InFilm to Watch: Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015)

Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015)

In a retelling of the classic tale “The Prince and the Pauper,” average, happy-go-lucky stage actor Prem Dilwale has a dream to someday meet and woo the princess Maithili, after witnessing her charitable endeavors once in earlier years. Meanwhile, the somber and doleful prince of Prem's own land, Vijay Singh, has his coronation coming and an engagement to that same princess Prem adores, all while dealing with family turmoil. The prince has 3 half-siblings, one half-brother and two half-sisters, who want nothing more than the prince's demise after what they perceived as unjust treatment of their mother from the queen when they were all children. Just days before his coronation, Vijay is thrown off a cliff and sent into a coma. What happens when the head of security catches a glimpse of Prem, the perfect princely doppleganger, at a local market? Will Prem finally meet his beloved princess and mend the broken ties between the prince's relations, or will Prem meet the same fate as the prince?

*This movie is close to 3 hours long, but the setting and costumes are absolutely stunning. I even enjoyed the many musical numbers, possibly because they were shorter than most musical numbers – only one or two minutes – and spread throughout the film, rather than 10 solid minutes of a dedicated song and dance every few scenes. There is a scene that shows a defenseless, frail 80-year-old man being hanged, which is very sad and disturbing, and it doesn't seem like the villains are punished for their despicable acts. The palace scenes are gorgeous, though, and it has a decent pace for such a long film. I'd watch this again, even though there is NO KISSING, but definitely skip the scenes with the poor guard being killed.* 



Here are a couple music videos to watch from the movie - the first one, "Jab Tum Chaho," is the princess replying to Prem what she dislikes about the prince. Basically she calls him out for making the relationship one-sided, with him in charge, always getting his own way. And the way the singer's voice trills is mesmerizing!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib75N9WDOd8 

The second video, "Prem Ratan Dhan Payo" Title Song, is a magnificent culmination of everything this film has to offer: gorgeous sets, intricate dance numbers, and amazing costumes.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPk9bSvQQoc 

InFilm to Watch: Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015)

Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015)

Lower middle-class Prem Prakash Tiwari owns a small cassette tape shop in the local market in the year 1995, living at home with his parents and aunt, with little ambition to do anything with his life. He is a high school dropout and his family struggles to make ends meet, until one day Prem's father comes up with a plan to arrange a marriage for Prem to a well-educated middle class woman. She has credentials and plans to become a teacher, thus providing more stable income for their whole family. Prem is reluctant, and even more so when he meets his bride, Sandhya, and sees she is overweight. What happens when an acquaintance makes a bet with Prem's family over who will win the local wife-carrying race? Will the new couple be able to accept their arranged marriage, or will the immature Prem ruin his chances at a loving relationship?

*I liked the transformation Prem experiences as he grows to appreciate his wife, show his vulnerable side, and as she too learns to support and love him. There is a scene where she slaps Prem (a well-deserved hit for calling her a fat cow in public while drunk), but he immediately slaps her back. That was hard for me to watch, since in America it is culturally unacceptable for a man to strike a woman, ever. Prem was chastized and beaten by his father afterwards, but there didn't seem to be as much shock over his behavior as I was expecting. It was also interesting how relatable this film was on several levels, since most people are virgins in the Indian culture when they marry, just like in the LDS culture. (It doesn't show anything, just a little kissing). I would say this film is close to a mild PG-13, simply because of some of the subject matter which included talk of suicide and marital relations. I might watch this again.*

TDrama to Watch: Fated to Love You (2008)

Taiwanese Drama

Fated to Love You (2008)

Grade: B

24 episodes, about 75 minutes each

Meek office worker Chen Xin Yi has a very kind nature that everyone takes advantage of, giving her extra work and menial tasks to do instead of her own job. She doesn't think much of herself, and even her boyfriend ignores and mistreats her. Chen Xin Yi is determined to make that relationship stick, though, so she buys the two of them passage on a romantic cruise. Meanwhile, CEO Ji Cun Xi has plans to woo and propose to his ballerina girlfriend on the same cruise. There is also a father-son duo that sneaks on board in an effort to drug and blackmail Ji Cun Xi – the CEO just bought their small island factory and has plans to lay off everyone, destroying their island's economy. What happens when the ballerina girlfriend doesn't show, Chen Xin Yi takes some powerful cold medicine and wanders into Ji Cun Xi's room, and Ji Cun Xi is tricked into drinking the islander's secret fertility moonshine? Will the “sticky-note girl” be able to handle life attached to an arrogant, temperamental CEO? Or will she find a different destiny?

