PrettyCarEye

Nothing on the list for me.

In a movie phase, are we? How was Portrait of a Beauty? I want to catch that one soon.

Remember the name of what? I already told you the name of the drama ... With Love.

Maho was Kai's ex right? I didn't like her either. What's up next for you?

I finished Proposing to You, Once Again. It was alright. A little too generic for my tastes, but it was a pleasure to watch Takenouchi Yukata as always. Too bad he didn't have much chemistry with his co-star. In fact their interaction was downright awkward & stilted. #smh

Since I'm on a Takenouchi high I might postpone Dog & Wolf and start Rondo.

I used to, but not anymore. haha The more famous people you meet the less omnipotent they become! :) When I first started out in film & I'd meet a famous person even if I wasn't a fan I'd get so starstruck! In my mind I'd be like 'shit, there's no way I'm standing in the same room with Bruce Willis!'

Now I just look at them as regular people with a little bit more money than me! :) And I don't bother to try & talk to celebrities that I don't truly admire. Moreover, I've seen the dark side of celebrity - drug addiction, actresses prostituting themselves out to get roles, celebs abusing their staff etc. So from where I stand it's not all glamour.

Weerasethakul is actually a really humble, nice guy. If you didn't know who he was you'd have never guessed he was this acclaimed film director. He's a true artist, kind of quiet, introverted and unassuming. When you're invited to a film festival everyone wants a piece of you. You have to attend q&as;, interviews, ceremonies etc etc, but he was very open to talking to me just for my own benefit. I'm happy to have met him. Maybe when I become a famous producer we'll work together! hahaha

Ok, Reise, enough about me! What have YOU been up to lately, young lady? What's currently blowing your mind in dramaland, if anything? I'm planning to start Rondo or Time between Dog & Wolf.

Re: GE, you can take a look at my comments regarding the show on Cheerful's profile. Compared to the Choi family Tæ-joo, imo, was the lesser of 2 evils. Actually, no, I don't think Tæ-joo, at his core, was evil at all. What lead to his downfall was his irrational need to exact revenge on the Chois. He became consumed & obsessed. I'm a bit confused by what you said about his ending. How can he come back when he's dead?

EB, awesome! I'm so happy you enjoyed it! :)
Yup, Orange Days is a true classic. I loved it for all the reasons you stated and more. It's pretty difficult to find a really good 'nice guy' hero in dramaland. Either they're not there at all or the ones who are are too wimpy.
I found Kai to be the perfect balance between manliness and sensitivity. I absolutely adore him!
Sæ is my girl. One of my favourite drama heroines. Welcome to the Orange Days club! I haven't met anyone who didn't like this show. A testament to the quality of its story, I believe, and a great cast! Now you must watch the other works of the writer. Aishiteru to Ikketure. Another deaf character featured here, though it's the male this time around. By the way, did you ever warm to any of the secondaries in OD? I really liked Shohei.

Yes, I've heard good things about Rondo although everyone says the subs are dreadful. Bad subs really trip up my enjoyment of whatever I'm watching so I've been procrastinating where Rondo is concerned. By the way, I know there are kisses in Rondo, people have told me.

But I was asking you about With Love - the drama that's kind of similar to the movie 'You've Got Mail'. Do you remember any kisses there?

New, what's up? Are you still watching Ugly? I've put it on hold until the remaining eps are out.

Hey I read and liked your review of With Love, the japanese drama with Takenouchi Yukata. I've developed a major crush on that guy! haha I wanted to know if there were any kisses in this drama & if so were they 'real' kisses or lip press kisses? Must say I was a little disappointed by the 2 dramas I saw him in recently, Nagaresboshi & Mou Ichido Kimi ni, Propose. There were NO kisses in these at all. I mean how in the world do you make a romance drama with NO kiss???
Aigooo...

Anyway, thx chinguya!

Coffee, I enjoyed it a great deal. Even though the dialogue relied on too much exposition, these were some extremely well crafted characters and the acting was sick! Had Tæ-joo met a different end I'd've given it a 10.

I agree with you. From where I sat Tæ-joo wasn't the kind of guy to commit suicide. Then again he did see himself as the Hitler of the world he lived in so maybe it wasn't so far-fetched given that the real Hitler took his own life in the face of defeat. Whatever the rationale, I don't like it. I guess in the mind of the writer Tæ-joo was never a hero, but I just can't bring myself to hate the guy in any way. I admired far too many things about him & the character has indeed inspired me to fight even harder to achieve my professional goals. So in my eyes he's already won.

