exams and dramas

Exams are going to start in just a few weeks. However, the urge to procrastinate has not yet ceased. 


Since the last drama season, I have gone all crazy about Korean dramas (to think about it, it's not that I've gone all crazy, but it seems that my addiction has gone to a more serious stage). Anyway, the new drama season has started already and I think that there's none which can be called failed drama, i.e. Fashion King.


A Gentleman's Dignity
At first, I thought that this drama would be somewhat boring and things, remembering that the story is centered on four 40-year-old men aka ahjussi. But then, I start to watch it and fall in love with the story line and characters, especially, the main character who acts super cheesy sweet with his so-called one-sided love. 
I love this drama more and more, because the other dramas seem to be in somewhat trending genre (time-travel, older woman with younger man, changing body) and this one seems to be standing out by having 4 ahjussis as main characters plus 'normal' story line.
By the way, after watching all others, I conclude that this one is the best in this season. =) 


Big
It's quite funny, the story line is nice, the main actor's acting is great. But it has always been such a pain in the neck, when I watch something with fantasy as a genre. However, as this is a Hong Sisters' drama, I expect this one to be a great drama with a happy ending.

I Do I Do
I watch the entire episodes till now and don't know, when I will stop watch this one altogether, considering that I dislike the fact that the main female role is far older than the main male role plus the fact that she is going to end up with the handsome youngster, although there's a nice good-looking mature caring kinda-perfect guy, who apparently also a doctor.
I have never really liked Kim Sun-A anyway, in spite of her great acting skills.

Time Slip Dr. Jin
Another time travelling story (but yeahhh.., Rooftop Prince will still be the best).
I love the main actor (Song Seung-Heon) and actress (Park Min Young), but the story line doesn't seem so promising. By the way, there're some displeasing scenes but still bearable, e.g. cholera break-out scenes with lots of diarrhea and throwing up, opening skull.
Unlike 'Big', I'm doubtful with the ending of the story, because it might end up with something like Rooftop Prince (somewhat unclear and rather sad).


Other than that, I have no interest whatsoever in these dramas:

• Ghost (I read the summary, not interested; skimmed the first episode, not interested; don't think that it will worth a watch.)
• Bridal Mask (I read the summary, really not interested in it; wonder, why the rating could be so high, though. Maybe I will watch it someday later.)

=)
SVialli
[02.37]
[7 - 17/06/12]

new semester, new dramas

On last Monday my second semester has finally begun. New classes, new teachers, new classmates. And of course, there're also some new Korean Dramas being aired these days. Some of which that I watch and wait for:

Rooftop Prince

More info: DramaWiki. 

I really like this one. Not because there's Yoochun who played in Sungkyunkwan Scandal or things like that (because I don't really like him in that drama). The story is about a Prince in Joseon Era being dragged into this modern world. 

Usually I am not into this kind of fantasy story but then, right from the first episode, I simply couldn't resist myself from being interested. The plot and such are so intriguing and somewhat confusing. One can't guess what will come out next (beside the fact that the main male and female character will be together - till now, I am still wondering how both of them will be able to end up with each other). 

And by the way, this drama also serves us with some good laughter.

The King 2 Hearts

More info: DramaWiki. 

I got excited when I knew that Lee Seung Gi and Ha Ji Won will be starred in a drama together. Later on, after I watched the first episode, although I really like the scenes where there're Seung Gi and/or Ji Won, I am a little bit upset with the story line (there're psycho and military things). 

I hope that the story line will not be 'too weird' (?).

Fashion King

More info: DramaWiki. 

I started to watch this one because Yuri SNSD plays in this drama and then, when I found out that Yoo Ah In (played in Sungkyunkwan Scandal and Punch) also does, it seems really interesting.  

The opening story in this drama is very unlikely to happen in reality. It really didn't appeal to me. There're some bad luck happening with evil aunt and cousin, gangster, wreck ship, etc. But after all of it settled I begin to like it.  

Besides all that, Yoo Ah In shows off his chest ever so often in this drama. 

Love Rain

More info: DramaWiki. 

