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Completed
Empire of Lust
23 people found this review helpful
by estar
Jun 6, 2021
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers
the scene at the start - i was like wow that didn't take a sec and we r getting both violence and a pretty intense sex scene... but the more it goes on, u "get" that only goes to show the hypocrisy and unfairness, where hundreds r being butchered, where the ones in power r enjoying the "fruits of their labor"... and this sh*t be going on even now, where people being slaughtered for a privileged few.

but getting back to my opinion about the movie - this turned out to be a tragedy. sub's were killing the mood, found myself chuckling more than once at the absurdity of them, but the story is freaking sad.
Ga-Hee understandably wants revenge, she wasn't only brutally raped by that f*cker Jin, his family/ mother not only injures her mother when she comes seeking justice for her child, but precedes to burn her alive thinking, they were getting rid of the daughter/"evidence". who wouldn't want to demolish their family?!?... and as she isn't powerful she becomes a pawn (suicide mission from the look of things) for Prince Bang-won. who wants to get rid of that white bearded minister whose close to the king. what better way then through his family?!

ironically Min-Jea who is (well in name alone) Jin's father and the minister's son-in-law is basically a good guy, he is the pawn used to infiltrate the family. using info about his own unfortunate childhood. but as he is a good guy - unlike everyone else involved, he doesn't use or mistreats Ga-Hee. and their attraction is genuine. which in turn, grows into love. this was sad because of how it unfolded but it was good in-spite of the bad subs.

side note this aint NO porno, and people going on and on about this being Phonographic need to check out porn-hub to see what porn really is. yeah its erotic as f*ck, but it wasn't obscene or vulgar. so plz with the prudish attitude, there is so much more to this movie then the nudity/sex scenes, that focusing on only that, is childishly idiotic - if this is not for u - go watch something pg for the sake of ur own sanity

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Completed
Broken Youth
13 people found this review helpful
by estar
Sep 8, 2021
Completed 0
Overall 6.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 5.5
Music 4.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers
wow this was sad - and not as this had a bad ending, but watching the bullying and "getting" that this is reality for a lot of students (no matter where they live) is just sad! also watching "u" feel like the "actor's" r newbies (as the acting felt a bit robotic) and while the after credits run, the testimonies given by some of the victim's (that were acting) to their own bullying experience's - confirms my initial though that they new to acting. so depressing is the right feeling left after watching this - cause as much as the main being gay is supposedly the main plot-point - that really aint the main point. its the ostracizing and almost witch-hunt perpetrated by a group - against one weak individual, just cause they can.

first off this not perfect - but as the main point was vividly conveyed - it doesn't matter. cause when Li Yang was just standing there and everyone else was encouraging him to jump - i suddenly got all those mass shootings done in the US but outcasts, and all those happily encouraging some one they tormented on the daily, to "jump" as if his life mean nothing, but added enjoyment to theirs - i kinda got what those other outcasts did, why they did. cause Li Yang or anyone giving their lives up to appease that bunch of human trash - wasn't justified (and sorry if i'm being mean, but that got under my skin like i donno what). as is those two girls at the start, making up sh*t about Li Yang's poor hard working mother, made me see red - so the more his bullying escalated, the more my wrath grew - hard to stay clam and collected watching this.

it was interesting and it feels more like an educational film for students, to get how much damage they r doing by their thoughtless words / actions - donno if this will stop bullying or help anyone in this situation. but the thought behind it is good...

