celinka20 Reviews

Red Rock (2015–2020)

Watch the first season and a half, then skip to the final episodes of season two

[6/10 · 10 October 2023]

The first season was very well done. The characters were realistic, funny, and interesting. They treated the subject of workplace bullying and sexual harassment fairly, showing all of its nuances. It shows how predators work, how they groom their prey, and at the same time, they are able to convince everyone around them that they are upstanding citizens. Carda Cleere's efforts to go against everyone for the sake of what she believed was right was uncomfortable to watch, but also quite satisfying. The murder investigation in season one was also very suspenseful, partly made so because of the complicated relationships between the members of the Hennessey and Kiely families.

In season two, the drama between the Hennessey and Kylie families devolved into a soap opera. Their conflicts and storylines have nothing to do with the police officers and their investigations. These two families are some of the most useless characters I've seen on television. Their story should've ended after the Chiefs death.

McGonigle's hiring of the thugs to beat up Garda Cleere should also have been resolved before his death. If the writer and Director had treated the story properly, they would've tied up these loose ends because doing so would have stopped the antagonist much earlier on. They would not have had to drag out the story to the degree that they did. The most disappointing part of season two was that the police officers pretty much sat on the back burner while the story focussed on the soap opera between the families.

Nowhere Man (2019)

Loved Every Minute of It!

[10/10 · 25 July 2023]

What I loved: 1. The characters - especially between the brothers. Brotherly love and loyalty isn't always sweet and respectful. Brothers fight all the time because of how competitive some of them are. There is always a favourite, and there's always a mediator in the mix. I just loved the acting and the dynamic between the actors who played the brothers because it came across as feeling very genuine.

2. The clever plot and how all the problems were resolved. So brilliant! When I thought the movie was about revenge, another plot line was revealed. When I thought it was a story about a prison break, a mystery plot was revealed to hook me into following that plot line. All the twists and turns really paid off at the end. This movie isn't all about the violence and the hate. It's also about social injustice, and it presents an angle that I have not seen before in other HK triad-type movies.

3. The artistry. I loved the cinematography, the set designs, the costumes, even the Cantonese subtitles. I don't know how many viewers noticed this, but that was simply brilliant!

Public Enemy (2016–2023)

Enjoyed it, but wouldn't re-watch it

[7/10 · 25 July 2023]

I like how the mystery played out, all the clues left behind to keep me guessing, all the plot-twists and reveals. Everything happened at a good pacing that kept me hooked. It was fun to watch the first season.

The acting was really good on all fronts. I love it when films have actors of various age groups, they all manage to play those characters really well and make me believe they are those characters. What makes this movie great were all the child actors who did such a superb job!

I was looking forward to the second season, but gave up part-way through because the magic of the mystery was lost to me. I wish it had done what other European dramas do - each season has a new mystery with a new set of characters.

Run Rabbit Run (2023)

Still Don't Like It After Reading the Spoilers

[4/10 · 25 July 2023]

What I didn't like: 1. Too dark - literally. I get that the director wanted the set to be darker and have lots of shadows to obstruct my view and make me feel scared. This tactic was overused, though, as halfway through the film, I didn't care for the dark shadows anymore.

2. The unlikeable characters - Mom is obviously...I figured that out near the beginning because of how defensive she was, out of fear and not out of love. Mia appears like a terribly spoiled brat through most of the film, so I didn't root for her either.

3. Lack of direction. It seemed like the director wanted to make a horror movie with a ghost, but really, the story was more a psychological thriller. If you're a director, decide. Either make a horror movie with a ghost in it, or focus on the psychological trauma. There were several instances where I thought the ghost would appear, but it didn't. Then there were instances where I thought we would get more insight into the mother's mental state, but we didn't. This movie tried to mask itself with all the horror movie tropes and tactics, and that just left me feeling cheated.

4. The Logic. I get that some of the odd behaviours are clues to help me figure out what truly happened in the past, but I also feel like some of the behaviours, if they had been addressed at the time of discovery, would have resolved a lot of the issues. But then, we wouldn't have a movie that last 1hr40mins anymore. That's why it comes across as contrived for me.

Vanishing Time: A Boy Who Returned (2016)

Magical!

[10/10 · 17 June 2023]

There have been so many time-travel movies and TV shows in recent decades, and that has made the subject matter feel exhausted and sometimes downright boring. It is so hard to recycle an idea and present in a way that is creative and does not fall into the traps of all the previous cliched plot lines. This one is a gem.

