Sunnyelf's blog review of Asian Dramas and Movies.
This blog is a personal labor of love in a constant flux of improvement.
Please Note:
One * = Didn't like it, Don't recommend. Two ** = Typical. Worth seeing at least once. Three *** = I enjoyed it! Worth seeing more then once. Four **** = It's great! Add it to your all-time favorites list! Five ***** = Epic! Highly Recommended. A totally memorable drama/film.
Star no Koi/ Star Struck/ Love with a Super Star/ スタアの恋/ Sutaa no Koi ** (Japanese)
11 episodes
Kusanagi Tsuyoshi as Nakata Sosuke
Fujiwara Norika as Kirishima Hikaruko
A romance-comedic take on a British film. The two main characters in this drama just kept missing each-others cues and prompts. The only true drawback that I found to this drama, was the constant repeat of the theme 'song's first couple of chorus lines. I dunno it got seriously old really fast to me. fav scene(s): The star's sudden arrival at the commoner's home for a week's stay.
A 'common' worker in a ham company, meets and falls in with a famous actress, when she seizes the moment in an attempt to spur the guy she liked. He's disappointed by the use, but plays along for a time until the situation falls apart and the truth is revealed. From that point onward, they were brought together several times but each time seemed to result in another fail to realize their true feelings for one another. Would the two ever find the moment to confess before the distance became too great?
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
Space Battleship Yamato/ Uchu senkan Yamato ** (Japanese)
Movie 138mins
Takuya Kimura as Susumu Kodai
Not a bad story really. The movie had several *super-villian-timestop-for-explanation* moments, most of which I managed to gloss over in favor of watching the movie action. So, really, there was only one scene which stopped me near in my tracks and left me grumbling and glancing at my watch, wondering just when they were going to restart the desperate moment they were in just before having a long tearful goodbye. Tragedy by the bunches to be found here. Fav scene(s): woo! acting captain gets a little action in warp before the action of arrival.
Earth has a problem, invading aliens have radiated the entire surface of the planet, leaving the people no-where else to go but underground while the military is quickly losing ground in the near space. After Kodai comes across an alian com device, they quickly put the finishing touches to the yamoto and take on crew in a last ditch effort to find a long-shot miracle for the planet before time runs out for the remaining human population. Kodai quickly reinlists and takes on the gamble to see them all the way to the alien planet and back again.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
Frivolous Wife/ The Taming of the Shrew/ Frivolous Wife/ 날나리 종부전/ Nallari Jongbujeon ** (S.Korean)
Movie 110 min
Park Jin-Woo as Jeong-doo Lee
Amusing story of the only daughter of a mob boss, seducing the eldest grandson of a traditional family. She gets pregs and has to run for her hubby-to-be's family. At first her father is determined to retrieve her and have her marry someone else 'more worthy'.. because, as it turns out, he put everything he had under her name. But then he gets to know the family a bit better. She also has it rather rough at first, learning how to be the eldest granddaughter, then proves to be an asset in asking her father to help them concerning land issues. When things get too rough for her dad and another gang, he also seeks refuge with this large traditional family and they act to protect him and themselves against the coming assault.
You can also find:
(Yeon-soo Jeen) Park Jung-Ah -in- Princess Prosecutor
(Jeong-doo Lee) Park Jin-Woo -in- My Little Bride, Fake Family Service, She Has Come Back!
(doo Lee's father) Lee Won-Jong -in- 200 Pounds Beauty, Wild Romance, Vampire Prosecutor, Scent of a Woman, Il Ji-Mae, Gourmet
(soo Jeen's father) Yang Geum-Seok -in- My Tutor Friend 2, A Millionaire's First Love, My Sassy Girl, Secret Agent Miss Oh, Lovers, Biscuit Teacher and Star Candy
A Ghost of a Chance/ Once in a Blue Moon/ ステキな金縛り/ Suteki na Kanashibari (Japanese)
Movie 142 mins
Eri Fukatsu as Emi Hosho
Comedy and no romance. Somehow this film manages not to get totally bogged down in sad depression, perhaps due to its time restrictions. There is tragedy involved, but nearly completely glossed over when emi uses her boss's death as a means to deliver a note to the 'ever after' for her. I just didn't get how that would work. fav character(s): Emi's Boss, the tap-dancing candy feind, and the many times great grandson.
