Lotridel
Sweden
First, let's talk about the story, shall we? Just, yes. A big old yes from me, the story is a YES. Not a very complicated story, simple and to the point, and it delivers. Drama, love, humor and chasing your dreams - four of my favorite things.
What I enjoy most of all has to be the fact that the main characters are aspiring to become something, that they have a goal that they work towards, and that makes it easier to digest the romance for me. That way ALL of their focus is not directed to the love interest. Because when everything is about that significant other it becomes stuffy and too much. Personal dreams creates some distance, and distance makes the heart grow fonder, right? At least that's what I feel.
What I think makes a great actor is how they cry, and the emotional and physical investment they put into it. I think that Kitagawa Keiko (Shirakawa Riko's actress) nailed it! I felt it when she was acting, the way your face scrunch up, how heavy your chest feels and how your stomach pulls into a void.
Now I'm not an expert in the acting field at all, and I can't really analyze it that well, but I feel that the cast pulled it off really nicely! Even the small things expressed something, and I think that might be the most difficult part in acting - those small, everyday things. So a 10/10!
A specific thing they did with the music in this drama is that it'd suddenly stop at especially dramatic times. Now, that's not a very unusual thing, true. But usually there'd be some kind of fade, or a "duuun" kind of sound, right? Not in this drama, mate. I specifically remember when the main character was feeling very happy, the day had gone smoothly and the main was one step closer to his/her dream. The music was chirpy and uplifting, and then the friend comes in with some shocking news and the music immediately stops. Im-me-di-ate-ly, like you put it on pause. I thought that was cool, and it gave a nice effect - like a heart-dropping kind of effect.
Other than that I thought the music choice was good! I really liked the intro song.
I've mentioned in another review that I rarely ever rewatch any drama I've already watched, beause I know what happens and I feel that kind of takes away from the experience for me. But I would rewatch this one! I actually would! This drama made me feel good, the romance was great and the drama was out there. It's not like I definitely WILL rewatch it, but I most certainly could and I'd still enjoy myself.
I gave Buzzer Beat the greatest score available and gave some founding reasons for it. But there's so much more to it, like the scenery and the overall atmosphere, I loved those so much! I feel that anyone could could come to like this drama, so if you haven't watched it already, please do! I wish to see many more reviews that gives this one a good score.
Well then, thanks for reading, and until next drama!
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There were two things that bothered me the most; the repetitiveness and the romance. In the beginning we saw a lot of different sceneries, whether it was outdoors or indoors, the setting had more life. That just disappears later on. It then jumps from hospital, another part of the hospital, the clinic, a house, the Blue House - rinse and repeat. It bored me, and many scenes felt so very repetitive because of it too, which is a shame.
Now as for the romance... it confused me and left me frustrated a lot. "Where is the main pairing? Ohhh, so it's those two, I get it. Haha, they're funny. Wait... it's not? Hold on, what? What what what, noooo", that's pretty much me while watching this series. The feeling when your NOTP ends up being canon. Anyhow, the romance was weak and the chemistry was off. There was just too much push and pull between the main pairing for my liking. Actually more push than pull. Too much weak drama becomes annoying in the long run.
But let's take a break from being Negative Nancy for a while and look at the positives. The comedy must have been the highlight for me. The comic relief was VERY NECESSARY for me to even consider giving this series a 6, and it was very nice, I'm not gonna lie. Plus the cast did a really nice job and I was never really that upset about the acting. Maybe a few times, but I think it's because I have a personal preference in character.
The story could've developed into something great and beautiful! But it fell short of the big expectations I had in the beginning. It's a REAL shame because the cast is really great and they could've made this into something much more than it is. But here we are - unsatisfied and a bit confused. So I'll give this a 6. It might sound generous to those thoroughly disappointed by this series, but I think the good things I found made it more of a 6 than a 5. So there you have it. I wouldn't strongly recommend it, but it works.
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Well, first things first, woah it kept me on my toes. My friend on skype can vouch for that - I was freaking out the entire time, like what the heck?! So many pretty boys, so little feels capacity. But I will say that I wasn't impressed at first... As the story started out, it felt very typical. Girl not that rich meet boys who are very rich - "OH how I wonder how this is going to play out" were my initial thoughts... As of yet I've noticed that I've ONLY watched dramas of this sort, and I've started to find it boring. But thankfully the story moves quickly, so I had enough interest in the circumstances to keep going. As it progressed I just couldn't stop. I almost finished it all in one go, and for someone with a short attention span I'd call that an achievement! Also, as I said, the story moves quickly, but without being confusing so rest assured.
I'd definitely recommend this to fellow romance enthusiasts, but if you're not that big of a romance fan you might just find it cringe-worthy. It's a bit cheesy and might get a bit immature at times, but it's very sweet and I think it's worth watching!
I hardly ever rewatch anything I've already seen... however, if it's for Rui, I'd do it any time of the day! Besides, it's not a very long drama, it only took me two evenings to finish. I could've finished it the first evening had I started earlier, easily! But you know, your poor heart needs a bit of a break too - it's hardcore romance, after all.
So, I give Hana Yori Dango an overall score of 9! I truly enjoyed it and I look forward to watching season 2. But for now I need a break from rich meets poor, it's getting kind of tiring... however, I'm coming for you Rui! You bet your sweet face I am!
Thanks for reading this review, until next drama!
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I've fallen out of the loop of anime and j-dramas/k-dramas and I now return 2 years later, picking up where I left off. And so, I launch myself into 1 hour and 40 minutes of laughter and cringeworthy romance! Man oh man, where do I even start... Okay so, it's painfully obvious that this movie is going for that anime feel - which can both be very awkward and very funny, so I have mixed feelings about it. There's exaggeration to the maximum, full blast awkward hand movements, poses and facial expressions, so prepare your soul for this.
But the storyline is very easy to follow, it's pace is quite quick but nothing too extreme. It catches the comical elements that gave the anime of Lovely Complex a special place in my heart quite well. As for the romance part, well... let's just say, I laughed more at the scenes in the movie that tugged my heartstrings in the anime. And this might be due to me changing personally, but still... I don't really know how to explain it, there was never really a pause for a truly serious moment to make me feel invested in the romance. The awkward anime-like acting took away from that experience and just made it all so very cringeworthy and laughable. Still, it made it even funnier (without it typically intending to), so it keeps tipping over to being a comedy movie with splashes of romance in my mind.
ALSO I FRIGGIN' LOVE THAT NARRATOR DUDE, HE MAKES ME LAUGH THE MOST.
Now the only reason I might re-watch this movie is probably because my boyfriend has never been exposed to Japanese drama or anime, and if he's going to be, then we better get into it to the extremely cutesy. Potentially scaring him off from the genre - or not, you never know - but it would be a damn good time.
Nonetheless, if you're looking for a very lighthearted Japanese rom-com, this might be something for you. It's silly and cute, awkward here and there, but you might just find that adds to the cute factor more than I did. It's not very long, so if you do have the time, why not give it an honest shot!
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