Time to start another drama. This time I'm switching to modern. Think I'm up to my ears in royal/formal speak. Not entirely a recommendation, I picked this up because of the lead actor, Song Il Gook, my current perv.
But I'm starting this show with a bit of apprehension as he has decided to lose a lot of weight for this part. I think I read somewhere it's close to 15kgs! So you can imagine from his Jumong days to now... he's looking a little gaunt because the sharp features on his face doesn't suit him and is showing his age. Oh well, hope the storyline is not too weak and the action scenes befits his new physique.
Showing posts with label Drama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Drama. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Jumong
I've started to watch this period epic Korean drama.
My third in so many weeks!
The first few episodes were really draggy, but it's starting to get interesting now.
How am I going to sit through 81 episodes?!
My third in so many weeks!
The first few episodes were really draggy, but it's starting to get interesting now.
How am I going to sit through 81 episodes?!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
The Great Queen Seondeok
Weekends are great for watching drama serials. I've bought a couple of Korean period ones and haven't gotten around to watching them. After watching Dong Yi, I think the period dramas have more substance. This weekend, I'll start with The Great Queen Seondeok. It's 80 episodes long but each episode is only about 45 minutes. Shorter than their normal one hour per episode.
The first few episodes look promising with me liking the evilest person, Mi-shil, a female. Her facial expressions are just classic, bordering on going insane. She's very sweet looking and I read that she's a very experienced actress and it really shows. Everyone else are just amateurs.
Meanwhile, I'm thinking that I should watch the first ten, the middle ten and the last ten episodes. 80 to 30! I'm sure all the actors, actresses, producers, director, cameramen, stunt people and everyone else who was involved in the making of this epic will curse me if I do *grin*
The first few episodes look promising with me liking the evilest person, Mi-shil, a female. Her facial expressions are just classic, bordering on going insane. She's very sweet looking and I read that she's a very experienced actress and it really shows. Everyone else are just amateurs.
Meanwhile, I'm thinking that I should watch the first ten, the middle ten and the last ten episodes. 80 to 30! I'm sure all the actors, actresses, producers, director, cameramen, stunt people and everyone else who was involved in the making of this epic will curse me if I do *grin*
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Dong Yi
I've started watching this Korean drama and it's really gripping! Set in the olden day era where Kings still have concubines, and it's riddled with heaps of funny scenes and plots, some elaborate, some not so elaborate.
Dong Yi, an extremely clever and observant girl, blessed throughout her life. Even after having lost her father and brother at a young age, to a trap set by the baddies, she manages to overcome everything that's thrown at her with a smile plastered on her face and become the love of the King's life. That's just the gist of it! The drama is 60 episodes long and each episode is an hour long. These are the kind of dramas you want to watch when you can't sleep on a plane that's flying halfway around the world *grin*
Dong Yi, an extremely clever and observant girl, blessed throughout her life. Even after having lost her father and brother at a young age, to a trap set by the baddies, she manages to overcome everything that's thrown at her with a smile plastered on her face and become the love of the King's life. That's just the gist of it! The drama is 60 episodes long and each episode is an hour long. These are the kind of dramas you want to watch when you can't sleep on a plane that's flying halfway around the world *grin*
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Dream High
I'm currently following the above k-drama. It's about a group of high school kids, each with their own amazing musical talent. They get to study in a prestigious music school which helps gifted kids debut sooner. Such is the aim of most kids in Korea?
The show kind of reminds me of Glee... the singing, dancing, not so much of fighting between the kids... except that it won't stretch as long as Glee will... the kids can't stay in high school forever and this will end at episode 16. After which, I'll want more. The show casts real singers and dancers making most of the singing and dancing executed amazingly well. But they have tight schedules to follow... so there will be no extending of the drama. Maybe they'll do a season 2, eh?
The show kind of reminds me of Glee... the singing, dancing, not so much of fighting between the kids... except that it won't stretch as long as Glee will... the kids can't stay in high school forever and this will end at episode 16. After which, I'll want more. The show casts real singers and dancers making most of the singing and dancing executed amazingly well. But they have tight schedules to follow... so there will be no extending of the drama. Maybe they'll do a season 2, eh?
