ChFilm to Miss: Lost in Thailand (2012)

Lost in Thailand (2012) 

(Chinese Film) 

Scientist Xu Lang has made a breakthrough in fossil fuel use, creating an additive that increases the volume of usable fossil fuel, although it is not yet ready for commercial use. Despite his marriage being on the brink of breakup, he takes a trip to Thailand to convince an investor to back further funding. Once in Thailand he realizes his colleague turned nemesis Gao Bo is attempting to reach the investor before him, so he can sell the additive as-is. Xu Lang uses the simpleton Bao Bao who had been sitting next to him on the plane to try and throw Gao Bo off his trail. Instead, Xu Lang loses his passport and has to rely on Bao Bao to travel around Thailand, and wacky escapades ensue. Will Xu Lang reach the investor before his nemesis, or will Bao Bao lead them into disaster?

*I would classify this film as a bromance action-adventure with some comedy. Ir's also definitely at least a PG-13 rating for situations and language, and while the scenery is interesting and beautiful, I probably wouldn't watch this again. I think it's supposed to be more of a comedy, but I don't think all of the humor translated. I probably won't watch this again.*

KDrama to Watch: My Lovely Sam Soon (2005)

My Lovely Sam Soon (2005)

Grade: A-

16 Episodes

Kim Sam Soon is an aspiring patissier who finds her boyfriend of three years cheating on her on Christmas Eve. Devastated, the nearly 30 year old runs into the men's bathroom by mistake, where Hyun Jin-hyeon, a 27 year old owner of a French restaurant, witnesses her humiliation. Their paths cross again, where Jin-hyeon learns Sam Soon's profession and hires her to bake at his restaurant. Jin-hyeon's mother is pressuring him to date, so he asks Sam Soon to be his pretend girlfriend. Sam Soon agrees when Jin-hyeon says she can name her price – her family home is going to be taken from them unless she can scrape together $50,000 to pay off the debt. How long will the pair be able to fool everyone around them before the fake relationship starts to stir real feelings?

*It's been a while since a Kdrama kept me up late into the night, but this one did it! I love how real the characters feel, and Sam Soon's smart mouth is fantastic. In a lot of dramas, the female lead is wishy-washy or gives into the female rival's requests for her to butt out, but not Sam Soon! She is older than most female leads and that age leads to a wisdom about herself that is refreshing because it leads to more realistic responses. There is great character development as well. It did feel a bit slow towards the last couple episodes, and it doesn't show everyone's endings, but again, Sam Soon's spunk bumps this show up into the A range. Also, Sam Soon is supposedly an old-fashioned, undesirable name, but since I'm American, I didn't get that feel. I imagine that an American equivalent might be the name “Bertha.” I'd watch this show again.*

KDrama to Miss: Pinocchio (2014)

Pinocchio (2014)

Grade: C+

20 Episodes

Ki Ha-myung and his family are living happily together until a horrific accident during a fire leads to several firefighters losing their lives. The news reports start speculating that Ha-myung's father - the fire chief - is still alive, since his body was not found in the wreckage and purposely left his men to die in the factory explosion. Ha-myung's mother eventually commits suicide from the slander they are powerless to stop, attempting to take him with her, while Ha-myung's brother is thrown in jail for threatening the reporter who was the driving force behind all the news about their father. Shortly after, Choi In-ha, a young girl with the Pinocchio syndrome (she hiccups whenever she tells a lie or hides the truth) comes to live with her grandfather in the countryside. They discover that the grandfather has adopted a boy he found while out fishing and thinks the boy is his own son who died 30 years ago. Ha-myung, renamed Dal Po, goes along with it because of his love for the old grandfather, and because he does not want to reveal his identity to In-ha, for she is the daughter of the very reporter who destroyed his family.

As interesting as the premise sounds, this was a total miss. It took me over three weeks to finish this show, despite the fact it had nearly all the same elements of many successful kdramas. I had the hardest time sitting through this show, and I definitely won't watch it again. I did like the soundtrack, though, and it did have some favorite actors (Lee Jong-suk from “I Hear Your Voice” and Park Shin-hye from “You're Beautiful”), but again, it did not draw me in. There was lots of crying, probably more from the guys than the girls, which at first I appreciated but by the end it was just annoying. Ha-myung suffered a terrible tragedy, but he cried almost every episode, several times an episode, and it was not endearing.

KDrama to Watch: Tomorrow's Cantabile/Nae-il's Cantabile (2014)

Tomorrow's Cantabile/Nae-il's Cantabile (2014)

Grade: B+

16 Episodes

Note: Do not watch this show if you hate classical music. It doesn't have to be your favorite, but if it bothers you even slightly, you will not enjoy this drama.

University student Cha Yoo-jin wants nothing more than to become like his idol Viera, a famous European conductor. However, a childhood trauma prevents the musical prodigy from boarding a ship or plane, so he cannot study abroad. One day he crosses paths with Seol Nae-il, a childlike piano major afraid of growing up, and she soon develops a crush on the standoffish Yoo-jin. Meanwhile, Yoo-jin's bad attitude leads him to taking piano lessons with Nae-il's professor, and he tells Yoo-jin he doesn't have to come to lessons and will receive an A in the class only if Yoo-jin plays a duet with Nae-il. It is while they practice together that Yoo-jin learns to truly listen and understand just how talented Nae-il is. Will this discovery help Yoo-jin on his path toward becoming a renowned conductor? Will Nae-il develop her talents and keep pace with Yoo-jin or give up the piano forever?

