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.
I Love Lee Tae Ri/ 아이러브 이태리/ I Love Italy ** (Korean)
16 episodes
Kim Ki Bum as Geum Eun Dong/Min Soo
Romantic Comedy. Had some surprising lols in this moving along drama. Had some difficulty finding all of the episodes working. Translation was sketchy to horrible in places. ending was ehh. Still, it was a great storyline with good acting. Fav scene(s): A spotlight smooch, a flyswatter doubling as flypaper, and a super cool sundial in lighted motion.
Because of curiosity turned heartbreak, a tearful need for a friend, a couple of wishes, and a peculiar eclipse, a young teen finds himself instantly 'grown up' and quickly becomes embroiled in a difficult mess between a vengeful uncle, an adopted daughter and a museum in the cross-hairs.
You can also find:
(Lee Tae Ri) Park Ye Jin -in- My Princess, Hateful But Once Again
(Choi Seung Jae) Yang Jin Woo -in- My Tutor Friend 2
(Geum San) Im Ho -in- My Sassy Girl
(Oh Mi Ja) Jang Young Nam -in- Vampire Prosecutor, One Mom and Three Dads, Dal Ja's Spring. Hello Ghost, Finding Mr. Destiny, My Girlfriend is an Agent
(Hwang Min Gook, coach) Jang Seo Won -in- You've Fallen for Me, Secret Garden
(Geum Hak Sa/Tae-Ri's uncle?) Lee Moon-Su -in- Hello Ghost
(Head of a department) Kim Young-Hoon -in- Poongsan, Art of Fighting, He Was Cool
I Do, I Do/ 아이두 아이두/ Love coolly, live straight **\ (Korean)
16 episodes
Oh Min Suk as Jake Han
Fun Drama with funny moments that seemed to run in little clumps throughout the drama like misunderstandings building onto other misunderstandings one after another. A little bit of a departure from the typical, this drama has two very cool rivals.. its the main attraction that has most of the issues. Fav character(s): Tae Kang's father for his brand of 'tough love' for his son, Tae Kang for his boyish sweetness, the doctor for his willingness to concede friendship for both. Fav scene(s): new dad to the rescue!.. with a glass of water and a little makeup.
A top director of a shoe company goes drinking one evening and winds up in a one night stand with the only son of a shoe imitator. While fighting to retain her position in the company and just after she makes the acquaintance of a doctor and prospective husband, she realizes she is pregnant.
You can also find:
(Hwang Ji An) Kim Sun Ah -in- Scent of a Woman, City Hall, When It's At Night, She's On Duty
(Jake Han) Oh Min Suk/Min Suk -in- Thirty Thousand Miles in Search of My Son
(Yeom Na Ri) Im Soo Hyang -in- Paradise Ranch
(Ji An's father) Yoon Joo Sang -in- Baby-faced Beauty, IRIS, Smile, You, That Fool, Who Are You?, Sweet Spy, The King and the Clown
(Ji An's mother) Oh Mi Yeon -in- Hateful But Once Again, One Percent of Anything, Seducing Mr. Perfect
(Park Kwang Suk) Park Young Kyu -in- Protect the Boss
(Lee Choong Baek) Shin Seung Hwan -in- Myung Wol the Spy
(Lady Park) Oh Mi Hee -in- Lie to Me, Goong S
(President Yeom) Lee Dae Yeon -in- My Princess, Oh! My Lady, Innocent Steps
(Seol Bong Soo) Jo Hee Bong -in- Fugitive: Plan B, When It's At Night
The ending didn't quite make sense to me. Figured it would be the image of the kid who had returned, not his older brother. Well anyway, good story. Fav scene(s): "too big!"
A teacher suspecting her doctor bf, is given a moments support and motorcycle ride by a transfer student, then, while she waits by the lake, the student and doctor get into an auto accident and fall into the water, in a moment of reckoning the two switch minds and the body of the student lapses into coma leaving the student turned doctor to carry on.
You can also find:
(Seo Yoon Jae) Gong Yoo -in- The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince, Hello My Teacher, Finding Mr. Destiny, She's on Duty, Spy Girl, My Tutor Friend
(Kil Da Ran) Lee Min Jung -in- Smile, You, Boys Before Flowers, Who Are You?
