KDrama Thoughts: Healer

A lot of good reviews have been written about the K-drama “Healer” and it deserves all the raves it’s been getting. I watched all 20 episodes in two days and relied on energy drinks and caffeine but it was worth it. Since there are many reviews circulating, I will not make a detailed one.

Healer is fast-paced and well-written. The action scenes were good. The romance is scream-worthy. The characters have a solid back story. I love it!

My favorite moments were when Young-shin (Park Min-young) was very protective of Bong-soo (Ji Chang-wook) not knowing that he is Healer, when she told him about her crush on Healer, when he broke down after she begged him not to let her go, when he followed her around because he can’t believe it was happening and when she ran after him after discovering the secret about their fathers. I also love their relationship with Moon-ho (Yoo Ji-Tae) and Min-ja (Kim Mi-kyung).

Now, honestly, I am just writing this because I can’t get enough of Ji Chang-wook!

Okay, I know, I change crushes for every drama and film I watch. I have to admit they were because of the characters and not the person. I cyber-stalk them for a while then move on to the next crush. I already saw him before in “Five Fingers” but since he was in a supporting role, I did not develop this obsession with him. Healer transformed him into this guy who you want to take care of but at the same time run to and get cozy with.

How long till I get tired of him? Who knows? But right now I want more of him!

Random Muttering 1/18/2015 – Why I Prefer Romantic Comedies

Romantic comedies are my cup of tea. Light and funny ways of relating love stories are much preferable than heavy dramatic (and sometimes even dark) ones.

Some people think I am shallow and this I will not deny. I watch TV and movies and read novels to entertain myself, why do I need to do deep thinking and waste my neurons? Besides, I deal with a lot of intellectually challenging decisions and dramatic situations in real life. Give me a break.

I watch serious films too and I can appreciate them. There are dark films that disturbed me and left me pondering about them for days. It was a good experience, to learn and grow through those films but nevertheless, I would still choose something that would make me feel good and giddy even for a short while. It’s like choosing candy over vegetables.

I believe in the statement “to each his own.” Go and nibble on your carrot sticks and just let me lick my chocolate covered lollipop.

KDrama: Pinocchio – My Thoughts

I had a crush on Lee Jong-suk a few months ago and Park Shin-hye has a special spot in my heart. Though their past projects were disappointing, I looked forward to Pinocchio with high hopes. Thankfully, they bounced back. It aired its last episode and though I hate to say goodbye to this drama, it was time.

Pinocchio is a story about two young reporters, Choi In-ha (Park Shin-hye) who hiccups when she lies and KI Ha-myung/ Choi Dal-po (Lee Jong-suk) who has a terrible past with reporters. Ha-myung’s father was falsely accused by the media which led to the tragic demise of his family. The media frenzy was started by Song Cha-ok (Jin Kyung) who happened to be In-ha’s mother. The story revolved around Ha-myung’s past in the midst of their struggles as rookie reporters, growing love for each other, complicated family relationships and developing friendships.

I loved the characters. Choi In-ha, Ki Ha-myung/Choi Dal-po, Seo Bum-jo were quite idealistic but I guess it was their age. It was nice to see that idealism rub off and influence people around them. Yoon Yu-rae was good for the laughs and she reminded me of a few people I know in real life who has that stalker tendency and the knack for misreading other people’s opinion of them. Gyo-dong was cute as well and Hyun-kyu was funny. I really, really love grandpa and Dad who loved Dal-po so much and did not allow him to push them away.

The pacing was good as well. Secrets were revealed early and conflicts were resolved just in time. The ending was predictable but I loved how it was presented no matter how convenient. The romance was not really the core but all the heart-fluttering moments were hug-your-pillow-and-grin-stupidly worthy. There was no conflict, the second leads don’t stand a chance and I think it’s just stupid to stay away from each other even if you’re crazy for one another just because of guilt trips. Good thing it didn’t last long. (On a side note, PSH did not look awkward kissing here. Was it LJS kissing skills? Or just good camera work?)

Overall it was a nice and easy watch. It was a feel-good drama that’s filled with family, honesty and love.

