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.
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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Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
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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Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
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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Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
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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Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
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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Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
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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Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
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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