(Kang Kyung Joon) Shin Won Ho -in- Bachelor's Vegetable Store
(Jang Ma Ri) Suzy/Bae Su Ji -in- Dream High
(Lee Se Young) Jang Hee Jin -in- Myung Wol the Spy, Hello My Teacher, Marrying the Mafia III
(Kang Hyuk Soo) Jang Hyun Sung -in- Vampire Prosecutor, Great Inheritance, The Perfect Couple
(Lee Kyung Mi) Go Soo Hee -in- Lovers
(Kil Min Kyu) Ahn Suk Hwan -in- Rooftop Prince, Paradise Ranch, Fugitive: Plan B, Personal Preference, Cinderella Man, Boys Before Flowers, My Girl, Delightful Girl Choon Hyang
(Kil Choong Shik) Baek Sung Hyun -in- That Fool
(Na Hyo Sang) Moon Ji Yoon -in- Iljimae, Delightful Girl Choon Hyang
(Kim Young Ok) Choi Ran -in- You're Beautiful, Thirty Thousand Miles in Search of My Son, My Girl, Delightful Girl Choon Hyang
( Lee Ae Kyung) Shin Ji Soo -in- Scent of a Woman, Thirty Thousand Miles in Search of My Son
Surprise Party/ 서프라이즈/ Seopeuraijeu ** (Korean)
Movie 98 mins
Shin Ha-Kyun as 'fake' Kim Jeong-Woo
On the eve of a surprise party for a girl's boyfriend, her father refuses her to have anymore to do with the guy. so, she begs her friend to buy her time to convince her father, by keeping the arriving boyfriend distracted. The bffriend, grudgingly agrees and dashes to the airport. using what sketchy info she has been given, she locates her target and strives to keep him occupied for the day with some crazy antics.
You can also find:
(Du Hyeong) Kong Hyung-Jin -in- Yobi, the Five Tailed Fox(anime), Marrying the Mafia II, The Fugitive: Plan B, Dalja's Spring, Lovers
(In-ju) Kong Hyo-Jin -in- Flower Boy Ramen Shop, The Greatest Love, Pasta, Biscuit Teacher and Star Candy, Sangdoo, Let's Go to School!
(Mi-ryeong's husband) Kim Hak-Cheol -in- Once Upon a Time in Saengchori
(?) Ryu Seung-Soo -in- Finding Mr. Destiny, 200 Pounds Beauty, Lie to Me
(?) Yeom Dong-Hun/Yeom Dong-Hwan -in- The King 2hearts, It's Okay, Daddy's Girl, The City Hall
(cleaning service staff) Maeng Bong-Hak -in- Le Grand Chef, Art of Fighting, The King and the Clown, City Hunter, My Name Is Kim Sam-soon
(cop) Yum Dong-Hyun -in- The City Hall, Beethoven Virus
('real' Jeong-Woo) Lee Sun-Kyun -in- Love So Divine, Pasta, My Sweet Seoul, Coffee Prince, Lovers
Hooray for Love/ Long Live Love/ 애정만만세/ Aejungmanmanse ** (Korean)
57 episodes
Kim Yoo Bin as Nam Da Reum
A tangled web of a deceitful romance that was several episodes too long. It did have some fun moments.. enough to keep my interest for some time. There is a tragic death.. for those wanting the forewarning. Fav scene(s): An accidental meeting... several times, A lawyer's determination to keep his love by his side, and a child's innocent vow to make a better life for herself, her father, and the new school chef.
First there was her father's affair. Then, it was a trick vacation to Guam for the girls. After which, the disaster unfolded for the father's daughter. She quickly acted to prevent the fake divorce from becoming a reality, hiring a playboy lawyer to fight for her. The divorce is a messy one which even threatens her livelyhood when the lovely little porridge shop they had together, was lost to the ex. Then, mom reunites with her ex, she falls for the lawyer, and the tangled threads tighten around the families involved.