Monday, January 24, 2011
The Snow Queen
I don't think I remember reading Hans Christian Andersen's version of this story, and I'm sure there are heaps of versions around, but the Korean's have managed to come up with a sob fest of a story with this underlying theme.
The only reason why I picked it up was for the actor, Hyun Bin. Not liking the way he looked in his most recent drama Secret Garden, I decided to pick this one up and it was one of the saddest k-drama I've ever watched. If you're going to watch it, stop reading now.
The story evolves around two people, the dorky guy, a maths genius and a girl who's been sick all her life. Something about the storyline should have warned me not to watch it, usually when someone has a weird illness, they will surely die. That's just the way dramas are meant to be. I thought my brain was mature enough to handle this, but no... my eyes are all swollen.
To make the story more sobby, the guy's best friend, who happens to be a good-looking maths genius commits suicide when he loses in the countrywide maths Olympiad. He didn't even place second, he didn't even place third. Of course the dorky guy came in first, so he blames himself for the reason his best friend committed suicide. Which if you think about it, is a bit silly, how can you be sorry for being smart? But he's supposed to be a 17 year old...
The story picks up again 8 years later. We find out that the dorky guy leaves school and decides to become a boxer. It was the dream of his best friend to be one, so he takes it on himself to fulfill that dream. Meets up with the younger sister of his best friend without knowing so, falls in love only to discover who she really is. Anyways, they somehow patch up only to have the weird illness claim her life. Such a sad, sad ending because the dorky guy spends most of his life being miserable... and lonely.
Will I watch this again? Yeah, if only for the early scenes between the main actors as they bicker and become steadfast friends.
The only reason why I picked it up was for the actor, Hyun Bin. Not liking the way he looked in his most recent drama Secret Garden, I decided to pick this one up and it was one of the saddest k-drama I've ever watched. If you're going to watch it, stop reading now.
The story evolves around two people, the dorky guy, a maths genius and a girl who's been sick all her life. Something about the storyline should have warned me not to watch it, usually when someone has a weird illness, they will surely die. That's just the way dramas are meant to be. I thought my brain was mature enough to handle this, but no... my eyes are all swollen.
To make the story more sobby, the guy's best friend, who happens to be a good-looking maths genius commits suicide when he loses in the countrywide maths Olympiad. He didn't even place second, he didn't even place third. Of course the dorky guy came in first, so he blames himself for the reason his best friend committed suicide. Which if you think about it, is a bit silly, how can you be sorry for being smart? But he's supposed to be a 17 year old...
The story picks up again 8 years later. We find out that the dorky guy leaves school and decides to become a boxer. It was the dream of his best friend to be one, so he takes it on himself to fulfill that dream. Meets up with the younger sister of his best friend without knowing so, falls in love only to discover who she really is. Anyways, they somehow patch up only to have the weird illness claim her life. Such a sad, sad ending because the dorky guy spends most of his life being miserable... and lonely.
Will I watch this again? Yeah, if only for the early scenes between the main actors as they bicker and become steadfast friends.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
My Name is Kim Sam Soon
A legend among all Korean Dramas! It's a series which I have no trouble watching over and over again, a feel-good drama. The writers and producers have strayed a little away from the norm of a pretty girl with a good-looking guy. Instead, the story is about a plus sized girl who's a great pastry chef. She meets a good-looking younger guy who runs a restaurant and ends up being the pastry chef. They somehow get close and against what their brain tells them, start to like each other.
The good-looking younger guy doesn't have a string of girlfriends as he's still hung up on an ex-girlfriend who left suddenly 3 years ago. Anyways, the leads end up being together, a happy ending, the kind that I like. One of the plus bits to this drama is of course the good-looking younger guy. He's none other than one of my favourite actors, Hyun Bin, and I'm guessing that this is one of his early dramas for which he started getting famous for.
The good-looking younger guy doesn't have a string of girlfriends as he's still hung up on an ex-girlfriend who left suddenly 3 years ago. Anyways, the leads end up being together, a happy ending, the kind that I like. One of the plus bits to this drama is of course the good-looking younger guy. He's none other than one of my favourite actors, Hyun Bin, and I'm guessing that this is one of his early dramas for which he started getting famous for.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Secret Garden
I know this is bad, but what can you do when you have time off from work but to catch up on your dramas!
