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 fairly mellow drama, Slow yet constant. The storyline had a good start but seemed somehow cut-short toward the end and left far to many questions unanswered. The main female character kept weebling between 'this subject' and 'that guy' so much I started to wonder if she'd end up with either of them, hidden Gumiho or no. The boyfriend, was a sissy/toughguy to the point of urgish annoyance and the original love was a serious wuss. He gave up waay to easily and put little feeling into even a possibility that they might have a chance together. Even the third wheel was a kind of ehhish character and had to have his perspective changed by being verbally chewed on by his rival for being a selfish nitwit to the girl he liked. This story could have been a whole lot more interesting then it ended up being.
Girl looking for a muse of inspiration for an original story, sees a guy helping someone out and follows him to a nail salon. Since the shop boasted an all-male cast of artists, she dresses down, cuts her hair, and is hired on as the cutesy guy, Bunny. While the guys deal with several hearthurt customers, she becomes more curious about the woman owner (thinking her perhaps a gumiho she once met when young.) and her daily updates on her web-story closely reflect the people she has met, casting herself as a half-gumiho half-human and two of the guys in the shop as hunter and helper.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
Rather reminded me of another drama in general storyline. The girl looked the part of a tomboy and sounded too much like a girl, especially when singing. Felt like they had crammed a few too many predictable 'ohno!s'... made the ending seem weak. Favorite character(s): Kwon Ji Woo and his grandma.
Girl fails at classical music school in England, returns to South Korea and stays with her best bud for a time, for fear of her parent's angry reaction. As her longtime friend lacks confidence to stand on stage, despite his dreams of being on it, She goes with him to audition and they are both chosen for the next boy idol team called M2 Junior. People assumed the tomboy was male. She bounces several times off the arrogant lead of M2, and falls in mutual love. This is the start of trouble, as forces maneuver around them to dissolve the team before they could get far.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
Cute light romantic comedy. Makes me wonder just how it was that Irene's secret had not been spotted right away.. especially once personally met. Fav scene(s): making friends with the idol of the school.
Guy unable to quite make the grade as a dancer.. gone undercover as a cover girl, and a country girl with a pop star dream, end up as roomies at an art/entertainment school.
You can also find:
(Jang Geu-Rim) Kim So Hyun(1987) -in- Rooftop Prince, King of Baking, Kim Tak Goo, Loving You a Thousand Times
(Lee Eok-Man) Kang Hyun-Joong -in- Hello Ghost, The City Hall
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
Bungee Jumping of Their Own/ 번지점프를 하다/ Beonjijeompeureul hada ** (Korean)
Movie 99mins
Yeo Hyeon-Soo
as Lim Hyeon-bin
Lee Byung-hun
as Seo In-woo
Not really much of an average romance.. it does have couple of tragic scenes in it. It is a topic I have mused about before. Even though the film has a tragic ending, it made me wonder about possibilities. which makes it worthy to see, imo.
One rainy evening, In-woo instantly falls in love with the girl sharing his umbrella. It doesn't take long before they begin to date. The girl then meets with an accident and he is left alone. Some time later, he is grown, with a wife and child.. and a new job as a homeroom teacher. There, in the class, is a young man who In-woo solidly recognizes as his soulmate in reincarnated form.
You can also find:
(Seo In-woo) Lee Byung-Hun -in- Iris
(Yeo Hye-su) Hong Soo-Hyun -in- Lie to Me, Only You, Sangdoo, Let's Go to School!
Boy and Girl/ Yellow Ribbon Love **\ (Taiwanese)
23 episodes
Genie Chuo as Hei You Nan
Contrary to one of this drama's titles, and vague description/synopsis.. This drama didn't have anything to do with a boy's dormitory. The girl lived at home with her father and brother and worked on and off in an original clothing shop with her best friend. The comedy was silly, and slappy with nearly over-the-top antics at the start, then, following typical format, lost it's comedic charm for the romance and underhanded antics of the bad-guys. fav scene(s): Fooling Rose into the wedding.
A hard-working girl dresses as a boy to gain a 'temp' job in the company mall holding a large debt tab her father had racked up in an effort to pay it off. There, she meets two men, one is a lawyer working his way up through the corporate ranks.. even as his interest in fashion design was repressed by his mother... and a CEO who had been waiting 3 years for his first love to come back to him.
Ouran High School Host Club ** (Japanese)
12 Episodes
Kawaguchi Haruna as Fujioka Haruhi
Ouran High School Host Club Movie
105 mins
Yusuke Yamamoto as Tamaki Suou
Another live-action take on an anime. Not sure which one makes a better story. Both are rather cute, especially with the drama's 'special effects'. Somehow, I wasn't quite satisfied with the ending where it was put...not sure if it was the lack of substance to the storyline, or if it was simply not quite long enough.
A tomboyish girl, transferring to a rich-kids school, accidentally knocks over an expensive vase and in order to pay off the debt, She becomes a host club member, with the regular members helping to keep her gender a secret.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
Down with Love/ 就想賴著妳/ Jiu Xiang Lai Zhe Ni/ Just Want to Depend on You/ Stick with You *** (Taiwanese)
16 episodes
Ella Chen as Yang Guo
It started well, ran well and ended well. Favorite scene(s); the full-on kiss to exchange a life-shortener in a desperate moment
Quite the Best Unintended French Kiss I think I have ever seen in an Asian drama.. and the comical way how personal (love) changes caused the poor lawyer a loss in work-related concentration. (yep, I was rooting for the lawyer the whole way through. :D) I even liked the theme song.
