Drama Withdrawals

Movie Marathon

2010-12-04T01:56:00.000-08:00

It was simply by chance that I came across Jeon Woochi and needless to say, I got hooked.

Jeon Woochi - a fusion sageuk with a hint of comedy, loved it.

Temptation of Wolves - in the romance/drama genre, many claim it's epic, see to believe.

Too Beautiful to Lie - the Korean While You Were Sleeping in my opinion.

Voice of a Murderer - we barely see Kang Dong Won's face but this is a good movie.

Secret Reunion - a touching story between foes turned comrades.

Duelist - a little weird for my taste but wth, on with the movie marathon.

Maundy Thursday - about a man on death row who finds hope when he falls in love, expect to cry buckets.

Psychic - just came out Nov 2010, I CANNOT wait to see this.

Fashion 70s

2010-06-09T22:32:00.000-07:00

My Rating: Must Watch
Title：Fashion 70s / 时尚70年代 / 패션 70's / Pae-syeon 70's
Episodes:28
Air Date:May 2005 (Mon & Tues on SBS)
Starring:
Lee Yo Won as Han Duh Mi / Ko Joon Hee
(the Queen in Queen Seon Deok)

Kim Min Jung as Ko Joon Hee / Han Kang Hee
(main girl in New Heart)

Joo Jin Mo as Kim Dong Young
(main guy in Queen of the Game)

Chun Jung Myung as Jang Bin
(main guy in Cinderella's Sister)
(main guy in What's Up, Fox?)
(main guy in Goodbye Solo)

Synopsis:

Comments:

If you like this, I cannot think of a similar drama because this one is truly unique so instead of suggesting a similar drama, I'd like to suggest watching Chun Jung Myung's dramas because they're good! Besides, who wouldn't wanna see more of Jang Bin, right?

Try the following links..
Download Fashion 70s with English Subs from SilentRegrets.Com
Watch Fashion 70s English Subs on MySoju
Download Fashion 70s OST

Would love to hear your comments!

Seoul's Sad Song

2010-06-02T02:46:00.000-07:00

My Rating: Average
Title：Seoul's Sad Song / Conspiracy in the Court / 汉城别曲 / 한성별곡
Episodes:8
Air Date:July 2009 (Mon & Tues on KBS2)
Starring:
Jin Yi Han as Park Sang Kyu

Kim Ha Eun as Lee Na Young
(Sul Hwa in Chuno)

Lee Chun Hee as Yang Man Oh
(Seo Sung Joon in Smile, You)

Synopsis:
Lee Na Young grew up as a noble until her family was charged of treason and she became an assassin to avenge her family. Park Sang Kyu and Yang Man Oh share the same dream for Korea but they are going on separate paths to achieve their purpose. When they finally meet their long-lost friend Lee Na Young, everyone becomes entangled in a political conspiracy.

Comments:
This drama is a dark suspense-type sageuk aka ancient Korean drama. It didn't garner a substantial following but I've been reading reviews from people who actually saw this drama and I've been hearing good things.

However, I don't share the same sentiments because I found it kind of boring. Perhaps my capacity for deep political thrillers is non-existent but if you're into that kind of thing, you might like this drama.

Try the following links..
Watch Seoul's Sad Song Chinese Subs on Tudou
Watch Seoul's Sad Song English Subs on MySoju

Would love to hear your comments!

Goodbye Solo

2010-06-01T19:50:00.000-07:00

My Rating: Very Good
Title：Goodbye Solo / 再见独奏 / 굿바이솔로
Episodes: 16
Air Date: Mar 2006 (Wed and Thurs on KBS)
Starring:
Chun Jung Myung as Kim Min Ho
(main guy in Cinderella's Sister)
(main guy in What's Up, Fox?)
(second lead Jang Bin in Fashion 70s)

Yoon So Yi as Kim Soo Hee

Lee Jae Ryong as Kang Ho Chul

Kim Min Hee as Choi Mi Ri

Lee Han / Kim Nam Gil as Yoo Ji An
(main guy in Bad Guy)
(Bi Dam in Queen Seon Deok)
(Tae San in Lovers)
(second lead in When Spring Comes)
(Hye Jin's doctor friend in My Name is Kim Sam Soon)

Bae Jung Ok as Oh Young Sook
(Actress Yoon Young in The World That They Live In)

Na Moon Hee as Grandma Mi Young
(main guy's mom in The World That They Live In)

Synopsis:
This drama is about the lives of Kim Min Ho, Kim Soo Hee, Kang Ho Chul, Choi Mi Ri, Yoo Ji An, Oh Young Sook and Grandma Mi Young.

Comments:
Listen to the soundtrack below and if you like it, then I think that you will like the overall vibe of this drama. It feels very much like an indie film without the typical cliches of a k-drama.

Goodbye Solo focuses on the lives of all the major characters and how each story intertwines with the other. It's like Love Actually but not entirely. I could write a more thorough synopsis but I think the fun of it lies in learning about the stories so have fun!

If you like this, you might like The World That They Live In, which offers a similar concept. Personally, I like Goodbye Solo a lot more.

Lastly, Chun Jung Myung is cute. I used to think he looked dorky until I saw him in Cinderella's Sister and now, Goodbye Solo. :)

Goodbye Solo Wallpaper:

Try the following links..
Watch Goodbye Solo English Subs on MySoju
Watch Goodbye Solo Chinese Subs on Tudou
Download Goodbye Solo OST
Track 1
Track 2
Track 3
Track 4
Track 5
Track 6
Track 7
Track 8
Track 9
Track 10
Track 11
Track 12
Track 13
Track 14
Track 15
Track 16

Would love to hear your comments!

A Man Called God

2010-05-27T07:41:00.000-07:00

My Rating: Average
Title：A Man Called God / 被称为神的男人 / Shinira Bulriwoon Sanai / 신이라 불리운 사나이
Episodes: 24
Air Date: Mar 2010 (Sat and Sun on MBC)
Starring:
Song Il Gook as Michael King
(Moo Hyul in Kingdom of the Winds)
(Harry Kim in Lobbyist)
(Prince Jumong in Jumong)
(Seo Min Jun in the Art of Seduction)

Han Chae Young as Jin Bo Bae
(main girl in Only You)
(main girl in Delightful Girl Choon Hyang)

Kim Min Jong as Hwang Woo Hyun

Han Go Eun as Vivian Castle
(second lead in Capital Scandal)

Chu Ja Hyun as Seo Mi Soo

Yoo In Young as Jang Mi

People I recognized from other dramas:
Jo Jin Woong as Jang Ho
(Kwak Han Sum in Chuno)
(Cho Hong Gyu in Gangster High)

Synopsis:
Michael King is an international assassin and he has connections worldwide. But this time, the job is personal because his ultimate goal is to avenge the death of his parents.

Comments:
I was so excited for this drama especially since it meant I would get to see Jumong, ahem, I meant Song Il Gook again. I still think that Song Il Gooks is made to do sageuks (ancient Korean dramas) because he just doesn't look as cool in typical modern clothes. Granted, his clothing style in A Man Called God was anything but plain, it was bordering outlandish but I didn't know whether to appreciate the boldness or laugh.

The drama felt well-made in terms of cinematography. It looked expensive and it was. We have Song Il Gook as Michael King with not one, but four beautiful model-looking women accompanying him. The all-star cast must have been expensive as well.

I'm racking my brains for a better analogy to describe my drama watching experience but all I'm left with is Power Rangers. I remember loving the Power Rangers during my younger days even though it was corny. I mean Michael King is Peter Pan? It's a play on the Disney character Peter Pan but it sounded weird. I also found the whole setting with Michael King on his black leather chair surrounded by his mad doctor, computer geek and foxy assistant extremely cheesy. And the music that plays during every fight sequence, I'm not sure what the director intended for us to feel. Ok, I will stop poking fun because just as I like Power Rangers, I sure kept watching this till the end.

Try the following links..
Watch A Man Called God English Subs on MySoju
Watch A Man Called God Chinese Subs on Tudou

Would love to hear your comments!

Queen Seon Deok

2010-05-24T04:15:00.000-07:00

My Rating: Must Watch
Title：Queen Seon Deok / Queen Seon Duk / 善德女王 / Seonduk Yeo Wang / 선덕여왕
Episodes: 62
Air Date: May 2009 (Mon and Tues on MBC)
Starring:
Lee Yo Won as Princess Deokman / Queen Seon Deok
(main girl Han Duh Mi in Fashion 70s, also starring Chun Jung Myung)

Ko Hyun Jung as Lady Mi Shil
(main girl in What's Up, Fox?, opposite Chun Jung Myung)

Uhm Tae Woong as Kim Yoo Shin
(Moo Young's right-hand man in Nine-Tailed Fox)

Lee Han / Kim Nam Gil as Bi Dam (ep. 21 onwards)
(main guy in Bad Guy)
(Tae San in Lovers)
(Yoo Ji An in Goodbye Solo, also starring Chun Jung Myung)
(second lead in When Spring Comes)
(Hye Jin's doctor friend in My Name is Kim Sam Soon)

People I recognized from other dramas:
Jo Min Ki as King Jinpyeong
(sinister Shin Tae Hwan in East of Eden)
(noble Lee Won Ho in Iljimae)

Jung Ho Bin as Moon No (Bidam's teacher)
(Baek Sil Jang in Swallow the Sun)

And many more..

Synopsis:
This series is about Princess Deokman's journey against all odds to become Queen Seon Deok, the first female ruler of Shilla.

Comments:
There were two reasons why I didn't want to give this drama a try. First, it's incredibly long. Second, the promotional posters didn't look appealing enough to attract my attention. Everyone looked so formal in full traditional costumes. And was I wrong! I have since invested so much time on this drama that I've ignored my essay due in 3 days!

I became interested in this drama after I found out that Kim Nam Gil plays the supporting role of Bi Dam in Queen Seon Deok. I first saw him in Lovers and again in My Name is Kim Sam Soon! From the insignificant doctor friend in Kim Sam Soon, to a minor role in Lovers, he is definitely rising as an actor and finally, the big break came because of his role in Queen Seon Deok as Bi Dam. Bi Dam is the classic tragic character that viewers typically fall for and I'm definitely a sucker for those type of characters as well. Bi Dam is complex, sometimes naughty, nice, funny, passionate, good and evil. I refuse to start talking Star Wars but Bidam really reminds me of Anakin Skywalker aka Darth Vader.

Ko Hyun Jung plays the female strategist Lady Mishil who has both beauty and brains. I first saw Lady Mishil on episode 28 and her every expression is so distinctively diabolical but beautiful at the same time. Together, Lady Mishil and Bi Dam as mother and son are my pick for most interesting characters in Queen Seon Deok. Love them, hate them, love them.

I talked about refusing to watch this drama for superficial reasons and now that I finished the drama, I'm ecstatic to find out that the drama lives up to the hype. Lady Mishil and Princess Deokman battle it out using strategy and wits in their hopes to secure political power. I love watching shows like these especially if they are brilliantly executed. It was intellectually stimulating to see Deokman solve Shilla's economic crisis and overcome every challenge that came her way. Likewise, it was fun to watch Lady Mishil devise every unthinkable plan to stop her nemesis from becoming queen. I wanted to Deokman to win while simultaneously wanting Lady Mishil not to lose either. Of course, Queen Seon Deok is not limited to mind boggling ploys to gain power. It is also very much a love story and a drama.

If you like this, you might like Jumong, another epic sageuk (ancient Korean drama) as well as the Ballad of Suh Dong. The first is more action-packed whereas the latter focuses more on the love story between the Baekje Prince and the Shilla Princess. Just an FYI, Princess Deokman is also a Shilla Princess so you might find the connection interesting.

Try the following links..
Watch Queen Seon Deok English Subs on MySoju
Search for Queen Seon Deok on Youtube.
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 1
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 2
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 3
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 4
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 5
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 6
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 7
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 8
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 9
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 10
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 11
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 12
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 13
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 14
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 15
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 16
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 17
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 18
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 19
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 20
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 21
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 22
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 23
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 24
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 25
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 26
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 27
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 28
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 29
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 30
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 31
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 32
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 33
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 34
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 35
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 36
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 37
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 38
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 39
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 40
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 41
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 42
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 43
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 44
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 45
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 46
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 47
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 48
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 49
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 50
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 51
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 52
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 53
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 54
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 55
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 56
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 57
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 58
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 59
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 60
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 61
Download Queen Seon Deok Episode 62

Download Queen Seon Deok English Subs
Rename the .Srt file to the same name as the .avi file in order to play.

Chuseok Special:
Part 1
Part 1 Subtitle
Part 2
Subtitle

Links were obtained from here.

Would love to hear your comments!

Prosecutor Princess

2010-05-22T01:41:00.000-07:00

My Rating: Good
Title：Prosecutor Princess / 检察官公主 / Geomsa Princess / 검사 프린세스
Episodes: 16
Air Date: Mar 2010 (Wed and Thurs on SBS)
Starring:
Kim So Yeon as Ma Hye Ri

Park Shi Hoo as Seo In Woo
(main guy in Family's Honor)
(Shi Hoo in Iljimae)

Han Jung Soo as Yoon Se Joon
(General Choi in Chuno)

Choi Song Hyun as Jin Jung Su
(Hyun Soo's classmate in Smile, You)

Synopsis:
Ma Hye Ri is the opposite of what you'd expect of a traditional prosecutor. She is fun-loving and she loves fashion. After graduation, she is assigned under head prosecutor Hang Jung Soo and she meets Lawyer Seo In Woo. Will she be lucky in work and love?

