Sunday 17 May 2020

[J-Drama Review] Nagareboshi

Intro

Story
It is a really touching story, I felt like it had a unique atmosphere it was slow but not boring.

The drama really grows and develops well.

Acting/Cast
I like Aya Ueto's dramas a lot as I believe and |I have to say that this is her best one very different style of role compared to her previous ones. Acting was excellent overall which made the characters feel dynamic and made the drama work really well.

Music
Nothing special to comment regarding the music but it fitted in the drama nicely.

Overall

[J-Drama Review] Himitsu Chouhouin Erika

[J-Drama Review] Hagetaka

[J-Drama Review] Atami no Sousakan

Sunday 3 May 2020

[K-Movie Review] My P.S. Partner

[K-Movie Review] On Your Wedding Day


Really clever film about from the guy's perspective

The 10 Best K-drama Couples of All Time

1. Weightlifting Fairy

[K-Movie Review] Parasite


Intro:
This movie had won many awards including the first foreign movie to win "Best Picture" at the Oscars. I was so excited to watch this movie and here is my review!

Story:
The story is really clever, it does do a good job on showing two sides of society the rich and poor.
It starts off as a like comedy / drama then slowly gets darker then becomes a thriller which it starts to explode. It was a very good build up for the most part.

My few issues where the film did not demonstrate/show where it was left to us to assume and even our own interpretations on certain things. The biggest issue was the transitions (especially later on) into each act as it did not feel smooth which sort of breaks the immersion.

Acting / Cast:
A great cast which was what made the film, all the characters felt right and well acted and kept to the tone of Parasite.

Music:


Overall:
It is a very good movie for sure but I would not call it the best K-Movie or a masterpiece.
Despite some of my feelings on the movie, it is a movie I would recommend to watch at some point.

My Score : 8.5/10 (I like it)

Saturday 2 May 2020

[K-Movie Review] Intimate Strangers

Intimate Strangers


More info: https://mydramalist.com/30900-intimate-strangers
Great movie and a great story which was told from the perspective from the guy. The acting was fantastic. It is a sad but happy movie done well.

[K-Movie Review] Exit

Exit

Really exiting and thrilling movie which can put you through the emotions. It is a good positive feel movie, always believe in yourself and never give up. Great cast including Jo Jung Suk & Yoona, they were amazing and really pulled it off. I would watch this again, again and so forth!

[K-Movie Review] Run Off

Run Off





















More info: https://mydramalist.com/15283-run-off
Seeing this being highly rated and being an ice hockey fan already had me excited but after watching it, wow. Considering that it is also based on a true story adds that extra level which this movie didn't even need. It will probably go into my top 10 favourite movies and I mean not just korean, the movie is that good!

My Top 10 Favourite K-Movies Of All Time

Well it is about time that I do a top 10 K-Movie list

I based my top 10 on various factors, how much I enjoyed them, did it struck a cord with me, quality, acting, ost, would I consider rewatching them again and more.

If a movie does not feature on this list it does not mean that it is bad. It could be that it just did not quite make the cut or that I have not got around to watching it yet.

Please note these are not full reviews, it is a top 10 list with small comments and I will probably do full reviews of each movie here at some stage.

So here is my TOP 10 K-MOVIES!!!

10. Always

More info: https://mydramalist.com/1814-always

9. Mission Possible





More info: https://mydramalist.com/37415-mission-possible

8. Hitman: Agent Jun



More info: https://mydramalist.com/37719-hitman
Wonderful move, really funny, heartwarming and a great story. 


7. The Con Artists (2014)





More info: https://mydramalist.com/9113-the-con-artists



6. Fabricated City



More info: https://mydramalist.com/15016-fabricated-city


5. Midnight Runners 

More info: https://mydramalist.com/20890-midnight-runners

Really well made movie. The intro to introduce the characters was great, they were really likeable. Nice balance between serious and comedy and with less than an hour and fifty it was really well packed.

