_Pien_

Just dropping by since I've been seeing you around on the news feed and Snowy Love Fall in Spring's page. Plus seeing your profile I love meeting someone who's seen more drama's then I have. So nice to meet you. ;)

I can't say for sure why I'm not enjoying EMpire as much. I think it's a combination of my current schedule and the drama's subject. I started watching while I was still too busy with work and actually couldn't afford the distraction of watching a couple of episodes at the time. But as you know I usually watch my drama's fairly speedy :P Maybe I have developed the attention span of a goldfish which withholds me from being invested in the storyline when I only watch 1 ep every few days. This plus the subject matter requires some thinking and isn't just mindless entertainment.
Lets just say we got off on the wrong foot since I love the acting and usually I like the revenge themes as well. So dpn't be too put off by my view of Empire of Gold atm.

Anyway I need something different. No use to force it.

I'll start with Hanzawa Naoki

I'm not getting caught up in Empire which disappoints me a bit. I'm thinking of leaving it on the shelf for a bit so I can watch it when I can appreciate it more.

I even tried picking up I Hear Your Voice again. I found it easier to watch after 6 episodes but it's really not my drama.

So now I'm considering picking up Hanzawa Naoki to see what all the buzz is about or your rec Alone in Love. Which do you recommend? I'm looking for some emotional attachment to a drama. Meaning some good characters and a story which keeps you involved. I'm not looking specifically for romance or suspense I just would like your opinion.

Update + a quick msg to say Hi!

I got to say I'm struggling with Empire. I'm till watching but it doesn't get to me. I'm not in to the story as much as I would like. It doesn't pull me back after each episode. Will keep watching though. ;)

I see you'll be busy as well have fun and good luck networking!

Well Game of Thrones is really worth watching. Although I though season 3 was a long intermission. But you have to know I already the books so this takes some suspires out. But it's good it's only 10 or 12 eps in a season, can't quite remember exactly which now.
I took it quite far with Star Trek when I was younger, I knew episode names and who'd appear in them. LOL I bet I would have gone to a convention if one would have been near enough. Like I said a Trekkie Nerd with a capital N. ;)

I've heard good things about Hanzawa Noaki. I'll probably watch it sometime. But right now I just wish I was less busy. I want to finish Empire of Gold. I can see it's good but I'm not that invested so it doesn't pull me back in. I find myself doing housework instead of trying to follow "just one more ep" before bed. ;)

Then this one might not be for you. ;)

I don't watch western shows anymore aside from Game of Thrones which I watch together with friends. Plus I would start watching Star Trek if they ever decided to be so follish to make another Star Trek show. (I'm a nerd like that ;)). I just don't have the time for both Asian and western shows. LOL. Plus I don't like the endless seasons. I like a story with a beginning and end.

I do however watch western movies. I'm "forced" to during those movie weekends/evenings which I told you bout before. But it's not only because we watch them together I genuinely love watching movies from all over the world.

I'm just going to wait till Sunday when I have time to watch some in a row. I already see great characters I'll just wait to see how the rest of the plot will unfold and suprise me even more. :P And I do hope I get wrapped p in the drama more since that'the only thing lacking atm.

I see you watched Audition I've really enjoyed the Takashi Miike movies I managed to see but so far. But somehow I've put off watching Audition. How did you like it?

"maybe you've seen all the good romance dramas already" That's a depressing thought! LOL But you're right I've seen most of the top lists so it is harder to find ones I love. Luckily I'm not that picky as to what I waste my time with.
I don't know what you like in anime land so I don't know if you'll like Saiunkoku Monogatari. I loved the strong female character in a historical reversed harem surrounding with dash of fantasy and politics. The anime didn't finish the story as so often happens in anime land. You'll have to look for the manga if you are interested. ;)

Reviews are good on alone in love and I didn't hear about this drama before. Will be on top of my prio list of things to watch thanks!

BTW I know you enjoy movies a lot. Are you only into Asian ones or do you also enjoy western European/American movies?

Arg should have checked your list btw I saw you already saw some. ;)

Hi!

Saiunkoku Monogatari is a manga. I'm rewatching the anime in the few spare minutes I have atm. I'm busier with work than expected so I'm already struggling to finish 1 drama.

Well what I mean with a good romance. Hmm basically involving and believable. Of course I love a mature romance without the awkwardness of skinship and such but I know what to expect in drama land. ;) I like a strong connection between the leads and aside from that I could name countless things I like in my drama´s but I don´t like to narrow down what I watch too much. Different from you, usually I have the time to watch a lot so that´s what I do. ;) What did you have in mind?

I should just come out and say it. I lied to you :P
Nah just kidding but I did think work was going to cool down this week and it hasn't. I guess I was wrong I'm still involved with finishing up this project.

Anyways EMpire! Well I like it based on the acting and plot development so far. But like you said it's a drama that I can put away. I'm not inclined to dramathon through it. (which is a good thing for me at the moment). But maybe because of my busy schedule and not watching it really quick I also don't feel as emotionally involved as I would like. This also takes away the satisfaction you get when you're truly rooting for someone.

How is it further on in the drama? Is it starting to "grab" you more?

