Plot: Koichi Hikuma
is a former saxophone player who turned his back on music. However, through his
passion he found hope in being an instructor to a high school brass band. Due
to inevitable circumstances, the band consisted of some delinquent students in
which he struggles to train.
Plot: A mystery of switching bodies happened between two high
school students, Mitsuha who’s a girl living in the countryside called Itomori;
and a city boy named Taki who is living in Tokyo. After realizing that they are
swapping their bodies while they are asleep, they start to communicate with
each other by leaving notes in their mobile phones. However, their personalities are
different that the people around them has noticed their changes. As time
passes, the body swap became common until they stopped switching on the day
that a comet was expected to pass close to Earth.
Watch the Preview:
Commentaries:
Watching this film constitutes the
moments where I have dreamed of watching an anime movie in the big screen. This
year, I’ve seen plenty of anime movies at home such as The girl who leapt
through time, 5 centimeters per second and Only Yesterday to name a few. So I went to the cinema to watch this movie even
though it was my first time watching alone. Of course, there were pleasant
reviews that made me decide that it would be my me-time moment watching. As expected, I
had a lot of fun even though the usual thing I do when I watch at home is that
I pause halfway for a break which you can’t do in the cinema so I had to hold
my bladder for 2 hours that never happened before. Indeed, a very memorable
film to me.
Plot: It is a story of friendship among six young adults who are on their 20s and are at their point of the most exciting yet confusing part of their lives. They also have their own stories to tell.
Commentary:
I came upon this drama through Park So Dam since I loved her in Beautiful Mind so I thought of checking some of her projects to watch. I started this drama randomly without any expectations at all. Minute did I know that it is one of the fulfilling youthful dramas out there. There was no nostalgia that I felt like the ones I felt from Reply Me 1997 which is my favourite but it has a different feel that makes you realize of the present instead of your past and previous experiences. It goes to show that change comes while the present moment is unfolding and not when you are dwelling on your past. Though I believe that you also become who you are for the accumulated experiences that you’ve had, and being in the moment makes you change your future as well.
Plot: Lee
Yong Oh is an excellent neurosurgeon suffering from antisocial disorder.
However, he became involved in the series of deaths of his patients. A police
officer, Gye Jin Sung assumed the responsibility to put justice in these
events. She was inevitably prying too much and eventually became of help to Lee
Yong Oh to overcome his inability to emphatize.
Commentary:
Started from the
bottom and now we’re here. I am so glad that I watched this series because it
was totally worth it and compelling. The controversy surrounding the drama when
it was cut short urged me to watch it since it was so intense coming from the
viewers. Nonetheless, I heard good reviews from others. But my expectations
were quite average that I didn’t expect it to be as awesome and stirring as it
was. If you could get pass the first or two episodes of the series, then you are
good to go because sometimes we tend to want to find what’s so great in the
drama from those two episodes in which you will find nothing but merely an introduction.
I believe that a good drama will make sense in the end and the story made me
feel that way.
This drama when
compared to Doctors is more into the medical aspect than the romance while
balancing it with the backstory and the development of the characters. Despite
having low ratings, the story was solid and there was an actual direction to
where it is going. Also, some people find few of the scenes boring especially
when the topic is about politics and business but it was one of the element
that encompassed the story so it was a given thing and there is nothing much to
talk about it anyway. Therefore, I will overlook whatever issue that they were
not able to put a conclusion in the end for as long as the important issues
raised were given the emphasis of its resolution. Since it’s not a family drama
that airs for 50 episodes or more, we should it them some slack because they
were tremendous at the procedures that they have shot at the operating room or
even at the medical terms that they used.
I watched four episodes straight because I
missed it last week and I was caught up with my real life series. Also, I made
a review of it the last time but I was really disappointed that I accidentally
delete it. So I needed 2 days to cope up after. As I believe that writing is a
feeling and when it passes, sometimes we are not able to convey what we truly
feel on that moment. What a loss, indeed and I am still recuperating. But I
have found the courage to write another one so I am making this entry. Though I
feel that the last one was very expressive, I’ll try my best to make this one
interesting as well. I hope you’ll be able to share your thoughts with me too.
