Technique over storytelling
I'll start by saying that I loved The villianess by the same director and that enjoyed the long takes it had. Carter, however, is one long take that pretend to be a movie because everything serves to keep the long take, and though it has its merits (like the flashbacks) everything else suffers, because this movie is only about make a long take. The story and the action suffer because of it and both end up being confusing and tiresome.I wanted to watch a good action movie but I didn't find it though it could've been awesome and where I don't care about the characters or their story.
The acting is not bad though sometimes the actor's line of vision is weird (probably because of whatever they do to mask the cuts between the scenes so that it looks like one take).
Oh, it was nice to see Mike Colter even if his part was short.
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If you're an adult you might have met these people (or be one of them yourself)
I loved Lovestruck in the city! I love that the people in it, feel like people: they're flawed, stupid, insecure, lonely... It's so refreshing to see a kdrama where the couples look like couples who are in love and comfortable with each other: they hug, kiss, laugh, play, have sex... No dead-fish kisses here, if a couple wants to kiss, just like that and I find that more romantic than the typical slow-mo where I end up wondering if the FL is consenting.The show explores love from different perspectives and how people react to different things, even though it uses the main couple as a way to lead the story. The characters are fleshed out and, even if you don't agree with their reactions, you end up understanding where they are coming from. All the couples have great chemistry and the friendships look great too.
In a way, it's everything I expected Run On to be based on the reviews I read before watching it (my fault for expecting something it wasn't). I know the fake documentary doesn't work for some people, but I love that it gives an excuse for the characters to talk out loud about themselves and to interact with each other unknowingly.
The acting, direction, photography, OST... is absolutely fantastic. I have no words about how beautifully this is filmed and how well everything works.
Also, the PPL is one of the funniest I've seen.
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Manga
If you want a light romantic comedy with fanservice (or eye candy) this is your drama. Yes, there's bad hair and the main FL (who is a stylist) dresses like a grandma but this is enjoyable in any case.We've got a tsundere ML who does not intimidate the FL: he's a rude asshole in her own words, so this is series have a really slow burn. A lovely second ML who easily wins over the audience and the friendship of the FL. Yes, it's got plenty of manga tropes but despite that (or maybe because of that) I enjoyed every episode. I don't think I've seen a kdrama borrowing so much from a shoujo manga before: plots, shots, outfits and fanservice: episode 1 kiss, I'm mainly looking at you, but also all those shirtless scenes.
I liked all the characters even though I felt the second ML was more fleshed out than the ML (and I loved his sister!!!).
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This review may contain spoilers
Vampires in Joseon
This drama falls into the so-bad-is-good category for me. I love vampires, Lee Joon Gi and Lee Soo Hyuk was such a good villain that you almost end up rooting for him, and it has a couple of great supporting actresses in Jang Hee Jin and Kim So Eun.Let's face it: the plot makes no sense most of the time and the production (mainly the practical effects), editing and music were bad. Still... You've got vampires fighting their beast and trying to maintain their humanity, literal and figurative bloodbaths and an emo vampire who was trouble tying up his robes and loves eyeliner.
The actors are too good for the script and they're what saves the day in this drama. If they'd had a better production (the high-speed running is hilarious, for example) and script this would have been an epic drama with this cast. The premise is good, but it's hard not to see the plotholes.
The romance part is a stereotype and Lee Yoo Bi doesn't have much to do with her character. She's most of the time kept in the dark and others make choices in her place, she then decides to keep secrets, noble sacrifices... nothing we haven't seen before but infuriating none the less.
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I enjoyed it a lot... until the last episode
I don't think it's a spoiler to warn that this show doesn't end. Maybe they'll make a second season to end the story and it will but, so far, the story is unfinished.I have to say I enjoyed a lot the action scenes, the plot, the villains, the good guys... even the hints of romance. It is a very fun series to watch and I would've probably rated it with a 9 or more if they had finished the story. They set up the plot and left it unfinished, I wouldn't even say it's a cliffhanger where many storylines are resolved but something happens to move the story in a different direction, no, it's just that as they couldn't wrap up everything in the last episode, they left the story there.
I have to say I like the actors and the casting in general was charismatic and good for their roles.
The action sequences were good, though I think they could've been improved if they had cut them less often: it looks like they have good stuntpeople to make them work without so many cuts and that, in my opinion, allows the viewer to enjoy them more.
I loved the OST, it's full of great songs.
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