Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken.
— Oscar Wilde.
This is the first post on my new blog. On this blog I am going to review dramas, movies and books that read from now on. [Ignore that my URL only says cinematics]
I love entertainment in general and by writing I hope to share my recommendations, document what I have watched and also improve my writing.
Was excited for this series because of Woo Do Hwan and Kim Go Eun but then…
A king from a parallel universe discovers a parallel universe that can be entered using half of an artifact that he saved from an attack of a traitor. He discovers that the traitor has been alive and killing one of the two people that are in the two worlds and replacing them with the other, while planning to get the whole artifact and rule the other world as King.
King, Lee Gon falls in love with a police officer called Jeong Tae Eul, who helps him with the mission and also goes back and forth the worlds with him.
Complex storyline that did not make sense to me and too many blatant product ad placements…
If you like Kim Go Eun and Woo Do Hwan and ran out of things to watch then this is for you
– Rebecca
Honestly, I am not really satisfied with the drama. If I remove the product ad placements and a bit of the complexity of the Korean drama then it might have been better. Honestly, never really liked Lee Min Ho, so what kept me watching the drama was more of Woo Do Hwan, Kim Go Eun and curiousity to see if it would get better.
Honestly, the scenes were shot well, the CG was good but the story was so complex and the lines were cringey and product ad placements were so apparent and widespread. Suddenly this appeared, suddenly they fell in love, suddenly they can travel back in time. There was too much going on for my small mind to comprehend the parallel universe and how it worked. You can just take it at surface level but towards the end there was too much going on that I didn’t get the scenes and I just managed to finish it because it was posted on Netflix and was convenient to watch.
For someone who made Goblin, I was expecting a much better drama. This is especially so with the star-studded cast and Netflix backing…
So… I’m not sure what I watched but I finished it in half a day…
Oh Ji Soo, a very smart number one student, happens to run a prostitute protection service company. He uses voice modification and engages a retired military (?) officer to carry out the services. One day, he gets his phone stolen and a classmate Bae Gyuri comes into his life. She pesters him, says he is her boyfriend to save him from school bullies and becomes his business partner. He becomes the second student in the extracurricular club together with Bae Gyuri.
Not a cotton candy drama – dark, twisted and gory…
Keeps you on the edge of your seat/ bed with the plot twists…
– Rebecca
One of his other classmates called Seo Min Hee turns out to be a minor that is involved in his business. Things take another turn when she tries to work without the protection service and almost gets caught by the police. From then onwards, the police start poking around to find answers to that case.
Bae Gyuri started playing games with Oh Ji Soo and this lead to him putting all his money in a suitcase that is found by his father that then steals it and invests into digital currency. With no money to pay the officer, Oh Ji Soo temporarily has no livelihood. This results in his clients starting to have the desire to switch service company. Gyuri then gives him money to start business again in-exchange for being the business partner.
From then onwards they work together and stand up for each other and try to save Min Hee from the police. As time passes, the matter escalates and blows up when the officer gets an axe in his back from a gangster that wants to find out who the guy who slept with his wife was. This leads to Ji Soo almost getting killed and becoming business partners with the gangsters.
The gangsters start having evil intentions and want to find out who is the boss behind Ji Soo. Things escalate even further and Min Hee escape with the officer who she treats as her grandfather and Gyuri gets kidnapped. Ji Soo comes to the rescue and they both flee a motel. Min Hee’s boyfriend then starts searching for the pimp who pimped out Min Hee and him with a whole gang of students start a fight at the gangster’s karaoke. There the fight results in the officer dying and everyone going to the police station except for Gyuri and Ji Soo. Gyuri says she wants to continue the business while Ji Soo wants nothing to do with it. Gyuri then uses the phone to blackmail her parents and get money to go to Sydney and extends an invitation to Ji Soo who does not accept because both of them together is dangerous to him.
Min Hee finds out that Ji Soo is the pimp and he finds out that she had recorded his confession. He gets into a fight with her because she was going to expose Gyuri also and then she takes a fall down the stairs. Her boyfriend found out he was the pimp from the gangster’s wife and he pays him a visit and find’s Min Hee’s phone smashed and covered in blood. He stabs Ji Soo and Gyuri comes to the rescue and they try to escape from the police but Gyuri stays with Ji Soo instead of running away.
