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.
Bad Girls *\ (Taiwanese)
Not to be confused with the Korean Drama by the same name.
Movie 85 mins
Ella Chen as A-Dan
Well, it was rather cute, I suppose. The acting was so-so. There wasn't anything sparking between the two main characters at all, their kiss was a bit more like an awkward bumping of faces then it was an intended kiss. The storyline didn't hold much interest for me... maybe there wasn't enough time to get to know the characters or something, I'm not sure.. Well, I think the whole movie could have been better. and... as an aside,.. (roses are not eatable? says who? look up a recipe for 'candied rose petals' and consider rethinking those words. and yes, they can be good in bread as well.)
Tomboy a-dan is out for a little vengeance vs guys that pick on girls and stops only for the delicious taste of bread. Her little sister though, is a bit mischievous at times, and they end up crashing a filming going on at her school. After having inadvertently stepped on the leading lady, a-dan finds herself having to take leading place as compensation, opposite the handsome leading actor, Justin, in a romantic story of athletes falling in love.
You can also find:
(A-Dan) Ella Chen/Chen Chia Hua -in- Down With Love
(Justin) Mike He/He Jun Xiang -in- Love Keeps Going, Sunny Happiness, Calling For Love, Why Why Love, Devil Beside You
Gangster Lover/ My Dear Desperado/ 내 깡패 같은 애인/ Nae Kkangpae Kateun Aein ** (Korean)
Movie
Park Joong-Hoon as Oh Dong-Chul
A woman, loses her job to bankruptcy, and is forced to downsize her living, to raman and a tiny basement apartment. Then, amidst her struggle to win another worthy job, she meets her upstairs neighbor. The guy upstairs is a small-time aging gangster who is starting to realize his time spent behind bars was a waste. He begins to see others just starting down the path he knew all to well. As the girl tries for a worthy job interview, he helps out, hoping to push others onto a different road from the one he took.
You can also find:
(Lee Se-Jin) Jung Yu-Mi -in- I Need Romance 2
(Jung-Seo) Park Won-Sang -in- Art of Fighting, Innocent Steps, For the Sake of Son
(ex-cop Park) Jeong In-Gi -in- The Secret Reunion, The Perfect Couple, Innocent Steps, Flower Boy Ramen Shop, Secret Garden
(Jae-Young) Kwon Yool/Kwon Se-In -in- My Fair Lady, Lie to Me
(gang-boss Kim) Jeong Woo-Hyeok -in- My Girlfriend is an Agent
(Se-Jin's dad) Min Kyeong-Jin -in- Castaway on the Moon, Lost and Found
(male employee from bankrupt company) Kim Gun -in- Secret Garden, The City Hall
(room salon woman) Kim Ji-Young II -in- Vampire Cop Ricky, Love in Magic
(real estate agent) Lee Sang-Hee -in- Hello Ghost, Secret Agent Miss Oh
(nurse) Lee Chae-Eun -in- Three Fathers, One Mother
(last interviewer) Lee Joon-Hyuk -in- Scandal Makers
Our Slightly Risque Relationship/ 조금 야한 우리 연애 /Jogeum Yahan Woori Yeonae ** (Korean)
1 episode
Lee Sun Gyun as Ki Dong Chan
Trying to juggle work at a TV station, and quietly pining for a woman having her wedding day, earns Dong Chan a trip to the doctor's office for a soup-burned lap. He is then temporarily sent to a country station and has another run-in with the woman who caused his hospital stay. In spite of the growls and hisses between them, their mutual attraction is undeniable.
You can also find:
(Ki Dong Chan) Lee Sun Gyun -in- Pasta, My Sweet City, The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince, Love So Divine
(cameraman) Kim Kwang Gyu -in- Arang and the Magistrate, A Gentleman's Dignity, Scent of a Woman, Can You Hear My Heart, Sungkyunkwan Scandal, Oh! My Lady, That Fool, Hello! Miss, Couple of Fantasy, Mr Goodbye, Secret Reunion, My Mighty Princess, Windstruck
An adventuresome and romantic story with a few comedic scenes. The acting was well performed and the storyline moved right along. Even the cross-dressing Yoon Hee, was fairly believable, especially in the beginning, because of her 'no-nonsense' firm attitude causing a slight roughening her high voice.
Fav scene(s): Making the grade, unwillingly, The uncomfortable attraction of a gisaeng. A marketplace confession, man to man. A player's lime-lit 'pass or fail'.
