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.
A little light on the romance, the comedy is worthy of several laughs (or groans), and the plot moves right along. Favorite scene(s): Moving in with family.. with a note from himself, and engaged density.
A new detective squad is formed under the watchful eye of a rather unwilling older captain for a special case. The trail leads the youthful investigators to a warehouse where they are met with the soggy issue of two old guys in a tank of water, with a note tacked to the tank claiming them to be in their 20s. Upon jumping in to free the codgers, they suddenly find they have aged greatly.. all but one of the 4 that jumped in, now sports white hair, balding and wrinkles of 70 year olds! It suddenly becomes a race against time to find those responsible for their transformation and reverse it before all is lost..to old age.
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Warm and Cozy/ Jeju Island Gatsby/ 맨도롱 또똣 / Maendorong Ttottos ** (Korean)
16 episodes
Kang So Ra as Jung Joo
Not too shabby of a drama. Rather cute. The food looked totally yummy to me. I laughed and laughed over the older bro's gruff wooing technique over the diving lady... when he was totally out of his depth. I didn't fully understand the need for Gun Woo having to leave so abruptly.. i mean, yeah, ok, i get the whole relations can be a serious putz thing, and I got the whole, dad's a badguy, reason.. but the lady found out about the connection.. so why, then, did one set of the couples still have to leave? Nevertheless, Yes, it really will leave you with a warm and cozy feeling. Least favorite character(s): the gold digger, Mok Ji Won
An enterprising, and struggling girl, Jung Joo, gets taken for a song by friends, who left her practically penniless, holding onto a dilapidated and unlivable old tin-roofed house in a little shore-side town on Jeju island. before she can quite decide on what to do, she runs into an old school crush who is running his own cafe just for the road. He also is struggling a bit as the area is not exactly a tourist-made spot, his cafe is high-end, he doesn't get along with the locals, and is having difficulties with a well-to-do family, in particular, an older bro, trying to convince him to grow up. He makes a mistake of thinking the girl ill with a terminal illness so insists on helping her out without letting on that he knows.
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She was Pretty/ 그녀는 예뻤다/ Geunyeoneun Yeppeottda/ She Was Beautiful/ Puzzled Lovers **\ (Korean)
16 episodes
Hwang Jung Eum as Kim Hye Jin / Jackson
Fun-loving drama pretty much clear through.. even if the cheek make-up was just a little too fake. Still, it seemed to fit her face well. She was pretty either way. favorite character(s): Shin Hyuk/Ten, for his goofy sense of humor, even if it was a little much at times, and Ha Ri, the hotelier and roommate, who was as easily independent as she was dependent.
A plucky 'average' looking girl, rooming with her best friend, receives news from an old crush, that he would like to meet with her. after he passes her by, not having recognizing her changed self, she gets her roomy to pose as her, and the roomy falls for the man. Soon after a long awaited job comes through and she's on the ground floor shuffling papers when her old flame enters the room as her new boss, she tries to escape notice, but a nosy fun-loving co-worker, who is more then he seems, gets in the way, making subtle.. and then not so subtle moves to get her attention.
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Hwayi/ Hwayi: A Monster Boy/ 화이 : 괴물을 삼킨 아이/ Hwayi : Gwimuleul Samkin Ahyi (Korean)
Movie 125 mins
A young boy is kidnapped by a small group of killers and raised as one of their own. Then comes a day of reckoning, as the boy, now grown into teenage years, is forced to face his fear of the 'basement monster' and the truth of his situation.
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Two best friends in a police academy go their separate ways in which only one knows the reason. Some time later, during a chase for a cyber-criminal called Hades, they meet again. Then it comes to light that a killer, going by the handle of Phantom is working with a notorious outside group of hackers. The hackers are working to bring big business in the city to its very knees. Hades claims to not be an intentional part of this and the two men agree to meet at a chemical warehouse to sort it out. one friend is killed in a staged explosion by Phantom and the survivor vows vengeance. But this is not easily accomplished when the Phantom has such a deep and powerful reach on the city's pulse.
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One Perfect Day/ Love's Rock, Paper, Scissors/ 사랑의 가위바위보/ Sarangui Gawibawibo ** (Korean)
Movie 35mins
Park Shin-Hye as Eun-Hee
I;m guessing this was created for its sponsor in outdoors-wear. There wasn't a whole lot to it really.. but for what there was.. it was kinda sweet. Care for a rock, paper, scissors game?
