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.
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.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
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.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
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.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
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.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
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.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
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?
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
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?
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
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.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
My Unfortunate Boyfriend/ 나의 유감스러운 남자친구/ Naui Yoogamseureowoon Namjachingu **\ (S.Korean)
16 episodes
Yang Jin Sung as Yoo Ji Na
No Min Woo as Yoon Tae Woon
A rather adorable love story. I enjoyed Mr. Unfortunate's child-like simplicity and how well he seemed to fit with Ji Na's stubbornness (rather in spite of her frustrated denials). Even the campy nature of the comic sound effects never quite got old for me. The ending as well, was lighthearted and sweet.. if 'just a little' melancholy. Favorite scene(s): Lose the call, dress em up, and head on out game.
A girl, Desperate for a good job, passes an interview for an advertizing agency having omitted the truth of her background schooling. She is put in competition with another newbie for a permanent position. As she tries to create innovative ideas, she gets to know the company's outcast going by the name of Mr. Unfortunate who tends the company's vast gardens. It's a hearts match, but not an easy road, as the company lead has plans to use the situation for his own benefit in taking over the company.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
(Yoon Tae Woon/MR. Unfortunate
/Dr. Seed) No Min Woo
