Review: Beautiful Gong Shim (2016)

SPOILER ALERT!!!

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I finished the drama a few days ago and until now when I think of it, I’m still really not over how it ended. Overall, I think that I had a great time watching because it’s fun and when you watch it together with someone it makes it even better because I think that you both look at the perspective of the characters both at the same time and you learn something from each of the episodes. Also, this drama is full of positivity and lovely gestures that put warmth in your heart especially that the supporting characters were not the evil cruel that will consume the story. Even though that kind of element is not eliminated from the story, there is a force that puts the good in a better position than the bad. I also think that in a matter of perspective but this drama is really above the average to me. It’s not the best because there are clichés that every other Kdrama has but the delivery of each episode was also being considered well and if that was the case, then they really made a great romantic-comedy drama. However, if I have one complaint from the series, that is how they have ended it because they could have extended it more. Having said it that way is a compliment because I really wanted more of it and I really wanted to know how the characters have evolved after 1 year. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they should have shown Gong Shim and Dante having a family but in general, I wanted a preview of how they will start over again. So I felt that what they have revealed is not enough to suffice my thirst from it. The ending just reminds me of the last book I finished which is China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan where it was so nakakabitin (open-ended). You should check that book too if you have time and it’s also the sequel of Crazy Rich Asians. They’re really hilariously scandalous and fun book.

J-Movie: Orange (2015)

In a Nutshell: This is a manga adaptation film which depicts friendship in a form of a parallel universe, where a message to her own self was transmitted through a letter by Naho’s future endeavor.

On her way to school, Naho received a letter from the future telling her of the sequence of events that will take place in school. She then shrugged the idea of it however she met a new transferee in her class, Kakeru. Later on, her curiosity arises as the letter gives her the decision to make in an event that she has to make one for herself.

Comments: Japanese films are generally about uplifting the human spirit and fighting your own evil. This film has a gloomy side which was portrayed through the character of Kakeru. However, evil can be altered through the presence of the people significant to Kakeru, his friends. Basically, it presents well the idea that when you took a matter seriously and urgently, you can make a difference to someone. This is what this film is all about – friendship over romance and friendship above everything else.

Review: Secretly Greatly

Expectation: I'm not the biggest anticipator of the movie but upon hearing so many good reviews about it; this film starring Kim Soo Hyun has built my confidence in watching. Basically, I expected it to be awesome, thus; they have a huge responsibility to fulfill at least to me as a viewer.

In a nutshell: It's about a North Korean soldier, Won Ryu Han (Kim Soo Hyun) who was sent to South Korea to be a spy in disguise of an idiot (Dong Gu). Together with him are his comrades, Lee Hae Rang (Park Ki Woong) and Ri Hae Jin (LeeHyun Woo) who were sent later to prove their nationalistic attribute as soldiers.

Commentaries: The beginning of the movie was really interesting and that immediately drew me into watching. But then, I realized that I need to look through the movie as a whole because in totality, we need to grasp the essence of its details. So starting with the aim or objective of it, I think that this entails a very thorough reasoning as to why they want to create a story in a way that the soldiers' dignity as people are involved. Through that, we will understand better the core of their character that we have laid eyes on. For me, in the aspect of bringing things into light for the characters, they sort of lacked in it. To explain myself, for this kind of movie which I anticipated, I wanted to see how much the soldiers are motivated to execute the intructions to them in the story like for example, what is worth fighting for aside from your country's pride? Furthermore, I expected lesser contradicting events than they actually have. Well, it saddened me a bit because I lived up to a more polished writing than they delivered. Regardless of that, I think that they can do more than what they have shown so for a film that hit the box office, I wanted more depth. I knew that love for country is a kind of feeling that is significant for a soldier but why do the story has to send traitors to persecute their own men? I thought that it was a bit off as a patriot.

Character Introduction: Stars Falling from the Sky

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Synopsis: Jin Pal Gang is the eldest child among the other adopted children in the family. Unfortunately, their parents met a car accident that led to the family's loss. Because of that, she was left with the responsibility to take care of her siblings. Part of that responsibility is forgetting her identity as a woman to become a mother for her children.