The storyline is well thought-out so that it does't have some silly plot holes. The cinematography is lovely, as is the set is magical. The best part is the acting by both young and old actors. Shin Eun-Soo and Lee Hyo-Je were so natural, esp. In the scenes where it might even make adults act awkwardly. Later on, Kang Dong-Wan and Shin Sun-Soo acted with such ease around one another, as if they really had known each other all their lives.

It's a moving story about friendship, loyalty and having faith in people.

I re-watch this movie once every couple of years just to relive the magic.

Na mo Naki Sekai no End Roll (2021)

Absolutely brilliant storytelling!

[10/10 · 16 June 2023]

Absolutely brilliant storytelling! I loved how the story sets the tone at the very beginning, and the constant shifting of timelines added so much to the suspense. The Japanese are always too good at telling love stories in a way that makes the viewer become engrossed in the world of the characters.

Also, great acting by the two lead actors, Iwata Takanori and Mackenyu.

The way that the friendship is developed between the three children into adulthood was so charming. Often the behaviours - from feeling a sense of inadequacy or shyness, leading to awkwardness - was so well written and delivered by the child actors as well.

Jirisan (2021)

Vague storyline & bland characters

[2/10 · 11 June 2023]

Tried watching this series three times, and I still don't understand why it got such high reviews. The overall premise is so intriguing, but the stories that are built around it are so boring. A mystery is presented, but the clues to solving it are seeping out at a rate that put me to sleep. I managed to get to the end of episode 9, and that's when I decided to skip to the last episode to find out who was the culprit. I was frustrated to find that it's a completely new character that had not appeared before. That's terrible writing for a mystery. Confident and capable writers leave clues right at the beginning and keep feeding them to you so that you can put the puzzle together. The writers for this drama cheated by holding out on the viewers.

Moreover, the two lead actors were so expressionless, but I am convinced that's because the characters were so bland. It felt like there was a growing friendship that could have turned into a romance, but there was no chemistry between the actors. What a waste of time on those 9.5 episodes.

Fanletter Please (2022– )

Watch it for the Child Actors - Adult characters are as stupid as can be

[2/10 · 11 June 2023]

I don't know how anyone can give this drama more than two stars, and those two stars belong to the child actors. The story has no direction, no conflict, and no tension between the two main leads.

And I can't believe they killed off the grandmother just so that they can create an opportunity for the two leads to move in together. Countless other idol dramas have recycled this plot device to create a situation where two unbelievable characters could have more time to spend with one another and fall in love. That's just another trope in silly romances. Thank goodness it's only four episodes long.

One Night Morning (2022)

Ignore the Gratuitous Sex Scenes

[9/10 · 11 June 2023]

When I first started watching this series, I was surprised to read so many negative reviews on Viki. I don't know why Japanese dramas in recent years include so much gratuitous sex. "Fishbowl Wives" had this problem as well. In my opinion, the directors/writers don't need to do that because their stories are well written enough, and the acting is good enough to keep people's attention.

Some of the stories had no sex scenes at all, but had very compelling stories about human kindness, human frailty, love and friendship.

My favourite stories are four, five and eight. It lost one star because there was one episode that was just plain boring.

The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (2018)

Best title ever

[8/10 · 11 June 2023]

1. Love the title. I think it's one of the best titles of any television show ever.

2. Love the acting and the chemistry between the actors. The couple started out as bickering opponents, but for good reason. It wasn't done to be cute or funny. Their love story progressed so slowly and meaningfully.

3. Loved the mystery and the clues that were set in place, including the red herrings

4. The originality and creativity in the story.

5. Only flaw: the ending seemed rushed. Would have liked another episode or two. Or maybe it's just because I liked the characters so much that I didn't want the show to end.

Those Who Read the Hearts of Evil (2022– )

As good as Mindhunter

[10/10 · 11 June 2023]

Love historical dramas like this as it shows how social values changed over time, how people start to believe in science more and more to give them answers rather than relying on habits and prejudices. The plot is suspenseful from beginning to end, but there's a lot of humour in it as well. The characters seem more realistic that way because they each have their virtues and vices. The portrayal of the many friendships is so heartwarming, especially when the subject matter is so dark and horrifying.