Secret Garden is probably one of the best Korean dramas for this year, and the drama team is ending the year on a good note. Nothing since Boys Over Flowers came out back in 2008 has made me swoon. Not over the actors so much as the interesting storyline.
The story is about a rich dude (shopping centre president) and a poor girl (stunt woman). Aren't they all like that? Scriptwriters have given the rich dude some really good lines and the actor has managed to pull off on the acting. Also love the scary mother, as you would have, I haven't seen a drama where the super rich family has a mother and father who would be so kind to the uncultured, poor and not so pretty girlfriend (yeah, where would the drama be in that?)
The leading man is Hyun Bin. Tall, dark and handsome he used to be, but he has recently lost a lot of weight on his face and is looking rather haggard in this drama. I preferred his look when he was doing World's Within. Don't know who the leading actress is but her facial expressions are really good, especially when a soul switch happens between the both of them!
And instead of recycling a grand mansion, they have managed to find a place with sprawling gardens and a couple of beautiful studio houses. Love the wall to ceiling bay windows, open concept interior design and a quaint lake at the back of the house. How do I get me one of those?!
Secret Garden is probably one of the best Korean dramas for this year, and the drama team is ending the year on a good note. Nothing since Boys Over Flowers came out back in 2008 has made me swoon. Not over the actors so much as the interesting storyline.
The story is about a rich dude (shopping centre president) and a poor girl (stunt woman). Aren't they all like that? Scriptwriters have given the rich dude some really good lines and the actor has managed to pull off on the acting. Also love the scary mother, as you would have, I haven't seen a drama where the super rich family has a mother and father who would be so kind to the uncultured, poor and not so pretty girlfriend (yeah, where would the drama be in that?)
The leading man is Hyun Bin. Tall, dark and handsome he used to be, but he has recently lost a lot of weight on his face and is looking rather haggard in this drama. I preferred his look when he was doing World's Within. Don't know who the leading actress is but her facial expressions are really good, especially when a soul switch happens between the both of them!
And instead of recycling a grand mansion, they have managed to find a place with sprawling gardens and a couple of beautiful studio houses. Love the wall to ceiling bay windows, open concept interior design and a quaint lake at the back of the house. How do I get me one of those?!
Monday, December 20, 2010
Mary stayed out all night
So at some point in time, you kind of wonder how people who write dramas come out with the titles. I've been searching for a new show to watch and this one (also known as Marry Me, Mary) is currently showing on the telly. I think the one above doesn't make sense. So what if Mary stayed out all night... did something happen? Well, one episode into the show and I'm wondering if it did... she met someone, literally knocked into him... and so the story begins.
All I can say about this show now is that the actors are still adorable! And that's more than enough for me to keep watching. And what more, they're showing 2 episodes a day, which is 4 episodes a week. At least we won't have to wait long to find out what's going to happen next (or what happens at the end)!
All I can say about this show now is that the actors are still adorable! And that's more than enough for me to keep watching. And what more, they're showing 2 episodes a day, which is 4 episodes a week. At least we won't have to wait long to find out what's going to happen next (or what happens at the end)!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Coffee House
So it's the weekend, and what would you do over the weekend but to catch up on the telly dramas which you've missed out on during the week. I'm glad we have a digital recorder... something we got recently where we can record shows (sort of like when we used to have the VCR, only we store the recorded shows on a hard drive) that we're not around to see. So I'm supposed to be catching up but what do I do instead? I went out and bought the above.
The show's about a novel writer and his life. That's just the gist of it. Now all the scriptwriters and actors have to do is to make it into an interesting 18 episode drama... making it interesting so that people would actually sit through all 18 episodes and not just 1 and 18 which is what I'm fond of doing. Sometimes, I wonder why there are so many episodes in between, especially when the show's not interesting.
Can't say that the actors are interesting to look at, so hopefully the storyline will do it for me.
The show's about a novel writer and his life. That's just the gist of it. Now all the scriptwriters and actors have to do is to make it into an interesting 18 episode drama... making it interesting so that people would actually sit through all 18 episodes and not just 1 and 18 which is what I'm fond of doing. Sometimes, I wonder why there are so many episodes in between, especially when the show's not interesting.
Can't say that the actors are interesting to look at, so hopefully the storyline will do it for me.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Mischievous Kiss
Not knowing what the reviews were, I started watching this Korean drama... and it's only because of the perv factor that's a huge part of the show, the lead actor, Kim Hyun Joong. The first time he appeared in a Korean drama was for Boys Over Flowers where he acted cool and calm. Not much different from this show's portrayal either, but he's so bloody cute!
Alright, so the first few episodes were alright. It's about this duh girl who's in her final year of high school and she's in the last class, together with her best friends, with no ambition to do anything after high school. The only thing is that she's had this crush on this dude for the entire time she's been in high school (talk about an unwavering crush), which for Koreans is three years. He on the other hand, breezes through exams like the answers just stare at him, scoring full marks at every exam. One day they finally meet and after going through some interesting and funny times, I hear they end up together. Well, it wouldn't be a fairy tale if they didn't, would it? I think the directors and script writers have all decided that happy endings are much, much better than sad ones. I can't remember watching an extremely sad drama, or even a lightly sad one. Aren't I lucky?
Alright, so the first few episodes were alright. It's about this duh girl who's in her final year of high school and she's in the last class, together with her best friends, with no ambition to do anything after high school. The only thing is that she's had this crush on this dude for the entire time she's been in high school (talk about an unwavering crush), which for Koreans is three years. He on the other hand, breezes through exams like the answers just stare at him, scoring full marks at every exam. One day they finally meet and after going through some interesting and funny times, I hear they end up together. Well, it wouldn't be a fairy tale if they didn't, would it? I think the directors and script writers have all decided that happy endings are much, much better than sad ones. I can't remember watching an extremely sad drama, or even a lightly sad one. Aren't I lucky?
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Short dramas
When I first started to watch Korean Dramas, I was applauding their use of different casts for one and the length of their episodes. They are usually 62 minutes long with only one advertisement break. Good stuff!
On top of the normal 62-minute episodes, the dramas are usually only 16 episodes long which I've taken as a 'just nice' length. Too long and you'll start to lose the plot as however cute the actors and actresses are, you tend to want the drama to move on to the end.
As I was saying, they also have 35-minute mini episodes which could go on for over a hundred and fifty episodes long. Even in normal drama length, that's pretty long, isn't it? These mini episodes portray the drama in everyone's point of view for nearly everyday of their lives.
I'm currently watching one called Happiness in the Wind which is nearly approaching the end. I think there are 175 episodes long and it's about episode 163. I need to fast forward these last bits as it's starting to become a little draggy. Maybe it's because I'm not really interested in knowing what happens to every other person's daily life but I'll have to wait it out. Maybe someone on the internet has just put up scenes with just the lead actor and actress?
On top of the normal 62-minute episodes, the dramas are usually only 16 episodes long which I've taken as a 'just nice' length. Too long and you'll start to lose the plot as however cute the actors and actresses are, you tend to want the drama to move on to the end.
As I was saying, they also have 35-minute mini episodes which could go on for over a hundred and fifty episodes long. Even in normal drama length, that's pretty long, isn't it? These mini episodes portray the drama in everyone's point of view for nearly everyday of their lives.
I'm currently watching one called Happiness in the Wind which is nearly approaching the end. I think there are 175 episodes long and it's about episode 163. I need to fast forward these last bits as it's starting to become a little draggy. Maybe it's because I'm not really interested in knowing what happens to every other person's daily life but I'll have to wait it out. Maybe someone on the internet has just put up scenes with just the lead actor and actress?
Monday, September 6, 2010
Cloud Staircase
With a title like that, you'd think the Korean drama would be a flop. I thought so too in the beginning, but I find myself strangely following the series.
It's about this dude who lost his parents and kind of got lost himself. A kind elderly doctor from a remote island took him in and taught him everything about being a doctor. One day, the daughter of a well known hospital in Seoul drops by and suffers appendicitis. No one is around to operate on her because there's a brewing storm (the elderly doctor went to Seoul for something and her doctor boyfriend can't get to her) and so the dude operated on her and saved her life. During the course of healing, the girl so happens to fall in love with him and he too finds himself liking the girl (no biggie there). So he moves to Seoul and decides to work in the hospital pretending to be a certified doctor. Everyone's impressed with him in the beginning, and the girl breaks off her engagement to her long time beau to start dating him, but bits and pieces of his life start to crack and soon everyone will know that he's a fraud.