Comments:
This drama reminds me of Legally Blonde except the main character is a prosecutor and not a lawyer. Ma Hye Ri starts out as a ditsy and spoiled shopaholic without a care in the world but she eventually learns the ropes and turns out to be an outstanding prosecutor. I liked the concept but the plot didn't make quite the same impression as Legally Blonde. Kim So Yeon as Ma Hye Ri is ok but I keep remembering her from Iris and I feel that she is much suited for more serious roles instead of comedy.

The storyline and execution is decent but nothing outstanding. However, I really ended up liking this drama. I loved Lawyer Seo In Woo, Ma Hye Ri's mystery guy. Trying to find out his purpose for getting close to Ma Hye Ri were one of the reasons why I decided to continue on with this drama. It's an enjoyable, light story about the prosecutor princess and her mystery lawyer.

This drama came out around the same time as Cinderella's Sister and Personal Preference, both garnering better ratings than Prosecutor Princess. I'm not a fan of Lee Min Ho (Personal) or Moon Geun Young (Cinderella) so Prosecutor Princess was top on my list and I think it's worth watching.

Try the following links..
Watch Prosecutor Princess Chinese Subs on Tudou
Watch Prosecutor Princess English Subs on MySoju
Download Fly High from Prosecutor Princess OST

Would love to hear your comments!

Will it Snow for Christmas?

2010-05-20T02:53:00.000-07:00

My Rating: Good
Title：Will it Snow for Christmas? / 圣诞节会下雪吗 / Keuriseumaseue Nooni Olkkayo / 크리스마스에 눈이 올까요?
Episodes: 16
Air Date: Dec 2009 (Wed and Thurs on SBS)
Starring:
Go Soo as Cha Kang Jin
(main guy in Green Rose opposite Lee Da Hee)

Han Ye Seul as Han Ji Wan
(main girl in Tazza)
(second lead in the Legend of the Nine-tailed Fox)

People I recognized from other dramas:
Chun Ho Jin as Han Joon So
(Kang Hyun Soo's dad in Smile, You)

Nam Ji Hyun as teenage Han Ji Wan
(teenage version of Han Ji Hye as Kim Ji Hyun in East of Eden)
(teenage main girl in Lobbyist)

Synopsis:
Cha Kang Jin is looked down upon because he is the son of a barmaid. Although extremely talented and also the top of his class, he constantly gets into fights in order to protect his mother. He meets Han Ji Wan, who is a strong-willed teenager that has the guts to stand up for what is right.

However, a tragic incident that Han Ji Wan could not accept caused her to run away from her family and Cha Kang Jin.

Comments:
The main characters first meet as teenagers played by Nam Ji Hyun and Kim Soo Hyun, only 14 and 21 then, but both very talented for their age. I was drawn to the story immediately instead of wanting the main characters to grow up soon so that I can finally see them as adults. In fact, I recognize Nam Ji Hyun from other dramas and I think that she'll be someone to look for in the future.

teenage Cha Kang Jin and Han Ji Wan

This drama puts you on an emotional ride. It tugs at your heart strings without being too depressing. But don't misunderstand. Although it didn't feel overly tragic, the premise definitely has a certain sadness to it. From the storyline to the soundtrack, even the title Will it snow for Christmas? has such a melancholic ring. I half-expected one of the main characters to die of a chronic illness and I'm so glad they did not do that. Oops, does this count as a spoiler?

However, the drama went downhill for me towards the end. I read some reviews and I'm glad that I wasn't the only one who felt that way. The story between Kang Jin's mom and Ji Wan's dad was a bit of a stretch. It was like unnecessary problems kept coming up and we're left with two main characters who are constantly crying such that it felt emotionally draining to watch. We no longer see spunky Ji Wan from her youth nor do we see the ambitious architect Kang Jin. I guess the good and bad parts compliment each other to make an overall decent Kdrama to watch for.

Randomness: The Christmas promo posters are nice and all but does this drama have anything to do with Christmas?

Try the following links..
Watch Will it Snow for Christmas English Subs on MySoju
Watch Will it Snow for Christmas Chinese Subs on Tudou

Would love to hear your comments!

My Name is Kim Sam Soon

2010-05-20T02:01:00.000-07:00

My Rating: Must Watch
Title：My Name is Kim Sam Soon / My Lovely Kim Sam Soon / 我的名字叫金散顺 / Nae I-reum-eun Kim Sam-soon / 내 이름은 김삼순
Episodes: 16
Air Date: Jun 2005 (Wed and Thurs on MBC)
Starring:
Kim Sun Ah as Kim Sam Soon

Hyun Bin as Hyun Jin Hun
(Jung Ji Oh in the World That They Live In)
(Han Tae Woong / Han Deuk Gu in Snow Queen)

Jung Ryu Won as Yoo Hee Jin
(Princess Ja Myung in Ja Myung Go)
(main girl in Which Star Did You Come From)

Daniel Henney as Henry Kim

People I recognized from other dramas:
Lee Kyu Han as Min Hyun Woo
(Lee Han Se in Smile, You, reprising the role of a jerk who dumps his girlfriend)

Lee Han / Kim Nam Gil as Hye Jin's doctor friend
(main guy in Bad Guy)
(Bi Dam in Queen Seon Deok)
(Tae San in Lovers)
(Yoo Ji An in Goodbye Solo)
(second lead in When Spring Comes)

Synopsis:
Kim Sam Soon is a 30 year old baker who is scared that she will become a spinster for life. She just got dumped by her boyfriend and her new goal is to find someone new. She meets Hyun Jin Hun, the rich owner of a restaurant and he becomes her boss. Desperate to appease his mother, Hyun Jin Hun talks Sam Soon into dating him as a cover.

Comments:
This drama is a lot of fun to watch. I had my reservations at first because I had never heard of Kim Sun Ah or Hyun Bin before. I'm superficial, I know. I watch for really good-looking people and Kim Sun Ah as Kim Sam Soon simply didn't cut it. After watching, I understand now that Kim Sun Ah had to dress down and gain weight to play the role of Kim Sam Soon. And now I love Kim Sam Soon! She's a great character, quirky and pretty in her own right.

The story is cute and hilarious. It's very similar to another popular drama Full House, wherein the main characters pretend to date and as expected, they fall in love. The main guy in both dramas are still attached to another girl and the main girl in both dramas go though the same predicament of feeling like the third wheel. I hated those parts.

If you like this, you will probably like My Girl and the 1st Shop of Coffee Prince - both of which are my top favorite romantic comedies and I'm sure the mainstream agrees with me on this. Full House is also up there except for the parts where the main guy acts like a jerk while he takes forever to figure out his true feelings.

I'm not sure why I keep rambling on about other dramas. MNIKSS is definitely on the same rank as the ones I mentioned though, so if you like one, you'll like them all. Need I say more?=D

Try the following links..
Watch My Name is Kim Sam Soon English Subs uploaded by xoxoemalixoxo.
Watch Kim Sam Soon English Subs uploaded by jlinkify.
Watch My Name is Kim Sam Soon Chinese Subs on Tudou

Would love to hear your comments!

Queen of the Game

2010-05-15T18:21:00.000-07:00

My Rating:
Title：Queen of the Game / 게임의 여왕
Episodes: 20
Air Date: Nov 2006 (Sat and Sun on SBS)
Starring:
Lee Bo Young as Kang Eun Seol
(main girl in the Ballad of Suh Dong)

Joo Jin Mo as Lee Shin Jun / Chase
(main guy Kim Dong Young in Fashion 70s)

Synopsis:

Comments:
I stopped watching after the 1st episode even though the drama actually looks promising. I've had enough of revenge stories where the guy or girl wins the heart of the other only to destroy them. It's wrong. I would rather watch revenge stories like A Man Called God or Swallow the Sun, at least they didn't lie to their other half just to get what they want.

Because the story felt like something I've seen before and didn't enjoy seeing anyway, I won't be continuing this show.

If you happen to like this drama, it seems to have a similar plot with Temptation of an Angel and Temptation of Wife.

Try the following links..
Watch the Queen of the Game English Subs on MySoju

Would love to hear your comments!

The World That They Live In

2010-05-15T02:34:00.001-07:00

My Rating: Average
Title：The World That They Live In / World Within / 그들이 사는 세상
Episodes: 16
Air Date: Oct 2008 (Mon and Tues on KBS)
Starring:
Hyun Bin as Jung Ji Oh
(main guy in Friend, Our Legend)
(Han Tae Woong / Han Deuk Gu in Snow Queen)
(Hyun Jin Hun in My Name is Kim Sam Soon)

Song Hye Kyo as Joo Joon Young
(main girl in Autumn Love Story / Endless Love)
(main girl in All In)

Uhm Ki Joon as Song Gyu Ho

Seo Hyo Rim as Jang Hae Jin

People I Recognized from other dramas:
Kim Gab Soo as the Drama Director Kim Min Chul
(the sinister NIS Director in Time Between Dog and Wolf)
(main girl's Dad in Don't Ask Me About the Past)

Bae Jung Ok as Actress Yoon Young
(Oh Young Sook in Goodbye Solo)

Na Moon Hee as Ji Oh's Mom
(Grandma Mi Young in Goodbye Solo)

Synopsis:
This drama features the behind-the-scenes of television drama production. We are introduced to the personal and professional lives of the four main characters who work in the entertainment industry.

Comments:
The story is not particularly sad, funny nor melodramatic. It's tone is a bit philosophical in the sense that it tries to give a perspective on life. It's light but insightful. If I had to choose a genre, this drama would go under romance.

I think Hyun Bin is a hottie but I really don't like the way he looks in this drama. I'm starting to think maybe the scruffy look in Snow Queen just suits him better?

One thing I did like was the theme. Since I love watching dramas, the scenes involving film production, etc. were quite interesting to see. I remember watching the 1st episode where director Joo Joon Young was shooting a car chase scene by having a car parked on top of a moving truck and I was like... so that's how it works. Lots of moments like that in this drama that satisfied my curiosity.

My TV watching experience was average maybe borderline good. It didn't stand out to me nor did it feel like a waste of time. It tried to offer viewers something different, providing a more realistic depiction of people, which may come across boring for others. For some reason, I think of Love Actually, with its many stories that really try to let you focus on the people instead of the actors. It's an acquired taste, which I didn't quite capture yet.

If you like The World That They Live In, you will probably like the 1st Shop of Coffee Prince.

As the opening song goes, La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la..

Try the following links..
Watch the World That They Live In English Subs uploaded by dbfLUVkdramas.
Watch the World That They Live In English Subs on MySoju

Would love to hear your comments!

Guns and Talks

2010-05-12T20:27:00.000-07:00

My Rating: Must Watch
Title：Guns and Talks
Directed by: Jang Jin
Episodes: N/A. This is a movie.
Air Date: October 2001
Starring:
Shin Hyun Jun as Sang Yun
(Gun Hwa-Pyung in the movie Shadowless Sword)
(second lead in Stairway to Heaven)
(second lead in Cain and Abel)

Won Bin as Ha Yun
(second lead in Autumn Love Story / Endless Love)

Shin Ha-kyun as Jung Woo

Jeong Jae-yeong as Jae Young

Jeong Jin-yeong as Inspector Cho

Synopsis:
This movie is about four assassins.

Comments:
The movie is 9 years old I barely remember the plot. I do know I was laughing like crazy though. Besides, Won Bin is in it!

Try the following links..
Watch Guns and Talks English Subs on MySoju

Would love to hear your comments!

The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince

2010-05-12T19:57:00.000-07:00

My Rating: Must Watch
Title：The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince / 咖啡王子1号店 / 커피프린스 1호점
Episodes: 17
Air Date: July 2007 (Mon and Tues on MBC)
Starring:
Yoon Eun Hye as Go Eun Chan
(main girl in Goong)

Gong Yoo as Choi Han Kyul

Lee Sun Gyun as Choi Han Sung

Chae Jung Ahn as Han Yoo Joo
(main girl in Hot Blood)

Synopsis:
Go Eun Chan is the head of the household and she takes up multiple jobs in order to support her family. She meets Choi Han Kyul who is the owner of a coffee shop. In order to earn more money, Eun Chan pretends to be a waiter in order to be hired as a Prince / Waiter at the coffee shop.

Comments:
I was skeptical at first because I never found those girl pretending to be boy stories even remotely believable. Because if it were, it's probably because the girl really does look like a boy, which is a no-no in this case. Yoon Eun Hye is very pretty in her own right and she pulled off the tomboyish look quite well. She looks like a boy but we still see the lovable Yoon Eun Hye in the character of Go Eun Chan.

I'm not a coffee drinker but I love the aroma of freshly brewed coffee whenever I walk into a coffee shop. This drama offers the same artsy feel. It's a cute story between Eun Chan and Han Kyul and I like how this drama was able to focus on subtle details that made it even more memorable. Who could forget the changing caricatures on the coffee shop wall? This drama reeks of cuteness. From the shaggy hair dog to the supporting characters. Everyone is quite likeable and it's a short feel-good drama that you'd want to come home to.

If you like this, you will probably like My Girl.

Try the following links..
Watch the 1st Shop of Coffee Prince English Subs on MySoju
Watch the 1st Shop of Coffee Prince Chinese Subs on Tudou

Would love to hear your comments!

