Gye Baek Review

Title: Gye Baek

Genre: Period, Historical, Romance, Revenge, Melodrama

Episodes: 36

Broadcast period: 2011-Jul to 2011-Nov

Cast: Lee Seo Jin, Cho Jae Hyun, Oh Yeon Soo, Song Ji Hyo, Cha In Pyo, Hyo Min, Lee Hyun Woo and No Young Hak.

Due to the Queen being of Silla blood, an elite group of assassins try to kill her and the Crown Prince Ui Ja on a regular basis. This has prompted the King of Baekje to assign his most loyal and skilled swordsman Moo Jin (Cha In Pyo) to guard them.  But due to unforeseen events, the Queen dies to save her son, and Moo Jins wife dies while giving birth to a son, Gye Baek.

Several years later, Gye Baek (Lee Hyun Woo) now a youngster, works odd jobs, so he can take care of his drunk father. Here he meets merchant-in-training Eun Ko (Park Eun Bin), whom he immediately falls for. Moo Jin, who has lost his arm, has remarried, so the past is unknown, and Gye Baek believes his stepmother and stepbrother, are his real mother and brother. Though mourning, Moo Jin meets the Crown Prince Ui Ja (No Young Hak) again, now a regular Prince due to the new Queens (Oh Yeon Soo) son taking that title and sees right through his pretense, about not caring about the past.

While trying to uncover the truth, and helping Ui Ja, Moo Jin dies, while Gye Baek witnesses it. Filled with anger, Gye Baek blames Ui Ja for the murder of his father but ends up as a hostage of Silla. As years pass, Gye Baek (Lee Seo Jin) lives only for one sole purpose: to kill the man, who killed his father, unaware that there is more to the story than meets the eyes…

Yeah, I know this is very detailed, and yes, I did spoil a bit, but I tried to stay off the details, so if you decide to watch it, you will get several surprises and you will notice the details I left out.

Out of all the historical dramas out there, this one is the first one where I was in awe of the quality of the costumes - like the first 10 min seemed extremely well. I don’t now much about the uniforms of Baekje, but I know that the armor was iron, and it kind of looked like iron. In most dramas I can see that they are made of plastic (or whatever it is) but I didn’t in this one - at least not in the beginning. Also, it might be because I had the first episode in HD quality (I think 1080p), that might have something to do with it too. What I mean is, it was nice to see that there exist good costumes out there, like realistic ones anyways.

This is also one of my first dramas where the lead actors are over 30 years old, as they (directors, or whoever casts these actors) usually have young actors doing quality and popular dramas. And they were all ‘veteran’ actors, with skill, which was extremely nice to see. I have to admit, I was amazed by Song Ji Hyo. I never knew she could act mean or evil - she can officially do both. I liked her in this, and she is very good at acting. Though I noticed that she was tired (haha, blaming RM for that). The rest were good too.

The lacking thing in this one is both pace and extreme character development, which I couldn’t really comprehend. Though the fact that these developments are the reason the story end as it did.

But all in all, an alright drama that made me emotional, and confused at the same time.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

The Technicians Movie Review

Title: The Technicians

AKA: The Con Artists

Genre: Action, Crime,

Origin: South Korea

Release Date: December 24, 2014

Cast: Kim Woo Bin, Lee Hyun Woo, Kim young Cheol, Ko Chang Seok, Jung Man Sik, Jo Yoon Hee, Lim Ju Hwan, Shin Goo

Ji-Hyeok (Kim Woo-Bin) is an elite safe-cracker and counterfeiter. He works with Koo-In (Ko Chang-Seok) who introduces him to elite hacker Jong-Bae (Lee Hyun-Woo). There's rumors that Jong-Bae has betrayed other partners in his past. Nevertheless, the trio decide to work together to steal valuable diamonds held within a secret vault at a high-end jewelry store. The jewelry store is owned by President Jo (Kim Young-Chul). Meanwhile, President Jo is in search of an elite safe-cracker to help him steal millions of dollars stored within a Korean customs area in Incheon, South Korea. When he found out about Ji-Hyeok genius talent, he knew he was the one to help him succeed his mission.