Light-hearted comedy involving a lawyer, an architect, two sisters, and an actress, along with two devilish kids out to ruin their nanny in rival for the attention of their uncle.
You're Beautiful/ He's Beautiful!/
미남이시네요/ Minami Shineyo/
You're Handsome **** (Korean)
16 episodes
Jang Geun Suk as Hwang Tae Kyung
Park Shin Hye as Go Mi Nyeo
Fabulous Boys/ 原來是美男/
Yuan Lai Shi Mei Nan (Taiwanese)
? episodes
Jiro Wang as Huang Tai Qing
Cheng Yu Xi as Gao Mei Nu
Hwang In Deok as Jiang Xin Yu
Evan Yo as Jeremy
Great acting all around. huzah! It had a good plot... it even had a nice ending. totally in line with the character personalities and story mood. (and they even managed to keep the 'twin brother' mostly from being 'found out' by the camera. lol!) Some beautiful music in this one as well as high comedic scenes. *examples: battle of the bidet, and nun on the run.. through a busy airport.*
Double Kudo's for Jang Geun Suk, for the cameo in the Japanese version and for Park Shin Hye, for the cameo in the Taiwanese version. Woo!!
A rather clumsy to-be nun is asked to take over in secret for her famous singer twin brother while he went for eye surgery. She expected it to be just for the signing of a desperately needed contract... a dream come true. but the 'lie' kept growing and the manager kept begging, thereby making it a struggle to keep her identity from being discovered. All while she hung on and attempted to continue her brother's task to find their mother, During the month of trial, she endears herself to the band members and they to her.
"Promise"
by A.N. JELL
Sung by Jang Geon Suk
Is it a blank spot? Click to listen & then
mouseover to see player controls.
Hanazakari no Kimitachi e/ 花ざかりの君たちへ/ For You in Full Blossom
***\ (Japanese)
12 episodes + special
Horikita Maki as
Ashiya Mizuki (center)
Hana Kimi 2011/ Ikemen☆Paradise~2011
(Japanese)
12 episodes
Maeda Atsuko as
Ashiya Mizuki (center)
Hua Yang Shao Nian Shao Nu/ 花樣少年少女 (花样少年少女)/ Hanazakarino
Kimitachie (Taiwanese)
15 episodes + special
Wu Chun as Zuo Yi Quan
Ella Chen as Lu Rui Xi
Jiro Wang as Jin Xiu Yi
To The Beautiful You/ Hana Kimi/ For You In Full Blossom/ 아름다운 그대에게/ Areumdawun Geodaeege
(Korean)
16 episodes
Hanazakari no Kimitachi e was both a rollicking laugh a moment and some seriously sad goodbyes. Will she fit in, or is she bound to get found out? I loved this one! Check it out.
A girl, feeling acutely responsible for the destruction of a high-jumper's joy, cuts her hair, dons a suit and tie, and enrolls in an all boy's school.. in an all-or-nothing effort to help rectify the issue.
"sha sha de yong qi"
by Fahrenheit
Is it a blank spot? Click to listen & then
mouseover to see player controls.
Hanazakari no Kimitachi e
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
Personal Preference/개인의 취향/ Kaeinui Chwihyang/ Kae In's Taste/ Personal Taste ** (Korean)
16 episodes
Son Ye Jin as Park Kae In
Lee Min Ho as Jeon Jin Ho
Had a few funny scenes, lots of drama and soapy tangled webs all over the place. Ending turned out not so bad for all concerned.
A architect rents out a room in a very secretive place and pretends to be gay in efforts to learn more about it for a new upcoming project.. and finds the love of a rather clumsy girl who creates whimsical furniture, a whole bunch of trouble, and misunderstanding.
You can also find:
(Park Kae In) Son Ye Jin -in- Secret Garden, Summer Scent
The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince/ 커피프린스 1호점 **\ (Korean)
17 episodes
Yoon Eun Hye as Go Eun Chan
Gong Yoo as Choi Han Kyul
Nice story rather in spite of a dragging plot... which was due mostly to minor character conversations and relations which I didn't really identify with. I don't think they did a very good job letting the audience get to know the side characters very well at all. Still, This one is probably my favorite story/plot to date. Favorite scene(s): The lame excuse, the awkward hug, and the bafflement that followed.
A tomboy, mistaken for a guy, and strapped for family finances, gains a job working as discouragement for match-making... and then is hired on for help at a failing coffee shop. The guy who hires her falls in love, but cannot cope with the idea that he's fallen for another guy and she lacks the courage to tell him the truth.
You can also find:
(Choi Han Kyul/heir) Gong Yoo -in- Biscuit Teacher and Star Candy
(Choi Han Sung/musician) Lee Sun Gyun -in- Pasta, My Sweet Seoul
(Go Eun Chan) Yoon Eun Hye -in- Lie to Me, Personal Preference, Take Care of the Young Lady, The Vineyard Man, Goong
(Han Kyul's mom) Kim Ja Ok -in- Can't Lose, That Fool, My Name is Kim Sam-Soon, My Tutor Friend
(Jin Ha Rim) Kim Dong Wook -in- Finding Mr. Destiny
(Hwang Min Yeop) Lee Un -in- Who Are You?
(Mr. Ku/the butcher) Lee Han Wie -in- Wild Romance, Athena, King of Baking, Kim Tak Goo, Oh! My Lady, Tempted Again, Beethoven Virus, My Sweet City, Princess Lulu, Delightful Girl Choon Hyang
(Go Eun Sae/Eun Chan's sister) Yoon Young Ah (Han Yeh In) -in- Dream High
(girl learning waffles) Choi Eun Seo -in- Personal Preference, Dal Ja's Spring
