curiouser &curiouser.

Friday, October 5, 2012
Nice Guy Never Seen Before: Episode 3@9:49 PM


Yay! Episode 3! I'm actually recapping at quite a quick pace, despite the fact that each recap takes me like 2-3 hours to write. Ahh well... the things I will do for Song Joong Ki. This episode had more (dare I say it?) fluff than the previous episodes thus far! Eun Gi and Ma Ru's romance is actually somewhat hitting the pavement running! And what's better is that Eun Gi is actually the one falling in love with Ma Ru! She gets a heart! Something everyone in this drama desperately needs. (whether literal or figuratively) Continue reading under the break for review, recap and ratings. All good things that begin with "R".


Read more »

Labels: , ,


Thursday, October 4, 2012
Nice Guy Never Seen Before: Episode 2@9:58 PM

Reaction - 

Good, solid episode for a good solid drama. Not as reveling as the pilot, but still good none the less. I still desperately want to kill Han Jae Hee... She deserves to flat out die. Nothing's sacred to her. Freaking A. She deserves whatever is coming to her next. Legit. This episode was actually significantly more happy than the last with the flashbacks to Jae Hee and Ma Ru's past, and there were actually some really sweet one-liners. That made this process all the more bittersweet. 


Character Development - 

In this episode we see Kang Ma Ru's younger self, and we realize through all of this that Ma Ru has always been in essence. Perfection. And dear Lord, he had a lot going for him. The only thing that was wrong in his life, terribly, terribly wrong even more wrong than his sick sister he had to care for was Han Jae Hee. The downfall of man is woman. We also see a more love-struck, actual humane side of Jae Hee which only provides an even more stark contrast to herself. In this episode she lies like it's nothing... Everything she does is for her own selfish gain and to save her own sorry hide. Eun Gi is still rocking her awesomeness. She's in the hospital, but she eats fried chiggen instead of eating the porridge that Park Jong Ha gets her (LIKE I SAID. LOVE INTEREST!!!) Anyway. Without further ado. ONTO THE RECAP!


Read more »

Labels: , , ,


Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Nice Guy Never Seen Before: Episode 1@8:00 PM


Ahh! My God this drama is so good. I love it so much. Anyway. Click under the cut for impressions, characters, recap and ratings for this wonderful pilot episode.


Read more »

Labels: , , ,


Friday, August 24, 2012
Introduction to Architecture/ Architecture 101.@6:35 PM




It's been quite a while since I've done a movie review on my personal blog, but since this review is gonna be based mainly on concepts and my feelings towards the overall ideas in the movie I'm writing it on my regular blog.

As a slight disclaimer, I have a place in my heard for all movies that have nice and moving concepts although I also like a thrilling action no-brainer or cute, fluffy romcom for my usual casual viewings, but I also enjoy movies like The King and the Clown or 200 Pounds of Beauty (I don't find it to be a romcom... I FIND IT SO DEPRESSING... WHY THE FREAK IS IT LISTED AS A ROMCOM?)

First of all I have to praise Uhm Tae Woong for being not so utterly distasteful in this movie, in every single work I've seen him in ever since Delightful Girl Choon-hyang I've found him to be an actor I utterly dislike and I don't know if it's necessarily based off skill... (although I do find his acting to be awkward... lol). Although I find he doesn't fit his role well in this movie (frankly I don't find him to be cut out for romance, his expressions are limited to deadpan face and to deadpan face + a little bit of being insulted. Not romance material (unless we are looking for Winter Sonata or Stairway to Heaven weepy material). But he acted slightly better in this film and actually played his character well. (although it's still weird... he's so old looking and Han Ga In is so young looking.... OTL.)

SECONDLY. I'm really glad for Suzy's performance, she really acted well in this movie. She's improved a lot since Dream High and now I can rest easy leaving the currently airing Hong Sister drama, Big, in her hands. Lee Je Hoon was also a pleasure to watch although Uhm Tae Woong and Han Ga In (as always) was good to watch, but the teenage (can't really call them child actors...) story was far more interesting. It had more substance and it felt like it filled up the gaps in the adult story.

