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.
My Wife is 18/ Ngo liu poh lut gau ching ** (Hong Kong)
Movie
Ekin Cheng as Cheung
funny story, reminiscent of My Little Bride. On the whole though, I thought it was better. I really enjoyed the fun-loving-meets set-in-ways personalities of the two main characters.
Guy is under pressure from his grandmother to marry, and also by the university who will not pass his thesis, allowing him the degree he desires. He meets the 18 year old that grandma set him up with, outside, and at first it was a simple 'no-way'.. but they do marry, agreeing to divorce one year later. Trying to be careful lest they are discovered together, the tribulation of living together, and trying to be of help with one-another's love interests. eventually leads to discovering a mutual attraction between them.
You can also find:
(Ms. Lau) Stephanie Che -in- Every Dog Has His Date
A Millionaire's First Love/ 백만장자의 첫사랑/ Baekmanjangjaui Cheotsarang * (Korean)
movie 116mins
Lee Yeon-Hee as Choi Eun-hwan
Sad and tragic movie. Glad it was short.
Rich snobby grandson is forced via his grandfather's will, to transfer to a rural high school for several months before graduation. There, he meets a hard-working stoic girl with health issues and falls in love. he also experiences the retrieval of several long buried memories, all of which changes his demeanor.
You can also find:
(Kang Jae-kyung) Hyun-Bin -in- Secret Garden, My Name Is Kim Sam-soon
(Choi Eun-hwan) Lee Yeon-Hee -in- Paradise Ranch
(Goo-Ho) Jo Yong-Joon -in- My Tutor Friend 2
(?) Yang Geum-Seok -in- My Tutor Friend 2, My Sassy Girl, Secret Agent Miss Oh, Lovers, Biscuit Teacher and Star Candy
(?) Kim Byeong-Se -in- Color of Women, The Last Scandal of My Life
(?) Lee Jae-Gu -in- Too Beautiful to Lie, My Boss, My Hero
(?) Lee Mi-Do -in- Woochi, Marrying the Mafia II
(?) Lee Yeoung-Hu -in- Night after Night
(Seung-Joon) Lim Ju-Hwan/Im Joo Hwan -in- Tamra, the Island, Boys Over Flowers
(Butler) Park Jin-Young II -in- Le Grand Chef, Too Beautiful to Lie, Marrying the Mafia
(gas station boss) Kwon Oh-Jin -in- Le Grand Chef 2
Great Inheritance/Kindergarten Love/Great Expectations ** (Korean)
17 episodes
Good storyline, good acting. difficult to find in one piece online. Wonderful to see the killer smile in another drama...even if it was barely worth the trouble in translation efforts. This drama is often and easily confused with a K-movie by the name of The Greatest Expectation. fav character(s): su bong the sidekick.
A back-office gangster inherits a kindergarten, which becomes prized property to the plans of a large gangster corp and that of his own like-a-father boss. In order to gain the property though, he must work as a teacher's assistant for 100 days and there he meets the lovely Mi Rae.
You can also find:
(Yoo Mi Rae/teacher) Han Ji Min -in- Rooftop Prince
(Jang Man Ho/Nutritionist/handyman) Jang Hyun Sung -in- Vampire Prosecutor
My Sassy Girl/ 엽기적인 그녀/ Yeopgijeogin Geunyeo **\ (Korean)
Movie
Gianna Jun as The Girl
Cha Tae-Hyun as Gyun-woo
Ryoki teki na kanojo/ 猟奇 的 な彼女 ** (Japanese)
11 episodes
Rena Tanaka as Riko Takami
Tsuyoshi Kusanagi as Saburo Masaki
Good romance storyline and good acting for both versions. The Japanese version dragged quite a bit more then did the Korean version, it was expected though. I understand there might be a Korean remake at some point this year or next. fav scene(s): The 'arranged' reunion in the Korean version and the surprise dolphin party hanging from the ceiling in the Japanese version.
Guy meets and saves drunk girl from a subway accident and takes her to a love motel, for lack of a better spot. This causes a fair bit of misunderstanding the next day. The girl forces cheerfulness even through a suffering and broken heart due to her last bf who, as it turned out was near death's door. In spite of the abuse she pours over him, the guy falls in love and finds himself in a willing step-n-fetch.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
Jang Yeong-Nam as crying ghost
Lee Moon-Su as perverted ghost
Ko Chang-Seok as cigarette smoking ghost
Cha Tae-Hyun as Sang-Man
Cheon Bo-Keun as elementary school student ghost
I was idly reminded of a movie called '6th Sense' as I watched this. It the Translation was so bad as to practically be unneeded. started out a little boring/depressing, and got little better as it went along, but it ended really well. Fav scenes(s): The long walk home and the ending realization.
