Wednesday, August 14, 2013

The Top 20 list part 2

Yesterday I shared my Top 20 Worst villains/ bad guys (which is supposed to be the Top 10, but what can you do?). Since I had a difficult time naming the worst villain from that drama, I will let you decide among names listed below, to see who racks in the most votes for the Worst villain/ bad guy from each of the TV dramas.

1. From the very popular k-drama, Faith, who do you feel was the worst villain/ bad guy out of the two?
  • Gi Cheo Prince or
  •  Deuk Heung


2. The melodrama, Stairway to Heaven, who do you feel was the worst out of the three?

  • Han Yu Ri (step-sister)  or
  • Tae Mira (step-mom)    or
  • Han Tae Hwa (step-brother)
3. From the melodrama, Ice Adonis, who do you feel was the worst villain out of the two?

  • Choi Yoo Ra (step-sister)  or
  • Choi In Seok (step-father)

4. The tragic love story, Ja Myung Go, who do you feel was the worst of the two?

  • Princess Ra Hee  or
  • Prince Hodong

5. In Crazy Love, who do you feel is the worst villain out of the three?

  • Han Na Young  or
  • Baek Jae Hyuk  or
  • Heo Myung Ja

6. The historical love tale and conspiracy, Jang Ok Jung: Live in Love, who do you feel was the worst of the two?

  • Lady Choi Sook Bin  or
  • Jang Hyeon
7. In Rooftop Prince, who do you feel is the worst villain of the two?
  • Se Na/ Crown Princess Hwa Yong
  • Young Tae Moo

8. In King 2 Hearts, who do you feel was the worst villain of the two?

  • Bong Bong
  • Kim Bong Goo

Review: Howling

Howling – 하울링. The Top 10 most searched Korean Movies for the year 2012.


Synopsis:
A series of mysterious murders with an animal bite mark as its only clue catches the attention of homicide detective, Sang Gil, who starts investigating the case, as well as rookie detective, Eun Young as his partner. Blinded by the chance to earn a long overdue promotion, Sang Gil continues to investigate on his own without reporting to his superiors. Eun Young questions the oddity of the bite mark on the body, but Sang Gil ignores her. As bodies start to pile up, the two, without realizing the seriousness, discover the bite marks on the bodies belong to a wolf-dog and all the victims are connected to one another.




My thoughts on this:
I discovered this movie assuming from its title and vague description that it was another werewolf movie. After discarding that fact, I found it was very interesting and enjoyable movie. 


One thing this movie did have was A LOT of intrigue, which was one of the reasons I kept on watching it. Though, I would have liked to see a different ending. The ending was quite sad, I have to say I did not really expect things to end the way they did.

Overall, it's not the best thriller, but it has a particular way of keeping you interested. I'd say it is well worth watching.







Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Top 20 worst villains/ bad guys

It is that time of the month again, were I rank the top my 10 Korean dramas, movies, anime, J-dramas, T-dramas and so on. Of course, they'll all be stuff that I've already watched or am currently watching.

I will share my thoughts on why I chose them, what drama they were in as well as the actor who portrayed that character. Whether you agree with me or not on my decisions, you are welcomed to your own opinions. Again, these titles were selected based on my perspective on each character, previously or currently watching and are NOT ranked in order as listed below.

1. Gi Cheol: from (Faith), played by actor Yoo Oh Sung. 
Why I picked him:
he's untrustworthy, involved in conspiracy, greed, power, blackmail, obsessive, attempted murder and he not loyal.

2. Prince Deuk Heung: from (Faith), played by actor Park Yoon Jae.
Why I picked him:
he's untrustworthy, dangerous, involved in conspiracy, attempted murder, greed and power.

3. Kim Bong Goo: from (King 2 Hearts), played by actor Yoon Je Moon. 
Why I picked him:
involved in conspiracy, kidnapping, murder, assassination, attempted murder, blackmail, treason, corruption and cover-up.

4. Bong Bong: from (King 2 Hearts), played by actress Samantha Daniels.
Why I picked her:
involved in conspiracy, kidnapping, assassination, attempted murder, she's psychotic, dangerous, creepy and loyal to Kim Bong Goo.

5. Lee Jin Pyo: from (City Hunter), played by actor Kim Sang Joong.
Why I picked him:
kidnapping, attempted murder, revenge, he's untrustworthy, betrayal and assassination attempt.

6. Han Jae hee: from (Nice Guy), played by actress Park Si Yeon.
Why I picked her:
framing the innocent, cover-up, murder, attempted murder, greed, power, blackmailing and bribery.

