Magically Dramatical Mistakes

Thursday, August 23, 2012

A Gentleman's Dignity

A Gentleman's Dignity/ Gentlemen's Class/ Grace of Gentleman/ 신사의 품격/ Shinsa-ui Poomgyuk **\ (Korean)
20 episodes

Ji Hyun Woo as Kim Boong Do

One would think this drama would be a little draggy, but I thought it fairly evenly paced. I really enjoyed the rapport between the guys as well as the eventual inclusion of the girls. Favorite character: Collin

Story of 4 best friends, 'growing up and falling in love' after middle age.
architect Kim Do Jin, falls for Seo Yi Soo, a teacher and part-time umpire,
Im Tae San is in a chilly relationship and wondering who else there might be, Choi Yoon, a widower of 4 years, who tries as he might not to fall for a complicated younger generation, and Lee Jung Rok, something of a playboy, in a rather loveless marriage which he might just lose to divorce. Add to that, one first love, and a young man claiming one of them is his father.

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Saturday, August 4, 2012

Powerful Opponents +

Powerful Opponents/ 강적들/ Kang Jeok Deul/ Powerful Opponents/ Rivals/ Adversaries/ Formidable Rivals ** (Korean)
16 episodes

Lee Jin Wook as Kang Su-Ho

Good Drama.. Had some comic moments, had a bit of romance.. and a fair bit of action. Only one 'yell-at-the-screen moment for me.. it was the thought that that 'bad guy' somehow t-ported out of that room, because really, that was pretty much the only way he was likely to get away without sprouting several new body vents for the effort...well I guess its also possible if all the guards gasped and dropped their weaponry at the same time. -.- It was a clear case of "Girl Chooses Neither".

A female bodyguard and her class rival are teamed up to protect the son of the prez.. a free-wheeling, immature, playboy, with a chip o the past on his shoulder for the girl's partner.

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Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Why Did You Come to My House?

Why Did You Come to My House?/ 우리집에 왜 왔니 / 우리집에 왜왔니/
Woori jipyeo wae wassni? * (Korean)

This movie is unrelated to the Korean Drama by the same name.

Movie 107 mins

Kang Hye-Jung as Su-kang

Depressing movie. I didn't care at all for the sad tragic hopelessness of the character's situation all around.

A guy, still unable to get over wife's untimely death, attempts to kill himself and is interrupted by a 'crazy beggar' entering his house. When he comes to, he is tied up and she has the run of things. Eventually her story comes out.. she has been stalking his neighbor, her first love, for the last 10 years and plans to do away with him.

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Someone Special

Someone Special/ 아는 여자 ** (Korean)
Movie 110 mins

Jung Jae-young as Dong Chi-sung
Lee Na-young as Han Yi-yeon

Slightly depressing romance... of sorts. Guess it was alright. Fav scene(s): The Guy commenting about the lame movie he watched.

A baseball outfielder with something of a dead-end life/love life, Learns he has only so many months to live. So he goes to a pub as usual, and gets drunk. He then awakens the next day, in a motel room the bartender has rented. It becomes apparent that she has been in love with him for some time, always quietly watching from a distance. Her care wins over his heart without his conscience knowledge, since he has never been truly in love before. But what to do with such a short time left?

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Sunday, July 29, 2012

I Love Lee Tae Ri

I Love Lee Tae Ri/ 아이러브 이태리/ I Love Italy ** (Korean)
16 episodes

Kim Ki Bum as Geum Eun Dong/Min Soo

Romantic Comedy. Had some surprising lols in this moving along drama. Had some difficulty finding all of the episodes working. Translation was sketchy to horrible in places. ending was ehh. Still, it was a great storyline with good acting. Fav scene(s): A spotlight smooch, a flyswatter doubling as flypaper, and a super cool sundial in lighted motion.

Because of curiosity turned heartbreak, a tearful need for a friend, a couple of wishes, and a peculiar eclipse, a young teen finds himself instantly 'grown up' and quickly becomes embroiled in a difficult mess between a vengeful uncle, an adopted daughter and a museum in the cross-hairs.

