Cool Kiz on the Block (4 Parts of Basketball)

Hey guys! So I'm here again sharing with you the only variety show that I religiously look forward to every week, it's Cool Kiz on the Block basketball episodes. In here, we would see their improvement as they go through tremendous training and gain more experiences from other teams. I must say that I wouldn't want to let go of this set of people now because I am attached to their chemistry and teamwork. I hope they could keep this set of talents for the upcoming sports to be featured. Though I know that the main stays would only be Hodong, Changmin and John Park. I'm also sad with the recent controversy that Lee Su Geun is facing that led him to suspension. Nonetheless, everything is still as fun as the previous 3 episodes which I knew you would enjoy a lot too. So if you are looking for a variety show to watch, I recommend this show.

Cool Kiz on the Block | 우리동네 예체능 - Training with Student Basket

Taiwanese - Chinese Movie Review: "A Moment of Love" / "Season of Love"

Release Date: August, 2013

Casts:

Vic Zhou - Xiu Nian Zu

Liu Shishi - Jing Ya Qing

In a nutshell: Self discovery brought by the course of traveling with a stranger. This drama is about love in many forms, and that includes finding meaning to what self love is about.

Synopsis: Xiu Nian Zu (Vic Zhou) traveled to China from Taiwan to find an old lady named Ya Qing. His purpose was to deliver a compilation of letters written to her by an old lover, his grandpa who passed away - with whom he wanted his last thoughts through his letters be fulfilled. However, she moved from place to place. Fortunately, he met a lady by chance with a similar name, Jing A Qing to help him find her. She (Liu Shi Shi) is a writer of a magazine publication who happens to be engaged to her fiancé; however due to a request by a friend, she volunteered to do the work and write a feature of a story through going on a travel. This coincidence gave her an opportunity to write a good feature so she offered to help Xian Zu find the old lady Jing A Qing. By chance of destiny - perhaps that was too much of coincidence though, it's a once in a lifetime journey of life that they shouldn't miss.

Commentaries: The story is cliche and a familiar plot to a romantic movie. But I think that this film has something special and different to offer the audience. The cinematography played a bigger role than the story to be effective I must say and I believe that it was amazing. Moreover, the acting was spot on and a good blend with emotion, there wasn't any dramatic background music either. There was the raw feelings playing its own role in the movie. That aspect was very touching and at the same time, made it very authentic.

Moving on to the other inspiration brought to me by the movie is the self discovery in the experience of traveling, which is an enrichment and finding a portion of one's self. What is there that is also important as the beautiful scenery? Of course, the emphasis of nature is the best while the introduction of a new culture to study is another awesome treat to indulge with. Other than what is expected from the movie, I thought that everything is refreshing and I really appreciate the breath taking view it offers.

Overall, the movie lingered into me and I had so much to learn about from watching, apart from the fun it gives. Is it a movie that I would dare to recommend? Of course! I think this is worth it, it's not unpredictable but the impact on someone is explosive in my opinion.

On the actors, I've known Vic for more than a decade already and I still see the younger version of him while watching, but he has improved immensely. He still has that charming aura that never fails to make my heart flutter. On the other hand, Liu Shi Shi who is a very popular Chinese actress but is not familiar to me. I really love the way she carried herself though. I love her, all in all. She has left a very good and long lasting impression on me and I would love to see it as a foundation to more of her projects that I will be seeing in the future.

'Let's Eat' Episode 2 - 3

In conclusion, I have this and 'In A Good Way' as dramas to watch this season. It's a painful pleasure to wait every week for both to be aired. However, the advantage is that it gives me a leeway for enjoyment as there is no pressure to watch two episodes which pretty much is a work and in some cases, boring. I think that I was lucky to find these two shows because 1st, I am going hardcore with 'In A Good Way' but of course I needed something that is simple and easy to enjoy to not let myself go crazy about a single drama. You'll understand it in the context of entertainment, this show only runs for 45 minutes and aside from that, I feel like this is an appetizer to the food I eat. No pressure, it only boils passion with food.

