2008 Taiwanese Drama Recap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I watch a Taiwanese drama, there is really not much expectation for quality or anything much. Most drama fall under the had-potential-but-failed-after-episode 3 category. Many close friends of mine think dramas are great because the actors are cute. Give me a break. If I must make one comment about this year, it’s that F4, or whatever their name is after they’ve changed it a million times, should stick with the singing. Acting is just not their thing. Any of them. But in general, this year wasn’t unusually bad, but it wasn’t that outstanding either. 

Sloppy Sloppy Work

Wish to See You Again: Six words. Vic Zhou… get out of here. One of the reasons I watched this drama (not for Vic for those of you who did), but for Chen Yan Xi who debuted in Why Why Love last year. I thought she had some potential, but she blew it here. I watched the first couple episodes… and just shook my head. Ken’s haircut kind of pissed me off because he looks bald on one side and hair on the other, but the drama itself is too complicated for mediocre actors. There were around three or four subplot just rolling around kept swirling together and towards the end, gave up. All I got from this drama was “Please don’t leave me (insert name here)… let’s run away together!” and “I have to leave (insert other name here), because it’s the best for her because being with me will just give her more pain.” sob. sob. Oh please, if you want to branch off of korean dramas, at least do it with some skill. A few months later, I decided to watch some of the last episodes, and the ending just ticked me off with the whole car accident thing and Kingone’s character just sitting in that damn taxi and like doing some “lover from afar” stuff. Then the part where he’s seen and the whole “taxi driver! drive away!!!” and the running and ohh… please it burns my brain to even think about it….

Full Count: This drama was just awful. The first episode was an automatic no. Joanne Zheng is a pretty okay actress with lots of potential for her age, but Tony blew it and so did Chen Yi. I gave the second episode a chance, really truly… but 10 minutes in, I was banging my head against my book.

Sweet Relationship: Vic really managed to outdo himself… in the awful acting category. The acting was so so and I thought maybe the plotline could make up a little for the poor acting… but apparently not. Why I watched the whole thing… I really don’t know. The longer the drama went, the more convoluted everything became and then I don’t know what happened and then bam! Random making out scenes. Just for the record, don’t try to copy Devil Beside You… kissing wise. That was a one shot deal. It fit there, but it probably won’t anywhere else. The wedding at the end was sporadic and Vic looked like he wanted to die. He really needs to work on that smile.

Woody Sambo: The directors must have been shaky about this drama to take some of the popularity from Fated to Love You by integrating the plots. Nicholas Teo was kind of overrated in Smiling Pasta and I guess I help some hope for him in this drama, but it really fell through the floor. Maybe it’s the high-pitched voice or something. If you’re choking on a fish bone or such, I recommend this drama because it induces instead vomitting…. yah, a little harsh, but really, it was 3 episodes of pure agony of 19 total… Nicholas Teo came off with a high popularity potential from Smiling Pasta and after two years…. this?

Ehh… Okay

Hot Shot: The main attraction for this was the casting. Jerry Yan, Wu Zhun and Alan Lo. One of the positive points was that the drama was extended, but I think three episodes was a good way to go. Not too long and not too short. The acting was mediocre, but Jerry definately didn’t boost up his acting points. Whenever he acts, there is always a feeling that he hasn’t eaten in days or something and that he’s going to pass out anytime. The emo and serious attitude really needs to be changed. The general chemistry of the cast pretty good, but the ending was awful. It’s like death is a win-win situation. I don’t know how to end this, so let’s have someone die and then when can have some moral story ending. Don’t do that. bad. bad.

Hana Kimi: This drama picked up a lot of rage for some reason, although the plot line was original and the acting was pretty okay, actually. I didn’t really follow through because the whole when-is-she-going-to-be-revealed idea was getting old and I was getting tired of going “oooohhh…wait… nothing happened…”

Miss No Good: This was probably one of the higher end of the mediocre dramas because the plot was original, although a tad cliche with the abandonment and lost mother issues. Rainie’s acting improved a bit, but this drama had a few personal pet peeves that distanced me from loving it whole heartedly… Rainie’s voice was just as bad as nails on a chalk board. I understand the background of her character, but way over doing it. It certain scenes, she kind of looked like a talking chipmunk. Another kink was Dean and the fact that I couldn’t understand half of what he was saying. Personal pet peeve of mine is actors with a heavy accent coming in as the lead. His acting is okay… but the accent needs a lot of work on, or maybe he should just stick with japanese dramas?

