InFilm to Watch: Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi! (2008)

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi! (2008)

Taani Gupta is about to get married, and one of her father's favorite pupils is in attendance, the nerdy-looking and shy Surinder Sahni. The fiance and all his family crash and die on their way to the wedding, giving Taani's father a heart attack. The professor asks Surinder to marry Taani instead, so he can die in peace, and both agree to fulfill his deathbed wish. Taani vows to never love again, so she will never hurt from its loss, but Surinder can't help having feelings for the formerly bright and cheerful Taani. Will entering a local dance competition bring them closer together?

*This was a great show – I love how nerdy they made Surinder's character look, especially compared to his alter ego. The musical numbers were bright and entertaining, and I loved the romance between these two actors (the guy is also in “Swades,” and the girl is in “Band Baaja Baaraat” - both films I enjoyed). The only thing I didn't like is that they NEVER KISSED. I might watch this again.*

InFilm to Watch: Swades (2004)

Swades (2004)

Mohan is working on a satellite project for NASA in the US when overwhelming guilt and the death anniversary of his parents leads him to seek out his former nanny in India. Kaveri Amma has moved to a small village where Mohan meets up with his former childhood playmate Gita, a passionate, forward-thinking teacher in the village's school. Mohan went to India with the intent to bring Kaveri back with him, to take care of her in her old age. Meanwhile Mohan is faced with some of India's extreme poverty and the inability of its people to unite and advance as one because so many are stubbornly sticking to the caste system. He unites the villagers on a project to permanently provide them with electricity but has to return to finish the satellite project with NASA. Will Mohan return to his life of comfort or will his native land compel him to stay?

*This was more somber than most Indian films I've watched so far because it deals with deeper issues like Indian pride and the challenges that face any third-world country as it tries to further develop. Thought-provoking with great music, I'd probably watch this again.*

KDrama to Watch: The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince (2007)

The 1^st Shop of Coffee Prince (2007)

Grade: B+

17 Episodes

Go Eun Chan is an independent, hardworking young woman, the official breadwinner for her family ever since her dad died when she was 16. She dresses and acts like a boy, and after a few chance run ins with chaebol Choi Han Kyul, she is hired to work as his boyfriend to scare off blind dates. Then when Han Kyul's family forces him to work at and increase the sales of a local coffee shop, Eun Chan is hired as a male server, all based on a series of misunderstandings. Han Kyul eventually starts to have feelings for Eun Chan, even though he thinks she's a guy. Does Eun Chan feel the same way about Han Kyul? If she reveals her secret, will she ever get to see Han Kyul again?

*This is classic Korean Drama writing. There are some great moments between the two main characters, but it slows down a lot in the middle. It seems like a common theme for the female lead to insist on asserting herself before settling down when I think she's just being stubborn and could still have those pursuits without making her man wait so long. I also didn't like one of the parallel love stories, about a couple that had been together off and on over ten years, with cheating on both sides. It is a fun classic kdrama overall, and I might watch it again, but it isn't a favorite. Yoon Eun Hye is better in her other dramas (“My Fair Lady” and “Lie to Me”), but Gong Yoo is charming (and he plays the lead in one of my favorite Korean movies, “Finding Mr. Destiny”!)*

TFilm to Watch: Secret (2007)

Secret (2007)  

(Taiwanese Film) 

Jay is a musical prodigy and starts attending the school where his father teaches when he meets an intriguing girl named Rain. The two start to fall for each other, until one day Rain stops coming to school. (She thinks Jay is interested in someone else.) The twist? Nobody has ever seen Rain except for Jay. Is the young prodigy hallucinating, or are some supernatural elements at play?

*This was an interesting movie. The first half was just really nice, quiet and pretty, with a really amazing “piano battle” scene. Then Rain's story is told, and it's a little sad. The ending seemed a little abrupt, with the father not knowing what happens to his son. I might watch this again, if for no other reason than to watch the cool piano scene.*

KFilm to Maybe Watch: Welcome to Dongmakgol (2005)

Welcome to Dongmakgol (2005)

Set in 1950s Korea during the Korean War, a United States Navy pilot, three North Korean soldiers, and two South Korean soldiers all stumble upon a forgotten, peaceful village high in the mountains. The villagers have no electricity, no running water, or any clue about the war ravaging the country. The outsiders have to find a way to get along, especially after accidentally blowing up the village storage shed during their initial standoff. What will happen to Dongmakgol when the U.S. Army finds out one of their men is lost in that region?

*The beginning was sad, the middle was funny and touching, and the ending was sad yet touching. I loved seeing the three different factions find their common ground as they worked together in the village, and then later to save the village. There was some noble sacrifice involved, but I would have wanted a happier ending. Also, LOTS of swearing, particularly from the white characters – at least half a dozen F-bombs throughout – and violent (it was a war movie, after all). It was an interesting watch, but I don't know that I'd view it again.*

KDrama to Watch: My Love From Another Star (2014)

My Love From Another Star (2014)

Grade: A-

21 Episodes

Do Min Joon is an alien who was stranded in Korea during the Josen era, 400 years ago. He passes his time with intellectual pursuits, studying law and medicine, changing his identity every 10 years or so. He is a professor at a local university when famous actress Cheon Song Yi moves in next door, and then his quiet life of solitude is over. Min Joon has just three months left before his ride home arrives, disguised as an asteroid, but when visions of the actress in danger come to him, he has to intervene, using his unique powers of speed, teleportation, and freezing of time to do so. Is she the same girl he rescued twelve years ago, the girl that resembled so closely the first girl he met on earth those many centuries ago? Will Min Joon return to his home planet or will he choose to remain at Song Yi's side?

*I stayed up until 2 am when I started this show – it's been a while since a drama kept me up that late. I had no real expectations for this drama, but it turned out to be quite romantic. There is mystery, supernatural elements, and it is very unique as far as dramas go. In this show, both the main characters have money and pride, yet Song Yi's character is easy to relate to, even though she is an egotistical actress. I didn't give it a better grade because I'm not quite sure I like the ending (it's almost a non-ending, really). But I would probably watch this again.*

Be sure to look up the song from the film, sung by the actor Kim Soo Hyun himself (he has the voice of an angel!) It's called “Promise.”

Music Video "Promise" 

KDrama to Watch: Personal Taste (2010)

Personal Taste (2010)

Grade: B+

16 Episodes

Clumsy, naïve Park Gae In finds out at the wedding that her supposed boyfriend Chang Ryul is marrying her roommate and best friend, the calculating Kim In Hee, leaving Gae In in need of a renter. Architect Jeon Jin Ho (played by Lee Min Ho, yay!) wants to find out more about Gae In's unique Korean traditional style house for a huge work opportunity. After a series of misunderstandings, Gae In allows Jin Ho to move in because she thinks he is gay and therefore a safe choice. Will Jin Ho land the bid for his struggling firm before Gae In discovers his secrets, or will Gae In be taken for a fool once more?

*I really liked the first half of this show – good pace, super funny, intense romantic moments – but the second half really dragged on and lost all its humor. It had a good ending, but again, I didn't like how it became so dramatic. I'd like to see Lee Min Ho in a more comedic role for sure, since he has that surly, stern character down pat. I might watch this again.*