The Thieves

Another recommendation from my dad here. The Thieves is a 2012 Korean Movie which received a lot of press as the 'Korean Ocean's 11'. With a collection of top actors such as Kim Yoon Seok (The Chaser and Punch), Kim Hye Soo (Sandglass and Over the Rainbow) and Gianna Jun (My Love From Another Star and My Sassy Girl) it's no surprise that the action comedy is currently the second highest grossing movie in Korean film history.
Enough with the facts, onto the review! The plot of The Thieves is about a group of robbers, Popie (Lee Jung Jae), Yenicall (Gianna Jun), Chewingum (Kim Hae Sook) and Zampano (Kim Soo Hyun) from Korea who decide to follow the lead of ex-colleague Macao Park to pull off a major heist in Hong Kong. In Hong Kong the team become acquainted with another group of thieves. The distrust between the two groups causes tension. The stakes are high as the 10 thieves try to steal the 'Tear of Sun' which is worth $20 million dollars but every one has their own agendas and no one can be trusted.

2NE1 - Crush from Kpop Mart

So today's review is going to be a bit different to usual because it's going to be more of a review of my purchase!! I recently bought my first Kpop CD (previous CD's have been bought for me) so I figured I'd review it as an actual purchase rather than just reviewing the music. If you like this style of review, let me know in the comments and I'll make more! However, if I suddenly see my follower count drop, I'll know to never do it again!!

No Breathing

Terribly sorry about my last review, for some reason it didn't post when it was supposed to... But to make things up to you, I've found some more sport related media. A Korean movie about swimming.

Won Il was set to be a champion swimmer but he quit and lost his passion for swimming. However after being expelled from school he is forced to join a sports college where he meets Woo Sang a serious swimmer who's headed for the Olympics. The two had met before as children at a competition, now the two form a strange friendship based on rivalry.

My Love From Another Star

With a title featuring the word 'Love' I believed this was a romance story and just like a majority of romance dramas, there's a love triangle! But you shouldn't judge too quickly, this is no conventional romance. In fact, it's no conventional anything! It's a pastiche of every genre you could think of: romance, drama, detective, sci-fi, thriller, comedy and it's even a bit historical!
To set the ball rolling on this mix-match of themes, this drama is about an alien. That's right, an alien who crashed on earth and quite conveniently looks like a very attractive young man. Also, he has magic powers.

The Heirs

There's been a lot of hype around this drama since April because of it's all star line-up! Lee Min Ho (Boys Over Flowers and Personal Preference) Kang Min Hyuk (Hearstrings and drummer for CN Blue) and Park Shin Hye (You're Beautiful and Heartstrings) all feature in this drama alongside many more big actors and idols. about the love and friendships of some very rich high school student. In fact, given my great anticipation to watch this drama I've broken my 5-episodes-for-a-review rule so I can tell you about this drama only 4 days after it's premier.

Monstar

A group of out-casted teenagers each with their own tragic back story are put against the odds to make the best musical performance they can. As they form their bonds they find their talents and find that they can heal their psychological scars through music. But the love lines formed don't quite match up and rifts are formed in the group! Will they still be able to make their performance the best and win the competition? No, I'm not talking about Glee! They don't have instruments in Glee, after all!
Yoon Seol Chan is a member of the idol group Men In Black. After receiving some bad press his company decides that the best way to change his image is to send him to school. Also new to school is Min Se Yi who transferred after spending time in New Zealand talking to sheep. The two become desk mates and are joined by a silent gangsta, the 'cool' class president, a bullied nerd with a passion for singing, a tough bully and the token fat girl to form a band. They're blackmailed by they're teacher and must cooperate to get their performance ready in time.

Golden Time

Golden Time or 'Golden Hour' refers to the vital period of time where the doctors medical treatment determines the life or death of the patient. Min-Woo is well aware of that, medical drama junkie and country side doctor encountered a traumatic incident lost him a patient and his confidence in his work. Still unsure of why he wants to become a doctor, Min-Woo returns to a city hospital to complete his residency in ER. Working alongside him is Jae-In. The complete opposite of Min-Woo, Jae-In is determined to become a doctor so she can support herself while helping others. The drama and stress mounts up quickly on interns in ER though and if he wants to survive Min-Woo needs to take control of his wispy emotions and get his priorities straight because when a moments hesitation makes the difference between life and death there is no room for the uncertain. It aired just last year and it's my first ever medical drama. So be sure to read on!

