Korean Drama - Cruel Love

Cruel Love / Bad Love / 不好的爱情

Rating: 8.9/10

CAST:

Kwon Sang Woo as Kang Yong Ki
Lee Yo Won as Na In Jung
Kim Sung Soo as Lee Soo Hwan
Cha Ye Ryun as Park Shin Young / Jo Ann
Kim Ga Yun as Kang Joo Ran (Soo Hwan's wife & Yong Ki's sister)

About the Drama

Lee Yo Won stars as Na In Jung who struggles with her love between the rather cold and rebellious pop culture artist Kang Yong Ki (Kwon Sang Woo ) and a successful businessman, Lee Soo Hwan (Kim Sung Soo). She used to be a beautiful and graceful cellist and had staked her everything on her first love, Soo Hwan. She loves him even though she knows he is married but he coldheartedly breaks up with her. She does her best to get over him, believing that her suffering is a punishment for stealing another woman's husband. She ended up in a small village selling fried chicken after her mother died and her father was seriously wounded in a car accident the night she suffered a miscarriage when Soo Hwan left her.

5 years later In Jung met Yong Ki when he came to the small village. Yong Ki's first love, Jo Ann had commited suicide as his father objected to their relationship and he still carries the wound that he suffered from their relationship and her death. He is an illegitimate son of a conglomerate owner and has never received love as a child. His half sister is Joo Ran who is married to Soo Hwan. Yong Ki meets In Jung and after much bickering falls for her confident personality but their relationship is hampered by In Jung's first love, Soo Hwan. Believing that his unhappiness is due to his kind heart, Yong Ki decides to protect his love by all means.

Soo Hwan had an affair with In Jung 5 years ago but he only had ambition for the CEO position of Yong Ki's father's company. He is now a successful businessman but he discovers that his ambition and successes do not fill the emptiness that he has inside his heart and realizes that In Jung is the one that he needs and truely loves. But In Jung and Yong Ki have already fallen in love with each other. Will In Jung go back to her first love or stay with Yong Ki?

Comments:

I was drawn to the drama because of actress Lee Yo Won as i really like her acting in "Surgeon Bong Dal Hee" and have been looking forward to her next drama. So without thinking I just went ahead and bought the drama...

OMG please! How pathetic can life be for In Jung? (I am now talking about the character in the drama...sigh...) What can be worst then living in misery like her? If you are looking for a romantic or a chick flick, please don't watch this show...You will definitely cry your eyes out...I can not imagine anything worst or sadder then being in her shoes....

Fact is I being a woman totally do not agree with her being a third party...but I can't help being sorry for her. She could have done better then suffering through what she had gone through. This drama showed all the worst things that could have happened to a mistress.

How can she be in any dilemma at all? Third party? No no!

Woman...could have been smarter....

Korean Drama - Exhibition of Fireworks

Exhibition of Fireworks

Rating: 9.0/10

CAST:

Han Chae Young as Shin Na Ra / Shin Na Kyung (Cosmetic beauty counselor)
Kang Ji Hwan as Nah In Jae (Cosmetic gallery manager)
Park Eun Hye as Chae Mi-rae (Head of the cosmetic store management team)
Yoon Sang Hyun as Kang Seung-woo (CPA, Nah-ra’s ex-boyfriend)
Park Jung Soo as Nah In Jae’s mother
Kim So Yun as Shin Na Kyung (the real 20 year-old sister)
Park Geun Hyung as Shin Na Ra’s father
Kim Chang Sook (김창숙) as Choi Soon Young (Shin Na Ra’s mother)
Kim Joo Hyun (김주현)

About the Drama

Official Website: http://www.imbc.com

The main character of this drama is Shin Nah-rah, a girl approaching thirty who doesn’t have house, money, boyfriend, a job, or anyone to support her. All she has are her brains. After living unemployed for awhile and struggling to make a living she thinks about getting married so that she can at least work as a housewife. After she being dumped by her boyfriend, whom she was planning to get married to and living together with, she goes out to find the woman who stole his heart; but while at her love rival's cosmetic company, an ad for sales clerk catches her eye.



Having nothing to lose she tool the identity of her 20 year old little sister, a high school graduate, and starts working as a sales clerk. At work she meets an immature and spoilt guy who likes, Mi-rae the woman who stole her boyfriend’s heart. The two always snarl at each other and get into disputes but this guy later turns out to be the son of the vice president of the company.



A love story starts to grow between the employer who knows nothing except being tough and an employee who knows a lot more than her boss throughout all their disputes and quarrels.

