After finishing watching The Greatest Love within two days, I felt dizzy and needed desperately a good rest. And what else can serve this purpose better than revisiting My Girl?
This is a rather different copy of My Girl from the one I watched nearly half a year ago. To my relief, no more jumps of scenes, and the subtitles are of a completely different league than the previous one.
In my first round of viewing, I thought Lee Dong-wook was too woody and it wasn't until the last three episodes that he seemed to wake up and became more like a man. This time round though, I found him not only one of the most handsome Korean men, but his acting rather subtle and appropriate to his character. Why such change? Not sure if it has anything to do repeated reviewing and his tango dances in Scent of Woman. I continue to find Lee Dahae very charming and versatile, and in comparison, her part in East of Eden not well developed.
Those scenes I used to skip, such as those romance between Lee Dong-wook's character's aunt and his grandfather's caretaker; those between Lee and his first love's relationship, the scenes that evolves around Lee's grandfather, and these of Lee Dahae's character's best friends, no longer feel like fillers. To me, while some of them are drama devices to make the story more convincing, some add fresh sides to the lead couple, and some, are simply there as gags to lift up the tone.
The magic is I caught myself laughing at the jokes all the time.
Showing posts with label Korean drama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Korean drama. Show all posts
December 06, 2011
November 28, 2011
The Greatest Love
I am half way through this 16 episode Korean drama, and I was hooked from the first episode. It is fast paced, hilariously funny and, with an unlikely quirky pairing that works brilliantly! It feels great to come across such drama with such witty writing with depth, and it comes as no surprise at all that it is from the same writing team behind one of my all time favourites My Girl, which explains all the wittiness behind the writing.
Since it is also a behind-the-scene drama like The World They Lived in, it draws inevitable comparison to its slack and lukewarm predecessor, and I am most impressed that this one does a way better job in its efforts.
This was not the first time I watched a drama starring Gong Hyo-jin. I gave up Pasta half way through because I didn't like the story and could not understand the fuss made about the pairing. But I like her character in The Greatest Love immensely, and find her acting very solid indeed.
A 'surprise' find is Cha Seung-won. His over the top performance of a narcissistic yet lonesome celebrity is funny and poignant all at the same time. I am relieved that actors of his age and maturity is given a leading role in a popular Korean drama, the rate chasing industry that tends to put more importance on young looks (enhanced by plastic surgery) than talents.
This drama raises again my expectation of Korean drama.
Since it is also a behind-the-scene drama like The World They Lived in, it draws inevitable comparison to its slack and lukewarm predecessor, and I am most impressed that this one does a way better job in its efforts.
This was not the first time I watched a drama starring Gong Hyo-jin. I gave up Pasta half way through because I didn't like the story and could not understand the fuss made about the pairing. But I like her character in The Greatest Love immensely, and find her acting very solid indeed.
A 'surprise' find is Cha Seung-won. His over the top performance of a narcissistic yet lonesome celebrity is funny and poignant all at the same time. I am relieved that actors of his age and maturity is given a leading role in a popular Korean drama, the rate chasing industry that tends to put more importance on young looks (enhanced by plastic surgery) than talents.
This drama raises again my expectation of Korean drama.
November 11, 2011
Can't lose
Despite a stable support team and the chemistry between the lead couple, I do not find this drama engaging enough for me to finish episode 4. For, unlike Wedding, which also sees a couple getting married without knowing each for long, the only thing they seem to do is but to argue with each other day in day out, on literarily everything. And unlike Wedding, there doesn't seem any emotional depth or self-reflection in either of the lawyer couple.
Though I have watched CJW in Everybody Has Secrets in a role different from her earlier television ones that shot her to international stardom, I was still taken aback by her in Can't Lose. To extend one's range is a constant challenge but to make a right choice isn't always an easy task.
On the other hand, although I wasn't impressed by Yoon Sang-hyon in Secret Garden, I find him a rather different actor in this charitable lawyer.
Though I have watched CJW in Everybody Has Secrets in a role different from her earlier television ones that shot her to international stardom, I was still taken aback by her in Can't Lose. To extend one's range is a constant challenge but to make a right choice isn't always an easy task.
On the other hand, although I wasn't impressed by Yoon Sang-hyon in Secret Garden, I find him a rather different actor in this charitable lawyer.
November 08, 2011
My Princess
If I hadn't started watching Scent of Woman yesterday afternoon, this would have been my latest favourite Korean drama after Beethoven's Virus.
The last five minutes is very relevant to the modern day dilemma of an educated woman: what comes first, career or family? After the build-up, the angst and the conflicts, the ending seems rather conventional and a little bit of a let-down. That said, given the personality of the princess and the actual choice in the society, it is probably the most realistic one.
Song Seung-heon is repeating what he has done best in East of Eden but with a face like that, one just never minds.
Before watching this one, I had tried very hard indeed to convince myself that if I stay tuned, Mary Stayed Out All Night and Dream High might grow on me. I am glad that I had chosen to look elsewhere for works of better quality.
The last five minutes is very relevant to the modern day dilemma of an educated woman: what comes first, career or family? After the build-up, the angst and the conflicts, the ending seems rather conventional and a little bit of a let-down. That said, given the personality of the princess and the actual choice in the society, it is probably the most realistic one.
Song Seung-heon is repeating what he has done best in East of Eden but with a face like that, one just never minds.
Before watching this one, I had tried very hard indeed to convince myself that if I stay tuned, Mary Stayed Out All Night and Dream High might grow on me. I am glad that I had chosen to look elsewhere for works of better quality.
Scent of Woman
The tango sequence in episode 8 is probably the most sexually-charged one of all Korean dramas. Executed with sublime brevity and confidence, it finds Lee Dong-wook's rejuvenated yet still restrained character charges into the dim but warmly lit practice ballroom and, in the blink of an eye, gets his secret love interest dancing. The male-led nature of tango and the physical intimacy it demands on the dancers provides them ideally discreet cover for their pent-up longing for each other, especially in an Asian society where physical contacts are predominately reserved for private space between intimate relationships. And just as the touch and dance starts like a spark, it ends abruptly without the much anticipated kiss, an emotional climax which the camerawork leads us anticipate. The chemistry between the pair has been great throughout but it is here that it reaches its ultimate height in silence. The intensity of that moment of passion is such, it felt as if it had never seen before in Korean drama or cinema. It is a defining sequence for the drama itself and also a moment of revelation for an outsiders; it proves that not only Korean directors understand how to handle such scenes, but that its family audience are ready for such direct expression of passion in their living room as well.
Though I had made a point to switch off for beauty sleep at 23:00, I stayed up till 3am. There aren't many that can keep me going like that, despite its faults in the script.
Now I can see why Lee Dong-wook is in such high demand. There is a boy-man touch in him which endears him to women.
PS: now that I have finished watching the series, I am slighted disappointed to find that there are a number of lost opportunities where it could have continued to build on the passion between the protagonists, especially in the last few episodes when they are finally reunited following a forced separation.