Love Rain

Expo was Yesterday!!! But I was more in the TV shows scene this time (Adventure Time, Teen Wolf, etc.) so I won't clog my blog up with a post about that!! Instead, enjoy this review while I get on the train to go to my mum's! :)

Love Rain is a masterful drama that depicts a cycle of misfortune starting in 1970's and repeating itself in the present. It starts when Seo In Ha falls in love with beautiful and kind Kim Yoon Hee, and she falls in love with him. However Seo In Ha's best friend Lee Dong Wook falls in love with the very same girl making Seo In Ha choose between the two. He tries to escape by enlisting in the army and Kim Yoon Hee has to move to America to get treated for her illness. After a long time with no news, every one assumes that Yoon Hee passed away and Seo In Ha tries to make a family for himself but when he finds her in Korea again he's determined not to let her go again. Although not as sweet when they're middle-aged, their love is so pure that you just have to wish for their happiness but with In Ha's ex-wife involved, no-one's going to be allowed happiness. A parallel story of love and pain occurs when Seo Joon and Jung Ha Na meet. Joon falls for Ha Na's cheerfulness and quickly wins her over with his undeniable charm however it's not that simple because Seo Joon is Seo In Ha's son and Jung Ha Na is Kim Yoon Hee's daughter. It's so tragic because no matter what happens you know it's going to end badly! No matter how much you wish for both couples happiness you know it's not possible so through out there's this feeling of dread that almost makes me not want to reach the end!

Jang Ok Jung

After LOENENT released a MV for Dream On You I was captivated by those beautiful scenes of cherry blossoms and Korean History so I had to look into the drama! It's based in Joseon, a state in Korea between 1392 and 1897. It's a pinnacle point in Korean History not only for the great technological advancements but   it's traits from this era (etiquette, language, cultural norms, etc.) that have most influenced modern Korea. It is commonly used as the best example of traditional Korean culture and has become a somewhat romanticized time period. Much like the Victorian age for us Britons! Even better, the characters are based off real historical people! My knowledge does not extend far enough to tell you how historically accurate it is, but it does add a whole new level of realism.
Now you're probably wondering when I'm actually going to start reviewing! The answer is: right after this synopsis!

Who Slept With Her?

Who slept with her? Sirasoni saw the student teacher doing the deed with some one and he won't rest until he finds out who! Children, advert your eyes now.

Kim TaeYo, Jae Sung and Ahn MyeongSeop attend a conservative Christian boys school where discipline is strong. But when the extremely attractive student teacher Ji Young joins it's only natural that all her pupils want to get into her pants. Ji Young is put in charge of organising a performance for the school; as such, she spends a lot of time with Kim TaeYo, Jae Sung and Ahn MyeongSeop. In fact it was just after this that the Head of discipline (Sirasoni) looks into a classroom window to see a couple embracing and her a woman moaning. By the time he gets into the class, the couple are gone leaving just Ji Young's red stilettos behind. So, if Ji Young was the woman: who slept with her? Sirasoni has three suspects: Kim TaeYo, Jae Sung and Ahn MyeongSeop. Flashback a few months to when Ji Young first joined (I loved the use of flashbacks in this film) and we see why Sirasoni suspects these people and finally, what happened that night after the performance! It's such a brilliant plot, incredibly funny! It is very weird at first, but once everything's explained at the end it's just pure genius! I loved the ending SO much that I REALLY want to tell you what happens... but that would spoil it for you, so go watch! I think the plot was really well devised and so entertaining. Just.... Just watch it, yeah?

Kimchi

So another one of my Christmas presents today! I don't think I mentioned I got food for Christmas did I? Well it certainly was a surprise! Kimchi is Korea's national dish and Koreans eat kimchi with pretty much anything. It's basically pickled vegetables, usually the main ingredient is Cabbage but there's many other varieties. Mine was a cabbage and was seasoned with radish, red pepper powder, Korean leek and fermented anchovy and fish sauce among other ingredients (full list of ingredients here) to give it a rather alarming red colour. I done a bit of research and came to the conclusion that kimchi can be cooked with pretty much anything so I just gave my dad free reign on how he wanted to present the kimchi to me. In the end I got to try it three different ways!