My Girl

2010-05-12T19:12:00.000-07:00

My Rating: Must Watch
Title：My Girl / 마이걸 / Ma-i-geol
Episodes: 16
Air Date: December 2005 (Wed & Thurs on SBS)
Starring:
Lee Dong Wook as Seol Gong Chan

Lee Da Hae as Joo Yoo Rin
(main girl in Chuno)

Lee Joon Ki as Seo Jung Won
(Iljimae in Iljimae)
(main guy in Time Between Dog and Wolf)

Park Si Yeon as Kim Seo Hyun

Synopsis:
Joo Yoo Rin is a happy-go-lucky girl whose father keeps getting himself into trouble. Despite being hardworking, she ends up having to lie her way in order to pay her father's debts. She meets Seol Gong Chan, a stingy, well-to-do businessman and they enter into an agreement wherein Yoo Rin pretends to be Gong Chan's long lost cousin in order to fulfill Gong Chan's grandfather's dying wish.

Comments:
This drama is already 5 years old but it's my all time favorite out of all the dramas I've posted thus far. My Girl is a cute love story written by the well-known Hong Sisters. It's only 16 episodes and it's worth every minute. This drama has humor, romance, drama and everything fits perfectly. Of course, it never hurts to have really good looking main characters.

Lee Dong Wook is cute. Even though he's not my type, I was swooning over the character Seol Gong Chan. Lee Da Hae as Joo Yoo Rin also does equally well if not better. Her expressions are one of a kind and I think she really contributed to the success of the drama.

There's a Philippine version of My Girl so if you feel like re-watching the story, I'd try it out.

I also recommend Full House. If My Girl were my all-time favorite, Full House starring Rain and Song Hye Kyo would get second place.

Try the following links..
Watch My Girl English Subs on MySoju

Would love to hear your comments!

Iljimae / Return of Iljimae

2010-05-12T06:17:00.001-07:00

My Rating: Very Good
Title：Iljimae / 一枝梅 / 일지매
Episodes: 20
Air Date: May 2008 (Wed & Thurs on SBS)
Starring:
Lee Joon Ki as Iljimae / Lee Geom
(main guy in Time Between Dog and Wolf)
(second lead in My Girl)

Han Hyo Joo as Eun Chae
(main girl in Shining Inheritance)

Park Shi Hoo as Shi Hoo
(main guy in Prosecutor Princess)
(main guy in Family's Honor)

People I recognized from other dramas:
Lee Young Ah as Bong Soon

Jo Min Ki as Lee Won Ho
(useless King Jinpyeong in Queen Seon Deok)
(sinister Shin Tae Hwan in East of Eden)

Synopsis:
Iljimae is a legendary thief who steals from the rich to give to the poor. But behind his actions is an even greater purpose. Every place that Iljimae robs brings him closer to his father's killer.

Comments:
It's a sageuk (ancient Korean drama) that seeks to appeal to mainstream Kdrama fans and I think it worked. This drama is a combination of drama and comedy. The comedy didn't come across as funny to me but I am willing to overlook that because it has a lot of redeeming qualities that make you wanna keep watching. The story is good. There's enough angst to make the story touching but it doesn't feel overboard. I really liked Iljimae and then I find out that MBC came out with the Return of Iljimae in 2009, just a year after the original one in 2008.

Don't mistake it for a sequel because it's not. In fact, the Return of Iljimae is supposed to depict the actual story. I gave it a try and I must say, it was too boring. Either I've become biased or the Return of Iljimae really wasn't good.

Promotional poster for the Return of Iljimae

If you like Iljimae, I strongly recommend Hong Gil Dong.

Iljimae Wallpapers:

Try the following links..
Watch Iljimae English Subs on MySoju
Watch Iljimae Chinese Subs on Tudou
Download Iljimae OST
Watch the Return of Iljimae English Subs on MySoju
Watch the Return of Iljimae Chinese Subs on Tudou

Would love to hear your comments!

East of Eden

2010-05-12T03:08:00.000-07:00

My Rating: Very Good
Title：East of Eden / 伊甸園之東 / 에덴의 동쪽 / Edeonui Dongjjok
Episodes: 56
Air Date: August 2008 (Mon & Tues on MBC)
Starring:
Song Seung Hun as Lee Dong Chul
(main guy in Autumn Love Story / Endless Love)

Kim Bum as Lee Dong Chul (15 years old)
(So Yi Jung in Boys Over Flowers)

Yun Jung Hoon as Lee Dong Wook
(second lead in Jejoongwon)

Park Hae Jin as Shin Myung Hun
(main guy in Hot Blood)

Han Ji Hye as Kim Ji Hyun
(main girl in Sweet 18)

Lee Da Hae as Min Hye Jin
(main girl in Chuno)
(main girl in My Girl)

Lee Yeon Hee as Gook Young Ran

Dennis Oh as Mike Packard

Jo Min Ki as the evil to the core Shin Tae Hwan
(useless King Jinpyeong in Queen Seon Deok)
(noble Lee Won Ho in Iljimae)

People I recognized from other dramas:
Nam Ji Hyun as teenage Han Ji Hye
(teenage Han Ye Sul in Will it Snow for Christmas?)
(teenage main girl in Lobbyist)

Synopsis:
Lee Dong Chul's father was killed by Shin Tae Hwan. It was during times of political instability where money and power can make crimes go away. Unable to find justice, Dong Chul vows to avenge his father's death and he goes through various hardships on the way.

However, a cruel twist of fate is played on the family of Lee Dong Chul and Shin Tae Hwan. Lee Dong Wook and Shin Myung Hun are born on the same day but they are interchanged at the hospital. Shin Tae Hwan's son grows up in the Lee family while Shin Myung Hun grows up under the care of his father's killer.

Comments:
The plot is so complicated I had a hard time putting it into words. I read some bad reviews about this drama being a complete mess. The drama tried to go for too many things - action, romance, politics, sibling rivalries and apparently, there were also issues during production, which led to one of the main characters Lee Da Hae, leaving the drama midway. I read about Song Seung Hun's horrible acting and to some extent I concur with the criticisms. I was ready to give this drama a bad rating until I saw a trailer on TV last night. Looks like East of Eden is going to start showing on primetime television soon!

I remember sitting on the edge of my seat through each episode when it first came out. So what if it's heavy drama, I was hooked and I'd be lying if I give it a bad rating. This drama has an all-star cast of very recognizable faces. If the cast is not enough attraction, the story although too complicated is still very entertaining. It's one of those shows where you hate the bad guys a lot but to garner such hatred must mean that the show is doing something right.

Try the following links..
Watch East of Eden English Subs on MySoju
Watch East of Eden Chinese Subs on Tudou

Would love to hear your comments!

Temptation of an Angel

2010-05-12T02:19:00.000-07:00

My Rating: Nothing Special
Title：Temptation of an Angel / 천사의 유혹 / Cheonsaui Yuhuk
Episodes: 21
Air Date: October 2009 (Mon & Tues on SBS)
Starring:
Han Sang Jin as Shin Hyun Woo (before)
(Yi San's right hand man in Yi San)

Bae Soo Bin as Shin Hyun Woo (after)
(Sayong in Jumong)

Lee So Yeon as Joo Ah Ran

Kim Tae Hyun as Nam Joo Seung

Hong Soo Hyun as Yoon Jae Hee

Synopsis:
Joo Ah Ran marries Shin Hyun Woo in hopes of destroying his family in order to avenger hers. After being cruelly plotted against by Joo Ah Ran, Hyun Woo vows revenge. Hyun Woo goes through surgery and comes back with a new face and identity.

Comments:

Doesn't this remind you of Face Off?

If you like this drama, you might like Temptation of Wife. Temptation of an Angel was apparently created after the success of its predecessor, Temptation of Wife, wherein the main girl comes back with a new identity in order to seek her revenge.

Try the following links..
Watch Temptation of an Angel English Subs on MySoju

Would love to hear your comments!

Family's Honor

2010-05-12T00:54:00.000-07:00

My Rating: Good
Title：Family's Honor / 家门的荣光 / 가문의영광
Episodes: 54
Air Date: October 2008 (Sat & Sun on SBS)
Starring:
Yoon Jung Hee as Ha Dan Ah

Park Shi Hoo as Lee Kang Suk
(main guy in Prosecutor Princess)
(second lead in Iljimae)

Jun Hye Jin as Lee Hye Joo
(Ji Soo in Smile, You)

Lee Hyun Jin as Jung Hyun Kyu

The Family

Synopsis:
Ha Dan Ah is very conservative and she comes from a traditional family with a reputable status in Korea. She meets Lee Kang Suk who is completely opposite from her. He is a ruthless businessman who thinks that money can solve all problems. The story revolves around the two main characters and their families.

Comments:
I like that this drama focused on the importance of family, moral values and history, all of which tend to be forgotten nowadays. It's a drama that gives viewers something good to takeaway. I love the story between Ha Dan Ah and Lee Kang Suk. Even though it took 54 long episodes, it was nice to see how their relationship progressed. This drama is simple and without the typical theatrics we find in mainstream dramas, the story felt real and easy to relate to.

There were many side stories that featured the other family members as well. Each character had their flaws but it was enjoyable to watch everyone come together through think and thin. As objectively as possible, I would say that this drama is pretty good. However, I only rated it as good because long family dramas are not my thing. Beautiful as the story may be, I got bored and skipped to the parts with Park Shi Hoo in it.

Park Shi Hoo and Yoon Jung Hee above. Not the best-looking couple at first glance but their pairing works really well and they grow on you.

Yoon Jung Hee looking very different from her role in the drama. Comments?

If you like this, I recommend Smile, You, another drama about family values but with a touch of comedy.

Try the following links..
Watch Family's Honor English Subs on MySoju
Watch Family's Honor Chinese Subs on Tudou

Would love to hear your comments!

Shadowless Sword

2010-05-05T03:25:00.000-07:00

My Rating: Nothing Special
Title：Shadowless Sword / 無影劍 / 무영검
Episodes: N/A / It's a movie.
Directed By: Kim Young-jun
Air Date: November 2005
Starring:
Lee Seo Jin as Daejeonghyun
(Ha Kang Jae in Lovers)
(Yi San in Yi San)

Yoon So Yi as Yeon Soha (the white warrior)
(main girl in Hero)

Shin Hyun-jun as Gun Hwa-Pyung
(second lead in Cain and Abel)
(second lead in Stairway to Heaven)
(main guy in the movie Guns and Talks)

Lee Gi Young as the lady warrior in red

Synopsis:
Abandoned prince Daejeonghyun is now the last hope of saving Balhae. Balhae's best warrior Yeon Soha is sent to protect the prince. Gun Hwa-Pyung and his assassins are also looking for prince Daejeonghyun and the chase begins.

Comments:
From watching the trailer and reading about the raving comments on Shadowless Sword, I knew that Shadowless Sword was exactly my type of movie. Furthermore, Lee Seo Jin plays the main character and I remember liking his dramas. Shin Hyun-Jun who plays the villain is also a veteran actor.

But I dunno what happened. Everyone seems to love this movie except for me. I lost interest after I saw the actors with heavy eye-makeup and acting like they just left the set of Pirates of the Caribbean. I didn't mind the dreadlocks on Shin Hyun-Jun because that was HIS look but everyone else seemed to have a similar appearance. The fights looked cool but it was like watching meaningless fighting sequences considering I skipped through most of the movie. I'd want to give this movie another try, maybe next time.

If you like this, you might like Volcano High, which I think is epic.

Shadowless Sword Photos:

Try the following links..
Watch Shadowless Sword English Subs on MySoju
Watch Shadowless Sword English Subs - tnx to the uplaoder

Would love to hear your comments!

Snow Queen

2010-05-04T22:23:00.000-07:00

My Rating: Average
Title： Snow Queen / 雪之女王 / Noon Eui Yeo Wang / 눈의 여왕
Episodes: 16
Air Date: November 2006 (Mon & Tues on KBS)
Starring:
Hyun Bin as Han Tae Woong / Han Deuk Gu
(main guy in Friend, Our Legend)
(Jung Ji Oh in The World That They Live In)
(Hyun Jin Hun in My Name is Kim Sam Soon)

Sung Yu Ri as Kim Bo Ra
(main girl in Hong Gil Dong, One Fine Day, Thousand Years of Love)
(Lee Soo Hyun in Swallow the Sun)

Im Joo Hwan as Suh Gun Woo
(main guy in Tamna, the Island / Tempted Again)

Synopsis:
Han Tae Woong is a mathematical genius. He becomes close friends with Kim Jeong Kyu, an overachiever who has to be the best in everything. He also meets Kim Bo Ra who unknown to him is Kim Jeong Kyu's little sister. Han Tae Woong beats Jeong Kyu in a math competition and unable to face defeat, Kim Jeong Kyu commits suicide.

Filled with grief towards the loss of his friend, Tae Woong blames himself and chooses to give up his future. We see him again as a 25-year old, living life aimlessly until he meets his childhood friend Kim Bo Ra once again.

Comments:
The title Snow Queen is referenced in the drama as a storybook about a Snow Queen isolated in a land of icy cold winter, which sets the premise for how this drama will turn out.

Tae Woong maintains a pained expression throughout most of the drama because there really wasn't much for him to be happy about. The characters kept punishing themselves for reasons that didn't convince me. Tae Woong spent so many years of his life feeling bad for Jeong Kyu's death that it was unbearable to watch. And of course, his love interest Kim Bo Ra happens to be a very sickly girl. We can all guess how that might end.

On a lighter note, the main characters look great on-screen. He's cute, she's gorgeous. I just wished the drama didn't feel so heavy. One more thing I gotta talk about is Sung Yu Ri's clothes, I want her wardrobe! The picture above doesn't do her justice. I didn't even recognize her at first because she looked different and almost mean in the promotional poster when she's actually so much prettier than that.

Try the following links..
Watch Snow Queen English Subs on MySoju
Watch Snow Queen Chinese Subs on Tudou

Would love to hear your comments!