4. On Your Wedding Day


More info: https://mydramalist.com/25618-your-wedding
Great movie and a great story which was told from the perspective from the guy. The acting was fantastic from the two leads Kim Young Kwang & Park Bo Young. It is a sad but happy movie done well.

3. Wonderful Radio


More info: https://mydramalist.com/3193-love-on-air
Beautiful movie, I really liked the story. Great soundtrack and I love the two songs Again and Bitter which Lee Min Jung sang them really well.

2. Run Off





















More info: https://mydramalist.com/15283-run-off
Seeing this being highly rated and being an ice hockey fan already had me excited but after watching it, wow. Considering that it was also inspired by a true story adds that extra level which this movie didn't even need. It will probably go into my top 10 favourite movies and I mean not just korean, the movie is that good!

1. Exit

Really exiting and thrilling movie which can put you through the emotions. It is a good positive feel movie, always believe in yourself and never give up. Great cast including Jo Jung Suk & Yoona, they were amazing and really pulled it off. I would watch this again, again and so forth!



Honourable Mentions:
Be With You, Wonderful Nightmare, The Man From Nowhere, Love 911, Mood Of The Day

THE END!

Hope you all enjoyed my top 10 list. My toplists can change.... Like, itt is hard to believe Coffee Prince used to be my number 1 for kdramas and now it is not even on the list! I have watched K-Dramas for almost about 10 years now, it is hard to believe how time has flew passed.





Thursday 30 April 2020

[C-Movie Review] Mulan

Mulan (2009)






Hua Mulan disguises herself as a man to take the place of her sick father in a war against nomadic invaders.







More info: https://mydramalist.com/123-mulan

Intro
We do not need a new Mulan movie, we have this one!

My Score : 9/10

[C-Movie Review] The Longest Night in Shanghai

The Longest Night in Shanghai (2007)



Lin Xi's the struggling taxi driver who literally runs Naoki down in the street after he goes walkabout. Eager to placate the mysterious foreigner, Lin offers to chauffeur him around town, yet by the time she discovers Naoki has neither money nor any grasp of Chinese, he's captivated by watching her attempt to deal with her own personal problems. She should get him back home, but the phone calls keep coming in. He should get back to his hotel, but the strange bond he's forming with this woman (even though he barely understands a word she's saying) is the first thing in years to have him feeling alive.




More info: https://mydramalist.com/831-the-longest-night-in-shanghai

Intro


I really loved this movie, I liked the plot of building a bond without really understanding what the other person is saying but through body language or writing, drawing and etc...
Filled with plenty of sweet moments throughout the movie

The acting had to be top notch and it was, considering the plot. Zhao Wei and Motoki Masahiro were excellent and had great chemistry which made this movie work.

Music done well to back the movie up, nothing really else to say here.

Great solid enjoyable movie

My Score : 9/10

[C-Movie Review] Gorgeous

Gorgeous (1999)






A young Tawianese/Mandarin girl finds a bottle which makes her go to Hong Kong to meet a guy named Albert. She finds out that Albert is gay and likes Chi Wu better. A mob hires a highly trained fighter to beat Chi Wu in a fist/ kick fight.







More info: https://mydramalist.com/1756-gorgeous

Intro
It's Jackie Chan! Seriously who doesn't like a good Jackie Chan movie?

Story is simple but fun

My Score : 8/10

[C-Movie Review] So Close

So Close (2002)






Lynn and Sue are two stunningly attractive sisters with a profession unlike any other. They are smart, sexy, and downright dangerous. These two are the coolest "hit women" in town and it seems nothing can get in their way until a tough and beautiful detective, Hong, gets dangerously close to their trail. Non-stop martial arts action ensues when Lynn and Sue get up close and personal with the law.







More info: https://mydramalist.com/998-so-close

Intro
Why do birds suddenly appear?

