Time

Synopsis from Yesasia:
Plastic surgery has become a hot topic in Korea, covered in films ranging from horrors like Cinderella to romantic comedies like 200 Pounds Beauty. Kim addresses this controversial theme in a slightly different way. Se Hee (Sung Hyun Ah) and Ji Woo (Ha Jung Woo - The Unforgiven) have been together for years, but their relationship is slowly dying down, their love changing into a mere mildly pleasing familiarity. To solve her problems, Se Hee makes a drastic decision: change her facial appearances completely through plastic surgery and start a new life. Weeks later, Ji Woo meets a strange waitress at a cafe. She calls herself Sae Hee and, even though he's never seen her before, something feels strangely familiar...

My comments:
I surprisingly like Time and I don’t know why. The main characters were not too likeable, the story was a bit unbelievable and I think I still didn’t fully get the ending. However, it made me think a lot after watching it. I have a lot to say about this movie but for some odd reasons, I’m unable to express my thoughts. Hmmm…let’s say from this movie, we can see how love can be destructive, how love can make a person lose its mind and identity…Hey, this is actually a love story!

What a sucky week...so far!

It's one of those days in which I have to rant about childish and non-constructive stuff. The week's been pretty bad so far...First, my "monthly" enemy caught me off guard by arriving a few days earlier. Second, it's so hot and humid in Montreal these days that makes me more irritated. Finally, I woke up this morning with 15 mosquito bites (damn mosquitoes!!!), which is now killing me!!! Argh...I hate summer!!!

Some randomness

I officially declare that I’m giving up on The Devil (KBS, 20 episodes) after 2 episodes. I feel sorry to my friend who highly recommended to me (but she’s an avid fan of Joo Ji Hoon and I’m obviously not…). Well, I just can’t go further, from the two episodes that I watched, I was constantly checking the time and that’s not a good sign. Who knows, I might pick up later but I’m really not in the mood now…

Because of unexpectedly discontinuing The Devil, I cached New Talent Singing Awards – Toronto Region on Fairchild tonight. I have to say that this year’s contestants were quite good, especially on their solo performance.

A Day For An Affair

A Day For An Affair Synopsis (from http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/)
Two boredom-stricken housewives who use “Dew” and “Little Bird” as their on-line ID are longing for an escape. One day, when Dew and Little Bird are both in a motel, in separate rooms and with a different man, a policeman comes into Dew’s room and arrests them. Watching the scene, Little Bird is startled to find out that the policeman is her husband…

My comments:
I didn’t like this movie. Basically, it’s about desperate housewives doing “crazy” things without thinking about the consequences. I couldn’t connect and sympathize with the characters and I find them all unlikable. Disappointing…

18 vs. 29

I completely ignored 18 vs.29 (KBS, 16 episodes) back in 2005 but hey since this drama happens to be available for me to watch now, so why not?...

18 vs. 29 Sypnosis (from KBS Global)
This drama takes the audience back to the 1990s. The main character of the drama, Yoo Hye-chan, 29, reverts mentally to an 18-year-old girl after having a car accident. As she recovers her memory and the relationship with her husband, Kang Sang-yeong, she goes through many hilarious and heart-moving moments.

Hye-chan, who was a beauty queen in high school, marries her former classmate Kang Bong-man. In 2005, she turns 29. But after a fierce fight with her husband, she heads to court to file for divorce, unable to control her rage anymore. On her way to court, her car clashes with a truck, and as a result she develops amnesia. She only remembers herself as a senior high schooler, when she was sassy and outgoing, and popular with her peers. As her memory reverts to her adolescent years, she suddenly becomes crazy about the dance group "Seo Tae Ji and Kids", which was popular with teenagers back in the '90s. While looking strong on the surface, deep inside she is soft-hearted and feeble. She likes Jane Campion's movie "Piano" a lot. Although Kang Bong-man, nicknamed "Ice Prince", is the ideal of every girl in Hye-chan's school, she regards him as shallow. The guy she really likes is her senior, Jeong Shi-woo.