Overall thoughts on the movie's composition... I really liked the way the past and the future was put together, it was flawless. With a lot of movies that abuse flashbacks, it gets really draggy and repetitive and sometimes it doesn't connect well and feels forced, Introduction to Architecture really didn't have that problem though. Anyway for enjoyability/quality I'd give it a

8.5/10

Reasons... This is REALLY a quality film, and the 8.5 is really just personal bias based. This wasn't a "sad" film persay actually, but it made me depressed as hell... so yeah. I really hate sad films. xD So yup. I don't enjoy being sad...

ANYWAY. Onto the actual conceptual stuff I wanted to talk about for this film!

So the actual premise of the film is that it talks about a story about first loves and the childhood and adult sides of a love story. It'll be too confusing using the cast's real names in reference to their character's so for once I'll actually refer to their in-movie names. (Seoyeon and Seungmin).

35-year-old architect Seung-Min (Uhm Tae-Woong) receives a visit at his office from a woman. Seung-Min doesn't recognize the woman at first, but then realizes the woman is Seo-Yeon (Han Ga-In). Seo-Yeon is his first love, but he hasn't seen her since his freshman year in college. Seo-Yeon now has a request. She wants to hire Seung-Min to rebuild her home on Jeju Island.
15 years ago, Seung-Min (Lee Je-Hoon) is a naive young man beginning his architecture studies in college. He first meets Seo-Yeon (Bae Suzy) in his Architecture 101 class. As they work on a class project together, Seung-Min and Seo-Yeon begin to fall in love.
Back to the present day, Seung-Min is hesitant to take Seo-Yeon's job offer. Seo-Yeon persists and even goes to his boss with her wish. Seung-Min now has no choice, but to take on Seo-Yeon's home project. Old memories of love and heartbreak will soon resurface, as they find themselves at different junctions in their lives ...
(credit: Hancinema)

The movie ends up actually being sweet and heartwarming in that it shows that people can still love each other for a lifetime even if you don't end up being together. That's the weird thing about first loves, you really don't forget them even if you find someone else you love a lot. That's one of the concepts this film really accurately depicts. You see Seoyeon trying to lie and telling Seungmin she's living happily and rich but the whole time she still remembers him in her heart. She goes so far to tell the half truth that she's married. This shows that she's unwilling to be the one that flips the bottom card. Cause once you flip it and everything's revealed, there's no room for discussion or bargaining, this is something that I find a lot of people doing in contexts like this. So I found the interactions to be very realistic.

The sad thing about this movie is that they might have ended up happy and together (if their love was only so shallow why do they both still remember each other and their memories so deeply as their first loves?). If not for Seungmin being dumb and misunderstanding... Seoyeon and him might've ended up together.

The particularly heartbreaking scene for me was when Seoyeon waits for him at the house during the first snow, and Seungmin never shows up, but then later you find that he went to the house at a later time (retrieving the CD + CD player) and if he had just gotten there sooner and seen that Seoyeon remembered the promise (obviously knowing the significance) he woulda just gotten through it and they could've been together.

Anyway (it's 3:10 am now and I'm really tired so I'm cutting this rather short), the thing about first loves that this movie captures the best are the would've, could've, should'ves; the movie is truly bittersweet and although it kinda moves slowly (so it might not be for the not sentimental hearted) it really warms up to you. I really think Lee Je Hoon was what nailed it for me, his character was very relatable (although very dumb) and as he falls head-over-heels in love for Suzy every drop back into reality was heartbreaking to watch.

This really was a lovely movie, and I recommend it for anyone to watch. It really brings feelings of nostalgia. I teared up a lot of times, and I PERSONALLY would think it'd be a good movie to force your boyfriend to watch with you. :) So enjoy!



