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.
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.
You can also find:
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.
You can also find:
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.
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.
The Con Artists/ The Technicians/ 기술자들/ Gisooljadeul/ Criminal Designer (Korean)
Movie 116 min
Kim Woo-Bin as Ji-Hyeok
Not a bad story. I rather enjoyed the confidence of the safe/lock picker, Ji-Hyeok, and how he managed to guide them around a tricky 'sting' vs a powerful man. Favorite character(s): Koo-In
Ji-Hyeok along with two others, get together and pull off a diamond job, only to be forced into service for an elite company owner with his eyes set on stealing money from the customs storage. Just how will the con artists manage to pull off the job, get their revenge, and keep their lives all at the same time?
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
Hear Me/ 听说/ Ting Shuo **\ (Taiwanese)
Movie 109mins
Eddie Peng as Tian-kuo
Nice movie. Loved the guy's perseverance, Loved his parent's acceptance. Favorite scene(s): Meeting the girl at her job.
Tian kuo, while delivering lunches to a swimming meet, falls for the younger sister of a deaf competitor called Yang yang. Her dedication and support of her older sister doesn't make getting to know her easy though. One evening, while they are off to the show, older sis, falls asleep at home, unaware the building has caught fire. Out of a sense of guilt, Yang yang breaks it off with Tian kuo.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
The Grand Heist/ Gone With The Wind/ 바람과 함께 사라지다/
Baramgwa Hamjje Sarajida ** (Korean)
Movie 121 min
Cha Tae-Hyun as Duk-Moo
Rather funny movie, even if it did have a torturous tragedy involved. Favorite character(s): The demolitions expert
After some rather nasty events involving his noble father's losing position, and the death of a dear friend, a bookseller develops a plan and assembles various experts and specialists to steal the ice hoard of a local tyrant.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
Children.../Ahyideul.../ 아이들... (Korean)
Movie 132mins
Don't let them fool ya. This Korean film is nowhere close to being in a fantasy romance genre. No real favorite scenes or characters for this one. Just really felt for the children and parents... And a fair bit of understanding for the frustration of the local law as well. Horrible tragedy involved.
5 Young children are out for a day of doing what kids love best.. playing. While they are at it, the township is having an election so it is a bit of time before anyone -really- notices the children have not returned from the nearby mountain. From there it turns to panic, then desperation, then bitter tears as days slowly turn into months then years. Then along comes a prize-winning producer hoping to get back on top of his game with a new sensational story. Along with a conspiratorially-minded professor, The two work up quite a furor in town.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
Spring Bears Love/ Do You Like Spring Bear?/ 봄날의 곰을 좋아하세요?/ Bomnalui Gomeul Johahaseyo *\ (Korean)
Movie 98mins
Oh Gwang-Rok as Hyun-Jae's dad
Kind of melancholy I thought. Just another girl who can't see the trees for the forest. yep, that's right. The trees being whats up close and most important.. and the forest being ideals, or.. what/who else could, however remote the possibility, still be out there. Made me want to shout her down from her stary-eyed surveyance of the too-slight possibility that its all about her, in favor for the fellow who dearly loves her, right in her very face! Thankfully, he was still there when she finally floated back down to terra-firma. Favorite Character(s): Her suffering boyfriend! I know you were mentally dumpt on, guy, I apologize for her. Wasn't really your fault.. she was just being overly dense.
Girl fetching a library book for her dad, sees mystery writing of someone desperately looking to meet his unrequited love at last. Thinking it's herself, she dreams of the writer and follows his writing through several art books in the library. As she does so, the guy who knows her best and loves her most tries his best to gain her attention, even going so far as to check out the art books with the writing in them.. all while she goes about trying to figure out who it could be.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
High School debut/ 高校デビュー/ Koko Debut **\ (Japanese)
Movie 98mins
Junpei Mizobata as You Komiyama
Ito Ono as Haruna Nagashima
Sweet and silly movie. I liked the brand of humor in this one. Not the crazed over-the-top stuff that passes for funny like many Japanese shows seem to show, but a simple clumsy and slap-at-the-forehead humour for being a bit behind in 'normal' life, mixed with some easy mind-reading laughs. Favorite character(s): I liked them all really, well.. except perhaps, for the freakish dog/person statue in front of the school. It was quite the character though.
