Korean Dramas/Actors

Wynter wrote:

Ahhhh okay good! My sister and I were both worried, but we'll stick through it! :woot:

It should get pretty good in the 3rd and 4th episode. If you still don't like it then.... might as well skip it.

I started on IRIS which is suppose to be a major television event with a huge budget and an all star cast. The main leads are Kim Tae Hee and Stormshadow( :hehe: I mean Lee Byung Hun), and is suppose to be a television version of the first South Korean blockbuster, Shiri(which I thought sucked). I always have trouble watching spy/action stuff as I end up nitpicking a lot when they do a poor job of creating a sense of realism. Unfortunately it applies here. Gunplay is very amateurish. The plot is typical Bourne/24 conspiracy type. Being Korean, it must have a love triangle. I'll keep watching it to give it a chance, but it seems Korea's film industry is as clueless as Hollywood when it comes to reality. Suspension of disbelief stills requires a certain level of believability.

ralphm1999 wrote:

It should get pretty good in the 3rd and 4th episode. If you still don't like it then.... might as well skip it.

You know I never skip a drama once I start one. :hehe:

Dragon Zakura is being made into a Korean version called God of Study http://wiki.d-addicts.com/God_of_Study

Bae Doo Na is going to be in it, so the show has caught my interest because I like her.

After umpteen Swallow The Sun rewatching, I suddenly discovered there are other beauties besides Sung Yuri...... The gal who plays Mi Ran is incredibly gorgeous... in fact I'm in love again. I'm beginning to feel like Tiger Woods - I can't seem to stay faithful to one gal. :crazy:

Check out So Yi Hyun... go here and do the slide show:

http://www.gossip-celebrities.info/archives/3181/pid-27483.html

Jav_sol wrote:Dragon Zakura is being made into a Korean version called God of Study http://wiki.d-addicts.com/God_of_Study

Bae Doo Na is going to be in it, so the show has caught my interest because I like her.

I can't imagine anyone other than Abe Hiroshi in that part.

Kijinnmaru wrote: Being Korean, it must have a love triangle.

Ain't that the truth. ;)


All In had some pretty good fight scenes, I thought.

Kijinnmaru wrote:I started on IRIS which is suppose to be a major television event with a huge budget and an all star cast. The main leads are Kim Tae Hee and Stormshadow( :hehe: I mean Lee Byung Hun), and is suppose to be a television version of the first South Korean blockbuster, Shiri(which I thought sucked). I always have trouble watching spy/action stuff as I end up nitpicking a lot when they do a poor job of creating a sense of realism. Unfortunately it applies here. Gunplay is very amateurish. The plot is typical Bourne/24 conspiracy type. Being Korean, it must have a love triangle. I'll keep watching it to give it a chance, but it seems Korea's film industry is as clueless as Hollywood when it comes to reality. Suspension of disbelief stills requires a certain level of believability.

Oh :sweat: - I saw one episode during my holiday and I was intrigued enough to give it a chance (perhaps because the main protagonists were in Japan) but your review makes reconsider.

I usually donLt watch Korean shows, they are often too long for me but enjoy their entertainment/game shows - so much more fun and ironic that Japanese shows.

Kijinnmaru wrote:I started on IRIS which is suppose to be a major television event with a huge budget and an all star cast. The main leads are Kim Tae Hee and Stormshadow( :hehe: I mean Lee Byung Hun), and is suppose to be a television version of the first South Korean blockbuster, Shiri(which I thought sucked). I always have trouble watching spy/action stuff as I end up nitpicking a lot when they do a poor job of creating a sense of realism. Unfortunately it applies here. Gunplay is very amateurish. The plot is typical Bourne/24 conspiracy type. Being Korean, it must have a love triangle. I'll keep watching it to give it a chance, but it seems Korea's film industry is as clueless as Hollywood when it comes to reality. Suspension of disbelief stills requires a certain level of believability.

Yeah, Korean espionage plots usually flounder in that department. I have yet to see a K-drama spy thriller that didn't have me rolling my eyes in exasperation from the numerous loopholes and poor execution. (Even the Lee Jun-ki/Nam Sang-mi starrer, TIME OF DOG AND WOLF, had its "Oh come ONNNN" moments.) :shakehead:

LOL @ "Being Korean, it must have a love triangle." :hehe:

Korea seems to be WAYYY better at doing police thrillers than spy thrillers, IMO.