My 2014 KDrama and JDorama Adventure

2014 was the year that I watched a lot of Kdramas and Jdoramas live. I avoided marathon watching during the last quarter of last year (dark circles have formed under my eyes and it was getting harder to hide them with a concealer).  It was a whole new adventure for me because I am the type to read reviews first before checking out anything. With live watching, the anticipation is much higher and I can’t do this bad habit of looking at the ending when the tension is really high.

A lot of reviews were already made about what we watched in 2014. Some resonates with my thoughts, others were quite the opposite. But for me, these are the Kdramas that I enjoyed for this year:

1. You From Another Star

Too much have been said and looking back, I think it was a bit overrated. However, I cannot deny the fact that it made me laugh, giggle and scream when I was watching it. Cheon Song-yi will be one of my most favorite KDrama characters of all time. Jun Ji-hyun really pulls off romantic comedies like no other.

2. You’re All Surrounded

I like the friendship and the senior-junior relationships. And yes, it was because of Lee Seung-gi’s and Cha Seung-won’s acting that I watched till the end. Not that the others were not good but they just seem to fade in the background with these two.

3. Fated to Love You

The snail couple, the wacky secretary, and the crazy family made this one memorable. Jang Hyuk and Jang Nara can really pull at your heartstrings. They made me laugh and cry and though there were some stuff that turned me off, the acting made me hold on.

4. Emergency Couple

The exes who picked up pieces of themselves after a nasty break-up found each other again. I liked how they developed and matured as people. It was fun and light.

5. I Need Romance 3

The female lead is one of the bitchiest I’ve seen in KDrama and I just can’t find it in me to sympathize with her. Why did I enjoy it? Sung Joon.

6. It’s Okay, It’s Love

This is my favorite drama for this year. It was unconventional, thought provoking yet fun at the same time. The chemistry between the leads is tempting me to ship them. The pacing and the acting are good as well as the writing.

7. Cantabile Tomorrow

I would have enjoyed this more if I did not watch the Japanese version. Too bad many viewers gave up too soon. Cantabile Tomorrow is less slapstick but more romantic. Character dynamics is more visible as well. And I really like Shim Eun-kyung’s dresses and dolls. =)

8. Pinocchio

I’m still watching. Right now I like the direction it is taking. The characters are interesting and the pacing is good. So far the plot is engaging and I can’t wait for the last few episodes. Lee Jong-suk and Park Shin-hye are rebounding nicely.

I am very easy to please and not too critical. However, I have my limits and I can be disappointed too. These are the Kdramas that I tried to enjoy but I gave up on.

1. Doctor Stranger

It was good when it was starting. I like all the actors (except for that girl who has nine lives). Then I don’t know what happened. It was as if I looked away for a second and I looked back to see that everything was in chaos.

2. Pretty Man

Jang Geun-suk is pretty but I just didn’t feel him with IU. I stopped watching after half an episode.

3. She’s so Lovable

I love Rain. I really, really love Rain. I have so much love for Rain. If she’s so lovable, why I can’t I love her?

I did not watch a lot JDoramas this year because I was more focused on watching more Japanese movies. But I actually enjoyed some of them like:

1. Shitsuren Cholatier

This is full of unrequited love. Kinda reminds me of a novel that said that 4 out of 5 people are devastated by love. It was a bittersweet series that made me want to scream at the characters and tell them that it’s enough.

2. Border

I had some issues with this one but Shun Oguri made me stay. Maybe it was the lighting or the soundtrack. Nevertheless, the supernatural premise is good and the cases are intriguing.

3. Wakamonotachi 2014

It was a remake and maybe a bit heavy for some. The ensemble cast was great though – Satoshi Tsumabuki, Eita, Hikari Mitsushima and the rest. A good drama that explored family relationships, adultery, friendship, etc.

4. Nobunaga Concerto

I’m really not into historical dramas but the time traveling part is nicely integrated. The characters are good and the scenes nicely done. It feels like watching an anime which is not surprising because the source material is an anime.

5. Itazura na Kiss: Love in Tokyo 2

It’s still running and so far so good. Yuki Furukawa and Honoka Miki look so good onscreen that some fans are shipping them already. I watched the other versions and my favorite was the Taiwanese one. I’m glad that they are following that one but with a much faster pacing.