7. Han Yu Ri: from (Stairway to Heaven), played by actress Kim Tae Hee.
Why I picked her:
attempted murder, cover-up, greed, power, jealousy, hatred, conspiracy, tampering with evidence, stolen identities and a deceiver.

8. Tae Mira: from (Stairway to Heaven), played by actress Lee Hwi Hyang.
Why I picked her:
she's a child abuser, lied to husband and police, involved in cover-up, a deceiver, jealousy, and framing the innocent.

9. Han Tae Hwa: from (Stairway to Heaven), played by actor Shin Hyun Joon.
Why I picked him:
he's a deciever, part in cover-up, greed, kidnapping, withholding vital information to a crime, incest, he copycat paintings and has criminal record.

10. Choi Yoo Ra: from (Ice Adonis), played by actress Yoon Ah Jung.
Why I picked her:
framed the innocent, cover-up, involved in hit and run, greed, kidnapping, attempted murder, blackmailing, conspiracy, jealousy, murder and defamation.

11. Choi In Seok: from (Ice Adonis), played by actor Choi Sang Hoon.
Why I picked him:
cover-up, falsely accused step-daughter of a crime, aided in a crime, conspiracy, bribery, a deceiver and corruption.

12. Princess Ra Hee: from (Ja Myung Go), played by actress Park Min Young.
Why I picked her:
a deceiver, attempted murder, treason, jealousy, traitor, responsible for the downfall of her kingdom, revenge, corruption, conspiracy, casued the deaths of her father the king, queen, princess Ja Myung, prince Hodong, herself and many others.

13.  Prince Hodong: from (Ja Myung Go), played by actor Jung Kyung Ho.
Why I picked him:
murderer, conspiracy, deceiver, traitor, involved in assassination, enemy of Nangnang, he ordered the destruction of Ja Myung Go and led his army in destruction of a kingdom and betrayal.

14. Se Na/ Crown Princess Hwa Yong: from (Rooftop Prince), played by actress Jung Yoo Mi.
Why I picked her:
attempted murder, cover-up, aided in a crime, murder, conspiracy, excessive liar, framing the innocent, plot to steal the crown, assassination attempt, treason, jealousy, hatred, greedy, falsely accused her sister, she's cruel, heartless, responsible for her sisters disappearance and involved in kidnapping.

15. Yong Tae Moo: from (Rooftop Prince), played by actor Lee Tae Sung.
Why I picked him:
attempted murder, kidnapping, cover-up, aided in a crime, withholding information, he's a deceiver, a liar, greedy, power struggle, jealousy, hatred and wanted criminal.

16. Ha Na Young: from (Crazy Love), played by actress Kim Yeon Joo.
Why I picked her:
kidnapping, adultery, framing the innocent, jealousy, grudge, greed, conspiracy, revenge, a deceiver, manipulator, liar, conspirator, blackmailing, cover-up, bribery and embezzlement.

17. Baek Jae Hyuk: from (Crazy Love), played by actor Choi Dae Hoon.
Why I picked him:
kidnapping, conspiracy, greed, criminal record, withholding information to a crime, blackmail and bribery.

18. Heo Myung Ja: from (Crazy Love), played by actress Yoo Hye Ri.
Why I picked her:
attempted to murder, forced divorce on daughter-in-law, bribery, she's cruel, backstabber, controlling, hatred, power-hungry, a b*tch, selfish, and tried to fix her son up with another women during his marriage with Mi So and encouraged her Na Young in her son's affair.

19. Jang Hyeon: from (Jang Ok Jung: Live in Love), played by actor Sung Dong Il.
Why I picked him:
conspiracy, power, greed, blackmail, revenge, framing the innocent, acts of treason, corruption, hatred and used Jang Ok Jung in his plots.

20. Lady Choi Sook Bin: from (Jang Ok Jung: Live in Love), played by actress Han Seung Yeon.
Why I picked her:
conspirator, cover-up, greed, power, treason, liar, attempted adultery, framing the innocent, a deceiver, hatred, traitor, aided in conspiracy, and attempts to steal the crown from former Queen's In Hyeon and Jang Ok Jung and deceptive.

Did I miss anything? I hope you agree with some of my decisions as to why I placed them on this list of Top 20 Worst villains/ bad guys. If not, that's fine, it's your opinion.

Ep. 75 of Crazy Love

Seriously?!...  ...I don't know how much more of this I can take? This show is insufferable. A story filled with psychos, liars, cheaters, murderers, kidnappers, annoying in-laws, conspiracies, idiots, adulterers, and a never ending cycle of CONTRADICTION.