So I just did a quick scan and you set some difficult criteria.
Romance based, no humor not tragic. Especially the latter eliminates all movies. LOL Plus I saw you already got some good romcom suggestions. So I focussed on stricktly romance.
I'll name the ones I didn't think where tragic but I should warn you I'm not that hung up on happy endings when I think the ending was satisfying enough I store the movies in my memory as having a happy ending.


Secret Love and/or Addicted (Korean, adult theme)
Secret (Taiwanese)
3-Iron (romance themed but not you typical movie)
Love 911
Love and Honor, the Hidden blade and twilight samurai. (samurai movies with a delicate romance theme.
Postman to Heaven
My Rainy Days
Maybe
Nana
You are my sunshine
Waiting in the dark
Virgin Snow
Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Hong Kong)
Firs Kiss
Hear Me (Taiwanese)
Innocent steps
A Beautiful life (Chinese)

Well I'm still planning to not add anymore drama's to my lists so after I finish Empire I'll be going back to my on hold list.
I'll probably pick up Ja Myung Go again since I wasn't tired of the Saeguk theme yet and I simply love Jung Kyung Ho. Having said that I'm also still in the mood for some cheesy romance with a happy ending. And I'll settle with something not that great full with cliches as long as the characters and romance is good. Any suggestions? ;)

So in all honesty I'm not quite sure as what I'll watch next. Also next week we planned another movie night with some Asian movies (not my picks) so it will be a surprise as to what I get to watch. :P

O and on the side I'm rewatching Saiunkoku Monogatari whenever I have some spare minutes.

I just finished ep 7. Due to my buy schedule these last weeks I also had to put a hold on my social activities so will have to catch up to you next week when I'm less busy. ;)

I agree with you on Seo Yoon.Although I do believe she is keeping all emotions in because of the hard job and decisions she has to make. So for now her acting works for me. The thing is in the one other drama I saw her she had the same expressions. LOL So I would like to see a wider range of emotions on her face. :)

In the beginning I really disliked Seol Hee, but she's actually starting to grow on me. AT first I thought she was going to be this typical bitchy lead but none of the characters are only what they seem. I don't find the flirting too annoying but I hope she wont end up throwing herself at him since that would mean the writers are undermining her strong points as a character. On a side note I love how Tae Joo gloats when he's confident about a plan!

Im rooting for Seo Yoon the most at the moment. And yes the biggest surprise atm is her stepmother. LOL

So far 5 eps in and the first episode was the best. So for me it's not an instant hit, but the acting is solid overall and so far the plot twists are believable. Plus I love how you see different sides of all chars, so far there is no totally "good"or "bad" char. But like I said I'm only 5 eps in so any opinion at this point should be taken lightly. :P

Ah still haven't seen Mothe. I should leave something good watch when I've seen all great drama's right. ;)
Oguri Shun, well me and him started off at the wrong foot. When I saw him he reminded me of someone so I didn't like his looks. After that I've seen him in a reasonable amount of drama's/movies, he never stood out in his acting. I can't put my finger on it. Maybe he didn't play chars which appealed to me or the dramas weren't my thing. Anyway I find his acting kinda meh if you know what I mean. Plus no added bonus for eye candy

Just finished ep 5. This is the first episode which is drawing me back into the story.
I love how we saw a bit of the human side of Choi Min Jae. I usually don't really like the clear good vs. evil themed drama's and in this one we're already seeing shades of grey in all characters. Seems like everyone is getting ready to backstab someone. LOL
I hope they will keep it interesting but I also wonder how they will keep this up for 20 eps more. Twists and turns in every episode? I don't know if it will be pleasant drama that way. There has to be some time to relax and enjoy the empire of gold right? :P

Anyway off to ep 6!

Hi friend,

How have you been?
I watched the first episodes of Tonbi a while back but now coming back after working my ass of I felt I wasn't in the mood for those gentle people. :)
I put it on hold for now and started Empire of Gold.
I also finished Yoji Yamada's Samurai Trilogy of which I loved The Hidden Blade the best. I loved the setting of all the movies samurai's in an era of transition and the love was very gentle and felt real not overdone.

I saw you are watching Woman. How is the overall feel so far? It's on my ptw list and I love Mitsushima Hikari but am not too fond of Oguri Shun.

Well for me ep 1 is the strongest. I'll watch ep 4 later today but I do feel the drama has to pick up a bit. For now I'm not hooked yet. I didn't like Go Soo's acting when he was all beaten up by those gangstes. On the other hand I really do like him in a suit. :P
In all fairness though I usually don't judge a drama early on in the beginning when they are till setting up the story.

Bah politics dreadful when you're forced to deal with it. I do hope you'll get this through it seems to me a film worth making and a great medium to give some attention to a overlooked subject.

Yes Empire, well I finished the first ep yesterday and in the first few mintes I thought there was shit hitting fans already. LOL I really like the first ep. I believe they where setting up the three parties that would be involved in the power struggle really quick. It looked like the drama has a pace and atmosphere that I would like, but it's hard to say with just one episode.
Loving Go Soo already though. I already saw him in Psychic, White Night and Love 911 and he stood out there. I also saw Lee Yo Won in 49 days and in that drama she was one of the two likable characters so I'm expecting her to be a good female lead in this one.

Well I'm off to ep 2 and 3 for now. Will report back! ;)