A rather shy Guy is having relationship issues.. in other words.. his finding a compatible girl to go with has struck out on all counts... Until he met a lost pup, which led him to an ideal encounter.
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Scholar Who Walks the Night/ Scholar of the Night/ The Night Scholar/ 밤을 걷는 선비 / Bameul Geotneun Sunbi *** (Korean)
20 episodes
Lee Soo Hyuk as Vampire Gwi
Gwi, Sung-Yeol, and teacher Hae-Seo make some of the most awesome vampires I have seen in some time. Based on a manhwa by the same name, the story moves right along from beginning to end. even though the ending seemed just a tiny bit.. anticlimactic? and the main gal was.. rather brainless a lot of the time... it was definitely worth the watch. Favorite scene(s): Hae-Seo's "come closer" life-changing chomp. The sudden power of Sung-Yeol's blue-eyed transformation and Gwi's sad realization of caring emotion's existence within an otherwise stone cold shell.
It's found that there is a vampire ruling from behind the king's royal seat, the young prince comes up with a plan to oust it.. but before he is able to enact it, he is killed. His best friend, scholar Kim Sung Yeol, is given a new unwanted life in order to someday get rid of the vampire Gwi, but first, he has to find where the prince's plan was hidden. Years later, the well hidden scholar resurfaces, having hired a young book-seller to assist him in finding his old friend's secret in novel form. But Gwi comes up with vile ideas set to block his enemy and cause a lot of human suffering in the process.
"Secret Paradise"
sung by Jang Jae In
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Seo Min Ji as Min Se Ra
Nam Tae Hyun as Gong Ji Dan
Cute, short, and very sweet romance tale with an incorporeal touch of magic.
After being rejected in a singing audition a couple of times, Ji Dan lost a little of what he was dreaming of, having to make up for the fail, he takes a part-time job in a dilapidated old karaoke shop that is said to be haunted. There, after the midnight hour, he meets a girl co-worker with a love of magic, and a quiet smile.
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Just You/ 就是要你愛上我 (就是要你爱上我)/ Chiu Shih Yao Ni Ai Shang Wo ** (Taiwanese)
21 episodes
Aaron Yan as Qi Yi
A rather fun, if typical, romcom. I liked most of the character personalities, even though I found Liang Liang's loud voice rather piercing at times and I didn't care much for Qi Yi's gravity-defying pompadour hairstyle either, It looked unrealistically long, especially when compared to his natural banged look. Favorite character(s): Dean, for being such an amazingly tenacious support.
A disagreeable boss and a rather goofy girl employee have a bit of a run-in when Qi Yi buys the house Liang Liang is living in and she refuses to leave until her pre-paid rent is up. After he announces a no-office romance order to the plushie-loving work crew, The plucky pink elephant is given the task to see him retract it again. Can she do it without getting caught by him first? The stinky lion hunt has thus begun!
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Oh My Ghost/ Oh My Ghostess/ 오 나의 귀신님/ O Naeui Gwishinnim *** (Korean)
16 episodes
Kim Seul Gi as Shin Soon Ae
Starts off funny as anything, then it starts skirting darker issues until finally the issues become so great and dark they must be confronted and dealt with. Was a speedy ramp up for that last bit, then I guess it all went back to an even keel for the ending, ..almost felt like a letdown, even though it wasn't really. Favorite character(s): The ghost Soon Ae, her brother Gyeong Mo, and Seo Joon, A quiet and even-tempered assistant chef in the restaurant.
A Shy and frightened girl, Na Bong-Sun, able to see ghosts, gets possessed by a rather rambunctious virgin ghost looking to fulfil her 'grudge' before her time is up and she becomes a an evil spirit. She then gets to know the chef of the restaurant the girl works at.. a man of vitality, and aims all of her effort into taking him to bed. Meanwhile, the reason for Soon Ae's death unremembered, a darkness waits to strike once again and the key to the truth lays unseen on the pages of a forgotten journal.
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This drama gains a special mention for the Freakin Wow Intros!! prize going to whoever the graphic artist was that created the amazing opening scenes of the swooping fire/care accident and the water-drop drawings. (pokes image above as an example) Kudos as well, to the leading man for creating such colorful characters as alts to the original personality. I almost added 'fantasy' to the tags of this drama because of the strange appearance of the neck tattoo whenever Se Gi was in the 'house', so to speak. And for the eye color change, which seemed less and less apparent as the episodes went on... I thought it was a taste of the fantastical but maybe it wasn't meant to be. Favorite scene(s): Bro gets to meet Yo Na. Leaps and smooches ftw! and.. Se Gi hopping straight-away to Ri Jin's commands... and bristling under the 3 rules.