Honestly, I am not sure what I watched. It was interesting and then it got twisted. There were definitely alot of plot twists that would get you bingeing the whole series in one sitting.
It highlights the struggles students have and the relationships they have with adults and other students. It also draws attention and awareness to the dark side of students – that they are not always innocent and the power of money.
The ease of friendship formation is also seen in this drama, where circumstances bring people together. The innocence in believing each other and leaning on each other in times of need. The innocent crush and wanting to do anything to save and protect each other.
Finally got around to watching this drama 🙂 Loved the first season and finished this within 2 days haha
If you loved season 1, you won’t be disappointed with season 2!
– Rebecca
It continues on from season 1 where the younger doctors of Doldam Hospital have left and they are looking for more doctors to work in the hospital. Kim Sabu is same as always and so are his enemies.
3 new doctors start working in the hospital from the main branch. One is a 4 years female resident who will start dating in the hospital (watch to find out who), another is a male that starts working there to earn money because he is boycotted for whistle-blowing and the last is a female that cannot operate in the operating room due to nausea.
Together with Kim Sabu they carry out emergency surgeries and keep the hospital running. Plot twists happen left and right and Kim Sabu remains the same as always, together with his colleagues in the hospital. (there is something very sad that happens though… watch to find out… has something to do with President Yeo)
Loved the first season and loved the second. But I think the first was better, loved it because the romance was more prominent. In this dramas they did have abit here and there but it was more focused on the hospital and how to save it.
I was also kind of fed up with the villains in this drama, especially the corrupt ones that just follow the superiors or encouraged them to do things that were obviously wrong. Some of them made sense, some of them were just so stupid (for a lack of a better word), they were so stubborn. I mean as a doctor, wouldn’t it at least occur to you to have more rational thinking?
Also the villain from the first season, I do not what he is doing in this season. He just appears from time to time and is just like I want to shut down the hospital and build a different one. He seems to be trying to do everything from behind the scenes. Then there is the sudden plot twist at the end and his big ruckus after hearing about it.
This season does have everything I loved from the first season and more, but I personally like season 1 more. I hope there is a season 3 with everyone.
Dr Romantic is such a idealistic drama, it brings hope and a warm fuzzy feeling in your heart as you immerse yourself in the storyline. You become one with this big family that loves you and helps you throughout the way. They care about everyone and everyone is the same, a patient, and every life is precious.
Started watching to see the hype and it was so worth it!!!
Tells the story of 5 best friends from college that start working at the same hospital and also restarted their band sessions. Every episode is filled with their patient incidents and personal stories.
If you loved the reply series or prison playbook you would love this!
Both entertaining and gives you the feels all in one, with special emphasis on friendship and comradeship!
– Rebecca
After the Chairman of the hospital dies, the youngest son convinces his friends to run the VIP suites and hands over the chairman position to the next in line at the hospital.
All 5 friends started their friendship with each other in college as they are all from the same college. They all have different medical specialisations and different personalities but they are all close.
The drama touches on all the interactions in the hospital with all different types of patients and cases. It also depicts hospital politics, romance and friendship.
Loved the drama! Halfway through I also decided to check the screenwriter and director of the drama and I found out they are the same as the Reply series, which makes alot of sense because I thought it was similar.
The drama really hits you hard with the feels – friendship, family relations, couple relationships, patient and doctor interaction, its all depicted. I especially enjoyed the scenes where all 5 of the friends were interacting together. You get to see that they are all so different, but they know each other so well and the little fights are so entertaining to watch. It makes me want to call my friends, and even wish I had such a group of close friends.
I just wished they had a better ending, but I think they left it more open because it is already decided that there would be a second season. Looking forward to the next season 🙂
I saw Kang Yul in a youtube video “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyEolIkl94o” and I thought he looked nice so I wanted to watch the drama he was in.
Best romance web drama of 2020!!!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND BOTH SEASONS! YOU WON’T REGRET!
– Rebecca
A girl called Yeon Doo starts high school and she is being stalked by a old classmate who is now in a different school. This leads to her taking her best friends advice and saying that she has a boyfriend and uses Heon Ho’s photo without knowing it was his photo as her profile picture. This is the start of their friendship and romance.
In season 2, it continues from after the semester break after Yeon Doo and Heon Ho starts dating and another girl and guy transfers into the school. The girl seems to be similar to Yeon Doo and the guy is a talented baseball player that spends alot of time with Yeon Doo because they are doing service hours in the library.