As for Mi-joo, I love her! She's the perfect drama heroine to me. I'm glad you're enjoying her! :)

Aigooo ... dude, don't I know the feeling! I was too busy cringing to laugh. Seriously. Those Americans were complete caricatures. Where on earth the production found them I have no idea. There are sooo many great out-of-work actors in America, and particularly in California! You mean to tell me they couldn't find more professionally trained people? Ok, it's just a cameo, but come on.

Anyway, I didn't see much of Lee so I can't judge his abilities. I heard people say he's as wooden as ever, though. I haven't seen Boys over Flower and I don't ever plan to. It's the hallmark of the type of dramas I HATE. You're Beautiful had a short stint on my list until I realized it's a Hong drama (and Jang Yu-suk stars in it). Heartstrings I knew from first look wasn't for me. Seems like we also have the same tastes in dramas NOT to watch. Great! We can help each other out in finding the gems & avoiding the stinkers! :-)

Isn't it strange? I've never seen a drama with Park Shin Hye, but somehow I agree with you! I've seen pictures of her and I just know that she's one of those actresses that could very well end up on my blacklist because ... well, she comes across as an empty shell.

I had a mild interest in watching Heirs because it's written by Kim Eun-sook & it would give me a chance to finally 'meet' the ever popular Lee Min-ho. However, when I heard Park Shin Hye was the female lead I was disappointed. I've watched about 20 mins of the first ep and all my suspicions about the girl were confirmed. I find that I'm more attracted to older actors, both male and female, because their life experience allows them to add an extra layer to their performances. Ironically this is not the case in Western cinema. I have a range of both older and younger actors who I respect a great deal for their skill. Now that we're on the topic I wonder why that is?

Anyway, are you planning to watch Heirs?

Yup, I think you should give it another try. I don't remember from which episode the romance really picks up, but it's there and it's a nice one. I was the same as you, btw. It took some time for this drama to grow on me, but in the end I'm glad I listened to the people who urged me on. I wasn't disappointed at all. I think I scored it a 9.

Loved your description of what constitutes beauty for you. Mine is pretty much the same, but of course what might be striking for me may not be for you and vice versa. I find Song Kye Hyo to be quite beautiful. And hints of sadness behind the eyes, yes! I love when an actor is able to use those eyes to express powerful emotions (without having to open his/her mouth). Can you give me an example of an actor who is 'an empty shell' in your opinion? I'm trying to think of one, but I'm coming up blank.

I'm indifferent when it comes to McAdams and I only like Channing for his body ... hahaha! But that said I did enjoy The Vow. :)

Mostly because I agree with you, the plot is very good and watching it unfold was interesting for me. In the japanese drama the couple is content and happy with each other, but the wife feels like they've fallen into a rut. Just when she embarks a mission to do something about it she falls sick and loses her memory. The husband then begins to realize that he took his wife for granted and that he loves & misses her, but is it too late for him to fix things? I'm going to finish the last 2 eps before I head out to work. I hope it ends well for the couple, but this being a jdrama I'm bracing myself that it probably won't.

Well, if you like unconventional beauties then I think you'll appreciate the lead actresses in both Lovers and City Hall. Both are rather 'plain', but somehow that plainness was what endeared them to me. That and the fact that I felt like they were women I could relate to. I've never been preoccupied like some other women with so-called 'kickbutt' heroines (kickbutt heroes are fine :). To me the best female leads are those that reflect every day women like myself; quietly strong, a little quirky, sensible and who seek balance between their professional & romantic lives. Mi-joo and Mi-Ræ fit this bill perfectly.

I've been really busy the last month! Worked 16+ days and my mind and body are still exhausted 2 weeks later. Good thing it's work that I love doing! Otherwise I surely would have to kill myself.

I understand your situation. School comes first. I admire your discipline. I'm soooo glad that I didn't discover drama when I was in school because I just know they would've effed up my grades! haha

Dramas that I've seen lately: Ugly Alert and City Hall. Loved the latter, but not so much the former though it's perfectly alright drama. I'm just not big on soap operas, esp when they're 130 odd eps long. They're just too repetitive & foolish (you know, for once I'd like to see a mother-in-law who doesn't hate her son's wife). I've also been looking at a drama called I Love You, Don't Cry. It's another really long one (132 eps) and just as underwhelming as Ugly. For now, they're both on hold. I'm thinking of starting Time Between Dog & Wolf, an action romance drama, next.