Guy attempts to kill himself, first by pills, then by jumping off a bridge and fails.. While in the hospital, he becomes aware of seeing ghosts gathered around him and makes the acquaintance of a compassionate nurse. After speaking with a shaman, he resolves to help the ghosts with their final wishes, so they might then be able to move on and leave him alone.
(fortune teller) Lee Han-Wi -in- 200 Pounds Beauty, Wild Romance, Athena, Oh! My Lady, King of Baking, Kim Tak-gu, Tamra, the Island, Beethoven Virus, My Sweet Seoul, Coffee Prince, Princess Lulu, Sassy Girl Chun-hyang
(woman on bus) Oh Na-Mi -in- My Girlfriend is a Nine Tailed Fox
My Fair Lady/ The Perfect Girl/ Yojo Lady ** (Korean)
24 episodes
Kim Hee Sun as Ha Min Kyung
Some of the online episodes were practically impossible to find for this drama.. and it was often found confused with another drama by the same nickname. but if you can find it, It's rather nice 'older' romance. Fav scene(s): Instructed to 'get close' to the AGM, the guy wraps his hands around the guy's arm.
A girl, born and raised in poverty, runs away to the city and becomes a flight attendant in her quest to find a rich man to marry.
An astronomer obligated to help his mother pay of some heavy debts, sells his time and abilities to the miser, who is a rich partner in a gaming company.
They meet at a group date with the guys claiming to be doctors. The girl mistakes the guy as a member of an elite boating member and quickly singles him out. the guy, meanwhile, is simply dumfounded that this lady looks exactly like his deceased gf.
Problems arise when the girls find out the truth about the guys story. especially hit, is the gold-digging girl, who immediately flies back into the arms of a rich man wanting to marry her, thinking she was from a well-to-do family.
You can also find:
(Choi Su Hyun) Park Han Byul -in- Oh! My Lady, Couple of Fantasy
(Yoon Jung Hee) Kim Jung Nan -in- Creating Destiny, Baby and I
A little long but a very interesting story. It seemed a bit like a Cinderella story, complete with an evil stepmother and 'fairy god-'grandmother. lol!
Fav character(s): The restaurant owner torn between the demands of a desperate father and what he knew was right in his heart. and Go Eun Woo, a piano savant.
Go Eun Sung's father is involved in an accident and mistaken for dead. The stepmom takes his life insurance for herself and daughter, and kicks Eun sung and her brother, Eun Woo, out of the house. In her struggle to survive, she takes on a nightclub job and runs into Hwan, her step-sister's boyfriend.
While this is going on, stepmom discovers Eun Woo and, upon learning his good memory for her phone and address, she taks him out of Seoul to a country compassionate household and tells him not to call.
Hwan's Grandmother, horribly disappointed that her grandchildren does not share her company vision and values, goes on walk-a-bout in rags, and meets Eun Sung, as she peddles rice dumplings on the streetcorner while looking for her missing brother.
Grandmother, impressed with the girl's compassion, makes a deal with her to live at her estate, Telling her step-daughter and grandkids that grandmother is changing her will to give everything to Eun Sung Then the grandmother will use her considerable resources to help to look for the missing brother.
The family is not happy about this news, none more-so then Hwan.
The Perfect Couple/ 최강 로맨스/ Choegangromaenseu ** (Korean)
Movie 109 mins
Kim Sung Kyum as Tae Bong's grandfather
A handsome young police officer with a fear of knives and a high-pitched lady journalist reluctantly team up to film a local reality cop show.. while in the middle of a drug case. Several mistakes occur, which puts the cop's partner in the hospital and has the ditzy girl reflecting how to best be of actual help to the fellow she owes so much to.
You can also find:
(Choi Soo Jin) Hyun Young -in- Marrying the Mafia II, Babyfaced Beauty, Biscuit Teacher and Star Candy
(Kang Jae Hyuk) Lee Dong-Wook -in- Wild Romance, Scent of a Woman, My Girl
(?) Jeon Su-Kyeong -in- Finding Mr. Destiny, The Relation of Face, Mind and Love, Color of Women
Good story. The main actor playing two parts.. was awesome. really though, I thought he looked better with the glasses. He gains Best Seeing-Double' Prize! I felt soo badly for the 'rich' brother.. not only did he have issues with his current family's business, brother and mystery involving his birth mother, not to mention serious health issues, but then he loses the only opportunity he has to really meet and get to know his twin brother. Fav scene(s): The start of something, in the middle of battle and reunited with an old (dubious) friend, on opposite sides.