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Completed
Departure
8 people found this review helpful
by estar
Sep 13, 2021
Completed 6
Overall 7.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 6.0
This review may contain spoilers
to start off i hated Tien - especially after u get, Fan has come for closure - heck the dude is still in-love and reeling, as he doesn't get what he did wrong and why they broke-up (the fact that he is putting the blame on himself) the fact that he just needs answers (is heart breaking to me - cause he looks hurt and lost, most of this movie) and yet Tien (who even before he goes out to take that the call from his "new" man) its so freakin obvious(!) he has Moved On!!! he there (like he openly - shamelessly admits) to retrieve his passport "otherwise Why would he have come?!?..." so he can't even be bothered to answer Fan and just ignores him - like every other attempt at a serious conversation that Tan starts, he acts like he's deaf, cause he doesn't need the headache of explaining himself - this is the past and that's where he wants it - making me wonder who is really to blame.

but the more u watch, it's so obvious that Fan isn't just "still" infatuated - seems like in their relationship he was the giver, the one that worried and spoilt Tien, taking care and loving him more - and of course Tien fits the partner that takes everything for granted. won't say his conscious didn't get to him - that's why after he comes back from the call, he removes all the green onion from Fan's dish - that's why he hugs him at the end and takes a sec while Fan walks away.. but that's doesn't redeem him in my eyes - if he really cared, he would've had an honest conversation that would at least mean he cared and could offer Fan the closure he deserved, after everything he put in their relationship.

for a short film this was really well acted and directed, cause u could read every feeling and nuance between the ex's, the guilt, hurt, pain and love... and have to say i wanted to hug Fan so many times and teard up at the end scene when he stops at the bridge. this got under my skin - really enjoyed it - well done!

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Completed
Duplicate
7 people found this review helpful
by estar
Jan 19, 2021
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This is a really cool concept and I loved the execution! Three different couples performing the same dialogue and scene, seeing them play it out slightly differently according to the couple involved, was really fun to watch. each was funny and sweet in a different way.

The first were the girls - and there was no aggression there, but more attraction if denial and then intrigue that made them to come together. with that sweet kiss.

The second couple were male and female and i laughed more cause the girl was the aggressor and seeing the guy panic was funny - but it felt short just cause the kiss was bleeh - brings me back to all the kissing scenes in Kdramas where the FL turns to stone and can't react - cause if u react ur basically "the whore of babylon". so that takes u out of the enjoyment of the moment - and was a bit disappointing after the first couple.

The last couple Aish :D maybe its the fujoshi in me, or the let down after the straight couple - but this was so good and funny and cute and yummy (yeah XD i know) but y'all get it - its two guys and they were funny and cute and aggressive verbally - tough-guy act hard to let go off... and their kiss omo made my cheeks hurt, i smiled so hard... and the only kiss that had butterflies going haywire in my stomach... it was short but Very sweet -

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Completed
Lan Yu
9 people found this review helpful
by estar
Jun 22, 2021
Completed 0
Overall 6.5
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 6.5
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 6.0
This review may contain spoilers
i donno how i feel about this movie - cause i didn't like Chen Han Dong from the start to finish. like i pitied Lan Yu throughout this movie - first off Liu Zheng who introduced Lan Yu as an old friends son, and he was pimping him out - i was like WTF. get Lan Yu was poor and needed money for tuition as he was from the country and now a student in the city supporting himself - but as Liu Zheng kept later on giving him odd jobs, why not offer those from the start - but then thought maybe its cause he would make more in this line of work. still seeing Lan Yu who looked not only a bit scared, but timid and naïve falling into Chen Han's hands didn't feel right. the fact that he didn't hurt or abuse him was a plus point - or so i though at the start .
cause if he had, at least then Lan Yu wouldn't have fallen so hard for Chen Han , it was pretty evident that he was smitten by the end of that night which wasn't the case with Chen Han.

yeah the description goes a long way into explaining, vindicate and excusing Chen Han's actions and behavior - but from what i saw in the movie, his motivation wasn't fear of being in a gay relationship, or the fact that he loved Lan Yu - he was very attracted to Lan Yu (but it was the naivete - the fact that he was a virgin that had never been with anyone - never even kissed) that was a boost to his ego, that he not only could be his first, but everything he would ever experience sexually Chen Han would be his first, his teacher - men love that - like plz.
he may have developed a fondness for him as personality wise Lan Yu was very open and trusting, let alone loving - who wouldn't want that around them?!? the fact that he brought him gifts - he couldn't offer him genuine feeling, so what else could he do? he had tons of money so at least he didn't owe Lan Yu - cause no matter what he got from him, at the end of the day/night he paid him with hard cash. and considering his always bringing it up - the fact that he lavished a lot of money on Lan Yu - kinda put Lan Yu in his place