Season 1: Heon Ho confronts her about the picture and then she offers to be his bread shuttle (a.k.a. the person who buys his bread during break time in school). Then they start hanging out more and understanding each other. Yeon Doo also finds out Heon Ho’s friends secret and they start getting closer to each other, making Heon Ho jealous. Heon Ho and his friend Ju Ho start to crush on Yeon Doo at the same time and they try and fight for her attention. In the end, Yeon Doo starts dating Heon Ho.
Season 2: Heon Ho gets jealous when the new transfer student Seung Hyun spends alot of time with Yeon Doo. The new student Ara turns out to be the stalker’s ex girlfriend and was going around befriending everyone just to spread lies and break Yeon Doo and Heon Ho up for revenge. During this whole period, Heon Ho gets increasingly jealous and also teachers are brainwashing him into thinking that Yeon Doo would be better without her and he was a bad influence. This does make him break up with Yeon Doo when they both still like each other. Seung Hyun who does not like breaking the rules is now able to openly show his affection for Yeon Doo and also confesses to her, but she still likes Heon Ho and there is a happy ending.
Honestly, best carefree cute high school drama! It has all the elements I love, the gangster, the good student, the friend clique, the from friends to lovers, the loyalty, the protectiveness.
It was so cute that I couldn’t stop until I finished all episodes of both seasons. There were cute moments everywhere, in both the friendships and the couple scenes. The interaction between the characters were all interesting and fun to watch. It isn’t too heavy a drama and it isn’t too comedy like. Just the right balance of both with a large spoonful of innocent high school romance.
Honestly, I thought the guys overall acted better than the girls though. I did not really like Yeon Doo’s acting, but other than that I thought all of them could go and act in a main broadcasting station’s drama right now and I would watch it, especially Kang Yul (a.k.a. Heon Ho).
Another Netflix Korean movie…
A gang of 4 try to rob a gambling den right after one of them come out of prison after taking the fall for 2 of them and 1 other who steals the money from the previous heist. After robbing the den they find themselves being hunted…
Good film to watch for the action and suspense!
Don’t watch if you do not like open or unhappy endings…
– Rebecca
After coming out of prison, Jun Seok talks about a too good to be true dream of moving to another country and living on a beach peacefully instead of in their protest filled country. He rounds up his friends and they carry out preparations to rob the gambling den.
They successfully robbed the place, but because they took the hard disks they started getting chased by someone called Han. He is all powerful and even controls the police. One by one Jun Seok’s friends are killed. Han is seen to be chased by the twin brother of the arms dealer that he killed. But the ending scenes, show that all of Jun Seok’s friends were killed and Han survived. Han even brought down the twin brother of the arm’s dealer and Jun Seok went back to the place he escaped to try and get revenge. And that’s how the movie ended.
Honestly, I think I had too high of expectations for this movie. It started out nicely with the painting of the dystopia. I didn’t read the synopsis so I didn’t know they were going to be chased so I thought the crux of the synopsis was them getting cheated of their money.
However, halfway through the show, Han actually said he had got all that he needed and that he was still chasing him. That particular scene made me go “what?” why is he chasing them still. I think maybe because he was just a lunatic.
I felt sad for Jun Seok because all his friends died for him so he could live his dream. But in the end he went back to the place he escaped to avenge their death. I felt that everything just went in one circle and it was like then why is there a movie.
THE ACTING WAS VERY GOOD THOUGH… although I’m not a fan of the storyline. I have watched many movies and dramas with the actors in it and I think the fact that their characters in this movie overrode the previous characters they played before says something.
Honestly I wasn’t going to write a review on this book but it really left an impact on me. Initially I was reading a Christian book but then I got bored and realised that I had this book so I decided to start on it. And I read it everyday for 3 days and finished it.
The book details the hardships and successes of Robert Iger throughout his career from his starting job in ABC to becoming the CEO of the Walt Disney Company and its acquisitions that made it the company today.
100% Recommend everyone to give this a read!!!
Lessons learnt, feelings felt, stories told all will hit you at a relatable level!!!
-Rebecca
It talks his life starting from the first job in ABC and what he had to undergo, starting from the lowest of jobs. He then was able to earn the respect and be liked by others by respecting those around him and absorbing the points and lessons he felt were good from his superiors.