Please.
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.
I
couldn’t be happier with how episode 7 and 8 turned out. Doctors is a hot drama
right now and it’s unstoppable with the team up of two Korean Drama royalties
Kim Rae Won and Park Shin Hye. These two are great examples of experienced
actors who can really make chemistry through every ounce of talent that they
got. I mentioned before that I loved Kim Rae Won in ‘My Little Bride’ and now; I love him as much in Doctors if not
even more. I think that he’s an actor with a true character from the role of
Hong Ji Hong. He’s a believable actor as a doctor and I am impressed not only
with his role but also to the script of the drama which I think is a great help
to making it as real as possible.
In
episode 7, Hye Jung’s friend Kim Soo Chul came into the picture putting Dr.
Hong in a jealous mode and in addition to Hye Jung’s admirers, Dr. Jung Yoon Do
is captivated with our heroine’s charm. The character of Soo Chul is supposed
to be a threat to the romance of the one true pairing according to the
perception of Dr. Hong which was dismissed by the reality of Soo Chul being
divorced and having a son. Basically, I think that Soo Chul’s feelings for Hye
Jung is still strong but now, he’s become mature so he’s also ready to letting
go of her. Perhaps he just wanted to say goodbye before he moves on. Also, this
character is a revelation of Hye Jung’s past which was being forwarded. It was
revealed that Soo Chul lent a helping hand to her when she had no desire to live
after her grandmother passed away. I feel that their friendship is bounded by a
true foundation of it and so, Hye Jung showed him more compassion which she
wasn’t able to show to her family.
Plot: Two doctors met after 13 years of parting. Hye Jung was a troubled
student back in high school whose life has been changed by her grandmother and her
homeroom teacher, Hong Ji Hong. He is an aspirant physician who’s found passion
in teaching.
Commentary:
KIM RAE WON. I’m not a fan of Kim Rae Won though I believe I have seen
him in My Little Bride where I adored Moon Geun Young so much. But still I
could not really decipher the hype of this Kdrama before I started to watch it
because “It’s just another Kdrama about Doctors yet again”. Though I knew that
Park Shin Hye is a talented actress whom I have adored in Heirs, I thought it
was still not enough. But this is not a part of the impression that I have for
this drama because it was worth it of the hype and high kick scenes that Park
Shin Hye has done in the beginning.
I feel that this is the best that Park Shin Hye has become. I am a fan
of her dancing and athletic ability in the past but now she has my total respect
and she’s become matured and is brimming with passion. I am truly glad to have
witnessed Hye Jung in her, be it as a gangster or as a compassionate doctor.
She’s reached her best shape yet and I hope that she’ll continue to thrill the
viewers with her action packed scenes.
Plot: One
summer day, Jintan had an extraordinary experience when he heard a voice of a
girl talking to him. The voice is from Jinta's childhood friend Meiko, but it is
a strange moment because Meiko died years ago. She appeared in front of him to whom
he first ignored wearing the same white dress when she died, but she’s grown
older. She tells Jinta that she has a wish and that's why she came back as a
ghost, but Meiko can't remember what her wish was. Therefore, Jinta along with
their other friends, Atsumu, Naruko, Chiriko, Tetsudo and Meiko gather together
for the first time in 7 years to grant Meiko’s wish. However, Jinta is the only
one who is able to see Menma.
Comments:
In this kind of film,
I feel that there is so much hope in this world that may only be attained when
we realize the compassion from the people around us. It has a light story about
friendship despite the unfortunate event that happened one summer day. I was so
pleased to watch the series because I have encountered a lot of emotions and
they didn’t get mixed up in a bad way but it showed the two sides of living
life: one is living in the past and the other one is living in the moment while
remembering the past and moving forward at the same time. The characters were
very remarkable and they have contributed so much in bringing the right emotion
in the context of losing a friend at such a young age. Also, this is not a
depressing movie despite demanding the viewers to get carried away by so much
crying that happened. It is not sad but rather heart-warming because it truly
showed how they value the friendship that they have made in the past as young
kids and how much that event had made an impact in their lives. Nonetheless,
they still participated in helping Menma find that peace that she deserved.