An opportunist orphan, trying to make it big in a fashion market, is given the gift of a store to help him with debts, meets the daughter of his benefactor, and loses the store..along with the girl's father. Trying to regain the store, lends him trouble with a loan shark and has him face-to-face with himself.. or so it seems.
This Twin, has issues of his own, and asks Daesan to play as him for a time.. in return, he could earn what he needs to regain the store, pay off his debts, and perhaps assist his love with her sudden housing loss.
You can also find:
(Oh Dae San/Lee Joon Hee) Kwon Sang Woo -in- My Tutor Friend
(sec. to Joon Hee) Ahn Suk Hwan -in- Paradise Ranch, Fugitive: Plan B, Personal Preference, Boys Before Flowers, Witch Amusement, My Girl, Delightful Girl Choon Hyang
(Kim Dong Hyun) Kang Dong Yup -in- Invincible Lee Pyung Kang, Spy Girl
(Lee Keut Soon/Velvet Lee) Jang Jung Hee -in- One Mom and Three Dads, Me Ri, Dae Gu's Attack and Defense Battle, The Vineyard Man
(Company President Park) Kwon Tae Won -in- Too Beautiful to Lie
(?) Jung Woo -in- Princess Lulu, My Tutor Friend
(?) Shin Na Ri -in- Invincible Lee Pyung Kang
(Elegance Choi) Lee Byung Joon -in- Birdie Buddy, Myung Wol the Spy, Dream High, Secret Garden, Call of the Country, Tempted Again, Don't Ask Me About the Past, Me Ri, Dae Gu's Attack and Defense Battle
Not sure quite what to think of this drama. Just get to know the band members, and the leader's finding a new muse, and his life abruptly ends in tragedy. bleh. Good enough story, I suppose. Fav character(s): Eye candy.. yepyep, all of them.
After a Band's leader is tragically killed, the group elects a new leader, and under his direction, they continue to attend the new upper-class school, in spite of the presence of the rival band, who has involvement with the tragedy.. They then look for a place to practice for the upcoming contest... to fulfill their beloved leader's last wish.
"Wake Up"
by lee jae hak
Is it a blank spot? Click to listen & then
mouseover to see player controls.
You can also find:
(Kwon Ji Hyuk) Sung Joon -in- Lie to Me, Personal Preference
(Joo Byung Hee) Lee Min Ki -in- Dal Ja's Spring, I Really Really Like You
(Yoo Seung Hoon) Jung Ui Chul -in-Vampire Prosecutor, Boys Before Flowers
(Jang Do Il) Lee Hyun Jae -in- Color of Woman
(Jo Deo Mi) Jung Ji Ahn/Jung Ji Ahn -in- Hateful But Once Again
(Ji Hyuk's mom/cameo) Yum Jung Ah -in- Il-Ji-Mae, The Worst Guy Ever
More about the guy and his efforts to pick up where his mother left off in French cuisine then it is about romance or comedy. Fav character: Okusu Chie
A guy, having promised his late mother that he would return home to take our the restaurant when he turned 30, if he didn't make it as a rock star, does return, but his dad sold the restaurant to a rival. So he sets up in a garage, with a couple of his band-mates for help.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
It took me a false start or two to get into this drama, but once I did, it was worth watching imo. In line with what a 'shotgun wedding' means, I kept expecting dad to get his 'arms' up and enforce the marriage... but it wasn't to be.. still, the actors were engaging and I enjoyed it. Fav character(s): The father/husband-to-be.
Guy and girl meet on the pier on a romantic moonlight evening. Soon after the party-for-friends is over, The girl realizes she is pregnant and tells the guy. They decide to marry but her dad refuses to accept it, and the guy comes down with a bit of confusion, involving another girl. Meanwhile, the guy's 'brother' is having issues of his own, concerning the girl's sister, who, having been in a relationship with him for 10 years, wants to marry, and is willing to do that with someone else if the bro isn't up to the asking.
You can also find:
Links go to other reviewed shows the actor has been in.
Kang Dong Ho as Kim Tae Han
Lee Dong Wook as Park Moo Yul
Fun drama! love the comedy, the romance, and the mystery/adventure as well. I really enjoyed this one. fav scene(s): family cheers, bestfriend/manager combo, and a bemused knockout!
An altercation turned opportunity, makes a rival baseball fan the bodyguard of an infamous player when a dangerous stalker's existence becomes known. Trouble is, the protector and the protected don't get along.
