K-DRAMA : MY GIRL

       

AND THE WINNER IS...

KOREAN DRAMA -- MY GIRL!

Yes, this is something that made my life so happy during that time when this Korean Drama was shown on Philippine TV.  I laughed, giggled, and cried along with the characters.  If you are really intense understanding the story and feeling it, you would wish that both Lee Dong Wook and Lee Dae Hae fall in love that way in real life.

If there is Piolo Pascual for the ladies in the Philippines, there is Lee Dong Wook for me in Manila. The best looking Korean Male, and I will never get tired looking at his face.

Do watch "The Partners" where he plays a lawyer. He lost weight but I still like the story. He is now in the military and might be released next year.















In an effort to fulfill his dying grandfather's wish, Seol Gong-chan (LEE Dong wook) searches all of Pan Asia looking for his cousin; the daughter of his aunt which his grandfather had disowned. All leads turn up empty until he finds a doppelganger in tour guide/ hustler/ swindler Ju Yu-rin (SBS 2005 Performance Award Winner LEE Da Hae). He persuades her to pretend to be his cousin so his grandfather can die peacefully knowing that his granddaughter is alive and well.

Things take an unexpected turn as her 'appearance' causes his grandfather's condition to improve significantly and regain his health. Fearful that they both will be found out and needing to keep up the charade, Yu-rin moves in with his family.

From here, things get dicey as Gong-chan has to pretend that Yu-rin is his cousin, his affection for her gets blurred. It doesn't help that his ex-girlfriend, pro-tennis player Kim Seohyun (Park Si Yeon) re-enters his life wanting to mend their broken love and his womanizing friend Seo Jung Woong has set his sights on Yu-rin.
The comedy, albeit, rather cheesy at times, is still fairly entertaining. It's execution is a lot smarter then my initial perceptions that even its slapstick means something and is not just a sight gag. And even amidst the comedy, the serious dramatic moments are never a jolt.

At the heart of the series is this notion of lying to ones self in order to survive. For Yu-rin, lying is second nature, something Gong-chan has not needed to do because everything was provided for him. Add forbidden emotions to the mix and lying and telling the truth respectively becomes more difficult than they realize.
Da Hae's tortured liar Yu-rin would be considered the straight character amidst her wacky 'real' family and the wacky character amidst her straight 'bogus' family. It's an odd line to walk, but somehow Da Hae pulls it off without losing the audiences' attention. Dong-wook's Gong-chan deteriorates from a straight as an arrow dull workaholic to irresponsible, footloose rogue very convincingly. But perhaps the performance prize goes to the Joon Ki's womanizing Jung woong, who gets a taste of his own bitter medicine that continuously eats him up inside.

 

