InFilm to Watch: Chak De! India (2007)

Chak De! India (2007)

Disgraced field hockey champion Kabir Khan volunteers to teach the women's national field hockey team – a position that most regard as a joke or cushy government job. The girls are all from different areas of India, proud of their individual accomplishments and unwilling to work as a team. Kabir does his best to unite the girls, even pitting them against him, but nothing works until he is about to leave and the girls defend one of their teammates from some sexual harassment. Then they must prove themselves to the Association in order to receive funding to attend the World Championship in Australia by playing the Men's field hockey team. Will they be able to defeat the men and go to the World Championship? If they do, will they be able to make a name for India while in Australia?

*This is your typical ragtag sports team story, but it was interesting to see how another country portrayed the issues common in a competitive sport. Entertaining. I might watch this again.*

ChFilm to Watch: Shaolin Soccer (2001)

Shaolin Soccer (2001)

Crippled, former soccer star Fung is humiliated by former teammate Hung and is determined to seek revenge. Fung then meets kung fu master Sing who wants nothing more than to promote Shaolin kung fu because he thinks it can benefit any and all who use it. Fung then gets the idea to use Shaolin kung fu in soccer as a way to beat Hung, and he convinces Sing to find and recruit his kung fu brothers. Will they be able to defeat Hung's team and promote the Shaolin way of life?

*This was a silly little film, with very slapstick, exaggerated and clearly CGI effects. Fun and clean. It comes with English captions, but the script is half Mandarin, half Cantonese – similar to the Indian films that are part Hindi, part English. Good for a giggle, might watch again.*

KDrama to Watch: Heirs (2013)

Heirs (2013)

Grade: B+

20 Episodes

 Cha Eun-sang is a poor, hardworking high school student who takes a trip to America to deliver some money for her older sister's wedding. Eun-sang discovers her sister is living a lie, working as a waitress and not attending college. Illegitimate son Kim Tan (Lee Min-ho), second heir to a large Korean company who had been exiled to America, witnesses the sisters fighting and offers to help after Eun-sang's sister runs off with the wedding gift money. Eun-sang and Tan develop feelings for each other, but they go their separate ways once Eun-sang returns to Korea. Eun-sang discovers they lost their apartment (the wedding money was the deposit) and has to move in with her mother as a live-in maid for Kim Tan's mother! Then Tan's father finds out about Eun-sang and sends her to Tan's private school. Will Eun-sang and Kim Tan be allowed to date? What will happen if the other students find out about Eun-sang's poor past?

*I love how the first few episodes took place in California, and it's always interesting to see how other cultures portray Americans (albeit in an unflattering manner). The drama had a more somber feel than I was expecting because of the soundtrack, but while it was dramatic, it wasn't too heavy or serious. Lee Min-ho is always adorable, but I wouldn't say this show is a favorite. Interesting back stories – I actually cared what was going on with the supporting characters – and decent pacing. Lots of familiar faces and the resolution was clever and cute (looking 10 years into the future, imagining how everyone might be doing). Not everyone gets a happy ending, though. Might watch this again.*

 

TDrama to Watch: Easy Fortune Happy Life

Taiwanese Drama: Easy Fortune, Happy Life (2009)

Grade: B-

27 Episodes (42 minutes each)

Country girl Xie Fu An lives with her younger brother and Chinese herbalist grandmother Chun Xiang in the mountains. One day while out gathering medicinal herbs, Fu An and her brother find a protected rare fungus after it falls off a poacher's truck, which they bring home until they can turn it in to the proper authorities. Meanwhile, the cold and self-centered Yan Da Feng contacts the poachers in order to find a gift for his grandfather's 80^th birthday – the man who founded a $2.5 billion pharmaceutical company, Ba Bao Tang – and get on his good side. The poachers steal the fungus, starting a house fire on their way out, leading to the grandmother's death. Fu An vows to fulfill her grandmother's last wish: to see the man whom she had met 60 years ago, fallen in love with, and waited for her entire life. That man is none other than Da Feng's grandfather, the owner of Ba Bao Tang, and the one who had pretended to love Chun Xiang in order to steal her herbal remedy recipe. What will happen to Fu An in the big city?