Bull Fighting: No particular point of excellence but it was okay… again… can’t stress enough of the cliche in dramas these days, but Hebe really needs some acting lessons, but Lee Wei and Mike’s acting made up some of the bad acting. Watched bits and parts and not a strong attention grabber…

Not Bad, Not Bad 

Romantic Princess: This drama tied with Miss No Good in terms of acting, but won over because of more cuteness. So really, these two dramas were about the same except for Romantic Princess had a bit more tension at times and the brothers were really cute. The ending… again ambiguous as most tw drama endings are…. but happy, sort of…

Fated to Love You: Best drama of the year. Hands down. I agree that the drama was a little overrated at the end and Bianca Bai acting wasn’t great, but I loved it all together. The grandma and Chen Xi’s mom really made some comedic moments and remind me of my own grandma and mom sometimes. Highly recommended!

2008 MBC Drama Awards

 

 

 

 

 So MBC held their 2008 Drama Awards today and I decided just to put out the list of winner for the certain categories. Despite being a female, outfits and fashions are not such a biggie of mine, except for a few that really stand out, so I’ll be making a few comments on those. Most of you have already gone to dramabeans to read the full length report, but here’s for those of you who’d like the shorter version.

Winners List:

Daesang/Grand Prize: Kim Myung-min (Beethoven Virus), Song Seung-heon (East of Eden)
Top Excellence (Actor): Jo Jae-hyun (New Heart), Jung Jun-ho (The Last Scandal of My Life)
Top Excellence (Actress): Lee Mi-sook (East of Eden),
      Bae Jong-ok (Woman of Matchless Beauty Park Jung-geum)
Excellence (Actor): Lee Dong-gun (When Night Comes), Jo Min-ki (East of Eden)
Excellence (Actress): Han Ji-hye (East of Eden), Moon Sori (Golden Age of My Life)
New Actor: Park Hae-jin (East of Eden), Jang Geun-seok (Beethoven Virus)
New Actress: Lee So-yeon (Golden Age of My Life), Lee Yeon-hee (East of Eden)
Popular Actor: Song Seung-heon (East of Eden)
Popular Actress: Lee Yeon-hee (East of Eden)

Golden Actor Award, Miniseries Category: Ji Sung, Kim Min-jung (New Heart)
Golden Acting Award, Serial Drama: Park Geun-hyung (Woman of Matchless Beauty Park Jung-geum and East of Eden), Hong Eun-hee (Don’t Hesitate)
Golden Acting Award, Supporting Actor: Park Chul-min (New Heart and Beethoven Virus),
      Shin Eun-jung (East of Eden)
Golden Acting Award, Mid-level actor: Yoo Dong-geun (East of Eden); Song Ok-sook (Beethoven Virus)

Best Couple: Song Seung-heon & Lee Yeon-hee (East of Eden)
Drama of the Year: Beethoven Virus
Special Child Actor Award: Park Gun-tae, Shin Dong-woo, Nam Ji-hyun (East of Eden)
Lifetime Achievement: Choi Jin-shil (The Last Scandal of My Life)
Special PD Award: Lee Soon-jae (Beethoven Virus); Yeon Jung-hoon (East of Eden)

Family Award: I Love You, Don’t Cry
Writer of the Year Award: Na Yeon-sook (East of Eden),
      Hong Jin-ah, Hong Ja-ram (Beethoven Virus),
      Kim Eun-hee (MBC Special)

Radio Top Excellence: Lee Moon-sae (This Is Lee Moon-sae In the Morning)
Radio Excellence: Kang-in (Good Friend); Kang Seok-woo (Women’s Era)
Radio Rookie Award: Kim Shin-young

What I love about these drama awards is the difference between the excellence awards and the popularity awards. Most of the time, one of the actors or actresses overlap and sometimes it’s deserved and sometimes it’s not. For example Song Seung Heon. Yes, he’s cute and what not, but that’s what he gets the popularity awards for. It’s like an award for being cute. Yay. Fact is, if you are someone on the drama screen, chances are, you’re not going to be ugly. It’s like Kim Tae Hee, but male version. Which makes me confused about why he got the excellent actor award, and shared it with Kim Myung Min, who actually deserved it. Not saying that Beethoven Virus was my favorite drama ever, but he definately did his part. As you’ve noticed, Most of the awards went to East of Eden actors and actresses, old and young, of which I think Han Ji Hye and Park Hae Jin were the most deserving, but I loved both of them before this drama, so maybe my judgement is a tad biased. But of all the East of Eden members, where is Lee Dae Hee? After public reporting that she was going to drop out of the drama, maybe not just the directors and producers where upset… Hint: drop out of the most popular drama, AFTER the drama awards.