Lobbyist

2010-05-04T02:19:00.001-07:00

My Rating: Very Good
Title：Lobbyist (formerly known as Angel)/ 说客 / 로비스트
Episodes: 24
Air Date: October 2007 (Wed & Thurs on SBS)
Starring:
Song Il Gook as Harry / Kim Joo Ho
(Michael King in A Man Called God)
(Prince Moo Hyul in the Kingdom of the Winds)
(Prince Jumong in Jumong)
(main guy in the movie Art of Seduction)

Jang Jin Young as Maria / Yoo So Young

Han Jae Suk as Kang Tae Hyuk
(second lead in Glass Slippers and All About Eve)

People I recognized from other dramas:
Hu Joon Ho as James Lee
(General Hae Mo Su in Jumong)

Nam Ji Hyun as teenage Maria
(teenage Han Ye Sul in Will it Snow for Christmas?)
(teenage Han Ji Hye in East of Eden)

Synopsis:
Kim Joo Ho and his little sister become orphans after their father dies while serving in the military. Without any relatives left in Korea, Joo Ho had to leave his childhood sweetheart Yoo So Young to live with his aunt in the United States. So Young's family also migrates to the US. They eventually meet again as adult Harry and Maria.

However, Maria's sister is killed before her eyes. This incident takes Maria down the road of vengeance, thus beginning the story of Harry and Maria, two main players in the weapons lobbying industry.

Comments:
We are introduced to the world of international weapons trading. This is not your typical Korean drama where the childhood sweethearts reunite as adults. Instead, this is a heavily-politicized drama that delves into the dangerously complex heirarchy of money and power in Korea.

Even though it's fiction, many political implications made sense to me. When a warships entered the South Korean borders, questions were raised as to how Korea should react, what their neighboring countries would do, which international ties should they turn to or away from? We see the US continuously make use of its status to meddle in other country's national affairs and it's interesting to speculate about how things must work in real life.

To compliment its ambitious plot, this drama delivered in terms of quality. Filming was done in multiple locations and the action sequences could have been straight out of a movie. There's also a lot of talking or should I say lobbying, but it's exciting to see how their negotiation tactics come to play.

I think this drama is underrated. Maybe because most viewers just want to sit back and relax on a Friday night whereas this drama requires thought. I'm a Jumong fan but instead of swooning over Song Il Gook, I was caught up on watching the story unfold.

If you like this, I recommend Time Between Dog and Wolf, an even better drama.

Ending:
I think we've all had our fair share of crappy Korean endings. I usually don't bother with a drama that I know is going to end badly because it makes me feel that I was cheated out of all the time that I had invested while watching. I don't want to give anything away so I'll just take a guess and say that I think you'll be satisfied with the ending in this one.

Lobbyist Wallpaper:

Try the following links..
Watch Lobbyist English Subs on MySoju
Watch Lobbyist Chinese Subs on Tudou

Would love to hear your comments!

Running Turtle

2010-04-28T08:50:00.000-07:00

My Rating: Very Good
Title：Running Turtle / 奔跑的乌龟
Directed by: Lee Yeon-woo
Episodes: N/A. This is a movie.
Air Date: June 2009
Starring:
Kim Yun-Seok as Jo Pil-Seong
(main guy in the Chaser)

Jung Kyung Ho as Song Gi Tae
(Kang Hyun Soo in Smile, You)
(Kang Min Ki in Time Between Dog and Wolf)
(Sang Ho in Gangster High)
(Prince Hodong in Ja Myung Go)

Kyun Mi Ri as Pil-Seong's wife
(Queen Wan Hoo in Jumong)

Synopsis:
Pil-Seong is a countryside police officer leading a simple life as he tries to support his family. A chance encounter with fugitive Song Gi Tae literally ruins Pil-Seong's life. Whether it is to regain his honor, money or job, Pil-Seong takes it upon himself to capture Gi Tae.

Comments:
Simply put, this movie is about a cop chasing a robber. I had high expectations after reading about how this movie did in the box office. Perhaps I set the bar much too high because the movie started out a bit slow for me. For more than 10 minutes or so, I was literally just sitting there waiting for something exciting to happen. The movie's still pretty good so I can't say that I'm disappointed.

The director offers a refreshing twist to the cop-chasing robber story. Throughout the movie, Kim Yun-Seok really became the unfortunate detective Pil-Seung whose unfaltering determination garners the moviegoers support. Gi Tae on the other hand is the anti-hero that you end up liking as well. One of them has to lose but I was rooting for both characters.

There's nothing worse than an unsatisfying ending so I'm kind of glad it ended with a bit of humor. The last we see of the two main characters is a still shot of them lying on the floor, which sums up the entire movie.

Try the following links..
Watch Running Turtle Chinese Subs on Tudou

Would love to hear your comments!

Lovers

2010-04-28T03:51:00.000-07:00

My Rating: Average
Title：Lovers / 恋人 / 연인
Episodes: 20
Air Date: 2006
Starring:
Kim Jung Eun as Yoon Mi Joo
(main girl in Lovers In Paris)

Lee Seo Jin as Ha Kang Jae
(Yi San in Yi San)
(Daejeonghyun in Shadowless Sword)

Jung Chan as Kang Sae Yeon

People I recognized from other dramas:
Lee Ki Young as Kang Jae's right hand man Uhm Sang Taek
(Soo Hyun and Min Ki's dad in Time Between Dog and Wolf)

Lee Han / Kim Nam Gil as Tae San
(main guy in Bad Guy)
(Bi Dam in Queen Seon Deok)
(Yoo Ji An in Goodbye Solo)
(second lead in When Spring Comes)
(Hye Jin's doctor friend in My Name is Kim Sam Soon)

Random Facts: Lee Seo Jin and Kim Jung Eun started dating because of this drama. I think they recently broke up though.

Synopsis:
Kang Jae was taken in by gangster boss Chairman Kang and raised as a gangster. He develops a sour relationship with Chairman Kang's son Seo Yeon who yearns for his father's love that he thinks Kang Jae took away. Kang Jae and Seo Yeon both meet and fall in love with the happy-go-lucky cosmetic surgeon Yoon Mi Joo.

Comments:
Lee Seo Jin sturdy appearance and good acting helped him pull off the gangster look very well. The rest of the cast didn't strike me in particular and Kim Jung Eun was far from the lovable character that she portrayed in Lovers in Paris.

Taking into account the cast, the plot, the acting, the shooting locations and the overall-feel of this drama, I would say it's your average kdrama that can either be entertaining or boring at times.

Try the following links..
Watch Lovers English Subs on MySoju
Watch Lovers Chinese Subs on Tudou

Would love to hear your comments!

The Art of Seduction

2010-04-28T02:49:00.000-07:00

My Rating: Very Good
Title：Art of Seduction / 恋爱高手 / Jacobui Jeongseok / 작업의 정석
Directed by: Oh Ki-Hwan
Episodes: N/A. This is a movie.
Air Date: 2005
Starring:
Song Il Gook as Seo Min Jun
(Michael King in A Man Called God)
(Moo Hyul in Kingdom of the Winds)
(Harry Kim in Lobbyist)
(Prince Jumong in Jumong)

Son Ye Jin as Han Ji Won
(main girl in Personal Preference)

Synopsis:
Seo Min Jun and Han Ji Won are both pros at the dating game. They catch each others' attention and begin to go out. However, they find out that none of their usual tricks seem to work. Will true love find a way through these two players?

Comments:
This is a light-hearted movie full of funny situations. The synopsis pretty much covers the whole story but it's fun to watch Seo Min Jun and Han Ji Won bust out their dating techniques to get to each other.

The main guy is Song Il Gook, best known for his role as Jumong in 2006. Before Jumong, he did this movie in 2005. I don't recognize the main girl from before but she's quite attractive. And wait till you see her dance in this movie, hot!

Below is a scene where Min Jun takes Ji Won to the hospital for medication even though he knows that she's only pretending to be sick. This movie is all about the little lies they say to each other but all their pretending makes the movie even more hilarious. Give this romantic comedy a shot.

If I had to complain about something, it would have to be the ending, which felt a bit rushed.

Try the following links..
Watch the Art of Seduction Chinese Subs on Tudou
Watch the Art of Seduction English Subs on MySoju
Watch the Art of Seduction English Subs - tnx to the uploader

Would love to hear your comments!

Gangster High

2010-04-27T09:32:00.001-07:00

My Rating: Must Watch
Title：Gangster High / 黑帮高中 / Pongryeok-sseokeul / 폭력써클
Directed by: Park Ki Hyeong
Episodes: N/A. This is a movie.
Air Date: 2006
Starring:
Jung Kyung Ho as Lee Sang Ho
(main guy in Smile, You, Ja Myung Go)
(second lead in I'm Sorry I Love You, Time Between Dog and Wolf)
(Song Gi Tae in the movie Running Turtle)

Lee Tae Sung as Jaegu
(Sang Shik in Time Between Dog and Wolf)

Jo Jin Woong as Cho Hong Gyu
(General Tae-Ha's trusted comrade in Chuno)

Kim Hye Sung as Kyung Chul Choi
(Prince Yojin in Kingdom of the Winds)

Jang Hee Jin as Jung Su Hee

Random Facts:
Jo Jin Woong who plays the big guy Cho Hong Gyu was 30 years old when he played the high school kid in this movie.

Lee Tae Sung, ______, Jang Hee Jin, Jung Kyung Ho and Kim Hye Sung

Synopsis:
Lee Sang Ho and his friends form a soccer club called Tigers. Yet in a twisted society where cruelty and violence are adamant, Sang Ho and his friends become entangled in the brawl.

Comments:
I first noticed Jung Kyung Ho in Time Between Dog and Wolf and I wanted to see more. I had no idea he could be pull off the character Sang Ho in Gangster High because it was polar opposite to his other roles in dramas that I've seen. I was too familiar with the image of a smiling, playful Jung Kyung Ho that it was hard to imagine him as anything else. Don't get me wrong, I think he's talented but the transformation from comedic and slightly geeky Hyun Soo to complex character Sang Ho in Gangster High still surprised me.

I also liked Lee Tae Sung as Jaegu. Jaegu and Sang Ho had such a strong bond it's interesting that the actors who played them are reunited in Time Between Dog and Wolf.

Gangster High is a controversial film depicting the types of violence that teenagers face. It reminds me of the critically-acclaimed Swedish film Ondskan, which has a similar concept. Sang Ho is a calm and rational student but circumstances kept forcing him to fight. It was devastating to see the 6 fun-loving boys who genuinely loved soccer dragged towards a much darker path and even more saddening to think that similar situations actually happen in real life.

This film was insane. Its bold portrayal of violence at its worse definitely gets viewers thinking. Particularly memorable to me was when Sang Ho finally picked up a weapon and went berserk. It was one subtle gesture that held a strong significance. Here was a kid who was supposed to go to the Korean Military Academy. He tried not to use violence as an answer and he was wavering back and forth on the question many times in the movie. Towards the end, Sang Ho still refused to bring a weapon but he was eventually pushed towards the edge and we see visuals of blood everywhere, further exemplifying the seriousness of Sang Ho's decision.

I secretly hoped that Sang Ho could have been like Michael Corleone in the Godfather who came out on top but that would go against the movie's theme that punishment should fit the crime. Although the film is extremely gory, violence is not condoned because Sang Ho and his friends pay a huge price for what they do.

The final scenes that showed the reading of the letter to Sang Ho put a sad yet heartfelt end to the brutality.

Next movie on my list:
Running Turtle starring Jung Kyung Ho. Heehee, I'm glad he's in so many dramas and movies nowadays. Ja Myung Go, Smile, You, Running Turtle, all released in 2009, WOohoo!

Try the following links..
Watch Gangster High English Subs on MySoju
Watch Gangster High English Subs - Tnx to the uploader.

Would love to hear your comments!

Smile, You

2010-04-26T18:58:00.001-07:00

My Rating: Must Watch
Title：Smile, You / 你笑了 / Geudae, Useoyo / 그대, 웃어요
Episodes: 45
Air Date: 2009
Starring:
Jung Kyung Ho as Kang Hyun Soo
(Lee Sang Ho in the movie Gangster High)
(Kang Min Ki in Time Between Dog and Wolf)
(Prince Hodong in Ja Myung Go)
(Song Gi Tae in the movie Running Turtle)

Lee Min Jung as Seo Jung In
(Jun Pyo's fiancee in Boys Over Flowers)

Lee Chun Hee as Seo Sung Joon
(second lead in Seoul's Sad Song)

Choi Jung Yoon as Seo Jung Kyung

Lee Kyu Han as Lee Han Se
(Kim Sam Soon's ex in My Name is Kim Sam Soon)

People I recognized from other dramas:
Chun Ho Jin as Kang Hyun Soo's dad
(main girl's dad in Will it Snow for Christmas?)

Choi Song Hyun as Kang Hyun Soo's classmate
(second lead in Prosecutor Princess)

Synopsis:
The head of the Kang household, Grandfather Kang, works as a driver for the Seo family. On the day of Seo Jung In's wedding, her family went bankrupt and she was abandoned by her newly-wed husband on their way to their honeymoon. These crazy circumstances led to the meeting of Seo Jung In and Grandfather Kang's grandson Kang Hyun Soo. This drama is about the daily lives of the Seo and Kang family after Grandfather Kang takes in the Seo family who had nowhere else to go.

The Kang family

The Seo family

Comments:
Jung Kyung Ho is such a versatile actor, portraying the comedic and sweet Kang Hyun Soo in Smile, You as opposed to the tragic sword-fighting Prince Hodong in Ja Myung Go. Needless to say, Jung Kyung Ho in Smile, You was a huge plus for me so I might be just a little biased when I say that it's a must-watch.