*I saw the Korean version of this show first, but I think I like the original Taiwanese version better. It's a lot longer, so there is more time for deeper, more meaningful character development. Ji Cun Xi really has the chance to grow and mature, and while there is some “fast-forwarding,” it doesn't feel like a “cheat.” I didn't like the extra screen time the ballerina girlfriend received; it felt like the writers were really trying to justify her behavior, exploring her past, when she was absolutely responsible for *spoiler alert!* Chen Xin Yi's miscarriage, no matter what drove her to do such a despicable thing. Ji Cun Xi had no reason to keep going back to the ballerina, no matter how “broken” she was. Aside from that, and how some of the scenes were almost too goofy, this was a high quality production for a Taiwanese drama. As long as you don't mind the initial, risque premise (promiscuity leading to an unexpected pregnancy and a resulting shotgun wedding), then this is a fun, albeit long, show to watch. I might watch this again.*

KDrama Web Series to Watch: Click Your Heart (2016)

Click Your Heart (2016)

Grade: B

7 episodes, about 15 minutes each

Kwon Min Ah is a high school transfer student with incredible bad luck that seems to follow her everywhere. Will dating at this school finally end her “curse”? What happens when she chooses to pursue the school's star baseball player Kim Ro Woon? What happens when she hears a love confession from her childhood friend Lee Da Won? What happens when she decides to date the school's tough bad boy Baek Ju Ho? What happens when she falls for the charismatic school Kpop dancer Kang Chan Hee?

*This show mimics the “Choose Your Own Adventure” books in that the audience gets to see Min Ah pursue four different boys in four separate story lines. It is cute and unexpected, and a really quick watch for just a small dose of Kdrama. Of course, not much character development can happen in this style of show, but it was entertaining. I might watch this again.*

List of KDramas and Their Grades

To make your next drama selection a little easier, I have sorted all the Korean dramas I've watched into one list, ranked by grade. They are in no particular order aside from grade at this point, but when I update this list, I will put new entries on the bottom of the corresponding section. 

And here's a link to a list of all the films I've watched if you're in the mood for something quick! 
List of Foreign Films

A

Secret Garden (2010), A+

My Fair Lady (2009), A+

You're Beautiful (2009), A+

Lie to Me (2011), A

My Princess (2011), A

Healer (2015), A

Greatest Love (2011), A

Dramaworld (2015), A
Kill Me, Heal Me (2015), A
Touch Your Heart (2019), A

Flower Boy Ramen Shop (2011), A-

Playful Kiss (2010), A-

The Master's Sun (2013), A-

My Love from Another Star (2014), A-

Big (2012), A-

My Lovely Sam Soon (2005), A-

Hyde, Jekyll, Me (2015), A-

Oh My Venus (2015), A-

Falling in Love with Soon Jung (2015), A-

My Unfortunate Boyfriend (2015), A-

Heartstrings (2011), A-
TDrama Drunken to Love You (2011), A-
Miss Panda and Mr. Hedgehog (2012), A-
Jealousy Incarnate (2016), A-

B

Protect the Boss (2011), B+

My Girlfriend Is A Gumiho [Nine-TailedFox] (2010), B+ 

To The Beautiful You (2012), B+

Rooftop Prince (2012), B+

Personal Taste (2010), B+

Coffee Prince (2007), B+

Heirs (2013), B+

Dream High (2011), B+

Cunning Single Lady (2014), B+

Good Doctor (2013), B+

Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010), B+

Full House Take 2 (2012), B+

Bride of the Century (2014), B+

Tomorrow's Cantabile (2014), B+

Noble, My Love (2015), B+ 

TDrama Refresh Man (2016), B+

TDrama Who's The One (2011), B+

Descendants of the Sun (2016), B+

Goblin: The Great and Lonely God (2016), B+

Web Drama Go Ho's Starry Night (2016), B+ 
Oh! My Lady (2010), B+
Hotel Del Luna (2019), B+

Cinderella and the Four Knights (2016), B+

Boys Over Flowers (2009), B

Creating Destiny (2009-10), B

A Gentleman's Dignity (2012), B

I Can Hear Your Voice (2013), B

Oh My Ghostess (2015), B

Flower Boys Next Door (2013), B

Clean With Passion For Now (2018), B

Producer (2015), B

Fated to Love You (2014), B
Fated to Love You - Taiwanese (2008), B
Click Your Heart (2016), B 
Another Oh Hae Young (2016), B
My Little Lover (2016), B 
Web Drama Momo Salon (2014), B
Web Drama Spark (2016), B 
One Percent of Something (2016), B
Marriage Not Dating (2014), B
I'm Not A Robot (2017), B
The Legend of the Blue Sea (2017), B
Suspicious Partner (2017), B
Jugglers (2017), B

Jdrama An Incurable Case of Love (2020), B

Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022), B

Business Proposal (2022), B

Love Cells (2015-16), B-

The Virtual Bride (2015), B-

It's Okay, That's Love (2014), B-

Faith/The Great Doctor (2012), B-

Pasta (2010), B-

Coffee House (2010), B-

Full House (2004), B-
TDrama Murphy's Law of Love (2015), B-
The Sound of Your Heart (2016), B-
JDrama Good Morning Call (2016), B-
Let's Eat (2014), B-
My Horrible Boss (2016), B-
Strong Girl Do Bong-Soon (2017), B-
What's Wrong with Secretary Kim? (2018), B-
Mama Fairy and the Woodcutter (2018), B-
Her Private Life (2019), B-
Melting Me Softly (2019), B-
Emergency Couple (2014), B-

Lucky Romance (2016), B-

Rich Man, Poor Woman (2018), B-

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021), B-

Hospital Playlist (2020-2021), B-

Revolutionary Love (2017), B-

The Man's Voice (2021), B-

Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency (2019), B-

Anything below a B- I wouldn't watch again or recommend, but the synopsis can help you decide for yourself.

C

JDrama 99 Days With the Superstar (2011), C+

Memorist (2020), C+

Warm and Cozy (2015), C+
My Secret Romance (2017), C+
Me Too, Flower! (2011), C+
Pinocchio (2014), C+

Manny (2011), C+

Cheongdam-dong Alice (2012), C+

Shut Up Flower Boy Band (2012), C+

Prosecutor Princess (2010), C+

Goong/Princess Hours (2006), C+

Dream Knight (2015), C+ 

Madame Antoine (2016), C+

Web Drama My Runway (2016), C+

TDrama When I See You Again (2016), C+
She Was Pretty (2015), C+

Chinese Accidentally in Love (2018), C+

100 Days My Prince (2018), C+

Heartbeat (2023), C+

My Sassy Girl (2017), C

So I Married the Anti-Fan (2021), C

JDrama Happy Marriage!? (2016), C
Pretty Man/Bon Ami (2013), C 

City Hunter (2011), C

Shining Inheritance (2009), C

Dr. Jin (2012), C

Nine: Nine Time Travels (2013), C

Mary Stayed Out All Night (2010), C
Web Drama After School: Lucky or Not 2 (2014), C

ChDrama Love 020 (2016), C

Cheese in the Trap (2015), C-

I'm Sorry, I Love You (2004), C-

Gu Family Book (2013), C-
Seonam Girls High School Investigators (2014), C-
TDrama Bromance (2015), C- 
Color of Women (2012), C- 
My Shy Boss (2017), C-

Vincenzo (2021), C-

Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022), C-

D

Because This Is My First Life (2017), D+

Mad for Each Other (2021), D+

Dodosolsollalasol (2020), D+

Evergreen/That Man, Oh Soo (2018), D+
Can We Get Married? (2012), D+
Summer Scent (2003), D

Beauty Inside (2018), D

12 Signs of Love (2012), D-

F

In Need of Romance (2011), F

Mine (2021), F

KDrama to MUST Watch: Dramaworld (2016)

Dramaworld (2016)

Grade: A

10 episodes, about 15 minutes each

Young college student Claire Duncan is obsessed with kdramas, driving her father to distraction when she won't put down her phone even while working in their sandwich shop. He urges her to do something with her life besides watching fictional romance, but one day the fiction finally becomes reality. Will Claire be able to facilitate true love's kiss between her favorite leading man Joon Park and the latest leading lady? What happens when her own feelings start to cloud her judgment and threaten the existence of Dramaworld?

*This show is amazing! It pokes fun at all the typical Kdrama tropes while making it just a little more real for the American girls who love them by making an American girl a key player. It takes the entire Kdrama experience to another level to hear a leading man speaking in my native tongue! Sean Dulake is excellent in his role as the “typical” leading man – handsome, arrogant, yet capable of true love – and I'm surprised I haven't seen him before. The drama moves very quickly (probably because each episode is only about 15 minutes long), but they leave it wide open for another season, which I hope they pursue! The plot of the kdrama itself feels very similar to “Pasta” (2010), and I was surprised at how many familiar faces I saw – cameos from more famous stars as well as just the secondary characters that agreed to do what I would consider a minor project for them. DEFINITELY watching this again!*

Kdrama to Maybe Watch: Love Cells (2015-2016)

Love Cells (2015-2016)

Grade: B-

2 seasons, 15 episodes, then 12 episodes (6 minutes each)

Unemployed, 29-year-old Ma Dae Choong is about to lose his love cell, and when that dies, he will lose all ability to ever love again. What happens when mischievous cat Navi swallows the waning cell, turning into a human? Will Dae Choong be able to woo the impossible and save his love cell's life? Or will he let the movie star date a more suitable man instead?

In the second season, famous chef Tae Joon has locked his love cell at the local love cell bank, so he can focus on his career instead of stewing on a past failed relationship. Will Navi be able to convince Tae Joon to take back his love cell and take his cooking to the next level, or will this love cell incarnation die at the hands of the flirtatious co-host who wants Tae Joon for herself?

*These webisodes moved really quickly, but the ending of the first season was rather ambiguous – I still don't know if Dae Choong kept his ability to love or not. While I liked the idea of a second season, using Navi in more than one capacity, it was not as funny as the first, probably because she didn't use any magical tricks like before. It was also odd that suddenly everyone knows what love cells are and keeping them in a bank was acceptable, when in the first season, nobody seemed to know what they were and it was imperative to use the love cell or it would expire. I would be interested to see if they do a third season and how Navi is used then. I might watch this again.*