I didn't intend to watch it at first, but then, there's still no new episode from the other dramas and I 'got no choice' other than watching it. Also, there's Yoona SNSD.The first episode seemed quite promising. There's a woman who becomes a '3 second' love of two men. But then, they are best friends. Therefore one of them takes the initiative to let her go. I wonder what will happen to their kids in the following episodes. 

Maybe this drama will be full of struggles and sadness for the main characters (?).

I believe that all of those dramas are worth watching. Always hope that a week would be passed as soon as a new episode is aired, so that I can watch the following episodes instead of waiting for it. But then, a student still has classes to attend to and books to read, apart from all of these Korean Dramas.


=)
SVialli
[19.35]
[3 - 28/03/12]

The Moon That Embraces the Sun / 해를 품은 달 (2012)

More info: here.


Beberapa hari yang lalu, gw selesai nonton drama ini. Gw nonton film ini setelah drama ini selesai tayang gara-gara: ratingnya yang tinggi banget dan pengarang novelnya sama kayak yang nulis Sungkyunkwan Scandal (drama ini based on novel).


Setelah/pas nonton, gw ngerasa:

• Ceritanya lebih oke daripada Sungkyunkwan Scandal.

Drama ini punya unsur-unsur mistis. Tanpa yang namanya 'black magic', ceritanya ga bakal bisa jalan. Mengingat itu 'terjadi' di zaman dulu, hal kayak gitu wajar-wajar aja.

• Meskipun ceritanya oke, gw ga suka ending-nya.

Di ending-nya, si Yang Myung dan Seol meninggal padahal gw kira masih bakal ada love line buat mereka berdua (berhubung mereka sama-sama jadi pemeran yang 'ditolak'). Kalau si Seol, meninggalnya masih dengan cara yang oke (dia nolongin si Heo Yeom). Sayangnya, si Yang Myung meninggalnya pake cara yang menurut gw kurang masuk akal (dia 'bunuh diri' berhubung udah lihat kalau dia bakal ditusuk pake tombak tapi ga mau nyelamatin diri dan yang nyebelin, si Lee Hwon dan lain-lain juga ngelihat tapi ga ngapa-ngapain sampai akhirnya dia ketusuk).

• Yang main di drama ini oke-oke banget.

Sampai episode 5, tokoh-tokohnya masih muda dan yang main juga aktor-aktris yang masih muda. Gw ngerasa wow banget sih ngelihat akting mereka yang oke banget padahal masih umur segitu. Bahkan, gw ngerasa cukup kehilangan pas tokohnya nambah umur dan mereka diganti pake aktor-aktris yang lebih tua. Jujur aja, gw lebih suka pas mereka masih kecil daripada pas udah gede (terutama si Jin Ji Hee).


Beberapa hal yang bisa diambil dari drama ini:

• Kadang ada beberapa hal yang memang bukan milik kita dan ga bakal jadi milik kita (si Prince Yang Myung tetap 'patah hati' gara-gara si Yeon Woo pas muda dan pas si Yeon Woo jadi Wol).
• Ada yang harus dikorbankan untuk mempertahankan/mengungkap/membenarkan sesuatu (si Lee Hwon dan bokapnya harus ngorbanin seseorang/sesuatu demi keadilan atau orang yang mereka sayang).
• 'Cinta' itu ga bakal berubah (gw cukup ragu sih sama yang satu ini, berhubung di drama ini, si Lee Hwon dan Yang Myung bener-bener ga tergerak sama cewe manapun meskipun si Yeon Woo udah dinyatakan meninggal dan pada saat si Yeon Woo udah jadi Wol, mereka bisa kenalin dia lagi).

Overall, drama ini oke banget buat ditonton.


=)
SVialli
[13.48]
[7 - 25/03/12]

성균관 스캔들 / Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010)

More info: here.

Dulu sih gw bener-bener ga tertarik buat nonton drama ini berhubung ini kelihatannya kayak drama-drama kerajaan Korea yang orang-orangnya kalau ngomong pake kata-kata super panjang dan ngomongnya bener-bener lambat dan sopannya kebangetan. Intinya sih, gw cukup males nonton film yang setting-nya di kerajaan gitu. Selain itu, gw pikir, nih film kayaknya biasa banget, tentang cewe yang dandan jadi cowo dan masuk ke sekolah yang isinya cuma cowo.