Though I had made a point to switch off for beauty sleep at 23:00, I stayed up till 3am. There aren't many that can keep me going like that, despite its faults in the script.
Now I can see why Lee Dong-wook is in such high demand. There is a boy-man touch in him which endears him to women.
PS: now that I have finished watching the series, I am slighted disappointed to find that there are a number of lost opportunities where it could have continued to build on the passion between the protagonists, especially in the last few episodes when they are finally reunited following a forced separation.
October 31, 2011
Beethoven virus
For its tight script, wonderful characterisation, supreme lighting, consistent performance, and well, music, this is simply the best of all Korean dramas.
No more Cinderella's story, it is a refreshing drama every walking adults can relate to; on dreams and how we can either let it fade away to succumb to 'ordinariness' or overcome the biggest enemy - ourselves, to make it stay alive. For the first time ever, Korean drama steers clear away the conventions on how a woman is judged. Like many a great drama, the supporting cast are given solid and interesting roles, with each exploring a different social dimension in real life. It is a drama that focuses on one's ultimate concern: how to make a success of ourselves with what we are endowed with; be it innate talents or the circumstances we find ourselves in.
The pace of the first five episodes is so compelling it can work brilliantly as a standalone mini-drama.
What intrigues me as well is the lighting in the night scenes. For too long now, I was under the impression that Korean television dramas would always by default resort to flood lighting even when the characters are supposed to be fast asleep or cannot afford the utility bills. The lighting in the house where the two heroes share, especially the ground floor, can compare to the best of those seen in a British counterparts. Given their interest and profession, realistically so.
There should be more intelligent dramas like this.
PS: One Sunday and three nights afterwards, I finished watching the 18 episode drama last night. The unexpected ending, leaving loose ends on all accounts, makes this drama stand out even more from the rest. Now I wonder how come I was put off by You Are Beautiful even with Jang Geun Suk in it.
No more Cinderella's story, it is a refreshing drama every walking adults can relate to; on dreams and how we can either let it fade away to succumb to 'ordinariness' or overcome the biggest enemy - ourselves, to make it stay alive. For the first time ever, Korean drama steers clear away the conventions on how a woman is judged. Like many a great drama, the supporting cast are given solid and interesting roles, with each exploring a different social dimension in real life. It is a drama that focuses on one's ultimate concern: how to make a success of ourselves with what we are endowed with; be it innate talents or the circumstances we find ourselves in.
The pace of the first five episodes is so compelling it can work brilliantly as a standalone mini-drama.
What intrigues me as well is the lighting in the night scenes. For too long now, I was under the impression that Korean television dramas would always by default resort to flood lighting even when the characters are supposed to be fast asleep or cannot afford the utility bills. The lighting in the house where the two heroes share, especially the ground floor, can compare to the best of those seen in a British counterparts. Given their interest and profession, realistically so.
There should be more intelligent dramas like this.
PS: One Sunday and three nights afterwards, I finished watching the 18 episode drama last night. The unexpected ending, leaving loose ends on all accounts, makes this drama stand out even more from the rest. Now I wonder how come I was put off by You Are Beautiful even with Jang Geun Suk in it.
October 28, 2011
Goong
In Korean drama, two total strangers usually enter into a most improbable contract that will bind them together for an agreed period of time. Because of the ostensible conflicts in character, the disparities in their backgrounds and, the initial prejudices against each other, the most unlikely setup allows ample room for conflicting characters to learn and relearn each other and even some of the most basics in life. Such popular plot has produced some of the most entertaining dramas from Korea, such as Full House, My Lovely Sam-soon, My Girl, and Lie to Me, to name but a few. To appreciate them, a prerequisite imposed on the audience is to ignore how implausible such scenario is in real life.
While Goong is nothing anew in it, it demands more from the audience: to be told upfront to intertwine fantasy with reality; to participate in a masquerade where the long abolished monarchy is sound and well in present Korea; and allow the characters to move fairly freely between the medieval and contemporary Korea. An engaging character study, Goong captures how characters from different background respond and interact with each other while confronted by the many rigid rules of an ancient entity on one hand, and a freewill spirit of modern society on the other.
Despite its sluggish pace, especially the scenes that involve the mother queen wonderfully played by one of the most graceful actress Kim Hye-ja, the story is intriguing. At the beginning, my main purpose is but to check out the 'breakout' performance by Yoon Eun-hye, but within two episodes, I was drawn by the amazing chemistry between her and the two princes, let alone the understated use of chamber music and the fantastic art direction which provides us a stunning visual treat in the compound of the royal household.
Yoon Eun-hye is more confident and versatile as an actress in her follow-up role as a cross-dressing girl in Coffee Prince. And I also find the quiet but confident performance from Kim Jeong-hoon remind me of Rye Shi-won in his Beautiful Days and Wedding days.
Though also a drama mainly for the teen market, I find it a lot easier to enter the over the top game than those that offered in You Are Beautiful and Boys Over Flowers.
While Goong is nothing anew in it, it demands more from the audience: to be told upfront to intertwine fantasy with reality; to participate in a masquerade where the long abolished monarchy is sound and well in present Korea; and allow the characters to move fairly freely between the medieval and contemporary Korea. An engaging character study, Goong captures how characters from different background respond and interact with each other while confronted by the many rigid rules of an ancient entity on one hand, and a freewill spirit of modern society on the other.
Despite its sluggish pace, especially the scenes that involve the mother queen wonderfully played by one of the most graceful actress Kim Hye-ja, the story is intriguing. At the beginning, my main purpose is but to check out the 'breakout' performance by Yoon Eun-hye, but within two episodes, I was drawn by the amazing chemistry between her and the two princes, let alone the understated use of chamber music and the fantastic art direction which provides us a stunning visual treat in the compound of the royal household.
Yoon Eun-hye is more confident and versatile as an actress in her follow-up role as a cross-dressing girl in Coffee Prince. And I also find the quiet but confident performance from Kim Jeong-hoon remind me of Rye Shi-won in his Beautiful Days and Wedding days.
Though also a drama mainly for the teen market, I find it a lot easier to enter the over the top game than those that offered in You Are Beautiful and Boys Over Flowers.
October 24, 2011
Footnote
I was given a mug last week after topping up my skin care products with a certain Korean brand. When I opened the packaging at home, I found that was no ordinary mug - for it features Hyun Bin, one of my favourite Korean actors. The old me would have by instinct either given it away to a friend or neighbour, or put it on the top shelf of the cabinet for visitors. The new me though sported a wry smile when she put away the wrapping, rinsed the curvy mug, and decided to have a cup of tea with Hyun Bin, every morning.
Hyun Bin looks immaculate on the mug, if not a little bit feminine in one of them that features a white lace top. Though I would like to believe his claim that he has never undergone any plastic surgery, other fans believed otherwise.