The best TV dramas should have an airtight plot, convincing character development, top-notch acting, clever dialogue and an effective film score that enhances each scene. This dramas has all of these things.

Now that Netflix's Mindhunter is cancelled, Through the Darkness is the next best thing.

Screw-Up Adults' Sharehouse (2019)

Honest and Sincere Portrayal of Human Vulnerability

[9/10 · 11 June 2023]

For a very low budget drama, I think this series was very well-made. The premise was off-putting, but having faith in the reputation of Japanese dramas, I gave it a try. I am very glad that I did. Perhaps the plot was a bit unbelievable and exaggerated, but I think it had to be in order to introduce the discourse on abusive relationships, why some people allow themselves to be taken advantage of, and what was going through their minds as they re-entered such damaging situations.

The brilliance of the storytelling is that what you see on the surface is never the entire story. With each episode, a little more information about the characters is revealed, and with these revelations, the complexities of the characters and the nuances of their psyche is established, creating a tangle of storylines that makes the viewer root for them.

The honesty and sincerity in the storytelling makes this way better than trashy stories like "Fated to Be With You" and all of its subsequent remakes in different countries. That story only aims to romanticize subservient women who wait for the man to change for the better. This story actually shows the different types of human vulnerability and the importance of being confident in who you are.

Shin'ai naru boku e satsui wo komete (2022– )

Excellent acting by Ryosuke Yamada

[8/10 · 8 April 2023]

Even though the ultimate identity of the killer was predictable, all the twists and turns in between kept me guessing and second-guessing myself. That journey was a lot of fun while watching this drama.

Pros: the acting; plot; mystery, humour; character development; social commentary.

The two lead actors did very well in their roles. The supporting actors were very solid as well. Yamada playing two personalities was a thrill to watch. On second viewing, I noticed that the cinematography helped a lot.

Cons: some parts of the plot; the low-budget quality.

Some parts of the plot resembled a manga too closely, and it felt like those scenes should have been revised for a live action film. As well, movie scores are a very important element to storytelling, and unfortunately for this drama, some parts had no music in the background when really it needed it.

The story was not only suspenseful, but the relationships were meaningful. I hope to see more dramas by the two leads in the future.

He Won't Kill, She Won't Die (2019)

Another "great" in a line of superb Japanese love stories

[10/10 · 8 April 2023]

What a gem of a story! The description put me off the first time I read it, but I'm glad I had enough faith in Japanese films to give this a try. I loved the characters and how their behaviours were so realistically portrayed by the actors. All these little moments of awkwardness made them appear more courageous as the stories unravelled.

Partway through, I couldn't see how all three stories would intersect one another, and it doesn't become clear until the very end. When I did see the connection, I was moved to tears. This will definitely go down as one of my favourite love stories in Asian cinema.

Strangers (2017)

Excellent acting by Rayza

[8/10 · 8 April 2023]

Loved the characterization of the three main leads. Yu Miao's life spiralled out of control when her loser of a husband let jealousy drive him to kill an innocent passerby, Jia Xiaoduo. The clueless Xu Tian got dragged into this mess because he wanted to avenge the death of his girlfriend. The one cliche belongs to the police officer, Lian. Like so many other movie cops, he dies while trying to save Yu Miao.

For viewers who aren't familiar with Chinese customs, they might think that Xu Tian's behaviour is non-sensical. Why would he chase after Yu Miao for money rather than get justice through the courts? Why does Yu Miao seem to be accepting of his behaviour? It all has to do with social norms in contemporary Chinese society, especially for those who are living in poverty.

Upon double-checking the release dates, this movie was produced before the tv drama series, "The New World," starring Yin Fang as Xu Tian. That makes this movie the precursor to the drama series. A lot of common elements become evident, in addition to the characters' names. Yu Miao is the original Tian Dan, who was betrayed by the man she loved and was caught in a horrible situation. Only by her sheer will-power, intelligence, and a bit of help from a police officer was she able to survive all this tragedy.

I wish Xu Bing would redo this as a drama series so that we can see these characters being fleshed out, and to let the story unravel in more detail.

