Departures – R July 1, 2009
Posted by rokkuramu in Departures, Masahiro Motoki, Ryoko Hirosue.add a comment
Yes, that was quite an absense. I’ve been busy with my artistic life lately: entering in design contest, working on my online portfolio, etc, but hey no one wants to hear about that. ^^ I recently caught a limited release movie call Departures which won the Academy Awards this year for Best Foreign Language Film. The movie’s website link is here. Try to catch it if you can!
Directed by Yojiro Takita
Releasted in 2009
Overall Rating: A+
Main Cast: Actors / Characters
Masahiro Motoki as Daigo Kobayashi
Ryoko Hirosue as Mika Kobayashi
Tsutomu Yamazaki as Shouei Sasaki (President of NK Agency)
Kimiko YO as Yuriko Uemura (employee at NK Agency)
Daigo is an aspiring celloist since he was young. He finally got his dream job playing for a major orchestra in Tokyo. Unfortunately, they play to an empty house most of the time which eventually leads to the ievitable — the orchestra disbands. Without any income, Daigo solds his expensive cello (or returns it…I wasn’t too clear on that) and worriedly suggests to his wife Mika they should return to his hometown where his deceased mother left him a house. Luckily, she smiles and says, “Yes!” While looking through the newspaer, Daigo spots an ad for a “Depatures” company call NK Agency. Thinking it must be a travel agency, he was quite alarmed to learn that it’s a company that specialize in dressing the corpse before they are either buried or cremated. Desperate for money, he takes the job but tries his best to keep his profession a secret. Life is like the brilliant rainbow and death is the fading end of that rainbow. Sometimes it ends abructly, but other times it concludes peacefully over a river. Watch and see how Daigo deals with the death of strangers to the deaths of those close to him.
Fashion 70s – R May 22, 2009
Posted by rokkuramu in Chun Jung Myung, Fashion 70s, Joo Jin Mo, Kim Min Jung, Lee Yo Weon.add a comment
It took quite awhile to do this review. This is the longest Korean drama I have ever watched. Despite being draggy, it managed to keep my attention.
Broadcast in 2005
28 total episodes
Overall Rating: B+
Main Cast: Actors / Characters
Lee Yo Weon as Han Duh Mi (born Ko Joon Hee)
Kim Min Jung as Ko Joon Hee (born Kang Hee)
Joo Jin Mo as Kim Dong Young
Chun Jung Myung as Jang Bin
Jun In Taek as Joon Hee’s father
Song Ok Sook as Lee Yang Ja (Kang Hee’s mother)
Lee Hye Young as Jang Bong Sil (Bin’s mother)
Fashion 70s is one of the first drama to focus on the fashion design industry as the main back-drop for the story. Unfortunately, it has too many back-drops in combination with the main one. The show starts off with the Korean war and two families that will be affected because of this war. Two daughters, Joon Hee and Kang Hee, were separated from their family and ultimately adopted by the opposite family due to various reasons. Themes of identity, family, and love are all a part of this show. In the end, fashion only played a small part in this so-call fashion drama. Even though it’s not a big deal, I feel if you are going to focus on something you should do it with justice. The multitudes of back-drops really makes the story in cohesive.
Real Life Drama May 12, 2009
Posted by rokkuramu in Korean Drama.add a comment
Hello, hello! I am finally done with school (actually I’ve been done for 2 weeks now and have been getting some much needed sleep). Recently, I’ve been watching a 2005 Korean drama called Fashion 70’s so I might have a review for it soon. For today, I want to report a very fascinating news story that seems right out of a Korean drama series.
Born on the same day in 1953 at the same hospital (Pioneer Memorial Hospital) in Oregon, two girls’ fate will forever be changed. After returning for their baths, Kay Rene Reed Qualls and DeeAnn Angell Shafer were accidentally switched by the nurses and returned to the wrong mothers!
Marjorie Angell, true mother of Kay Qualls, insisted in 1953 that her baby had been switched but sadly no one believes her. Growing up, this rumor plays out in the background of the family with no real evidence. Finally, after 56 years and one DNA test, the truth is finally revealed. Kay Qualls should be Kay Shafer and DeeAnn Shafer should be DeeAnn Qualls. SOURCE: Yahoo News
I see this scenario so many times in drama series and even movie, but seeing it in real life makes me wonder if other outlandish things in movies are actually based on true stories. I can’t imagine what I would feel if I suddenly find out the family I’ve know for years aren’t really my family. Then again, is family only defined by blood? I wish those two women lots of happiness and the continue support of their families.
Treeless Mountain April 23, 2009
Posted by rokkuramu in Video.1 comment so far
Hey all. I’m breaking away from my schoolwork to report to you about this new movie. Once I saw the trailer, I just had to post it up here for everyone to know about it.