You can also find:
(Park Moo Yu) Lee Dong Wook -in- Scent of a Woman, My Girl, The Perfect Couple
(Yoo Eun Jae) Lee Si Young -in- Mischievous Kiss, Boys Before Flowers
(Jin Dong Soo) Oh Man Suk -in- The Vineyard Man
(Yoo Young Kil) Lee Won Jong -in- Vampire Prosecutor, Scent of a Woman, Gourmet
(Oh Soo Young) Hwang Sun Hee -in- City Hunter, It's Okay, Daddy's Girl
(Kim Dong Ah) Im Joo Eun -in- Me Ri, Dae Gu's Attack and Defense Battle
(Kang Jong Hee) Jessica Jung -in- Oh! My Lady
(?) Lee Han Wie -in- Athena, King of Baking, Kim Tak Goo, Oh! My Lady, Tempted Again, Beethoven Virus, My Sweet City, The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince, Princess Lulu, Delightful Girl Choon Hyang
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!
The start of the movie wasn't all that great really. didn't do a very good job intro-ing the characters..other then, the girl was looking for a boyfriend.. and the guy was an arrogant user. But I guess that was really all that was needed for this story. Fav scene(s): when the guy 'realizes' the mistake he made and stepping onto the bus to prove his feelings to her.
Introverted shy Girl, looking for a boyfriend, runs into an in debt charmer who takes advantage of the hearts in her eyes. Her roommate attempts to dissuade her but the guy has her steppin' and fetchin' for him.. cooking meals for him and his visiting father, giving up her room for his stay, losing out on a college test because of having spent too much time working for him when she might have been sleeping, eating or studying and running up a bill on a card he had tricked off of her. Was he really serious about her.. or just playing?
You can also find:
(Yeong-Bin) Lee Dong-gun -in- Sangdoo! Let’s go to school, Sweet 18, Lovers in Paris, When It's At Night, Smile Again, Lovers in Paris,
(Ha-Mi) Han Ji-hye -in- Sweet 18
(Young-bin's Dad) Baek Il-Seob -in- Marrying the Mafia II, Spygirl, My Tutor Friend
(?) Jung Ryeo-Won -in- Castaway on the Moon, My Name Is Kim Sam-soon
(?) Lee Hyun-Woo/Jessie Lee -in- Oh! My Lady, Dalja's Spring
(Chae-yeong) Shin Yi -in- Marrying the Mafia II, Greatest Expectations
Marrying the Mafia 1/ 가문의 영광/ Gamunui Youngkwang ** (Korean)
movie + II + III + IV
Kim Jeong-eun as Jang, Jin-kyeong
Jung Joon-ho as Park, Dae-seo
Thus far, as I can tell there are 4 movies by this same title, but the content doesn't involve the same characters...unless the gang names and bosses are the same from 2 to 4.. not sure. The first one was amusing though. fav scene(s) the start, waking up baffled, and the end, the explanation of how they got there.
Educated Guy and the only daughter of a mafia boss wake up in their underwear in the same bed. The guy is then pressured by the girl's brothers to 'do the right thing' even though a doctor's note is hot in hand.
You can also find:
(Jang In-tae/Jin-kyeong's brother) Yoo Dong-Geun -in- Athena, Only You
(Park Dae-seo) Jung Joon-Ho -in- Iris, My Boss, My Teacher, My Boss, My Hero, Coffee House, The Last Scandal of My Life, Princess LuLu
(Jang Jin-kyeong) Kim Jung-Eun -in- Le Grand Chef 2, Lovers, Princess LuLu, Lovers in Paris
(Jang Seok-tae/Jin-kyeong's brother) Sung Ji-Ru -in- Le Grand Chef 2
(Jang Jeong-jong/Jin-kyeong's father) Park Keun-Hyeong -in- Lovers, Color of Women, It's Okay, Daddy's Girl
(Won Hye-suk) Jin Hee-Kyung -in- Lovers
(?) Choi Jun-Yong -in- Wonderful Life
(Mi sun) Yu Hye-Jeong -in- Little Bride
(?) Lee Gi-Yeong -in- Lovers
(?) Pyeon Jung-Su -in- Manny, Pasta, The Last Scandal of My Life, Bad Couple
(?) Shim Yang-Hong -in- Gourmet
(?) Kim Seung-Wook -in- Protect The Boss, My Fair Lady, Night after Night, Oh! Phil Seung Bong Soon Young
(?) Park Jin-Young II -in- Le Grand Chef, Too Beautiful to Lie
(gang member) Kim Yang-Woo -in- Baby & Me
II
(?) Hyun Young -in- Art of Seduction, Babyfaced Beauty, Biscuit Teacher and Star Candy, Fake Family Service
(?) Kim Hyo-Jin -in- Woochi, Marry Me, Mary!, She Has Come Back!
