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It's a simple story about ordinary people with ordinary problems (which doesn't mean we're before an ordinary drama) with which almost everyone can relate to.
All of the characters are endearing and lovable without exception. There are no shrew ahjummas overprotective of their rich flower-boy sons or vamps trying to steal your boyfriend.
I didn't even want to finish it because I knew I would miss them all, since they had become something as old acquaintances.
It's actually really difficult to reach this level of sympathy and empathy with the characters in other series, which means that the writers did a great job.
Reply 1988 is a tribute to a certain time not just in the life of many Koreans and Korean families, but as I said, many people who watch it from over the world can relate to this nostalgic look to youth and family relationships.
The cast is amazing and the situation comedy gags are really funny. The story is well balanced between family and love issues. I really appreciate the fact that the older characters are not stereotypes. I actually believe that if Reply 1988 works so well is because of the great acting and the character design.
The soundtrack adds to an impecable production that recreates the atmosphere of nostalgia.
Also, it's full of hidden jokes and tributes to Korean culture -about which I found out after watching it- that make the series richer (I recommend looking them up when you're finished, since some might spoil the plot).
Summing up, I REALLY recommend this. You don't even have to be a Korean drama junkie to enjoy it.
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The pairing is a little weird in my opinion and I don't think they had any chemistry at all. I guess that's one of the main handicaps in the story. I actually had a strong case of second male lead in this one, to be honest. In fact, there are many other more interesting and funnier couples in the drama, like Kwak Dong Yeon/Han Joo Hyeon, or Seo Dong Won/Jung Shi Ah. These two were really funny and I actually enjoyed Seo Dong Won's performance a lot.
Also, I liked AOA Mina's performance. I admit I don't usually expect much from idols's acting, but I think her role suited her and she was funny.
I think the drama is overall well casted.
One of the strongest points of the drama, in my opinion, are the female characters. They are pretty unusual female characters for a drama: a single mom, a swindler, an ex-unfaithful girlfriend, an idol... even a non-Asian wife. Even if in the end the same usual clichés end up resurfacing in the plot, and Han Bo Reum's character, for example, becomes the typical annoying second female lead.
Also I found the plot original for a drama, and I appreciate that it's not set in Seoul, for a change, and that it doesn't involve the typical chaebol/working class hero or heroine romance/s.
The humour... well it might not be everybody's taste, since it's a bit coarse at times, but it's pretty funny all in all.
As for the soundtrack, I don't usually like it when dramas use cuts from non-Korean songs, because they overuse the same songs drama after drama. It sounds too patched up to me. I prefer it when soundtracks are original and recorded purposely for the drama. I understand that at times they wanted to create an especific atmosphere since the plot is about a rock band, but either way, the choices could be much more original.
The plot development is sometimes uneven and it doesn't focus too much in romance, but either way it's an endearing story with quite endearing characters and I recommend it.
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Today is not unusual to find idols acting on virtually every single k-drama production, but I guess they were the pioneers. And they were the pioneers in a time when k-pop was still innocent and popular in Asian countries but not yet around the rest of the planet. I have the feeling that these days this type of movie would be unthinkable. K-pop has come to a stage where it takes itself too seriously and idols are more pressured to being capable of doing anything in terms of entertainment.
This movie is just Super Junior being Super Junior. Every member being himself. Or at least what fans expect everyone of them to be according to their public personae.
If you're a k-pop fan this contextualization wasn't necessary and you're going to enjoy this either the reviews are good or not.
The best? The nonsensical, scatological plot, Kim Heechul being... Kim Heechul, Kang In and that panda mascot from the judo team.
The worst? The fact that in the end the story has a moral. Not that I'm against it per se, but you can't lecture high school teenagers about having more self-confidence and spend the rest of the movie calling Shindong "fatso". Whatever.
Also, I expected more screentime for Yesung as a charismatic rocker.
Sadly, youngest member Kyuhyun couldn't take part in the film because he was recovering from the injuries he got in a serious car accident. It would have been interesting to see what his role would have been.
Anyways, it won't hurt to watch this. It's overall an endearing divertimento.
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The biggest problem with the series is that it was too ambitious. I think I already said it in another review: that's the main problem with most dramas these days. Since the target audience is expanding every year, the pressure is bigger. Also, most idols seem to be forced to develop good acting skills in a short span, even if they've hardly had any training. There were high expectations on the cast in this one. The result was just OK, I think.
I have to say, however, that I don't agree with all the criticism that IU's acting had to face. I actually really liked her performance (I have to say that I haven't seen any of her previous works), even though it's true that her character was poorly written.
In my own humble opinion, the best developed characters were the ones played by Kang Ha Neul and Kang Ha Na. And their performances were good enough.
I really REALLY liked Woo He Jin's moving performance and her character's relation with IU's.
As for Lee Joon Gi... well, he'll be a favourite of mine always and forever, and this character suited him. But I insist: I miss him in more lighthearted roles such as the ones he played in Iljimae or Arang. I really miss this goofy side of him. He seems to be obsessed in proving his value in dramatic roles.