A somewhat failing lawyer is on her last chance to live up to her famous father's name. The case is unusual though. A wife died and the husband, claiming innocence, insists he had a alibi. He claims he was in the mountains, at an old hotel there. But the only one who can prove the alibi is the ghost who sat on top of him that whole night long. But the lawyer is determined, so she goes to the inn and stays the night in the room of the ringing ear to meet the wandering ghost. Emi then asks him to go to court in defense of the innocent husband.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
Queen In Hyun's Man/ 인현왕후의 남자/ Inhyeon Wanghu-ui Namja/ Queen and I ***\ (Korean)
16 episodes
Yoo In Na as Choi Hee Jin
I really loved this drama. Surprisingly better then some. It started a tiny bit slow, but gained interest like it did the passage of years for the fleet-footed scholar and the ending was the best! Tragedy is involved. Fav scene(s): A lofty squirt of water, caught in the shower, and a talisman of a different sort.
A scholar, in mortal danger from an subversive, is given a special talisman for protection by a concerned prostitute... someone close to him. When his life was on the brink of being lost for good, the talisman slipped him sideways in time some 300+ years to the present day. There he meets an actress, playing the part of the queen for a film... they fall in love. The scholar quickly learns he can go back and forth through his time and hers with a near death on one side, and a recitation on the other, and he uses the talisman to achieve success in bringing the usurper to the king's justice and regaining the rightful queen's seat for her... but nothing comes without some sort of cost...what will it be?
"I'm Coming to See You"
by Deok Hwan
Is it a blank spot? Click to listen & then
mouseover to see player controls.
You can also find:
(Kim Boong Do) Ji Hyun Woo -in- My Sweet City, Me Ri, Dae Gu's Attack and Defense Battle (Choi Hee Jin) Yoo In Na -in- The Greatest Love, Birdie Buddy, Secret Garden (Han Dong Min) Kim Jin Woo -in- Can't Lose (Chun Soo) Jo Dal Hwan -in- Mr Goodbye, My Tutor Friend 2, Spy Girl, My Boss, My Hero (King Sukjong) Seo Woo Jin -in- Vampire Prosecutor, Manny (Queen In Hyun) Kim Hae In -in- You Pet
Windstruck/ 내 여자친구를 소개합니다/ Nae yeojachingureul sogae habnida *\ (Korean)
Movie 123 mins
For being listed as a romantic comedy, I didn't find it particularly funny. Rather, I found it a little tiring and very sad. Tragedy is involved. Fav scene(s):Sleeping in handcuffs and trading off for the morning/evening rituals.
Kyung-Jin is a rather overachiever police officer, and even though she's off duty, she wasn't about to miss the chance to collar a purse-snatcher. Unfortunately, she pounces on the wrong guy, and tows the good Samaritan to headquarters. Still, Myung-Woo's good memory and artistry skills come in handy and the boss is impressed. Before long, the hapless teacher and Kyung-Jin have been teamed up to walk a teen beat. Trouble is bound to follow though, and they see quite a share of it. Perhaps that's the very reason that mutual attraction springs up between them
(police corporal Jo/Prince) Oh Jung-Se -in- My Mighty Princess, The Musical
(police deputy) Jun Sung-Ae -in- Bread, Love and Dreams
(gang member) Woo Ki-Hong -in- Innocent Steps
(old woman) Son Young-Soon -in- Shotgun Love, The Perfect Couple, My Boss, My Teacher, Too Beautiful to Lie, Marrying School Girl
(undercover/prince) Kim Kwang-Kyu -in- My Mighty Princess, Scent of a Woman, Can You Hear My Heart, Oh! My Lady, The Accidental Couple, Hello, My Lady!, Couple or Trouble, Mr. Good-Bye
(Moon-Ho) Seo Dong-Won -in- My Tutor Friend, My Sassy Girl, Il Ji-Mae: The Phantom Thief
(high school student) Kim Jin-Soo -in- Shotgun Love, Smile Again, Great Expectations