Lan Yu on the other hand had the bad luck of falling for a man that was never ever gonna love him emotionally, the way Lan Yu loved him - he could give him all the love sexually and all the comforts in the world. but the sec he got bored or found a new person that attracted him, he had no problem kicking Lan Yu to the curb. justifying his moving on as a natural course of any relationship - which is b.s as what it was, was him getting bored and finding a new play thing - whether it be a new young stud to mount or a new intelligent female he could marry cause he had come of age and needed to produce a heir - it had nothing to do with love - fear or appearance's. bottom line Chen Han was a self-centered douche

the only plus point i can find in Chen Han is that when he decided to marry, he didn't try to keep Lan Yu as his "side chick" but broke things off with him ready to commit himself to the woman he wanted a future with - even though that hurt poor Lan Yu, it was commendable -

this was a sad movie cause of Lan Yu - from start to finish he was all heart... u knew what u got with him and he didn't care for the gifts and money he got from Chen Han - he just wanted Chen Han heart and when he got it, it was too late -

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Completed
Udagawachou de Matteteyo
6 people found this review helpful
by estar
Jan 13, 2021
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

this is beyond sweet

first off aggression isn't something to applaud, but both leads r teenagers, that r on uncertain ground - confused about what they want or rather expressing that "want" and getting it fulfilled. its easy making the right decisions when ur a spectator and not got all those hormones bombarding ur every cells, clouding ur judgment.

this deals with two different teens, one who's into cross-dressing and although he has gathered up the courage to do it openly, he isn't ready to get caught by anyone he knows, let alone think about his sexual preference.
Momose on the other hand, might be gay - or bi - but that's beside the point - the point being his discovery of Yashiro in drag, and after the initial shock he is curious, but also turned-on. as he never had a gf or any type of relationship he goes with logic - blindly forging ahead trying to "help" Yashiro be who he is, and also to get him as his gf/bf. he has zero knowhow in the art or romancing Yashiro - or even, on how he should approach him. cause from his perspective if Yashiro is openly walking around in drag, he has made peace with that side of him - Momose for sure has.

but Yashiro hasn't and that's why, they keep "butting heads" - cause in Yashiro's eyes what he is doing is abnormal and perverted (he hates and is ashamed of being this way, but can't stop), so Momose who not only seems "ok" with him being in drag, but want's to "help" him and add being attracted - wanting a relationship. Yashiro chancels all his worry, shame, self-hate and terror onto Momose.
most of this is misunderstanding and miscommunication, but Momose doesn't give-up and his persistence not only in accepting but encouraging Yashiro to be who he is - is what breaks through to Yashiro's fear addled brain..

this was really well made and acted - i loved Momose from start to finish - he the type of person that knows what he wants and doesn't care for society or family, but follows his heart and that is what landed him Momose's acceptance and heart at the end - love!

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Completed
Ai no Kotodama 2: Sekai no Hate Made
9 people found this review helpful
by estar
Jan 13, 2021
Completed 0
Overall 1.0
Story 2.0
Acting/Cast 2.0
Music 1.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

Not worth the trouble

sorry that my comment starts off negative - but considering reading the positive comment made me watch this, i feel the need to warn others. this is a waste of time - and what astounded me, is that people not only liked this, they gave it 10 out of 10 - why? how? this was just bad.. and not, as in boring or a plot with holes, the character's were bad - there wasn't one i liked. and plz - this is anything but love. this lust! basic sexual attraction nothing more nothing less.. trying to sell this, as a love story is an insult to the word love.