Sword Snow Stride (2021–2022)

Better Than I Expected

[7/10 · 28 April 2022]

This series turned out to be a lot better than I originally expected. The acting was all-around quite commendable. Hu Jun's acting and chemistry with all his co-stars was palpable and hit the notes just right, whether it was a comedic scene or a suspenseful one. The deviations from the novel were not disruptive, but helped to enhance the characters' development and the emotional drama. *Pros* - acting; - production quality; - fight scenes where CGI was used to illustrate the how cultivation power works (not to be confused with traditional martial arts); - the dialogue; - characters; *Cons* - storylines - often times they just dragged on and on; - the villains - not convincing enough whether in terms of their motivations or the complexity of their schemes. *Overall* Enjoyed it and will be watching for the second season.

Joy of Life (2019–2024)

Nothing Outstanding or Memorable

[6/10 · 28 April 2022]

The first time I watched this series, I lasted until about episode 8 or so. The ridiculous boy-chase-girl storyline didn't seem to fit with the overall conflict of the story, which is the mystery of Fan Xian's family background and his mother's murder. The second time I tried it (in spring of 2022), I was able to move past that flaw and finish watching the first season. *Pros* - production quality - the acting by the veteran actors was superb; - most of the other scenes featured important plot and character development; - the comedy; - the emotional drama; *Cons* - The silly & unnecessary romantic plotline that was created to boost Li Qin's screen time; - the many deviations from the novel with regard to the plot and character development; - the chaotic fight scenes that rely too heavily on swinging camera work rather than martial-arts choreography. *Overall* Nothing stellar about this drama. After finishing the first season, I don't feel the urge to rewatch it because it doesn't have any memorable scenes (funny, romantic, emotional, suspenseful, etc.)

Our Beloved Summer (2021–2022)

Purely a Funny and Cute Rom-Com

[8/10 · 29 January 2022]

PROS: The poster of the two actors looking disappointed and helpless was what attracted me to this drama. After watching it, it was confirmed that the two lead actors did a great job portraying Choi Ung and Kook Yeon-Su. Their quick-paced jibes at each other were funny, but their shyness towards and tenderness for one another was moving at the same time.

Another actor who deserves praise is Lee Joon-Huyk as the arrogant but astute Jang Do-Yul. His character was well-written, used effectively to create tension and humour whenever it was needed.

CONS: NJ, played by Roh Jeong-Eui, became an unnecessary character about 1/3 way through. Her storyline of all the bullying and unfair treatment that she got as an idol singer has nothing to do with the main storyline of Choi Ung and Kook Yeon-Su's romance. When the story made it clear that NJ was no competition for Choi Ung's affections, her character should have been written off the script just like Jang Do Yul's had been. The continued focus on her irrelevant storyline was simply annoying by the end. NJ is the reason why I'm giving this drama an 8 and not a 9 or 10.

The Last Letter from Your Lover (2021)

Pretty good story

[6/10 · 27 December 2021]

The story was quite moving and had very nice cinematography. Most of the acting was quite good except for Shailene Woodley. If not for her, I would have given it 8 stars.

Familyhood (2016)

Better Than Real Life

[8/10 · 24 July 2021]

A female celebrity wants to revive her life and career by promising a pregnant teenager that she will adopt the baby after the mother gives birth. In the meantime, Go Joo-Yeon will pretend to be the one who is pregnant.

Sounds far-fetched and ridiculous? Not really. This is just another form of surrogacy. Earlier in the year, a Chinese actress went to the US to have a surrogate mother carry a baby for her. In the end, she changed her mind and left the surrogate mom and husband to hang and dry.

This story is way better because the characters are funny, dramatic, strong-willed, gullible and naive all at the same time. The comedy at the beginning of the film soon gives way to the drama partway through, but it's done so smoothly that it doesn't appear awkward.

After all, teenaged pregnancy and responsibility are serious topics. It's a good change of approach to not make the story funny all the way through.

Word of Honor (2021)

Cheesiest Boy-love drama ever made

[2/10 · 29 June 2021]

If they were allowed to make a drama that portrays same-sex relationships realistically, this would have been a much better story. Unfortunately, that type of story would not have passed censorship.

The story has way too many characters, yet the main leads aren't three-dimensional enough to drive the plot forward. The acting is just that, acting. At no point did it seem like the actors had embodied their characters, as if they existed in that world all along. The relationships felt contrived, sometimes exaggerated or underwhelming.

The nail in the coffin was when Wen Kexing was explaining the background story about his relationship with Ah Xiang. Those lines were lifted straight out of Ever Night. Maybe it was done as a tribute, but still. In either case, I would rather re-watch Ever Night than to continue watching Word of Honour.