Plot:
It is a romantic comedy series featuring two sisters who have differing looks
and personality. Gong Mi is a lawyer with a pretty face while Gong Shim is a
warm hearted younger sister who always put others first before herself. The
story becomes more interesting with the addition of two handsome men in their
lives who came from opposing backgrounds. Ahn Dan Tae is a lawyer who takes part time
jobs and but will be lodging at the rooftop owned by Gong Shim while Joon Soo
is from a wealthy family and is the Director of their family business.
Comments:
It
was a very catchy episode one for me so I jumped into the series as soon as I
watched it. There is this quality in the character of Gong Shim that makes it
feel believable. She’s a very adorable and kind character that you just can’t help
but fall in love with. There is that kind of magic in her that makes her very
effective for the role. I am truly pleased by Min Ah’s (from the idol group
Girls’ Day) portrayal and it feels like she was just being herself with no
pretentions. She was able to convey that kind of character which added spice on
the story. Next is Nam Gong Min who’s embodied the character of Ahn Dan Tae.
The last and only project I’ve seen from is Sensory
Couple and he didn’t leave a good impression on me basically because he was
a villain but I still remained hopeful for him in this one because it is a
rom-com series and I just crossed my fingers that he wouldn’t fail me. Guess
what? He delivered and he really has the team up with Min Ah that will crack
you up. So I am gushing over their cuteness when they are together. I think
their characters are something that could light up a very gloomy day, so that
anchored my interest in this series.
At
the moment, they have only finished up until episode 14 and I can’t wait for
the next episode because the ending was a cliff-hanger. I wonder what would
happen next and of course I wouldn’t spoil it to you. But to give a glimpse on
what the characters are about, I will have to write about her Director Joon Soo
and Gong Shim’s Family. I think that the Director is a cute guy and I have a
second male lead syndrome next to the OTP syndrome. Seriously the guy is so
nice and acting naive sometimes but you just can’t help but admire that kind of
personality because not everyone who grows up from a wealthy home know how to befriend
people like how he did with Dan Tae and Gong Shim. He’s a guy that no matter
what happens, you can’t possibly hate because he’s a momma’s boy and he raised
himself to be responsible. The friendship he’s made with the two of them is
really admirable and I wish that I have a guy friend like him. I’m sure all
girls would line up to get one but on the other hand, it makes me feel how lucky
Gong Shim is because he’s a sweetheart and yet she also has Dan Tae. Oh my the
love line is not as intense as other Kdramas are but it is one thing that I
like about the series which is a lighthearted kind and they focused more on
family, friends and character building.
It's been two months since I've been away from
blogger sphere but I'm back now to give a review on the Kdrama that took 50 hours
of my viewing time, I Have a Lover. So I want to show how much this Kdrama took
over my life. But of course, I only watched this on my free time so I'm excited
to recommend this to you.
Disclaimer:
I am not a huge fan of Kdramas but there are forces that draw me into watching
and one of them is that every Kdrama and actors that portray a role are
special. In that sense, I feel that there has to be a connection between me and
a Kdrama in order for me to like it. My second confession would be, I am not a
huge fan of 50 episodes Kdrama, I avoid them even when the actors are the ones
that impress me. So, I have been reluctant on this but since I realized after
reading a book called "The Girl Who Played with Fire" which took me
one month to finish, then I could do it to a Kdrama as well. Before jumping
into this addiction, I was into Japanese movies first and I watched quite
plenty of them like Anohana Live Action which is my most favorite, 5cm per second
(anime), The Girl Who Leapt through Time, The Black Devil and The White Prince and No Longer Heroine to mention some.
So I guess, it’s fate that I watched I Have A Lover because I am not jumping
into melodrama but I dived into this which is quite amazing actually. I really
liked it.