2015 has started and I am still watching one KDrama and one JDorama. I will continue live watching as long as schedule permits it and maybe marathon some good dramas I missed this year like Misaeng, High School King of Savvy, Liar Game and N no Tameni in April. Overall, 2014 has been a good year for Asian drama fanatics. I hope this year will be a good one as well.

Cantabile Tomorrow – My Take

Cantabile Tomorrow finally wrapped up. I can’t say I’m satisfied because there are more chapters which were not covered but I can honestly say that I enjoyed it. There were a lot of deviations from the source material; some are good and some not so. I am not the type to focus on shortcomings so I will just write about what I liked. Here are some of the things I enjoyed.

1. Yu-jin and Naeil – Joo won and Shim Eun-kyung attacked the role differently from their Japanese counterparts. Yu-jin showed more concern for Nae-il and even for his new found friends. Nae-il became more tamed and a little more serious.

I would like to defend SEK. As a fan, it was heartbreaking to read how some netizens attacked her in the first few episodes. I think it was because she tried to act it the way Ueno Juri did in the J version and once she did it her own way, she was able to nail Nae-il. She is still young after all and though she has proven herself in her past works, she’s still learning.

2. The friendship and growing up together – Though I still believe that the J counterparts are better actors, the relationship between the characters floated more in this version.

3. Yoon-hoo – His character was a catalyst in the growth of all the others. I just loved how he made Yu-jin see the importance of the people around him.

I told myself to stop comparing mid-season so that I can truly enjoy this one. But looking back, I enjoyed the Japanese version more because it was funnier, the music much better and it had less deviation from the manga and anime (which I think is the best version). This version inserted more drama and it’s less manga-esque.

On its own, I can say that it is good and it’s worth watching. It had its moments. The enjoyment level is different.

Favorite Korean Actresses – My Personal List

After the list of my favorite actors, it is only fair to take note of my favorite actresses as well. As I have said earlier, I am not very familiar with acting styles and when I say someone is good, it is because they have left an impression on me and affected me somehow. My knowledge of their works is limited too but one or two of their works are unforgettable to me so I like them no matter how unimpressive they are to others. I must mention that romcoms are my preference, my comfort zone. I cannot really comment about their versatility because I have not watched them in heavy roles.
This is a list of my favorite actresses who are in their 30’s.
1. Ha Ji-won – I really like her when she is doing action scenes. She has that ability to pose and act cool no matter how simple the actions are. No wonder my favorites are her stuntwoman role in “Secret Garden” and soldier role in “The King 2 Hearts.” But I also liked her in “As One” and “Love so Divine.”

2. Gong Hyo-jin – She is neither the typical girl next door nor the stunning beauty that many actresses are. Gong Hyo-jin does romantic comedies like she is just walking in a park on an ordinary day. My favorites among her works are “Star Candy and Biscuit Teacher,” “Greatest Love,” “Master’s Sun,” and “Crush and Blush.”

3. Kim Sun-ah – Kim Sun-ah will always be Kim Samsoon to me. Just like GHJ, romantic comedies are her strength. She can also make you cry like in “Scent of a Woman” and she can do a little action like in “She’s on Duty.” She’s one of the first actresses who made noona romances cute and imaginable.

4. Son Ye-jin – Out of all her dramas, I only watched “Personal Taste” which is quite boring in my opinion. Nevertheless, I felt sympathy for her role which I believe is one of the measures of being a good actress. I liked her in “The Classic,” “Lover’s Concerto,” “Crazy First Love” and “Spellbound.” Her performance in “White Night” showed that she is capable of doing roles outside her usual ones.

5. Yoon Eun-hye – Yoon Eun-hye’s best work for me is still “Coffee Prince.” Her gestures, actions and facial expressions as the boyish Eun-chan is the best female passing up for male role I’ve watched. Though some of her dramas are ugh worthy (e.g. Lie to Me), she has never disappointed me with her performance especially with kissing scenes. A lot of younger Korean actresses should have lessons from her. Aside from Coffee Prince, I enjoyed her in “Princess Hours.”

6. Jun Ji-hyun – She recently rocked the KDrama world with her highly successful “You From Another Star.” But who would ever forget her in “My Sassy Girl.” I believe that it was that movie that made her unforgettable to everyone.

7. Song Hye-kyo – I believe that it takes a certain skill to do a dying girl role and in her earlier works, particularly “My Girl and I” and “Autumn in My Heart,” Song Hye-Kyo made a lot of viewers cry. Maybe because of her pretty face and small figure but she evokes that feeling that you want to protect her. But I enjoyed her a lot in “Full House.”

I know all of them can do roles outside the ones that they are usually doing. All of them have nailed romcoms (and for me the South Koreans are the best in this genre). And I would never get tired of watching them in spunky roles.

How about you? Who’s your pick? =)

Korean Actors – My Personal Favorites =)

Part of the success of the Korean wave and many people’s addiction to KDramas are their dreamy leading men (come on! admit it!). Apart from their gorgeous physique, many of them are good actors. Others, even if they do not have the traditional good looks, become handsome in my eyes once they begin acting. I have been watching KDramas since 2004 but I must admit that I have not watched a lot. I am not familiar with acting styles, my only basis is how they affect me.

This is a list of my favorite Korean actors who are in their 30’s. Most of their works I have seen were done when they were still a little younger and I am glad to see that some of them just gets better with age.

1. Jo In-sung

image from ph.kpopstarz.com

Jo In-sung is the typical image of the tall, handsome man. I first saw him in Memories of Bali where he played one of my most unforgettable KDrama characters Jung Jae-min. His role in “The Classic” also made me more drawn to him. But it was in “A Dirty Carnival” and “A Frozen Flower” that I got impressed. His latest works, “That Winter The Wind Blows” and “It’s Okay, It’s Love” show more of his acting. Though many say that he tends to overact in some scenes, he has that power to move and touch viewers in the right spot.

2. So Ji-sub

image source: forums.soompi.com

It seems So Ji-sub is the ideal man of many KDrama fans. Apart from his acting skills, his appeal is undeniable. I have always seen him as the serious and brooding type, probably because of “Memories of Bali.” But after watching him in “The Master’s Sun”, I was convinced that he can be funny and quirky too. I have yet to watch his earlier works and his movies but I am sure that I would not be disappointed.

3. Hyun Bin

Image source: allkpop.com

Hyun Bin is the reason I came back to KDramas after not watching anything for years. “Secret Garden” is what made me stay for good and no matter how bratty he is, Kim Joo-won is one of my biggest crushes. “My Name is Kim Sam-soon” is a classic favorite of mine as well. He seems to have mastered playing the role of a rich, arrogant brat but this does not mean that he cannot do other roles. He had been a man on the run in “Late Autumn”, a man facing divorce in “Come Rain, Come Shine” and a man with mental illness in “I am Happy.” He would further demonstrate his acting in the upcoming drama “Jekyll and I.”

4. Gong Yoo

Image Source: kumpulankumpulanfoto.blogspot.com

“Coffee Prince” has always occupied a very special place in my heart and a big part of that love is Gong Yoo’s portrayal of Choi Han-kyul. I just really felt him – his growing attraction, his denial, his confusion. And in that “I like you. Whether you’re a man or an alien, I don’t care anymore.” moment, I was screaming in kilig. His other notable works were “Biscuit Teacher and Star Candy” and “Silenced.” I have yet to watch “The Suspect” but I am sure that he can kick ass!

5. Rain

Image source: forums.soompi.com

He’s Rain. Need I say more? I will admit I have not watched all his works. I love “Full House” and even “I am a Cyborg and That’s Ok.” I was disappointed in “A Love to Kill” and the recent “My Lovable Girl” but not with him. Rain always gives his best performance and he can display a lot of emotions.  A friend said that he is not handsome at first glance but once he starts acting, he gets more and more good looking. And I agree (except for the not handsome at first glance part because for me he is the total package – singer, dancer, actor, good looks, great height, awesome abs).

6. Jang Hyuk

Image Source: mwave.interest.me

Jang Hyuk has a lot of loyal fans and I only understood quite recently in “Fated to Love You.” I will never forget Lee-gun’s laugh and all his tears in the midst of that laughter. I have yet to discover him. I have seen “Can You Please Teach Me English” and “Winstruck” and so far I am enjoying his performances.