Plaster surgery or not, the trouble is, once you realise how common it is among Koreans, males or females, the idea creeped in whenever you see a perfect face: is it entirely a gift of nature or, more enhanced by knife? When the story is gripping and the performance is good, this might not spoil your viewing experience. But still, at times, you catch yourself wondering whether a less immaculate face would have been more convincing for a certain role.
Hyun Bin looks immaculate on the mug, if not a little bit feminine in one of them that features a white lace top. Though I would like to believe his claim that he has never undergone any plastic surgery, other fans believed otherwise.
Plaster surgery or not, the trouble is, once you realise how common it is among Koreans, males or females, the idea creeped in whenever you see a perfect face: is it entirely a gift of nature or, more enhanced by knife? When the story is gripping and the performance is good, this might not spoil your viewing experience. But still, at times, you catch yourself wondering whether a less immaculate face would have been more convincing for a certain role.
City hunter
It is a hybrid of Chinese martial arts genre and a James Bond.
The ethics, to fight for a good cause for the benefit of the general public, and the physical grace is entirely oriental, and yet the charisma is without doubt that of the agent with a licence to kill. Like a master of martial arts, the hero wins just any fights, well, except when his love interest is shooting him; and like the world's most prolific agent, he is always equipped with the most up to date gadgets at the snap of a finger. The only difference is while 007 tends to spill bloods and blow away anything in his way, the city hunter exposes the evils and crime of the public enemy through hacking into their computing system, or installing a spying device at the right place, which proves to be just as lethal as the, well, ordinary explosives and weapons.
And similar to the martial arts master and Jame Bond, the city hunter's strength is in doing what the law promises but fails to execute. And as if this is not clear enough, the city hunter is praised by the prosecutor himself, who has been trying to catch him from early episodes.
Like Queen of Reversals, it is another example of how an old formula that has been repeated in different languages and cultures can still draw thousands of fans. And typical of Korean drama, the hero is extremely young, handsome, affluent, well-educated, athletic, and, adorable, especially when he puts on a pair of grandpa's glasses. I have seen this picture perfect model in three dramas now, but it is here, not in his 'breakout' performance as the lead of F4 in Boys over Flowers, or the lame architect in Personal Preference, that Lee Min-ho proves his star power, to me.
PS: I have always thought that Lee Min-ho looks vaguely familiar whenever he wears a pair of glasses to impersonate some intellectual or top executive. Now I know: though at least two decades younger, he bears striking resemblance to some of my favourite actors such as Francis Ng in Infernal Affairs II as an underworld boss; Raoul Bova in Facing Windows as the love interest of the protagonist; and the late Ulrich Muhe in real life!
The ethics, to fight for a good cause for the benefit of the general public, and the physical grace is entirely oriental, and yet the charisma is without doubt that of the agent with a licence to kill. Like a master of martial arts, the hero wins just any fights, well, except when his love interest is shooting him; and like the world's most prolific agent, he is always equipped with the most up to date gadgets at the snap of a finger. The only difference is while 007 tends to spill bloods and blow away anything in his way, the city hunter exposes the evils and crime of the public enemy through hacking into their computing system, or installing a spying device at the right place, which proves to be just as lethal as the, well, ordinary explosives and weapons.
And similar to the martial arts master and Jame Bond, the city hunter's strength is in doing what the law promises but fails to execute. And as if this is not clear enough, the city hunter is praised by the prosecutor himself, who has been trying to catch him from early episodes.
Like Queen of Reversals, it is another example of how an old formula that has been repeated in different languages and cultures can still draw thousands of fans. And typical of Korean drama, the hero is extremely young, handsome, affluent, well-educated, athletic, and, adorable, especially when he puts on a pair of grandpa's glasses. I have seen this picture perfect model in three dramas now, but it is here, not in his 'breakout' performance as the lead of F4 in Boys over Flowers, or the lame architect in Personal Preference, that Lee Min-ho proves his star power, to me.
PS: I have always thought that Lee Min-ho looks vaguely familiar whenever he wears a pair of glasses to impersonate some intellectual or top executive. Now I know: though at least two decades younger, he bears striking resemblance to some of my favourite actors such as Francis Ng in Infernal Affairs II as an underworld boss; Raoul Bova in Facing Windows as the love interest of the protagonist; and the late Ulrich Muhe in real life!
October 19, 2011
Personal preference
I have watched Son Ye-jin in April Snow and My Wife Got Married, in both of which, she plays a morally 'dubious' role, one by fate, the latter by free spirit. She seems to be an actress who is prepared to do just anything for her roles, and yet somehow her face fails to register and I fail to understand the hype on her. But even so, I can tell what a sheer waste of her talents in casting her as a naive young woman in the limp Personal Preference. Though teemed with a very likeable Lee Min-ho and she doesn't seem to give a damn on how she looks in ugly clothing, her acting is not over the top and one even got the impression that she is constantly peering at the the camera to check whether she is silly enough. It is a fiasco.
It is a myth that an actress of her standing would pick such a half-baked script, let alone so badly directed.
Her role, a budding furniture designer, reminds me of the heroine of Prosecutor Princess. Despite her supreme education background and, presumably, exceptionally high IQ, has zero EQ when it comes to social interactions.
I have abandoned Prosecutor Princess after episode 4, and Personal Preference after episode 10. Part of the reason I put up with the latter one so much longer was due to my utter disbelief that the producer would allow Son's role to stay so dim for so long and I kept hoping that there would be turning point at mid-series. It is a painful experience to see how such women are ridiculed and portrayed in popular culture.
It is a myth that an actress of her standing would pick such a half-baked script, let alone so badly directed.
Her role, a budding furniture designer, reminds me of the heroine of Prosecutor Princess. Despite her supreme education background and, presumably, exceptionally high IQ, has zero EQ when it comes to social interactions.
I have abandoned Prosecutor Princess after episode 4, and Personal Preference after episode 10. Part of the reason I put up with the latter one so much longer was due to my utter disbelief that the producer would allow Son's role to stay so dim for so long and I kept hoping that there would be turning point at mid-series. It is a painful experience to see how such women are ridiculed and portrayed in popular culture.
October 17, 2011
Queen of reversals
This is one of those run-of-the-mill drama at the first few episodes and yet as it develops, it grows on you and before no time, you find yourself staying tuned till the wee hours for it. In this particular instance, it was much thanks to a review that helped me to get over the first few mediocre episodes.
Like that convincing review puts it, QoR falls into a familiar category with rather predictable plots, and yet this doesn't mean it is boring. Indeed, it is a case in point on how a good execution on all fronts can save an otherwise mediocre script about how a woman goes against all odds to, lead an ordinary life.
Jung Joon-ho, whom I first saw in Iris as its second lead, appeared to have a limited range in his acting - but as the story evolves, his character becomes more interesting and his acting more versatile.
It is probably the first time that a second lead lands such a meaty role in a drama. The single eyelid looker Park Si-hoo, who stole the show at the second half of the 31 episode drama, somehow succeeds in transforming himself from when he stars in Prosecutor Princess, a sleeper drama I gave up after 4 episodes.