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Friday, July 27, 2012

I Do, I Do

I Do, I Do/ 아이두 아이두/ Love coolly, live straight **\ (Korean)
16 episodes

Oh Min Suk as Jake Han

Fun Drama with funny moments that seemed to run in little clumps throughout the drama like misunderstandings building onto other misunderstandings one after another. A little bit of a departure from the typical, this drama has two very cool rivals.. its the main attraction that has most of the issues. Fav character(s): Tae Kang's father for his brand of 'tough love' for his son, Tae Kang for his boyish sweetness, the doctor for his willingness to concede friendship for both. Fav scene(s): new dad to the rescue!.. with a glass of water and a little makeup.

A top director of a shoe company goes drinking one evening and winds up in a one night stand with the only son of a shoe imitator. While fighting to retain her position in the company and just after she makes the acquaintance of a doctor and prospective husband, she realizes she is pregnant.

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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Big

Big/ 빅 ** (Korean)
16 episodes

Shin Won Ho as Kang Kyung Joon

The ending didn't quite make sense to me. Figured it would be the image of the kid who had returned, not his older brother. Well anyway, good story. Fav scene(s): "too big!"

A teacher suspecting her doctor bf, is given a moments support and motorcycle ride by a transfer student, then, while she waits by the lake, the student and doctor get into an auto accident and fall into the water, in a moment of reckoning the two switch minds and the body of the student lapses into coma leaving the student turned doctor to carry on.

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Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Surprise Party

Surprise Party/ 서프라이즈/ Seopeuraijeu ** (Korean)
Movie 98 mins

Shin Ha-Kyun as 'fake' Kim Jeong-Woo

On the eve of a surprise party for a girl's boyfriend, her father refuses her to have anymore to do with the guy. so, she begs her friend to buy her time to convince her father, by keeping the arriving boyfriend distracted. The bffriend, grudgingly agrees and dashes to the airport. using what sketchy info she has been given, she locates her target and strives to keep him occupied for the day with some crazy antics.

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Friday, July 20, 2012

Hooray for Love

Hooray for Love/ Long Live Love/ 애정만만세/ Aejungmanmanse ** (Korean)
57 episodes

Kim Yoo Bin as Nam Da Reum

A tangled web of a deceitful romance that was several episodes too long. It did have some fun moments.. enough to keep my interest for some time. There is a tragic death.. for those wanting the forewarning. Fav scene(s): An accidental meeting... several times, A lawyer's determination to keep his love by his side, and a child's innocent vow to make a better life for herself, her father, and the new school chef.

First there was her father's affair. Then, it was a trick vacation to Guam for the girls. After which, the disaster unfolded for the father's daughter. She quickly acted to prevent the fake divorce from becoming a reality, hiring a playboy lawyer to fight for her. The divorce is a messy one which even threatens her livelyhood when the lovely little porridge shop they had together, was lost to the ex. Then, mom reunites with her ex, she falls for the lawyer, and the tangled threads tighten around the families involved.

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Friday, July 13, 2012

Ohitorisama

Ohitorisama/ ** (Japanese)
10 episodes

Koike Teppei as Kamisaka Shinichi

Sweet romantic comedy..even though there seemed no real chemistry between the male lead and anyone else. Still, I liked him for a clumsy personality which was a bit of relief from the concerns of the president, her cruddy subordinates, the strictness of the lead teacher, and the sniping from some of the students.

An older single teacher gets more responsibilities when another teacher resigns and a young hand-picked freeter substitute is introduced. After a couple of drunken evenings and a bad circumstance, he moves in with her in secrecy, with the understanding he would find his own place when he got paid. How long though, will they be able to keep it and their growing feelings for one another under wraps?

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Wednesday, July 11, 2012

100 Days with Mr. Arrogant

100 Days with Mr. Arrogant/ 내사랑 싸가지/ Naesarang Ssagaji ** (Korean)
Movie 95mins

Ha Ji-Won as Kang Ha-Young
Kim Jae-Won as Ahn Hyung-Joon

Romantic fun in spots. Might have to give this one another watch-see sometime. Rated low in 2 stars. fav scene(s): a kick-the-can dash-away.