I never had the urge to watch those long Korean dramas about family drama that had such huge casts because it was too similar to the soap operas that I've been watching since I was a kid. Albeit my reasons for giving this drama a chance were superficial, I'm glad I did. The main guy and main girl are equally cute and hot and they have amazing chemistry. This might sound cheesy but I give props to the casting team because the two main leads have such radiant smiles it really caught my attention. I would get them to do a toothpaste commercial if I could, lol.

The Seo and Kang family get into the most hilarious situations and you fall in love with each character. Sure, some characters have their annoying moments but they redeem themselves so you end up appreciating them anyway.

Being a situational comedy, we get a taste of Korean culture as we look into each character's everyday life. Kang Hyun Soo and Seo Jung In go from foe to friends who eventually fall in love. They are such a lovey-dovey couple and I like that the 45 episodes show a lot about the couple and their quirkiness. Although some parts felt draggy, it was acceptable. It's a sitcom so I wasn't expecting heart-stopping cliff hangers that I would have expected in a drama like Time Between Dog and Wolf. There are just too many memorable, funny and touching moments in this drama, smile, you!

Ending:
Grandfather Kang and Hyun Soo share their thoughts on life. And of course, we see the rest of the family in their traditional green and red, you'll know what I mean. It puts a cheesy but heart-warming end to this family sitcom.

Kang Hyun Soo thinks that the wandering bride sitting next to him is probably insane.

Jung In pretends to forget Hyun Soo's present and Hyun Soo tries to hide his disappointment.

Jung In is crying because Hyun Soo left her to see Jung Kyung

But he comes back for her, aww.

Hyun Soo waving goodbye to Jung In on his way to work.

And his classic dumbfounded expression when rival Lee Han Se waves back.

After numerous failed attempts, they share their first kiss.

A 2007 music video featuring Jung Kyung Ho and Lee Min Jung before they worked on Smile, You.

Try the following links..
Download Smile by Jeong Jin Hwan (Smile, You OST)
Download Goodbye My Love by Melo Breeze (Smile, You OST)
Download Vis a Vis by Melo Breeze (Smile, You OST)
Download Yurisangja (Smile, You OST)
Watch Smile, You Chinese Subs on Tudou
Watch Smile, You English Subs on MySoju

Would love to hear your comments!

Volcano High

2010-04-21T17:55:00.001-07:00

My Rating: Must Watch
Title：Volcano High / WaSanGo / 火山高 / 화산고
Episodes: N/A / It's a movie.
Air Date: 2001
Starring:
Jang Hyuk as Kim Kyung-Soo (main guy in Chuno, Windstruck)

Shin Min-a as Yoo Chae-Yi (main girl in A Love to Kill)

Kwon Sang-woo as Song Hak-rim (main guy in Stairway to Heaven, My Tutor Friend)

Synopsis:
Because Kim Kyung-Soo keeps getting into fights, he enters Volcano High, the last school that will accept him as a student. The story is set during turbulent times wherein teachers and students are fighting over the Secret Manuscript in order to gain control. Kim Kyung-Soo doesn't want to fight but his innate fighting abilities keep pushing him towards the center of it all.

Comments:
This movie is a cross between slapstick comedy and wuxia. It's like those old Hong Kong movies such as Hero Beyond the Boundary of Time (正牌韦小宝之奉旨沟女) and Future Cops (學校霸王) to name a few. The plot is absurd, but it's the absurdity that makes the film work.

I love the character Kim Kyung-Soo. His bleach-blonde hair and hilarious facial expressions are one of a kind and he has supernatural powers! I like stories that portray a character from humble beginnings to legendary status. We see Kim Kyung-Soo constantly lose to others as he tries to restrain his innate fighting abilities. Until finally, he learns to control his powers and fights to defend the school from the new teachers.

The supporting cast really pulls the movie together. I found myself liking all the characters even the five evil teachers because they were too cool to dislike. The action sequences are extremely over the top but being a heavily Wuxia-influenced film, the fight scenes ended up looking surreal in a way that compliments the theme of the movie.

Kyung Soo introduces himself during his first day of class.

Chae-Yi sees Kyung-Soo's true powers.

Try the following links..
Watch Volcano High English Subs on MySoju
Watch Volcano High English Subs - tnx to the uploader
Watch Volcano High Chinese Subs on Tudou
Download Volcano High

Would love to hear your comments!

Let's Go to the Beach

2010-04-20T08:39:00.003-07:00

My Rating: Average
Title：Let's Go to the Beach / 去海边吧 / 해변으로 가요
Episodes: 14
Air Date: 2005
Starring:
Lee Wan as Jang Tae Pung (second lead in Swallow the Sun)
Lee Chung Ah as Yoon So-Ra
Jun Jin as Jang Tae Hyun (second lead in Nine Tailed Fox)

Synopsis:
Jang Tae Pung and Jang Tae Hyun are stepbrothers. Jang Tae Pung has always been the fun-loving younger son whereas Jang Tae Hyun has always been the mature son who is already a director in the family-owned business enterprise. Jang Tae Pung is sent to the family's resort to learn about the business but instead of training his younger brother, Tae Hyun assigns Tae Pung as a lifeguard.

Comments:
If other shows have a food theme, this one has the beach theme. It's a feel good drama with good looking guys. The main girl on the other hand is just ok but equally likeable.

Cute, no?

Towards the ending, the plot twist becomes so absurd that I feel like it was only done in order to prolong the drama. I wasn't expecting much anyway so it was still an enjoyable watch, good for passing time.

Try the following links..
Watch Let's Go to the Beach English Subs on MySoju
Watch Let's Go to the Beach Chinese Subs on Tudou

Would love to hear your comments!

Gourmet

2010-04-20T08:39:00.001-07:00

My Rating: Nothing Special
Title： Gourmet / 食客 / 식객
Episodes: 24
Air Date: 2008
Starring:
Kim Rae Won as Lee Sung Chan (main guy in Love Story in Harvard)
Nam Sang Mi as Kim Jin Soo (main girl in Time Between Dog and Wolf)
Kwon Oh Joong as Oh Bong Joo
Won Ki Joon as Min Woo (Prince Young Po in Jumong)

Synopsis:
Lee Sung Chan was adopted by Oh Bong Joo's father, owner of the renowned Korean restaurant Un Ahm Jung. Oh Bong Joo has always thought of himself as the successor of Un Ahm Jung when his father suddenly decides to hold a competition that will decide who the successor will be.

Comments:
For food lovers out there, this might be your type of show. The drama stays true to its theme. We see the main characters search for the best ingredients, figure out the perfect recipes and try to produce mouth-watering dishes to satisfy their customers. It's competition after competition to see who the best cook is. But of course, there is the usual sibling rivalry and love story that you find in a typical Korean drama.

This drama reminds me of watching Iron Chef where the judges can go on and on about the food. I like food but not enough to watch cooking shows so this drama was just so-so for me, hence my rating above.

Try the following links..
Watch Gourmet English Subs on MySoju
Watch Gourmet Chinese Subs on Tudou

Would love to hear your comments!

Strongest Chil Woo

2010-04-19T21:34:00.000-07:00

My Rating: Not Good
Title： Strongest Chil Woo / 最强七宇 / 최강칠우
Episodes: 20
Air Date: 2008
Starring:
Eric as Kang Chil Woo / Choi Chil Woo
Koo Hye Sun as Yoon So Yoon (main girl in Boys over Flowers)

Synopsis:
Chil Woo's father, although a noble, fought for the freedom of slaves but he was betrayed and died before Chil Woo's eyes. Chil Woo grew up believing that trying to change the world will only lead to death. He becomes a police officer who only thinks of himself. However, his sister's death changes Chil Woo and he vows to seek revenge by becoming a vigilante.

Comments:
This is another drama that I couldn't finish watching.

If you want to watch Koo Hye Sun (main girl in Boys over Flowers) in a Sageuk (ancient Korean drama), I highly recommend the Ballad of Suh Dong even though she only has a minor role in that drama.

Try the following links..
Watch Strongest Chil Woo English Subs on MySoju
Watch Strongest Chil Woo Chinese Subs on Tudou

Would love to hear your comments!

Ja Myung Go

2010-04-16T09:23:00.000-07:00

My Rating: ~~Not Ok~~ Very Good
Title：Ja Myung Go / 王女自鸣鼓 / 왕녀 자명고
Episodes: 39
Air Date: 2009
Starring:
Jung Kyung Ho as Prince Hodong
(main guy in Gangster High)
(Kang Hyun Soo in Smile, You)
(Kang Min Ki in Time Between Dog and Wolf)
(Song Gi Tae in Running Turtle)

Jung Ryu Won as Princess Ja Myung
(main girl in What Star Did You Come From)
(Yoo Hee Jin in My Name is Kim Sam Soon)

Park Min Young as Princess Ra Hee

More characters I recognized from other dramas:
Lee Mi Sook as Ra Hee's mother (Lee Dong Chul's mother in East of Eden. She looked frail and old in East of Eden compared to the evil second concubine that she played in this drama. Makeup sure works wonders.)

Synopsis:
Princess Ja Myung and Princess Ra Hee both fall in love with Prince Hodong of Goguryeo. Princess Ja Myung is destined to protect her country but destiny foretells that Prince Hodong will cause its demise. How will their fates be intertwined?

Comments:
I just saw Jung Kyung Ho in Time Between Dog and Wolf so I wanted to watch him in Ja Myung Go. It turns out that Ja Myung Go is related to Jumong and Kingdom of the Winds. Jumong is the grandfather, Moo Hyul in Kingdom of the Winds is the grandson, and Moo Hyul's son Prince Hodong is the main character in Ja Myung Go. The films were not meant to be a trilogy because Moo Hyul in Ja Myung Go is portrayed as a power-hungry conqueror, contrary to the almost perfect Moo Hyul depicted in Kingdom of the Winds. I still like Moo Hyul in Kingdom of the Winds but of course, it's fiction and in no way an accurate source for historical information.

I should like this drama the best of the 3 because of the love story aspect. However, the plot was too slow. The drama's ratings would probably have improved if the editing had been better because I can bet that this drama lost some viewers who could no longer wait for the main characters to come out. You don't see the three main leads until the last few seconds of episode 13 because they stay as kids for almost half of the whole series. The actresses who portrayed the princesses didn't stand out to me in particular so I was losing motivation to watch.

Thank god the drama picked up pace beginning episode 20. This very touching scene from episode 20 drew me right back to the drama. After which I got addicted, hence deciding that a really bad beginning and a really big improvement meant that I should change my rating to 'Very Good'.

Prince Hodong tells Ja Myung to leave him and save herself.

Ja Myung asks if Prince Hodong's mother is the person trying to kill him.

Ja Myung comes back for Prince Hodong.

I'm having drama withdrawals after watching the ending and I can't help but think that Ja Myung indirectly caused the whole tragedy. Prince Hodong decided to attack Nang Nang after Ja Myung left him. She keeps hurting him in an attempt to avoid the future but it just pushes him to do otherwise. Isn't it ironic? If she never foresaw the future, she might never have helped create it.

The main characters are morally questionable in so many ways. Why must Prince Hodong use Princess Ra Hee? Why does Princess Ja Myung keep trying to kill Prince Hodong just to prevent something that might happen in the future? What was Princess Ra Hee thinking that she would betray her country? The characters have many flaws but it is their flaws that had me so engrossed in their story.

I usually dislike endings such as the one in this drama but it felt fitting in this case. After dedicating his life to becoming king, Prince Hodong finally made a choice and I started crying buckets.

Try the following links..
Watch Ja Myung Go English Subs on MySoju
Watch Ja Myung Go Chinese Subs Chinese on Tudou
Watch Ja Myung Go Chinese Subs on Tudou
Download Baek Ji Young - Love Is Not A Crime / 백지영 - 사랑이 죄인가요
Download Tiffany - By Myself

Would love to hear your comments!

Time Between Dog and Wolf

2010-04-15T07:56:00.001-07:00

Ratings: Must Watch
Title：Time Between Dog and Wolf / 狗和狼的时间 / 개와 늑대의 시간
Episodes: 16
Air Date: 2007
Starring:
Lee Joon Ki as Lee Soo Hyun / Kay
(Iljimae in Iljimae)
(second lead in My Girl)

Nam Sang Mi as Soo Ji Woo
(main girl in Gourmet)

Jung Kyung Ho as Kang Min Ki
(Kang Hyun Soo in Smile, You)
(Lee Sang Ho in the movie Gangster High)
(Prince Hodong in Ja Myung Go)
(Song Gi Tae in Running Turtle)

People I recognized from other dramas:
Lee Ki Young as Kang Joong Ho
(Kang Jae's assistant in Lovers)

Jung Sung Mo as Seo Young Kil
(Evil guy in Kingdom of the Winds)

Kim Gab Soo as the NIS Director
(Drama Director in The World That They Live In)
(main guy's Dad in Don't Ask Me About the Past)

Synopsis:
Lee Soo Hyun was orphaned after his mother was killed before his eyes. NIS Agent Kang Joong Ho raises Lee Soo Hyun as his own. And together, Lee Soo Hyun and Kang Joong Ho's son Kang Min Ki join the government agency NIS.

During fieldwork, Lee Soo Hyun meets his mother's killer again and hatred pushes Lee Soo Hyun to plot revenge by going undercover.

Comments:
I ignored work and watched this drama all day and I'm not even familiar with the actors. The only actor I knew from before was Lee Joon Ki and I didn't find him cute when he was in My Girl. I still don't but he is indeed cool. I give him props for great acting and appeal, which makes him very likeable as an actor.