I literally had to skip almost half the episodes, due to the fact that there too many episodes as it is and the story itself was dragging unnecessarily to a point were it was unnecessary to go any further. I have to admit, even with all it's ridiculous twists and turns and surprises, I found ep. 1-5 very interesting, after that I'd skip one or more episodes only because I found it irritating and incomprehensible. I just couldn't bare to see the bad guy win and get away every time with a series of atrocious acts upon the weak and the helpless, which btw, was enough to make my blood boil.

And, as much as I want to find out what happens in the next episodes and, of course to see that the good guy gets justice, i just can't imagine sitting through another 25 episodes......I just can't. 

We'll just have to wait and see I suppose, but for now, I need to turn this frown upside down with a really good rom-com. Any suggestions??

Monday, August 12, 2013

Review: The Pot



The Pot (독)


Synopsis:
After selling their inheritance, Young Guk and Young Ae move into an apartment in Seoul. As they start their new life, strange things begin to happen around the house. Their daughter, Mi Ae begins to exhibit weird behaviors and the couple must now deal with their odd, shady new neighbors who show an unnatural interest in their daughter.



My thoughts on this:
I found this movie to be very confusing to follow. There were too many narrative switches as well as focus changes. It's very slow-paced and took way too long for things to get weird and eerie. I wouldn't call this a horror movie, but rather a drama, seeing how it turned out in the end.

I'm not saying that it wasn't scary, just not scary enough for me. I will tell you, the little girl, Mi Ae, sure enough creeped the hell out of me.

Overall, this movie was not bad for what it was, though it could have been better.

The Pot's picture





Saturday, August 10, 2013

Review: Dororo

Dororo.    Live action anime... have to see it to believe it.  It actually works.


Synopsis:
In exchange for power, Kagemitsu Daigo pledged 48 body parts from his unborn son, Hyakkimaru, to 48 demons. Now, a mighty samurai warrior, Hyakkimaru sets out for revenge. He eventually crosses path with a young thief named Dororo. The two become inseparable as Hyakkimaru grows more complete with every demon they slay.

My thoughts on this:
I gotta say, I loved this movie, despite the tiny subtitles and bad CGI. The scenery/settings were nice to look at and the characters were very likable. The fight scenes I thought were creative and incredible.

Dororo (2007)

Dororo.


I, also felt the story was rather strange, only because I've never read the manga or played the game, however, there were some funny moments here and there and the story line and characters were interesting enough to keep me entertained and invested.

There were times when Dororo got to be annoying sometimes, which I think it had to do with the fact she didn't want to be alone anymore. 

Dororo (2007)


Overall, I give this movie 4 stars because the ending to me, feels incomplete, leaving room for questioning whether or not there will be a sequel.







Friday, August 9, 2013

Review: In Love with the Dead

In Love with the Dead

Synopsis:
A man drops everything to take care of his terminally ill girlfriend,. When by chance he encounters an old friend from his childhood, they become closer while his girlfriend's conditions worsens as if she is slowly becoming a ghost.

My thoughts on this:
The story was touching, but predictable to a point. It was not consistent, nor was there a basis in the dramatic changes with the characters or story line. And, I wouldn't say this is a ghost movie perse, to me its more of the sense or presence of something eerie lurking around.

I will say this, it is a movie that will certainly make your skin crawl. There were times, that even I was grossed out and wanted to throw up after witnessing particular scenes that I won't get into. I almost feel cheated, the writers put in so much effort in making you connect with the characters emotionally only to have end in disappointment.

Review: Woochi: The Demon Slayer


Synopsis:
Jeon Woochi, is an undisciplined womanizing Taoist from the Joseon era gets sealed inside an ancient scroll for a crime he did not commit . He ends up in present day Korea, when a trio of wizards release Woochi from the ancient scroll to save modern-day Korea from goblins wreaking havoc. However, Jeon Woochi is more interested in sight-seeing and chasing women than heroism.


My thoughts on this:
Woochi is a fairly decent action-comedy set in the Joseon era with fantasy elements tied in the mix. 

The action, I thought was excellent, although a bit slow if you're used to more violent action movies, like myself. 


The special effects and CGI were amazing and the characters were interestingly enough as well as the scenes, which were easy to enjoy and fun to watch. Hardly a moment goes by were I haven't laughed because of Woochi's mischievous nature and easy flowing remarks.


However, the subtitles seemed to be an issue as they were with other viewers. For one they were too fast to follow and hard to read. I'm not bothered by this too much, since I've learned to familiarize myself with Korean language, but for most of us who don't speak Korean, it makes it really hard to take your eyes off the dialogue and watch the movie.










Review: Voice (Unrated)

Voice

Synopsis:
When high school student and aspiring singer Young Eon is murdered, her body disappears but her soul still remains trapped within the school, and her only friend, Sun Min, who can still hear her singing is determined to find her best friend's killer is suddenly shaken when their music teacher and another student die on campus.