But in reality, Hye-chan's husband is Kang Bong-man, whom she despised so much in high school. He changes his name to Kang Sang-yeong when he becomes an actor. In the latter part of the drama, Hye-chan recovers her memory and pursues her dream of becoming a film director. When Hye-chan loses her memory, Sang-yeong becomes preoccupied with mending their shattered relationship. He collects all the messages they had exchanged in the past to help her remember who he is. The replays of Hye-chan's memories, which are presented in diverse ways, add to the drama's tantalizing plot.

Cast:
Park Sun Young as Yoo Hye Chan
Ryu Soo Young as Kang Bong Man/Kang Sang Young
Park Eun Hye as Shin Ji Young
Lee Joong Moon as Kim Noon
Jo Eun Ji as Yoo Hye Won
Lee Sang Woo as Kang Bong Kyu


My comments:
Ah…amnesia…a theme that is done to death in Korean dramas but I can tolerate it as long as they play it out nicely. Honestly, this drama reminds me a bit of Full House (male lead character being a current hot actor of the nation, the wife is an aspiring writer, the home cleaning segments and some moving in and out scenes). The drama is sometimes silly, slapstick, hilarious and touching; therefore it's a feel-good drama, which the audience don't have to think much. We have the impression at first that Bong Man is the careless husband with Hye Chan loving him and suffering more. It proves us wrong from the flashbacks at the end, showing how their loved started. Those are really cute and sweet moments and I liked that flashback idea.

I know a lot of people were rooting for Noon (the high school student) and going gaga over Choi Si Won as the young Bong Man but sorry, not my cup of tea as they can call me “noona” (haha!). My eyes were pretty fixated on Ryu Soo Young. I always thought that he looked intimidating but in this drama, he looks softer (?) and quite cute. Another reason to anticipate Bad Couple once it's finished airing in Korea. Ji Young played by Park Eun Hye is not really that evil; she did annoying things but at least she wasn’t trying to ruin Bong Man’s career. Overall, an enjoyable drama.

Protégé

I didn’t see an HK movie for some time but Protégé is one of the movies that I was looking forward to because of the grand cast, the director and the producer. I didn’t care if the movie sucks; just seeing Andy Lau, Daniel Wu and Louis Koo in one movie is satisfying enough…ha!

Synopsis from Yesasia:
Special agent Nick (Daniel Wu), is deep undercover in the heart of Asia’s lucrative crime trade as he plays protégé to one of the key players in the game, “Banker” (Andy Lau). In the eight years he has been infiltrating the underworld industry, Nick has amassed enough evidence to indict Banker, but has been ordered to remain undercover and expose the identity of the man behind Banker in order to bring down the entire organization. However, as Nick becomes more trusted and embroiled with Banker’s crime family, he finds himself corrupted by the easy money and his new found power. Unable to separate himself from his undercover persona, he immerses himself into his role as a crime figure. In the seedy underbelly of mob culture, where redemption comes at a price and the borders of justice, loyalties and truth are constantly changing, Nick grapples with dangerous choices and finds himself flirting with more than the devil. Following in the tradition of films like Traffic, Protégé is a suspense-filled exploration of the complex relationships and loyalties within the multilayered, international crime syndicates of today.

My comments:

It’s sure an interesting movie; we get to see the making process of heroin and we are exposed to the “slangs” of the heroin trade. There are not a lot of action scenes but it’s still exciting and tense especially that drug bust sequence. I’m pretty impressed with the acting this time because they are actually into their characters. Andy Lau is an interesting character. He’s the drug lord with a lot of illnesses but he never took drugs himself and tells Daniel Wu to stay away from those who take. He claims that since there is demand so he supplies and he should not be blamed. He seems to have a point and right but it doesn’t seem right too…hmmm…

The Best Romance

Synopsis from Yesasia:
Romance can bloom out of the strangest events. Sometimes even very embarrassing ones. Running after a pickpocket, Detective Kang Jae Hyuk (Lee Dong Wook, My Girl) finds out how problematic journalist Choi Soo Jin (Hyun Young, The Art of Seduction) can be when the fish skewer she's eating magically ends up impaled in his abdomen. Is it destiny, love at first sight? Not quite. But the two start to form a reluctant but formidable alliance: he's good looking, a great fighter, and a good detective. And she's determined to get her story done. Together, they make The Perfect Couple.


My comments:
Errr…although I’m a fan of Lee Dong Wook, I would still say that this movie is mediocre. I did have some laughs and I actually find the later half better than the first half which was lame with the petty bickering. But the movie is a bit too long for such thin plot. Although I’m neutral to Hyun Young (and her voice) but I still find her unbearable here. It’s not really the “best romance” here…!

H.I.T

Just when I think it was record breaking to finish 16 episodes of Thank You in 4 days last month, I used 3 days to finish another K-drama, H.I.T (MBC, 20 episodes) just now…I’m getting crazier these days…

H.I.T Synopsis (from MBC Global)
A love story.
A story of men and women who have different values in their profession, who each go through their personal conflicts and doubts, but in the end, come to understand each other.

A drama about professionals.
Previously, Korean TV series only used the characters' occupations as a mere backdrop and hardly ever dealt with the joys and sorrows of the profession.This series portrays prosecutors and police officers through the conflicts of values and their daily lives.

A story of a team.
In modern society, everything happens in units of teams, families being the only exception.With many families breaking up in this day and age, teams are becoming your family outside the family.Viewers will be able to relate to the conflicts and interests among the team members and experience a catharsis from the trust and friendship that overcomes those conflicts.This is a success story of team members who overcome their differences and unite as one.

A series that challenges the stereotype.
It breaks the stereotype that prosecutors are rigid and always play by the book, and only men can be homicide detectives. This series is based on a real-life prosecutor representing his new generation and the first female chief of homicide. It will deliver their challenging spirit to the viewers and satisfy their needs for something new as well as entertain through the portrayal of a life of a woman in a men's world.

A constant roller-coaster ride.
On top of the romantic love affair and strong loyalty among the team members, its crime busting action will relieve the stress of viewers who are exposed to the constant danger of crimes in modern society.The carefully detailed scenes will be spectacular and entertaining..

Cast:
Go Hyun Jung as Cha Soo Kyung
Ha Jung Woo as Kim Jae Yoon
Kim Jung Min as Kim Young Doo
Yoon Ji Min as Jung In Hee
Son Hyun Joo as Jo Gyu Won
Jung Dong Jin as Kim Il Joo
Kim Jung Tae as Shim Jong Geum
Choi Il Hwa as Kang Ol Ha
Dong Suk as Nam Sung Sik

My comments:
This drama was not on my priority list because besides the female lead, Go Hyun Jung, I wasn’t exactly familiar with the rest of the cast. However, I wanted something that is not too dramatic and I certainly wasn’t looking for brainless rom-com so I picked H.I.T (Homicide Investigation Team). I’m glad I did because it’s an enjoyable, exciting and suspenseful police/crime drama. Little by little, I recognize some of the cast, notable ones: Ha Jung Woo who I remember as Jeon Do Yeon’s reliable and loyal bodyguard in Lovers in Prague and Jung Dong Jin who I remember as the student who liked Han Chae Young in Fireworks.

H.I.T is different from usual Korean dramas. The pace is even throughout the drama and the romance element is light; it focuses more on the cases (which I liked) and how people change. The H.I.T team is formed by a bunch “problematic” police officers. They started as an highly uncooperative team with each one having their desires/selfishness/dark sides. From the time they spent together as a team, they start to understand, care, trust and support each other. I find the process of this bonding very touching. The acting is all good. The last murderer really gave me chills when he laughs and shows his teeth!

I was sinked in the drama since episode 1 and I already felt the tension and chemistry between Soo Kyung (Go Hyun Jung) and Jae Yoon (Ha Jung Woo). Their courtship was rather funny but they did not share a lot of romantic moments together. Is it only me, I think that once they are together, their chemistry is not as sparkling...However, we do witness a rather hilarious bed scene at the end. From the looks of it, it’s highly possible that there is a sequel.

* Opening credit of the drama

Playlist of early June

Summer is approaching and it's the peak period for new song/album releases. There are a lot of good songs lately and I must be in the mood for traditional Chinese instruments fused in pop music lately…

中國話 – S.H.E => I’m not their fan but they happen to have catchy songs each year and I think this is one.

小小 – Joey Yung => When I first heard it, I didn’t recognize it was Joey and what is even more shocking, I didn’t have the slightest hint that it’s a Jay composition. Hide in shame!

咕嘰咕嘰 - Stefanie Sun => a cute and lively song with Yanzi showing a different side of her.

酷愛 – Hins Cheung => I usually like Hins’ Mandarin songs more but his newest Cantonese song is quality stuff from this year. His voice is deeper in this song.

Into The Sunlight

OMG…I can’t believe I was able to dig Into The Sunlight (MBC, 16 episodes) starring Cha Tae Hyun, Kim Hyun Joo, Jang Hyuk and Kim Ha Neul. It’s a drama from 1999!

My little summary:
Kang In Ha (Cha Tae Hyun) and Han Myung Ha (Jang Hyuk) are brothers but separated due their parents’ divorce but they are unaware of each other’s existence. In Ha stayed with his businessman father in a rich and luxurious environment. His father remarried and he has a stepsister who he tends to ignore. On the other hand, Myung Ha grew up in a poor environment with his mother being a night club singer and he uses his fists to solve matters frequently but he’s still a kind person. Lee Yeon Hee (Kim Hyun Joo) is Myung Ha’s neighbor and she is a parentless girl living with her aunt and uncle. Then there is Jung Soo Bin (Kim Ha Neul) who is an illegitimate daughter of a rich businessman happens to be Yeon Hee’s best friend since high school.

In Ha and Myung Ha hate each other’s guts at first but once In Ha knows that Myung Ha is his younger brother, he tries hard to make Myung Ha accept him with Myung Ha ignoring him. In Ha is attracted to Yeon Hee from their first encounter but since he’s rich and she’s poor, opposing parents come to the picture. Myung Ha and Soo Bin also love each other but he’s poor and she’s rich, so another pair of opposing parents comes to the picture as well. One more problem for all of them is that In Ha and Soo Bin have a marriage that is arranged by their parents even though they don’t have feelings for each other. Basically, it’s about how these 4 characters struggle for life and love.

Cast:

Cha Tae Hyun as Kang In Ha

Jang Hyuk as Han Myung Ha

Kim Hyun Joo as Lee Yeon Hee

Kim Ha Neul as Jung Soo Bin

My comments:
The star-studded cast attracted me to watch this as I was curious to see how they were 8 years ago. It’s hard to imagine Cha Tae Hyun as a playboy and being serious and Jang Hyuk really looked like a mix of Jung Woo Sung and Jo In Sung back then. Both ladies didn’t change much. The music played in the drama is very 90s but I must praise the props for this drama, it was very chic! I don’t remember if long coats were fashionable back then but it sure doesn’t suit both guys as it made them look short.

Since it’s an old drama so the pace is slower and it dragged a little bit here and there but overall, I didn’t find it boring. It’s not stuff that I haven’t seen before but what I find amazing is that I find all 4 major characters likeable and they had my sympathy as none of them is evil. You know most of the time, the second female or male character or even both tend to do annoying things because of L-O-V-E but not in this case. Their acting back then was not spectacular but it was passable and effective. Frankly speaking, I didn’t feel the love between both couples is as deep as they claimed to be. But at the end, I’m touched that the brothers are getting along well and I was hoping for a better closure for Jang Hyuk and Kim Ha Neul’s characters. The ending was rushed as there were a lot of unresolved matters left unexplained.

Observation # 1 => watching this drama reminds me that I haven’t seen real smoking scenes since All In…

Observation # 2 => I spotted Song Il Gook in the drama as a gangster working for Jang Hyuk and he had like 3 dialogues!

Just for fun...look at how they looked 8 years ago and now...

Jang Hyuk, Cha Tae Hyun, Kim Hyun Joo and Kim Ha Neul in Into The Sunlight (1999)

Cha Tae Hyun in Flowers For My Life (2007)

Kim Hyun Joo in To Marry A Millionaire (2005)

Jang Hyuk in Thank You (2007)

Kim Ha Neul in 90 Days, Time To Love (2006)