7. Kim Rae won

Image Source: dramafever.com

He can be funny, dramatic, and even badass. Kim Rae-won has a lot of good movies and dramas. My favorites are “Attic Cat,” “Love Story in Harvard,” and “…ing.” I read good reviews about “Sunflower” and “Insadong Scandal” and watched a few episodes of “Gourmet” and “A Thousand Day Promise.”

8. Cha Tae-hyun

Image Source: soompi.com

Cha Tae-hyun is the example of the not stereotypical handsome guy but gets handsome when he acts, he just grows on you. “My Sassy Girl” would not be so phenomenal if he did not do a good job playing Gyun-woo. I have not seen any of his dramas but I loved his performances in “Speedy Scandal,” “My Girl and I,” and “Babo: The Miracle of the Giving Fool.”

So that wraps up my list of my favorite Korean actors in their 30’s. Next time, I will write about the young actors in their 20’s who I am following.

How about you? Do we have the same favorites? Do you have a name I could check out? =)

Cantabile Tomorrow – Episodes 5 and 6 Raves

The Korean remake of “Nodame Cantabile” has made a lot of deviations from the anime and manga. So I decided to quit (or at least avoid) comparing. And now, I am truly enjoying it. KDramas are really good in bringing out that eeee feeling, you know, what we Filipinos call “kilig.”

Yoo-jin’s feelings towards Nae-il is more visible. Sure he does not realize it yet but people around him can sense it (and of course the viewers too!).

Nae-il is also given focus. I love the acting of the two leads.

one of my favorite Joo-won expressions

Shim Eun-kyung tugging my heartstrings

I can’t wait for more!!! =)

Cantabile Tomorrow: First Glimpses

Nodame Cantabile is one of my favorite Japanese doramas. I read the manga and watched the anime too. I was excited for the Korean remake and though I am telling myself to keep an open mind, I can’t help but compare it to the original sources. But then again, this drama is too young to make any generalizations. I am listing down a few things that I am beginning to like and wish I will like.

My likes:

1. The lead characters are good. I loved Shim Eun-Kyung since “Sunny” and Joo Won since “Bridal Mask.” These two can deliver and so far I am satisfied with the acting.

2. I like it that Yoo-jin’s developing feelings are more visible (e.g. the jealousy).

3. This is also less slapstick and cartoonish but still has that feel.

4. The music. Period.

I hope I can like these more…

1. Yoo Il-rak and Ma soo-min (Mine and Masumi in the J-doramas). I am trying not to compare but the J-actors who played these roles, Eita and Keisuke Koide, are really good. They have big shoes to fill. (Others may argue that the leads are the same but SEK and JW have already proven themselves in their earlier works.)

2. The side stories of the Dean, Yoo-jin’s mom, Mine’s Dad and the other older people in the story.

Right now, I am still keeping my fingers crossed that this drama will meet my expectations. I am not hoping for much. I just hope that they will keep it light and not put the music at the backseat. And of course, give us more heart fluttering moments (which K-dramas are so good at).

It’s Okay, It’s Love – halfway thoughts

“It’s Okay, It’s Love” is one of those dramas that I watched without having a clear idea of what to expect. For one, I don’t know what they mean by a psychiatric-romantic drama. All they said was the lead is a writer with OCD so I was thinking maybe it’s similar to “As Good as it Gets.” Since I like Jo In-sung so much and Gong Hyo-jin too, I plunged head on and found another drama I can’t get enough of.

I was a bit frustrated with Ji Hae-soo’s character at first but now I am getting her a little. I really can’t explain it but it’s something like thinking too much or putting too much interpretation on other people’s words. But I would fall for Jang Jae-yeol if I were here too. Apart from being hot, he’s someone who exercises his brain muscles too.

The development of feelings between the leads was interesting too watch. It’s like having a battle of wits and ending up falling in love with the opponent. Now that they have fallen in love deeply, I can’t wait to see what happens after the bomb has been dropped on Hae-soo, which is much, much more complicated than OCD.

I wonder how the characters will react and how they will accept their circumstances. With four more episodes to go, I am hoping that it will end nicely.