Gw murni nonton nih drama cuma gara-gara nonton Punch aka Wandeukyi, berhubung yang jadi tokoh utama di film itu pernah main di drama ini (Yoo Ah In). Dan ternyata, ada si cakep Park Min Young yang main di film Man of Honor dan si Song Joong Ki yang dulu ada di Running Man. 

Ternyata setelah gw nonton, meskipun menurut gw nih drama tetap 'biasa' aja, gw lumayan suka sama nih drama. 

Di drama ini ada 4 tokoh utama:

• Micky Yoochun sebagai Lee Sun Joon

Meskipun dia tokoh 'utama' yang akhirnya jadian sama si Yoon Hee, gw kurang suka tokoh ini. Dia terlalu kaku dan taat banget sama peraturan-peraturan yang ada, menurut gw, lebai banget aja kalau orang sampai sebegitunya. 

Tapi sisi positifnya, yang gw salut dari tokoh ini, dia bener-bener mempertahankan apa yang menurut dia benar dan dia ga ngebohongin diri dia dengan melawan apa yang dia rasain. Hal itu berarti, dia harus mengakui bahwa dia suka sama 'cowo' dan membuat dia sebagai homoseksual (hal yang tabu di masa itu).

Dari hal itu, drama ini nunjukin bahwa 'cinta' itu tentang apa yang seseorang rasakan, bukan apa yang seseorang 'lihat'.

• Park Min Young sebagai Kim Yoon Hee sebagai Kim Yoon Shik

Seperti biasa, si cakep Min Young selalu cakep dan ngebawain peran dia dengan oke.

Awalnya sih, gw ngerasa kalau dia masih kelihatan kayak cewe banget pas dandan jadi cowo (mengingat anatomi tubuh/bagian dada wanita yang berbeda dari pria), tapi kayaknya setelah episode 4 atau 5, yang ngedandanin dia sadar akan hal itu dan membuat bagian 'itu' lebih rata entah pake baju lebih tebal atau lebih longgar atau pake editan computer atau entahlah.

Selain itu, dari pertama, emang udah ditegasin bahwa semua orang udah menganggap kalau 'cowo' ini emang bermuka cewe alias pretty boy. Jadinya, penampilan tokoh cewe yang dandan jadi cowo ini kelihatan lebih wajar daripada di drama lainnya.

Tokoh ini bener-bener gigih dalam menghidupi nyokap dan adik yang sakit-sakitan. Untungnya, dia adalah cewe yang cerdas, mengingat bahwa dia suka belajar, meskipun di zaman itu, ga lazim kalau cewe belajar dan jadi secerdas itu.

• Song Joong Ki sebagai Goo Yong Ha

Jujur aja, dari pertama lihat Joong Ki di Running Man, ga tahu kenapa, gw kurang suka sama dia dan gw pikir, dia cuma cowo 'cantik' yang 'biasa' aja. Tapi ternyata pas gw lihat dia di drama ini, gw cukup sadar bahwa dia lumayan oke ngebawain peran dia.

Tokoh ini adalah tokoh playboy tajir yang 'ga terikat' sama siapapun sampai akhirnya dia ketemu sama 3 tokoh utama lainnya dan jadi teman seperjuangan mereka. 

Ada satu quote dari tokoh ini yang gw suka banget (pas si Sun Joon nanya soal suka sama sesama lelaki), kira-kira kayak gini: 'Jika membenci seseorang itu adalah dosa, mungkinkah menyukai seseorang itu salah(?)'.

• Yoo Ah In sebagai Moon Jae Shin

Tokoh ini adalah tokoh anak 'bandel' yang pengen ngebalas kematian kakaknya dan mencari keadilan. Dia selalu nuduh kalau bokapnya ga ngerasain apa yang dia rasain tentang kematian kakaknya, tapi ternyata bokapnya ga kayak gitu. Dari sono sih, kelihatan bahwa seseorang ga boleh ngasih tuduhan sembarangan dan terkadang, kita cuma harus naruh rasa 'percaya' tanpa ngeraguin hal itu lagi. 