This movie has a great plot and very mind blowing, it had so many twists that in the end I was so confused at what happened. Nevertheless, don’t worry, they wrap it up in a way that there is nothing to miss. I won’t get started at how amazing and praiseworthy Kim Woo Bin is, because we all know how awesome he is. He nail every role and character he gets no matter what, so Kim woo bin fan or not you will definitely fall for his charm in this movie (I’m specifically talking about that smirk face he does all the time gah!). Not to forget his two partners, they were really a spontaneous group of people. I liked their chemistry a lot. I don’t think I should be allowed to say more or else I’ll spoil something unknowingly! Definitly a great watch, so if you are reading this now and haven’t watched it, go get the movie ASAP!

☆☆☆☆☆ / 5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥♥ / 5 out of 5 hearts

The Great King Sejong Review

Title: The Great King Sejong

AKA: King Sejong The Great

Genre: Period, Family

Episodes: 86

Broadcast period: 2008-Jan to 2008-Nov

Cast: Kim Sang Kyung, Lee Yoon Ji, Kim Kap Soo, Lee Chun Hee, Lee Won Jong, Cho Sung Ha, Lee Hyun Woo and Park Sang Min.

This story revolves around the entire life of the 4th king of Joseon, one of the two with the title ‘great’, King Sejong.

As the third son of the third king of Joseon, Prince Choon Nyung (Lee Hyun Woo) has been raised not to be too involved in politics, but due to his natural curiosity and good heart, Prince Choon Nyung believes to find that the books on Confucius are the ones that are correct: that the citizens of Joseon are pure and righteous. His teacher on the other hand decides to give the prince a lesson and tells him to walk down to the city, instead of keeping his nose in the books. Accepting the challenge Prince Choon Nyung walks down the city and for the first time ever realizes how, not only poor, but grotesque all the people of Joseon are. And with the Ming dynasty in the city, the rebels are trying to destroy the treaty that the king made. In utter shock the prince returns home and tells his father about the situation in the empire, only to have the king use that knowledge and punish the citizens – as they are ‘complaining’ against the king. Once again Prince Choon Nyung decides for his own and rings the bell of complaint, this furies the king and he decides to punish Prince Choon Nyung by executing one of his closes friends.

This makes Prince Choon Nyung retreat completely from politics, but due to kind heart and jealous family, he is pulled into a whirlwind of betrayal and lies…

Out of all the Korean period dramas this one makes most sense – might be because I knew the history behind it – but it still was good in the sense that made a person like me (one that is not so much period drama fan) like it. The story of the great King Sejong is one of the most curious ones, as I never really understood their love for him, and I know that they do exaggerate in period dramas, but I sort of understand this one and it fits the history part of the king’s life. I mean I am kind of history biased, but they really are almost at point – though with a bit of creativity in the spots that have a kind of unclear story.

As far as acting, besides being a Lee Yoon Ji fan I haven't really seen works of any of the actors (of course Lee Chun Hee but that’s it), so it was kind of being thrown into a drama with "unknown" actors and a lot of “back-actors”: the actors that have supporting characters in almost every drama. The drama was okay acted, but not really that amazing though. And kind of weird yet beautiful love stories.. I guess that is those day time period drama, a lot of episodes with kind of mediocre acting, though that didn’t make it less good, just made it kind of regular.

So sum it up: an interesting drama with an honest approach to the actual historical events, but on the other hand mediocre acting.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

To The Beautiful You Review

Title: To The Beautiful You

AKA: For You In Full Blossom

Genre: School, Teen, Romantic Comedy, Sports, Gender switch

Episodes: 16

Broadcast period: Aug-2012 to Oct-2012

Cast: Choi Sulli, Choi Min Ho, Lee Hyun Woo, Kim Ji Won, Suh Joon Young, Kang Ha Neul, Ki Tae Young, Hwang Kwang Hee, Julien Kang, and Kim Woo Bin.