Comments

Very interesting show. I bought the show cos of the lead actress! Bought all her shows! LOL

English Subtitle Available:
http://withs2.com/view/exhibition-of-fireworks

Korean Drama - Bad Couple

Bad Couple/不良情侣

The Cast:

Shin Eun Gyung as Kim Dang Ja
Ryu Soo Young as Choi Jae Chun
Choi Jung Yoon as Han Young
Byun Jung Soo as Na Dol Soon
Yoo Gun as Seo Joon Soo

About the Drama:

Story revolves around a weird relationship between Choi Jae Chun, a University Botanic Professor and a career woman/workaholic, an editor of a fashion magazine, Kim Dang Ja.

Dang Ja suddenly wants to have her own baby but doesn’t want to give in or commit to a relationship with a guy. So she goes in search for the man with the “perfect genes” to persuade him to give in to a one night stand relationship.

Since Jae Chun is an university professor with “perfect genes” and he is the person with all the necessary traits, he becomes her target. However, things start to get interesting when she discovers Jae Chun is not that easy a person to tackle. Jae Chun conservative perception about sex before marriage becomes her barrier, not to mention his fiance as another of her obsticle.

Comments:

A very heart warming and touching drama serial, commical and horriblely ridiculas. I love the way Kim Dang Ja wants to have her own baby even though she is single and sets her mind to do it. Totally love the show, even though the leads are not the best looking couple, they really make you enjoy the show with their wonderful acting.

Sadly one of the DVD that I bought are kinda of scratched and I missed a few scenes of the show. The shop owner said will change the disc for me but never did that...sigh...

Bad Couple English Subtitles (Completed)

Korean Drama - The Moon That Embraces the Sun

The Moon That Embraces the Sun / The Sun and the Moon 拥抱太阳的月亮

Rating: 9.5/10

CAST:

Main Characters
Kim Soo Hyun (김수현) as Lee Hwon (이훤 / 暄)
Yeo Jin Goo (여진구) as Young Lee Hwon
Han Ga In (한가인) as Wol – Heo Yeon Woo (월.허연우 / 月.煙雨)
Kim Yoo Jung (김유정) as Young Yeon Woo
Jung Il Woo (정일우) as Prince Yang Myung (양명군 / 陽明)
Lee Min Ho (이민호) as Young Prince Yang Myung
Kim Min Seo (김민서) as Yoon Bo Kyung (윤보경 / 寶鏡) – Lee Hwon’s Queen [정비(正妃)]
Kim So Hyun (김소현) as Young Yoon Bo Kyung
Song Jae Rim (송재림) as Woon (운 / 雲)
Lee Won Geum (이원근) as Young Woon
Nam Bo-Ra (남보라) as Princess Min Hwa (민화공주 / 旼花)
Jin Ji Hee (진지희) as Young Princess Min Hwa
Song Jae Hee (송재희) as Heo Yeom (허염 / 炎)
Si Wan (시완) as Young Heo Yeom
Yoon Seung Ah (윤승아) as Seol (설 / 雪)
Seo Ji Hee as Young Seol

About the Drama:

This drama is the political ideology of King Lee Hwon, a fictional king of Joseon Dynasty. The story revolves around the love between Lee Hwon, and his lover Wol, a female shaman, whom he is ready to give all his life.

The drama also talks about the natural of right-positioning in a mythical and supernatural manner. Every element should be set in its proper place. It illustrate just how dangerous it is for the sun and the moon to swerve off course the solar system, the whole world can be in danger when things stray from their original path. Where by Lee Hwon is the sun and Wol is the moon.


Yeon Woo, whom was born of a noble family, being choosen by the King due to her wits and good nature, she was betroth to Lee Hwon, the crown prince. In fact the crown prince, Lee Hwon fell in love with her on first sight when they accidently met in the palace at young age.

But Yeon Woo was being cursed by a shaman, who was ordered by people who are both jealous and fearful of her family and also worried that she wil become the future queen and lose power politically.

Yeon Woo was saved but she lost her memory and subsequently grew up as a shaman, she was never given a name until she coincidently met her destiny, the love of her life, the current King. She was named Wol, which means moon (also cos she reminds the King of the moon when she saved him from being lost in the woods due to heavy fog).

Lee Hwon was devastated after Yeon Woo's death, he became a callous and uncaring king. Lee Hwon began to returned back to his original kind nature after meeting Wol, but he was in a dilemma as he found out the truth that his grandmother and sister were involved in the plot behind the death of Yeon Woo.

The drama also shows the bond between the two princes, Yang Myung and Yeon Woo. Yeon Woo who is the crown prince looks forward to spending time, meeting and learning from his elder brother, prince Yang Myung.