A girl, having spent most of her previous school years embroiled in baseball, makes the decision, at last, to concentrate on getting a boyfriend before Christmas. If efforts to gain control of her woahfully out of date wardrobe and dating skills, she begs a more popular guy to help her out. He reluctantly agrees, with the condition that she not fall for him.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
The Worst Guy Ever/ 내 생애 최악의 남자/ Nae Sangae Choiakeui Namja ** (Korean)
Movie 94mins
Shin Sung-Rok as Kwon Jae-Hoon
A quarrelsome duo wake up after a night of drinking with friends, in eachothers arms. The second time it occurs, they decide to marry, but it isn't long before rivals show on the scene to tempt them away from the marital knot.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
Two Weddings And a Funeral/ 두 번의 결혼식과 한 번의 장례식/ Du Bunui Gyulhonsikgwa Han Bunui Jangryesik ** (Korean)
Movie 106mins
Good story. I could somehow sympathize with Min-soo's 'cowardly' fright at being found out. Something like that, which could become quickly violent(and did) would be difficult to want to step into the limelight for. A bit of guy-n-guy and girl-n-girl smooching and underwear moments. There is also a Tragically sad/angry moment in this movie. Favorite scene(s): discovery of co-'bottom' bed splat and Sweet Tina's invite to be a supporting hiding place whenever it was needed.
A closeted gay doctor, Min-Soo, Trying to get out of his parent's arrangements, and a coworker, Hyo-Jin, who wants, badly, to adopt a young child, and needs a marriage license to do so... agrees to a fake marriage. Hyo-Jin and her girlfriend, choosing to live across the hall, just in case they are needed together to keep up appearances.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
Antique/ 서양골동양과자점 엔티크/ Sayangkoldong Yangkwajajeom Aentikeu **\ (Korean)
Movie 109 mins
Ju Ji-Hoon as Kim Jin-Hyuk
Good story. There are a few suggestive and underwear scenes in this movie. As argumentative and alluring as Jin-Hyuk and Sun-Woo are, throughout the film, their mutual chemistry/bond was perfectly strong. It did rather have a creepy overtone to the whole, concerning the news broadcasts but it kept the plot moving along even as the shop dealt with the day-to-day mishaps and foibles.
A boy is kidnapped, and mysteriously reappears two months later with little to no conscience memory of the time. Having grown, he opens a cake shop, hiring a school classmate for patisserie who studied in Paris.. and with his own set of trouble and quirks. Then comes along an ex-lightweight boxer with a love for the cakes created by Sun woo. And the clumsy 'bodyguard' who somehow finds his place in the bakery.
And somewhere out there, was a kidnapper and murderer of young boys, looking forward to another sweet bite.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
Kimi ni Todoke/ 君に届け/ From Me to You **\ (Japanese)
Movie 128 mins
Haruma Miura as Shota Kazehaya
What a sweet school romance! Favorite scene(s): Abruptly leaving the gym, hand in hand.
Shy and quiet Sawako Kuronuma, seeks only to be of help, but becomes something of the school's pariah, Rumors fly about her resemblance and demeanor of a ghost, of how she can curse with a steady gaze of 3 seconds. Many believe the rumors,..but for 4. her teacher, two girls who became good friends, and Shota Kazehaya, whose eyes and ready smile were always on her.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
A Perfect Match/ 좋은 사람 있으면 소개시켜줘/ Joheun saram isseumyeon sogae shikeojwo ** (Korean)
Movie 101 mins
Slow moving movie. Wasn't especially funny, and the romance was light. still, guess it wasn't a bad plot. Favorite scene(s): quiet Hyun-Soo finely becomes obvious about who he had interest in.
A single and struggling woman working as a matchmaker, has issues finding the right match for his quiet lackadaisical attitude and finds herself liking him more and more herself.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
The Righteous Thief/ The Descendants of Hong Gil-dong
/ 홍길동의 후예/ Hongkildongui Huye ** (Korean)
Movie 117 mins
Lee Si-Young as Song Hyeon-Hwa
Good fun. I liked how well-organized the family was... calmly talking of plans, practice, complaining over the lack of meat, and little brother begging to be let in on it all, at the dinner table. Favorite scene(s): overwhelming smooches and the last-ditch rescue of big brother.