This is one of my favourite movies
It was the movie that started my whole interested
in asian films and dramas.
One day I will go into that in more detail
But for now lets move onto the review

Well what do I have to say about one of my favourite movies
well atually not muh

Its stars Zhao wei shu qi and Karen Mok
Its direted by Corey Yuen
seriously what more do i need to say
that is a awesom ast and and brilliant diretor
but granted bak then i had no idea who they were
i just piked the movie at random one day at a video rental store

so what did i like about it? it atually has a pretty good story
its like in two parts main fous is on two sisters played by shu qi and zhao wei
who are assassins for hire Lynn played by shu qi eventually wants to quit
while Sue played by zhao wei does not beause she has nothing anything else in her life so she wants to ontinue then the story fouses on her
and then the op played by karen mok fits in between them within the storyline
i dont want to say anything more about the story as that would be spoiling it

there were parts of the story where it ould have done slightly better
mainly the bad guys beause they were pretty muh presented quikly
as just some bad guys who wants ontrol in a ompany thats it
but then the movie was also quite long so it would have been hard
to add that as the movie may have beome too long after that

but the best parts in the movie are definitly the ation senes
they are really well done
everything from the ation to the amera work
and they even have a bit of story going on in the fights
and you have like funny moments paniking moments and then the serious moments
everything is blended in with the ation snes very well when needed
and it takes the story from a to b perfetly
for me with how well the ation snes were done
it overs the very few raks that the movie had.

Nothing else to say it looks simple but yet also ompliated
its a well put together ation movie that does
that wee bit more

My Score : 10/10

Sunday 26 April 2020

[K-Movie Review] One Step

One Step (2017)





Shi Hyun, a part-time worker at a convenience store, lost all her memory after a car accident and now has synesthesia (the colored hearing syndrome in which she can see sounds in colors). With the help of an internet broadcasting producer, the girl embarks on a trip in order to find a melody that she only listened to in her dreams. As the song nears completion, Shi Hyun's fragmented memories return to her.







Intro


Story
Surprisingly a very good film. I think it is very underrated. The synopsis is what you get, the journey which was done really well. It is not an epic story of an adventure but it is a really good story of a journey into music and trying to get your memories back.

Acting / Cast
Sandara Park was fantastic with her acting and singing.

Music
The songs were fantastic

Overall
Really enjoyed the film

My Score : 10/10


[K-Movie Review] Wonderful Radio

Love On-Air (2012)




Jin Ah is the former leader of idol group Purple, one of the first generation of girl groups in South Korea and also the most popular at that time. She now hosts the radio program "Wonderful Radio," but the program suffers from low ratings. The show's producer then takes time off to give birth. Her replacement is Lee Jae Hyeok. Jin Ah is late for her first meeting with PD Lee Jae Hyeok. Because of this, PD Lee Jae Hyeok gets an unfavorable impression of Jin Ah and their relationship soon turns worse. During the meeting, PD Lee Jae Hyeok instructs the staff to create a new section for the radio program to increase ratings.




Intro


Story
One of the best films that I have ever because it was almost done perfectly.
Only minor things are that maybe didn't have enough time to tell everything like the story behind purple, because the two other members characters are important in the plot but not really featured in the film much. Romance sort of came out from nowhere with next to no build up
Things they done right
The people who call in to sing were really good because it didn't take much explaining, you knew each situation with one scene and it was all very emotional. Main character was really good

Acting / Cast


Music


Overall


My Score : 10/10


My Top 10 Favourite WEB-Drama OST Songs

I will have a fews rules
only one song per drama and I will also try to be somewhat unique in the list when I can.
web-drama ost are allowed but no movie ost and i want to watch more movies and have it as its own list. Also it based on from what I remember what stood out so its partly how they used the song not just the song itself.

10. Last Minute Romance - Somebody


9. Just One Bite Season 2 - Zzan 



8. A-Teen - A-Teen



7. Dating Class - Present, To You



6. Go-ho's Starry Night - Dreamer



5. Her Lovely Heels - Should I Love Alone


4. We Broke Up - Two of US


3. Guitar And Hot Pants - Can Be Heard From The Star


2. Wednesday 3:30 PM - I Just Want To


1. Love Playlist: Season 4 - Be My Love


My Top 10 Favourite K-Drama OST Songs

I will have a few rules
Only one song per drama and I will also try to be somewhat unique in the list when I can.
No web-drama or movie ost are allowed as I want both to have their own lists to help have more variety on the top lists.