"In A Good Way" Episode 5

I love this episode! It portrayed Liu Chuan's complexity as a human being - which is the opposite of him whom we've seen in previous episodes that is almost a perfect image of an idol - which is too good to be true to even exist. Whereas for Jia En, it showed her lack of emotional growth and her need to learn the basic survival tips in life. That isn't a bad thing for we understand the level of maturity she has. She is someone who can be influenced by friends yet wanting to achieve independence to herself at the same time. 

When she failed the audition, she tried to shrug off her loss in front of everyone who went to cheer for her but in the end, letting Liu Chuan to be the shock absorber of her frustrations. Later on, we see these two patch things up between them however, bad moods won't go well with bad timing. Hence, awkwardness all over their body language. Nonetheless, Liu Chuan still helped Jia En in her practicals of jitterbug wherein they performed a self satisfying dance - flashing Jia En's bright smile and in return Liu Chuan's smitten eyes.

Why are there no recent posts of Reply 1994 and Heirs?

Readers of this blog would probably be familiar with my enthusiasm in sharing my thoughts with both dramas but since I have not found my courage to continue talking about them, I don't think I could be doing the same thing as I did before. So why am I here? Perhaps to explain myself which I don't usually do and give everyone a reason why it might take a while before I finish watching these two series.

Heirs is a good fluff I must say but other than that, everything is forgettable. You only get to enjoy it the moment you are watching but when it is not, there's not much substance to remember. So I finished episode 18 a week ago and I have yet to continue the finale maybe because I now have an idea of the ending (even though everyone has already predicted it from the start) and second, there is a thin line between not wanting to let go of it and just leaving everything like Heirs never happened. Though that would be so harsh to talk about. So yeah, maybe after I finish this, I would be ready for the review. Expect nothing much from it though as you may have known, majority of the things I write is driven by passion. And for Heirs, I'm drained to analyze everything as there wouldn't be much to think about based on the storyline.

"In A Good Way" Episode 4

This is by far the sweetest episode to date but what I mean by sweet is only an appetizer to the development of the characters involved in the story. In this episode, we can clearly see that Liu Chuan is in a state of adornment with Jia En, however reluctant to let the world know. Nonetheless his eyes speak the truth through the gazes he's thrown at her and his pleasant silences and awkwardness around her totally sends me the assurance, our boy is having a crush (or maybe in love). Oh my goodness, it's cheesy to read these words but I promise, the pacing of attraction on the part of Liu Chuan is gradual and oh so interesting in itself. To be honest, more than seeing him like that around Jia En, it's cute when you see an equally adorable guy figure out his feelings for the opposite sex. I don't know, I'm enjoying the push and pull of strings between Jia En and Liu Chuan. So to continue with episode 4, they were separated for a year after Liu Chuan was once involved as Jia En's personal tutor. That means a year or less of no communication. However, they met again of course (surprise, but not surprising) and it's an oh so precious moment for both so let's take a look at some of the sweet and memorable moments between the two and also with the other cast members.

2013: Top 3 Picks (Personal Favorites)

What a year of dramas for me. This is the first time in years to officially seal my obsession with watching dramas through this blog - where I can write my insights about few of the Korean and Japanese dramas I've watched over the years, and of course the current dramas I've devoted my time with this year. As we are approaching the end of 2013, I realized that I have to make a year in review of my favorites, apart from the previous official long talks I've made about them. So, now I'm here to share with you my top favorites from this year hoping to share my experience of watching them to everyone.