(Hong Deok-Ja) Kim Soo-Mi -in- Daring Women
(Kim Jin-Kyung) Kim Won-Hie -in- Don't Ask Me About the Past
(Bong Myung-Pil) Kong Hyung-Jin -in- The Fugitive: Plan B, Dalja's Spring, Lovers, Yobi, the Five Tailed Fox(anime)
(Jang Kyung-Jae) Lim Hyung-Joon -in- Iris
(?) Park Hee Jin -in- Tamra, the Island
(Jang In-Jae) Shin Hyun-Joon -in- Kiss Me, Kill Me
(?) Shin Yi -in- My Boyfriend Is Type-B
(?) Baek Il-Seob -in- My Boyfriend Is Type-B, My Tutor Friend, Spy girl
(?) Jeong Jun-Ha -in- Finding Mr. Destiny, The Greatest Love
(?) Jeong Ho-Bin -in- Iris, Boys Over Flowers, Who Are You?
(?) Lee Mi-Do -in- Spellbound, Woochi, A Millionaire's First Love
(?) Park Yong-Ki -in- My Boss, My Teacher, Athena, Daring Women, Iris, Smile Again, Princess Lulu
Not a romance or a comedy, but quite a bit of magical fantasy. Fav character(s): the white-haired stage magician
A volleyball player in a school familiar with magic, accidentally receives power from one of the professors at the school and so she sets out to make a little cash from the suddenly powerful ability. Unbeknownst to her, there is a fire mage out to open the portal of time and is waging magical battles on the other 3 masters in an effort to accumulate their powers.
You can also find:
() Wu Chun -in- Romantic Princess, Hua Yang Shao Nian Shao Nu(hana kimi)
Short yet well put together action romance story. Seemed kind of bittersweet that the detective should fall so hopelessly in love only after 10 years of celibacy. Talk about playing the cards you are dealt, eh?
A woman from north Korea, comes to the south to kill her south spy hubby, for the sake of her son's life. A detective and his son hire her as a house-cleaner and the detective falls in love. Ji-Sook's soft heart though, makes something of a fumble of the task, and the detective's son is kidnapped in an effort to make her finish the execution.
You can also find:
(Tae-Soo) Jang Hyun-Sung -in- Vampire Prosecutor, The Perfect Couple
(Pil-Kyu) Park Won-Sang -in- Art of Fighting
(Myung-Hwa) Hwang Seok-Jeong -in- The Perfect Couple
(Detective) Jung Won-Joong -in- Only You
(NIS agent) Kim Eung-Soo -in- Marrying the Mafia III, Art of Fighting, Vampire Prosecutor, The Fugitive: Plan B
(Suk-Won) Kim Hyun-Sung -in- The Musical, Il Ji-Mae: The Phantom Thief
She's On Duty/ 잠복근무/ Jambokgeunmu ** (Korean)
movie
Gong Yoo as Kang No-Young
Kim Sun-A as Chun Jae-In
Undercover as a high schooler, Ja-in, seeks to gain a friendship with a certain girl in efforts to find her father, a man with damaging information about a dangerous gang.. along the way, she has battles for power with the high school tough girl.. and guy, gets interrupted by another agent on the case, fails a math exam..for cheating, and falls in love with a fellow high school student.
You can also find:
(Chun Jae-In) Kim Sun-A -in- Scent of a Woman, My Name Is Kim Sam-soon, Night after Night
(Kang No-Young) Gong Yoo -in- Finding Mr. Destiny, Spy girl, My Tutor Friend, Coffee Prince, Biscuit Teacher and Star Candy
(Cha Seung-Hee) Nam Sang-Mi -in- Spy Girl, Too Beautiful to Lie, Taming of the Heir, Gourmet, Bad Family, Sweet Spy
(Cha Young-Jae) Kim Kap-Soo -in- Bungee Jumping of Their Own, Iris, Night after Night
(Det. Chun) No Ju-Hyeon -in- Art of Seduction
(Det. Cho) Ha Jung-Woo -in- Lovers in Prague
(Det. Kang) Kim Sang-Ho -in- Woochi, Le Grand Chef, City Hunter, Princess Prosecutor
(Class teacher) Park Sang-Myeon -in- Color of Women, Marry Me, Mary!, Bread, Love and Dreams, Lovers