The movie is called Treeless Mountain directed by So Yong Kim. The name of the movie alone intrigues me. The basic storyline from what I gather is two young Korean girls (Jin and Bin) are left in the care of their aunt by their mother while she looks for the girls’ father. The mother tells her daughters that once they fill up a plastic piggy bank that she gave them, she will return by then. Other minutes details of the movie are yet unknown, but I’m hoping it’ll be one of those calm yet powerful movie like Il Mare.
A quote from the trailer pretty much peaks my interest even more in that it says the movie portrays the “…quiet resilience of children.” I thought about my own childhood and how I could force myself to wake up freakishly early in the morning to catch the cartoon shows and now I can barely get up by noon. When did this resilience get lost? Maybe this movie will tell me. 
A Man Who Was Superman – R March 6, 2009
Posted by rokkuramu in A Man Who Was Superman, Hwang Jeong-min, Jun Ji-hyun, Windstruck & My Sassy Girl.4 comments
I saw this movie just yesterday at 10 and stayed up late to midnight just to finish it. What an awesome movie. That’s why I’m writing a review now to spread the love.
Release in 2008
Directed by Jeong Yoon-chul
Overall Rating: A+
Main Cast: Actors / Characters
Jun Ji-hyun as Song Soo-jung
Hwang Jeong-min as Lee Hyun-suk
I’d like to start this review off with a quote from “Superman” in the movie.
“Strenghts don’t open big, iron doors but a small key. We all have a key inside of us…to open the door to a new future.”
Song Soo-jung is a long-time TV show producer who has grown bored of the mechanics of her job. Doing the same thing years after years has removed all sparks from her. Furthermore, she hasn’t been paid in awhile. The reason wasn’t explicited stated, so I am assuming it’s because the studio hasn’t got a hit yet. Soo-jung decides to take the company’s camera as payment and go to Africa for a shoot. She lazily steps out of the office without a wave to her co-workers. As she waits for the train to come, she falls asleep and wakes up to find her camera (i.e. company’s camera) is stolen. She tries to run after the crook but can’t match his speed. Suddenly, a color bullet comes rushing by. It’s a man in a colorful Hawaiian printed shirt. He flies by everyone and quickly catches up to the thief. Scared, the thief runs off leaving his chaser exhausted on the ground and the camera too. When Soo-jung finds him, she checks for her camera first, then pour water on her savior to wakes him up. He quickly comes to and identifies himself as Superman. Apparantly, he’s well-known throughout the neighborhood to help out everyone and everything he sees. He explains he has lost his superpower because a piece of kryptonite is lodged in his brain. Soo-jung is puzzled but interested, this could be her next documentary and a big hit at that. Is this man really Superman? If not, what’s his reasons for helping out everyone at the expense of himself? Yet still, should there really be a reason to help out others?
I’m Back and Have Some Thoughts to Share March 3, 2009
Posted by rokkuramu in Boys Over Flower.add a comment
Ah, how I’ve missed my little new post page here on WordPress. Hope my litte disappearnce act didn’t scare anyone. Even though I wasn’t able to post anything the last few days (weeks?) I actually still came by to approve on comments and things like that. I was happy to see my stats didn’t drop down too low at all, thank you all for visiting! Right now, I am on my precious Spring Break which will end this coming Sunday. After which I might be gone again to work on my design portfolio. So, let’s relish in this moment of freedom, shall we?
Before my hectic schedule came about, I was watching a new Korean drama called Boys Before Flower which is the Korean adaptation to the story of Hana Yori Dango. The basic storyline (for anyone isn’t familiar with it) is a poor but strong-will girl attends a school for the rich. The kids there bathe in fortune and blatantly show it off. Among them all are four boys who belong to the most prestigious family in all of [country name here]. They basically control the school because their wealth is what’s financing this school. Poor girl gets involve with rich boys and voila – a story of love, status, and society view on wealth ensue.
Boys Before Flower basically follow this storyline and has a similiar set up to the Japanese Hana Yori Dango. The only difference is, of course, the actors and their spin on the characters. I basically watched 3 episodes of this highly-anticipated show and was gravely disappointed. All the actors and actresses were fine except for one – the main actress. Koo Hye Sun plays Geum Jan Di who is the main protagonist of the story (poor and strong-will girl). Unfortunately, her take on the character is a bit too childish. She “overacts” everything and her reactions to events in the story is always either too over the top or just inappropriate. Her tendency to scream to show how mad she is also puts me off (my ears can only handle so much screaming in one episode). To put it bluntly, she is the reason why I can’t get into this show.
As you can tell, I’m not really a big fan of this show which is a shame because I was looking forward to it. However, my not liking it sure didn’t effect much since it is still the most popular show in Korea right now. So, I’m not going to review this show since I didn’t finish. If I were to grade it from what I saw, it probably will be a C.