One of the high points was the numerous awards for actors and actresses from New Heart and The Last Scandal of My Life, two of the few excellent dramas of 2008 that really give hope that quality dramas can still be produced. Now onto the fashion section. Skipping all the boring suits and what not to move to the hilarious and amazing outfits of 2008.

Attires: Beautful and Elegant to Just Plain UGGGHHH….

   

East of Eden’s Lee Yeon Hee managed a simple and elegant style. Nothing flashy, but rather less than too much. Kind of a Roman goddess feel to it, but again… elegant.

 

Here, Han Ji Hye manages to out-do herself. Really. Love her on the screen, but I get this Tarzan womany feel here. Love the hair in a bun, but maybe fewer hearts…?

 

Jang Geun Suk… WHAT THE HECK DIED ON YOU? Men wearing furs has never been a favorite of mine, but this is just incredible. I’m really hoping this was picked out for you or your right shoulder was really cold. A simple suit would have been perfect.

Ji Sung manages to pull off a classy and stylish look. Again… not too flashy, but I tend to have a more conservative taste. Cocktail time..

Han Ji Min’s dress is nice and her earing add a nice touch without overdoing it. Looks clean and cute but mature at the same time.

Shin Sung Rok when a tad overboard with the whole suit and tux idea, especially the bowtie and the glassses. Although he could pass off as a professor…

Lee Ji Ah… Not the best outfit ever and it makes her seem a little…. plump…. which she is not. The handbag is cute, but the hair looks a little hurried and the dress doesn’t really flow…

Lee Jung Jin… just another example of a simple and classy outfit. Looks like Ji Sung and Lee Jung Jin were thinking the same thing…

 credits @ dramabeans.com

Drama Note 32: Star’s Lovers Really Hits the Spot

  

If you have been scrolling down the list of korean drama on mysoju and dramacrazy, you’ve probably realized that the latter part of this year has been so-so with the quality of the dramas that it has been releasing. Worlds within Worlds went a little downwards after the first couple episodes… like a mediocre attempt at a remake of On Air. But Star’s Lovers has been one to catch me eye in the mass of mediocre dramas that have been airing. I must thank dramabeans for providing the summaries that helped me get started with this drama in the first place. First off, background check. Casting: Choi Ji Woo (Stairway to Heave) and Yoo Ji Tae as the leads, Lee Ki Woo (Rude Women)Cha Ye Ryun (Bad Love) and Choi Phillip (Star’s Lovers) as supporting actors and actresses. Not filled with A-List actors, but definately filled with potentially good actors and actresses. Since Stairway to Heave, Choi Ji Woo hasn’t been 100% successful in maintaining her acting status and this wood be Yoo Ji Tae’s first drama in 9 years and his first time with a lead role. Episodes? about 20, with implies some complications in the middle but overall a nice number and deviates from the popular “sweet 16″.  Filming location at two universities, including the first drama ever to be filmed at Seoul University, imply a sort of scholarly aspect to the plot line which is a nice touch to start out with.

After reading the summary of the first couple episodes, there was a feeling of a little love drama, but almost like a fantasy. The setting has a bit to do with it… but the overall atmosphere. Now, I haven’t keep up with Choi Ji Woo since Stairway to Heaven, so when I read the beginning of the plot, I was thinking, “oh no… here comes another histrionic drama, expecting to have some waterworks at the end.” But after watching episode 3-6, I began to realize that there is a touch of cuteness in it. Choi Ji Woo = cuteness? Not exactly, but there are points for trying. Not exactly a strong point in the drama, but it doesn’t pull it down. But all the good notes in the beginning don’t predict a good drama in the end. Hopefully the directors can keep up the good work!

BLOG UPDATE: End of it all?

So basically, I looked at my blog stats for the past couple of months and after some analysis I decided that I should be focusing more on the drama reviews and the original soundtracks. I really loved doing the reports on some of the korean entertainment new, but reality hit me and I realized that I couldn’t be as up to date as coolsmurf domain and dramabeans, especially because my lack of korean literacy. After about six months of blogging, I discovered the difference between reporting new and reading it. I’ll probably be posting some drama updates once in a while and some music notes about some of the major events, but kdrama review, ratings, and OST are now my new focus. IF YOU WANT A SPECIFIC OST, PLEASE COMMENT SO I KNOW WHAT TO PUT UP. There are millions of dramas

UPDATE: Original Soundtracks Updates

I understand that many of you have left comments about some of the defective links on the OST downloads page and thanks for letting me know. I’m in the process of updating specific ost and adding about 10-15 new ones so be sure to check it out! Please leave comment about preferred osts and on other pages as well to help me improve this blog !

