pattyrn4
USA
The story starts with a murder and a dysfunctional family including 2 stepbrothers in love with the same woman. It moves along at an interesting pace until about the last quarter where it turns into a weepy melodrama and screeches to an agonizing halt for about 5 episodes more.
Choi Ji Woo is undoubtedly beautiful, but here she is robotic. A decade ago she was paired with the leading heartthrobs, including Japanese Takenouchi Yataka. She did a decent job acting in Winter Sonata and Stairway to Heaven, my favorite melodramas. But here she was wooden and talked so S-L-O-W-L-Y that you could walk out of the room and come back in and she would still be on the same sentence. She played the kindhearted love interest of the two brothers, so she tried to act soothingly. However, her dialogue sounded monotone, cooing like a mourning dove.
The music was quite good, but the repetitiveness over 24 episodes made it irritating. Also, the drama was a bit long for my taste. You will enjoy it if you want to see Byung in a romance. But to see Mr. Korean James Bond with the full depth of his acting abilities, watch instead Iris, Masquerade, I Saw the Devil. or Iris for action. His best romance is All In (one of my favorites) and the very sexy movie, Addicted.
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This review may contain spoilers
This drama is quite different from all other revenge dramas I've seen. It seems to take more the point of view of the initial murderer turned cop. (That's not a spoiler as you quickly learn this in the beginning.) You don't ever get much of a feeling of compassion and sadness for the initial young victim because little time is spent on that storyline. This drama reminds me of a war: there are no winners. Indeed, I never found any of the characters likeable, so I never had strong feelings about the consequences. As in real life, everyone is held accountable for their evil deeds.The beginning seemed long and tedious. Things were revealed as the plot developed, however, I never felt there were any big surprises. Joo Ji Hoon did a great job as a cold loner, but his character was too zombie-like. It would have been better if he found some more awareness like in the revenge drama Sorry I Love You. The best thing was the acting here. The actress Shin Min Ah was in A Love to Kill a revenge drama I liked better.
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Part of the failings came from the lead actress Lee Bo Yong. She is an exercise in how not to act. Talented acting should appear natural and genuine. However,she must have practiced facial expressions in the mirror because in the course of a two minute conversation, she could put her face through about a dozen contortions. None of them were attractive or funny.
Perhaps the worst kissing scene is in this drama.. Lee Bo Yong pulls a spider man mask over her face. Ahn Jae Wook lifts it above her mouth to kiss her. All the while, Yong's eye are popping out of the eye holes. Far from romantic, it seemed alien and grotesque.
In the first episode the writer tried to make some comic scenes out of a mixup with gay partners. That fell flat and the couple was quickly written out of the drama. The attempt to draw some interest with hotel takeover intrigue fell flat. And the one father, two family complications were also a bore. Nothing seemed to flow and, inevitably, there was no pathos with the final melodrama. There was simply no connection or feeling for the characters.
I watched this to see Ahn Jae Wook in another role after Star in My Heart. But he wasn't enough to salvage this one.
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Jimmy Lin is at his best here. In real life he's a professional car racer and international singer. He is the real thing here: sings his own songs and does the car stunts. Can it get any better than this?
The story moves along at a fast pace. I never watched a drama so fast. One thing I hate is watching a long, slow drama just to see the lead couple get together in the last episode for a chicken peck kiss. None of that here. If you are a fan of romance drama, this is up there with Autumn's Concerto and Secret Garden.
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There are the inevitable love triangles. And the story line is not exactly realistic. But the real draw of the show is the continual warm moments between the lead couple, not just an occasional glance or hug, as in so many dramas. You so want them to be together, that you keep watching on into the night. If you enjoy the romance drama, this is a good choice.
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While this scenario is a perfect set up for romance, the writer makes too many blunders. For one, the writer never develops the characters outside the 4 roommates, so the audience feels emotionless towards them. Several romantic relationships take place, but their termination often has unsatisfactory reasons. The climax, the two you are waiting forever to get together, may or may not happen, and ultimately the audience is let down with quite unnatural results. Why couples stay together or fail makes no logical sense. You will be held in suspense until the end as to who ends up with whom.
The main reason to watch this is the beautiful Esumi and Japan's hot GTO star, Sorimachi. Even with the poor writing, they sizzle on screen.
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However, it's the sound track that turns this drama into a comedy. Half the scenes are accompanied by a mournful violin. Others are accentuated by loud symphonic music or fast beating drums as though it were a daring car race or exciting fight scene. It's hard to believe this was produced in 2012. It seems more like a home video. At times you can even hear dogs barking in the background.
What kept me watching was the gorgeous cast. It's true that Barbie Xsu is so beautiful that she could mezzmorize two handsome studs. But that's where any credibility ends. I love melodramas, but the sound track killed this one.
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Besides possessing handsome looks and gladiator strength, LBH is an extremely talented and expressive actor with natural portrayals of a character. His romantic portrayals such as in Addicted are over the top also. J
The only reason this did not rate a perfect 10 was the last scene went on a bit excessive and overkill.
But this is an excellent short version of a Korean Godfather.
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My only complaint which kept this from being a perfect 10 was the writing of the last 20 minutes or so. The story diverted from reality into a silly, ridiculous impossible storyline.
I do think the ending was good and fit the theme and storyline.
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The intensity of the love, however, is what makes the drama so worth watching. The tree and cross symbols of steadfast love are really beautiful. The snow scenery is reminiscent of scenes in Winter Sonata. (The WS sites became so famous that they erected statues for tourists to visit!)
The acting by the main characters is over the top! You really get drawn into the story and their love for each other. The music is haunting, as well.
My only criticism is with the writing of the ending. I can handle sad, but no stupid. I hate medical impossibilities. There were so many other possible ways to write this. But I'm glad there was a clear ending because in some dramas they keep you hanging with an uncertain ending. Everyone hates those endings.
It's odd how much of ones opinion can be dependent on the ending. I often rewatch a drama that I enjoy before I ever see the ending for that reason. So, this would be a perfect 10 if that medical improbability was not there. I was emotionally drained, but I prefer that over not being attached to the characters and feeling bored nothingness.
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What kept this drama from getting a higher rating was overkill by the writer. There were too many victims. In addition, the vice principal's psychotic son was not necessary to the plot and totally detracted from the climax and well written ending.
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The acting of the child is superb. Part of the story line was revealed in the summary, but is revealed quickly in the movie. The rejection of the child when the identity is discovered leads to heart wrenching moments. You become totally immersed in the Chinese culture and how male traditions influence the lives of the people. But don't despair, this is one of those "feel good" movies that you will want to watch over and over again. I have and will again.
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