Beyond Evil (2021)

Get 2 for 1 drama

[5/10 · 29 June 2021]

I gave this drama five stars because the the first 8 episodes revolving around the serial murders was really quite well done. There were numerous plot twists, smoke screens, red herrings and all these plot devices kept me guessing. It was well acted, and pacing was just right.

The second half of the drama is about police and gov't corruption. This second storyline was dismal compared to the first. There was no creativity in it. It was complex to the point of dragging down the pacing. The eerie atmosphere of the first half had dissipated, but the suspenseful plot twists that one would expect from a drama about corruption just could not hold up.

Korean dramas need to stop recycling the corruption plot line. It's over-used and too predictable now.

Da 5 Bloods (2020)

Quite Artsy, Alright Until Halfway Through

[7/10 · 26 September 2020]

There were some aspects of film-making that I found quite appealing. But this is a film made by a black director for a black audience. Just like so many other films about the Vietnam War are films made by a white director for a white audience.

First, the artistry of the film. I liked how the movie "framed" of the two narratives, past and present. The 4:3 screen was used to portray the flashbacks, a visual metaphor for "footage" from the past. Present-day events are show in the widescreen.

Another aspect I really liked was having the older actors portray the younger versions of themselves. Most other movies would have casted younger actors in those roles, but then that might have caused confusion for the audience in having to figure out who is who in their younger versions. What I liked about having the older actors act alongside Chadwick Boseman was the fact that it created a visual contrast. I got to see how they all got along with one another. In a way, it was almost like an endearing journey to the past to help retell the story of their leader.

This is also an important film because it gives voice to a visible minority group who fought in the war, but are so often left out of the storytelling when it comes to movies about the Vietnam War.

The story was quite compelling and moving up until the point when they found the gold. Like some other reviewers here have said, the Tarantino-style (dark comedy) violence did not seem consistent with the rest of the tone of the film, which started out as a touching story about camaraderie, loyalty and redemption.

It was also disconcerting to see the Vietnamese characters portrayed so superficially in a film about dehumanization as a result of racism. None of the Vietnamese characters had any depth. More importantly, there didn't seem to be any effort on the part of the writers or the director to portray any complexity in the Vietnamese characters, or the events and the issues of the war.

For example, the narrative of Tien-Otis was terribly simplified and romanticized. Here is a woman who worked as a prostitute, who birthed a child of mixed American-Vietnamese heritage, who, along wth her daughter, suffered from years of ostracization, vilification, and condemnation by their compatriots. And yet, Otis appears and he finds that she's become super rich, and life is good, and she and Michon are both perfectly well-adjusted. Huh?! No resentment at all? No sense of abandonment at all? No anger whatsoever? This is totally unrealistic. And it's a big missed opportunity from a storytelling point of view.

Another example is of Vinh and Quan. One is the silent helper who later benefits from the work that the veterans did to recover the gold. This is where instead of the white saviour, you have a black saviour. And then for Quan, he and his henchmen reminded me of how African actors are portrayed in Hollywood films as crazed, violent and senseless murderers. Here, substitute them with Vietnamese actors. Same diff. This is quite disturbing for a film that is trying to advocate for a marginalized and silence group, and in doing so it subjugates the Vietnamese actors.

Finally, Quan is the character who brought up My Lai. That massacre, if anyone cares to research it, was the product of socio-economic inequalities in American society at the time. As well as failures in the American military training program, basically the lack thereof. It is very complex, and the horror experienced by the Vietnamese is barely acknowledged at all, except maybe superficially through archival photos and footage. There is that word again, superficial.

For film-making technique, I think Spike Lee did much better than the writers. The script should have been rejected by Mr. Lee.

Howling (2012)

Superb!

[9/10 · 18 August 2020]

The story and characters are well-developed from beginning to finish. More than just a serial-murder mystery, it also has some social justice components that gives the conflict a few more layers of complexity. A very moving conclusion to a clever detective-mystery.

Killer Toon (2013)

Too boring and unmotivated

[2/10 · 18 August 2020]

The characters and plot line were too lacking in any substance or development. The actress has the same expression on her face the whole time. Looks like the director/writer threw a whole basket of horror movie tropes together without putting much thought into telling a meaningful or compelling story.