K-DRAMA : MY FAIR LADY

MY FAIR LADY This is my No. 1 Korean Novela in 2010.  I love the story, the actors, and the lead actress' fashion sense. It's the opposite of Boys Over Flowers' lead male character.  Yoon Hyun Hye has that classic and modern beauty that whatever fashion you put on her, it will always suit her.  Not only that, she is able to carry herself well which would make every girl and lady love to emulate her  (not the character in this drama, ofcourse!) If BOF has handsome boys, this drama has handsome men. My Fair Lady aka Lady Castle   Brat. One simple word that wholly defines Kang Hye-na -- the main character in the Korean TV series, My Fair Lady (Agasshireul Butakhae ). What could possibly be the reasons of her character? My Fair Lady which is also known as Lady Castle premiered in KBS World TV last September 16, 2009. Watch this Korean drama that will surely put a smile in your face.She is desired by men, feared and hated by women... A story of a girl who was born in a wealthy upper class family and lived a 'princess-like' life with her servants. Kang Hye-na, a strong-headed, and selfish lady, became the only successor to the largest conglomerate company, Kang-san Group when she lost her parents in a plane crash at a very young age. She was then brought up by her grandfather and haven't experienced the warmth of family when she grew up. One day, out of pure coincidence, she comes across Dong-chan turns her life up-side down. He makes Hye-na to do community service, kidnaps her, and now appears in front of her as the new household manager! Hye-na makes every effort to throw him out from the castle, but she may have finally met her match. Kang Hye-na, the owner of 'Lady Castle', has lost her parents in a plane crash. Even then, she lived a princess-like life with her servants but she had a lonely upbringing, living under the care of her stern grandfather. This resulted to her overtly indifferent and oblivious-to-others' character. She has grown-up into a self-centered woman that every time she opens her mouth, she would blurt out blunt remarks no matter who the person is. However, she has great skills on horse riding, fencing, and clay shooting. The only reason she holds these skills is to either humiliate men unworthy of her, or to add awkwardness to conversations. One day, she came across Seo Dong-chan, a gigolo who made her life upside down. She doesn't have a good feeling about this man, Seo Dong-chan. She feels uneasy over the fact that she may have finally met her match. Seo Dong-chan played by Yoon Sang-hyun Seo Dong-chan was a former gigolo (gold-digger) who gave up his schooling in the university and his first love just to make money for the operations of his mother who has an acute leukemia. Dong-chan has good looks, eloquent speech, excellent art of living, and great skills of adapting to circumstances thus making him the best gigolo. Soon after his mother passed away, he stopped his booming career. At the moment, all he got is only five thousand debt which resulted from the charges from his mother's operations. One day, a woman named Kang Hye-na who is notorious for being arrogant and spoiled shows up and stimulated his competitive spirit. , Dong-chan makes up his mind to enter the Castle and becomes her butler on the purpose of changing his whole life. Lee Tae-yoon played by Jung Il-woo  Tae-yoon, an elite lawyer who came from a very wealthy family. He is devoting his life to legal service for the poor in a shabby lawyer's office. He may look like a soft and gentle young man, but when it comes to his work he is merciless and sharp like a knife. He reminds Hye Na of her first love which is why she was attracted to him. Yeo Eui Joo played by Moon Chae-won  Eui Joo is a bright and cheerful girl who dreams to be a shoe designer. She has grown up with Dong-chan and had been the mentor who helps him do the right things. She was also the closest person who worries about him and supports him to get his life on track. Behind of Eui-ju's special interest in him, her unrequited love is hidden.

T-DRAMA: AUTUMN CONCERTO/ I LOVE YOU SO

I LOVE YOU SO

Starring Van Ness Wu


The story, well, it's good but quite boring because of the long dialogue of the characters making full explanations on their situations. I almost fell asleep in every episode since the long dialogues never end.  I only came to like it because of Van Ness and the cute child who plays his son.

Van Ness, as usual, a guy who has that pure masculine appeal.  I especially like his fashion sense, te way he carries his clothes, and his masculine voice.  Same with Kim Hyun Joong.

The female lead is actually very pretty.  She looks simple but once made up she is a doll.

Overall, I like the story only if the dialogues are not too long.  You would want to see and cuddle the child even, wishing he was your son or your baby brother.

There is the "kilig" or exciting/ thrilling factor in the story whenever the 2 leads appear together.

Ren Guang Xi - Mr. Playboy 

played by Vanness Wu

Ren Guang Xi: An arrogant and coldhearted law student who seems to live an almost perfect life.
Asset: He's the only successor to a HUGE business.
Weakness: He's emotionally troubled by his father's death
Hobby: ice hockey

"Air on the G String" makes him remember his father.

Liang Mu Cheng - A Sweet Girl 

played by Ady An

Liang Mu Cheng: A sweet, kindhearted orphan who lives with her aunt.
Asset: Though living in poverty, she is hardworking and strong-willed
Weakness: She's vulnerable
Hobby:: Playing the piano

She can play the "Air on the G String"

He Yi Qian - Ren's Fiancee 

played by Tiffany Xu

He Yi Qian: A sweet and nice lady who is engaged with Ren Guang Xi.


Asset: She's a kind and beautiful doctor who took care of Ren Guang Xi after his surgery


Weakness: She genuinely loves Ren Guang Xi

Hua Tuo Ye - Mr. Big Brother 

played by Chris Wu

Hua Tuo Ye: An overly protective friend of Liang Mu Cheng


Asset: A knight who always rescues Mu Cheng


Weakness: He will be and always will be - a friend.

Synopsis:

Ren Guang Xi and Liang Mu Cheng's first encounter was on a bus incident where they both ended at the police station. Fate brought them together as they crossed paths again at Sheng De University (Guang Xi's family business) where Mu Cheng works in the cafeteria. Guang Xi made a bet with his friends that he can get a kiss from her within 24 hours. At first, Guang Xi intended to date Mu Chen for fun but as he gets to know her he realizes that she is a kind and caring person. Soon, they became friends and were almost inseparable.

However, Guang Xi learns that he has a brain tumor and has to undergo a major brain surgery. Upon knowing that he has an almost 50-50 chance of surviving, he refused to go through the surgery. He began to avoid Mu Cheng so she will not know that he is dying. Mu Cheng was bewildered by his sudden coldness and fled to work in a fishing village where she almost drowned in the sea. She called Ren Guang Xi's name, and he came to save her. He then told her the truth and confessed his love for her. She begged and convinced Guang Xi to proceed with the operation, with a promise that she will take care of him and to be always by his side.

The Sheng De University principal (Ren Guang Xi's mom) was against their relationship and asked Mu Cheng to disappear after ren guang xi's surgery. So she left (with Tuo Ye, a close friend which later became her suitor) leaving Guang Xi in anguish and brokenhearted.

Little does she know that she was already carrying guang xi's child.

The surgery went on but had left Ren Guang Xi with no memory at all.

Six years later, Mu cheng lives with her 5 year old son in a flower village. Ren Guang Xi, with a brand new memory, is now a successfull lawyer and is engaged with Yi Qian- a doctor who helped him recover after surgery. After hitting his latest client, Ren Guang Xi was sentenced to a 240- hour community service to a small village where he will once again come vis a vis with the woman which will give him an i-think-i-know-you feeling...

K-DRAMA : MISCHIEVOUS KISS

MBC's "PLAYFUL KISS"

Yeah, I like the Korean drama series " Playful Kiss " than the Taiwanese version " It Started with a Kiss".  As for the Taiwanese version, I don't like it.  Period.

The acting, the story, the actors, are all fine and well chosen.  No over acting parts, and every scene is quite funny, not corny. That's how I describe a feel good movie. Though I admit that I spend so much time reading the english subtitles than concentrating on their acting, but maybe I get the hang of it since the first ever Asian Drama "Meteor Garden"  had been well approved by the Asian people worldwide.

I especially like Kim Hyun Joong, the lead star in the drama.  He is the BFF of Lee Min Ho in the famous drama, "Boys Over Flowers".  Hyun Joong was the so-called "Leader" of their all-male group " SS501 ", with all-good-looking male members. 

I like the way he acts  with confidence, though he is always being typecasted in character that he plays in various dramas-- mysterious, cold but smart and every girl's dreamboy. In real life, he is very good in math, smart and a sports buff.  I can tell after I follow him in this korean game shows when he was still starting his career and promoting their boy group. He would usually win in all game segments; his only weakness is women---those who are not flirts (otherwise, he would challenge them and would not seem to care if they would lose to him.) I like his hair if it's shorter, colored blonde.  I like the way he grooves, too.

He looked more of the lead guy in Winter Sonata, the one with glasses.

(last episode of BOF)

I admit, too, that when he came to Manila for a concert, he's not as attractive as he's in his dramas or other guestings in other countries. Maybe because he had lost weight and I did not like his hair then.

I should be talking about the Playful Kiss, but keep talking about Kim Hyun Joong.