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Reviews
Past Lives (2023)
If Only Things Had Been Different
This is not a movie for young people. To truly understand and feel the impact of this story you must have lived long enough to have known that person who may have been "The One" or the "In-yun"if the direction of your lives did not take you to other places and people. This is a story you take home with you and feel the loss while also accepting that this was not to be in this life.
The three main actors embody their roles in subtle ways. You can see who the characters they portray are by the use of skilled body language, the silent pauses, and the charming to me use of the Asian "hmm" of agreement.
Twogether (2020)
Lots of Feel Good Moments
Lee Seung-gi and Jasper Liu are funny, charming and so adorable in this travel show to meet fans. I especially love how they strive to communicate with each other. Lots of feel good moments as they run around trying to solve silly tests that then provide them with clues to the location of the fan in each locale. This is Lee Seung-gi's superpower: although very famous, wealthy and talented, he is open and genuine. This was my first exposure to Jasper Liu; he was superb as LSG's partner in crime. Hopefully this 2020 travel series will not be the last one the two do together. There are so many places to see and fans all over the world who love a visit.
Why Women Love (2022)
Delightful Romance
This C-drama with relative newcomer Wang Ziyi was a delight to watch. He is stunning, with a physical presence you will relish. The role gives him an opportunity to show strength and tenderness. The female lead is radiant as the tough career woman. Their developing romance has none of the tropey drama that is a given in most K-dramas: no drunken FL that has to carried on the guy's back (repeatedly) or the vicious mother-in-law to be. The soundtrack is also good. Yes, it does take a bit too long (for Westerners) for the couple to be intimate; however, it is not a tortuous process to get there. Instead, you will laugh, cry and wish you were newly in love too.
Shin'ai naru boku e satsui wo komete (2022)
Riveting Story
The English language title is "The Killer Inside" starring Ryosuki Yamada. You can find it on Rakuten Viki. It is a tense, edge of your seat psychological mystery thriller that has many plot twists and a heart-stopping performance by Ryosuki Yamada as the lead character who suffers from a split personality due to the consequences of a police investigation that resulted in a false accusation and the destruction of his family. Do an internet search if you want a an expanded plot synopsis; however, for the full effect, I recommend that you abstain from knowing too much about the story in advance.
Wu Dong Qian Kun (2018)
Starts Slow, Keep Watching, Classic Hero's Journey
The story does take a while to coalesce. One of the issues is that the actor, Yang Yang, looks ill and is underweight in the first ten episodes. After the first ten though our reluctant hero begins to accept his fate and rise to it. (Yang Yang also appears to regain a few pounds and his color is restored.) From episode twelve on it is an epic, thrilling and romantic telling of a young man who walks the path of his destiny. He is accompanied and aided by strong female and male companions. The trivia says this is based on Xianxia, a genre of Chinese fantasy heavily inspired by Chinese Mythology. As an American, I would guess that our great teacher of myth, the late Joseph Campbell, would have liked this production.