Plot: This
drama is a romantic, family melodrama with a bit of comedy that revolves around
Do Hae Kang (Kim Hyun Joo) and her husband Choi Jin Eun (Ji Jin Hee). Then
there is a backstory to their families in which Do Hae Kang has a twin sister,
DokKo Yong Gi (Kim Hyun Joo) and they met after 30 years.
Plot (From RT): It's a 1991 movie presenting the story of Taeko,
27 year old, single woman who has lived her whole life in Tokyo. She decides to
visit her relatives in the countryside, and as the train travels through the
night, memories flood back to when she was in the fifth grade: the first immature
stirrings of romance, the onset of puberty, and the frustrations of math and
boys. At the station, she is met by young farmer Toshio and the encounters with
him begin to reconnect her to forgotten longings. From Academy Award nominated
director Isao Takahata (The Tale of The Princess Kaguya) and general producer
Hayao Miyazaki, Only Yesterday is a masterpiece of time and tone, rich with
humor and stirring emotion, and beautifully animated by one of the world's most
revered animation studios.
Comments:
I just found out about this film yesterday, thanks to rotten
tomatoes’ recommendation. Like the positive feedbacks from the site, I share
the same praise and applause for this film. It’s a very nourishing story that
we could relate to as it shows how our previous experiences would influence the
person that we are today. As a viewer, you just have to agree to how the
character has developed from the day to day course of our unique upbringing in life.
It also goes to show how childhood is a big factor to become the adult that we
used to imagine when we were young kids. Furthermore, it’s a film of
affirmation that we are the sum of the experiences we’ve had in the past. But
that’s not everything there is in the film, because the execution of the
message was wonderfully done like when you let life unfolds itself in front of
you. Hence, it is also done in a comforting manner that in some ways, our
choices would make a difference to our life. However, we only have to wait and
be the person who’s ready in taking a risk. Overall, this is a beautiful film
that you’d love to indulge with when life gets confusing and when you just feel
bored. Thus, I feel that in general without being too focused on the story, you
would enjoy the totality of the film because of the beautiful background that
we always witness in animated films from Japan. Having said this, the cinematography
was superb like in Hayao Miyazaki films. But I also have to take note of the
amazing sequencing in this film as it goes along well with the present and old
story of Taeko.
As expected, this drama gets better in every episode which is the reason for reigning on the top spot of the ratings battle that leaves its competitors behind by a huge margin. This is expected to continue next week however, with Goodbye Mr. Black's premier which is a comeback drama by Moon Chae Won (from Innocent Man) which is an exciting event because she will be facing off Innocent Man's co-star, Song Joong Ki. So I wonder how Lee Jin Wook and Moon Chae Won's pairing would fair among the K-netz. But I have seen snippets already and I must say that they have prepared a good competition for DOTS. But first, let me talk about how detail oriented this drama is and how it is put together once again.
Since everything happens for a reason, I have this gut feeling that Ye Hwa and her husband, Daniel are more than just passing characters to fill the gaps. Ye Hwa carries a gun in her sleep which is a sign that she must protect herself from imminent danger and her husband, Daniel who is a doctor definitely has a job that is more than complicated than what he is able to fix. Though, captain Shi Jin seems to trust them both, I am assuming that they are comrades of his. But I want to know the backstory of these characters and what they can further offer to the story. I hope that their story would be compelling as well.
Furthermore, these two just kissed which left a lingering feeling for both. With how it looks like, these two didn't have a good night sleep because of each other. Though it's hard to put a wall between these two cause of their inevitable attraction, Kang Mo Yeon is taken aback by Yoo Shi Jin's breezy moves towards her. He is a very charming yet also, dangerous which makes everything hard for Dr. Kang Mo Yeon because of his line of work. I hope that these two would meet a common ground so that they wouldn't waste their feelings and the genuineness of their characters. Besides, these two are well loved for their amazing chemistry onscreen which is apparent on their kissing scene.
Plot:Lin Truly reminisced the fun times in her high
school with friends. Set in 1994, the story takes you in the innocence of
youth, beauty of first love, sting of a heartache and friendships made. Part of
her memory was being a hardcore fangirl of Andy Lau and admiring Ou Yang as
the school’s most popular guy. Moreover, he tamed the bad guy Hzu Tai You and
became friends with him that changed the course of her life.