Good luck with your studies! Hope to have you back here, watching dramas, soon! :)

The festival was great! Apparently this year had the best turnout in the history of the fest. I could tell because there were many sold out screenings. On professional level I had a good run. I got to work closely with an acclaimed Thai director called Apichatpong Weerasethakul. He won the Palme d'Or for his movie Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall his Past Lives in 2010. I produced an exhibition he held here called Photophobia. It was also interesting to pick his brain about his process. Otherwise I made some good contacts in Germany which I'm hoping will lead to a future co-production. We'll see.

It's funny you mentioned 'closed room' psychological thrillers because it made me remember that I HAVE already produced a horror/psychological thriller type film. My graduation film, The Kidnapper. It's about an oil worker who was kidnapped by rebels in Nigeria's oil rich Niger Delta. We filmed in a closed room, in a grimy warehouse in East London. Haha ... had totally forgotten about that film. Fun memories, though! :)

I have never adapted (written or directed) anyone's work. Others have directed what I've written, though. For eg, The Kidnapper. But hmmm ... that's the only one I think. My script editor/doctor is hinting that I make someone else direct my current project (apparently bcuz this is my best writing yet according to her), but I need the training so I want to direct it myself.

As for Golden Empire, I agree! I'm really grateful to my friend Nina for pushing me to watch it otherwise I probably wouldn't have of my own volition. I'm usually wary of these types of Asian dramas because I always expect them to be boring, but both GE & Cruel City have busted that myth. I'm curious, though, who did you want to 'win' in GE?

Next up, Time Between Dog & Wolf. I think.

Interesting, I feel the exact opposite about Ha. I think she exaggerates her expressions a lot and she has a tendency to overact, in my opinion. I've seen a number of movies with her and she always manages to get on my nerves to the point where the film is ruined. The only exception has been a movie called Closer to Heaven ... where I found her acting understated and more organic. As for her physical attributes, she wouldn't be my definition of a beauty, but I guess that's why they say beauty is in the eyes of the beholder! :)

I've been hearing about Secret Garden since I first came on this site about a year ago. I mostly ignored the hype because I knew Ha was in it (and generally I try to ignore hype at all costs having been burned once before). You're not the only one to come with this critique of the show & really the only reason I'm tempted to watch it is because it's a Kim Eun-sook vehicle (and to a minor extent because Hyun Bin is the male lead). Otherwise, no way jose. Anyway, I still haven't made up my mind yet.

Currently I'm watching Mou Ichido Kimi ni, Propose. If you've seen the movie The Vow with Channing Tatum & Rachel McAdams this drama is similar to it but with an older cast. I'm really starting to become a fan of Takenouchi Yukata. He's handsome and acts in the type of understated way that I like. Sadly, all the romances (including this one) I've seen him in were pretty half-baked. :/

Hahaha, måtte le av din beskrivelse av kyssing og intimitet i dramaland. Kunne ikke ha sagt det bedre egentlig. Jeg fikk veldig sterk kultursjokk da jeg innså at dette var normen i Asiasiske serier. Jeg var liksom ... what the "¤%&!#??? Haha, jeg kommer aldri til å bli vant til det.

Jøss, du har sett MANGE serier og filmer! :) Ser også at du har alle de klassiske romanse serier på lista. Så du ga LOVERS en 9, elsker den drama! Men jeg ser en del 0 rangeringer på din liste. Hva betyr det? Var disse så dårlige at de ikke fortjente en score? lol
Vi har samme smak når det gjelder sjanger. Aller best liker jeg spenningsfilmer og dramaer med action/suspense og en god romanse. Lovers er den perfekte eksempel. Derfor liker jeg den serien så godt. Ellers liker jeg 'romantic drama' som sjanger. Jeg skjønner ikke folk som sier de ikke liker romanse. LOL

Takk for anbefaling av Osozaki. Jeg har hørt mye bra om det.

Akkurat, så du har bodd her lenge i Norge. Jeg har vært her siden 2001, men jeg tok 2 års studietur til Storbritannia i mellom.

Oslo er bra. Vi har hatt fint vær i det siste. Litt kjølig men ellers sol og klar himmel. Jeg har aldri vært i Kristiansand. Nærmeste jeg kom var Grimstad. Var der for kortfilmfestivalen i juni. Jøss, for en vakker liten by! Jeg bodde en sommer i Stavanger og har vært i Bergen, Bodø og Trondheim. Utover det har jeg ikke reist så mye i landet. Hvis jeg skal først reise foretrekker jeg å gjøre det utlands og oppleve et nytt land. Har veldig lyst til å reise til Korea neste år men er ikke helt sikker om det er mulig enda...