A woman, dressed as man, while fighting to pay off her family's debts, and her brother's medicine before she is sold, agrees to 'stand in' for someone taking the university entrance exams.. There she meets a nobleman who takes it upon himself to see her into school and further hone her talent as a scholar. The king as well, further encourages the two of them to enroll and before long, she meets her new roomies.. in the form of the straight-laced noble, the rebel 'crazy horse' and his playboy follower. The four of them become close friends while trying to keep their dreams alive against the violable president of the student counsel, the politics of the crown, and the sad happenings of the past. Then one evening, the King presents them with a secret quest that might just have them pitted against their own families and the loyalty they have for one-other.
You can also find:
(Lee Sun Joon) Park Yoochun/Micky Yoochun -in- Rooftop Prince
(Kim Yoon Hee) Park Min Young -in- City Hunter, I'm Sam
(young Yoon Hee) Bang Joon Seo -in- Oh! My Lady, My Dear Enemy
(Goo Yong Ha) Song Joong Ki -in- Take Care of the Young Lady
(Ha Hyo Eun) Seo Hyo Rim -in- Me Too, Flower!, Scent of a Woman
(Cho Sun) Kim Min Seo -in- Baby-faced Beauty, It's Okay, Daddy's Girl
(Ha In Soo) Jun Tae Soo -in- It's Okay, Daddy's Girl
(Byung Choon) Kang Sung Pil -in- Smile Again, My Boss, My Hero
(Seol Go Bong) Kim Dong Yoon(1983) -in- Iljimae
(Kang Moo) Chae Byung Chan -in- Take Care of the Young Lady
(Jung Yak Yong) Ahn Nae Sang -in- Protect the Boss, My Princess, 18 vs. 29
(Choi Shin Mook) Kim Ha Kyoon -in- Myung Wol the Spy, Daring Women, Bad Couple, Ice Girl, Sweet Spy, Snow White, My Love Patzzi, Baby and I
(Kim Woo Tak) Jang Se Hyun -in- Boys Before Flowers
(Bae Hae Won) Hwang Chan Woo -in- My Girlfriend is an Agent
(Park Dal Jae) Lee In/Lee Joon -in- Sweet 18
(King Jeongjo) Jo Sung Ha -in- Romance Town, Paradise Ranch, My Princess, Art of Fighting
(Left State Minister Lee Jung Moo) Kim Gab Soo -in- Secret Investigation Record, IRIS, When It's At Night, Don't Ask Me About the Past, She's On Duty, Bungee Jumping of their Own
(Ha Woo Kyu/Minister of War) Lee Jae Yong -in- Romance Town, Athena: Goddess of War, A Man Called God
(Prime Minister Chae Je Gong) Kim Ik Tae -in- The Marriage Plot
(Ms. Jo/Yoon Hee's mother) Kim Mi Kyung -in- Faith, Baby-faced Beauty, Secret Garden, Tempted Again, Who Are You?, Sang Doo, Let's Go To School
(Hwang Ga) Kim Kwang Gyu -in- Arang and the Magistrate, A Gentleman's Dignity, Scent of a Woman, Can You Hear My Heart, Oh! My Lady, That Fool, Hello! Miss, Couple of Fantasy, Mr Goodbye, Secret Reunion, My Mighty Princess, Windstruck
(Soon Dol) Ryu Dam -in- Athena: Goddess of War
(Bok Soo/petty thief) Lee Min Ho(1993) -in- Rooftop Prince, Exhibition of Fireworks, Le Grand Chef
(Hanseongbu official Yoon Hyung Goo) Park Chul Min -in- Baby-faced Beauty, Athena: Goddess of War, Beethoven Virus, When It's At Night, Princess Lulu, Love So Divine, Bungee Jumping of Their Own
(Goo Yong Ha's father) Lee Dal Hyung -in- Operation Proposal, Sweet Palpitations, Call of the Country, The Vineyard Man, Ice Girl, Oh! Pil Seung And Bong Soon Young
(shaman Bak Soo/cameo) Lee Won Jong -in- Vampire Prosecutor, Wild Romance, Scent of a Woman, A Man Called God, Gourmet, Iljimae, 200 Pounds Beauty, My Wife Is a Gangster 2
(Hyo Eun's friend/cameo) Oh Na Mi -in- Full House Take 2, My Girlfriend is a Nine-Tailed Fox, Hello Ghost
Arang and the Magistrate/ Arang Magistrate Story/ 아랑사또전/ Arangsaddojeon **\ (Korean)
20 episodes + special
Han Jung Soo as Moo Young the ghost hunter
There were a lot of good elements to this drama. I greatly enjoyed it. Lots of adventure, romantic tension and comic moments throughout. Favorite character(s): The Magistrate, his father, and the Jade Emperor
When a wandering nobleman and his servant take refuge from the rain in an old building, the gentleman makes the uncomfortable acquaintance of a ghost looking for memories of who she is and how she came to be in her current state. In efforts to get her to leave him be, he agrees to help her.. under the unlikely condition that she makes him the town's magistrate. That evening, he is kidnapped, tied up, and set to stew in the magistrate's office. The next morning, those sure he was killed by the ghost, as had several potentials before, are surprised that not only is he still alive, he's piping angry about being held hostage by a ghost. Keeping to his agreement, he soon uncovers her remains and many more questions about her death and the village's greatest secrets.
You can also find:
(Arang/Lee Seo Rim) Shin Min Ah -in- My Girlfriend is a Nine-Tailed Fox, The Naked Kitchen, My Mighty Princess, Beast and Beauty
(Kim Eun Oh/Magistrate) Lee Jun Ki -in- Iljimae, My Girl, The King and the Clown
(Dol Swe/Eun Oh's servant) Kwon Oh Joong -in- Scent of a Woman, Gourmet
(Moo Young/Ghost huster) Han Jung Soo -in- Fugitive: Plan B, Prosecutor Princess
(Bang Wool/Shaman) Hwang Bo Ra -in- My Girl
(Nobleman Choi) Kim Yong Gun -in- A Man Called God, When It's At Night, Summer Scent, 200 Pounds Beauty, Marrying the Mafia III, Please Teach Me English
(King of Underworld) Park Joon Gyu -in- Mary Stayed Out All Night, I'm Sam, The Art of Seduction, My Boss, My Hero
(Lady Seo/fairy/Moo Yeon/Hong Ryun) Kang Moon Young -in- Can You Hear My Heart
(Lee Bang) Kim Kwang Gyu -in- A Gentleman's Dignity, Scent of a Woman, Can You Hear My Heart, Oh! My Lady, That Fool, Hello! Miss, Couple of Fantasy, Mr Goodbye, Secret Reunion, My Mighty Princess, Windstruck
(Hyung Bang) Lee Soo Ho/Lee Sang Hoon -in- Last Scandal, Art of Fighting
(Moo Yeon (Moo Young's sister) Im Joo Eun -in- Wild Romance, Me Ri, Dae Gu's Attack and Defense Battle
(Bang Wool's client/cameo) Jung Soo Young -in- Coffee House, City Hall, Couple of Fantasy
(ghost/cameo) Im Hyun Sik -in- My Girlfriend is a Nine-Tailed Fox, Creating Destiny, Powerful Opponents, Bad Family, My Fair Lady, 200 Pounds Beauty
(gatekeeper/cameo) Lee Sung Min(1968) -in- The King 2 Hearts, Can You Hear My Heart, My Princess, Pasta, Oh! Pil Seung And Bong Soon Young
(Yebang) Min Seong-Wook -in- The Naked Kitchen
(taoist fairy/cameo) No Hee-Ji -in- Can You Hear My Heart
(Eun Oh's father/cameo) Yun Ju-Sang -in- The King and the Clown, Big, I Do, I Do, Marriage Plot, Babyfaced Beauty, Iris, The Accidental Couple, Sweet Spy, Who Are You?
(young Noble man Choi/cameo) Choo Hun-Yub -in- My Princess, Oh! My Lady
The Wedding Scheme/ The Marriage Plot/ 결혼의 꼼수/ Gyeolhonui Kkomsoo ** (Korean)
16 episodes
Lee Min Woo as Seo Jang Won
The head of a hands-on Kimchee company and a mother of several daughters hatches a plan to marry off her daughters before she dies, by opening a boarding house for eligible bachelors. On the one side, it's effective in gaining the girl's attention. on the other, she discovers a 'spy' in their midst in the form of the son of the man who is responsible for her widowhood. The Spy though, has fallen head over mutual heels for his company 'boss' which is her ambitious 2nd eldest daughter.