But I'm still giving IRIS a shot because Lee Byung-hun is in it. :sweat:

Trailer for God of Study (Korean version of Dragon Zakura): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtT4pivZME0

I'll check this out just for Bae Doo Na, it's been a while since I last saw her in a show.

EstherM wrote:

Oh :sweat: - I saw one episode during my holiday and I was intrigued enough to give it a chance (perhaps because the main protagonists were in Japan) but your review makes reconsider.

I usually donLt watch Korean shows, they are often too long for me but enjoy their entertainment/game shows - so much more fun and ironic that Japanese shows.

EstherM,
Don't take my observations for a complete condemnation of the series. They are based heavily on my views and experiences which tend to put a hamper on a lot of movies and dramas. For me, dramas and movies like these need to have believable fantasy to keep me from rolling my eyes every minute. I'm not asking for point to point realistic, but at least the spirit of realism. Like the gunplay. When you've put tens of thousands of rounds downrange and seen the best shooters in the world, Hollywood/Hong-Kong style gunplay just screams "rank-freaking amateur". Same goes when they talk about secret units and conspiracies. 99 out of 100 times, they're clueless filmmakers and it's apparent. If the series doesn't create that suspension of disbelief that allows me to turn off my brain for an hour, then I end up disliking it. Forgive me for being long-winded, but this is the lens with which I look through at such a series, and why I'm so critical. If the series caught your attention, then please disregard my opinions as you've seen something you like.

Ender's Girl,
Lee Byung-hun is good in it. In fact, his scenes with his brother/best friend are the better ones in the series(in the little I've seen). If you're watching for him, then the series is definitely for you.

LOL, "believable fantasy?"

There's an oxymoron. :mrgreen:

bmwracer wrote:LOL, "believable fantasy?"

There's an oxymoron. :mrgreen:

Since when did movies and dramas have to make sense? :beaten:

Kijinnmaru wrote:Since when did movies and dramas have to make sense? :beaten:

True.

I guess it varies with the individual on how much Suspension of Disbelief they have... :beaten:

Alrighty, finished One Fine Day. I didn't like it up until the last four episodes. Then it started to get good. I'd give it a 7/10 I suppose.

Wynter wrote:Alrighty, finished One Fine Day. I didn't like it up until the last four episodes. Then it started to get good. I'd give it a 7/10 I suppose.

Those were the best episodes.

Spoiler — click to reveal

did you know the heavy, the brother who tried to rape her, is her real life boyfriend. They met on the set of this movie and have been a couple ever since.

ralphm1999 wrote:

Those were the best episodes.

Spoiler — click to reveal

did you know the heavy, the brother who tried to rape her, is her real life boyfriend. They met on the set of this movie and have been a couple ever since.

Even to this day?! Wow, I had no idea!

Wynter wrote:

Even to this day?! Wow, I had no idea!

Now that you mention it I don't know if Sung Yuri is still with him. There is nothing on the internet that I can find regarding this important topic. :naughty: I suppose it would be rare for two major stars to be a couple for two years.

I just stumbled onto another Korean movie site with downloads and English subs. And best of all, not BT but direct downloads using Rapidshare and Megaupload. Also no need to register or join.
:woot:

http://www.linnaryone.com/search/label/2008

Kijinnmaru wrote:
Ender's Girl,
Lee Byung-hun is good in it. In fact, his scenes with his brother/best friend are the better ones in the series(in the little I've seen). If you're watching for him, then the series is definitely for you.

It's The Lee Byung-hun Effect: the strange propensity to squeeze the marrow out of a poorly written role--or one in a poorly made drama or movie--and turn it into something exceptional. He did it with BEAUTIFUL DAYS, with EVERYONE HAS A SECRET, etc. etc. He's one of the best damn K-actors I've ever come across--and one of the best kissers too, lol. My friend once told me, "Not all actors can be like Byung-hun, who sucks the souls out of his leading ladies like a Hallyu Dementor." Lawl. :hehe:

Kijinnmaru wrote:
For me, dramas and movies like these need to have believable fantasy to keep me from rolling my eyes every minute. I'm not asking for point to point realistic, but at least the spirit of realism.

I agree. Even fantasy worlds have their own set of rules, which must be adhered to for the story to make sense.