Rei

Labels: ,


Monday, March 26, 2012
The Greatest Love: First Impressions (ep 1-4)@3:12 PM


So I recently started a new drama, The Greatest Love (or Best Love). I had been planning to watch it and I have had it in my hard drive for forever. It racked up a bunch of awards last year in the drama awards I watched. And plus, it is of the Hong Sister's brand, and I am a diligent watcher of anything they write. (To be exact. I've watched EVERYTHING they've ever written). 

So the premise of the show (credit: dramawiki) :

Ae Jung was once the most popular member of girl band The National Treasure Girls. However 10 years ago the band broke up and she received most of the blame. Despite her warm personality her career has suffered ever since and she now spends her time fighting for air time on variety shows. Dokko Jin is a top movie star at the height of his career. The two meet and become involved in each other's careers. Yoon Pil Joo is a doctor of oriental medicine who has no interest in the entertainment industry but agrees to make a dating show. Dokko Jin helps get Ae Jung a role on a new reality show called Couple Making. Pil Joo is the bachelor being set up on Couple Making. Both men fall for Ae Jung both off and on the screen. 

The Characters:




Gong Hyo Jin as Goo Ae Jung

I'll be honest, this casting has been bothering me from the beginning of this drama. She's so awkward. Like she is the most awkward female lead I have ever seen in a Hong Sister drama. I've almost always been tolerant of/ liked the castings for the Hong Sister dramas. It's not even because she's older/unattractive, it's cause she's awkward. Like I feel awkward FOR her when I watch this drama. I do agree that her character is supposed to be this way, but it makes me kind of cringe when I watch the drama. Although, I'll also agree that she's growing on me, as her warm side shows more and more... It's easy to see that she's playing her role as the typical not so pretty, but very kind person to a tee. 

Cha Seung Won as Dokko Jin

Wow. 180 degree turn from his normal characters. It's taking a bit of getting used to. Cause like... 
THAT is my idea of Cha Seung Won. Cause I mean... I watched Athena first. And he was the number 1 badass of all time. But nevermind that. I LOVE his character in this drama though. He is like the world's number 1 badass turned MAN-CHILD. He is unreasonable, childish and perfectly capable of throwing crazy temper tantrums. He kind of runs this show for me, it's so amusing. And I noticed his accent... And he's been efficiently carrying out the majority of the Hong Sister puns and jokes. (I SAW THAT... BREAKING THE 4TH BARRIER AND MENTIONING HIMSELF IN THE DRAMA... BAHAHAHA). 

Yoo In Na as Kang Se Ri

I REALLY REALLY REALLY love Yoo In Na. She's one of my Korean actor biases. So it's kind of making me sad that she's playing a bad girl character in this drama. I actually prefer her as the dumb blond type character that she played in Secret Garden I don't care that she got a larger role than the main character's friend. I like her better as the airheaded character. She's kind of a bitch in this drama... but I keep seeing her innocent looking face and being like -_-;;; at her attempted bitchyness. Just let her be nice! JEEZ. 

Yoon Kye Sung as Yoon Pil Joo

I'll be honest, I don't think I've ever watched any of his dramas (Although I meant to watch Who are You?). I do know he's in High Kick 3, but he's been playing his character pretty well. He's the typical, perfect, charming young fellow. He's kind of awkward and I find his bluntness toward women kind of amusing, but he's rather charming. I'll be honest about that, I think he was a good cast for the typical nice guy role. I liked the tell-tale typical Hong Sister "earmuff/earplug/earblocking" scene. It was cute. 

Not just the leads...!

Two other castings I like from the show are Im Ji Kyu as Kim Jae Suk and Lee Hee Jin as Jenny. I kind of hope the Hong Sister's will draw out their "couple" as a comic relief. Cause I actually find Kim Jae Suk's character to be quite amusing. 

Other Reactions:

So far this drama has been purely amusing, but I think my expectations for a Hong Sister drama is higher than most, because they're my favorite brand. The drama isn't as smooth as My Girl or You're Beautiful was, but those are my favorite dramas. So if you hear me complaining a lot, the drama itself isn't bad. It's actually quite good. I think the predicament of the main girl character is actually quite sad and very relateable. Although I don't like the casting that much, I rather like her warmhearted personality.