Commentaries:
The liberty of youth is one that cannot be exchanged
by the complicated reality of the adult world. ‘Our Times’ is a story that is
familiar scene among teenagers and at the same time, nostalgic to the young adult
viewers. The movie is something that is irresistible to all ages as soon as you
are appreciative of its witty, feisty and heartfelt offering. But why is this
Taiwanese film a huge hit among East Asian movie-goers? Is it because of the
gangster and the charismatic Hzu Tai You that girls are aiming to repeatedly admire on the big screen, or because of the warm-hearted and cute Truly Lin that has
captured Hzu Tai You's attention? One thing is for sure and that is, this drama
has made a storm because teenagers can associate themselves to the characters
while millennials can’t help but enjoy the movie as much. On the other note,
the story has a cliché plot where I was reminded of plenty of the dramas I’ve seen
and loved such as “Crazy little thing called love” which is a teen romance
movie from Thailand, “Reply Me 1997” which is a Kdrama hit in 2012 that
established tVN’s popularity, “In A Good Way” which is a feel good drama about
friendship set in the 90s and lastly, I couldn’t help but notice the similarity
between Hzu Tai You and Dao Ming Shi from Meteor Garden wherein both are hot
tempered characters. So I made the
research and according to the articles online, I shouldn’t be surprised because
F4 used to be talents of the same agency as Darren Wang (Hzu Tai You) and
Vivian Sung (Truly Lin) managed by Angie Chai. To be honest, Darren Wang has
the aura of Dao Ming Shi not only as Hzu Tai You but as a person himself.
Millennials may be skeptical on the genuineness of what social media can offer (me included), so I started blogging where I feel more at ease
in expressing myself. But in this film, there is a vindication to these widely
popular social media services such as Facebook and Youtube. I believe that it
has brought out one of the very essences of technology which is to bring people
closer together, regardless of where you are at the moment.
The documentary follows the journey of Samantha Futerman and Anais
Bordier in their search for biological roots in Busan, South Korea. It has begun when
Anais contacted Samantha thru Facebook on February, 2013 to give her a tap on their
resemblance and their undeniable similarities such as their birth date and the
place where they were born. From here, they started communicating via skype and
recording every detail that has covered their plight. Though miles apart from each other, Samantha who was adopted by American
couple and was based in LA while Anais who was adapted by French couple and was based in London to study; they managed to have their first trip to South Korea
together and met people who may be the key to unveiling to what has went through.
On her 30th birthday, Chen You Qing received a video greeting
from Li Da Ren, a good friend who managed to stick with her through the years.
The message depicted "the symptoms of premature aging" to which You
Ching considered as a bitter reality to her womanhood - a single, career driven independent woman
but at the same time, longing for a man's love. Little to her imagination, Li Da Ren is sneaky in
showing his true feelings for her that developed ever since they were high
school students. But how was he able to hide his 14 years of affection towards
You Qing? It was that one moment wherein You Qing asked if he likes her and to
his defense, he blurted a mistake that is "I will not fall in love with you" in which convinced You Qing to believe that there is no hidden meaning to their companionship.
It is a story of love, friendship and finding yourself in
between the roles that you serve in the life of one another. Both are hopeful to
preserve the memories they spent together as good friends. Will they able to look
for the person to spend the rest of their life with before they grasp their essence to each other's life?
This
romantic drama offering of tvN is probably one of my favorites this year
because first of all, my expectations were met and the actors didn’t fail to
deliver. Well, what do I expect from veterans like Choi Ji Woo as Ha No Ra, Lee
Sang Yoon as Cha Hyun Suk and Choi Won Young as Kim Woo Chul? However, the
rookie actors also excelled in their respective roles for instance, Kim Min Jae
as Kim Min Soo and Son Na Eun as Oh Hye Mi where they played as a young couple.
Basically it is a story of a relationship on the rocks which is due to the
differences between a married couple, Ha No Ra and Kim Woo Chul. The backstory
will show that they have failed to grow and to communicate because they eloped
at a young age. One day, Ha No Ra decided to go back to school again full of
hope to save the marriage with her husband, given the proper education and
qualifications. Unexpectedly, she met a high school friend, Cha Hyun Suk
wherein at first they showed angst towards each other. However, due to certain
circumstances, Cha Hyun Suk will treat Ha No Ra to make her university life the
best experience ever.
Synopsis: It’s a drama about
three brothers who were separated for more than 20 years and later met with no
recognition of each other. The eldest Jang Dong Soo has become a
police officer diligent in finding his lost brothers and to take revenge to the people who have caused their father's death as an activist leader. The middle
child Jang Dong Chul grew up as Heo Youngdal, a known gangster who apparently lost
his childhood memories; while the youngest Jang Dong Woo lived as Yoon Yang Ha
who was adopted by Chairman of a Casino and was raised to be the heir. Will
they be able to make up for the years lost and fill the gaps between them for a reunion?
Strengths:
Its strengths are what I
absolutely love about this drama. Probably one of the strengths which is the reason why I favored it mostly is the actors and the sequencing that was excellent to my standard. Since I have been following it from the beginning, I
have heard various comments and opinions regarding this series in both
extremes. Some viewers even make fun of the small details and some would tend
to overlook them because some simply enjoy. To me, it
has been very effective because I’m in that category of those who would fall to
compliment it first before taking notice of the weak points. So, I would like to further discuss the strengths of it.
In a nutshell: A romantic comedy series between a 39 year old career woman Ban Ji Yeon and a 25 year old medicine student and part timer Yoon Dong Ha.
I just finished this drama last week and I have been setting aside my commitment to write a review because I can't believe that it's already over. But now it's really sinking in that mondays and tuesdays will never be the same again, I think that it's time to make one.
Throughout the series, there was never a dull moment that was wasted. I don't have anything to dislike about the series, even with the presence of "polar bear" because it became an affirmation regarding the romance shared by Ban Ji Yeon and Yoon Dong Ha. Furthermore, I thought that he wasn't a bad person after all, contrary to the hateful things that has done to Ji Yeon which damaged his image. Also, I felt sorry to him that he was late to be back for her.
I feel lucky this season and that K-drama gods has been so good to me as I found myself watching three series that are currently airing (Angel Eyes, Triangle, Witch's Romance). All of which are I'm excited to update everytime and the reason I think is that,as much as my preference is concerned, they are watchable. However, I also want to start so many dramas because of the promising competition and plot but I haven't found a time yet for follow up thus for now, I'll have to enjoy myself indulging to this madness without having to overwhelm my viewing habits. Other shows that I'm considering are Dr. Stranger, Big Man & You're All Surrounded. But, I'll talk about Witch's Romance first because it makes me grin to have found an underdog that is right down my alley.
So what is it all about? This series is a remake of the Taiwanese drama called My Queen starring Ethan Ruan in the cable channel tvN, which is a story of a woman older by 14 years to a man whom he had an entangled fate with. When I say fate, I won't go through the details because we all know how fate works in Kdramas which is an infinite of possibilities so as much as I can, I wouldn't spoil it to my readers nor elaborate it because I think it's nothing special. I'm not really interested by the plot itself nor the cinematography but I'm most interested with the man who played the role of Yoon Dong Ha, Park Seo Joon. But before I start spazzing about his endless charm and charisma, let's look at the apple of his eyes, Ban Ji Yeon played by Uhm Jung Hwa. Surprisingly, these two have a chemistry together which is amazing and extraordinary. But for me, I give credit to their skills in portraying their roles because to be very honest, this is an unexpected pairing but it could work and it did. Maybe we can give credit to the writer, director and the production as well? Because of the tremendous job of making this happen with the casting. Nonetheless, the most amazing feat for this drama to be proud of for me, is 2014's rising star, Park Seo Joon. Yes, and I already gave that title to him because he deserved much recognition. Haha.