With past horrors well buried beyond memory's reach, a young man, heir to a wealthy business group, suffers from a multiple personality disorder. While trying hard to keep it under wraps, he meets a 1st year psychiatrist and hires her as a secret doctor to help keep his different personalities from getting too far out of hand when he is having to deal with his family and the politics of the group. But past trouble refuses to stay buried in the past for either one of them and quickly creates a major upheaval for all concerned.
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Nine Tailed Fox/ Forbidden Love/ Fox with Nine Tails: Fox with Nine Tails/ Gumiho/ 구미호 외전 (九미호 外傳)/ Gumiho Wehjun ** (Korean)
16 episodes
Park Joon-Suk as Rang
It could have been better. It was interesting in that even their secrets had secrets. But it felt like the foxes as, a folklore concept in modern day, were being treated a bit too much like the classic vampire.. even to the point of poofing into dust at a mortal strike. Tragic ending. Favorite character(s): Rang the foxy yo-yo master for his role as a mostly sweet and rather caring support warrior.
A young girl at her best friend's/first love's birthday party gives and receives and gives a locket gift just before pandemonium breaks out resulting in the the death of all adults there. she is then taken and raised as a warrior with a small group of Gumiho's, feeding off corpse's liver for survival. But the head of the group has a plan which might just result in a great change for the foxes in their relationship with the humans.. as well as much blood to be shed on all sides as the plan comes to fruition.
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How to Use Guys with Secret Tips/ Male Instruction Manual/ 남자 사용설명서/ Namja Sayongseolmyungseo ** (Korean)
movie 116 mins
Oh Jung-Se as Lee Seung-Jae
Lee Si-Young as Choi Bo-Na
A little on the campy/cheesy side and a little too quick for me to really get to know the characters in the story. I really enjoyed the a case of the giggles I got from the antics the video guy went through to instruct, seemingly talking through the TV to show his disappointment that she had not listened to him.
A downtrodden assistant director, weary of being ignored and passed-over comes across a booth on the beach selling unusual instructional videos. She winds up buying a set on the vapid thought it might help her get over the male/female stumbling blocks preventing her from obtaining her dreams. One drunk morning-after, she realizes her blunder of having slept with the primary actor that her agency uses, and after a chiding from the video, tries to get on with things as if it were nothing more then a one-night's stand. The actor though, just doesn't quite see it that way and finds a way to barge into her place to accidentally stumble across the tapes.
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Love Exposure/ 愛のむきだし/ Ai no Mukidashi * (Japanese)
Movie 237 mins
Takahiro Nishijima as Yu Tsunoda
Not to be confused by the Korean film with the same name. I did not like this film. it seemed gritty and dirty from the first to the last.. The acting, I suppose, was alright, given the constant sense of doomed tragedy going on. Favorite scene(s): The arrival of Ms. Scorpion, kickin butt and kissin face.
Yu lost his mom to a disease, then lost his dad to the church. As if that were bad enough, Priest dad got swayed and felled by a parishioner and poor Yu about became bro-in-law to the love of his life. In an insane desire to get his dad's attention, Yu had turned to the wilder and darker side of the city and took on a dare. Not only did this get the attention of the girl he liked, it also unfortunately got the attention of a cult called Zero church, which snagged his family, such as it was, and only Yu could do anything about it.
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The Moon That Embraces the Sun/ The Sun and the Moon/ 해를 품은 달 / Haereul Poomeun Dal **\ (Korean)
20 episodes
Jung Eun Pyo as King's attendant Hyung Sun
Ohh the dramatical Drama! the Intrigue! The convincing characters and storyline that keeps you moving along with interest! This drama is a creatively-written story about an all-consuming love to last the years, and... its also about just how badly things can get mired in political ambition and manipulation.. with just a touch of mysticism thrown in for measure. Favorite character(s): well lessee how to shorten such a long list? Hyung Sun, for his big comical smiles. Jan Shil for being just odd enough to make for an exceptional best friend/sister. and Prince Yang Myung, for finding a way to support his brother when there was much need.
Crown Prince Lee Hwon fell literally for Yeon Woo at first sight. But it was a relationship doomed for a several year fail. For unbeknownst to the two, there was a hidden wrest for power going on that would quickly tear them asunder with forbidden black magic.