Before everything had happened, she was smitten with a co-worker in the company, Atty. Won Kang Ha. However, for the past five years that she has looked at him, he never looked back at her in return. Until one day, the siblings had nowhere to go because their house was demolished and they were only left with nothing but debts. Because of this, Pal Gang pleaded to Won Kang Ha’s brother, Won Joon Ha to hire her as their in-house maid. Even though she first volunteered as their keeper with an intention to serve the Attorney whom she loved, she let go of that thought in order to support her siblings and to find shelter for her family. Eventually, she was employed through Joon Ha’s help but without the knowledge of her bringing her siblings with her. This started the sitcom like hide and seek course of the kids so that they wouldn’t be found out to be at the turf of the Won family.

Review: I Hear Your Voice

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Synopsis: 

Park Soo Ha (Lee Jong Suk) is a high school student with an extraordinary ability to read the thoughts of people, that are running through their mind. The ability was acquired after the traumatic accident that happened to him 11 years ago which caused the death of his father. At first, it was speculated that the accident was a simple hit and run case but in the long run, it was found out to be deliberate. The suspect insisted otherwise; however there was a witness who could prove his guilt and that lies in the evidence of a picture that she captured at the scene. That witness was Jang Hye Sung (Lee Bo Young) who bravely showed herself in the court. Eleven years later, she became a public defense attorney. Meanwhile the suspect, Min Jong Guk, was bailed out of his charges. Everything was normal and peaceful until Min Jong Guk appeared to seek retaliation.

First Impression:

I had high expectations for this series and so, I was really excited to watch the first episode. I knew that Park Soo Ha is nowhere an ordinary child, but that ability of his is really cool. I would want to have that special skill to be mine. But then, it was quite irrational most especially with the kind of setting that they have – school and the trial court. I found it hard for me to accept that kind of set up. So, I was curious about so many things which included: on how they would rationalize the fantasy element and on what exactly is its essence to the story. Well, that ability which is to ‘hear your voice’ and that can be translated to ‘read your mind’ speaks loudly about the title but I needed further extraction of details to it. I was doubtful about the whole thing but then I knew that those doubts were beneficial to the series because I developed my curiosity towards it. However, it’s one of the series that I quickly wanted to put an end into because the cinematography wasn't that impressive. Yes, the story caught my attention, Lee Jong Suk was getting my interest already but it was only until episode 2 that I appreciated him. The cinematography was only a bit underwhelming as compared with its immense popularity among viewers.

Review: A Gentleman's Dignity

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Premise: It tells the story of how the life of four men started at the age of forty through the course of friendship, romance, personal growth and career development.

Characters:

Kim Do Jin (Jang Dong Gun) - He is an architect by profession and a bachelor that has typical playboy skills due to his incessant appeal and charisma. This has changed when he met that someone who is extra special to him who could make him quit his vices with women.

Seo Yi  Soo (Kim Ha Neul) – She is high school teacher who has devoted herself to teaching her students thus, she has no time for love life. One of her leisure is to attend the baseball practices of one of her friends to assist in the pitch.

Im Tae San (Kim Soo Roo) - He is a baseball player who has sincere intention of marrying his girlfriend Hong Se Ra (Yoon Se Ah), a badminton athlete. However, her feelings are ambivalent in prioritizing between love and career.

Choi Yoon (Kim Min Jong) - He is a lawyer by profession and is a widower who tries to move on and recover from the loss of his wife. After years of grieving, his feelings were somewhat awakened by the return of Mi Ah Ri who is much younger than him.

Im Mi Ah Ri (Yoon Jin Yi) - She is the younger sister of Im Tae San and was a former student of Seo Yi Soo. She went abroad to study fashion designing but then she decided to quit her studies to come back  and meet Choi Yoon, whom she holds feelings for.

Lee Jung Rok (Lee Jong Hyuk) - He owns a coffee shop funded by his wealthy wife Park Min Sook (Kim Jung Nan), an older woman that he married for a comfortable lifestyle. However, he often commits infidelity that might cause him to lose every valuable of his including his lavish lifestyle.