Yang Myung who lives outside the palace is a knowledgeable young man, he was very careful whenever he is around his father and tries very hard to please him. Even though he did not think so or know, his father dotes on him a lot. He was in love with Yeon Woo too. He her for the first time on the streets full of people gathering to have a chance to see the King, Yang Myung was able to recognise, or rather he thought that Yeon Woo had came from the nether world just to catch a glimpse of her lover, Lee Hwon.

Comments:

Nice show! I totally find it amazing that Yeon Woo can run around the palace with no body to stop her and she wondered off following a yellow butterfly. A butterfly! How original....LOL....Kinda so sweet when the two kids met for the first time. Also typical but still find it nice.

The little little parts of their little romantic encounter is so deeply imprinted in Yeon Woo's and also Lee Hwon mind that when they fianlly meet up 8 years later, their actions reminded them of each other.

I kind of pity prince Yang Myung, he is like the elder brother and everything his brother has, could have been his, even his love. I extremely felt that its a pity especially when he recognize his love and thought that she is a ghost wanting to have a look at the King when he first saw her after so many years.

Yeon Woo's servant girl is so loyal, she kept her promise to Yeon Woo's brother, Heo Yeom to take care of her. At first, I thought she is in love with Woon.

I can not imagine that Princess Min Hwa, who is a very innocent character but the one but biggest mistake she has done is blinded her love for Heo Yeom. I would think it was unnecessary for her to do what she had done. Given the fact that Heo Yeom is so knowledgeable, I am very sure if she ask her father, the King to bestow her to Heo Yeom will be a very simple thing. Really did not understand why she had agreed to being the "catelyst" in cursing her sister-in-law. The grand mother is really evil in pulling her into the whole problem.

This is a very sweet show, a little comical, mysterious, magical all in one. A very nice show to watch if you don't think too much about things being logical or not.

Japanese Drama - Hana Yori Dango

Hana Yori Dango 花より男子

Also known as: Boys Before Flowers / Boys Over Flowers

Rating: 9.0/10

CAST:

Inoue Mao as Makino Tsukushi
Matsumoto Jun as Domyoji Tsukasa
Oguri Shun as Hanazawa Rui
Matsuda Shota as Nishikado Sojiro

About the Drama:

Makino Tsukushi is the only poor girl at a an upper-class high school full of rich kids and dominated by four of the wealthiest, a group of four guys known as the F4, or Flower 4. All that Makino wants to do is escape the attention of her shallow classmates and stay under the F4′s radar until graduating, but when the F4 go after a friend of hers, she can’t take it any more, and fate steps in to throw her and the leader of the F4, Domyoji, together

Comments:

So far I have watched both the Taiwanese and also the Korean version of this show on top of the Japanese version. I guess I am still a fan of the Korean version most, followed by the Japanese version.

I watched this with English sub titles. The lead actor even though is not as handsome as the korean lead actor in Boys over Flowers, has done so well in bringing out the character of Domyoji, his aggressive and rash character is strongly shown in his acting. I keep mistaking him as the same actor for "My Handsome Butler" (Shinonono Mei Mei), but they are actually 2 different person.

The feelings that I felt when watching the Japanese version is not as strong, I think it might be due to the fact that the Japanese version was done in very short series with only 9 episodes.

Hanazawa Rui is not as cool in Hana Yori Dango, but nevertheless, his feelings for Makino is very obvious. I find the story of the apple very ridiculas. How can Rui actually believe Domyoji??

Korean Drama - You’ve Fallen for Me

Rating: 9.3/10

CAST:

Jung Yong Hwa as Lee Shin
Park Shin Hye as Lee Kyu Won
Song Chang Ui as Kim Suk Hyun
So Yi Hyun as Jung Yoon Soo
Woo Ri as Han Hee Joo
Kang Min Hyuk as Yeo Joon Hee
Lee Hyun Jin as Hyun Ki Young
Im Se Mi as Cha Bo Woon

About the Drama:

You've Fallen for me

;

Lee Shin is a university student majoring in modern music. He is also the vocalist and guitarist of the band "The Stupid". Shin is known for his good looks and strong passion for music, but in reality he is cold, lacks interest in anything unrelated to music and has neither dreams nor plans for the future. He initially likes Jung Yoon Soo, a dance professor at university, but this all changes when he meets Lee Kyu Won.

Lee Kyu Won is a bright and outgoing student who was born into a prestigious family and is majoring in traditional Korean instruments, especially the gayageum. Kyu Won's grandfather, Lee Dong Gun, is one of the top 3 traditional musicians of his age and his biggest wish is to see his granddaughter become a traditional music prodigy. Trying to live up to her grandfather's expectations, Kyu Won immerses herself in training and becomes a university student who knows nothing outside of her studies. As her friends are fans of "The Stupid", she was forced to go to the band's concert with them. There she saw Lee Shin performing live, and is immediately captivated by him.

Comments:

Spolier....please don't read if you have not watched the show....

What a silly name to give the band, "The Stupid". OMG....LOL...anyway I love the fact that the 2 groups or rather the band and the traditional musicians played together. Even though throughout the whole show they only had one song, it never fail to amaze me when the mordern and traditional instrument combines together. Wonderful! I just hope that they have more music as such...so beautiful. I always thought that the sound of "gayageum" is too low as compared to the chinese "Qin" (similar looking instrument but the sound made are higher pitched)....but in this show, it definately sounds great!

Both the lead actor and actress, Jung Yong Hwa and Park Shin Hye acted in "You're Beautiful". They were not couples there but I was hoping they were....So I am really happy to see them as a couple in this drama...Like their singing so so so much!!! Beautiful! Totally beautiful!!!



When Kyu Won sing behind the scene and only Lee Shin pays attention to her during their "100 aniversary musical" (which they did not really have a 100 aniversay musical, thats why I called it "their"), that scene while the director makes it feels like they are singing to each other is simply amazing...totally love the look when Lee Shin keeps looking back at Kyu Won. I find it most touching after they finish singing and everyone's clapping for them...He went and comfort her....soooo sweet....

I found the last 2 episode a but ridiculas...since I can't understand why a fall can caused such a big injury to Lee Shin and as a guitarist, your hand is very important...how can he delay his surgery to wait for Kyu Won to leave the country....I know its out of love....its just not a logical decision...but come to think of it...when did anyone ever made logical decision when it comes to love...

Korean Drama - Lovers in Prague

Lovers in Prague

Rating: 8.9/10

The Cast:

Jun Do Yun as Yoon Jae-hee
Kim Joo Hyuk as Choi Sang-hyun
Kim Min Joon as Ji Young-woo
Yoon Se Ah as Kim Hye-joo
Lee Jung Gil as Yoon Jung-han
Jung Dong Hwan as Ji Kyung-hwan (Young-woo's father)
Yoon Young Joon as Suh Yoon-kyu
Kim Seung Wook as Hwang Dal-ho (Sang-hyun's partner)
Kim Na Woon as Shin Kwang-ja
Andy (Lee Sun Ho) as Ji Seung-woo (Young-woo's younger half brother)
Jang Geun Suk as Yoon Gun-hee
Kwak Ji Min as Jung Yeon-soo
Ha Jung Woo as Ahn Dong-nam (Jae-hee's bodyguard)
Park Jae Min as Mrs. Young
Won Duk Hyun

About the Drama:

The president's daughter, Yoon Jae-hee (Jun Do-yeon) is a Korean diplomat in Prague. She has only recently recovered from a devastating break up five years earlier with Ji Young-woo (Kim Min-joon), the son of a prominent Korean businessman. Choi Sang-hyun (Kim Joo-hyuk) is a detective who goes to Prague searching for his ex-girlfriend Hye-joo (Yoon Se-ah). Hye-joo broke up with Sang-hyun over the phone from Prague and Sang-hyun cannot accept it.

Sang-hyun meets Jae-hee in Prague and misunderstandings abound. Eventually the two help each other and become friends. When they return to Korea, love blossoms, but their respective ex’s and very different social status put it to the test.

Comments:

Typical love triangle again....Both the lead actor and actress are not super pretty or handsome...which makes it quite nice since I can still remember it after watching for such a long time....I can not understand why Jae-hee is in such dilemma when she knows that she loves Sang-hyun and he too loves her...May be because of status and culture. I still could not understand why she can not just be with Sang-hyun instead of going through such a long process and end up with him....

Anyway I love it when the guy, Sang-hyun, learns to say "I love you" which is "Mirujite" in Prague (as spelt in the DVD translation I bought, even though it does not seems to be pronounced that way) and sadly when he said it to her the first time...it was not useful enough...LOL...

On the whole its a reasonably nice show....I bought the show cos the I heard from the sales at the shop saying that this is one of the 3 love themed story that the director/producer had purposely made...the other 2 is..."Lover in Paris" and "Lovers" but I found out that the chief producer for this drama is not the producer for "Lovers in Paris" but the producer is the producer of "Lovers in Paris", anyway its not true what ever the sales staff said...sigh....