I haven't finished watching the show... not sure how it will end, but I'm sure the writers have decided to give it a happy ending.
It's about this dude who lost his parents and kind of got lost himself. A kind elderly doctor from a remote island took him in and taught him everything about being a doctor. One day, the daughter of a well known hospital in Seoul drops by and suffers appendicitis. No one is around to operate on her because there's a brewing storm (the elderly doctor went to Seoul for something and her doctor boyfriend can't get to her) and so the dude operated on her and saved her life. During the course of healing, the girl so happens to fall in love with him and he too finds himself liking the girl (no biggie there). So he moves to Seoul and decides to work in the hospital pretending to be a certified doctor. Everyone's impressed with him in the beginning, and the girl breaks off her engagement to her long time beau to start dating him, but bits and pieces of his life start to crack and soon everyone will know that he's a fraud.
I haven't finished watching the show... not sure how it will end, but I'm sure the writers have decided to give it a happy ending.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Korean dramas
I'm currently following 3 dramas. Since the hubs changed the setup box to the recordable one for our cable telly, I've been able to record the shows, by series, and watch it at my own sweet time.
So, at the moment I'm watching
1. Happiness in the Wind
2. Bread, Love and Dreams
3. I am Sam
I think the fact that there are so many actors and actresses in Korea, that they don't have to recycle them that often, is the pull factor. I've kind of given up on Hong Kong dramas as they keep recycling the cast. It's also interesting that the actors are pretty good-looking. Somehow they look a bit mixed, like a 80% Asian and 20% something else because regular Korean people don't look like them *grin*
So, at the moment I'm watching
1. Happiness in the Wind
2. Bread, Love and Dreams
3. I am Sam
I think the fact that there are so many actors and actresses in Korea, that they don't have to recycle them that often, is the pull factor. I've kind of given up on Hong Kong dramas as they keep recycling the cast. It's also interesting that the actors are pretty good-looking. Somehow they look a bit mixed, like a 80% Asian and 20% something else because regular Korean people don't look like them *grin*
Monday, June 28, 2010
Procecutor Princess
A new Korean drama I've started watching only because there doesn't seem to be anything interesting on at the moment besides the world cup which we haven't subscribed to. I haven't been following the Hong Kong drama productions in a while. Not sure if they're still producing good dramas or not!
Anyways, will see if it is worth watching. 16 episodes long again and hopefully it will be nicely paced and not full of law jargon.
Anyways, will see if it is worth watching. 16 episodes long again and hopefully it will be nicely paced and not full of law jargon.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Oh Su Jung vs Karl
Found a new Korean drama to watch, which was aired in 2007. A drama about how a fat dude was jilted at the altar, because he failed at the third stage of his bar exam, goes over to America to become a golf pro and comes back all gorgeous and rich to effect his revenge.
The main male character is really cute, probably the only reason I'm watching it. Oh Ji Ho has amazingly cute dimples when he smiles and his crows feet don't make him look old, but extremely lovable. I hope he never goes under the knife.
The main male character is really cute, probably the only reason I'm watching it. Oh Ji Ho has amazingly cute dimples when he smiles and his crows feet don't make him look old, but extremely lovable. I hope he never goes under the knife.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Ap-pa kohm, om-ma kohm, ae-gee kohm...
My apologies, but I have this song stuck in my head and I haven't been able to get rid of it! For those of you who're not into Korean nursery rhymes, it's a song about three bears where kohm's are bears and ap-pa, om-ma and ae-gee are daddy, mommy and baby respectively. The rhyme is catchy and goes something like this.
There once lived three bears in a house, daddy bear, mommy bear, baby bear.
Daddy bear is fat, mommy bear is slim and baby bear is cute!
Ooseuk, ooseuk, you're doing well.
Kohm seh-mari ga han jibbehissuh, ap-pa kohm, om-ma kohm, ae-gee kohm.
Ap-pa kohm-eun doong-doong eh, om-ma kohm-eun nalsshineh, ae-gee kohm-eun nomo keeuhwuh!