*I actually liked this drama a lot more than I thought I would, considering some of the cinematography is very cheesy and it's definitely a lower-budget drama than most Kdramas I've watched. It seemed to not take itself too seriously, as can happen with some Kdramas - perhaps because in Mandarin there just isn't the same range of verbal expression, since their speaking patterns are so much more structured. Some of the clothing and scenes were more risque than what's in most Kdramas as well, but nothing exceeding a mild PG-13. I didn't like that the main character never really acts like a changed man, but it had a fairly positive message about the importance of family life and the ability to change and become better. Might watch this again.*

KDrama to Miss: Cheongdam-dong Alice (2012)

Cheongdam-dong Alice (2012)

Grade: C+

16 Episodes

Hardworking but poor designer Han Se-kyung believes she can achieve anything with sheer determination and effort, until her boyfriend dumps her because he will never be able to provide for her. Se-kyung also comes across a former classmate/rival who has “entered” the upper-class South Korean scene. Se-kyung then decides she's tired of working as hard as she can while making no improvements in life and asks her former rival for help. Se-kyung sets her sights on the rich owner of Artemis, working with who she assumes is his secretary, when it is the CEO in disguise. Se-kyung starts to have feelings for the secretary but then puts him aside to achieve her dream of entering the upper-class, until she learns his true identity. Will Se-kyung choose love or money, honesty or lies?

*I dislike the fashion industry and that “world,” but the Artemis CEO, Cha Seung-jo (played by Park Si-hoo), is absolutely hilarious and crazy and so fun to watch in the beginning episodes as he realizes he is developing feelings for the poor designer and he kept me watching. The first half of this show is definitely better than the last half, as all the humor is lost while the characters struggle with real life issues. I didn't really like how it ends – she's not a good person, but she's not really a bad person, either – and while they do end up together, it's just not very satisfying. It's her stupid choices that put everyone in their predicaments. I also didn't like all the music of the soundtrack. I probably won't watch this again, but I will look for more shows with Park Si-hoo.*

InFilm to Maybe Watch: Barfi! (2012)

Barfi! (2012)

The story starts in the 1970s in India, and not much is in place in society at that time to help those with disabilities lead a normal, productive life. Shruti is engaged when she meets the deaf-mute “Barfi” (that's how he pronounces his name “Murphy”), and while there is a mutual attraction, Shruti chooses the financially stable fiance over the happy but poor Barfi. Meanwhile Barfi crosses paths with a childhood friend, the autistic girl Jhilmil, and he is accused of kidnapping her for a ransom. Will Shruti come to his aid and finally choose Barfi? What will happen to Jhilmil?

*This was an interesting story, and I loved the physical comedy from Barfi's character. The cinematography was quite beautiful as well. The actor reminded me a lot of the young Dick Van Dyke in his motions and funny faces. The story between Barfi and Jhilmil reminded me of the American film “Benny & Joon” (1993), and while some enjoy that, it's not quite my taste. Again, it was a different kind of story, but I probably wouldn't watch it again because it's bittersweet. I could recommend it for one viewing, however.*

ChFilm to Miss: Journey to the West (2013)

Journey to the West (2013)

 Chinese Film

Buddhist acolyte Xuan Zang is attempting to understand his role in the world while defeating demons. In a local fishing village he manages to slow down the efforts of a fish demon and is in the process of taming it when another demon hunter, Miss Duan, steps in a quickly disposes of the beast. Their paths cross once again when Xuan Zang is in the pig demon's human-catching lair, and Duan declares her love for him. As a monk in training, Xuan Zang blocks her advances and takes off on a journey to seek the imprisoned Monkey King's help in conquering the pig demon. Will Xuan Zang discover his true purpose, will Duan's female charms get to him, or will the Monkey King trick him?

*This was a really bizarre film. Apparently it is loosely based on a Chinese novel from the 16^th century. Very violent, some comedic moments, some lewd parts and innuendos, brief nudity, but also downright sad – a little girl is eaten alive by one of the demons in the very beginning of the film. I wouldn't watch this again, but it was interesting to see what China's opening-weekend record-breaker film was about.*