A school Girl, having just gotten dumped, mopes her way to school, and in a sudden fit of anger, punts an empty sofa can... which glances off a car as it passes. The driver gets out and claiming damage in the thousands, demands repayment. She runs, but loses her pocketbook. The guy tracks her down again and she agree to a 100 day slave contract.

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Monday, July 9, 2012

Please Teach Me English

Please Teach Me English/ 영어완전정복/ Yeongeo wanjeonjeongbok ** (Korean)
Movie 118 mins

Light comedy romance. An entry-level office girl is given the task of taking an English class by her co-workers. There she meets a playboy, with his eyes on the blond Australian teacher. She falls for the guy and becomes determined to get him to notice 'plain and normal' her.

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Saturday, July 7, 2012

Lovers in Prague

Lovers in Prague/ 프라하의 연인/ Peurahaui Yeonin/ Praha Lovers ** (Korean)
18 episodes

Jang Geun Suk as Yoon Gun-hee

A near-tragic story. The prosecutor's father was a serious piece of work in his greed, cold-hearted ambitions, and manipulations. The girl, even while in the midst of hurt over a past love's eventual return, did her very best to chase after her love with everything she had to give, even against all the rebuffing and anger the rattling caused. Fav character(s): the girl, her younger bro, and her father.

A romance between a cop, a prosecutor, a pianist, and a diplomat.

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Sunday, July 1, 2012

Shima Shima

Shima Shima/ シマシマ/ Striped Sheep ** (Japanese)
10 episodes

Yada Akiko as Houkigi Shio

Mildly funny romance. Got a few giggles and sympathy out of me for the "can't sleep dreammare." The shop theme seemed a wanted and delightful one, but, I can imagine it'd be difficult to maintain in it's platonic style. All in all, it seemed... melancholy.

Shio, a 30something salon worker starts a business to help women sleep by providing sleep companions.. Young men willing to to play teddybear for a night. But in all her helping others, she didn't consider herself, lonely since the day the older brother of one of her sheep ran off trailing divorce papers for her. As it turns out, two of the sheep profess feelings for her, and try to help her out, going to the extent of possibly throwing away a future career because it would mean years in a far away place.

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Saturday, June 30, 2012

Star no Koi

Star no Koi/ Star Struck/ Love with a Super Star/ スタアの恋/ Sutaa no Koi ** (Japanese)
11 episodes

Kusanagi Tsuyoshi as Nakata Sosuke
Fujiwara Norika as Kirishima Hikaruko

A romance-comedic take on a British film. The two main characters in this drama just kept missing each-others cues and prompts. The only true drawback that I found to this drama, was the constant repeat of the theme 'song's first couple of chorus lines. I dunno it got seriously old really fast to me. fav scene(s): The star's sudden arrival at the commoner's home for a week's stay.

A 'common' worker in a ham company, meets and falls in with a famous actress, when she seizes the moment in an attempt to spur the guy she liked. He's disappointed by the use, but plays along for a time until the situation falls apart and the truth is revealed. From that point onward, they were brought together several times but each time seemed to result in another fail to realize their true feelings for one another. Would the two ever find the moment to confess before the distance became too great?

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Friday, June 29, 2012

Space Battleship Yamato

Space Battleship Yamato/ Uchu senkan Yamato ** (Japanese)
Movie 138mins

Takuya Kimura as Susumu Kodai

Not a bad story really. The movie had several *super-villian-timestop-for-explanation* moments, most of which I managed to gloss over in favor of watching the movie action. So, really, there was only one scene which stopped me near in my tracks and left me grumbling and glancing at my watch, wondering just when they were going to restart the desperate moment they were in just before having a long tearful goodbye. Tragedy by the bunches to be found here. Fav scene(s): woo! acting captain gets a little action in warp before the action of arrival.

Earth has a problem, invading aliens have radiated the entire surface of the planet, leaving the people no-where else to go but underground while the military is quickly losing ground in the near space. After Kodai comes across an alian com device, they quickly put the finishing touches to the yamoto and take on crew in a last ditch effort to find a long-shot miracle for the planet before time runs out for the remaining human population. Kodai quickly reinlists and takes on the gamble to see them all the way to the alien planet and back again.