we got Sasaki who isn't just a pushover, yes-man he comes of a bit "slow" as in "the special needs" kinda way - watching him made me cringe in embracement and shame. he has little to no self worth/respect. and happily enables everyone around him to step all over him - happily smiling and excusing their behavior - when they do nothing, to even act apologetic - talk about doormat mentality.

then u got his supposed love interest - talk about a joke - this dude takes being a tsundere to a new detestable level. like most abusers, they can spot a "weak link" in the blink of an eye - little wonder Tamura can't help getting on Sasaki case, openly insulting this moron - who just bows and vows to do better - watching this made me see red - this is romance 101 sadism style

and if these two weren't enough we got Sawako, Sasaki's childhood friend that is more bulldozer then female. it was obvious to the world that she wanted more with Sasaki, who she kept pushing and shoving verbal. basically making a nuisance of herself. could go on and on - about how i despised this - but for what? think my sentiment is pretty clear. what a disappointment -

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Completed
Mermaid’s Jade
9 people found this review helpful
by estar
Apr 8, 2021
Completed 3
Overall 4.5
Story 4.5
Acting/Cast 5.0
Music 3.5
Rewatch Value 3.0
This review may contain spoilers

interesting yet very confusing

Che YuanShan who is a main, is more of a bad-guy in my eyes. like i get he got a job to do - but shouldn't one who is a minister of justice, meet out freakin justice? here he was killing mer-people left right and center, and they were the victim's. the law of killing the whole family who kept mer-people as slaves was logical, cause they were keeping freakin slaves and considering how the mer-people made silk and pearls - they were basically tortured on the daily - logically they killed their "masters" who wouldn't?!? so as a preventive measure, this harsh law was created.

donno what connection there was between Che YuanShan and Yixia (as seeing Yixia - brought on flashes of their being together in the future and that's why Che YuanShan didn't kill Yixia) but nothing was explained after that.

Yixia being a mer-prince on the run, and feeling obligated to Che YuanShan from saving him twice (once in that ministers house, and then from the dragon dude) i get him helping save him, when he got hurt the first time - but after him witnessing how Che YuanShan meted out "justice" ruthlessly, killing innocents - him trying to assassinate him, i get - but how that turn into a make-out session?!? how from "i hate ur guts cause u a merciless murdered of my people", turn into "i'm sorry i hurt u, i love u - promise to never desert me..." ?!???? like talk about a reach - him falling for Che YuanShan in the blink of an eye, was out of nowhere.

a lot of the plot was one scenario to the other, without much explaining in the middle or some sort of intro, so it would flow and make sense - so Yixia going from being a run away mer-prince that said his kingdom doesn't exist - being abandoned by Che YuanShan too then seeing him back in a kingdom he said doesn't exist - training? fighting to get back to Che YuanShan's city, to seek vengeance for the abandonment - to then AGAIN save Che YuanShan's life, is like WTF is going on...
the cherry on top - this was all a movie and the actor playing Che YuanShan - or the real dude, got eternal life cause of the last "save" and even though Yixia spirt/life source/soul is in Che YuanShan making him immortal - there is another Yixia in present times(?!?) and at the end of the movie, Che YuanShan and Yixia meet at last - and its like WHAT - where that come from. like talk about this plot being all over the place - so as i started out this review, was interesting but also very confusing...