Mom is making supper, dad is giving a lecture, big bro is playing piano for his music class and younger bro has a test. Once the sun goes down, the little family breaks out the dark clothing and makes plans for a visit to a wealthy villa, the proceeds of which then go to the city's poor, in an age-old legacy. One day, the music teacher's intended is kidnapped and he decides to break it off with her.. for everyone's safety. The girl's brother also has crises when the warrant he needed is flat-out denied and his thoughts of a grand collar falls through.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
Doremifasolasido/ Do Re Mi Fa So La Si Do/ 도레미파솔라시도 *\ (Korean)
movie 105 mins
Cha Ye-Ryun as Yoon Jung-Won
A Romance of sorts. I wasn't terribly interested in the storyline, really. Found it fairly boring and a bit depressing. It was nice to see JGS again, looked good in the haircut, I thought. Fav character(s): Eun-Kyu for his sweet smile on an otherwise dreary day.
Girl and her brother meet their new rooftop vista neighbors as they are horsing around, trying to stay out of the way of their martial instructing father. As bro goes off in search of a cat, the girl gets a bit better acquainted with the guitar-playing Eun-Kyu. When he intro's her to the band he plays with, she is forced to let go of him out of guilt for the misfortunes of one of the member's she has a past with.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
Love of South and North/ Love Impossible/ 남남북녀/ Namnam buknyeo *\ (Korean)
Movie 108 mins
Zo In-Sung as Kim Chul-Soo
Kim Sa-Rang as Oh Young-Hee
A number of ehhs in this one. I guess it was alright for a basic plot n delivery.. all within a movie's too-short time limit. It wasn't horrible, nor was it memorable to any degree. There is a bit of hormonal vulgarity in this movie.
Son of a s.Korean bigwig is a dyed-in-the-wool playboy. One day, his teacher gives him an ultimatum, go on the excavation colab between north and south, or completely fail to graduate. Being as his dad is likely to moiderize him for failing, he chooses to take on the excavation. There he meets the girl of his dreams, daughter of a n.Korean bigwig.. and after quite a bit of pursuing and realization, love blossoms between them. But how can love in such a situation hope to survive?
You can also find:
(Oh Young-Hee) Kim Sa-Rang -in- Secret Garden
(Kang In-Pyeong) Kong Hyung-Jin -in- Yobi, the Five Tailed Fox, Marrying the Mafia 2, A Perfect Match, The Fugitive: Plan B, Dalja's Spring, Lovers
(Hye-Mi) Hwang Bo -in- Can Love Become Money
(?) Kim Yong-Geon -in- Codename: Jackal, 200 Pounds Beauty, Marrying the Mafia 3, 100 Days with Mr. Arrogant, Please Teach Me English, Arang and the Magistrate, A Man Called God, Night after Night
(?) Kim Jong-Min -in- Windstruck
(night blue marine) Jo Hye-Ryun -in- The Greatest Love, Smile Again
Codename: Jackal/ Jackals Are Coming/ 자칼이 온다 (Korean)
Movie 107 mins
Song Ji-Hyo as Killer Bong
There were a few.. umm.. rather suggestive scenes, yet I hesitate (a lot) to call it a romance. There were a number of rather ludicrous moments though so I'll just call it a comedy and let you rate for yourselves. Favorite scene(s): checking to see if he is her correct target or not, and.. rescue from a rescue.
A famed singer is abducted by a hired assassin in his own hotel room. When she would have killed him, as was her threat, the situation cascades into one thing and then another, First, the guy isn't about to willingly keel-over and swears he isn't her target, the police have arrived 'undercover' and are trying to find an infamous killer called the Jackal.. who has been said to be in the area, it seems the singer is being hunted by a crazed fan, and his manager shows up in a rather untimely fashion, as well as the wealthy married woman he was to seduce.. or was it that she was suppose to seduce him?
You can also find:
(Killer Bong/Min-Jung) Song Ji-Hyo -in- Princess Hours
(Singer Choi Hyun) Kim Jae-Joong/Han Jae-Joong/Jejung -in- Protect The Boss
(Angela) Kim Sung-Ryeong -in- He's Beautiful!, Il Ji-Mae: The Phantom Thief
(hotel housekeeper) Ra Mi-Ran -in- Hello Ghost, Cinderella Man
(hotel manager) Seo Dong-Won -in- Windstruck, My Tutor Friend, My Sassy Girl, The King of Dramas, Il Ji-Mae: The Phantom Thief
(company president) Kim Yong-Geon -in- 200 Pounds Beauty, 100 Days with Mr. Arrogant, Please Teach Me English, Arang and the Magistrate, A Man Called God, Night after Night
(Sun-Young) Shin Dong-Mi -in- Something About 1 Percent, My Love Patzzi