This led to ABC’s Tom and Dan trusting him and putting him into positions that he did not have the experience for. But they believed in his ability. The rest of the book also describes the struggle to be picked although he tried his best. It also describes his struggle to become to the CEO through all the lobbying.
After becoming CEO, he befriends Steve Jobs who eventually dies from cancer. Before he did so, he told Robert 10 minutes before they were about to announce a deal. Steve Jobs had a had history with Robert’s previous superior and he overcame that by respecting Steve Jobs and trying to understand where he comes from. Next came the string of acquisitions: Pixar, LucasFilm, Fox.
Honestly, I thought this book about be boring but it is very candid and even heartfelt. It makes it seem like Robert although having such success, is also human.
To me, the reason why he is successful is because he believes in himself and others around him and is genuinely caring and respectful. He does not hold very personal grudges and trying to understand others from their persepctive. He gives his best in everything that he does and tries not to become that overcontrolling boss that thinks that his opinion is final and the best. He does trust his gut, but he also does do the necessary math and knows how to handle things.
I honestly cried during that line that was written about Steve Jobs, at his funeral when his wife came over to Robert. She said when she asked if Steve had told Robert about his cancer and whether they could trust him, Steve replied with “I love that guy”. Then honestly, just typing his out made me tear. The emotions in the book also bring you on a adventure (for a lack of a better word). If you immerse yourself into the book, I felt everything he was feeling (hopefully). I felt the stress, the pressure, the sadness, the adrenaline.
This book reminds us of the seemingly meaningless principles that all people should have: respect others and give your best. These are honestly easy to say but always hard to keep… You need to consciously do these and remind yourself. You need to be able to compartmentalize and see what is the best and right. In terms of politics, he also learned from those around him and rode on the fine line many of times.
Although, I’m sure 99.9% of the people reading the book are not CEO’s of gigantic companies, but lessons learnt from the book can be applied in real life. And I am glad I gave this book a read and I have gained so much respect for him and also in awe of how a person can achieve this. I believe it is because of his character and because he is surrounded that people who see his good and believe in him.
Although I am not of that caliber, I hope to look back at my life retrospectively and say I have learnt lessons and I have been there for others and done what I thought was right and am happy with where I am.
Decided to watch a movie and this movie in my opinion is not even worth a toilet bowl watch…
A nerd rooms with a playboy in college and they work together to create a hookup app called the Jungle so the nerd can earn money to get into his dream college and get his dream girl.
Like most of its reviews, do not waste your time watching this!
It leaves you with a feeling of ickiness, especially if you are a girl…
– Rebecca
The nerd, James moves into college and then he is also quite socially awkward. We then realise that this society is dumb and superficial and into hookups. The college students do not do their first assignment and James lies he didn’t to fit in.
After talking to his roomate, Lance, they then come to an agreement to create the hookup app as Lance had complaints about the current offerings. However, this was on the condition that James was not openly associated with the app. This lead to Lance becoming the developer of the app. Things take a turn when James realises that his mother is on the app.
He then takes down the app as well as other hookup apps. He then escapes his room as his roomate and his friends are forcing him to re-start the app. He runs into his crush Hannah and she helps him by hiding him in her sorority house. James then gives speeches about helping the females gain back their power. In the end he gets the girl, Lance develops feelings for a casual hook up.
Honestly, I love Noah, but then this movie was trash. I skipped most of it and it was probably the worst movie I have blogged about on this blog. This is just 100% what you would think a trash American movie is, in my opinion.
It depicts college students as all stupid and not hardworking, having no mind of their own, horny and hungry for sex. It depicts women controlled by men and men knowing nothing about treating women as equals. It depicts men liking girls only for their physical aspects. Not only that, but guys who study and in my opinion look normal as nerds or people that will never succeed in the social aspect of life. The message it brings across is that females are below males and that teenagers are obsessed with apps and sex.
It tries to evoke some type of feelings by saying that girls are in power if they are not on the apps. But to me, shouldn’t that be the preface of the story. That message is also hardly brought across except in words very briefly at the end. There is not really a well thought out solution to the problem they had in the movie. It just suddenly ends in my opinion with not much of a conflict. It is too short to try and address some of the problems they brought out with the movie.
Trashy movies can be entertaining, but this one is just a waste of time… Why does Lance even suddenly become a acceptable human being in the end? Why does he suddenly have feelings for a girl, when it was not even hinted at at all throughout the movie…
My exams just ended so I finally had more time to watch this drama that I have been wanting to watch…
It follows the story of employees in a trading company called One International, from interns to contract employees and the teams they are deployed to. Jang Geu Re, with nothing but a highschool GED becomes an intern in that company and has to learn the basics of office work. It depicts realistic work life in korea.
Highly recommended and highly relatable to those working or trying to get a job!
-Rebecca
The story is touches on the hardships of working and getting a job in Korea. Jang Geu Re, is an ex ba-duk player that does not have academic credentials. After doing alot of odd jobs, it is offered an internship in that big trading company. There he faces discrimination and hardship. But, he is persistent and hardworking and puts in 100% in whatever he does.
His efforts are seen and he becomes a contract worker. There, he and his team, sales team 3, foster bonds and land great projects. There are definitely hardships and office politics throughout the series. Jang Geu Re, is the black sheep, the underdog, that worked his way up, with his unconventional ideas. The 3 other interns that became contact employees also have strong bonds with Geu Re and each other as they were in the same batch.
However, in the end, Jang Geu Re, does not become a full time employee. His superior, Mr Oh, quit to take responsibility for a mistake Jang Geu Re made in the last project. The last few scenes, show the team getting back together as they all join Mr Oh in the new company they set up.
It was very realistic and depicted how the office environment is, with all the politics and unspoken rules.
Being a drama, I was hoping for a more happy ending. But it was realistic and I am glad that they all got back together as a team and that was predictable. Throughout the drama, they kept talking about credentials and performance. I thought that Jang Geu Re could become a permanent employee but then it was not to be. In the end, they still showed that company rules are strict and academic credentials are important and far more important than what you actually achieved in the company. This is what happens in the real life but, I thought that it was not a very good message that is sent to whoever watches it.
I loved the teamwork and loyalty that the main characters had. They were competitors but also they became closer. They are a group of people who only had working in the company as their common point.
I loved sales team 3 also, they do business ethically and do not go against their principles even if it is the easier way. I love how they come up with out of the box ideas and pride themselves in doing the best they can. They do not care about what would get them their promotion if they need to do something that is against their morals.
I finished this drama in 2 days haha loved it! I think more than Beauty Inside and I would put it on the same level as Itaewon Class or maybe slightly lower…
Story about a girl who has never been in a relationship and in a family that is biased towards sons. Her brother gets his girlfriend pregnant while she is away and she is kicked out of their house and she starts rooming with a strict housemate. They each thought their housemates were the same gender as themselves and they enter a contractual marriage because she needs a house and he needs the rent.
Cute quirky drama that leaves you wanting to find your one true love
– Rebecca
It shows that she does not have luck in terms of romance and he is like a robot who does not have emotions. All he cares about is his cat and the rent. They make a good match because she is responsible and he has a house.
She is also an assistant writer and she gets sexually harassed by her former crush and this leads her to stop writing and marry the housemate. Through time, they start to grow fond of each other and have a sense of belonging. There are also 2 other storyline happening, two other couples that consist of their other same sex friends.
One couple has been dating for 7 years and are having arguments regarding marriage. The other is a charismatic girl that lives with the “my way” mindset and the CEO of the housemates company.
There was a few episodes about another competitor for her attention, who was wrongly suspected to be a stalker. He then stays as a character that is similar to a younger brother.
After they start to fall in love, his ex-fiance comes into the picture, offering her a contract to be a writer in the company. It occurs near the end of the series, and this leads her to suggest a divorce. But the divorce was so she could marry him for real this time but he didn’t know that and went through a drinking spree.
It was a very cute drama, with the themes of love – family, parental, friends. It showed that everyone expresses their love differently, but all types of love are sincere. It also shows that not everyone is how they are portrayed, you cannot judge someone without actually understanding them.
I loved all the little storylines, but I found the one about the 7 years but still dating couple annoying. It was the same problem over and over again… I’m happy they reached a conclusion at the end, but I sort of thought they wouldn’t get married. I think it would have been more realistic if they did not and they found other people. Because he suddenly realised he wants and can marry her and easily came up with a solution.
I also did not really like the ending conflict where she was trying to divorce him but she wanted to actually marry him for real. Couldn’t she have actually told him her intentions instead of putting him through so much grief?
Bex's Cinematic Reviews