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Completed
2gether: The Movie
5 people found this review helpful
by estar
Feb 14, 2022
Completed 0
Overall 1.5
Story 1.0
Acting/Cast 3.0
Music 3.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
been 2 yrs since i saw the drama's, so reading countless comments saying, this basically those drama's edited together, with everyone but the main couple edited out. plus a few new scenes added in - wasn't a problem. cause i kinda enjoyed the drama, so this is one way of rewatching something, without "putting in" all the hrs, rewatching the actually drama's would take.

that being said, this didn't make me feel like i "got my bang for the buck..." it's was meeh, as remembered everything and it (ironically) was rewatching something i'd seen, so nothing new or riveting let alone butterfly inducing this time around, which can be seen as a plus or a minus depending on the viewer - it left me passive. (yeah the hinted proposal was cute, but was waiting/more curious to see the parents reacting and that came to not ).

will say enjoyed seeing Tine, and think after watching countless drama's, rewatching the edited footage emphasized how good of an actor he is - cause watching this - it was evident that i loved his character not only cause the actor is good-looking, sweet and charming. but cause he Can act. and cause of that, his character was not only more relatable, but likeable.

this was fine for a one off - wish the majority wasn't the past and there was more of a plot to this movie, then the little we got at the end. that didn't amount to anything other then a vague "happily ever after".

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Completed
Road Movie
5 people found this review helpful
by estar
Jun 21, 2021
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 5.5
This review may contain spoilers

a depressing movie, if there ever was one that fit the definition to a T

the start was weird, cause it opens with a sex scene and even though u can't see faces, u know its two guys and one of them (cause of the mullet) is Dae Shik. then u move to a scene where he is saying goodbye to a smaller-framed dude that is reluctant to part ways. u know its the "bottom" from the first scene (cause of his body-frame), and then he says "...ur my brother..." (⊙…⊙ ) and i'm like - is this some weird incest angle that i didn't foresee - but then thought, cause this is Korean maybe its more a term of endearment and respect, for an older "acquaintance" - just for a sec - that was an weird ass start (⊙_⊙;)

but this just gets so depressing. its more about life as a homeless person, the way society treats them, how they interact with each other - how they basically survive. to say its ruff is putting it lightly - its brutal!! then it is about a "love triangle" that's "starring" in the description. there really aint no love triangle here (!) Dae Shik falls for Suk Won and that's about it. Il Joo is a non-factor and even she wakes up to reality pretty quick, but cause of the life she has led - she tries to hang onto something that will never happen - and that's the end of that. there is not a sec where Suk Won was interested in Il Joo - its just physical and that also comes to not, as neither really want each other. even the scene where Il Joo prevents Suk Won from going with Dae Shik, was her using Dae Shik as a means to keep Dae Shik with her - then her wanting Suk Won. like Suk Won's staying back with Il Joo, not cause he cares for Il Joo in the least - but cause he just found out that Dae Shik is gay and, now he is worried/wondering if the only reason Dae Shik was so good to him, was cause he's after his ass -

Suk Won is a wounded/lost soul and from the little u see of Dae Shik - u get that not only is he the "leader" type, the one that walks in a takes charge (not in a bossy mean, muscle-head type, more personality wise, like a big-brother that takes care of all the lost souls). plus he is also the only one that finds it in himself to take care of those surrounding him - so little wonder all the other homeless people consider him "boss". he always keeps finding (collecting) wounded-souls to save whether it be suicidally lost Suk Won, or ironically (also) suicidally , depressed and jaded Il Joo - an each in turn latch onto him cause he is a safe-haven, that might help them weather the storm. ironically or not Dae Shik falls for Suk Won and as he knows Suk Won aint gay he just wants to be with him, take care of him without the need for reciprocation.
if anything this is more a love story. and not a "happily ever after" ending either. but there is a kind of acceptance and peace, between the leads, at the end. but after everything they've been through, u just want them to have a little peace and happiness, and in a way they do find it (but for a blink of an eye) and then over - the end.. bottom line good movie but very depressing

there is a lot more going on in this movie - and a ton of feelings bombarded u watching this - not a boring movie, but not for the faint of heart cause its really gruesome - the reality these people live on the daily - and feel like the big question that's never addressed is Dae Shik on the streets as penance for abandoning his family (son) but that's another matter - great acting but aish i'm sad

