clashjam Reviews

Our Beloved Summer (2021–2022)

Awful Show Title but Highly Entertaining

[8/10 · 14 May 2024]

I avoided this show for a few years because the translated title makes it sound like a cure for sleeping disorders (a snoozer!) Luckily, the high IMDB rating kept it on my radar. I'm only 4 episodes in, but so far, very fun and unique concept.

Stars the breakout actress from The Itaewon Class (which had 14 great eps and two dreadful ones). It's a fun and whimsical look at a couple of mismatched students paired up for a documentary in high school, and an eager production company wanting to do an update 10 years later. Reminds me a bit of Michael Apted's excellent docs 63 Up and all the ones before it.

Yugoeui Nal (2023– )

Cartoonish, could have been great

[6/10 · 8 November 2023]

Such a disappointment! A super interesting premise that goes down the wrong road with poorly defined characters, cartoonish & unnecessary chase scenes & violence. Of course, in similar fashion to other shows (like Vagabond), characters can be stabbed, in car accidents and beaten to a pulp, but everyone instantly recovers. And at times characters can easily stay off the grid, that is unless someone (or the writer) needs to find them ASAP.

What saves this is the great performances of the two leads. Yu Na and Yoon Kye-sang.

Glad this was only 12 episodes and virtually all are 60 minutes. With so many great stories/compelling Korean drama's, check out the far more entertaining Reborn Rich or Start-Up for light weight, but wonderful shows.

Checkout (2018– )

Extremely Overrated

[3/10 · 5 September 2023]

Could make it through only 5 episodes. Not sure how this could muster such a high IMDB score, but full of one-dimensional character and poorly orchestrated scenarios. If workplace comedies are your thing, try Trollied, The Office (UK/USA) or Parks & Rec for far superior shows.

In terms of great Israeli comedies, I'd recommend Beauty and the Baker (Lihyot Ita) or. Nora Koler's Rehearsals (Hazarot) and you'll instantly see the quality difference.

In terms of Checkout, i appreciate the character diversity as it does show Israel as more of a melting pot, but unfortunately everyone is walking stereotype.

Anna: Episode #1.8 (2022) Season 1, Episode 8

Perfect Ending

[9/10 · 2 April 2023]

Really enjoyable last episode!!

But why is it that all native English speakers in this episode are such awful actors? The Canadian woman that comes our of her cabin to chat with Yu-Mi acting was absolutely hysterical. It was nice to have some comedy, even thought that probably wasn't the intention.

Also, didn't know there was any desert between San Francisco and Tahoe. Still, great conclusion to wonderful series and Bae Suzy is amazing.

Finally, did not fully understand the Ji-Woon ending. After the prosecutor ignores her (or looks the other way), we see her boarded up in a room, while she stand precariously on the ledge. Is she out there to get attention as Ji-Hoon's thugs are trying to kill her? Wasn't really sure, but glad to see she persevered in the later scenes.

4 Blocks: Wiedergutmachung (2018) Season 2, Episode 6

Subtitles are a mess for this episode

[5/10 · 31 July 2022]

Overall, such a great series, but HBOMax has messed up the subtitles on this episode, mo matter your device they are 10 minutes behind the video. HBO refuses to fix or even acknowledge the issue. The English language voiceeovers (dubs), have to be some of the worst dubs ever. It's comical how bad they are.

Reply 1988 (2015–2016)

Enjoyable, but Episodes are WAY too long

[8/10 · 28 April 2022]

If you are looking for a nice, easy-going drama then you have found your show. A wonderful assortment of colorful, yet realistic characters live on this small alley. For the most part they grow up together and this drama tells their story focusing on 5 families, with a particular emphasis on the year 1988.

When you research it, 1988 was a cornerstone year in Korea from a multitude of perspectives. Yet the show completely glosses over it. One of the characters is involved in student led protests, but there really is never is any discussion on the origins of the protests as the political upheaval at the time.

My biggest complaint is the non-stop "goat" sound whenever there is a funny or silly moment in EVERY episode. In addition, many episodes are way too long with the last two nearly 2 hours each. It would have been easy to edit these 20 episodes into 30 or more. Finally, whenever the show references older TV shows, Movies & Books, they are always blurred out, so we can't see them. My guess is the rights fees to these images outside of Korea are prohibitively expense, but never less, it's still annoying.