You can also find:
(Kang Jae Mi) Lee Bo Young -in- Athena: Goddess of War, Mr Goodbye, Save the Last Dance for Me
(Byun Dong Woo) Lee Tae Sung -in- Rooftop Prince, Mischievous Kiss
(Han Jung Soo) Jin Yi Han -in- Who Are You?, Love, So Divine
(Kang Hyung Do) Chun Ho Jin -in- City Hunter, Paradise Ranch, Smile, You, Goong S, Vampire Cop Ricky
(Byun Joo Ri) Byun Jung Soo -in- Manny, Pasta, Bad Couple, What's Up Fox?, Last Scandal
(Oh Jung Shim) Yoon Hyun Sook -in- Me Ri, Dae Gu's Attack and Defense Battle, Wonderful Life, The Art of Fighting
(Nam Dae Moon) Ahn Sang Tae -in- Rooftop Prince, Once Upon a Time in Saengchori, Prosecutor Princess, The Art of Seduction, The Beast and the Beauty
(Nam Da Reum) Kim Yoo Bin -in- Oh! My Lady
(Crystal Park) Kim Soo Mi -in- Daring Women, Marrying the Mafia II
(Byun Choon Nam) Park In Hwan -in- It's Okay, Daddy's Girl, Hello! Miss, Lovers, Save the Last Dance for Me, Hello My Teacher, My Love Patzzi
(Nam Ji Eun/cameo) Park Shi Eun -in- Delightful Girl Choon Hyang
(Director Park/cameo) Jo Yeon Woo -in- What's Up Fox?
Sweet romantic comedy..even though there seemed no real chemistry between the male lead and anyone else. Still, I liked him for a clumsy personality which was a bit of relief from the concerns of the president, her cruddy subordinates, the strictness of the lead teacher, and the sniping from some of the students.
An older single teacher gets more responsibilities when another teacher resigns and a young hand-picked freeter substitute is introduced. After a couple of drunken evenings and a bad circumstance, he moves in with her in secrecy, with the understanding he would find his own place when he got paid. How long though, will they be able to keep it and their growing feelings for one another under wraps?
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
100 Days with Mr. Arrogant/ 내사랑 싸가지/ Naesarang Ssagaji ** (Korean)
Movie 95mins
Ha Ji-Won as Kang Ha-Young
Kim Jae-Won as Ahn Hyung-Joon
Romantic fun in spots. Might have to give this one another watch-see sometime. Rated low in 2 stars. fav scene(s): a kick-the-can dash-away.
A school Girl, having just gotten dumped, mopes her way to school, and in a sudden fit of anger, punts an empty sofa can... which glances off a car as it passes. The driver gets out and claiming damage in the thousands, demands repayment. She runs, but loses her pocketbook. The guy tracks her down again and she agree to a 100 day slave contract.
Please Teach Me English/ 영어완전정복/ Yeongeo wanjeonjeongbok ** (Korean)
Movie 118 mins
Light comedy romance. An entry-level office girl is given the task of taking an English class by her co-workers. There she meets a playboy, with his eyes on the blond Australian teacher. She falls for the guy and becomes determined to get him to notice 'plain and normal' her.
Lovers in Prague/ 프라하의 연인/ Peurahaui Yeonin/ Praha Lovers ** (Korean)
18 episodes
Jang Geun Suk as Yoon Gun-hee
A near-tragic story. The prosecutor's father was a serious piece of work in his greed, cold-hearted ambitions, and manipulations. The girl, even while in the midst of hurt over a past love's eventual return, did her very best to chase after her love with everything she had to give, even against all the rebuffing and anger the rattling caused. Fav character(s): the girl, her younger bro, and her father.
A romance between a cop, a prosecutor, a pianist, and a diplomat.
You can also find:
(Kim Hye-joo) Yoon Se Ah -in- A Gentleman's Dignity, City Hall, Smile Again
(Suh Yoon-kyu) Yoon Young Joon -in- Lovers in Paris, The Art of Seduction
(Hwang Dal-ho/Sang-hyun's partner) Kim Seung Wook -in- When It's At Night, Get Karl! Oh Soo Jung, Oh! Pil Seung And Bong Soon Young, Marrying the Mafia
Mildly funny romance. Got a few giggles and sympathy out of me for the "can't sleep dreammare." The shop theme seemed a wanted and delightful one, but, I can imagine it'd be difficult to maintain in it's platonic style. All in all, it seemed... melancholy.
Shio, a 30something salon worker starts a business to help women sleep by providing sleep companions.. Young men willing to to play teddybear for a night. But in all her helping others, she didn't consider herself, lonely since the day the older brother of one of her sheep ran off trailing divorce papers for her. As it turns out, two of the sheep profess feelings for her, and try to help her out, going to the extent of possibly throwing away a future career because it would mean years in a far away place.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