So far the plotline isn't bad and there have been rather amusing parts of the show. Cha Seung Won shouting "MY PANTIES, MY PANTIES" gave me quite the fit of giggles. As a light-hearted and fluffy drama, I have high expectations for this to be the type of "feel good" drama for me to watch. I've had way too many disappointments in terms of movies so far. And yes. I WILL GET AROUND TO REVIEWING THOSE... But for now, I'm going to be watching this with a light heart.

Ding Dong!



Rei ☆




PS: You can't ever go wrong with Pororo!

Labels: ,


Friday, January 20, 2012
Makjang.@7:54 PM

So I just finished Protect the Boss (FINALLY, took me FOREVER to grind through that drama). In that way drama-watching is totally like gaming, when you're at a part that's super melodrama-y for no apparent reason and random things are just happening to make the drama well... more dramatic. It's like level-grinding. Extreme low tolerance.



SOOO... THE NEXT PART OF MY POST WILL COME AS A SURPRISE TO YOU. I'm debating between watching something very light and fluffy or an extremely makjang drama. I'm leaning toward makjang for the entertainment value, (not really. I have low tolerance for stupidity... And birth secrets... and people marrying their cousins...) and the fact that watching a makjang might make me stop watching dramas for a while. The last makjang I watched was Wife's Temptation.
This drama LITERALLY (I mean this in a literal sense.) melted my brain. Imagine 129 episodes of backstabbing, revenge, new identities and lies and birth secrets and faked deaths... Melted my brain. All in all. Is this a good idea or no? Hmm... Debating.



麗 ☆

Labels: , ,


Sunday, January 15, 2012
The King and The Clown.@7:52 PM


I haven't watched a whole bunch of Korean movies, just some, but man this movie is SO good. I can see why it is 2nd most high grossing film in all of Korean cinema. 

Two clowns living in the Chosun Dynasty get arrested for staging a play that satirizes the king. They are dragged to the palace and threatened with execution, but are given a chance to save their lives if they can make the king laugh. -IMDb
CHARACTERS-
Gonggil
Okay so... Lee Jun Ki's portrayal of Gonggil basically made this movie for me. It was SO good. I think as a dude it's kinda hard to act that hard at being a really FEMALE boy. Dude. This freaking character makes me seem like a man-ape. He grovels, he cries and he begs but it's in that really elegant sort of damsel in distress way. And even though he acts crudely for the purpose of the show, his mannerisms otherwise are rather elegant as well. He's shy, and he's somewhat quiet. He seems so defenseless, and it just MADE SENSE that someone like Jangsaeng would be there to protect him from everything. All in all, his performance, just amazing.

Jangsaeng
He plays the other lead, and basically protects Gonggil during everything and is his best friend/ (COUGH MAYBE LOVES HIM?). Not sure, I'm still confused at his ambiguous relationship between him and Gonggil, oh well. Typical good guy character. Hardheaded, rash, but plays their role well in being the heroic type person. Anyway. NEXT!

King Yeonsan
He's kinda important I guess. He has bisexual tendencies, although I wouldn't blame him. Lee Jun Ki is just as beautiful a man as any man could ever be. He's kinda childish, and psychotic. He goes on crazy killing rampages, and is kinda a tyrant. Oh well. Not super important in my mind. Although the absolute like child-ness was a result of good acting. Props.

Noksu
AGH.  I swear she also looks like the crazy lady from Dae Jang Geum. AGHH. I HATE HERRR. That is all. LOL. EVEN IF I SAW HER IN A DIFFERENT ROLE... I'M SURE HER ROLE AS A CRAZY SCHEMING CONCUBINE WOULD STAY IN MY MIND. So I guess she did a good job. LOL. 

[Warning: EVERYTHING AFTER THIS MAY BE SPOILER PRONE]

Read more »

Labels: , ,


Music