My thoughts on this:
Great cover, however the movie was neither good nor bad. I found the plot to be interesting  At times it seemed creepy, but not enough to scare the hell out you. There's very little blood/gore, but there were scenes that made me cringe. For me, its nowhere near a horror movie, but rather a psychological exploration into the supernatural.

Voice film poster.jpg

Review: Bestseller

Bestseller-movie (2010) Mystery/thriller starring Uhm Jung Hwa

Synopsis:
Writer, Hee Soo, who is accused of plagiarism retreats to an old house with her daughter with the determination in creating the next best-seller. Soon, after their arrival mysterious things start to happen around her and know one seems to be who they say they are. 



My thoughts on this:
This movie was way better than I thought. But, rather being about the supernatural, like most of us thought, this one is more of a suspense-thriller. I think that's what left a lot of people unsatisfied about this, thinking we'd be in for a good supernatural scare. I thought it was really good, while deep down I was waiting for a ghost to pop-up during crucial moments of the movie. On the other hand, this was more frightening and interesting enough to continue watching.


It's ironic that the main character, Hee Soo, is a writer who is accused of plagiarism because this movie bares a certain resemblance to the 2002 Japanese version of Dark Water and the 2006 Korean flick Hidden Floor. All three movies about a single mother moving into a creepy place with their daughters with a lot of weird sh*t happening. If you've seen either Dark Water or Hidden Floor, you should like this one, it is not to be missed.

Review: They Kissed Again

They Kiss Again

Synopsis:
It Started with a Kiss ended the odd romance with Zhi Shu and Xiang Qin getting married. The sequel picks up were the story left off, starting with their honeymoon. As always, the scatterbrain, Xiang Qin once again struggles with her studies--this time to be a nurse! While Zhi Shu enters medical school to be a doctor. The young newlyweds must deal with the stresses of work, as well as romantic rivals. What Xiang Qin thought to be a romantic honeymoon with her new hubby, Zhi Shu, soon turns into a pressure cooker of concerns.
They Kiss/They Kiss Again #TaiwaneseDrama #Ariel Lin
My thoughts on this:
I think this story sets good and bad examples. I admire Xiang Qin's perseverance, her will to learn and set impossible goals for herself, just not for the wrong reasons. Although, the story lacks common sense with some of the characters, I can't help but like watching the sequel ISWAK, "They Kiss Again", is a delightful rom-com with fun-loving characters and silly antics. However, I don't approve of Xiang Qin's sometimes reckless behavior and childish antics. On the upside, Xiang Qin has become somewhat aware of the situations around her and is slowly, but gradually changing for the better. On the other hand, Xiang Qin has got a lot to learn and many challenging obstacles ahead of her.  

On another note, I was happy to see that A-Jin and Christine were able to set there differences and make up. On the other hand, I don't quite understand why the writers waited to the very end of season 2 to bring them closer. This is a good drama and the longest running dramas out of the three versions, I can't wait to find out what happens in season 3, It Started with a Kiss 3!!!
Jin Yuan Feng & Christine Robinson ~ They Kissed Again



Sunday, August 4, 2013

Review: City Hunter

After months of putting this on hold, I've finally brought myself to finish watching the remaining episodes of City Hunter. And, really I don't know why I waited this long, it was a very good drama for what it was. I felt it was both entertaining and interesting. And, like with most k-dramas I've seen, I have come to like some of the characters in this drama and the other half I have found them to be so down -right despicable
.  
For me, I thought things started out good in the beginning, but then it started to slow down somewhere in the middle and I began to lose interest, but then it started to pick up towards the end bringing me once again, drawn back into the story. I guess you can say, I was looking for something along the line of Mission Impossible 3/ Athena: Goddess of War/ IRIS/ Red.

Lee Min Ho looking extra badass :)City Hunter

I have so many mixed feelings towards the characters in this drama I don't know were to start. I don't know whether I should sympathize, understand, hate, love, or pity them. Especially, characters like Lee Yoon Sung's adoptive father, Lee Jin Pyo.  I can't say I agree with everything he'd done up until the very end, but he had his reasons for it. I will say this for sure, this drama makes you really stop and think, "what would you have done if you're in Lee Jin Pyo's or Lee Yoon Sung's shoes?



Saturday, August 3, 2013

They Kissed Again



OMG! They Kissed Again is finally here! I can't wait to watch the first episode of Season 2, are you?

Photo: NEW SERIES! Everyone's favorite couple is back for married bliss in THEY KISS AGAIN. Watch Episodes 1-20 here! -> http://bit.ly/131C3GO