You can also find:
(Yoo Gun Hee) Kang Hye Jung -in- Kiss Me, Kill Me, Why Did You Come to Our House?(movie)
(Lee Kang Jae) Lee Kyu Han -in- Can You Hear My Heart, Smile, You, My Lovely Sam-Soon
(Yoo Sun Hee) Lee Young Eun -in- To the Beautiful You, Once Upon a Time in Saengchori, Full House, My Fair Lady, Too Beautiful To Lie
(Jang Won) Lee Min Woo -in- Me Ri, Dae Gu's Attack and Defense Battle
(So Doo Ryun) Cha Hwa Yun -in- A Gentleman's Dignity, Protect the Boss, My Princess, City Hall
(Lee Hak Goon) Yoon Joo Sang -in- I Do, I Do, Baby-faced Beauty, IRIS, Smile, You, That Fool, Who Are You?, Sweet Spy, The King and the Clown
A man called god/ 신이라 불리운 사나이 / Shinira Bulriwoon Sanai ** (Korean)
24 episodes
Han Chae Young as Jin Bo Bae
This drama might better have been called Rise of the Immortal Phoenix with the way peter pan kept 'resurrecting'. I know it was not a comedy, but some of the situations got fairly ludicrous after awhile. The 3 girls-in-love were nearly stereotypical and I was outright annoyed at their simpering overuse of his name. I consider this drama about as romanceful as an old James Bond movie and about as action-filled as well. Light on one and heavy on the other. There are a number of deaths in this drama. Fav scene(s): Grampa's 'sign' message for the son of the bad guy at the meeting.
A son, who is witness to the death of his parents by stabbing and house fire, vows vengeance on the people responsible. When the day finally arrives and his plan unfurls, he is given a few surprises.. in the form of a jealous betrayal from within and the news of his little sister's existence in the world.
You can also find:
(Michael King/Choi Kang Ta/Peter Pan) Song Il Gook -in- The Art of Seduction
(young Kang Ta) Nam Da Reum -in- Boys Before Flowers
(Jin Bo Bae) Han Chae Young -in- Boys Before Flowers, Exhibition of Fireworks, My Girl, Only You, Delightful Girl Choon Hyang
(Hwang Woo Hyun) Kim Min Jong -in- IRIS 2, A Gentleman's Dignity, Athena: Goddess of War, Sweet Spy
(Vivian Castle) Han Go Eun -in- Me Too, Flower!, Powerful Opponents
(Seo Mi Soo) Choo Ja Hyun -in- Oh! Pil Seung And Bong Soon Young, Successful Story of a Bright Girl
(Jang Mi) Yoo In Young -in- I Hate You, But It's Fine, Spy Girl
(Jang Ho) Jo Jin Woong -in- Don't Ask Me About the Past
(Jang Yong) Jung Han Yong -in- Athena: Goddess of War, IRIS
(Hwang Dal Soo) Lee Jae Yong -in- Romance Town, Athena: Goddess of War
(Lee Hyung Sub) Jung Dong Hwan -in- Scent of a Woman, Lovers in Prague
(Kang Tae Ho) Kim Yong Gun -in- When It's At Night, Summer Scent, 200 Pounds Beauty, Marrying the Mafia III, Please Teach Me English
(Park Hong Choon) Lee Won Jong -in- Vampire Prosecutor, Wild Romance, Scent of a Woman, Gourmet, Iljimae, 200 Pounds Beauty
(Han Soo Ra) Lee Bo Hee -in- Le Grand Chef: Kimchi War
(Hye Jung) Kim Min Ji -in- Hateful But Once Again, Boys Before Flowers
(Hye Jung's grandfather) Baek Il Sub -in- Marrying the Mafia, My Boyfriend is Type-B, Spy Girl, My Tutor Friend
(Seo Tae Jin) Maeng Sang Hoon -in- Rooftop Prince, My Princess
(?) Kim Myung Kook -in- Oohlala Spouses, Take Care of the Young Lady, Spy Girl
(Choi Hae Ryong/Choi Kang Ta's father) Lee Jung Hoon -in- Creating Destiny, Go Go Sister, The Art of Seduction, Windstruck
(Director Kim Ji Won) Yoon Gi Won -in- Vampire Prosecutor, Birdie Buddy, Secret Garden, Marrying School Girl
(?) Lee Seung Hyung -in- City Hunter, Baby-faced Beauty, Prosecutor Princess, Shining Inheritance, Successful Story of a Bright Girl
(?) Shin Seung Hwan -in- Myung Wol the Spy
(?) Jung Eun Woo/Jung Dong Jin -in- Exhibition of Fireworks