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Frivolous Wife

Frivolous Wife/ The Taming of the Shrew/ Frivolous Wife/ 날나리 종부전/ Nallari Jongbujeon ** (S.Korean)
Movie 110 min

Park Jin-Woo as Jeong-doo Lee

Amusing story of the only daughter of a mob boss, seducing the eldest grandson of a traditional family. She gets pregs and has to run for her hubby-to-be's family. At first her father is determined to retrieve her and have her marry someone else 'more worthy'.. because, as it turns out, he put everything he had under her name. But then he gets to know the family a bit better. She also has it rather rough at first, learning how to be the eldest granddaughter, then proves to be an asset in asking her father to help them concerning land issues. When things get too rough for her dad and another gang, he also seeks refuge with this large traditional family and they act to protect him and themselves against the coming assault.

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Friday, June 22, 2012

A Ghost of a Chance

A Ghost of a Chance/ Once in a Blue Moon/ ステキな金縛り/ Suteki na Kanashibari (Japanese)
Movie 142 mins

Eri Fukatsu as Emi Hosho

Comedy and no romance. Somehow this film manages not to get totally bogged down in sad depression, perhaps due to its time restrictions. There is tragedy involved, but nearly completely glossed over when emi uses her boss's death as a means to deliver a note to the 'ever after' for her. I just didn't get how that would work. fav character(s): Emi's Boss, the tap-dancing candy feind, and the many times great grandson.

A somewhat failing lawyer is on her last chance to live up to her famous father's name. The case is unusual though. A wife died and the husband, claiming innocence, insists he had a alibi. He claims he was in the mountains, at an old hotel there. But the only one who can prove the alibi is the ghost who sat on top of him that whole night long. But the lawyer is determined, so she goes to the inn and stays the night in the room of the ringing ear to meet the wandering ghost. Emi then asks him to go to court in defense of the innocent husband.

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Monday, June 18, 2012

Queen In Hyun's Man

Queen In Hyun's Man/ 인현왕후의 남자/ Inhyeon Wanghu-ui Namja/ Queen and I ***\ (Korean)
16 episodes

Yoo In Na as Choi Hee Jin

I really loved this drama. Surprisingly better then some. It started a tiny bit slow, but gained interest like it did the passage of years for the fleet-footed scholar and the ending was the best! Tragedy is involved. Fav scene(s): A lofty squirt of water, caught in the shower, and a talisman of a different sort.

A scholar, in mortal danger from an subversive, is given a special talisman for protection by a concerned prostitute... someone close to him. When his life was on the brink of being lost for good, the talisman slipped him sideways in time some 300+ years to the present day. There he meets an actress, playing the part of the queen for a film... they fall in love. The scholar quickly learns he can go back and forth through his time and hers with a near death on one side, and a recitation on the other, and he uses the talisman to achieve success in bringing the usurper to the king's justice and regaining the rightful queen's seat for her... but nothing comes without some sort of cost...what will it be?

"I'm Coming to See You"
by Deok Hwan

Is it a blank spot? Click to listen & then
mouseover to see player controls.

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Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Windstruck

Windstruck/ 내 여자친구를 소개합니다/ Nae yeojachingureul sogae habnida *\ (Korean)
Movie 123 mins

For being listed as a romantic comedy, I didn't find it particularly funny. Rather, I found it a little tiring and very sad. Tragedy is involved. Fav scene(s):Sleeping in handcuffs and trading off for the morning/evening rituals.

Kyung-Jin is a rather overachiever police officer, and even though she's off duty, she wasn't about to miss the chance to collar a purse-snatcher. Unfortunately, she pounces on the wrong guy, and tows the good Samaritan to headquarters. Still, Myung-Woo's good memory and artistry skills come in handy and the boss is impressed. Before long, the hapless teacher and Kyung-Jin have been teamed up to walk a teen beat. Trouble is bound to follow though, and they see quite a share of it. Perhaps that's the very reason that mutual attraction springs up between them

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