Review: Because It’s The First Time (2015)

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. 

Review: Twenty Again

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.

Quick ReCap: Nine Times Time Travel

Introduction

Watch: Episode 2 & 3

Updates:
Sung Woo has found out the mystery of lighting up the incense - it's when the door opens for him to go way back 20 years before the present time.

To everyone who's not familiar of the use of incense like myself. According to google: some culture believes that it takes away evil and bad luck, to which they are being used mainly in ceremonies, meditation, etc.

But in this drama, incense is a key instrument to bring Sung Woo back in time. This provides the opportunity to change the wrong decisions made in the past into right ones as it could greatly affect the present life and the future of his family.

Drama Introduction: Nine Times Time Travel

Episode 1: Synopsis / Watch! 

I was deeply impressed and stunned by the beauty of these shots as much as I appreciated its effort to engage me in. If this thing is going to continue for the rest of the episodes, then I'll be there to witness for sure.

The ones who are in charge of the scenery have brilliant eye-view. Thanks for the great visual treats you've given me in your first episode, drama. I owe you a lot.

[Kdrama Recommendation] Mandate of Heaven, Heartless City

Mandate of Heaven

Now Watching: Ep 14

This is such an underrated in comparison of the essence of its production to the ones who are getting more popularity but with lesser substance to what this drama has to offer to the viewers. Seriously.

Review: The King 2 Hearts

Watch it Online!

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

Watch it Online!

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: A Werewolf Boy

Blu-Ray DVD

Taiwan Version

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Family

Release Date: October 31, 2012

Casts:

Song Joong Ki - Chul Soo

Park Bo Young - Soon Yi / Eun Joo

Synopsis:

This is a story of a werewolf that has a physical attribute that of a human being. However, his behavior is in the likeness of his identity. One day, he appeared out of nowhere at the yard of a house where Soon Yi's family are the newly transferred residents. They relocated themselves in the village far from the city as advised by the doctor of hers due to her weak lung condition. She is to stay at home where she could do self study for exam qualifications.

They reported the case of Chul Soo, the werewolf boy to the authorities. But for the mean time, while the authorities investigate and are looking for a better place for him to stay, and since the family are the first to find out about him, they had to take over the role of being his guardian. 

Review: Nice Guy

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Support the original DVD!

Release Date: September 12, 2012
Genre: Melodrama, Romance
Casts:

Song Joong Ki - Kang Maru
Moon Chae Won - Seo Eun Gi
Park Shi Yeon - Han Jee Hee

Review: Chuno

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Support the Original DVD 

Genre: Period, Drama, Action, Romance
Release Date: January, 2010
Casts: 

• Jang Hyuk as Lee Dae Gil
• Oh Ji Ho as Song Tae Ha
• Lee Da Hae as Un Nyun / Kim Hye Won
• Lee Jong Hyuk as Hwang Chul Woong
• Gong Hyung Jin as Eop Bok
• Han Jung Soo as General Choi
• Kim Ji Suk as Wang Son
• Kim Ha Eun as Sul Hwa

Synopsis:

The story followed the life of Lee Dae Gil, a slave hunter that holds a painful memory of the past. he used to be a young master of a household until one of their servants, the brother of the woman he cared for (Un Nyun) put the household on fire, killing the family members except for the young master who was left with a mark on the left side of his face due to the intentional course of event. This caused Lee Dae Gil to seek revenge to the siblings by trailing his ex-lover whom he believed abandoned him. On their next encounter, Un Nyun no longer exist as she changed her identity as Kim Hye Won.

Review: Paradise Ranch

WATCH IT ONLINE!

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: K-drama Dump

1. Boys Over Flowers - Episode 10
WATCH IT ONLINE!
Korea Version

Review: Chuno The Slave Hunters

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Oh My Goodness. If I were to put this in one word, it's BADASS! Gaaaad, I'm only at episode 8 of Chuno and it's making me want to give it a perfect 10/10 ratings already! I really want to give this series a special treatment because they deserve it, I felt like the story is a well thought of together with the mind-blowing scenes. Everything is just perfect based on what I've seen so far that it makes me want to shed some tears right here. *insert incomprehensible spazz here and there*  I'm so hyped up right now, I can't even think straight! Goodness this series is too good to be true, how the heck was it possible? I'm 3 years late and I'm only seeing this now, where in the world have I lost myself into to miss this out?! Heck. Honestly, I am pressured to do a review so I'm not gonna do that, I will fail badly and there won't be any redemption to that I suppose. HAHA!! So I think it's a better idea to share in this blog what I feel regarding this series as I go on watching. Hopefully, it will turn out to be a decent entry which I think is hard. There will be a lot of spazz that will take place. 

Review: Iljimae

WATCH IT ONLINE!

Release Date: May 21, 2008
Genre: Period, Comedy, Action, Drama
Characters:

• Lee Jun Ki as Iljimae / Yong / Lee Geom
• Yeo Jin Goo as Geom (child)
• Han Hyo Joo as Eun Chae
• Kim Yoo Jung as Eun Chae (child)
• Lee Young Ah as Bong Soon
• Jung Da Bin as Bong Soon (child)
• Park Shi Hoo as Shi Hoo / Ja Dol
• Lee David as Ja Dol (teen)

Review: Hong Gil Dong

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

English Subtitled

OST

Release Date: January 2, 2008
Genre: Period, Drama, Comedy, Action
Characters:

Kang Ji-hwan as Hong Gil Dong
Sung Yu-ri as Heo Yi-nok
Jang Keun-suk as Lee Chang-hwi

Synopsis:

One of our heroes in the Joseon Dynasty and was dubbed as the Korean Robinhood, popularly known as Hong Gil Dong, is a burglar of corrupt government officials. He's done his job to return the favor to the people who was rubbed of their money and rights by the greedy authorities. As he was able to do his mission a la ninja, Hong Gil Dong eventually won the hearts of the people. Sounds interesting, right? To continue the story with my blurry memory of 2009, I will recall what it had made me feel, that which is incomparable, irreplaceable and one of a kind. 

Review: Shining Inheritance

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Buy the OST for only $13.99!

Release Date: April 25, 2009
Genre: Family, Drama, Romance
Characters:

• Han Hyo Joo as Go Eun Sung
• Lee Seung Gi as Sun Woo Hwan
• Bae Soo Bin as Park Joon Se
• Moon Chae Won as Yoo Seung Mi

Review: Capital Scandal

WATCH IT ONLINE!

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.

Review: Reply Me 1997

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Release Date: July 24, 2012
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Youth

My August-September 2012 twitter timeline was mostly filled with rants over Reply Me 1997. At first I wasn't confident in giving it a try for two reasons. First, I wasn't familiar with the casts and second, they are rookie actors not to mention idols as considered by Kpop fans. Thus, I was hesitant in putting my time and effort on it until last February. Beforehand, I have heard good reviews about this tvN drama made mostly by TVXQ fans and even TVXQ themselves. They once shared in a radio show that they were an avid follower of each episode of the drama despite of their tight schedule. That gave me interest to the series despite of pushing it aside for other dramas which are readily available to watch. By  February this year, it was recommended to me by a friend and she's lend me a copy of it for me to watch.