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Completed
Close-Knit
5 people found this review helpful
by estar
Apr 24, 2021
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
have to say watching this movie especially with that ending, feel really depressed - yeah very realistic and true to life, but in this case i would've loved if we got an escapist ending - something better then reality - as is the whole movie was chalk filled with character's that were hurt, hurting either themselves or someone else. yeah again very true to life, and yet cause of the "ugly" / brutal reality the ending should've been fanciful... but it is what it is -

before anything i get why people would love Rinko's mother (especially when u get to see the exactly opposite dynamic with Kai, his mother and his surrounding's), but she a tactless moron! i'm all for how she supported her son/daughter - at least at home Rinko had a safe haven cause of Fumiko. but u don't run all over people, just cause u have a misguided need to protect ur child - especially when that child aint a child and can fend and defend themselves - certainly not against an 11 yr old (that has more then enough on her plate) let alone the man ur daughter ended up with - her laughing and announcing "...Rinko lucked out with Makio..." (considering she more or less doesn't have in-laws to deal with) was revolting to witness, and the only thing in my mind at that sec was STFU - like with her intrusively asking a child, about her boob growth - like i said, tactless and utterly moronic ugh

everything else - was sad and sweet - bitter sweet if u will - Tomo didn't have a mother - a woman that even when she was around - wasn't really there for her child, as opposed to a woman that the sec Tomo walked into her life, she was her soul focus - ironic that the "child protective services" came to check on Tomo's living situation, when she was surrounded by love and care - while they (and the surrounding do-gooders, ironic that b*tch that pushed her own son to almost put an end to his life - freakin heart breakin) could care less when she was neglected on the daily, just cause it was done by the woman that gave birth to her - a lot of irony in this movie -

even the ending where the child had to again make the grown-up decision and chose her mother, instead of herself... i.e where she needed to be the adult in the relationship, instead of reaming with Rinko and being a kid - sad really. even though that scene where Hiromi visits her own mother, at long last (as she "abandoned" her when she got pregnant with Tomo) not to mention Tomo's coming back to a clean house - that looked like a home that was taken care of, as opposed to how we see it at the start.. guess u could interpret that into a "positive ending"...

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Completed
Ossan's Love: In the Sky
6 people found this review helpful
by estar
Jan 28, 2021
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 4.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 4.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 1.5
This review may contain spoilers

a let down

as someone who watched Ossan's Love the series and the movie Ossan’s Love: LOVE or DEAD, kinda guessed how this was gonna go (even without reading the description), as two of the lead character's r here, Haruta & Kurosawa... so of course we gonna go the route of the love triangle, hexagon(?) with Haruta being in the middle - and yeah there were funny bits (not hilarious, laugh-out-loud belly laughs. but this had its funny moments) but the over-all feel was depressing, sad and angering.

get load of the put-down regarding Haruta's character, was kinda meant to be the "butt of the joke" - but it just came off mean, not funny. and if u watch this (like i did, cause of the previous drama and movies - i.e cause of Haruta - as in - i like this character very much and am rooting for him) why the heck would i enjoy seeing him belittled and ridiculed like he the class moron, that everyone loves to picks on??? and if that wasn't enough Kurosawa comes off like a perverted boss whos abusing his authority, and forcing himself on a subordinate - a newbie at that, talk about abuse of power - there no sexual harassment laws in Japan?!?. and this is funny? when no matter how many times Haruta says NO, Kurosawa persists... but this is a comedy, so we gotta laugh???