Needless to say, I wasn't drawn to the drama for superficial reasons this time because it was really the plot that made the drama. The storyline is exciting and full of twist and turns that you wouldn't think of. For Infernal Affairs / The Departed fans out there, this is your kind of drama. But no, it's not as simple as a suspense undercover type story.

Lee Soo Hyun falls in love with Soo Ji Woo, the daughter of his mother's killer. And Lee Soo Hyun's brother Kang Min Ki falls in love with Soo Ji Woo. Talk about forbidden love and love triangle at the same time.

Then came the amnesia plot that is reused in so many dramas. To my surprise, I wasn't annoyed or desperately wanting the main guy to just regain his memory already instead of wasting time. Many many things happen during the span of getting amnesia, and the amnesia plot leads to the bigger story. Lee Soo Hyun becomes the best undercover - a spy who doesn't know that he is a spy.

Lee Soo Hyun's life is truly tragic that you wanna keep saying, why is this happening!? There's heavy drama but I liked that it didn't become over the top like those too dramatic soap operas where every bad thing seems to befall the main characters.

I gotta admit though that the first couple episodes was boring for me. I actually stopped watching altogether but I'm so glad I picked up from where I left off.

It's a revenge story like Swallow the Sun and an undercover drama like the Hong Kong drama Emergency Unit but better because of its intricate plot, a must watch!

If you like this drama, I recommend Lobbyist, which is almost as good.

I like Jung Kyung Ho as Kang Min Ki, the ever-smiling under achiever, too bad second leads never get the girl. I wanna watch more of his dramas.

Because I really want you to watch, try the following links...
Watch Time Between Dog and Wolf English Subs on MySoju
Watch Time Between Dog and Wolf in Chinese on Tudou

Would love to hear your comments!

A Step into the Past

2010-04-14T04:05:00.000-07:00

Ratings: Must Watch
Title：A Step into the Past / 尋秦記 / 寻秦记
Episodes: 40
Air Date: 2001
Starring:
Louis Koo (古天樂) as Hong Siu Lung (项少龙)
Raymond Lam (林峰) as Chiu Poon （赵盘）
Sonija Kwok Sin Lei (郭羡妮) as Kam Ching (琴清)
Jessica Hsuan (宣萱) as Wu Ting Fong (乌廷芳）
Joyce Tang (滕麗名) as Sin Yau (善柔)
Michelle Saram (鄭雪兒) as Siu Sin (赵倩)

Synopsis:
Hong Siu Lung (项少龙) is a Hong Kong Police Agent afraid to commit to his long-time girlfriend Kam Ching (琴清). It was only until Kam Ching (琴清) marries another that Hong Siu Lung (项少龙) realizes what he has lost. Determined to win Kam Ching (琴清) back, Hong Siu Lung (项少龙) volunteered to travel back into the past in hopes of undoing the present. However, things go awry when he finds himself stuck in ancient China many thousand years ago.

Comments:
If Hong Gil Dong were a fusion Sageuk (ancient Korean drama), this would be its Chinese counterpart that I would dub as a fusion Wuxia (ancient Chinese drama). It's an action-packed historical drama but also very comedic at the same time. It was hilarious to watch Louis Koo (古天樂) as Hong Siu Lung (项少龙) speak English and walk around in a T-shirt in ancient China.

This drama has the usual palace politics that wuxia / historical buffs crave for. We see Raymond Lam (林峰) as Chiu Poon （赵盘） gradually turn into Emperor Qin Shi Huang of the famous Qin Dynasty and Hong Siu Lung (项少龙) acting as his teacher and adviser, devising schemes to help Chiu Poon （赵盘) secure the throne.

Louis Koo (古天樂) looking very cool as Hong Siu Lung (项少龙)

Hong Siu Lung (项少龙) with one of his many love interests.

Because I really want you to watch, try the following links...
Watch A Step into the Past on Tudou

Would love to hear your comments!

Chuno

2010-04-13T03:50:00.001-07:00

Ratings: ~~Just Ok~~ Very Good
Title: Chuno / 推奴 / 추노
Episodes: 24
Air Date: 2010
Starring:
Jang Hyuk as Lee Dae Gil
(main guy in Tazza, Windstruck and Volcano High)

Lee Da Hae as Un Nyun / Kim Hye Won
(main girl in My Girl, a must-watch drama!)

Oh Ji Ho as Song Tae Ha

Kim Ha Eun as Sul Hwa
(main character Lee Na Young in Seoul's Sad Song)

More characters that I recognized from other dramas:
Lee Jong Hyuk as Hwang Chul Woong (he was in Powerful Opponents with Chae Rim)

Yoon Dong Hwan as Yong Gol Dae (Chinese emissary in Jumong, it's funny that he always plays the Chinese guy in sageuks aka ancient Korean dramas)

Jo Jin-Ung / Jo Jin Woong as General Tae-Ha's trusted comrade Kwak Han Sum
(Jang Ho in A Man Called God)
(Cho Hong Gyu in Gangster High)

Han Jung Soo as General Choi
(second lead in Prosecutor Princess)

Synopsis:
Kind-hearted Lee Dae Gil is from a noble family and he falls in love with the family's slave Un Nyun. Enraged, Dae Gil's father leaves Un Nyun to die without food or water. Un Nyun's brother burns Dae Gil's house in order to escape with his sister.

Dae Gil who loses everything lives on the streets and his hatred leads him to become a slave hunter. Despite everything, Dae Gil is still searching for the love of his life, Un Nyun, who has taken on a new identity as Kim Hye Won. What will happen when the paths of slave hunter and runaway slave cross again?

Comments:
I loved Lee Da Hae in My Girl and Jang Hyuk in Volcano High so their pairing in Chuno was something to look forward to. There's Jang Hyuk as Dae Gil, supposedly filled with hatred but as the drama unfolds, you grow a soft spot for him when you learn that the kind-hearted man from before still exists. There's Lee Da Hae as Hye Won, looking very pretty in a hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) as she meets Oh Ji Ho as Song Tae Ha, a runaway slave that seems to have a much greater story behind him.

The soundtrack is ah-ma-zing. The chase scenes became more exciting accompanied with the background music and the emotional scenes all the more moving.

But why did I rate this series as 'Just OK'? The chase was heart-wrenching the first few times but it got old when repeated one too many times. Dae Gil and Hye Won kept missing each other, I thought they would never meet.

I like the actor Jang Hyuk but his character started to annoy me with the constant yelling, over-exaggerated laughter and brooding. I found his hatred unreasonable and petty compared to Oh Ji Ho's character who is risking everything in the fight to change the world for the better. By then, I wanted to root for the Lee Da Hae / Oh Ji Ho pairing only because the main character was getting on my nerves.

Jang Hyuk literally retains the same expression throughout the drama.

I'm on episode 19 and it looks like Jang Hyuk and Oh Ji Ho's characters are finally going to start working together. Five more episodes till the series finale so I'm crossing my fingers that it'll end with a bang.

4/14/10 - I just finished episode 22 and the show has completely redeemed itself. I'm reminded of why I love the soundtrack, the action sequences and the main characters, therefore upgrading my rating from 'Just ok' to 'Pretty Good'.

Because I really want you to watch, try the following links:
Watch Chuno English Subs on MySoju
Watch Chuno Chinese Subs on Tudou
Download Chuno OST

Would love to hear your comments!

Swallow the Sun

2010-04-10T08:47:00.000-07:00

Ratings: Good
Title：Swallow the Sun / All In 2 / 吞噬太阳 / 태양을 삼켜라
Episodes: 25
Air Date: 2009
Starring:
Ji Sung as Kim Jung Woo
(he was in All In, Save the Last Dance for me, New Heart)

Sung Yu Ri as Lee Soo Hyun
(Kim Bo Ra in Snow Queen)
(main girl in Hong Gil Dong, One Fine Day)
(Princess Puyeo-ju in Thousand Years of Love)

Lee Wan as Jang Tae Hyuk
(main guy in Let's Go to the Beach)

People I recognized form other dramas:
Jun Kwang Ryul as Jang Min Ho
(King Geum Wa in Jumong)

Im Jung Eun as Mi Yeon
(Princess Se Ryu in Kingdom of the Winds)

Jung Ho Bin as Baek Sil Jang
(Moon No / Bidam's teacher in Queen Seon Deok)

Synopsis:
Kim Jung Woo grew up as an orphan. When he finally had the chance of a lifetime, he grabbed the opportunity to work for business tycoon Jang Min Ho. Jang Min Ho took advantage of Kim Jung Woo's loyalty and left him to fend for himself. Feeling betrayed, Kim Jung Woo vowed revenge. What will happen when Jung Woo discovers that the man who mercilessly used him for his own gain is actually his father?

Fun Fact: Lee Wan who plays Jang Tae Hyuk is Kim Tae Hee's younger brother. Did anyone catch the family resemblance?

Comments:
Dubbed as All In 2, the film lives up to its predecessor in the sense that it is well-made from its great casting to exquisite shooting locations. It's a decent drama but throughout the series, I had this nagging feeling that the storyline wasn't convincing enough.

Kim Jung Woo wanted revenge and he was willing to risk everything he had to gain it. I don't like stories where the main guy chooses revenge over the girl. Shouldn't love conquer all? That aside, I felt that the story wasn't built up in such a way that I could comprehend Kim Jung Woo's anger towards his father. I understood Kim Jung Woo's initial resentment but shouldn't it have ended when his father saved him from captivity?

The director seems to agree with me since Kim Jung Woo says in the last episode that he wished he been able to love instead of choosing to hate. Hah, he should have realized that sooner. It was supposed to be a really good drama but since I wasn't completely sold on the plot, it wasn't as enjoyable for me.

Ji Sung as Kim Jung Woo looks hot, pulling off not only the grunge gangster look but also looking very good in a suit. Didn't think much of him when he was in All In but now I'm really look forward to his next drama Kim Soo Ro.

Because I really want you to watch, try the following links...
Watch Swallow the Sun on MySoju

Would love to hear your comments!

Jumong

2010-04-07T03:00:00.000-07:00

Ratings: Must Watch. This drama made waves in Asia, trust the hype!
Title: Jumong / The Book of Three Han / The Prince of Legend / 朱蒙 / 삼한지-주몽 편
Episodes: 81
Air Date: 2006
Starring:
Song Il Gook as Jumong
(Michael King in A Man Called God)
(Moo Hyul in Kingdom of the Winds)
(Harry in Lobbyist)
(main guy in the movie Art of Seduction)

Han Hye Jin as Soh Suh No
(main girl in Be Strong, Geum Soon! and Jejoongwon)

Kim Seung Soo as Prince Dae So

People I recognized from other dramas:
Hu Joon Ho as General Hae Mo Su
(James Lee in Lobbyist)

Kyun Mi Ri as Queen Wan Hoo
(Pil-Seong's wife in Running Turtle)

Chuno characters that I recognized from other dramas:
Yoon Dong Hwan as Yang Jung (Chinese emissary in Chuno, it's funny that he always plays the Chinese guy in these sageuks)

Synopsis:
Jumong is the third prince of Bu Yeo but unknown to him is that he is the son of General Hae Mo Su, a hero who fought against the Han to save the refugees. Upon learning the truth, Jumong vows to fulfill his father's dream and with the help of Lady So Seo No, he succeeds in overcoming all obstances and becoming the first king of Goguryeo.

Fun Fact: The character who plays Jumong's mom is the same age as the character who plays Jumong in real life, both were born in 1971!

Comments:
I'll admit it. I watched Jumong because of Song Il Gook. He was too cool in Kingdom of the Winds (aka the Jumong sequel) and I heard that his portrayal of Jumong was epic. I'm currently on episode 45 and I'm watching slowly because I don't want the series to end. If you like Sageuks (Ancient Korean dramas), the 81 episodes of Jumong is definitely worth your time.

I liked the progression from useless Jumong to heroic Jumong. SIG's portrayal of pathetic Jumong was too good that I didn't even want to watch those scenes. Nevertheless, the character development was strong. Just as So Seo No who initially thought Jumong a fool, we are introduced to the cowardly Jumong who does nothing but make mistakes. He is punished and kicked out of the palace but throughout his journey, Jumong slowly develops into the man that will become the legendary King of Goguryeo. Just as So Seo No gradually realizes that Jumong is not a fool but a hero, we also grow to love the character Jumong.

Jumong's name means legendary archer.

Jumong and Lady So Seo No.

Check out the Jumong outtakes (NG clips) below. It's hilarious how the actors are in contrast to their roles.

If you like Jumong, I can almost guarantee that you will like Queen Seon Deok.