Kim Dong Hyub (Kim Woo Bin) - He is a troublesome student under Seo Yi Soo's class. He shared friendship with Collin (Jong Hyun of CN Blue), a transfer student from Japan who went back to Korea to search for his father. 

Halftime Report: Dating Agency Cyrano

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The Casts:

Lee Jong Hyuk as Seo Byung Hoon

He is the co-founder of Cyrano, an agency that was first established by a group of friends from high school. The original members still remain to be unmentioned in the series. I'm not sure if this was a dating agency from the start however, they used to film videos of them together and such while doing school activities.

Review: City Hunter

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Casts:

Lee Min Ho - Lee Yoon Sung

Park Min Young - Kim Na Na

Synopsis: 

City Hunter's role in the society is made essential through his presence in putting the corrupt government officials behind bars. However, his participation to the good cause is not being recognized by the authorities as something legal. Thus, they chased after him under the crimes committed by other individuals, as he is blamed for few cases of murder. Regardless of these accusations in his name, his will to avenge his life over his parents whom he believed abandoned him didn't stop and also, he would continue being the city hunter until justice is served.

Review: The King 2 Hearts

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Release Date: March 21, 2012
Genre: Romance, Dark Comedy, Action

Casts:
Lee Seung Gi - Lee Jae Ha
Ha Ji Won - Kim Hang Ah

Introduction:

One of the national issues of Korea that remains to drop headlines all over the world is about the endless word war of its divided Peninsula: the South and the North. As it has been going on for years, putting a stop over the unresolved matter between the two governments seems to be a difficult assignment for anyone whether it be an individual, an organization or even a government. Both stands on the grounds of their rights rather than to entertain the idea of sitting together for a settlement which seems to be a very complex thing to do. If they could think of its benefits which is to avoid hurting and shedding blood of the innocent citizens of both countries, they could always choose the better deal.

Synopsis:

It's clear that this series wanted both sides to come together but with a purpose of fighting a common enemy of the two who has an agenda of running his power all over the two countries. It is quite a symbolism because they gathered a cast composed of English speaking individuals that would represent other nationalities. Moreover, it wanted to go beyond the friction of the two countries as they involved other issues such as the involvement of the different nations to their dispute. Anyhow, as brave as this series can be, there are still lapses which they failed to attend to. Despite of the efforts exerted by this drama, it was clearly disturbed by too much idealism.

Review: My Girlfriend is a Gumiho

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English Subtitled DVD

Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Release Date: August 11, 2010

Casts:

Lee Seung Gi - Cha Dong Woong
Shin Min Ah - Gumiho / Gil Dal

Review:

I watched this drama out of love for Lee Seung Gi but honestly speaking, at first I wasn't expecting anything great because I'm not the biggest fan of rom-com dramas and aside from that, I thought Shin Min Ah was not the perfect match for him as far as onscreen chemistry is concerned. Basing from the trailers that I saw, I was a bit hesitant about their team up. Anyway, I did watch it and contrary to my beliefs, I enjoyed it. The fact that it wasn't boring was not only because it's comedy but also they added a fantasy factor on it which is new to me I guess but then again, there are still pitfalls overall because this is a fantasy series. 

Review: Paradise Ranch

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Genre: Romance, Drama

Release Date: January 24, 2011

Casts: 

• Shim Chang Min as Han Dong Joo - TVXQ!
• Lee Yeon Hee as Lee Da Ji - SM Towner

Review: Capital Scandal

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Release Date: June 6, 2007

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Period, Political

Characters:

• Kang Ji Hwan as Seon Woo Wan
• Han Ji Min as Na Yeo Kyeong
• Ryu Jin as Lee Soo Hyeon
• Han Go Eun as Cha Song Joo

Synopsis:

It is a story about the 1900s revolution of Korean activists to the Japanese Emperor who runs their government. Based on the history told in the drama, the characters were fighting for independence from the Japanese colonization that hinders their people to experience leadership and freedom. From this overview, it requires the characters to be courageous, nationalistic and passionate in forming a rebel group against their oppressors.