Poking jokes at a number of times on Korean drama, in particular, the ever popular Cinderella genre, the script has many feminine touches. It is hard to imagine such a character with feminist tint can be written by a man. And knowing what Kim Nam-joo can do, she is shamefully underused in Voice of Murderer.
Like that convincing review puts it, QoR falls into a familiar category with rather predictable plots, and yet this doesn't mean it is boring. Indeed, it is a case in point on how a good execution on all fronts can save an otherwise mediocre script about how a woman goes against all odds to, lead an ordinary life.
Jung Joon-ho, whom I first saw in Iris as its second lead, appeared to have a limited range in his acting - but as the story evolves, his character becomes more interesting and his acting more versatile.
It is probably the first time that a second lead lands such a meaty role in a drama. The single eyelid looker Park Si-hoo, who stole the show at the second half of the 31 episode drama, somehow succeeds in transforming himself from when he stars in Prosecutor Princess, a sleeper drama I gave up after 4 episodes.
Poking jokes at a number of times on Korean drama, in particular, the ever popular Cinderella genre, the script has many feminine touches. It is hard to imagine such a character with feminist tint can be written by a man. And knowing what Kim Nam-joo can do, she is shamefully underused in Voice of Murderer.
October 11, 2011
Addicted to Korean drama
It is six month since I succumbed to this drug called Korean drama, an uncharted water for someone who favoured French cinema and Johnnie To's cop series. Since I took the first dose, mainly to diagnose its popular appeal, I have watched, flipped through or sampled over 40 of them, a staggering number given its side effect that I have also since become fascinated by Korean New Wave cinema, a completely different territory. Before dipping into the eight 'new' ones lining up in my desktop, it is a great time to take stock of those that have kept me awake until the wee hours many a night.
1 My lovely Kim Sam-soon
Forty Korean dramas later, this is still my favourite. No competition, yet.
I told a friend earlier that if she had got time for only one Korean drama, then check out this one. A couple of weeks later, she remarked that it was indeed an alternative, and an excellent one at that. Not only that the heroine has a job she is passionate about (rather than one just to keep her occupied, say), she is plump ('fat') and plain (far from being immaculate, a prerequisite for Korean female leads). Atypical of Cinderella, it presents love as it is experienced; unpredictable, confusing, and made the more complicated by one's past or current relationships. There are also many scenes describing the physical desire between the couple, hilariously funny, they are a fresh air in its Korean genre. The drama concludes with an uplifting image of the couple kissing mid-way through their arguments on the steep stairs, following an voiceover from the heroine if they might break up. In order words, while it rejects a straightforward happy ever after finale, its heroine is charging ahead to peruse her share of happiness nevertheless.
An added bonus for woman audience is; every time when the arrogant hero slightly misbehaves, he gets punished one way or the other, sometimes at the hands of his manipulating and abusive mother! Infused with hilarious comic and poignant moments, it launches two of the best actors into much deserved stardom. One only wishes that they can continue to find materials that match their talents.
Well-written script and a great ensemble on both sides. Brilliant soundtrack.
2 Coffee Prince
Another less than immaculate female lead yet it is hard to see who can resist her acting and boyish charm. Besides, the way it deals with homosexuality is cliche-free, human and cool. The sparks between Yoon Eun Hye and Gong Yoo is simply unbeatable. If the portrait of the secondary couple takes up less screen time, it will be more engaging.
3 My girl
A funny and innocent con girl and an upright man who never lies (not even white lies?), surely their worlds cannot be further apart. Yet somehow, you just want the girl to inject some life to the man and 'steal' his heart from his star-sportswoman. Episode 12 and 23 are particularly addictive. When can Lee Da-hae be this effortlessly funny and immaculate again? A hardcore feminist might not like it though. A pity that the character of the secondary leads are so dull. Like Kim Sam-soon, it is a drama I can watch again and again without getting bored as long as I am holding a remote control to skip those sequences on the gambling father and the secondary leads.
4 Winter sonata (Doesn't the poignant finale resemble that of Jane Eyre?)
5 Beautiful days (Sacrifice, sacrifice and sacrifice. All in the name of love.)
6 Stairways to heaven (Kwon Sang-woo proves himself coolest of all. Hints: Do fast forward those scenes when the evil stepmother is present for you have watched them in many other places.)
The three classic tear jerkers all stars a leading lady CJW and lucky to her, playing opposite to three of the most charismatic Korean actors. While CJW's portraits are consistent and convincing in all three parts, it does feel as if she is playing the same role when, if like me, watching them one immediately after the other. I also lost my patience a little bit at the portrait of an 'ideal' woman whose happiness derives exclusively from putting the others before her own ambition and desire. Surely her life and ambition is just as deserving as the others'?
7 Full house
Rain might not be the handsomest or the best of actors, he is certainly one of the rare specimens that can ignite the screen with a mere hint of movement by his toned muscle. To say that he is sexy is an understatement. Despite the patchy script and repetitions in the last few episodes, it has got that trick to make you glue to the screen until the finale. A good case study when it comes to star power.
8 Brilliant legacy
The four leads might not the most glamourous, but together they make this drama work. Very educational for the growing new middle class in the region.
9 Sungkyunkwan scandal
Albeit a copycat of some popular Korean dramas, such as Coffee Prince (on homosexuality), Boys over Flowers (cross dressing to gain access to an exclusive boy/man territory), and that it is extremely loose with historical truth, this costume drama (a genre I incline to stay away for its twisted representations) is a gripping modern story in disguise, especially in its depiction of gender roles. It is unusual that the secondary 'gay' couple are also rather well written. The joke planted at the last minute on the poor bookish protagonist is a naughty surprise comic moment.
10 The first love of royal prince
Having watched Snow Queen first and hated every minute of it, it is a delightful and refreshing to find the arrogant 'Snow Queen' in the adorable girl-next-door role.
11 Coffee house
Like My Lovely Kim Sam-soon, the lead couple have to deal with the legacy of their respective past before they are ready to commit. Patchy at parts but sufficiently engaging to keep you stay tuned till the very end. Kang Ji-hwan is cute here.
12 Wedding
An underrated drama with unexpected depth in its interesting depiction of the bumpy road for the newly-wed to build trust and an meaningful relationship. Ryn Shi-won gives a very steady performance as an diplomat who knows nothing about a woman's heart.
13 Iris
Fresh in subject matters, the screen is brightened up whenever the reliable Lee Byung-hun shows up, smiles or grinding his teeth. I have seen him in many films and he is yet to fail to deliver, be it a soldier guarding the border (JSA), a rural teacher (The Harmonium in My Memory; Bumjee Jumping of Their Own), or a student activist during the political upheaval of the 1980s (Once in a summer). The only role I am not so convinced of is the 'weird' part in The Good, the Bad and the Weird, too much of a stereotype role for me.
14 East of Eden
The one who has the most fun must be Song Seung-hun who plays nearly all roles possible in one character; born underdog, reluctant desperado, over-achieving hero, mighty brother, long suffering son and lover in this 56 episode ambitious epic. The most interesting bit is its depiction of the drastic social and political evolution sweeping Korea society of thirty years, and how it parallels to recent Chinese history.
15 Women in the sun
A small lie to cover up a moment's lapse of sanity leads to a life of redemption and endless lies. How often is a Korean drama centred on a complicated character who is less than absolutely honourable and adorable? Thumbs up for Kim Ji-soo who dares to take up this challenge. Although this is a more complicated role, it is paralleled with her role in This Charming Girl.
16 Love and marriage
The leading man cannot act. But who cares when he has got such a handsome face?
17 Lie to me
Its script must have been scrabbled in a terrible hurry! What a waste on the chemistry between the lead couple Yoon Eun-hye and Kang Ji-hwan!
18 Secret garden
A flop. Can never understand the hype, even less on why Hyun Bin is in it. But then this is not the first time he strays to an implausible role since he proves his crafts in Kim Sam-soon at 23.
19 Snow queen
Another feeble script. Never warm to any of the characters. Hyun Bin's character feels too self-indulgent than sacrifice for the sake of his dead friend.
20 The world they live in
A great potential lost; it could have been an amazing in-depth portrait of lives on the other side of the camera.
21 Great great
An early one for a slim Kim Sun-ah. She is slim and unremarkable, and I have certainly expected something much more from her.
22 The fool
Is there such a fool in the world? The leading lady looks awkward at her role and is never convincing, not even in 200 Pounds Beauty.
23 My 19 year old sister-in-law
The opening scene is borrowed by a recent Taiwanese drama... that is what I can remember about it.
24 Wonderful life
Poorly executed on all accounts.
Some of those I have sampled but failed/didn't bother to finish:
1 Boys over flowers (The campus ruled by sheer evil is beyond my imagination and I struggle to suspend my disbelief. Though Lee Min-ho found his stardom from here, I fail to see why the hype on him or other members of F4).
2 You are beautiful (All seem to be geared up for a teenage audience. The pace too slow for my taste).
3 Pasta (Don't like the tyranny of the chef who thought he was the best)
4 Working mum
5 Slighshot
6 Sweet 18 (I have seen the leading couple in something better and that sums up my experience).
7 Prosecutor princess (It is stretching to see how come a highly intelligent and educated woman can be so downright stupid).
8 Goong S (A farce)
1 My lovely Kim Sam-soon
Forty Korean dramas later, this is still my favourite. No competition, yet.
I told a friend earlier that if she had got time for only one Korean drama, then check out this one. A couple of weeks later, she remarked that it was indeed an alternative, and an excellent one at that. Not only that the heroine has a job she is passionate about (rather than one just to keep her occupied, say), she is plump ('fat') and plain (far from being immaculate, a prerequisite for Korean female leads). Atypical of Cinderella, it presents love as it is experienced; unpredictable, confusing, and made the more complicated by one's past or current relationships. There are also many scenes describing the physical desire between the couple, hilariously funny, they are a fresh air in its Korean genre. The drama concludes with an uplifting image of the couple kissing mid-way through their arguments on the steep stairs, following an voiceover from the heroine if they might break up. In order words, while it rejects a straightforward happy ever after finale, its heroine is charging ahead to peruse her share of happiness nevertheless.
An added bonus for woman audience is; every time when the arrogant hero slightly misbehaves, he gets punished one way or the other, sometimes at the hands of his manipulating and abusive mother! Infused with hilarious comic and poignant moments, it launches two of the best actors into much deserved stardom. One only wishes that they can continue to find materials that match their talents.
Well-written script and a great ensemble on both sides. Brilliant soundtrack.
2 Coffee Prince
Another less than immaculate female lead yet it is hard to see who can resist her acting and boyish charm. Besides, the way it deals with homosexuality is cliche-free, human and cool. The sparks between Yoon Eun Hye and Gong Yoo is simply unbeatable. If the portrait of the secondary couple takes up less screen time, it will be more engaging.
3 My girl
A funny and innocent con girl and an upright man who never lies (not even white lies?), surely their worlds cannot be further apart. Yet somehow, you just want the girl to inject some life to the man and 'steal' his heart from his star-sportswoman. Episode 12 and 23 are particularly addictive. When can Lee Da-hae be this effortlessly funny and immaculate again? A hardcore feminist might not like it though. A pity that the character of the secondary leads are so dull. Like Kim Sam-soon, it is a drama I can watch again and again without getting bored as long as I am holding a remote control to skip those sequences on the gambling father and the secondary leads.
4 Winter sonata (Doesn't the poignant finale resemble that of Jane Eyre?)
5 Beautiful days (Sacrifice, sacrifice and sacrifice. All in the name of love.)
6 Stairways to heaven (Kwon Sang-woo proves himself coolest of all. Hints: Do fast forward those scenes when the evil stepmother is present for you have watched them in many other places.)
The three classic tear jerkers all stars a leading lady CJW and lucky to her, playing opposite to three of the most charismatic Korean actors. While CJW's portraits are consistent and convincing in all three parts, it does feel as if she is playing the same role when, if like me, watching them one immediately after the other. I also lost my patience a little bit at the portrait of an 'ideal' woman whose happiness derives exclusively from putting the others before her own ambition and desire. Surely her life and ambition is just as deserving as the others'?
7 Full house
Rain might not be the handsomest or the best of actors, he is certainly one of the rare specimens that can ignite the screen with a mere hint of movement by his toned muscle. To say that he is sexy is an understatement. Despite the patchy script and repetitions in the last few episodes, it has got that trick to make you glue to the screen until the finale. A good case study when it comes to star power.
8 Brilliant legacy
The four leads might not the most glamourous, but together they make this drama work. Very educational for the growing new middle class in the region.
9 Sungkyunkwan scandal
Albeit a copycat of some popular Korean dramas, such as Coffee Prince (on homosexuality), Boys over Flowers (cross dressing to gain access to an exclusive boy/man territory), and that it is extremely loose with historical truth, this costume drama (a genre I incline to stay away for its twisted representations) is a gripping modern story in disguise, especially in its depiction of gender roles. It is unusual that the secondary 'gay' couple are also rather well written. The joke planted at the last minute on the poor bookish protagonist is a naughty surprise comic moment.
10 The first love of royal prince
Having watched Snow Queen first and hated every minute of it, it is a delightful and refreshing to find the arrogant 'Snow Queen' in the adorable girl-next-door role.
11 Coffee house
Like My Lovely Kim Sam-soon, the lead couple have to deal with the legacy of their respective past before they are ready to commit. Patchy at parts but sufficiently engaging to keep you stay tuned till the very end. Kang Ji-hwan is cute here.
12 Wedding
An underrated drama with unexpected depth in its interesting depiction of the bumpy road for the newly-wed to build trust and an meaningful relationship. Ryn Shi-won gives a very steady performance as an diplomat who knows nothing about a woman's heart.