A Million Apologies February 17, 2009
Posted by rokkuramu in Special.add a comment
I am very sorry, everyone. School has been a bigger burden this semester than most. I am applying to my design program at my university and spend most of my time reworking my old designs and working on new ones. Schooling is everyday this semester also ;_;
I have not laid eyes on any cinematic work let alone Asian ones for what seem like ages. Hope most of you are better off than I am. I can probably squeeze in some review time but it will have to be on things I’ve already watched. Of course, during this time please feel free to recommend any new show that I should watch once I am done with all this stuff! A good drama will be a most pleasant gift.
At the moment, if you are into art (graphic design to be exact) you can check out my art blog which I must update for a grade. The link is through here. Otherwise, you can keep track of me on twitter. A twitter-feed is on the right side of this blog.
Hope to write again soon!
Things to Watch Out For February 3, 2009
Posted by rokkuramu in Japanese Drama, Japanese Movie, Ninomiya Kazunari.add a comment
1. My sudden disappearance on the blogosphere. The reason being I am working on my designs for art class, studying Japanese, helping out the family, and writing giant essay every now and then. I honestly have not seen any Asian drama shows for awhile. However, I did get whiff of some interesting ones that are coming up soon.
2. The first is a film called Kuuki Ningyou (I am tentatively translating it as “Doll Atmosphere”) directed by Hirokazu Koreeda. The movie centers around a vinyl doll that begin to develop human emotions. It is based on a manga of the same name by Yoshiie God. The storyline isn’t anything new, but every time it is used, there’s always something new (i.e. Absolute Boyfriend, My Girlfriend is a Robot, etc). I want to see how this film try to differentiate itself as well. Filming has just ended and the movie will be releasing next fall.
3. Ninomiya Kazunari, who is quickly becoming my favorite actor, will be starring in a new drama called Door to Door. The story is inspired from a real-life story of a man named Bill Porter who works as a door-to-door salesman. Despite suffering from cerebral palsy, he manages to have the highest sales in the company. His story became a best-selling book and an Emmy nominated TV movie. Ninomiya will be playing a man name Hideo Kurasawa suffering from the same illness. The drama begins airing on March 29th.
First Drama of 2009 January 16, 2009
Posted by rokkuramu in Boys Over Flower, Hana Yori Dango.add a comment
I don’t know why this keep happening, but I keep on getting suck into the world of Hana Yori Dango. Maybe it’s the play on social class and how love can overcome anything – even Domyoji’s evil mother. Or maybe it’s the way the show presents the modern world’s definition of friendship: gains. With wealth being the lust of all times, the F4 characters in the story can’t help but only trust each other. Yet here comes little Maki Tsukino, a girl from wayyyy across the gem-encrusted pond.
I’m of course talking about the new revival of the HYD storyline currently being made in Korea under the title of Boys Over Flower. So far, the story mimics the Japanese drama a bit, but there’s still something different about it. The acting is a bit rough at the moment since many of the actors are actually new at this. However, the story is still there and that’s what important. What’s new is the way these new actors interpret their characters. Some are doing it quite successfully, while other can’t seem to get out of their shell. I’m going to try my best to stop comparing it to the JDrama and treat it as a new drama (it’s gonna be tough though). However, right now I still find the show very enjoyable.
Main Cast: Actors / Characters
Koo Hye Sun as Geum Jan Di (Maki)
Lee Min Ho as Goo Joon Pyo (Domyoji)
Kim Hyun Joong as Yoon Ji Hoo (Rui)
Kim Beom as So Yi Jung (Sojiro)
Kim Jun as Song Woo Bin (Akira)
2008’s Top Movies in Japan January 9, 2009
Posted by rokkuramu in List.add a comment
Well, there’s still no top Jdrama list BUT I did find this one: Top movies in Japan for the year 2008.
- Gake no Ue no Ponyo (15.4 billion)
- Hana Yori Dango Final (7.75 billion)
- Yougisha x no Kenshin (5.0 billion)
- Pokemon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior (4.8 billion)
- Aibou (4.44 billion)
- The Magic Hour (3.92 billion)
- 20th Century Boys (3.9 billion)
- Doraemon: Nobita and the Green Giant Legend (3.37 billion)
- Mari to Koinu no Monogatari (3.18 billion)
- Okuribito (3.0 billion)
Source: Tokyograph
The number 1 movie is the new animated movie by famous director Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, etc) about a mer-child who met a human boy. There’s already many clips of it on YouTube, but I’m still not sure what the story is about. However, coming from Mr. Miyazaki, I’m sure it’ll be a grand and sentimental adventure.
The HYD Movie did quite well if not for Miyazaki’s movie. The fans definitely pull through and fully supported the movie. Just to show what can happen when actors can create such beloved characters. I’m not sure about the other movies, but I’ll say this: I can’t believe Pokemon is still so popular. Can’t. Believe. It.