The story starts with Goo Jae Hee (Choi Sulli) a young girl living in America having problems fitting into the American society. Everything changes when she one day sees athlete Kang Tae Joon (Choi Min Ho) on TV doing high jump and setting a record. Few months later she hears that he hurt his leg and is unable to do sports anymore. So Jae Hee decides to move to Korea and attended his school in order to help him in any way possible. The only problem is: he goes to an all-boys school. So she decides to dress up as a boy and enroll. Arriving at the school she is treated as ‘the new kid’ and put through several of tests, except from Cha Eun Kyul (Lee Hyun Woo) who becomes her close friend.

With a luck of faith she is put in the same room as Tae Joon, but her hero is not as she had expected him to be, and every day she has to struggle not to be found out…

Another Hana Kimi drama with another group of popular idols. Compared to the other two (Japanese and Taiwanese) this is the exact copy of the Taiwanese, except that the melo has a capital M. Simply put I watched it till the end because it reminded me of the very first drama I had watched, but it also reminded me why I never re-watched it. This drama is basically a girl going to a boy school where the pretty boys (every boys is pretty by the way) all dress as if they just stepped out of a magazine, because of an unreasonable idea of thinking she can help her idol, and surprisingly some of the boys fall for her. Oh and also she ends up in situations where the lead has to save her all the time. Min Ho and Sulli I can’t even look at them without face palming myself, mainly because the characters are too easy to act and basically have 0 depth. Though Min Ho has grown an inch since the last time I’ve seen him act.

It is a popular genre, but I have grown too old and too bored with these dramas, so don’t ask me whether or not I recommend it.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Secretly Greatly Movie Review

Title: Secretly Greatly
AKA:  Covertness (Literal title)
Genre: Action, comedy
Origin: South Korea
Release Date: June 5, 2013
Cast: Kim Soo Hyun, Park Ki Woong, Lee Hyun Woo, Son Hyun Joo, Kim Sung Kyun, Park Hye Sook, Go Chang Seok, Jang Gwang, Shin Jung Geun, Hong Kyung In, Lee Chae Young, Park Eun Bin, Choi Woo Shik, Joo Hyun . . .

A group of youngsters have been trained by the North Korean elite forces since they were kids, in order to become a secret spies, whom even the people at the top do not know about. Lieutenant Won Ryu Hwan (Kim Soo Hyun), a top agent, is on a mission in South Korea, he disguised himself as the village idiot Bang Dong Gu, and has spent two years, pretending to be a fool, while monitering the situation, though there is not much to monitor. He has amazing fighting skills as well as speaks 5 languages, yet he doesn't get to use them very much. All of this he does only because he believe that his mother is being protected by the government. As two years passes, another member of the secret spy group arrives at the same village, Rhee Hae Rang (Park Ki Woong). Hae Rang disguises himself as a rock star, yet to make his debute, so he goes around auditioning to become a star. As soon as he arrives, Ryu Hwan thinks there is something wrong, why would they send a spy where there is another spy, unless there is something going on. Things get even more fishy when their student/dongsaeng spy Rhee Hae Jin (Lee Hyun Woo) is sent to the village to check upon both of them. What is going on suddenly after no notice for 2 years? Is there a great mission coming, or are they in danger?

This movie starts of with comedy, however! (you know where im going with this) - It certainly changes your mood halfway through. It's very light in the beginning but you end up really wondering about their lives. And yes of course, it's typical since this is a north korea vs south korea movie, and yes north korea is not portrayed very positively. It get's really tough and almost meaningless. You just end up thinking "what the heck!". It is pretty terrible, especially since these "boys" are so young, and yet have these lives. The positive about it, ehmm hello~ pretty handsome boys/young men. What do I say, I loved Park Ki Woong's acting again, brought me back to bridal mask. And Kim Soo Hyun of course, amazing job. I really feel he is getting better and better at acting. This is only my second time seeing Lee Hyun Woo (first time in Equator Man and liked him since that) well I dont know how much I can say, I wasnt super impressed by his acting. The fighting scenes were great EXCEPT for those typical flying jump scenes that ruin the whole thing (for me!) and yeah dont you break your arm if it gets hit by a metal pole!? I guess not if you're Kim Soo Hyun. I recommend it, it's funny most of the time, with a serious note, it shows the lives of young agent.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