All in all, I liked the story and its message (I haven't seen the original Taiwanese drama), but the direction was lacking. I feel that's also a big problem in many dramas: they have a good primal source, but some directors don't seem to know what to do with it. They wanted to try innovative things, like leaps in time (some of them I felt that really worked), but as I said, the excess of ambition was a setback.
I liked the close-ups, though. Some people complained about the overuse of close-ups, but I actually liked them (and any Lee Joon Gi, Kang Ha Neul or Nam Joo Hyuk close-up is always welcome and appreciated, let's be honest).
Anyway, in spite of its flaws, I don't think you're going to regret watching this drama.
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That was more or less the message of this drama. And I loved it. But I loved even more the way the story was told, the originality of it. The fact that a deep message could be told in a lighthearted and simple way. I love their sense of rythm. And the fact that the plotline is somewhat based on Korean mythology is also a plus for me. Hong sisters are actually masters at this, and I love dramas with a supernatural element.
I loved the cast, both Shin Min Ah and Lee Seung Gi were cut out for the role. They had a lot of chemistry and all the sexual innuendos in the script were just so funny. And the supporting actors were also great, specially Song Dong Il as the action school director. His role, a parody of Chow Yun Fat action roles in Chinese movies and his scenes with Yoon Yoo Sun were absolutely hilarious (the references to Asian pop culture seem to be a trademark in Hong sisters dramas and this was no exception).
Surprisingly, I loved No Min Woo's character as well. I'm not a fan, but I really liked his role and performance in this.
Is there anything I didn't like? Well, yes. I hated Park Soo Jin's character. I guess it was just some treat to the audience. I mean, this is the type of character you encounter in EVERY drama, the girl everybody loves to hate. And it's not just that I hate this type of character in here: I hate it everytime, in every drama. But since everything else felt almost perfect in this, I think that subplot was a downer.
I didn't like the fact that the story drifted from Mi Ho to Dae Woong's character as the plot developed either. Or at least that's the feeling I got. And the ending felt a little rushed, maybe...?
Also, the fact that I loved the story and how it is told, doesn't mean that I didn't cringe at all the sexism implied in the undertone message. That is, the fact that Mi Ho's character is a satire of the overattached girlfriend cliché, which I hate. And I have mixed feelings about all the romanticism and the mystification of love (the bead, the chi energy exchange thing). I think it's a beautiful allegory, and a beautiful story to be told in a movie or a TV drama, but it's kind of dangerous in real life, depending on how it's interpreted.
Anyways, I absolutely loved and enjoyed this all along, and it's become hands down one of my favourite romantic comedy dramas ever.
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I'm afraid I don't share that love. In fact, I only started to more or less enjoy it for the last five episodes. I think one of its main faults is that it is too long.
I didn't like the plot. To me it's a bunch of stereotypes. I know that's what's intended somehow, but either way I didn't like it.
As for the cast, I was pleasantly surprised about Lee Min Ho. I'm not exactly a fan, but I think he did a great job as the spoiled chaebol and he proved he has a comedic side. I also liked Kim So Eun as the female lead's sidekick. The rest of the cast was just ok (I love Kim Bum, but he was nothing more than beautiful in here), I guess. I must admit that I don't particularly like Kim Hyun Joong, and I hated his character all along, unlike many BOF fans.
The soundtrack is definitely one of the series's strong points. I guess it remains a classic.
Lastly, I haven't seen Hana Yori Dango, so I can't compare, but I have the feeling that the Japanese series must be much better.
This one won't definitely remain as one of my favourite dramas and I seriously doubt that I rewatch it again, but you can enjoy some of it somehow if you don't take it too seriously.
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I had seen him in Kill me, heal me and fallen in love with him, and I was ready for a deeper crush. Needless to say that I ended up head over heels in love with him even more.
He steals the show for me: he's cute, he's intense, he's fresh... He can make you blush with a gaze or a smile, or break your heart when he cries.
I read somewhere that there was something about him that reminded of a younger Gong Yoo, and I agree. They're both so natural in front of the camera, so endearing and adorable that you wish their characters were real and you could meet them... or date them.
Even my age range is closer to Uhm Jung Hwa's character, so I understand her completely.
She was the other reason why I watched this. I like her as an actress: she's sexy, she has charisma and she's an icon in the Korean entertainment industry. I prefer her in more badass roles, but OK.
Yang Hee Kyung was fantastic as Uhm Jung Hwa's mom, and I loved Yoon Hyun Min's character, his sassiness, his flowery suits and polka dot shirts. And the cartoonesque sound effects when he poses were funny.
As for the rest, well it's a noona romance and I like noona romances, but the story was above all saved by both main performances. It's not just about the attraction and the age gap, but all the personal things they have to get over with before their romance flourishes. That part was pretty good.
I could have done with a little too much cheesiness, in my opinion, but fortunately that was only in a few episodes.
Summing up, I didn't end up being a huge fan of this, but it was nice watching it.
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