:: Sixtwentyseven ::

I've just realized I've not been updating my blog for a very very long time. With the lunar new year passing by and all the feasting on new year goodies, adding the fact that my interest in J-Dramas suddenly dipped to new lows, the amount I'm reviewing or the amount of dramas I'm watching has greatly reduced. Instead, I'm watching more Korean stuff and watching more Korean variety programs which is really very interesting.

One of the dramas I've just completed watching is My Princess starring Kim Tae Hee as Lee Seol and Song Seung Hun as Park Hae Young, heir apparent of Dae Han Group and a diplomat for the government. Lee Seol is an orphan who was separated from her father when young due to her father's accident. What she didn't know was that her father is actually a crown prince who lived a life of running away from enemies. When Lee Seol was identified as the princess, Hae Young was shocked to find out that his grandfather is donating his entire estate to aid the formation of the monarchy. As he was charged to teach Lee Seol the proper etiquette of being a princess, he finds himself drawing closer to her. Yet, his heart is torn to the fact that he is about to lose his inheritance to her once the country vote for the formation of the monarchy.

I really liked the cast for this drama as Song Seung Hun, who rose to fame in Autumn in my Heart years back, is really a hunk. Kim Tae Hee, who is already in her 30s but looked really fresh in the drama. The main cast is also well supported with the likes of Park Ye Jin, who is Oh Yun Ju, the executive director of the monarchy foundation but opposed Lee Seol from being the princess; and Ryu Soo Young, who is Nam Jung Woo, a university professor specializing in Korean history who loves Yun Ju and is keen for monarchy to be formed.

Even though the cast is strong, I do feel that the script is a bit weak, especially at the end of the drama. 16 episodes for this drama is just about right, but I do feel that the ending is a bit rushed, with the last episode trying wrap the relationships between the cast members. The role of Park Hae Young's father, which is pivotal in the drama, isn't well developed at all in the drama and I thought it was disappointing aspect. But with romance as the main theme of the drama, Kim Tae Hee and Song Seung Hun doesn't disappoint. The chemistry between them is natural and Kim Tae Hee is extremely lovable in the drama. After all, this is what we should expect between 2 established artists.

Finally I've finished watching Secret Garden... I absolutely love it!!! But this song from the drama really takes the cake. It's the same as my BGM currently, but at least there's the translated english lyrics in this fanmade MV.





Note that the rhythm is the same, but the lyrics is totally different.

Having been swept away recently by the k-pop wave, I've also started to take note of Korean dramas now. I got to admit that prior to this, the only drama I've completed are Goong, Full House(with my friend scrolling throughout the whole drama) and Autumn in my Heart (DO NOT ask me why I like this tearjerker show). I've also recently completed Personal Taste and My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, but that was when I am already in this K-pop wave. Now, while trying to finish the jap dramas that I have yet to watch, I'm instantly hooked on Secret Garden, which is still airing in Korea at the moment.

Secret Garden tells the story of Kim Joo Won (Hyun Bin), a seemingly perfect man yet with certain arrogance and childishness in him, and Gil Ra Im (Ha Ji Won), a stuntwoman whose beauty and body are the object of envy of top actresses. One day they went deep into the mountains and entered a strange house. A strange grandmother offered them chocolate to eat. The next day they found themselves changing bodies.

What attracted me to this drama is not the cast initially. I didn't even know that Ha Ji Won is the female lead in Sex is Zero. As for Hyun Bin, let's just say I'm still new to the Korean wave. So instead of the actors, it was the initial reviews that got me attracted to the show.

Although it is a bit early that I reviewed the drama since I have only watched like 5 to 6 episodes, I'm actually enjoying each episode and the standard of entertainment is consistent through the drama so far. The progression of the plot is not as slow as what korean dramas are usually like and there's always something new in each episode. Do catch it if you can.

Oh, the soundtrack is pretty good too :)

Before I forget, I wish everyone a very Merry Xmas!!~

Okay I think somebody may try to whack me for this but I thought this commercial, although as irritating as hell, is darn addictive too.

Nyang~ nyang~ nyang~ nyang~ nyang~ nyang~

I've just realised that for the whole month of November, I have only blogged about Cheer Chen's concert and nothing else! No reviews for any movies, dramas etc. Well, it's not exactly nothing is going on but rather whether is there any value in blogging some stuff I've experiencing during this period. Anyway, enough said for the past month and for the start of the new month it's time for another movie review!

Hello Stranger or Kuan Meun Ho in Thai, starts its run in Singapore starting from today 2 December, in selected cinemas. The show stars Chantavit Dhanasevi as the male lead and Nuengtida Sopon as the female lead. If you have watched the Thai movie "Hormones" before, Chantavit Dhanasevi should not be foreign to you as he stars in that movie as well. As for Nuengtida Sopon, she is new to me so I do not have any data regarding her except knowing her pet name is Nuna. But one thing's for sure, she is really pretty and does not look Thai. I even commented that Nuengtida in the movie looked really like Hyomin of Korean Pop Group T-ara as below:


Although the male and female's lead names are not disclosed throughout the movie, they did use pesudo names. For the male lead, he was given the "Darng" or puppy in Thai while the female lead introduced herself as "May". The story starts with the two leads going to South Korea for very different reasons. Darng is sarcastic guy with a foul mouth while May is a fanatic for Korean dramas. Darng joined a tour group to get away the blues from the breakup with his longtime girlfriend. May is travelling to Korea to attend her Korean friend's wedding but had to do so behind her over zealous boyfriend. Upon reaching Korea, Darng got drunk and ended up sleeping on the sidewalk of a backpacker lodge where May was staying. Although May tried to guide Darng back to his hotel the next morning, the tour group left the hotel without Darng. Darng decided to tag along May as his command of Korean is poor and is traveling alone for the first time in a foreign country.

Since the director is the same as Bangkok Traffic Love Story, you should be expected to have the same kind of witty dialogue that is found in this movie as well. Also, due to the popularity of Bangkok Traffic Love Story in Singapore, this movie reached our shores pretty fast as the movie was only aired in Thailand in August. As compared to the former which took almost a year to reach our shores, this movie is really recent.

Before typing this article, I have read though some other articles on the review of this movie. I'd say that for the purpose of this movie which is a rom-com, it has served its purpose well. Some articles mentioned about the impossible relationship between the two main leads, I'd say chill down and just accept everything as it is. Yes, the storyline may be a bit out of reality but I'd say the movie won't be the way it is with the sense of reality.

Also while searching the internet for more info, I found that the movie poster has 3 different variations as shown below:


From the posters, it's obvious that this will be a fun movie to watch hence I somewhat couldn't understand all the seriousness with the other articles. Most importantly is that I enjoyed laughing at the lame jokes in the movie and I came out of the cinema as a happier person. Oh, the scenery for some of Korea's famous tourist spots helps the cinematography as well with shots at Coffee Prince Cafe, Namiseom Island where Winter Sonata was shot, Nansum Tower as well as other scenic locations.

Hmm, don't know what I'm talking? Probably the pictures below will tell more.


Still not convinced about the movie? I think the movie trailer will wet your appetite!

昨天剛出席了綺貞老師的演唱會.只有一個字可以形容: 讚!!!!!!

不用多說,就讓照片代替我的字.

注意哦~ 由於照片居多,下載速度會有點緩慢~~
請耐性等待~~

credits: sunshine@cloudie