Jumong Review

Title: Jumong
AKA: Prince of the Legend
Genre: Period, Historical, Romance, Melodrama
Episodes: 81
Broadcast period: 2006-May to 2008-Mar
Cast: Song Il Kook, Han Hye Jin, Kim Seung Soo, Jeon Kwang Leol, Oh Yeon Su and Song Ji Hyo.

This is the story about the creation of Kogoryeo, and the people who started it.
While trying to fight the corrupt noblemen, Hae Mo Soo (Heo Jun Ho) and the crown prince Kum Wa (Jeon Kwang Leol) get caught up in political turmoil. The king saves the crown prince, but Hae Mo Soo is caught and tortured. Yoo Hwa (Oh Yeon Su), the only survivor of her clan had always admired Hae Mo Soo, thus the two had become lovers, but after Hae Mo Soo gets caught, the crown prince saves Yoo Hwa, by making her his concubine, while carrying the child of Hae Mo Soo.
Several years later, the son of Hae Mo Soo and Yoo Hwa, Ju Mong (Song Il Gook), now all grown up, was raised as the concubine’s son. Earning the utter contempt from his two older brothers, who believe that the now king prefers Ju Mong, rather than the two older sons. Though a brat, and quite useless, Ju Mong tries his best to be seen at “a piece of trash” so that he won’t get attention, but the jealous brothers try to kill him numerous times. After being thrown out of the royal house, Ju Mong ends up on the streets and meets So Seo No (Han Hye Jin), daughter of a merchant, again, where the first time she had saved him, after his brothers had attempted to kill him.
He starts working for the So family and becomes familiar with the world. At the same time the two princes desperately want Ju Mong dead, though fate has other plans for him…

This drama has been one of those that I watched the beginning of, with interest, but accidently read about the evolvement of the story, so I had it put on hold. As time had passed, I’d forgotten about the evolvement, and I decided to watch it again, so when the “thing” I wasn’t interested in seeing appeared, I remembered it, but had an easier time sitting through it. After watching the entire thing, I had mixed emotions, mostly frustration due to the love story, but as many of the “older” dramas, the romance is usually the subplot, so it isn’t given the same amount of “care” as the main story. That said, I didn’t care for the romance aspect, as it made me annoyed, and I ended up going: whoever, just save the wife please.
The main story is very interesting, and one of the better Korean period pieces, as it is action packed most of the way through - though it has moments where I was bored. But it tries to keep you invested.
It was funny seeing Song Il Kook so young, but honestly, I didn’t see much of a difference. The rest was alright, though there is something annoying about the female lead, even if she was the most bad-ass female lead I’ve seen in a long while, but I can’t really put my finger on it.
To sum up: a great and interesting drama with a frustrating love-triangle, but still decent storyline.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Fashion King Movie Review

Title: Fashion King
Genre: School, Drama
Origin: South Korea
Release Date: November 6, 2014
Cast: Joo Won, Choi Sulli, Ahn Jae Hyun, Park Se Young, Kim Sung Oh, Lee Il Hwa, Han Hye Jin

Woo Ki Myung (Joo Won), a completely ordinary high school student, has a crush on Hye Jin (Park Se Young), the prettiest, most popular girl in class. So to win her heart, he decides to transform his image and become the coolest, best dressed person in the world. As his mentor Nam Jung (Kim Sung Oh) introduces him to the world of fashion, Woo Myung finds himself entering into a rivalry with Won Ho (Ahn Jae Hyun), the school's toughest fighter. Meanwhile, he doesn't notice Eun Jin (Choi Sulli), who harbors a secret crush on him.

I really liked the plot of this movie, but it didn't quite hit the right spots for me. The main reason why I watched this movie is for the casting mostly. I mean gaah Joo Won?!  As expected from Joo Won he also proves once again how good an actor he is, in a dorky and cute way this time. I'm not sure about Sulli since I haven't really seen her in much, but I thought she did OK. The universe here is fashion, school & rivalry. I must say that the combination of the three of them is rather great. I didn't laugh as much as I expected, but I felt very entertained. I definitely think this movie is worth watching, but comparatively it wasn't as great as other things I have watched.

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

1 % of Anything Review

Title: 1% of Anything
AKA: Something About 1%
Genre: Romnace, Family
Episodes: 26
Broadcast period: 2003-Jul to 2003-Dec
Cast: Kim Jung Hwa, Kang Dong Won, Han Hye Jin, Lee Byung Wook, Kim Seung Min and Kim Ji Woo.

Kim Da Hyun (Kim Jung Hwa) is a bit of a blockhead; she’s smart but forgets things easily. One day she meets an old man on a train, whom she helps and befriends. Little does she know: that old man is the chairman of the Saga Company, one of Koreas biggest, and has now found a liking in Da Hyun. The chairman decides to retire and write his will in which states that if his grandson Lee Jae In (Kang Dong Won) marries Da Hyun, he’ll get the company, if he doesn’t want to, his second grandson Min Tae Ha (Lee Byung Wook) just has to marry her and he’ll get the company. Jae In and Tae Ha have been rivals and enemies their entire life, so Jae In refuses to let Tae Ha have shot.
Jae In takes his friend Kim Hyeong Jun (Kim Seung Min), who is a lawyer, with him to meet the teacher, Da Hyun, but with the fiery temper of Jae Ins, sparks fly between them and they bicker. Second time they meet they come up with a plan: make a contract where Da Hyun is to date Jae In for 10 months and Jae In is to help a student of Da Hyuns, into a school in the U.S.

This drama is interesting: it’s old without being out-dated, but has a lot of silly elements. I guess it’s because it’s an old KOREAN (notice the enlarged word), it becomes, well unnatural, but somehow, it manages to swing to my likening. It’s simple, predictable and not to mention ongoing: three love stories, all with the ’parents-disagree’ problem… A little too much, huh?
On the other hand, it’s fun, and worth ones time, well mine. Don’t watch it if you look for excitement or heart pounding, none of that here. It’s a nice family drama.

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts