Pethushka

The beginning of this film is one of the most interesting I have ever seen. Unfortunately, you end up expecting too much afterwards, so you might be a little disappointed. I was expecting a more original denouement or something that would have moved me. Still, it's a very enjoyable film. Min-ah Shin was once again charming. 4 stars.

This dorama avoids a lot of stupid and tired clichés, which is almost unheard of in a romantic comedy. Nothing is overdramatized here, and the main character is able to handle situations in a way that doesn't make her behavior annoying. He's a bit on the simpler side, but I would still rank him among the better leading men. The 16 hours flew by faster than some two-hour movies for me. A strong 4 stars.

I would compare the first two episodes to a confused shuffle of cards, where the only interesting thing is that no one knows who is shuffling them. I didn't start having fun until the cards were dealt to the table. It wasn't until then that the first episodes suddenly started making sense to me. Once you start playing, the tension builds considerably. We get to the deepest core of all the characters, the puzzle begins to fall into place, yet everyone is drowning in uncertainty. As the game draws to a close, you can't even breathe... It's brilliant in its own way. But I need to see it at least one more time to fully understand it.

What to write? The first three episodes are exquisite. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. I even watched each of them twice. And then it gets complicated, sometimes someone comes in, sometimes someone leaves. Someone comes back after a while, someone leaves for good. This dorama is just like life. Sometimes we're not happy with how it's going, but then there are times when everything seems exactly as it should be. And the beautiful often makes us forget the bad. And that's how I feel about this show. Love isn't one-sided, there are many loves, some lasting a few moments, others decades. Love hurts, it brings pleasure, and it can mess with our heads. Sometimes we're not sure, sometimes we're surer than we should be. And then? I loved the main characters for their openness and naturalness. The series avoids many of the usual clichés. Each episode has an upbeat, beautiful soundtrack. The casting of the main couple is perfect, the supporting cast mostly so. Although there are some instances that I would have liked to have been spared.

I'm not a die-hard Ki-duk Kim fan, but he almost always gets in my head. And here he succeeded most of all. This topic evoked unexpectedly strong emotions in me that I can't shake for a few hours now. I wouldn't have expected to say this, but it was a great film. 4 stars.

I probably should have written this review incrementally, since I'll be singing one ode after another here after seeing that big (really big!) finale. So I'll start... Does this show have any flaws? It doesn't. The cast? Amazing, mature, and new. The story? One of the best. The music? It captures the atmosphere exactly. How many times did I cry during the show? I'd rather keep that a little secret. :) This drama is one of Korea's best.

The chances of loving this dorama are high. If you don't like one story, you'll like the other. Plus, the "girls" are experts, so there's no risk of boredom. Romantically, I'm not quite as fulfilled as I'd like to be, but it's offset by the fact that there are more of the couples. Of course, I can't put this in the category of Korean series like The Snow Queen, Secret Garden, or IRIS, but at the same time I have no reason to give it a lower rating. 4.5 stars.

Once again, this is a work from a world I don't really understand. The music and some of the shots are beautiful, but the rest of it remains somewhat incomprehensible on my part. I didn't get to know the characters at all, didn't connect with them, and in general didn't actually become involved with them. Though I admit the little stain was adorable.

I'm not even considering a lower rating. I was of course blown away by the fantastic music and the way they worked with it. The way it got louder at the right moment, at other times it merely augmented the conversation and remained in the background. The acting didn't even surprise me, as I kind of automatically expect that from these actors. I am also satisfied with the casting of the supporting roles. And most importantly in this case, the perfect story. It comes on slowly and uncertainly, but gradually builds up to the grand finale. Everything fits nicely and surprises in a not too dramatic way. I like that.

The character of Will is brilliant in every way, especially his thoughts. Gradually, though, he lapses into the dramatic side, which I found a bit stifling at times. For some of the supporting characters, I'd happily (and very gladly) change actors. In my book Will is worth the entire 3.5 stars for the film as a whole.