*I liked the lighthearted feel to the whole show – nothing gets too serious, the pace is consistent, and there are quite a few humorous moments in the first several episodes. There is NO KISSING, however, which is always a little disappointing. The characters and their back stories were fairly interesting, although some of the characters were just a little too odd for my taste (Nae-il and Franz). Still, it's a nice, uncomplicated little show with a great feel of camaraderie from the characters coming together to achieve something. I might watch it again.*

KFilm to Maybe Watch: Woochi (2009)

Woochi (2009)

Aspiring Taoist master and local mischief-maker Jeon Woo-chi is trapped in a painting for 500 years after a trio of lesser wizards suspect him of killing his master. His master was in the process of recovering a magic flute that would either subdue monsters or give them greater power if it fell into the wrong hands. Will Woo-chi be able to navigate the modern world and stop the plot to release monsters into the mortal world again?

*Full of action, some suspense, a little mystery, and a healthy dose of humor, this fast-paced film was difficult to follow at first, as it hopped between present and past without much transition. The rate of speech also seemed faster than normal, and it was a little difficult to keep up with the dialogue in the beginning when the movie's plot is being set up. Not too violent, not too deep - once viewers begin to think about the plot it doesn't hold up very well. Other than that it was a decent film and I might watch it again.*

KDrama to Maybe Watch: Bride of the Century (2014)

Bride of the Century (2014)

Grade: B- (former grade: B+)

16 Episodes

Chaebol Choi Kang-joo is in an arranged marriage with Jang Yi-kyung, and he couldn't care less for his future wife. Yi-kyung's family business is in trouble, however, and the marriage will save their company. There is a rumor about the Choi family, how the firstborn son's first wife always dies, but the Jang family proceeds, hesitant but ready to take the risk. Meanwhile, Yi-kyung's half-brother Yi-Hyun randomly encounters a girl who looks identical to his half-sister. It is then that Yi-kyung's mother plots to use the doppelganger, Na Doo-rim – at first as just a one-time stand-in, but later as a sacrifice to the restless spirit that protects the Choi family (if there truly is such a curse). Will Doo-rim be able to fool Kang-joo, and for how long? What will the ghost have to say about all of it?

*This is an epic-feeling fantasy romance, with lots of humor for the initial “meet cute” between Kang-joo and Doo-rim. It did drag in the middle and felt heavier and darker than I prefer, but it has a good, solid ending, and the soundtrack definitely matches the epic feel to the show. It's interesting how the generally accepted cultural belief is that everyone is reincarnated eventually. Also, I had a hard time taking Kang-joo seriously, simply because I had first seen the actor Lee Hong-gi as Jeremy in “You're Beautiful,” and he plays the comic relief in that show. The girl who plays Doo-rim is pretty adorable, and I think she managed both her roles (as the evil Yi-kyung too) quite well. I'd watch this again.*

UPDATE FALL 2020: This drama is about 5 episodes too long, with such a slow, heavy, dark pace and several character inconsistencies, that I actually changed its rating! This is the first time I've changed a previous rating for a kdrama. I did not enjoy watching the antagonists try to destroy each other, and one of the "good" characters is actually an adulteress, so it doesn't feel terribly satisfying for her to win. I won't watch this again. 

KDrama to Watch: Healer (2015)

Healer (2015)

Grade: A

20 Episodes

Aspiring journalist Chae Young-shin is accosted one day by the infamous, mysterious night courier Healer when he forcefully takes a sample of her DNA for a client. Healer's one goal in life is to make enough money with his jobs to buy a private island and retire there alone, but Young-shin intrigues Healer, and he learns more about the girl as he takes more assignments. The client is famous reporter Kim Moon-ho – but why is he wanting to learn more about this adopted girl? When Young-shin starts to realize she has feelings for the dangerous courier, where will that lead? How are their pasts linked, and will they be able to sever the bonds to the mysterious powers controlling and destroying the lives around them?

*This is an amazing action thriller with a hefty dose of romance. It is a bit dark in places, as the heroes encounter truly evil people, those who will murder and manipulate for their own gain and then cover it with layers of blackmail and lies, and it shows the characters actually dying on screen. The show has a great pace, and just when politics start to bog it down, something exciting happens to catch the viewer's interest again. Healer's character is intriguing, and the actor does a great job with his undercover personality. Young-shin's character is a little weak at times, but the show does emphasize her bravery in other ways. I also loved Healer's hacker partner, played by Kim Mi-kyung – an actress I've seen many times now in these dramas. She reminds me a bit of Emma Thompson, in that she is about the same age and does a great job playing diverse roles. I'd definitely watch this again, despite the violence in places.*



BONUS: I try to post the music videos to any KPop songs that are referenced in these KDramas, so here is 2NE1 and their song "I Am The Best" (which Min Ja refers to as a pat on the back when she pulls off some especially impressive hacking :P ) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7_lSP8Vc3o