Ooseuk, ooseuk, chal handa.
Looks like you learnt something new today, didn't you? *grin*
There once lived three bears in a house, daddy bear, mommy bear, baby bear.
Daddy bear is fat, mommy bear is slim and baby bear is cute!
Ooseuk, ooseuk, you're doing well.
Kohm seh-mari ga han jibbehissuh, ap-pa kohm, om-ma kohm, ae-gee kohm.
Ap-pa kohm-eun doong-doong eh, om-ma kohm-eun nalsshineh, ae-gee kohm-eun nomo keeuhwuh!
Ooseuk, ooseuk, chal handa.
Looks like you learnt something new today, didn't you? *grin*
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Personal Taste
A new Korean drama, which has phenomenally popped up on the radar like a big fat blimp! Can't wait for the final two episodes which will be showing this week. Hopes for a happy ending is high on everyone's list and most expected.
Ultimately, the success of a drama hangs on the popularity of the actors just as much as their acting. This particular drama sees a young actor by the name of Lee Min Ho who made it big a couple of years ago playing an intelligent spoilt brat who turned nice after spending some time with an upbeat girl who so happens to be poor. Ah... where would the drama be if it weren't for a match made in heaven both at the polar end of the rich/poor scale.
Anyways, Min Ho acted as a 20 year old then. In this current drama, he's an early 30-something no-nonsense architect and I think he's pulling it off pretty well. Not a lot of his character from the previous show has been brought into this one, and it looks like he's almost playing 'himself'. It will be interesting to keep an eye on him to see if he's able to portray all sorts of characters just as well.
Ultimately, the success of a drama hangs on the popularity of the actors just as much as their acting. This particular drama sees a young actor by the name of Lee Min Ho who made it big a couple of years ago playing an intelligent spoilt brat who turned nice after spending some time with an upbeat girl who so happens to be poor. Ah... where would the drama be if it weren't for a match made in heaven both at the polar end of the rich/poor scale.
Anyways, Min Ho acted as a 20 year old then. In this current drama, he's an early 30-something no-nonsense architect and I think he's pulling it off pretty well. Not a lot of his character from the previous show has been brought into this one, and it looks like he's almost playing 'himself'. It will be interesting to keep an eye on him to see if he's able to portray all sorts of characters just as well.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Brilliant Legacy
I finally finished watching the Korean drama Brilliant Legacy and thought it's worth a mention. Sometimes it's difficult to give credit where it's due, but this is a show I could watch over and over again.
The storyline wasn't all that complicated and unbelievable (the writer didn't make every bad thing that could happen, happen) If you haven't watched it and are thinking of, go watch it. It's 28 episodes long, a little more than usual and Korean drama serials are usually slightly over 60 minutes long, without advertisements. Check out Wikipedia's synopsis.
I love the fact that in almost every episode, something gets revealed and the entire 28 episodes didn't feel draggy.
Ultimately, the songs that are played within the drama poses a big part of its attraction. There was a recurring theme song (Love is punishment, *grin* Even the title sounds painful) which was played over and over again, which had the following lines and even if it wasn't translated properly, it does fit the series so well : A love that cannot be spoken is a punishment from heaven.
I guess you'll be able to sense the amount of struggle the characters had to portray with that song. Good acting. Great choice of actors, especially the evil, evil stepmother.
The storyline wasn't all that complicated and unbelievable (the writer didn't make every bad thing that could happen, happen) If you haven't watched it and are thinking of, go watch it. It's 28 episodes long, a little more than usual and Korean drama serials are usually slightly over 60 minutes long, without advertisements. Check out Wikipedia's synopsis.
I love the fact that in almost every episode, something gets revealed and the entire 28 episodes didn't feel draggy.
Ultimately, the songs that are played within the drama poses a big part of its attraction. There was a recurring theme song (Love is punishment, *grin* Even the title sounds painful) which was played over and over again, which had the following lines and even if it wasn't translated properly, it does fit the series so well : A love that cannot be spoken is a punishment from heaven.
I guess you'll be able to sense the amount of struggle the characters had to portray with that song. Good acting. Great choice of actors, especially the evil, evil stepmother.
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