Gogh, the Starry Night

Having started with no expectations for this film, I would still rate it 8.5 stars (rounded up to 9). If you are looking for something fresh, deep, or with a unique plot, then this show probably WON'T do it for you. But if you're like me (a romance junkie who loves K-Drama but sometimes wishes they had a bit more bite), you may find it surprisingly satisfying.

The plot is basically a harem-style, otome (dating) game in movie format - certainly nothing new. However, the main cast had outstanding chemistry with one another, and despite the overall cliche setup, the attraction scenes felt tangible with plenty of tension (both sexual and otherwise). Additionally, none of the characters were shy in expressing themselves (a nice change from the usual subtle restraint of K-Drama love stories), and the competition among the male leads added some truly funny moments as well!

It did take me a few episodes to figure out what the "star rating" scenes were about, but it wasn't too distracting since that wasn't the main focus of the story (initially). And wow, i lost count of how many A-list actors made cameo appearances!

In short, if you are all about K-romance, then I suggest giving this one a try. At the very least it is a quick, easy watch, which means you won't waste a lot of time figuring out if you like it or not.

ROMANCE RATING: * * * 9/10. Despite there only being 1.5 kiss scenes, I still found my heart pounding frequently during this film. Also, since the episodes are 30%-60% shorter than most current K-Dramas and the story is lighter, the lack of physical contact didn't seem disproportional. Recommended!