13 Iris
Fresh in subject matters, the screen is brightened up whenever the reliable Lee Byung-hun shows up, smiles or grinding his teeth. I have seen him in many films and he is yet to fail to deliver, be it a soldier guarding the border (JSA), a rural teacher (The Harmonium in My Memory; Bumjee Jumping of Their Own), or a student activist during the political upheaval of the 1980s (Once in a summer). The only role I am not so convinced of is the 'weird' part in The Good, the Bad and the Weird, too much of a stereotype role for me.
14 East of Eden
The one who has the most fun must be Song Seung-hun who plays nearly all roles possible in one character; born underdog, reluctant desperado, over-achieving hero, mighty brother, long suffering son and lover in this 56 episode ambitious epic. The most interesting bit is its depiction of the drastic social and political evolution sweeping Korea society of thirty years, and how it parallels to recent Chinese history.
15 Women in the sun
A small lie to cover up a moment's lapse of sanity leads to a life of redemption and endless lies. How often is a Korean drama centred on a complicated character who is less than absolutely honourable and adorable? Thumbs up for Kim Ji-soo who dares to take up this challenge. Although this is a more complicated role, it is paralleled with her role in This Charming Girl.
16 Love and marriage
The leading man cannot act. But who cares when he has got such a handsome face?
17 Lie to me
Its script must have been scrabbled in a terrible hurry! What a waste on the chemistry between the lead couple Yoon Eun-hye and Kang Ji-hwan!
18 Secret garden
A flop. Can never understand the hype, even less on why Hyun Bin is in it. But then this is not the first time he strays to an implausible role since he proves his crafts in Kim Sam-soon at 23.
19 Snow queen
Another feeble script. Never warm to any of the characters. Hyun Bin's character feels too self-indulgent than sacrifice for the sake of his dead friend.
20 The world they live in
A great potential lost; it could have been an amazing in-depth portrait of lives on the other side of the camera.
21 Great great
An early one for a slim Kim Sun-ah. She is slim and unremarkable, and I have certainly expected something much more from her.
22 The fool
Is there such a fool in the world? The leading lady looks awkward at her role and is never convincing, not even in 200 Pounds Beauty.
23 My 19 year old sister-in-law
The opening scene is borrowed by a recent Taiwanese drama... that is what I can remember about it.
24 Wonderful life
Poorly executed on all accounts.
Some of those I have sampled but failed/didn't bother to finish:
1 Boys over flowers (The campus ruled by sheer evil is beyond my imagination and I struggle to suspend my disbelief. Though Lee Min-ho found his stardom from here, I fail to see why the hype on him or other members of F4).
2 You are beautiful (All seem to be geared up for a teenage audience. The pace too slow for my taste).
3 Pasta (Don't like the tyranny of the chef who thought he was the best)
4 Working mum
5 Slighshot
6 Sweet 18 (I have seen the leading couple in something better and that sums up my experience).
7 Prosecutor princess (It is stretching to see how come a highly intelligent and educated woman can be so downright stupid).
8 Goong S (A farce)
October 04, 2011
Constant craving
In his best selling autobiography Life, the Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards recalled in minute details how he was addicted for over a decade to heroin and how that constant craving for a sniff had ruined a good part of youth.
Over the weekend, I experienced that constant craving, for Korean drama and (modern) cinema.
The incident was triggered by a faulty hard disk storing all the Korean dramas uploaded from a friend's latest collection. I was watching Lie to Me last Thursday when a message on the screen said that it could not read the files. Within 10 minutes, everything disappeared and soon the laptop could not even identify the hard disk. Given that hard disk costing some S$200 barely five years ago, it was the last thing I had expected.
That was when I gave it a try to visit the two internet sites that appear to store thousands of dramas and films from the globe, catering especially to the growing communities in East and Southeast Asia of cineasts and drama lovers. My effort was awarded by an early success with an episode of Lie to Me, and despite the annoying advertisements every 15 minutes and the poor quality of the English subtitles, its sheer availability eased my hunger a bit. Since then however everything went downhill. First I found that not all the listed episodes are available for download, then I realised even if you have the luck watching one segment of an episode, there is no guarantee that the full episode can be downloaded within the limit of your patience. It is an perpetual testing and stretching of one's stamina. In addition, the battery drains real fast.
The Chinese site is even worse; most of them are dubbed in the most put-off phoney Chinese, an offence to most fans.
I persisted, wishing that even if I failed at one drama, the chance might be better with another. But my stamina didn't get me anywhere; all I could see was but the revolving circle; a tell-tale that it is getting nowhere.
OK, no pain no gains. Four days, I lived in hope that things might turn for the better if I avoid the 'rush hours' or the hits. Four days I was told that I should not keep my hope high.
Watching media products on line has been the major source of entertainment and, to a large extent the only means to keep up for my friends back in China. Now that I have tried it, I wonder how much time have been wasted collectively and how come they can put up with it all; the poor quality of dubbing or subtitling, the snake speed downloading if at all, etc. Is it a case of better than none? Perhaps I am not that addicted after all.
After ranting this out with the friend who introduced me to Korean drama, I tried a 'quality' site she hence recommended. This one is dedicated to Korean drama and has in comparison, very limited stocks. So far though, it seems that it offers a much better option. Fingers crossed.
PS: I learnt from another long term 'drug addict'that if you have an iPhone, then you can subscribe to follow the latest Korean drama live! 'How do you manage? The screen is so small!' 'It is OK for me', the drug addict responded. To her, I am still an 'fair weather supporter'.
Over the weekend, I experienced that constant craving, for Korean drama and (modern) cinema.
The incident was triggered by a faulty hard disk storing all the Korean dramas uploaded from a friend's latest collection. I was watching Lie to Me last Thursday when a message on the screen said that it could not read the files. Within 10 minutes, everything disappeared and soon the laptop could not even identify the hard disk. Given that hard disk costing some S$200 barely five years ago, it was the last thing I had expected.
That was when I gave it a try to visit the two internet sites that appear to store thousands of dramas and films from the globe, catering especially to the growing communities in East and Southeast Asia of cineasts and drama lovers. My effort was awarded by an early success with an episode of Lie to Me, and despite the annoying advertisements every 15 minutes and the poor quality of the English subtitles, its sheer availability eased my hunger a bit. Since then however everything went downhill. First I found that not all the listed episodes are available for download, then I realised even if you have the luck watching one segment of an episode, there is no guarantee that the full episode can be downloaded within the limit of your patience. It is an perpetual testing and stretching of one's stamina. In addition, the battery drains real fast.
The Chinese site is even worse; most of them are dubbed in the most put-off phoney Chinese, an offence to most fans.
I persisted, wishing that even if I failed at one drama, the chance might be better with another. But my stamina didn't get me anywhere; all I could see was but the revolving circle; a tell-tale that it is getting nowhere.
OK, no pain no gains. Four days, I lived in hope that things might turn for the better if I avoid the 'rush hours' or the hits. Four days I was told that I should not keep my hope high.
Watching media products on line has been the major source of entertainment and, to a large extent the only means to keep up for my friends back in China. Now that I have tried it, I wonder how much time have been wasted collectively and how come they can put up with it all; the poor quality of dubbing or subtitling, the snake speed downloading if at all, etc. Is it a case of better than none? Perhaps I am not that addicted after all.
After ranting this out with the friend who introduced me to Korean drama, I tried a 'quality' site she hence recommended. This one is dedicated to Korean drama and has in comparison, very limited stocks. So far though, it seems that it offers a much better option. Fingers crossed.
PS: I learnt from another long term 'drug addict'that if you have an iPhone, then you can subscribe to follow the latest Korean drama live! 'How do you manage? The screen is so small!' 'It is OK for me', the drug addict responded. To her, I am still an 'fair weather supporter'.
September 26, 2011
The first love of royal prince
Unlike those popular Korean dramas, this one doesn't get much Internet coverage. If this is a measure for its lukewarm reception, then it is underrated.
Though it is another Cinderella story flooding the Korean television screen, and the heroine is no more than a vase as an secretary, this one stands out from its competitors with a tight script and consistent performance from the leading couple. Though it is a case of selling old medicine in a new bottle, it works.
Though it is another Cinderella story flooding the Korean television screen, and the heroine is no more than a vase as an secretary, this one stands out from its competitors with a tight script and consistent performance from the leading couple. Though it is a case of selling old medicine in a new bottle, it works.
Women in the Sun
Despite some oversights in the script, this is a great drama on thirst for love, sibling rivalry, revenge and redemption, with convincing performance from all on board.
A media icon, the heroine has everything one could ever dreamt of: intelligence, glamour, an affluent and intellectual background, and engaged to a handsome and successful acquisition professional. She is also a role model for her unusually strong work ethics. Behind the scene though, she looks pensive, sad and insecure, with secrets to hide; not only she is adopted, she had, 20 years ago, tried and succeeded in abandoning the daughter of her foster parents, the cause of her well-disguised guilt, self-imposed isolation, and a dedication to redemption by way of devoting herself to work and good cause. Despite being engaged, she never shares her secrets with her fiancé, whom she barely sees much thanks to their devotion to their careers.
Far away from the spotlight and in a rare moment of being her true self, down and lonesome, she is chanced upon by an expat when paying a farewell visit her dying mother in Hong Kong, and through him, she is reunited, unknowingly, with her sister she would never like to meet again. The sisters hit it off nearly straightaway, and soon the real identity of this new friend is unveiled and from then on it is a string of events that see the role model of all Korean schoolgirls sparing no tricks to stop that truth from being known by anyone.
What is most amazing is when the truth is discovered by the victim and later shared with her orphan friend, all he asks of her is but forgiveness on the evil sister; he accepts the impostor unconditionally and the drama finishes with hints that they are a happy and contented couple. On the other hand, the other couple - the victim and her love interest since childhood, are separated again, as if they don't deserve to have the same blessing from the audience.
Hats off to Kim Ji-soo who also stars in This Charming Girl. It isn't a typical 'adorable' figure one normally come across in Korean drama. She carries the role competently. The scene stealer though is Lee Ha-na who plays the victim, especially in the second half of the series.
A media icon, the heroine has everything one could ever dreamt of: intelligence, glamour, an affluent and intellectual background, and engaged to a handsome and successful acquisition professional. She is also a role model for her unusually strong work ethics. Behind the scene though, she looks pensive, sad and insecure, with secrets to hide; not only she is adopted, she had, 20 years ago, tried and succeeded in abandoning the daughter of her foster parents, the cause of her well-disguised guilt, self-imposed isolation, and a dedication to redemption by way of devoting herself to work and good cause. Despite being engaged, she never shares her secrets with her fiancé, whom she barely sees much thanks to their devotion to their careers.
Far away from the spotlight and in a rare moment of being her true self, down and lonesome, she is chanced upon by an expat when paying a farewell visit her dying mother in Hong Kong, and through him, she is reunited, unknowingly, with her sister she would never like to meet again. The sisters hit it off nearly straightaway, and soon the real identity of this new friend is unveiled and from then on it is a string of events that see the role model of all Korean schoolgirls sparing no tricks to stop that truth from being known by anyone.
What is most amazing is when the truth is discovered by the victim and later shared with her orphan friend, all he asks of her is but forgiveness on the evil sister; he accepts the impostor unconditionally and the drama finishes with hints that they are a happy and contented couple. On the other hand, the other couple - the victim and her love interest since childhood, are separated again, as if they don't deserve to have the same blessing from the audience.
Hats off to Kim Ji-soo who also stars in This Charming Girl. It isn't a typical 'adorable' figure one normally come across in Korean drama. She carries the role competently. The scene stealer though is Lee Ha-na who plays the victim, especially in the second half of the series.
August 27, 2011
Coffee Prince
I can do without a cup of coffee, but the taste of Coffee Prince is too strong to resist: it plays with the notion of gender performance, and pseudo-homosexuality, all in a fresh and enticing approach.
Yoon Eun Hye's natural talents shines through and her chemistry with Goog Joo is music to the ears.
Yoon Eun Hye's natural talents shines through and her chemistry with Goog Joo is music to the ears.
August 15, 2011
East of Eden
A 56 episode epic from Korea, this is an ambitious project that in its minute dramatisation of the the fate of a lower class family in a deprived mining village, relates and comments on the drastic changes of the political and social landscape of a half century. With a rather charismatic Song Seung-hun as its leading man and a strong team of supporting crew, in particular Lee Mi-sook as the strong willed mother, it is both entertaining and revealing for those who are vaguely interested in Korea and its culture.
As my exposure to Korean drama and films increase steadily, I am also becoming more convinced in my initial finding: that the Korean spoken language seems a rich kaleidescope of various Chinese dialects, with Hakka being the one of the key components, a fact that appears largely unknown to even those intellectual friends who have regular dose of Korean drama since Korean wave hit China in the early 2000s. I wonder if somewhere out there, someone has been working at it, especially why that the key component seems to be Hakka, a dialect originated mainly from the remote mountainous areas of Southern China. I wish I didn't given up Hakka so radically when I was little.
As my exposure to Korean drama and films increase steadily, I am also becoming more convinced in my initial finding: that the Korean spoken language seems a rich kaleidescope of various Chinese dialects, with Hakka being the one of the key components, a fact that appears largely unknown to even those intellectual friends who have regular dose of Korean drama since Korean wave hit China in the early 2000s. I wonder if somewhere out there, someone has been working at it, especially why that the key component seems to be Hakka, a dialect originated mainly from the remote mountainous areas of Southern China. I wish I didn't given up Hakka so radically when I was little.
July 02, 2011
Brilliant legacy
During the first three episodes, I could not see why it was the top rating Korean dramas in 2009. However it grew on me and in the end, I stayed up till 5:30 in order to find out what happened next!