My Wife is a Gangster

Just finished watching My Wife is a Gangster and I don't really know what to say... Eun Jin is a legendary gang boss for her shocking skill with a knife, despite being female. But even her menacing threats can't help her elder sister when she is taken to hospital with cancer, little hope of recovering. However Yu Jin (Eun Jin's sister) wants to see some things through before she passes away. Just a small request for her sister. Get married. So her underling, Romeo gets his girlfriend to glam her up and they send her on a blind date, it doesn't go according to plan. But not all was wasted as Eun Jin then finds Soo Il, a push-over who was stupid enough to agree to marry Eun Jin. Now they are awkwardly married with lots of abuse thrown at Soo Il. That would be the end, if Yu Jin wasn't so spoiled. Unsatisfied with her sisters awkward marriage, she now confides to Eun Jin that she's always wanted kids. So Eun Jin literally forces herself upon Soo Il to try get pregnant as soon as she can. Eun Jin gets successfully pregnant and now she's set the task of looking after the unborn while being a gang boss.

Secret Garden

Guys! I really need some more recommendations!! Leave them in the comments below!

Another drama based around a rich man and a poor woman. Just like 90% of the drama's I have watched, but really, it can't get old can it!! Gil Ra Im is a stunt woman and proud of it, even if it doesn't give her much money, Kim Joo Won is a multi-millionaire CEO who looks down on every one. But when he mistakes the stunt double with the actual actress he is shocked by his profound interest in her. Thus starts they're strange kind of relationship which can never work out because of they're difference in lifestyles. Kim Joo Won's feelings become even more prominent when Gil Ra Im becomes acquainted with her ultimate idol Oska. Jealousy runs wild and suddenly Gil Ra Im is involved in some pretty complicated love affairs. Things only get more confusing when series of events lead to Kim Joo Won and Gil Ra Im swapping bodies. Rich man, poor woman, I've seen before. As have I seen all the misunderstanding that occur in such situation. I've even watched gender-bender dramas! But NEVER have I seen a body-swap! I can't decide if that novelty is entertaining or just silly.... but it is certainly unique.

May 18 (Splendid Holiday)

Back to school soon. Yay. Good bye summer! On another note, did you know I have done more than 52 consistent reviews? That's right, it's been over a year since I returned to blogging!

My Dad lent me this film (in all it's limited edition box set glory) saying that it wasn't that good. But, based on true events May 18  is most tragic, tear-jerking tale I've ever witnessed!! No joke about the fact that this is the first time I've actually cried at a piece of media! May 18 is the date in which the citizens of Gwangju, Korea, took arms against the army. The events are true but obviously the characters have been made with the purpose of making every one cry. Brothers Min-woo and Jin-woo are living life quite happily despite having lost their parents (an added detail which I hate for it's cliché). But when soldiers are sent to beat down supposed conspirators from colleges Jin-woo leads his school in protesting. The soldiers are depicted mowing down any college student they see while many others get caught in the middle. It's difficult to pass judgement on this because I know nothing about the incident myself I couldn't say if they've exaggerated it or omitted important facts to make it a greater sob story.

Playful Kiss

I did say I'd review this. Remember? When I reviewed the Taiwanese version "It started with a kiss..."! Well, now I have watched it and really, I can't see why this one's more popular... Obviously the plot is basically the same but things happen a lot quicker. Oh Ha Ni leaves a note in Baek Seung Jo's locker but is publicly humiliated when he returns the letter with corrections marked on. Her troubles only get worse when her new house falls down in a minor earthquake so her and her father are forced to stay under the protection of her father's friend who, as fate would have it, is Seung Jo's dad. But unlike It started with a kiss, the plot quickly progresses to when they enter University and we see a lot of Seung Jo's caring side (read It started with a kiss review for a more detailed summary). The nature of this drama is very believable, ignoring the scene when Oh Ha Ni's house falls down. It's a bit too believable really and decisively neutral. Where's the drama? The exaggerated reactions? The too sad/happy moments that make you scream at the computer? I'll tell you where, in the longer plot. They've made everything happen too fast so there's no tension, which is a shame because this show has so much to offer. Namely the acting.

Personal Preference

This is my third drama with homosexuality in it, but this time it's very different because there is no cross-dressing people, just some big misunderstandings. Jeon Jin Ho is a budding architect who wants to enter the Dam Art Gallery Project. This project is supposed to be based on the Sanggojae but this makes it very difficult for every one as the Sanggojae has always been locked to outsiders. The owner of said house is Park Gae In and after being betrayed by those closest to her she has no choice but to sublet one of her rooms. Of course, a lady living on her own couldn't rent the room  out to a man. But what if the man was gay? Then there wouldn't been a problem, so after several misunderstandings Jin Ho has to pretend to be gay to stay with Gae In. But with Gae In being such a careless loud mouth Jin Ho is constantly forced into awkward situations. Thus, start the chaos! There is also the addition of Chang Ryul and In Hee who cancelled their wedding because they both had other lovers. Trying to work out the true intentions of theese two is difficult because although Chang Ryul refuses to let go of In Hee he keeps returning to Gae In, his other lover. I'm not even going to get into the criss-crossed love square that's formed!

