InFilm to Watch: Jab We Met (2007)

Jab We Met (2007)

Wealthy businessman Aditya Kashyap (Shahid Kapoor) runs off in a depressed haze, boarding a random train where he meets Geet, a free-spirited girl on her way back home. She misses her train because of him, so he escorts her home. They part ways, and Aditya goes back to his company with a new outlook on life. Nine months pass and Geet's family asks where Geet is, thinking she is with Aditya, so Aditya has to find her and bring her home again.

Cute film, except there are half-naked pole dancers in the last musical number. Also, the girl's view of a cheating wife is that “all is fair in love,” and I do not agree at all. Might watch again

InFilm to Watch: Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011)

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011)

Three friends Arjun, Kabir, and Imraan head to Spain for a bachelor trip. Kabir is engaged but he starts to have doubts about his fiancee; Arjun is a workaholic and his buddies try to get him to loosen up; and Imraan is trying to decide whether or not to meet his birth father. As part of their trip and their friendship, each one of them chooses an “extreme sport” for all three of them to do together. Each of the activities comes to represent a fear that they have and are able to conquer with the support of the other two guys.

*This was a fun break from the traditional “guy meets girl” story line, although there is some of that mixed into the story. Very fun, liked the music, liked the camaraderie among the three friends, beautiful scenery. There is some language and one brief bed scene, but still equivalent to a mild PG-13 overall. Will watch again.*

KFilm to Watch: "A Werewolf Boy" (2012)

A Werewolf Boy (2012)

Set in the 1960s, a widow moves to the countryside with her two daughters, for the sake of her oldest daughter's health. The family discovers a feral boy on their property, and eldest daughter Sun-yi figures out how to help him adapt, training the boy like she would a dog. Chul-soo (Song Joong-ki) readily learns everything except to talk. Meanwhile the young man who helped Sun-yi's family move into the country house tries to take advantage of her, and Chul-soo attacks, defending the one who has taken such loving care of him. The villagers are frightened, and Sun-yi's mother moves the family away once again. Sun-yi leaves a note for Chul-soo, asking him to wait and promises to return. Forty years into the future, Sun-yi returns – will Chul-soo still be waiting?

* I LOVED Chul-soo's character – the actor is the main character from the film “Penny Pinchers”! This was a very well-written film, but it's a love-hate relationship for me because there are elements of the story “Tuck Everlasting” in it – the idea of true loves being separated forever is heart-wrenching! If I can stand it, I'd watch it again. PG-13 for language.*

InFilm to Watch: I Hate Luv Storys (2010)

I Hate Luv Storys (2010)

Jay (Imran Kan) is an assistant film director, but his boss only makes sappy romantic films. Jay is forced to work with a new set designer, Simran, and she loves everything sentimental. Simran falls for Jay, but he does not return her affections, so she returns to her childhood sweetheart Raj. It's not until she's gone that Jay realizes he loves Simran, so he chases her, gets rejected, then has to decide to go for it one last time. Some funny moments when Jay is acting lovey dovey even when he used to make fun of it all.

*Pretty cute film, but it was almost trying too hard NOT to be a cliché. Might watch again.*

InFilm to Miss: Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl (2011)

Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl (2011)

A cross between “Catch Me If You Can” (2002) and “John Tucker Must Die” (2006), this romantic comedy tells the story of con man Ricky Bahl and his lifestyle of wooing rich women and cheating them out of thousands of dollars. One day he crosses paths with Raina, an outspoken businesswoman, selling her a fake painting to hang in her building. She then vents her anger on the news, and two other women, Dimple and Saira call Raina to let her know they think the same man conned them. Raina hatches a plan to catch the “bloody scoundrel” with the other girls' help and enlists the help of her friend Ishika, a salesgirl with excellent conning skills of her own. Will Ricky's reign of thievery come to an end, or will the girls lose even more money in his greatest scheme ever?

*While this film was fun, I don't think Ricky was punished enough (or at all) for his misdeeds. I had the urge to slap this character at several points. The ending was unique but not really believable because he doesn't lose. There was some kissing, which is nice, and some language, but because of how it all ends, I wouldn't watch it again.*

KFilm to Miss: Sunny (2011)

Sunny (2011)

Wife and mother Im Na-mi is visiting her mother in the hospital when she happens to pass the room of her former high school classmate, Ha Chun-hwa. She has cancer, only has two months left to live, and she was the leader of their high school group of friends. Na-mi then takes it upon herself to reunite their old gang, “Sunny,” and half the movie is told in flashbacks as the group slowly reunites. In the process, Na-mi rediscovers herself and her life is enriched.

*Mixed feelings about this film. There are over two dozen F-bombs and lots of other swearing throughout, plus it is a bittersweet film as the friend with cancer does in fact die during the course of the movie. The way the plot was woven with back story was very interesting, though, and it speaks to the heart of true friendship – for the good times and the bad. I don't think I'd watch this again simply because it makes me too sad.*

KDrama to Miss: 12 Signs of Love (2012)

12 Signs of Love/Twelve Men in a Year (2012) 

Grade: D-

16 Episodes

Magazine reporter Mi Roo breaks up with her boyfriend Jin Oh and drunkenly writes an article about it as the famous Sophia, a fickle writer that had signed a contract to submit articles to the XX magazine. Mi Roo's editor in chief prints the article, it receives rave reviews, and Mi Roo then has to continue writing the monthly column since the real Sophia decides to breach contract and leave the country instead of write. The editor in chief gets the idea to make the “erotic column” focusing on a year of Sophia's dates, one article for each zodiac sign. Mi Roo doesn't actually end up sleeping with 12 different men; some of the dating ends before that point is reached, Mi Roo's editor submits one article, Mi Roo's friend ends up dating another zodiac sign for her, and so on. Jin Oh finds out about Mi Roo posing as Sophia and interferes with some of her dates – will they get back together by the end?

*This is a very unusual format for a Kdrama, since it straight up promotes promiscuity, and because the episodes were only 45 minutes long instead of the usual 65. I wouldn't watch this again or recommend it. There were some humorous parts and there were some cute actors, but overall I just didn't like it. I think it's because the buildup just wasn't there with all the sleeping around going on.*