OnionTime
The running time seems very long, but the writer fills it with plenty of stories from daily life plucked from five best friends and their families in a little community in 1988. At first, it seems there are too many characters, but each are written extremely well. They all have distinct personalities, dreams and goals. These characters are very real and not too outlandish, which allows us to relate to them and care for them. The Reply series is known for its naturalistic tone, poignant and heartfelt moments and the cast were very committed and determined to bring us that same feeling. Except, they outshone their predecessors in the process.
I particularly enjoyed the relationships between our characters. Our three ajummas were the absolute best. They've been through everything together and were closer than family. They were often the stronghold of their family, and they made it look so easy. My favourite dynamic is Bora and her father. Both are very similar characters, both gruff and a little shrewd. But their moments together made me cry the most. Without a word, they are able to communicate their deep love and respect for each other. No matter how prickly their words are, they can always find the underlying meaning. The way the characters endlessly support each other through thick and thin is truly moving.
What touched me is the fact that communities like this rarely exist nowadays. In Ssangmundong, people are good-natured and unassuming. You treat your neighbours like family and you have faith in other people. I watched this series with my mother and she said the show is a true representation of the 80s - a simpler time when hearts were bigger than hands.
I admit I got sick of the husband mystery. I wish the writers did not try to bait us and trick us because it detracted from the story. I also think the last few episodes were rushed, but it efficiently let us see the kind of men and women our lovely five friends had become.
Reply 1988 is also about youth, an innocent golden time that we always reminisce about and mourn. After Deok Sun left her adolescence, she recognises that she is unable to return to that blissful time. It is a reminder for us to enjoy and cherish our younger days while we can.
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The story is quite linear, with no explanations and no proper closure, but this flaw allows the film to be more focused on our bundle of characters, who try to brave their disastrous situation. The film examines human nature and conflicting interests. In such a heightened and delirious state, people are bound to be pushed to their limits. We see selfishness and greed, but we also see change and loyalty. The actors and actresses do a wonderful job in making these characters real and flawed.
Train to Busan is definitely thrilling and it's not cheap. The special effects are very convincing (as they ought to be in a film with zombies!) and coupled with the music, creates a tense atmosphere that is maintained throughout the film. Dirty jump scares are limited and the true horror is actually the prospect of this occurring to you.
Despite the flaws in the storyline, my eyes were glued to the screen the entire time. Train to Busan draws you in and makes you stay.
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From the very start, you are thrown into the story with little to no context. It is definitely confusing having no backstory to go on. You must give the drama your absolute undivided attention because every line of the dialogue, every little detail will come back to bite you.
This show is highly intelligent, with long conversations that drive the plot. It's tightly written and there are no filler episodes, which I appreciate. There are many, many characters but all are important. However, I did not expect them to be written so well. Every character is complex, has their own backstory, motives and a role in the Grand Plan. This cast is the most solid ensemble I've seen in Asian television. The casting director is an absolute genius.
You would expect political dramas to be more fast-paced. However, I find the slower pace of Nirvana in Fire perfect. The schemers and our heroes are not out in the open, they must try to hide their actions from the highly suspicious Emperor. And for this reason, story arcs tend to build up slowly, rather than dramatically. The slower pace also allows us to absorb the onslaught of information properly.
Upon finishing this magnificent drama, the first thought is to begin the journey all over again. To catch every single detail, to pay more attention to the costuming, to marvel at the beauty of the set, to get lost in the sounds of traditional Chinese instruments, to observe how exactly Mei Changsu kicked his Grand Plan into motion.
Ultimately, Nirvana in Fire stole my heart because of the themes it explores. The writer epically exemplifies the relationships between brotherhood, justice, truth, honour, loyalty, morality and love until you're not sure where one begins and the other ends. To fight against adversity for what you believe in is no easy feat. And it is the fire and determination our heroes use to do this that makes Nirvana in Fire resonate in our hearts.
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The film gave Jun Ji Hyun her stardom, and rightly so, for portraying the bizarre character "the Girl". She is violent, foul-mouthed, blunt and Jun plays her with gusto and charm. Our hero, Gyun Woo, is a somewhat ordinary guy who wants no trouble in life. Cha Tae Hyun is a natural comedic and never underplays or overplays a scene. The two have a zany dynamic that is endearing and natural, if not uproarious.
As the film progresses, we get a beautiful emotional undertone. It doesn't take away from the hilarious comedic action in the first half, nor does it slow down the pace. Through Gyun Woo's eyes, the Girl appears more and more human and we learn that she is actually very caring and moral. Deep inside, she hides a sadness that explains her crazy antics thus far.
You don't expect the film to give you so much heart, but it does to the point of tears. I have seen a lot of romantic comedies in which the angsty heartbreak (known as the "downfall") makes me feel like I'm watching two separate films. My Sassy Girl finds the balance between comedy and sentiment in a way that doesn't disappoint.
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