Because I really want you to watch, try the following links:
Watch Jumong on MySoju
Download Jumong OST main song

An anonymous user posted the megaupload links on kdrama.blogspot. Thank you whoever you are! There is something wrong with the sequencing of episodes. Ep. 20 is actually Ep. 21 and so on.
Downlaod Jumong English Subs
Download Jumong Episode 81
Download Jumong Episode 80
Download Jumong Episode 79
Download Jumong Episode 78
Download Jumong Episode 77
Download Jumong Episode 76
Download Jumong Episode 75
Download Jumong Episode 74
Download Jumong Episode 73
Download Jumong Episode 72
Download Jumong Episode 71
Download Jumong Episode 70
Download Jumong Episode 69
Download Jumong Episode 68
Download Jumong Episode 67
Download Jumong Episode 66
Download Jumong Episode 64
Download Jumong Episode 63
Download Jumong Episode 62
Download Jumong Episode 61
Download Jumong Episode 60
Download Jumong Episode 59
Download Jumong Episode 58
Download Jumong Episode 57
Download Jumong Episode 56
Download Jumong Episode 55
Download Jumong Episode 54
Download Jumong Episode 53
Download Jumong Episode 52
Download Jumong Episode 51
Download Jumong Episode 50
Download Jumong Episode 49
Download Jumong Episode 48
Download Jumong Episode 47
Download Jumong Episode 46
Download Jumong Episode 45
Download Jumong Episode 44
Download Jumong Episode 43
Download Jumong Episode 42
Download Jumong Episode 41
Download Jumong Episode 40
Download Jumong Episode 39
Download Jumong Episode 38
Download Jumong Episode 37
Download Jumong Episode 36
Download Jumong Episode 35
Download Jumong Episode 34
Download Jumong Episode 33
Download Jumong Episode 32
Download Jumong Episode 31
Download Jumong Episode 30
Download Jumong Episode 29
Download Jumong Episode 28
Download Jumong Episode 27
Download Jumong Episode 26
Download Jumong Episode 25
Download Jumong Episode 24
Download Jumong Episode 23
Download Jumong Episode 22
Download Jumong Episode 21
Download Jumong Episode 20
Download Jumong Episode 19
Download Jumong Episode 18
Download Jumong Episode 17
Download Jumong Episode 16
Download Jumong Episode 15
Download Jumong Episode 14
Download Jumong Episode 13
Download Jumong Episode 12
Download Jumong Episode 11
Download Jumong Episode 10
Download Jumong Episode 09
Download Jumong Episode 08
Download Jumong Episode 07
Download Jumong Episode 06
Download Jumong Episode 05
Download Jumong Episode 04
Download Jumong Episode 03
Download Jumong Episode 02
Download Jumong Episode 01

Download all three parts and unzip with Winzip or 7-zip.
Download Jumong Episode 20 Part 1
Download Jumong Episode 20 Part 2
Download Jumong Episode 20 Part 3

Would love to hear your comments!

Thousand Years of Love

2010-04-06T09:30:00.000-07:00

Ratings: Not Good
Title：Thousand Years of Love / 千年之爱 / 천년지애
Episodes: 20
Air Date: 2003
Starring:
Sung Yu Ri as Princess Puyeo-ju
(Kim Bo Ra in Snow Queen)
(main girl in Hong Gil Dong, Swallow the Sun, One Fine Day)

So Ji Sub as General Guishil Ari / Kang In-chul
(main guy in I'm Sorry I Love You, Cain and Abel)

Kim Nam Jin as General Kim Yu-suk / Fujiwara Tatsuji

Synopsis:
This story is about a tragic love that transcends space and time. General Ari and Princess Puyeo-ju are lovers who could not be together in their past. A sudden twist of fate brings Princess Puyeo-ju from the past one thousand years into the future. She meets General Ari once again who is now a fashion designer in Korea. But destiny has also led them to meet General Kim Yu-suk who killed General Ari because of his love for Princess Puyeo-ju. Will their fates be reversed this time around?

Comments:
I'm totally sold on Back to the Future type stories, unrealistic yet entertaining. What drew me to watch this show was the plot. It has the best of both worlds being both modern and sageuk, and with So Ji Sub and Sung Yu Ri as the main leads, it had the makings of a good drama. Unfortunately, the drama didn't live up to my expectations.

I can't say what exactly I didn't like but little things like the fact that So Ji Sub looked out of place in ancient Korea put me off. It literally seemed like the director put a wig and a mustache on So Ji Sub but everyone still knows that it's a costume. Sung Yu Ri seemed too young in the drama, not that that's a no-no but I got used to seeing her in Hong Gil Dong, more mature but definitely aging with beauty. There were too many flashbacks going back and forth between the past and the present that I started skipping those scenes. In a nutshell, I lost interest when I got to the 4th episode and stopped watching.

Because I really want you to watch, try the following links...
Watch Thousand Years of Love English Subs on MySoju

Would love to hear your comments!

Yi San

2010-04-06T01:10:00.000-07:00

Ratings: Average
Title：Yi San / 正祖大王-李祘 / 이산-정조대왕
Episodes: 77
Air Date: 2007
Starring:
Lee Seo Jin as Yi San
(Daejeonghyun in Shadowless Sword)
(Ha Kang Jae in Lovers)

Han Ji Min as Seong Song Yeon
(main girl in Capital Scandal, Cain and Abel)

Han Sang Jin as Yi San's right hand man
(main guy in Temptation of an Angel before he takes on a new identity)

Synopsis:
This drama is bout the life of Korea's 22nd King, King Jeong Jo.

Comments:
I tried to give the 77 episodes a shot but failed. There are no action sequences like Jumong, or any hint of modernity like Hong Gil Dong. The series feels like a history book filmed into a drama and I'm not saying that it's bad. In fact, this drama received good ratings in Korea so it must be well-made if you're into that kind of thing. I know my dad would like it.

Even though the main guy is not very good looking, he's growing on me. He's the same guy on Lovers, only 20 episodes long, which is much more manageable to watch.

Little Yi San should get two thumbs up for his acting skills. Little Yi San and adult Yi San really seem like they're one person, it's cute. Alas, I still couldn't finish this drama, it was simply too traditional for my taste.

Because I really want you to watch, try the following links...
Watch Yi San on MySoju
Watch Yi San Chinese Subs

Would love to hear your comments!

Hong Gil Dong

2010-04-05T06:26:00.000-07:00

Ratings: Must Watch
Title：Hong Gil Dong / 快刀洪吉东 / 쾌도 홍길동
Episodes: 24
Air Date: 2008
Starring:
Kang Ji Hwan as Hong Gil Dong
(main guy in Capital Scandal)

Sung Yu Ri as Heo Yi Nok / Ryu Yi Nok
(Kim Bo Ra in Snow Queen)
(main girl in Swallow the Sun, One Fine Day, Thousand Years of Love)

Jang Geun Suk as Lee Chang Hwi
(main guy in You're Beautiful)

Synopsis:
Hong Gil Dong is the Robin Hood of Korea, stealing from the rich to provide for the poor. The film depicts Hong Gil Dong's journey from illegitimate son who does nothing with his life into a hero who fights against injustice.

Comments:
Love the Kang Ji Hwan and Sung Yu Ri pairing. Their chemistry is great and I think they both pull off the romantic-comedic-dramatic scenes so well. I like the diversity of the film, not many sageuk dramas make you crack up on one scene then cry on the next one. No wonder they call Hong Gil Dong a fusion Sageuk aka an ancient Korean drama but very modern at the same time. If you're skeptical about all things ancient, then try the fusion perhaps? Come on, the main guy on the promotional poster is wearing shades!

Jang Geun Suk as Lee Chang Hwi looked a little too young. I googled it and he really was younger than the rest of the cast. They could've picked an older guy but nevertheless, he still fit the brooding role pretty well.

The plot's main theme tackles the extreme differences between social classes in ancient Korea. The series goes in-depth in portraying the relationship between Hong Gil Dong and his father. Despite being father and son, their social status does not enable them to have a relationship with each other. Hong Gil Dong will always be the servant and his family will always be his masters. There were side stories in between that were quite enjoyable to watch as well.

You gotta download If (Man Yak Eh) by Taeyeon, a beautiful song. It's still playing on my Mp3 right now.

Because I really want you to watch, try the following links...
Watch Hong Gil Dong English Subs on MySoju
Watch Hong Gil Dong Chinese Subs on Tudou
Hong Gil Dong OST

Would love to hear your comments!

Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre

2010-04-05T05:51:00.000-07:00

Ratings: Must Watch
Title：Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre / 倚天屠龙记
Episodes: 40
Air Date: 2003
Starring:
Alec Su (苏有朋) as Zhang Wu Ji (张无忌)
Alyssa Chia (贾静雯) as Zhao Min (赵敏)

Synopsis:
The Martial Arts world is fighting over the Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre and it ultimately leads to the deaths of Zhang Wu Ji's parents. Wu Zi has to decide between principle or revenge, love or hate as he becomes entangled in the fight over the Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre.

Comments:
The story of Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre takes place many years after the Condor Hero saga. I can't stress this enough, if you want to watch an Wuxia (ancient Chinese drama), you gotta watch one of the three classics - Return of the Condor Heroes (神雕侠侣), Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (天龙八部) and Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre (倚天屠龙记). They are so popular that there have been numerous remakes of each series.

Yang Xiao (杨逍) is my favorite character in this drama because of the 1993 version wherein Sun Xing (孙兴) brought the character Yang Xiao to life. His portrayal of Yang Xiao left such an impression that I don't think other versions can ever do the same. I was praying that they will cast the 1993 Yang Xiao to play the same role in the 2003 version because they totally could have. But instead, they got another actor who really did not look the part. Instead of the dark yet passionate Yang Xiao, we're stuck with an impulsive and almost comedic one. Here's Sun Xing from the 1993 version. Oh, the memories..

Because I really want you to watch, try the following links...
Watch 倚天屠龙记 on Tudou

Would love to hear your comments!

Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils

2010-04-05T04:42:00.000-07:00

Ratings: Must Watch
Title：Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils / Tian Long Ba Bu / 天龙八部 (天龍八部)
Episodes: 56
Air Date: 1997 (TVB)
Starring:
Huang Re Hua (黄日华) as Qiao Feng (乔峰)
Benny Chan (陈浩民) as Duan Yu (段誉)
Carman Lee (李若彤) as Wang Yu Yuan(王语嫣)

Synopsis:
Qiao Feng is the leader of the Beggars, an organization that fights to protect ancient China. Duan Yu is a Dali Prince who believes in peace and strongly opposes any type of fighting. Xu Zhu is a Shaolin monk. Their fates become intertwined in this story of love, war, drama and betrayal.

Comments:
If Return of the Condor Heroes is considered an Wuxia (Ancient Chinese Drama) classic, Tian Long Ba Bu and The Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre would be right up the same ally. All 3 involve the main characters' journey in becoming kung fu masters in their own respects. The stories were written by renowned author Jin Yong. If you love one, you'll love them all.

The 1997 version is the only version that I've seen. There is a 2003 version but because of my loyalty to Benny Chan's portrayal of Duan Yu, I couldn't bring myself to watch another version. It's classic Wuxia at its best.

Because I really want you to watch, try the following links.
Watch 天龙八部 on Tudou..

Would love to hear your comments!

About Drama Withdrawals

2010-04-05T02:17:00.000-07:00

I made a spur of the moment decision to create this website out of my obsession for dramas. I love reading other people's comments while watching YouTube videos and thought, why not blog about it.

I've spent hours searching for dramas before so I will try my best to include links to streaming websites, download websites and OSTs if possible.

I love WuXia (ancient Chinese drama), Sageuk (ancient Korean drama), J-Drama, K-drama, Taiwanese Dramas, Glee, Heroes, even Anime, you name it. However, I have a soft spot for Wuxia / Sageuk because I grew up watching those type of movies so expect a lot of those on this blog.=P

I plead guilty to choosing shows that have some serious eye candy because I think that if we're going to invest hours and hours, why not on someone cute.

Hope you'll find some enjoyable watches after visiting my site.=D

The Legend

2010-04-05T01:32:00.001-07:00

Ratings: Must Watch - the series received high ratings throughout Asia
Title: The Legend / The Story of the First King's Four Gods / 太王四神記 / 태왕사신기
Episodes: 24
Air Date: 2007
Starring:
Bae Yong Jun as Damdeok (main guy in Winter Sonata)
Lee Ji Ah as Sujini (main girl in Beethoven Virus)
Moon So Ri as Ki Ha

Synopsis:
Damdeok is destined by the heavens to become the great king of Goguryeo. As the trend goes for most sageuk dramas, Damdeok as a prince has to undergo many challenges to gain his rightful place to the throne. He loses his father, his lover and he is cast out of the palace on the way. Damdeok must search for the four gods who will help him rebuild Joo Shin. During Damdeok's journey, he meets and falls in love with Sujini, a cheerful young girl. But will she turn out to be the black phoenix that has been foretold to destroy the world?

Comments:
I was always an WuXia (ancient Chinese drama) fan so I never really wanted to give other ancient dramas a chance. Just as others feel apprehended to give WuXia a try, what with its characters that fly, have long hair and wear long robes, I was a bit skeptical to venture into Sageuk (ancient Korean drama). The Legend was my first Sageuk drama and I'm so glad that I gave it a try.

The cast is not the best looking, at least not for me, but the characters make you fall for them. I didn't think Lee Ji Ah was pretty at first but watching her portrayal of Sujini made me really appreciate her as an actress.

Being a multi-budgeted film, this drama went all out on their visual effects and CGI. I usually don't like dramas that become too fantasy-like but the way the drama did it wasn't over the top. Damdeok's search for the four gods was an emotional and uplifting journey and I found myself rejoicing as each one of the four gods was found. I watched this a while back so I can't recall much anymore but just watch it. After all, 24 episodes is cake.

The ending sucks though. I won't give spoilers but I read somewhere that Bae Young Jun (Damdeok) was injured during filming, which is why they had to end the series fast.

These two songs are from the OST.
Chun Nyun Yun Ga by Dong Bang Shin Ki
Huk Rah by Joon Suh

Because I really want you to watch, try the following links...
Watch The Legend English Subs on MySoju

Would love to hear your comments!