wont say this was a dud from start to finish - i was totally into this - in spite of the "mean girls" routine a load of the character's adopted towards Haruta. he still held his own and shone, bumbling along in his own sweet way, showing his vulnerable, loveable side time and again and always being truthful towards the people confessing to him - even if he made mistakes he owned up and again really hard to not love a character like this - a bit far-fetched in reality. but that's the beauty of this medium -
even the bits that made me sad, cause of how he was treated, were bearable cause i hopped he would get his "happily ever after" - and a better one then Maki Ryota - thank you, NO Thank you very much - had enough of that annoying character in the drama and movie, so was elated that he wouldn't be around and maybe this time around Haruta would get someone worthy of him. and u could say he kinda did - but that end was a slap in the face of logic - there was No reason in hell for Haruta to fall in-love with an annoying, persistence, stalker that kept invading his space and forcing his confession on Haruta. who wouldn't take no for an answer - sorry

if anything, that end made it seem like Haruta was a fatherless child that was abandoned in his childhood and he was always searching for a father-figure and he found one in Kurosawa - and cause he had nothing else to offer to keep Kurosawa in the role of "father figure" by his side, he offered himself - this a love story? ok and considering Haruta was really infatuated with Naruse (another undeserving moron) who shot-down his confession without a second glance at the beating heart he crushed as he moved on to someone else.. where this sudden burst of love for Kurosawa come from - this end was surreal and if there is a season 2, i won't be astounded if we find out that Kurosawa was tripping hard - that end just killed my "high" for this drama - what is the lesson here, be a stalker and force ur wants on another and at the end u will be rewarded ugh plz

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Tell Me Something
4 people found this review helpful
by estar
Aug 16, 2022
Completed 0
Overall 5.5
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 5.5
Rewatch Value 3.0
This review may contain spoilers

the definition of WTF

ironically thought would be frustrated cause this dated, cause of misogyny, man-handling (given the yr it was made) but Nope. this was interesting and dark. bit trope with the damsel in distress, where the jaded, seasoned detective falls for (well) her story, hook line and sinker. but that is also the problems i had with the plot - the holes that is.

idk what yr forensic techniques started getting used in connection with the detection of crime in Korea, but not one cop used gloves. taking evidence from crime scenes meeh.. so going off alone and then not contacting ur peer's with relevant info (when u've got a cell ugh...) was frustrating and mindboggling to watch.

seeing Detective Cho take Soo-Yeon (a freakin suspect) yeah he was sure she was a victim - but shouldn't it be "suspect until proven otherwise"... but lets put that aside for a sec, he takes her home(!) to his house instead of a safe house? without a say so from/to his superior's?!??? heck he might as well be the lone ranger. and then if that wasn't WTH enough, he leaves her his gun and goes to investigate Alone, without one?!??? huh??? it's not that she's that likeable or believable - she not just mysterious but cryptic and weird -
idk this was somehow fine until the "end" (either i didn't get enough info via the subs or there was info missing, that was supposed to help me figure out the mess towards the end). cause i'm left genuinely confused as to what the frack happened -
get Soo-Yeon murdered her father - with the help of the whole group of guys?!? or they found out and cause of that, she had to get ride of ever guy? or cause of what happened to her, she turned psychotic with anyone not willing to let go, the sec she had enough of the 'ship'!???

Min Oh was suspect from the word go, but she was a boy when younger? so she's Trans?!? and get she was just covering for and trying to help Soo-Yeon till the end. which she kinda succeeded in do, considering Soo-Yeon's scot-free. which again, why(????) ugh as Detective Cho has a freakin cell, but i really donno... so this end was frustrating and just annoying.

started off strong and then it went off the rails... maybe will revisit if i find better subs to see if there is missing info, that will help me get a better picture and understanding of everything - but now it's just 'ok'.

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Completed
The Depths
4 people found this review helpful
by estar
Aug 4, 2021
Completed 0
Overall 6.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 6.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
This review may contain spoilers
sometimes u watch a movie and ur left with more questions then answers, even if u get the plot - this was depressingly, interesting and yet confusing - as is half-way through i had a feeling this gonna get a sad/bad ending for all involved - so maybe the fact that the ending wasn't "bad" (as in no one died or got hurt) should've elevated this feeling of dread. but considering Ryu more or less got a price on his head, and he still in Japan, is worrying - cause he doesn't seem like he has anyone to rely on and the only way to support himself, is by selling his body (something he had been doing before he joined Kimura and his gang - that's what i'm guessing). so how hard will it be to find him?!? kinda discouraging - doesn't leave u with a "it can be a positive end" type of feel - to this movie