Still all & all, quite enjoyable show.

Sense8: Smart Money's on the Skinny Bitch (2015) Season 1, Episode 3

Getting more interesting, yet language issue persists

[6/10 · 19 October 2021]

The problem with the show is that the Wachowskis think little of the viewer. Why is is that EVERYONE speaks English. Never thought Mexican or South Koreans (or Germans) would converse in English when talking to each other. How about speak in your native tongue and add subtitles, like every intelligent show does?

PMTA (2018– )

Unexpected Gem

[8/10 · 9 September 2021]

Just finished the 13 episode first series and really enjoyed. Available on a start-up service called Izzy, well worth subscribing for month to watch.

Great characters and story keeps moving in unexpected way. Wish the 2nd series was available outside of Israel.

Girls5eva (2021– )

Really disappointing

[2/10 · 16 June 2021]

If you saw 30 Rock and Kimmy Schmidt this is basically more of the same. Interesting premise, but the same old stuff. If you need a Peacock show to watch, invest time in the wonderful We Are Lady Parts.

Valley of Tears (2020)

Missed the mark big time

[4/10 · 16 March 2021]

After so many great Israeli shows like Prisoners of War, False Flag, Our Boys and When Heroes Fly, we all had high expectations, but this was a complete dud. Don't let the big budget fool you, all the money was spent on battle scenes, CGI and not much else.

Characters were one dimensional (cartoonish often times), acting was mediocre and overall a poorly written script. If you are looking to learn about this horrible war, this is not the show. The fact that a hedgehog has this much attention speaks volumes to the problems with this disappointment of a show.

Also, the show is available in original Hebrew language, but HBOMax doesnt make it easy to change.

Start-Up: F F F (Family, Friends, Fools) (2020) Season 1, Episode 2

Interesting Show So Far

[8/10 · 13 November 2020]

But the music is way too much. Let the dialogue and characters tell your story, don't try to manipulate the audience with the monotonous and just awful music

Itaewon Class (2020)

Best to quit after 13 episodes

[6/10 · 8 April 2020]

Seems to be a requirement that Korean dramas have to be 16 episodes, which makes some shows meander with drawn out scenes, overuse of slo-mo, too many flashbacks and irrelevant stories lines. This program is a perfect example as it started strongly with an intriguing storyline and featured characters types absent from K-drams (including a transgender as well as an African-Korean). But it goes bonkers by Ep 14 with a poorly constructed time jump. By the 15th episode, It totally goes off the deep end to the point where you literally ask yourself why are you even watching.

The love stories seem to lack any chemistry, but the core actors are quite competent. Kim Da-Mi and Lee Joo-Young truly standout.

Deadline (I) (2012)

Direct to DVD

[2/10 · 23 February 2012]

A film with some of the worst acting ever seen, Deadline (an AWFUL title) came across as a bad student film destined for a very short theatrical release. Saw this in Tennessee, and figured it's only in theaters here hoping to capitalize on the that it was filmed here.

Clichéd dialogue, stereotypical characters & unbelievable story development plague this film "inspired by a true story". Felt like a film from the 60s, not one from 2012.

There are many great films dealing with racial issues, but this is not one.

But it was great to Eric Roberts, who was the lone bright spot.

March 5, Addendum Note the two new "positive" user reviews are from the same person. Click on Cole and you'll see that the reviewer's name is Leslie Hutchens! My hunch is she worked on the film or is related to someone that did.

Nothing Trivial (2011– )

Friends - for 40 year olds

[9/10 · 1 September 2011]

A wonderful and refreshing comedy/drama from NZ that centers around 5 friends that meet once a week for quiz night at a local bar. All of them are single, yet dealing with the aftermath of either failed relationships and or on the hunt for that one great love. Well written with some superb performances make this a great escape. The assorted pub quiz questions from a myriad of categories also challenging. Not being a Kiwi, its great to learn about New Zealand and see the beauty of Auckland (and Te Kuiti)

Look for this show to be exported to countries around the globe including Canada, England and the US. Produced by South Pacific, let's hope they are selling it at MIPCOM.