Gw sih lebih pengen si Yoon Hee jadian sama Jae Shin daripada sama si Sun Joon, berhubung si Jae Shin kelihatan lebih 'manusia', oke dan perhatian. 

Overall, tentang film ini:

• bisa dibilang kalau film ini penuh sama cowo (termasuk si Yoon Hee yang tampil sebagai Yoon Shik). Emang ada beberapa cewe yang terlibat, tapi cuma peran-peran 'sampingan'.
• Menurut gw, akhir dari drama ini kayaknya ga banget dan gw juga ga gitu ngerti soal masalah yang si tua-tua permasalahin (menteri-menteri dan raja selalu ngejar-ngejar Geum Deung Ji Sa), tapi diluar semua itu, yang main di drama ini bener-bener oke-oke banget dan ceritanya ga buruk.

Meskipun 'biasa aja', drama ini oke banget sih buat ngelewatin waktu dan banyak yang bisa kita ambil dari drama ini.

=)

SVialli

[13.30]

[6 - 25/02/12]

Man of Honor / 영광의 재인 / Glory Jane / Youngkwangeui Jaein (2011)

I have just finished watching another korean drama, which called Man of Honor / 영광의 재인 / Glory Jane / Youngkwangeui Jaein (yeah.., during my so called exams weeks; my friend told me that I should watch it during these weeks because there's a high chance to achieve better scores by watching drama instead of studying =P). 


There's a total of 24 episodes. At first, I didn't plan to watch it till the end of my exams weeks (which is in the middle of February). But then, he said something about the screenwriter. It turned out that he's the one who wrote King of Baking (I really like this drama, even though this one is such a long drama with 30 episodes). From that moment, I couldn't resist myself anymore. xDD
Some of the things that I like about this drama:

• There're so many twists in the story.

This fact came to the my mind direct in the very beginning of this drama. One can simply know that there're so many secrets that wait to be unveiled. Therefore, one needs to watch it till the end to know how things turn out to be and what's more in those secrets.

• Around the beginning of it, one of the role said (something like) this: 'Giving up is the easiest way out'.

Those words were kind of hitting me quite hard, remembering that in nearly every other time I had a thought of giving things up (not that I am now or while watching this series). But it did open my eyes wider. I hope that I would never be such a coward.

• And there's another one that I like: 'Hope is nowhere!' is actually 'Hope is now here!'.

I really do like this one because it's simply quite a creative way to express thing (I don't know whether it's taken from other source or things like that).

• It's not only a love story between a man and a woman.

Normally, in a drama, the story would 'only' tell us about things happened between a man and a woman, the love they have for each other, another man or woman wants to snatch away their beloved or things like that.
This drama tells more than that. It showed me the essence of faith, friendship, family, persistence, dream, motivation and much more.


About the actors and actresses
They were so well chosen. Some of them:

• The first one, whom I took notice of, was the main actress (Park Min Young). 

She's simply gorgeous. As far as I can remember, as long as the main actress(es) has/have acting skills, the main actor(s) is/are okay (good looking or charming or great acting skills) and the plot is well made, I would be content enough to watch it without thinking about the main actress. But then, there she was, so gorgeously charming. One simply can't ignore her charms (the way she smiles and such).

• And then, I noticed the 'mean' main actor (Lee Jang Woo). 

Dang, I didn't really realize that he has such a great acting skills till he had stupor (in my opinion, he's not that good looking or such and I didn't really like him when I watched some episodes of his We Got Married series). He even reminded me of the elevator scene by Hyun Bin in Secret Garden (Y U must go to army??!).

• There's also one actor whom one simply can't not take notice of (Park Sung Woong).

During the entire episodes I really thought (and still think) that he looks like the anonymous mask. 




I believe that this korean drama worths a watch. 



More info: http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Man_of_Honor.




=)
SVialli
[18.49]
[6 - 04/02/12]