the first time we see Bae Hwan, who comes to Japan for his friends wedding - when u see Gil Su's reaction i for one knew he felt more for Bae Hwan then mere friendship - so it was hella ironic that his wife is the one that does a runner (on the poor dude) with another woman. same with the injection of Ryu in between them - all of Gil Su's motivation to push Ryu away from Bae Hwan, was cause he was jealous - but he knew he couldn't have his friend, so he wanted to keep Ryu - sad and very messed-up. and even if there wasn't anyone i disliked, i kinda felt really bad for Ryu - yeah he is jaded and knows how to get what he wants, how to manipulate people into getting his goal - but at what price? really looking at this character - i felt deep sorrow cause he was a lost child that has never had a home and likely never will find a safe haven in this world -

that's why was wondering why Bae Hwan decided not to take Ryu along in the end? did he feel (especially when u see him coming out of his hotel room and almost knocking on Ryu's room) that he realized, he wanted more from him, and considering the wife and child back home, he changed his mind and decide not to test fate?!? that's the only conclusion i can come too, same with Ryu turning to some belligerent dude for solace (cause lets face facts, the kid wanted to feel cared for and loved and he has never gotten that without "giving" something in return. so for him having sex is a sad imitation of love and care) instead of knocking on Bae Hwan's door - whom he didn't want to taint - their relationship - as Bae Hwan was the only one to date, that treated him like a person, not a sex object he wanted to use - like i said at the start depressingly, interesting ...

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Completed
A Touch of Fever
4 people found this review helpful
by estar
Aug 1, 2021
Completed 0
Overall 6.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 6.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
This review may contain spoilers
in-spite of the subject, this wasn't as dark as i though it was gonna be - but its left me confused. cause as cut and dry the description is, its right and yet not...
Tatsuru has been a hustler longer then Shinichiro, but anyone in that profession can't have a soft heart - just to deal on the daily with "clients" and their "demands" one has to deaden ones feeling to do the "job" or one wouldn't last. so doubt Tatsuru (a 20 yr old - mind u) wasn't that disconnected from his emotions or even jaded - he just had enough time to work on the indifferent mask he wore - which little by little got chipped away until the end of the movie.

Shinichiro on the other hand wasn't explain any better - yeah he was infatuated with Tatsuru, but that wasn't what made him dislike his "job" - btw being a sex-worker aint a piece of cake, the f*ckers that pay for this service treat the workers as less then human (and u don't have to have first hand experience to get this sad fact)- they r demeaned, degraded and treated like reusable trash. even the most experienced person, with a strong sense of self would break-down given what they have to sufferer on the daily. so Shinichiro not liking or enjoying his chosen profession isn't shocking. his infatuation has little to nothing to do with his not wanting to sleep with every client unless he likes them - as he put it.
but his character isn't easy to understand - i didn't get why he was so belligerent, he might have been angry at his parents for no accepting him being gay - so he lashed out the only way he could throwing his new-profession in their faces and getting kicked out of the house (which considering his personality and actions throughout this movie, he already had one leg out of that house as is). it almost seemed like he was looking for a fight with the world and always pushing people away - even when Tatsuru (after hearing from Shinichiro bff that he loved him) tried to "pull him closer" Shinichiro physically pushed him away denying his feelings and took his stuff and left, rather live on the streets. so i didn't get from what he was running away or why.

the break-down at the end was inevitable, but what followed was confusing - like a "so what now" moment. after them making out at a clients request and Tatsuru coming undone - would think they would at least lean on each other and find an out of this way of life (that seemed they chose not out of desperation - but again i didn't get / understand much of their backstories and why they chose this line of work - considering they had parents that supported them idk) maybe seeing this more times will give me more clues into these two or maybe the subbed were at fault - so left confused ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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