I love it and I can see why it was awarded in China as well, if nothing else, one of the subject matters - the second generation of the super rich - must be quite an intriguing issue back in China.
I love it and I can see why it was awarded in China as well, if nothing else, one of the subject matters - the second generation of the super rich - must be quite an intriguing issue back in China.
June 19, 2011
Signpost
Since I was introduced to Korean dramas a few months ago, I must have been lent more than a dozen of them by my neighbours. Some, like the highly popular You are Beautiful and Boys over Flowers, I dislike so much that I gave up after just one episode; some, like Pizza, I stopped watching after several episodes despite my best efforts to do otherwise. Some, like Coffee Shop, could keep me watching till the last episode but with the benefit of hindsight, does not register so well. The following is a list of Korean dramas that I would like to remember for various reasons:
1 My Lovely Sam Soon:
A 'fresh air' in Korean drama in many ways: a leading actress with less than perfect appearance, a 30 year old from the lower-middle class in pursuit of love and is never shy in fighting for what she wants. Great performance from all, especially that of Kim Sun-ah and the then, newcomer, Hyun Bin, with lots of memorable sequences and comic moments. A Cinderella story with lots of twists.
2 Wedding:
A surprisingly low profile one despite its excellent script and convincing performance, it is a focused and fine exploration on how we allow the past to haunt our relationships.
3 My Girl:
How two people fall in love despite their differences in background and temperaments and their determination to stay away from each other. The last two episodes are the most enjoyable one when the protagonist ignores the emotional blackmail of the patriarch and fights for himself. A typical Cinderella story. Lee Da-Hae is simply excellent.
4 Winter Sonata:
Doesn't the final scene look similar to that in Jane Eyre when the well-off hero becomes blind and the love of his life has risen to become, presumably, a successful architect?
5 Stairways to Heaven:
Again a typical Cinderella story albeit with a sad ending. An absolute tearjerker. I watched all the episodes when the heroine is tortured by her step mother and step sister in fast forward mode.
6 Full House:
Rain's performance is the highlight in a story that relies too much on impossible plots. It does grip you though despite the silly lines.
7 World within:
An unusual Korean drama in its exploration of the behind-the-scene stories of the making of Korean dramas. It is however not the sort of insightful story that one might expect. Could definitely have been much better if the director had better ideas of what he wanted and stayed focused on it.
8 Snow Queen:
The only reason I can come up with on why Hyun Bin picked this project is that the character he plays is almost the exact opposite of the one in his last project My Lovely Sam Soon. What kept me watching though was not just because of Hyun Bin, but also because I wanted to find out how long his character could keep on denying his own ambition and bury his talents.
9 Beautiful Days
In watching Korean dramas, I have been kept pleasantly surprised by just how closely related the Korean languages is to Chinese, or its dialects to be exact. The first time I realised this was when a character counted numbers from one to ten which sounds almost identical to Hakka. Due to the lack of fluency of Hakka, I cannot tell how close Korean is to it, but what I can tell is that while there are many words that share similar pronunciations with Hakka,there are times they sound like, say, Mandarin or Cantonese, such as the word for hubby. This keeps me wonder if there is a Chinese linguistics who knows all the dialect in China whether the myths would be solved in regard to the similarities between Korean and Chinese languages.
Another aspect of Korean drama that impresses me most is how talented those involved in the industry are: from screenwriter, director, music editor, to the actors and actresses. This high quality of the team has certainly contributed to the overall good quality of their production.
1 My Lovely Sam Soon:
A 'fresh air' in Korean drama in many ways: a leading actress with less than perfect appearance, a 30 year old from the lower-middle class in pursuit of love and is never shy in fighting for what she wants. Great performance from all, especially that of Kim Sun-ah and the then, newcomer, Hyun Bin, with lots of memorable sequences and comic moments. A Cinderella story with lots of twists.
2 Wedding:
A surprisingly low profile one despite its excellent script and convincing performance, it is a focused and fine exploration on how we allow the past to haunt our relationships.
3 My Girl:
How two people fall in love despite their differences in background and temperaments and their determination to stay away from each other. The last two episodes are the most enjoyable one when the protagonist ignores the emotional blackmail of the patriarch and fights for himself. A typical Cinderella story. Lee Da-Hae is simply excellent.
4 Winter Sonata:
Doesn't the final scene look similar to that in Jane Eyre when the well-off hero becomes blind and the love of his life has risen to become, presumably, a successful architect?
5 Stairways to Heaven:
Again a typical Cinderella story albeit with a sad ending. An absolute tearjerker. I watched all the episodes when the heroine is tortured by her step mother and step sister in fast forward mode.
6 Full House:
Rain's performance is the highlight in a story that relies too much on impossible plots. It does grip you though despite the silly lines.
7 World within:
An unusual Korean drama in its exploration of the behind-the-scene stories of the making of Korean dramas. It is however not the sort of insightful story that one might expect. Could definitely have been much better if the director had better ideas of what he wanted and stayed focused on it.
8 Snow Queen:
The only reason I can come up with on why Hyun Bin picked this project is that the character he plays is almost the exact opposite of the one in his last project My Lovely Sam Soon. What kept me watching though was not just because of Hyun Bin, but also because I wanted to find out how long his character could keep on denying his own ambition and bury his talents.
9 Beautiful Days
In watching Korean dramas, I have been kept pleasantly surprised by just how closely related the Korean languages is to Chinese, or its dialects to be exact. The first time I realised this was when a character counted numbers from one to ten which sounds almost identical to Hakka. Due to the lack of fluency of Hakka, I cannot tell how close Korean is to it, but what I can tell is that while there are many words that share similar pronunciations with Hakka,there are times they sound like, say, Mandarin or Cantonese, such as the word for hubby. This keeps me wonder if there is a Chinese linguistics who knows all the dialect in China whether the myths would be solved in regard to the similarities between Korean and Chinese languages.
Another aspect of Korean drama that impresses me most is how talented those involved in the industry are: from screenwriter, director, music editor, to the actors and actresses. This high quality of the team has certainly contributed to the overall good quality of their production.
Wedding
Exploring how far we can allow the past relationships to interfere with the new ones, Wedding, an 18 episode Korean drama, is well written and performed. Yet if the little on-line information or its non-existence on any of the top rating Koran drama lists are to go by, then it seems to have been overlooked.
The four protagonists are all honest,highly likable and well educated characters. However in their attempts to treat their loved ones in the kindest way possible, they end up distancing from and even hurting each other. Wedding follows their respective journeys to find truth happiness in fine and mundane details, and it is a rare example where the characters all behave in a measured way, and which does not rely too much on the immature bahaviours of its protagonist in the storyline.
The four protagonists are all honest,highly likable and well educated characters. However in their attempts to treat their loved ones in the kindest way possible, they end up distancing from and even hurting each other. Wedding follows their respective journeys to find truth happiness in fine and mundane details, and it is a rare example where the characters all behave in a measured way, and which does not rely too much on the immature bahaviours of its protagonist in the storyline.
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