The Legend of the Condor Heroes

2010-04-05T00:41:00.001-07:00

1994 Version

2008 Version

Ratings: Very Good
Title：Legend of the Condor Heroes / 射雕英雄传
Episodes: 1994 Version - 35, 2008 Version - 50
Air Date: 1994 and 2008
Starring:
1994 Version
Zhilin Cheung (张智霖) as Guo Jing（郭靖）
Athena Chu (朱茵) as Huang Rong（黄蓉）

2008 Version
Hu Ge (胡歌) as Guo Jing（郭靖）(main guy in Chinese Paladin)
Ariel Lin (林依晨) as Huang Rong（黄蓉）(main girl in It Started with a Kiss)

Synopsis:
Guo Jing is slow and dim-witted but he is persevering and has a good heart. He meets Huang Rong who is smart, pretty and cunning. The drama revolves around their love story as well as Guo Jing's journey to becoming a great warrior who defends ancient China from the Jin empire.

Comments:
This series is the prequel to the Return of the Condor Heroes (神雕侠侣). It's a very popular WuXia TV series although I think it should be safe to say that it hasn't garnered as much popularity as the Return of the Condor Heroes. This drama also has love, action, romance and if you like the Condor Heroes, definitely watch this prequel.

Between the two versions, I think that the 1994 version is so much better. Again, maybe I am biased because I saw the 1994 version first but I honestly got bored on some parts of the 2008 version where I felt that the show was just dragging on and on for the sake of making it longer. I liked all the main leads in both versions so in my defense, I must be pretty impartial when I say that the 1994 version seems better.

Because I really want you to watch, try the following links...
Watch 射雕英雄传 on Tudou

Would love to hear your comments!

The Return of the Condor Heroes

2010-04-04T22:23:00.000-07:00

1995 Version

1998 Version

2006 Version

Ratings: Must Watch
Title:　The Return of the Condor Heroes / 神雕侠侣
Air Date: 1995 (TVB), 1998 (Singapore), 2006 (China)
Starring:
1995 Version
Louis Koo (古天乐) as Yang Guo (杨过)
Carman Lee (李若彤) as Xiao Long Nu (小龙女)

1998 Version
Christopher Lee (李铭顺) as Yang Guo (杨过)
Fann Wong (范文芳) as Xiao Long Nu (小龙女)

2006 Version
Huang Xiao Ming (黄晓明) as Yang Guo (杨过)
Crystal Liu (刘亦菲) as Xiao Long Nu (小龙女)

Synopsis:
The series is set in ancient China and it is about the love story between Yang Guo and his teacher, Xiao Long Nu, whose love has been deemed unacceptable by society.

Comments:
I have to say that my synopsis does not do justice to the series. This series is one of my all-time favorites. I'm not even sure what else to put on the synopsis because the Return of the Condor Heroes is so much more than what I wrote. It has action, drama, romance, thus gaining its status as a must-see if you're an WuXia (Ancient Chinese Kung Fu) fan.

The drama was written by renowned author Jin Yong, who also wrote The Legend of the Condor Heroes and many other stories. For me, Jin Yong is like the George Lucas of China as he successfully created the unforgettable characters who will always be remembered in the realm of WuXia. I am a hard core Jin Yong fan and I love that each story he writes relate to the other in some way. We learn about Guo Jing's story in Legend of the Condor Heroes and Guo Jing becomes Yang Guo's teacher in the Return of the Condor Heroes. The characters grow along with the audience, which is probably why I have been a fan of this series since I was a child.

Among the 3 versions that I've seen, here are my thoughts:
1995 Version - It's a TVB drama, the main guy is Louis Koo (古天乐), need I say more. Loved it.
1998 Version - I love TVB dramas but somehow I feel that the Singaporean version is a better representation of the series, perhaps because the visual effects were better since it was a newer version, or maybe I'm just biased because this is the first version that I actually saw. Even though I'm not a fan of the main characters in this version and they seem to be least popular based on what I've read and heard, I still think this version is the best.

Fann Wong as Xiao Long Nu above. 2006 version Crystal Liu(刘亦菲)looks the part the most. However, something about Fann Wong's portrayal really made her fit the part.

2006 Version - The scenery was amazing, the whole series screams artsy. I watched it because of the hype and although it was good, I still liked the other two better.

Because I really want you to watch, try the following links...
Watch 神雕侠侣 on tudou.com

Would love to hear your comments!

The Kingdom of the Winds

2010-04-04T04:42:00.001-07:00

Ratings: Must Watch
Title：The Kingdom of the Winds / 风之国 / 바람의 나라
Episodes: 36
Air Date: 2008
Starring:
Song Il Gook as Moo Hyul
(Michael King in A Man Called God)
(Harry Kim in Lobbyist)
(Prince Jumong in Jumong)
(main guy in the movie Art of Seduction)

Choi Jung Won as Princess Yeon

More characters that I recognized from other dramas:
Kim Hye Sung as Prince Yojin
(Kyung Chul Choi in Gangster High)

Synopsis:
The main character Moo Hyul is the third prince of Goguryeo. With his birth came the prophecy that he will destroy Goguryeo, kill his parents, his brother and his son. The curse dictated Moo Hyul's tragic fate. He was sent away from the palace to live life as a commoner. Moo Hyul must face all trials to gain acceptance from his father, his people and his enemies as he journeys to become the King of Goguryeo.

Comments:
In case you don't know, Moo Hyul is Jumong's grandson so watch Jumong first if you can. I ended up watching Kingdom of the Winds first, which worked out fine too. Kingdom of the Winds introduced me to Song Il Gook, which is why Jumong, Lobbyist and A Man Called God are next on my list of must-watch dramas.

The storyline really reminds me of the Ballad of Suh Dong wherein a prince grows up as a commoner only to find out later that he is a prince destined by the heavens to become king.

I'm a sucker for the humble servant turned prince type of stories, especially if the prince happens to look hot. I felt so bad for Moo Hyul when he was in the palace serving the royal family without knowing that the people he was serving were his real family. The father-son moments were very heart-wrenching as well. Moo Hyul requesting to be sent on a deadly mission as a spy and King Yuri saying that he may not want to acknowledge Moo Hyul as his son but he certainly does not wish to send his son to his death.

I also vividly recall the scene where Moo Hyul, then but a servant to the royal family, had a dueling practice with Prince Yeo Jin. Lady Mi Yoo (Yeo Jin's mom) slapped Moo Hyul for daring to duel with his son and insulted Moo Hyul's status as a lowly servant. Grr.. I was so glad when it was finally announced that Moo Hyul was King Yuri's son and the third prince of Goguryeo. Moo Hyul's entrance as the prince, the background music, everyone's facial expressions.. I couldn't resist not including a picture.

Anyways, enough doting on Moo Hyul. I thought the actress portraying Princess Yeon was pretty but her role was too boring. There wasn't much variety in her expressions other than to be sad and depressed, more lovey dovey moments would've been welcome. Nevertheless, it was still a cute pairing. One thing I didn't like was that from Episode 20+ onwards, Moo Hyul grew a beard and the series shifted its focus from the tragic hero Moo Hyul to a war hero in the making. Not so much my cup of tea anymore but still worth it.

Because I really want you to watch, try the following links...
Watch Kingdom of the Winds English Subs on MySoju
Watch Kingdom of the Winds Chinese Subs on Tudou
Listen to Kingdom of the Winds OST

Would love to hear your comments!

Ballad of Suh Dong Episode Recaps

2010-04-04T02:29:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure what to call this because I don't really plan to do a recap of each episode since I have the tendency to jump to scenes or skip scenes so here goes.

Episode 1-4 - The series shows Jang as a child and if you're looking for some eye candy, Jo Hyun Jae doesn't show up till Episode 5.

Episode 5 - Finally, we see Jo Hyun Jae as Jang.

Episode 7 - After being cast away from Haneuljae, lost and beaten, Jang finally meets Princess Seonhwa.

Episode 8 - Jang returns to Haneuljae.

Episode 10 - Jang and Princess Seonhwa meet again. The scenes leading to their meeting show Jang standing still and Princess Seonhwa waiting for his return, very significant scenes explaining the challenges that these two lovers from opposite backgrounds will have to face.

Episode 11 - Giroo finds out that Princess Seonhwa's lover is none other than Jang and his jealousy turns to hatred.

Episode 14 - Princess Seonhwa gives up her position and runs away with Jang to live a commoner's life.

Episode 15 - Jang and Princess Seonhwa are separated after Princess Seonhwa agrees to go back to the palace in exchange for Jang's life.

Episode 16-25 - Jang returns to Paekche. After taking part in a war and saving his Haneuljae comrades, he is back in Taehaksha along with his Haneuljae family.

Episode 26 - The long-awaited reunion between Jang and Princess Seonhwa finally happens. A lot of lovey-dovey scenes for those who crave romance.

Episode 27 - General Buyeo Sun almost uncovers the 4th prince's identity but he escapes.

Episode 28 - With Princess Seonhwa's help, Jang uncovers the truth behind his identity and learns that he is the 4th prince of Paekche.

Episode 31 - Mok Rasoo finds out that Jang is the 4th prince of Paekche.

Episode 32 - The King, saddened by the death of his two sons, tells Jang that he no longer wants to look for the 4th prince. Feeling abandoned and betrayed, Jang lets out his grievance towards the king. We see very emotional scenes between father and son.

Episode 33-36 - After the king finds out the Jang is his son, he regains hope and decides to do everything in his power to abdicate the throne to Jang.

Episode 37 - Jang and Mok Rasoo are back in the palace in order to continue the fight for the throne and revenge the king's death.

Episode 38 - Princess Woo Young learns that Jang is the 4th prince of Peakche.

Episode 39 - After going back and forth between wanting to kill Jang, Princess Woo Young realizes that her love for Jang is much stronger and that she has no choice but to help him.

Episode 40 - General Buyeo Sun's father dies, which makes him next in line for the throne of the emperor of Paekche. He gains power and orders Giroo to capture Jang and Mok Rasoo. In the hands of Giroo, Jang undergoes torture as Giroo tries to find out the whereabouts of the 4th prince.

Episode 41 - Jang is given the choice between killing Mok Rasoo or giving up the whereabouts of the 4th prince. He does neither and almost dies in the hands of Emperor Buyeo Sun but Princess Woo Young comes in time to save him. Instead of death, Jang and Mok Rasoo are exiled as slaves of Paekche.

Episode 42 - Because of Giroo's schemes, Jang is isolated and bullied by the other slaves. Can things get any worse? =(

Episode 44 - Jang and Mok Rasoo's lives are in danger once again and they are asked to kneel in front of Emperor Buyeo Sun. A day passes by and Emperor Buyeo Sun finally comes out with his decision.

Episode 45 - Jang is now working for Emperor Buyeo Sun. Angered by Jang's betrayal, Yoorim set off to kill Jang in the name of the people. Finally, the truth comes out that Jang is the 4th prince and Yoorim and his followers swear loyalty to Jang.

Jang's Haneuljae friends also find out the truth and that scene was actually quite a comic relief. Things are definitely turning around and all the angst from being misunderstood is clearing up.

Episode 48 - Jang admits that he is the 4th prince of Paekche and Emperor Buyeo Sun is at a loss for words especially when his own soldiers began to turn against him in favor of Jang. I was really liking the way things were going by then.=)

Episode 49-52 - These episodes show a lot of war scenes, not my cup of tea and Princess Seonhwa had to go back to Silla with very little hope of ever reuniting with Jang.

Episode 53 - My favorite episode. Jang's proposes to the Silla princess and everyone finds out that Princess Seonhwa is the princess of Silla. I was definitely smiling from ear to ear.

Princess Seonhwa is coming back to Paekche as the messenger of Silla

Everyone had their mouths open, literally.

Jang looks so happy seeing Princess Seonhwa again. He's cute!!

The happy couple together again. Did I say I love this episode?

Episode 55 - Last episode. I'm sad it ended.

Ballad of Suh Dong

2010-04-04T01:10:00.000-07:00

Ratings: Must Watch
Title：Ballad of Suh Dong / Song of the Prince / Seodongyo / 薯童谣 / 서동요
Episodes: 55
Air Date: 2005
Starring:
Jo Hyun Jae as Jang
(main guy in Nine-tailed Fox, Three Dads One Mom)

Lee Bo Young as Princess Seonhwa
(main girl in Queen of the Game)

Ryu Jin as Giroo
(second lead in Capital Scandal)

Koo Hye Sun as Eun Jin
(main girl in Boys Over Flowers)
(main girl in Strongest Chil Woo)

Synopsis:
The main character Jang is the illegitimate son of the Paekche emperor. Due to the nature of his birth, Jang and his mother had to flee the palace thus beginning the story of Jang's life, full of difficulties and hardships until he finally succeeds in becoming the Paekche emperor who will revive his country's greatness.

Check out my Episode Recaps.

Comments:
A great looking cast. If you like Jo Hyun Jae, watch it! If you don't know him, well.. I was never a fan of his either but I have since converted after watching this drama. Overall, the acting was very good, as is expected from Korean dramas.

If you like The Kingdom of the Winds (aka Jumong 2), you will like this too because the plots are relatively similar - both tell a story of a castaway prince who lived a harsh life away from the comforts of the palace. The castaway prince falls in love with the princess of the country's sworn enemy, swears loyalty to the Crown Prince who unknown to him is his real brother and in both stories, the main character is destined by the heavens to become king. The second lead in both stories also take on the role of friend turned foe because of his unrequited love for the princess.

I love that the series is not only a historical drama but also a love story. You can expect to see those cutesy snowball fight scenes that you normally see in modern Korean dramas. I'd say this drama is kind of like the Return of the Condor Heroes because it truly is a story about the love between Jang and Princess Seonhwa.

Because I really want you to watch, try the following links...
Download Ballad of Suh Dong with English Subs
Watch Ballad of Suh Dong on MySoju
Listen to Ballad of Suh Dong OST

Would love to hear your comments!