The Good, The Bad, The Weird

Look! I changed my blog!! I thought it'd make sense to use toffee colour being toffeeish and everything. What do you think? I might change it again, but it's better than the ocean don't you think?

This film is really good!! The plot is pretty simple, but it's executed so beautifully. It is inspired by 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly', but since I haven't watched that, I can't make any comparisons or anything like that! It's all based around this treasure map that EVERY one wants!!! Amongst the people who want this map are three villians that are the focus of the squabble. Really, that is the whole movie in a nutshell. But there's also the Japanese army and Chinese Bandits chasing after this map which makes for some pretty extreme battle scenes. It all starts because Yoon Tae Go stole the map on what he thought was a standard train theft, but when news gets out he finds himself running for his life all for a map. It ends with a climatic shoot out between the three of them. Winner takes all.
I did say the plot is simple!!! Of course there are some mysteries and back stories which I could tell you about... but that would spoil the film! In all truthfulness, I did get confused by said simple plot.... but only because I had some difficulties in remembering the characters names..... I'm no good with Korean names ok!

SHINee - Sherlock

Yes, it's SHINee again!! Let me just say how much I freakin' love Rachel for buying this for my birthday present!!!! She even got the poster with it!! I don't care that it was late, I LOVE YOU RACHEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now that I've got that out of my system I'll carry on with the review. Let's start with how amazing SHINee are, they're a  Korean, 5 member boy idol group of awesomeness and Sherlock is their 4th mini-album. After spending so much time in Japan I was expecting an album of full-blown epics, but all we got was this 7 track mini. But I'll live.
I heard the title track as soon as it came out because I'm a pretty hardcore fan and I've loved it since. The almost erotic whispering at the beginning and the explosive rap where just beyond amazing. And it has such a catchy curious. From now on, whenever I get curious about something I burst out into song. It has got a really good beat with lots of variety in it but I must ask, why does it sound like a kettle whistling in the background? It is probably my ONLY complaint about the song.

Me Too, Flower!

This weeks k-drama is very different to any other k-drama I've watched. There's a lot of difference but basically they all stem to the age difference. Most shows I watch are about older teens, I've watched a couple with young adults, but I'm a Flower too has a heroine of 31 years old! Cha Bong Sun, officer at her local police station, feeling distressed and wronged after missing out on her promotion she's sent to counselling sessions with Hwa Young. She also finds herself having numerous encounters with Jae Hui who appears to be a valet parker and barely paying his rent. But in actual fact, he's a billionaire and secret co-founder of Perche. Representitve Pak, who founded Perche with Jae Hui has been extremely messed up since Jae Hui accidentally ran over her husband. She's also Hwa Young's cousin. You can quickly see how tangled this web of connections gets, especially when you add in Bong Sun's step-sister in who finds herself quite involved with Jae Hui, Representitve Pak and Hwa Young.

Coffee Prince

Coffee Prince is a Korean Drama that was highly recommended to me by my friend.
Go Eun Chan is a 24 year old from a poor family, she has to take up several part-time jobs to be able to keep a house with her shopaholic mum and younger sister. Choi Han Kyul is the polar opposite. As the son of a rich food company, he does no work and always plays around. But their paths start to cross, it brings about a very curious turn of events. Convinced that Go Eun Chan is a boy, Choi Han Kyul employs her to be his fake gay lover to avoid his grandmother's arranged dates. When his grandmother's plan to get him married fails, she decides to make him work instead. He has to renovate a local Coffee shop and make triple the investment. He employs Go Eun Chan, still convinced she's a guy, and sets to work. Mostly the show is about everyone struggling with the shop and struggling to get along with each other. But there's also this kind of side story about the guy who Go Eun Chan delivers milk to. Choi Han Seong, who just happens to be Choi Han Kyul's cousin, starts chatting with Go Eun Chan and they get along quite well, but unfortunately for Go Eun Chan, he has a girl friend. His girl friend also happens to be Choi Han Kyul's crush. So everything's a bit knotted up!