1. Heartless City: Review

Safe to say that this is first to be mentioned without thinking much of what to talk about first. So why Heartless City? Maybe because it was my first time this year to officially got hook with a character and unexpectedly, I saw myself watching a noir series which is pretty much not my type of drama nor have I witnessed myself watching one. I think, Heartless City, upon reading its synopsis and multiple descriptions from different blogs would still leave a great doubt of its ability to catch interest among the followers. There is still a need for emphasis that, how ever you find it impossible getting into it because you are not a fan of the plot and simply because this is not your type of drama, I think that when you get yourself pass episode 1 or 2, the interest will finally kick in as I can totally relate. To my curiosity about this drama, I couldn't care of what to take place at first and I can't concentrate on the events in episode 1, perhaps I just wanted to get over the episode and start the drama already.

The thing is that drama starts directly at episode 1, where keen attention is needed to be able to understand the coming episodes ahead, anyhow, of course you'd get to know more as you arrive to the story. But I will tell you that whether you are interested or not, for as long as there is curiosity in you, I assure that you will come to love it. Though, the process is where this drama has specialized its value.

In A Good Way Episode 3

Surprise Gift: Facebook

Aside from real life, I am currently living tangled in the story of this drama. Yes, you heard the ridiculous and straight forward confession of mine (giddy). Perhaps, I am loving the nostalgia it gives me as I find joys in going back in time reminiscing the old days. Well, since it has occurred to me now, I know that there is no turning back. I have been charmed by its potion which is of inducing, realistic, engaging, fun, and lovely story about friendship, young love, family and freedom. So let’s get started with episode 3!

Episode 3 is much less busier than episode 2 as they focused on the competition raised between the three musketeers and iron men (men of steal) which was an appalling thing to do among matured people but not when we realize that we have college freshmen in the here considering the character of young people who want to challenge each other. So this is normal in the process of growth in college, right? So, I think it’s a cliché thing to happen and such but at the same time, I love how creative they are in execution and in putting value on it in the end. They made use of bikes instead of motorcycles because in their era, mountain biking is more popular, which pretty much showed the strength of Liu Chuan and Ren Wei in pushing the pedal to win, and on the other hand, describing their generation from 1995.

With the match that happened, I was rooting for the Three Musketeers led by Liu Chuan over the Iron Men (Men of Steal) because Ren Wei has the tendency to be an airhead most of the time and he talks beyond of what is expected of him to do. However, who would have thought that this competition will lead to the kind gesture by the winning team to the losing one as they volunteered to help the Iron Men (Men of Steal) guys in doing the laundry of the kids from dorm 1 as promised after losing the match? So cool.

"In A Good Way" Episode 2

I’m back with In A Good Way and excited to share it with you. I think that this will probably be one of those random posts that I will be having because I really enjoy talking about this drama this way. To me, it is refreshing that I am into a raving parade for it because of so many factors, just like what episode 2 given me while watching which you will know later on. I loved to pause a lot during this episode and just absorb the ‘feels’ because I can’t let the moment pass by just easily.  Spare the incoherence please. (Grin)

I guess, my review on episode 2 would be provoked by thoughts of why this drama is well-written and executed, and why it has been a while since I felt this kind of passion in sharing the joys of watching with everyone. Hope that after reading this, you watch this drama definitely.

First Impression: In A Good Way (Taiwanese Drama)

It's been a long time since I attempted to watch a Taiwanese drama after Autumn's Concerto since I think I already forgot the pleasure it brings me as I was too pre-occupied watching so many Korean dramas as well as Japanese. So, now that I have a chance to rekindle my love and appreciation for this kind of genre once again, I am truly embracing this opportunity given to me by this series with an open heart. 

I am crossing my fingers that it will do well. Please... And one reasons for the well wish is the very impressive and touching start or impression it has given me. It was not overwhelming yet full of good stuff. Definitely, I can claim to myself that it was a worthwhile one as I have waited unconsciously then bam pleasant surprise! And it's Taiwanese which is a breath of fresh air, anyone? They can go up par to producing such as well. Hope they stay the same and if not to maintain their good start, exceed my expectations on the next episodes. (Fistpump)