Drama Note 31: Jang Geun Suk, Rising to the Top

   

Since his debut in Daemang in 2002 at the age of 13, Jang Geun Suk has become one of the rising A-list actors at the tender age of 21. After catching the public’s attention with his role Kim Eun Ho in Hwang Ji Ni opposite actress Han Ji Won, he went on to obtain more accolades for his role as Chang Whe in Hong Gil Dong at the beginning of 2008. Recently, he was casted in the Beethoven Virus, which recently finished airing, alongside rising actress Lee Ji Ah.  Meanwhile, he took major roles in movies such as Baby and Me (2008), Doremifasolatido (2008), and Going Crazy Waiting (2007).

Having recently finished Baby and Me, Jang Geun Suk did a tremendous job of acting out the dual sides of his character with a rough exterior but pure at the heart. The script was hilarious to start out with, and combined with excellent production and decent acting, the movie turned out a success. On the down side, Jang Geun Suk seems to have been paired with the wrong actresses, not only in this movie, but in Hong Gil Dong and Beethoven Virus as well. It seems that he has become a “bad man” character; the man who never gets the girl, the one who is always supposed to be the most understanding. Despite the mediocre acting and good production of Beethoven Virus, I was somewhat disappointed with the outcome. The relationship outcome. Ru Mi must have seen a lot in that old – mean tempered Kang Mae because it’s hard to pass up Jang Geun Suk.

In Baby and Me, Jang Geun Suk plays a high school gangster boy who thinks that money grows on trees. One day, his parents leave him and he suddenly finds a baby on his doorstep that turns out to be his son?! The storyline was really cute and the baby, of course, was cute with his manly voice (hehe) and Jang Geun meshed well as a teenage father. As the movie progress, the mood changes from commedy and suspension down to a more mellow tone and more secrets about the baby are revealved. Brownie points to Jang Geun Suk for making the smooth transition, rather than some awkward flimsy character change…. But again, the girl, a science genius who originally was a high school drop out and is inspired to start high school again after seeing Jang Geun Suk’s character, is a little awkward and wierd. In the begining, it’s just plain wierd, but towards the end it turns into a cute wierd… In addition, one of Jang Geun Suk’s female teacher, who comes across at first as a hard education teacher, saves him from a couple of close situation a number of times, but I never really understood why… searching for that deeper meaning… Although the ending, with the baby having two fathers, was kind of a “wanna-make-everything-happy-even-though-it’s-not-realistic” ending, but cute nonetheless.

Jang Geun Suk also starred in Doremifasolatido, which was probably his most challenging role. He plays a musician who falls in love with his next door neighbor. Just as their relationship is starting, he discovers that his best friend and his girlfriend have a mysterious history together which results in Jang Geun Suk’s going crazy and his girlfriend trying to restore him back to health. The transformation in character was a difficult task, from talented musician, to insane teenager with the mind of a child, and back again. The beginning starts more as a comedy, but 2/3 of the movie is a little more melodramatic than Baby and Me. For those who have watched Hong Gil Dong, think: the mood last half of Hong Gil Dong. For Jang Geun Suk fans who wish the see the funny, emotion, and a little crazy side of him, I highly recommend both movies. But all in all, Jang Geun Suk’s acting continues to improve and hopefully he will color the screen in 2009! Links to both movies:

Doremifasolatido, Baby and Me 
Baby and Me (mirror)

Drama Note 30: Flower Men?

                                                                                                 

                    

Lots of pictures!!! No matter how many different countries try to reproduce this drama, I can never understand the title “Flower-like Men” aka “Boys Before Flowers”, but maybe it’s the oddness that gives it some edge? Korea seems to be the last to hop onto the train to produce this popular manga. In 2001, Taiwan produced Meteor Garden and in 2006, Japan produced Hana Yori Dango, and now in 2008, Korea? Hopefully, the korean version won’t disappoint me as much as the taiwanese or the japanese version. The drama is set to air in mid-December 2008 and hopefully a great christmas present!.

Finally, after months of discussion and decision, the unofficial cast has been set with a couple of popular veteran actresses, and a lot cute young actors (hehe ^_^) The story revolves around a poor average girl named Geum Ja Di who becomes involved with a boy group called F4, notorious for their tendency to cause trouble and wealth. Hoping to catch a glimpse of this drama after finishing Worlds Within Worlds. The casting is as follows:

• Goo Hye Sun (Pure 19, Strongest Chil Woo)- Geum Da Bi
• Lee Min Ho (I Am Sam, Mackerel Run) - Goo Joon Pyo
• Kim Hyung Joong (Spotlight) - Yoon Ji Hoon
• Kim Bum (the actor!, not the Super Junior singer)- So Yi Jung
• Kim Joon – Song Woo Bin