Mars is fantastic! Why can't more dramas have a realistic portrayal of the romance like in MARS?

See that's why I don't hold any prejudices toward dramas from a particular country. The 3 main drama producing countries in Asia all offer something unique in my opinion. When it comes to Taiwan I definitely appreciate their less conservative approach to (sexual) relationships even though they have less than stellar production values.

I hope you enjoy Orange Days. I think you will. It's a beautiful love story. And I really hope Lovers will be to your liking! It's another one of those passionate, but rare, k-dramas that totally took me by surprise when I first watched it. I really loved watching KJ & Mi-soo fall in love! :)

Kim Eun-sook is officially my favourite writer in this genre. So far I've watched 3 of her dramas - A Gentleman's Dignity, Lovers & City Hall - and I haven't been disappointed by any of them. I loved them all. The most recent one was City Hall & I'd highly recommend you add it to your list!

I love that her dramas feature 'real' grown-ups, oftentimes characters well into their 30s and with a bit more life experience than your average drama protagonists. I'm even planning to put aside my differences with Ha Ji-won (who I know you love by the way so apologies that she's on my black list) and watch Secret Garden. One thing to bear in mind about Kim's dramas though is that the romance takes time to build. In a 20 ep drama it probably won't pick up heat until around the 12 ep mark, but in the end it's totally worth it!

Thanks for the tip re Dog & Wolf. I didn't know that. Now that I'm aware it I can brace myself so that it doesn't become a major irritant. Cheers! :)

Well, that's where you & I differ. I loved the actor. I became a fan after seeing him in this role, but I hated the character. Min-jæ to me is a psychopath. With the exception of Seo Yoon, her step brother & Min-jæ's dad, the entire Choi family are psychopaths. People who resort to any means to get what they want.

Min-jæ's despicable actions were consistent throughout the drama. He screwed everyone over - his family, even the one person who loved him above all else & always looked out for him, his father. He screwed his 1st wife, Yoon, and his 2nd wife after he'd tapped her dry of all her money. His niece Seo Yoon who he could've reached a hand out to & work with her to keep SJG within the family. He screwed over Tæ-joo by reneging on his word to take the empire together. I mean, the guy is pure scum, if you ask me. An empty shell. He no longer has a soul because he sold it long ago to the devil. At least Tæ-joo still had a conscience after what he did to those poor people & tried to give them retribution. I don't agree with his methods. I think he should've loss everything, gone to prison then come back 10 yrs later and rebuild. He sure had the smarts and gumption to do it.

As for the any romance between him & Seo Yoon, I didn't miss it but I can not see how it would've weakened the plot had it been explored. But we can always agree to disagree on romance since your strong aversion toward it in every capacity is something I can not appreciate. My point anyway was not to argue for a romance between them, but to illustrate Tæ-joo's character as a guy who, at his core, always tried to do the right thing by the people who put their trust in him. I gave GE a 9.

Planning to start Time Between Dog & Wolf next.

Haha, update your list, woman! I can't figure out which scene that was or what ep are you on. Was that a blind date with Kang Jæ or someone else? Or are you referring to the scene when Mi Joo mistook Kang Jæ for someone else (something related to her sister ... don't want to say too much in case you haven't watched that far). I see you still haven't finished Padam Padam ... or maybe you just haven't updated your progress? If you're still on ep 3 after all this time, I guess you're not enjoying it then? I remember when I first watched that drama it took me a while to get really invested. Don't think it happened until around ep 10.

By the way, The Greatest Love was hilarious & it got a 7 from me only because of Cha Seung Won antics. The guy is totally ridiculous. It totally would've gotten a lower score because it was mostly a mediocre drama (as are most by the Hongs). In City Hall he played a milder version of Dok Go-jin. A manlier, slightly less silly version, but some of his trademark Dok Go expressions are definitely there. I loved him even more in this drama. I don't think he's playing a role ... I think Dok Go-jin is really a part of his real life personality. Hahaha. You should definitely check out CH if you haven't already.

So happy you enjoyed Orange Days! It's a classic. Now you should watch Aishiteru to Ikketure. It's by the same screenwriter and features another deaf protagonist. This time the guy instead of the girl. I really loved this drama. Had it not been for the last few eps I would have dethroned OD as my favourite Japanese drama. I still gave it a 9 though because it was otherwise fantastic!