The Equator Man Review

Title: The Equator Man
AKA: The man from the equator
Genre: Melodrama
Episodes: 20
Broadcast period: 2012-Mar-21 to 2012-May-24
Cast:  Uhm Tae Woong, Lee Hyun Woo, Lee Joon Hyuk, Siwan, Lee Bo Young, Kyung Soo Jin, Im Jung Eun, Park Se Young, Kim Young Chul, Lee Won Jong, Lee Jae Yong, Lee Dae Yeon, Cha Hwa Yun, Lee Seung Hyung, Jung Ho Bin . . .

Jang-il (Lee Joon Hyuk (young: Siwan)) is the smart kid at school, with the dream of becoming a prosecutor to protect the weak. One day he faces some trouble, as dept collectors come looking for him at school. Unexpectedly the strong kid at school Seon Woo (Uhm Tae Woong (young: Lee Hyun Woo)) saves him. As Seon Woo gets into trouble Jang-il is too be his tutor, but Jang-il soon finds out that Seon Woo hasn't been taking advantage of his potential. The two of them develop a close relationship, one where they would do almost anything for one another, almost. Their friendship comes to a test, a test strong enough to tear them apart. Seon Woo's father dies a mysterious death, which police claims is suicide. But that just doesn't make any sense to Seon Woo, and he starts investigating. On his way to the police station to submit the proof for his father’s murder, he meets Jang-il. To whom he shouldn’t have turned his back on. Jang-il prevents Seon Woo from going to the station by as very last resort attempting murder. Now he has so live hiding a secret which is eating him up from inside, something which has torn the two friends apart. Several years later, Seon Woo will build his power up from scratch, trying to  find out what really happened and seek revenge. Revenge on a friend.  You will be surprised.

This drama is the next big drama, so amazing I was glued to the screen for 20 episodes. Amazing tension and it's got you from the start. I loved the part where they were kids, loved the little Seon Woo SO much! Everything about him, so cool. Jang-il on the other hand, I seriously couldnt watch. I was so sick of him and even made me hate the actor, I guess he is that good at acting? or what? I was really surprised by Uhm Tae Woong, I had not expected his acting to be THAT good! Maybe because I wasnt that happy about him in that one movie I watched. Here on the other hand.. WOW! so nice, the acting, and his charactor. The love stories, which I havent mentioned, I wasnt too happy about it, I hate those stories with "I must have you, cant live without you"-stalkerish kind of , not crush but like really.. like a crazy person. And its like, the girl from their childhood likes Jang-il but he is disgusted by her because of her father? or because she isnt from at well-off family. And Jang-il likes(like crazy person) the girl who likes Seon Wo and whom he likes. I really hate that kind of thing but I guess the drama is so good I could bear with it. But it made me hate the actor, I dont remember him this annoying in City Hunter. Seriously if you like the action, tension, drama, with sweet love and great actors, this is for you. The revenge part is so good! Wow-mazing!

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Bunji's Verdict
I guess 2012 was the year of good dramas, because Equator Man defiantly is on that list of great dramas. It has great actors, good screenplay, good chemistry between actors and great dialogues. Though I have to say, the revenge part was crazily deep, so I actually for the first time felt like the lead became crazy because of it. Usually you see them scream, and act like madmen, but this guy seriously became mad. Like, I was scared.

But the bad part was the length and the fact that the only thing this drama is about is revenge. Okay yeah there are many, but you really don’t have time to breathe in the entire drama because of the tension, and the fact that you actually know why and how everything happened, but the lead doesn’t. So the entire drama is about waiting, waiting for things you already knew happened happens. Of course except in the beginning where you get to know the stuff, that the rest, I don’t know how many, episodes are about. It did take me some while to watch this, I started this before Jenji, can you imagine, but couldn’t end it.