10. Itaewon Class - Start


9. Cunning Single Lady - Mirror Mirror


8. You're Beautiful - Still


7. Sassy Go Go - Turtles Fly By


6. Suspicious Partner - The Memory Of That Day


5. Weightlifting Fairy - You & I


4. Something About 1 Percent - I want you bad




3. Go Back Couple - Every Single Day



2. Just Between Lovers - Where We


1. Healer - Eternal Love

Saturday 25 April 2020

[WEB-Drama Review] Dramaworld

Dramaworld (2016)

Claire Duncan, a huge fan of K-Drama gets her world turned upside down when with a touch of magic, she finds herself transported into a magical realm Dramaworld where she has the power to alter her favourite K-Drama 'Taste of Love.’ story line as a "Facilitator." Claire can’t just watch the drama unfold. She’s got to be a part of it.
https://mydramalist.com/16797-dramaworld

Intro
Isn't this all of our dreams? Challenge that Dramaworld had is that it could never represent everyone

Story
Second half was by far better than the first. Initially it almost as if it tried to be serious which didn't quite work mainly due to that Claire was never going to represent every K-Drama which seemed like it was trying to go for. Once it became its own thing, being funny, silly and maybe a bit ott of times but it worked! I enjoyed it.

Acting / Cast
The cast was great especially those surrounding Liv Hewson. I think Liv was good but I was not amazed, I felt that was due to in-experience and I hope she comes back for season 2 as she has been more since Dramaworld.

Music


Overall


My Score : 8.5/10

[K-Drama S Review] Little Girl K

Little Girl K (2011)







Cha Yeon Jin is a high school girl whose outwardly normal existence and reticent character masks her true identity: she is a professional assassin who is seeking out her biological father in order to avenge her mother.







https://mydramalist.com/2911-little-girl-k




Intro
I wanted to see something different, oh boy did I get it here!

Story
There is a serious side which is dark but then there is the goofy side on the odd occasions which made it feel weird it was out of place
Really good revenge plot.

Acting / Cast
Great acting

Music


Overall


My Score : 9/10

[WEB-Drama Review] We Broke Up

We Broke Up (2015)



Ji Won Yeong is an aspiring musician and the lead singer of a band while No Woo Ri works at a fashion company. The two met at one of Won Yeong's gigs and their relationship blossomed. Soon, they agreed to live together. Things got complicated when they both decided to break up.

Due to complications with the security deposit and the loan on the apartment, the two have no choice but to keep living together as roommates until the contract is up and when they're financially able to leave..."




https://mydramalist.com/13812-we-broke-up


Intro
Sandara Park!

Story
It was cute and had a good story. There were a few good references to 2ne1. Sadly it felt like there were a few side plots which never went anywhere where I felt it would have been better just to focus on the leads. They are the stars of the show on all levels from story to acting.

Acting / Cast
Sandara Park and Kang Seung Yoon looked so cute together. They were great together, had good chemistry without having to do anything in particular.

Music
I really liked the title song which the leads sing, other than that there is good background music here and there.

Overall
This is one of the web-dramas that I would like to see more of. It was well done but sadly a bit short in the sense of feeling not quite complete but it is still a great one to watch!

My Score : 8/10

[K-Drama S Review] Last Minute Romance

Last Minute Romance (2017)







Baek-Se (Han Seung-Yeon) lives an ordinary life. She is a big fan of a top star. One day, Baek-Se is diagnosed with a terminal disease and she doesn't have much time left to live. She decides to have a contract date with Dong-Joon (Lee Seo-Won) who looks just like the top star she likes.








More info : https://mydramalist.com/23792-last-minute-romance

Intro


Story


Acting / Cast
Seung Yeon acting continues to improve, you can see her progression throughout the web-dramas / dramas that she has been in and here she done a great job. The cast overall was great here.

Music


Overall


My Score : 10/10

Friday 24 April 2020

[K-Drama S Review] Guitar & Hot Pants

Drama Festival 2014: Guitars and Hot Pants (2014)





Tae Joo, a former leader of the band, One Day, lives an unwilling and guilty like after losing co-member Ki Chan in an accident 15 years ago. Seung Pil, another member of the band, succeeds and becomes the director of a management that produces popular idols. Anna, from the group Tinkerbell under Seung Pil, can't sing or dance well and one day makes a serious mistake on live TV. Being criticized, Anna gets vocal training from Tae Joo and although they bicker and quarrel, they complete the song left unfinished by Ki Chan.





More info: https://mydramalist.com/12060-drama-festival-2014-guitars-and-hot-pants

Intro
Wanted to see something short and came across this.

Story
What I really liked about this special was the introduction it explained the situation perfectly, i
t was easy to understand who is who and what they're feeling or wanting.
The story like started straight away and went through it really well, it didn't over complicate or drag
but yet the story was very interesting.

Acting / Cast
Seung Yeon was brilliant in this I am a fan of Kara. I enjoyed secret love & her lovely heels
I want to see her in more of these specials. Kim Da Hyun was also very good.

Music
Great music in this one, it is a big part in the drama and the tracks in it are great.
To have Seung Yeon in it is awesome

Overall
This is a pretty good one to start off with for new comers to kdramas or after watching a bad one.
It's simple but with a good feel factor

My Score : 10/10

[WEB-Drama Review] Her Lovely Heels

Her Lovely Heels (2014)







The story about secret office love affair between Shin Ji Hoo, a 24 year-old woman who’s afraid of love and Oh Tae Soo, a 28 year-old man who has lots of dating experience and is rather cynical about love, but slowly transforms as he meets Ji Hoo.








More info: https://mydramalist.com/8934-her-lovely-heels



Intro
Wanted to see something short and came across this.

Story
It was well written despite it being short. Maybe it could have had an extra minute or two here and there.

Acting / Cast
Seung Yeon was good.

Music
Great music in this one.

Overall
It is short and sweet. Not the best web-drama for sure but

My Score : 8.5/10

My Top 10 Favourite Korean Web-Dramas Of All Time

I decided to have two rules for this list.

#1 - Only 1 season per web-drama so therefore I provide a bigger range of web-dramas in the list.
#2 - I count drama specials etc... the same as web-dramas (roughly same runtime.)

I have to say making this list was actually tough compared to my top 10 k-dramas one, there I knew where to place them (maybe could swap 1 around) but here almost every one listed here I could have as number one

10. Dramaworld (2016)


Isn't this all of our dreams? Challenge that Dramaworld had is that it could never represent everyone
Second half is must stronger than the first with it being hilarious and fun.

9. Little Girl K (2011)


8. Splash Splash LOVE (2015)




7. Just One Bite (2018)

More info: https://mydramalist.com/30515-just-one-bite

Certain scenes will make you hungry
can get very deep at times too

6. Dating Class (2019)


This felt very realistic in terms of the lessons, many situations the characters go through I either relate to or know someone who has went through it.

5. Somehow 18 (2017)

More info: https://mydramalist.com/23929-somehow-18

4. Love Playlist: Season 4 (2019)

More info: https://mydramalist.com/34188-love-playlist-season-4

I feel that Love Playlist has a bit of an unfair advantage since it has the depth of 4 seasons but of course it is really good with many different characters and to add actress Kim Sae Ron into the mix was certainly a treat! Just a shame when some characters take a step back between seasons but then others come forward and certainly reach the same level if not higher!

3. Frozen Love (2017)

More info: https://mydramalist.com/22083-binggoo

2. You Drive Me Crazy (2018)

More Info: https://mydramalist.com/28300-you-drive-me-crazy

1. Wednesday 3:30 PM (2017)


Beautiful ost