DryedMangoez reviews of television series, films and music.
Twelve years after the release of the groundbreaking Love of Siam, director Chookiat Sakveerakul is back with Dew the Movie (ดิว ไปด้วยกันนะ/Dew, Let’s Go Together), a film that shares some of the former’s heart and sincerity. But somehow loses a bit of the emotional connection to truly make for a profound experience.
The Naver web series A Teen (에이틴) is an easy to digest coming-of-age story of youth in the final year of their teenage lives. Essentially presented in quick vignettes, the series doesn’t necessarily cover any new ground. But a charming cast help make it a breezy viewing experience.
After watching Weathering With You, I decided to immediately jump into an earlier Makoto Shinkai work I had been meaning to watch for a while now: The Garden of Words (言の葉の庭).
And after watching Shinkai’s 2013 film, I can’t help but feel like it is able to present similar themes and imagery as Weathering With You, but in half the time and in a more affecting way.
Perhaps Makoto Shinkai’s Weathering With You (天気の子) faced some unfairly high expectations after the global success of Your Name. But while Shinkai’s stunning vision and creative storytelling is still present, something somewhere stumbles. And that leaves the film struggling to avoid comparisons and struggling to give itself its own memorable voice.
It is only a coincidence that I watched the KBS miniseries How to Buy a Friend (계약우정) after just finishing Extracurricular and At Eighteen. Three series in a row addressing the unfortunate reality of school violence and the lack of resources and care for mental health, especially for youth.
The 2019 JTBC drama series At Eighteen (열여덟의 순간 /Moment at 18) is one of the sincerest depictions of teenage life in Korea I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching.
The 2002 short film Voices of a Distant Star (ほしのこえ) is one of Makoto Shinkai’s earliest works. But for anyone who watches it after having already enjoyed his more recent films, it is easy to see the talent and depth he would bring to his work later on already present.
I first watched Mamoru Hosoda’s Summer Wars (サマーウォーズ) a couple of years ago after enjoying Wolf Children. It’s been a while since watching the film again, so I decided to pop the Blu-ray in. And it was a little eye-opening to see some parallels between the film and what is happening in the world today.
The Netflix Korean drama Extracurricular (인간수업/Human Class) is a breathtaking and heartbreaking crime thriller that frames familiar contemporary social issues in a gritty, yet twistedly fun haze.
Led by excellent performances by Kim Hee Seon and Kim Hae Sook, tvN’s 2018 series Room No. 9 (나인룸) is an emotional thriller with a deep mystery that unfolds in a familiar, but nonetheless engaging way. And with a little bit of supernatural spice to add some extra flavor.