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University student, Natsuki, still suffered panic attacks from a 'mistaken identity' kidnapping in her youth. Even as she attempted to let go of her reliance on her best friend, Kentaro, He had thoughts of making more of their relationship. Then one day, the school had a new teacher, and strange and rather inexplicable things began to happen to Natsuki. Prof. Tatsumi, it seems, has been desperately hopping back and forth in time looking for a perfect ideal that would keep someone very close to him alive in the future he knows.
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Kim Mi Kyung as Detective Jo
Yoo Ji Tae as Kim Moon Ho
Park Min Young as Chae Young Shin
Ji Chang-Wook as "Healer"
The story was involved and interesting from the start clear to the very end. The comedy is light and in context. The romance is beautiful and slightly clumsy. Even the acting and music were spot-on. A truly well put-together drama that not many review descriptions have managed to live up to imo. Tragedy should be expected. Favorite character(s): The Hacker behind the Healer and patience/love itself in the form of an adopter dad.
The story got underway with the formation of a group of budding journalists running illegal broadcasts concerning a subject of well hidden length. They truly had no idea how big the iceberg was when they first took a chip,.. or just how far the hidden enemy was willing to go to keep those chips hidden.
There is a rather famed reporter, still rather bitter/guilty for staying quiet for so long concerning that past time and looking for a child many years grown by now. He utilizes a night errand man to help him. The infamous Healer, who is the best in his business, discovers the sought-after girl, with a bit of help from his boss and master hacker, Ajumma Jo. and there is this woman, a famed reporter wanna-be who chases after a bag thief, only to eventually be caught by her own heart.
This mutual love could prove to be a rather dangerous one though, as the enemy is a large wasp nest of manipulation and string-pulling and seeks their weaknesses to either pull them down completely or change their allegiances to something a bit more favorable.
"Eternal Love"
by Michael Learns to Rock
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Vampire Flower/ Vampire's Flower/ Flower of the Vampires/ 뱀파이어의 꽃/ baem-pai-eo-ui kkot **\ (Korean)
6 episodes
Nice Vampire tale. Could have been just a tiny bit longer.. But not that bad for only 6 episodes. Favorite scene(s): Boys and their house pictures, moving in, and the contract kiss.
Girl passing through a flower shop catches the attention of a vampire who makes a contract to protect her while she looks for a special flower that might ensure a lord's position. An elder vampire, gunning for the throne, then kidnaps her, thinking she already knew of the flower's location.
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Slow moving drama, with a fairly good story to tell. although, I did wonder exactly what became of all of the vampires hoping to put blame on the one's drinking the blood of animals and living in the human town. I also wonder, just how Jae Min (and Ma Ri too) came around again. Even withstanding the idea of repressed memories of another lifetime, It was hundreds of years gone by. Favorite character(s): Ma Ri's family for being such a supportive family, even in diversity.
There was a time, in ancient history, when Jae Min and Shi Hoo were very good friends. Then, after the formation of a special attack squad to deal with a vampire uprising, Shi Hoo is mortally bit. In desperation, Jae Min went looking for a cure. While he is gone, Shi Hoo is given vampire blood from Ma Ri, to complete the transformation, Ma Ri, with her family, have been hiding in plain sight from the hunt.
Eventually, over many generations, Jae Min, suffering a few mental issues, is introduced and attracted 'once more' to transfer student, Ma Ri, through music.. and beside her, is Shi Hoo the rebel.
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Blade Man/ Iron Man/ 아이언맨/ Aieonmaen *** (Korean)
18 episodes
Lee Dong Wook as Joo Hong Bin
Seems a good combination of drama and a superhero tale to me... Which certainly seems fit with Hong Bin's occupation as CEO of a game company. He seemed rather like a cross between the Hulk and Edward Scissorhands, with the super attributes of the former and the looks-style of the latter. Favorite character(s): Secretary Ko, the best of comical sidekicks if ever there was one.
As head of a large game company, Joo Hong Bin, is in the worst need of anger management. The fury just seems to eat him up inside resulting in a pincushion display of sharp pointy cutlery in random spots over his torso and arms. This seems particularly apparent when confronting his father, who he blames for the death of his relationship with Tae-Hee, whom he finds hard to believe at first, is dead.
Then he gets a run of surprises, There is a woman who smells just like he remembers his love smelling like. He receives and has to care for his and Tae-Hee's son. And then there's the rumor that says, counter to what everyone is saying, maybe Tae-Hee is still alive but hiding.
