn't expect tears to well up in my eyes but they did. It really was a beautiful drama.
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Completed
Maybe
10 people found this review helpful
by Zhaoul
Apr 23, 2014
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
Personally I loved this movie but I'm a huge Jang Hyuk fan so I'm pretty biased. If he wasn't in it, I probably wouldn't have like it as much as I did. Many people might find it uneventful and slow, but I liked it because it focused mainly on the actors and acting rather than advancing the storyline. The storyline does advance, but there's a lot of silence and zooming in on facial expressions. There's a lot of unspoken emotions going on, so you have to read their body language.

If you like artsy, slow paced movies that are open ended, this may be a good fit for you. I also recommend this movie for any Jang Hyuk fan.

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Completed
Last Cinderella
12 people found this review helpful
by Zhaoul
Apr 27, 2014
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
This was cute, refreshing but didn't turn out the way I expected it to. I would have personally liked to have seen a different outcome. It could be quite funny and I liked how the female character evolved even though I would have made different choices. It's good for a quick light watch. Also a good introduction to jdramas.
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Completed
Hotel King
4 people found this review helpful
by Zhaoul
Sep 13, 2015
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 7.5
This drama might be too long, too intense, and too melodramatic for some but it suited my drama watching taste perfectly. First of all, we have a wonderful dramaland reunion between Lee Dong Wook and Lee Da Hae. They were both precious in My Girl, but since then both of them have really matured as actors and their chemistry in Hotel King is undeniable. There's this naturalness to how they interact. Although the drama can be very serious, they have some lighthearted moments which balance the drama.

I have to mention veteran actors Kim Hae Sook and Lee Deok Hwa who were excellent casting in this drama. I already liked them both, but they really blew me away in this drama. Their roles are very important to the story and they both knocked it out of the park. Kim Hae Sook in particular left me in awe. I have so much respect for her as an actress.

Now, it is a long drama and it seems there is always something big happening, so unless you crave ridiculous plot twists that melodramas give us, it's probably not the best fit for you. I felt they did a really good job at keeping the drama interesting and it made me want to watch on episode after the other.

The story was really good. In the first few episodes some of the acting seemed overly intense and I felt a little taken aback a times, but it leveled out and the acting became very natural. LDW had a very challenging role with his heartbreaking past. I thought he played is robotic like character well and showed us a lot of depth and growth as the episodes progressed. LDH is the queen of eccentricity but also managed to show us so much heart.

Since the drama is so long, I don't know if I would rewatch it from start to finish, but there are so many scenes that are worth rewatching and dwelling upon.

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Completed
Late Autumn
5 people found this review helpful
by Zhaoul
May 2, 2014
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.5
Overall this is a really good movie. It's very artsy and has good acting (with the exception with a few minor characters which couldn't act very well). There were a couple parts I thought were cheesy, but the main moments between the two main characters were very well played and I could feel their connection. They may be imperfect people, but they are very endearing.

Don't expect a fast passed movie; it focuses more on the two main actors rather than advancing a storyline. If you don't mind artistic style movies which make you daydream, you may enjoy this the way I did. I liked hearing Hyun Bin and Tang Wei speak in English. For the person with a romantic heart it's a good watch.

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Completed
Teacher's Diary
3 people found this review helpful
by Zhaoul
May 11, 2016
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
Words can have a very large impact on us; more than we often care to acknowledge. Sometimes a few words of encouragement can really change our outlook. This movie was truly uplifting. I expected some romance and perhaps a bit of a rom com flare, but it offered more than that. It was sprinkled with a wonderful dose of positivity and perseverance. It's different, but I couldn't help but be reminded of the 2006 American Film, the Lake House.
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Completed
The Heaven is Only Open to the Single!
3 people found this review helpful
by Zhaoul
Apr 13, 2015
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 6.0
I admit; it dragged and then ended when the story really starts to pick up. Despite that, the movie left a good impression on me. It leaves your mind to wander and imagine how the story would continue. This slow pace isn't for everyone, but I enjoyed the main leads even though they have very little screentime together. This allows us to get to know them separately. It has an independent feel.
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Completed
1 Litre no Namida
2 people found this review helpful
by Zhaoul
Jan 17, 2016
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
Maybe it's cruel of me, but I wish everyone would watch this. It's so moving and excruciatingly sad with a lasting impression. It really illustrates the beauty of family, friendship and love.
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Completed
Hanoi Bride
2 people found this review helpful
by Zhaoul
Aug 30, 2015
2 of 2 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
Alright, so it's not the best but it's short so it's an easy watch. It felt a bit like a soap opera, exaggerated and unrealistic. I think part of this was due to the fact that it's not very long so they had to get right to the point. I did really enjoy the cast. The story is pretty interesting and the brother dynamic is good. I think you could take this mini series and stretch it out (fill in some of the gaps, start the drama with a bit more back story) and it could be really good.
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