Something New

It’s kind of hard to believe, but I haven’t watch any Asian drama or movies lately. Let me explain! I’ll be submitting my art portfolio next month and have been working on my art projects whenever I’m free. But don’t worry, I will continue to have a post up every Friday. So since I haven’t seen anything new, here ARE some new drama that have been drawing quite a bit of attention. However, good or bad I do not yet know.

Hong Gil Dong

24 Episodes
Broadcasted in 2008

A Korean drama based on the Korean version of Robin Hood. Hong Gil Dong is the son of a minister. He takes money for vararious merchants in the town and disperses them to the needy. As if that isn’t enough, a local monk believes Hong Gil Dong is destined for even more greatness. Well, I watched the first episode because I couldn’t stop myself. Hong Gil Dong is actually an illigitimate child to a wealthy noble in town. Therefore, he’s called a “bastard.” Actually very smart and talented, his skills are ignored as he has no place in society. However, a monk thinks he has what it takes to turn the currently rotten kingdom of Korea into something great. Yet, will he pursue this destiny or simply continue what he’s doing?

Who Are You?

16 Episodes (currently running aka subs are hard to find)
Broadcasted in 2008

Son Young In is the daughter of Son Il Gun. After Son Il Gun died, he left a couple of unfinished things for his daughter. Meanwhile, there is Cha Seung Hyo who grew up in the US after being adopted. Due to something that I do not know (^^;) Cha Seung Hyo grows up to be a cold-hearted person. When Young In and Seung Hyo meet, Young In’s father somehow managed to control Seung Hyo’s body! For 3 hours each day ( for a total of 49 days) Young In’s father could control Seung Hyo’s body to get things for his daughter that he could not when he was alive. This strange relationship soon inspires a couple of things including love between the two, but what about this ghost thing?

Sounds interesting don’t they?

Invisible Journey – R

This is something new to my regular readers – Taiwanese drama. I’ve briefly talked about Romantic Princess which is a Taiwanese drama, but haven’t yet done any review on one. I also didn’t have this one on the Upcoming Review list, but that’s because I didn’t know its English translation name until now. I saw this drama quite a long time ago. It has one of my favourite Chinese actress who is Jessica Hsuan. She has acted in numerous drama and movies in her career and is still going at it. What I saw years ago was titled “The Gioi Muon Mao” which is Vietnamese for “A Colorful World.” Thus I’ve been searching for that same name but who knew the English translation is that different. The story is about a blind girl and her quest to live a normal life: finding love, having a career, and most importantly be independent. As I’m currently on some sort of movie-streak about illnesses, this one is the perfect one to follow my previous entries.

Broadcasted in 2002
21 Episodes
Overall Rating: A

Taiyou no Uta – R

A movie about something so strange that I had to see it. Starring popular Japanese singer Yui as the main protagonist Kaoru Amane. Kaoru was born with a rare skin disease called XP (short for xeroderma pigmentosum). It’s basically a DNA mutation which causes the skin to not be able to repair itself after exposure to ultra-violent rays / sunlight. Exposure could lead to further cell mutation and the development of cancer. Therefore, her schedule is to sleep during the day and wakes up at night. In the middle of it all, Kaoru is still a teenager and she has fallen for a fellow teen who she sees every morning before dawn. Right before the sun emerges from the horizon, she sees him waiting for his friends to go surfing. Seeing him everyday, Kaoru soon develops a crush on him. But with a disease like XP, isn’t it nearly impossible to meet anyone?

Released in 2006
Directed by Norihiro Koizumi
Overall Rating: C

Drama News

Hello, everyone. Due to the fact that I only post once a week, some of these news items might already be known by all. However, for those of you who do not know – here it is! The drama world is constantly making new creations. Some are bad and some are good. Thus to know what’s good, you must know what’s going on.

1. Hana Yori Dango gets Another Makeover – The ever popular storyline of Hana Yori Dango or HYD has been remade in Taiwan known as Meteor Garden by a group of foursome singer also known as F4. (However, due to legal reasons, they have now discard that name. I do not know their current name.) Now, Korea is set to have their own version of HYD. They are currently looking for the right cast members. Rumour has it, the main protagonist will be played by Yoon Eun Hye. Comparing Maki Tsukino from HYD Japan, Yoon Eun Hye’s recent role in Coffee Prince definitely makes her the perfect contender for the role: a tom-boy-ish personality with innocent views about the world. Perfect.
2. Big to Skinny to Big Again? – The surprising hit romantic-comedy, 200 Pounds Beauty, is set to have a sequel out by next year or so. This time, the protagonist has had one of those “yo-yo-ing effect” after her plastic surgery and has put on the pounds again! What to do? Kim Ah Joong, the main actress of the original movie, has yet to accept the returning role so we’ll see. I can’t really see anyone else besides her to play the role. I always hate it when cast members are changed in sequels. It just makes the experience that much more artificial.
3. Drama 2 Movies – Given the popularity of certain shows this year, many of which will also have a movie coming out after the series have ended. This year’s greatly anticipated movies include those for HYD and Galileo! Of the two, I am most excited about the HYD movie. I wonder what they’ll talk about now? Parenthood? Maki as a lawyer who must save one of the F4 from a nasty case? Domyouji messed up his company and the two now lives on the street? So many questions….
4. Taiyou no Uta was a disappointment. Will have the review up later.

That’s all, folks. Hope you enjoy these little tid-bits about Drama Land. Sources for the these news come from Dramabeans and Asian Entertainment News.