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A Frozen Flower/ 쌍화점/ Ssanghwajeom/ Blood & Flowers ** (Korean)
133 min movie
Lee Poong-Yoon as a youthful King
Yeo Jin-Goo as a young Hong-Lim
Jealousy can be such a powerful motivator and story-maker, can't it? One could see the fated message of tragedy written across the wall of the library part way through the film. Favorite character(s): the film does a wonderful job of introducing us to the character's personalities from the very start, causing good empathy with most of them. Rating this as a hard R/soft X so bear it in mind before watching.
A king who took care to grow and train his own personal guard, is pressured to gain an heir in order to keep his royal seat. There is also an issue with killing a plot to overthrow him in favor of a new replacement. Having no want to be with the queen, he instead orders his lover, the captain of the guard, to do it instead. This results in complete disaster for them, as, jealousy and mistakes spiral out of control.
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Black Butler/ 黒執事/ Kuroshitsuji (Japanese)
119 min movie
Hiro Mizushima as Sebastian
Ayame Gouriki as Earl Shiori
Not too bad for a live action rendition. That butler was sure wicked quick with a butter knife, wow. Favorite scene(s): the Butler dance of death in a room full of enemy targets.
The young Earl of the corporation is a watchdog or investigator of sorts for the western side queen. In the Earl's company is a proficient butler/bodyguard who holds a demonic contract for when the Earl dies. The earl is put on task in trying to find the reason why one of the nobles was found recently mummified in his car.
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Marry Him If You Dare/ Mi Rae's Choice/ The Future Choice ** (Korean)
16 episodes
Light comedy, odd melancholy style ending. Another of those rare one-takes-neither kind of drama's. I liked both male leads and the female one's too. Even as it seemed they all just kind of got tired of the games about half-way through the drama. Favorite scene(s): working together in dire subway action, for the betterment of all.
Woman from a possible future travels back in time to change the course of fate for her younger self. Younger her though, is a bit reluctant to believe older her, and even less willing to deny her own growing feelings of affection for the announcer of the media company that she works as a writer for... even though there is a warm and handsome VJ looking her way with interest. She just cannot get as into him as he is toward her. And then, just to add further complication to her existence, the older and wiser her faces sudden frustration at the lack of changes showing in her journal, her dear brother has fallen ill and she knows her time in this generation is limited. What to do?
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The Three Musketeers/ 삼총사/ Samchongsa **\ (S.Korean)
12 episodes
Jung Hae In as Ahn Min Seo
Jung Yong Hwa as Park Dal Hyang
Lee Jin Wook as Crown Prince So Hyun
Yang Dong Geun as Heo Seung Po
A rollicking good re-telling, Joseon style, of a French novel by the same name. Well worth seeing imo, even if the King was a bit... too-much a lot of the time.. and really, Dal Hyang (D'Artagnan) should have been added to the musketeer roster at the end imo. Well acted and good adaption. Favorite character(s): Seung Po (the comical Porthos)
There was a conspiracy well in works already, by the time Dak Hyun made it to the city in time for the test. He was quickly put in the thick of things when one of his letters was apprehended, questioned, and lost to the conspirators. A fast and solid friendship is formed just in time to save the country boy from failing the test due to the skewered rump of a mis-targeted horse. Then the prince's mysterious past entanglement of the female kind comes to the forefront along with the King's angry decree to kill the envoy and send a message to the as yet-distant invaders to hurry the call of war. It's really all they can do to be wary of the lady's poisonous touch and protect the envoy's head past the border. What will they do when their very lives and loved one's are brought to task for the secrets that must be kept?
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My Lovely Girl/ My Lovable Girl/ She's So Lovable/ Song for You/ The Woman Who's So Lovable to Me/ 내겐 너무 사랑스러운 그녀/ Naegen Neomu Sarangseureowoon Geunyeo ** (S.Korean)
16 episodes
L as Shi Woo
Not a bad story I suppose. The plot seemed so typical it was almost cliche of the word... drama. I felt for Shi Woo. Poor guy just couldn't catch a break. and I could understand Hyun Wook, He felt horribly responsible for a past accident. After the first 3 or so episodes though, I found I didn't like Se Na's personality at all. Way too .. depressed, really, and it only got worse the longer the drama went on. Favorite character(s): The golden retriever.
An emotionally scarred son of an entertainment business owner is forced to take on the mantle of president when his father faces health issues. He gets to know an aspiring song writer and helps to boost her career while keepin a secret of his intent of being her daddy-long-legs for the sake of her deceased sister's (and his past love's) sake. Attraction is unplanned and mutual though and causes uproar in their personal lives as well as in business.
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