I do recommend those who enjoy the entire “justice” part, and also if you like the “back to your own place” thingi…

                                                             

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

God of Study Review

Title: God of Study
AKA: Lord of Studying / Master of Study
Genre: School, Comedy, Romance
Episodes: 16
Broadcast period: 2010-Jan to 2010-Feb
Cast: Kim Soo Ro, Bae Doo Na, Oh Yoon Ah, Yoo Seung Ho, Ji Yeon, Go Ah Sung, Lee Hyun Woo and Lee Chan Ho.

Kang Suk Ho (Kim Soo Ro) is sort a different lawyer: when he has a case, he'll put 100% effort into it, meaning EVERYTHING, which also means if he looses a case, he looses all. As he changes office once again, he gets a case about a school, whom he is familiar with; his high school. The school is known as "the trash school", where students dont do any effort in studies, and the teachers have given up on the students. The case he is given, is about the closing down of the school and changing it to a private school, which means all 'usual' students will be changed to other schools.
Kang Suk Ho decides to take the case, but instead of helping with the change, he wants to change the schools reputation, by making 5 students enter "Chun-Ha-Dae University" - Koreas most prestigious college. Jang Ma Ri (Oh Yoon Ah) has taken on the school after her father, ever since had fallen into a coma, but optimistic she isn't. In the matter of fact, she feels as if she is thrown into something that she hates, taking responsebility, so she is more than willing to do the change to private school, but ends up being persuaded by Suk Ho. Suk Ho's first meeting with the leader, Hwang Baek Hyun (Yoo Seung Ho), happens as Baek Hyun delivers food to Suk Ho's office, where Baek Hyun pulls a prank on Suk Ho. Baek Hyun is living alone with his grandmother, who always dreamed of Baek Hyun being a top student, but it happens that they're loosing their home, which Suk Ho uses as his advantage, and makes him join the special class. Other than Baek Hyun there are 4 other students that join: Gil Pul Ip (Go Ah Sung), childhood friend of Baek Hyun, and has always tried her best at studing. She lives with her mother, who owns a bar, and has an affair with a married man. The reason for her joining is her not wating to become like her mother. Hong Chan Doo (Lee Hyun Woo), childhood friend of both Baek Hyun and Pul Ip, and has always had a secret crush on Pul Ip. He loves dancing and has givin up on all kind of study. His father has always made all his decisions for him and has been very strict with him, whereas his mother is loving and caring and tries to support him, but fails as she cant say anything against her housebend. He joins the class together with Oh Bong Goo, because he wants more. Oh Bong Goo (Lee Chan Ho) is the son of resturant owners, who believe that Bong Goo isnt smart in any way. Bong Goo loves studying on the other hand, and joins because he want to study and do better. Lastly there is Na Hyun Jung (Ji Yeon, T-ara), she is the daughter of busy people, meaning parents that are too busy and simply dont care about her. She has a 'stalker-ish' crush on Baek Hyun, thats mainly the reason for her to join the class.
Han Soo Jung (Bae Doo Na) is a pasionate teacher, who LOVES all her students. She hates Kang Suk Ho, so she makes a deal with him: if 5 stundents vulenteerely join the 'special class', she will become the assistant teacher..

This has become one of my favorite dramas. I remember the japanese series "Dragon Zakura" which was the the storyline behind God of Study, and I loved it. God of Study is mainly the same as Dragon Zakura, but a little different. The korean version has focus on the study and relationship between the characters, whereas the japanese focuses on study and humanity (meaning what does it mean being a fellow human and friend). I love both, but the korean was great. It was fun, sad and interesting, and has less focus on the love story, which I perfer. Usually when watching korean dramas, I get annoyed; firsty, because the lovestories are too nauseating, secondly, the guys always seem to be hurt more than the girls. This drama did the opposite. The supporting girl was sad, not insane! Love it! The actors were fun and perfect for their roles, but my favorite would be Yoo Seung Ho, portraying Hwang Baek Hyun. Ive seriously never seen an actor crying, and still be able to cry cool and look cool aswell.. Hands down for you!
On another note, hot-korean-deliquents fighting and crying, yes please!! hehe.. verdict:

☆☆☆☆½ / 4,5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts