Hyde, Jekyll and I Review

Title: Hyde, Jekyll and I
AKA: Jekyll and Me
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Episodes: 20
Broadcast period: Jan-2015 to Mar-2015
Cast: Hyun Bin, Han Ji Min, Sung Joon, Hye Ri, Lee Seung Joon, Han Sang Jin, Shin Eun Jung, Lee Duk Hwa, Kim Do Yun

Gu Seo Jin (Hyun Bin) is a third-generation chaebol who runs the theme park Wonder Land. He seemingly has everything: looks, brains and fortune. He is also in line to become the next CEO of Wonder Group, the conglomerate his family owns, though his cousin Ryu Seung Yeon (Han Sang Jin) who oversees Wonder Hotel is his rival for the position, but Goo Seo Jin has dissociative identity disorder, DID. Whenever his heart rate exceeds 150, another personality emerges, and unlike Goo Seo Jin's usual cold, cynical and ruthless self, Robin is kind, gentle and has a savior complex. Jang Ha Na (Han Ji Min) has just returned to Korea after spending several years in the United States with Cirque du Soleil. Like her grandfather and father before her, she is set to take over as circus master of the circus show at Wonder Land, which had once been the park's primary attraction. Jang Ha-na vows to save the failing circus and dreams of revamping it back to its former glory, but she finds herself butting heads with Goo Seo Jin, who wants to get rid of it due to low-ticket sales and high overhead costs. With every antagonistic encounter with Jang Ha Na, Goo Seo Jin notes the alarming spike on his heart monitor, and the two become further entangled with each other.

First of all watching this right after Kill Me Heal Me is not a clever move, because no matter what I would be comparing those 2 and that wouldn’t be fair for Hyde, Jekyll and I. However I will do my best to be as objective as possible. While watching this I had too many opinions about it, on one hand: Hyun Bin, on the other hand: bad writing. I can say that it was good in the first few episodes, but after episode 8 it became too boring they are just dragging and dragging, I don't think that anything new happened after that. My guess is that the writers suddenly quit and the production team had to film something for every week until episode 20. Meaningless plot lines were dragged out, hypnosis was treated like some sort of super power, and I don't know but I'm pretty sure this writer didn't do much research on DID (I'm not saying I know more about DID than she does, but I'm pretty sure DID doesn't work like that!). The plot idea was good and had potential, but the final drama didn't live up to the expectations I had before watching it. I was missing the feeling of a deep, well-elaborated story, it failed to really grip me. It had lovely moments, was overall okay to watch, but it's definitely not the best drama out there. I feel bad for Hyun Bin, this was supposed to be his grand comeback to dramaworld, don’t worry Hyun Bin I’ll wait for your next success ;)
Han Ji Min's character and acting was not up to scratch. Although I have only seen a couple of her previous works, I know she is an amazing actress, but she did not fit at all with her character. Jang Ha Na should be a strong character who is independent when not concerned with her love from Robin/Seo Jin, but Ji Min made her a weak and pathetic character. Chemistry you ask? Nope, nothing. They were cute together; they just never had the kind of love that got you in the gut, or made you think that you’d go move the mountains yourself if it meant that they could be together. They were a sweet, but take-it-or-leave-it kind of couple. Don’t get me wrong, I'm not hating against the drama, the writers or Han Ji Min, I just feel the drama would have been better if it was written differently and executed differently, after all it had the potential.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Bunjis Verdict

Okay, that was an emotional rollercoaster. I don’t remember being this upset about/because of a drama, since Boys Before Flowers, and even then, it didn’t last as long as this. I agree with Kamji that the writes either died, changed, or had so many people, because after episode 8, it just went downhill. I felt that the writer, was like several people, instead of one (DID?). It was uncoercive, messy and quite frankly enraging. I have in my life never experienced so many mixed signals in a drama and end up with something stupid as this. I say stupid because DID is not at all like this version of crap. I am no psychologist, but NO ONE has this kind of second personality. They actually created a main character, so freaking unlikeable, and the second personality, who by the way still is the main character, more likeable and “heroic”. Just to make it clear, THEY ARE STILL THE SAME PERSON. If that doesn’t annoy you, there is the crap about co-existing, and living with both… but he is not real! Urgh… I am both furious and upset, and I very annoyed that Sung Joon’s character doesn’t fit in my brain - like he portrayed his character very well. But I can’t even like him, because everything else about this is so upsetting. Han Ji Min is as Kamji said, just dumb (that is my use of word, not hers). I don’t get any of it.

Thank God, I watched this in one go. I don’t think I would’ve been able to watch it otherwise… And yes, I think I am hating on this drama… sorry Hyun Bin, Han Ji Min and Sung Joon… even of you did a decent job…

All in all, a typical Korean drama, but one I wouldn’t watch ever again… nor recommend.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥ / 2 out of 5 hearts

The Fatal Encounter Movie Review

Title: The Fatal Encounter
AKA: The Kings Wrath, King of Misfortune
Genre: Historical,
Origin: Korea
Release Date: April 30, 2014
Cast: Hyun Bin, Jung Jae Yeong, Jo Jung Suk, Cho Jae Hyun, Han Ji Min, Kim Sung Ryung, Park Sung Woong, Jung Eun Cha,

Kim Jeongjo (Hyun Bin) has been in power for only one year. He has already gone through several failed assassination attempts on his life and his hold on power is fragile. He trusts only his eunuch named Sang Chaek (Jung Jae Young) and the commander (Park Sung Woong). Outside the palace Eul soo (Jo Jung suk) was raised as an elite assassin, one day he gets order from Queen Jungsoon (Han Ji Min) to kill the king otherwise they would kill his love.

This was the hardest intro I had to write so far. Since it was a movie, it was hard to explain what it was about without spoiling anything, so forgive me if it sounded half-heartily written. However, I have to say, the director did not leave me any choice, it was the most confusing movie ever, so many things happened at once, and you’re just left with the only reason to continue; Jo Jung suk. The role as an assassin surprisingly fits him. As I finished the movie, I had to go back to the description to figure out what the whole thing was about, it wasn’t boring at all, but personally I preferred to know what was going on in the entire movie, or just half of it. Anyhow, if you are into assassins, vengeful historical movies, this is a good choice.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars


♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Rooftop Prince Review

Title: Rooftop Prince

AKA:  Attic Prince / Oktabbang Wangseja

Genre:  Fantasy, Comedy, Romance

Episodes: 20

Broadcast period:  2012-Mar-21 to 2012-May-24

Cast:  Micky Yoochun, Choi Won Hong, Han Ji Min, Jun Min Seo, Lee Tae Sung, Jung Yoo mi, Kim So Hyun, Lee Min Ho, Choi Woo Shik, Jung Suk Won, Ban Hyo Jung, Ahn Suk Hwan, Park Joon Geum, Lee Moon Shik, Song Ok Sook, Na Toung Hee ..

Park Ha/Bu Young (the young Han Ji Min) is to be married with the young crown prince (young Yoochun), but she gets scarred for life by her sister by accident, so her sister young Se Na (young Jung Yoo Mi) is to be married with the crown prince instead. Several years later, Se Na is found mysteriously dead. The people believe it wasn’t a murder, but the crown prince knows it can’t be otherwise and that he must investigate the matter. The same night as the crown prince and his 3 retainers are fleeing from some strange men, they are suddenly transported into the future, and land on the rooftop apartment of Park Ha/Bu Young. Park Ha is the reincarnation of Bu Young, and she somehow ends up unwillingly taking care of the four, teaching them how to get by in the new life. Meanwhile the crown prince also sees Se Na, the reincarnation of his wife, and desperately tries to meet her and find out what really happened. He gets a great opportunity as he finds out his reincarnation had disappeared and his family (rich business family) is looking for him, his reincarnation was killed, and so he also tries to figure out that mystery.

This drama was quite not what I had expected. I was a bit disappointed, maybe because I had too many spoilers on tumblr and I expected quite a lot. But it’s not that it was bad, it really did have its funny moments and the story overall is quite good and I get it, but really not my thing. It’s kinda like I didn’t really know what the whole point really was? For him to realize that whole thing with Bu Young, or to find out who his wife really was? Or what? It had its funny moments and I get that it’s a comedy and fiction but it still had some things that didn’t make any sense, and I know it might not be comparable to Queen In hyun’s man but that one was better. Though the only thing similar is the timeslip thing, so not sure if I can compare. But it wasn’t bad at all and I don’t regret watching it or anything. It’s just not as good as I wanted it to be.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ stars out of 5

♥♥♥½ / 3½ hearts out of 5

Bunji's Verdict
Summing up in one word: likable. Lol, okay I can’t really sum it up in one word, but the drama has heart (of course depending on the character). The beginning actually captures your attention, but somehow it becomes heavy, though not worse than many others (City Hunter, Man of Honor etc.), you know the entire “rightful/righteous” part. The difference is that in this the lead couple actually fights together, not “trying-to-protect-while-pushing-each-other-away”. Yoo Chun is cute no doubt, and does a pretty good job with the acting as a king, was actually stunned by the acting - it’s been a while I guess. I didn’t really enjoy Han Ji Min’s acting, or being, call it what you want, there is just something that bothers me about her (same with Park Min Young and Park Shin Hye), even though her character was adorable and her acting okay, I found her annoying - but managed to look past her, and enjoy the drama.
Two things bothered me though: One, the fact that they came to the future, but weren’t interested in finding out what happened in the past, and two, the sudden long lost appearance of the mother in the picture… but else, it’s very reasonable..

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5  stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Cain & Abel Review

Title: Cain and Abel
Genre: Action, Romance, Medical
Episodes: 20
Broadcast period: 2009-Feb to 2009-Apr
Cast: So Ji Sub, Shin Hyun Joon, Han Ji Min and Chae Jung Ahn.

This is the Korean adaption of the biblical story about the two brothers, sons of Adam, Cain and Abel, where the older brother Abel is jealous of his younger brother for being popular and liked by everyone.
Lee Cho In (So Ji Sub) and his older brother Lee Seon Woo (Shin Hyun Joon) are brothers by adoption, meaning Cho In is adopted whereas Seon Woo is their fathers real son, and both are very known and accomplished surgeons. Since little they have had a great relationship and didn’t care about the fact that they aren’t blood related.
Kim Seo Yeon (Chae Jung Ahn) has had a heart problem ever since she was little, like Cho In, but started a relationship with Seon Woo. The relationship doesn’t last, and Seo Yeon finds love and comfort with Cho In.
Before their father became comatosed, he wanted to make a clinic where Cho In was to be the head in charge, believing that Cho In knows the heart of the hospital, whereas Seon Woo is a bit selfish. Cho In’s adoption mother, Seon Woo’s mother also a surgeon, hated the fact that her son is not to take over the hospital, so she tries to arrange the board to change their minds about the decision about the clinic, while Cho In is in China for study. In China he meets Oh Young Ji (Han Ji Min), a north Korean trying to make money by tour guiding people through China, and as she is taken by some gangsters and told she is to make sure the ‘swindler’ Lee Cho In doesn’t run away from her, not knowing those gangsters are ordered by Seon Woo's mother, to make sure Cho In doesn’t return to Korea, alive.

This drama is by far one of my favourite drama, K.O’ing The Vineyard Man, God of Study and IRIS. I more than loved this, seriously, just about the thought of watching another episode made me hyper and nervous (Yes, nervous! Gosh, rarely happens). Love everything about it; the brothers relationship, the love story(s), the hospital stuff, EVERYTHING!
I have to admit, Korean directors should just stick with action and war, that’s what they do best.
You’re probably sitting, thinking that the first part of the review doesn’t really sound interesting, well I have to admit that what I wrote is actually not what made the drama good. The drama starts with Cho In walking through the desert, shot and bleeding, actually dying, and the story starts with the back flash of his life. LOVE IT! I totally recommend this.

☆☆☆☆☆ / 5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Jenji's verdict
OH MY GOD! OOOHH SAESANGAE ! i totally recommend this drama. no, i dont recommend i command you to watch it. If you want action, drama, and romance, i dont think i have watched anything like this, This drama got me keep going like forever , each episode passed so quickly and left me speechless. The first time a checked this drama out i thought i would never watch it, i saw bunji's ratings but still it didnt seem like it would be that great, BUT IT WAS! this is definitely one of best dramas evaaaaaah, the story is great, the actors are amazing (and ehmm ehmm good-looking) . I was scared, nervous, happy and all while watching it. Its one of those that bring alll the feeling back like those dramas where you think "this is what ive been waiting for! this kind of drama" . i really dont know what to say, i just extremely recommend, just watch first ep, and you'll automatically move on to the next. I didnt expect it to be that good while watching first episode but then i completely changed my mind.

☆☆☆☆☆ / 5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥♥ / 5 out of 5 hearts

Great Inheritance Review

Title: Great Inheritance
AKA: Kindergarten Love
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Bussiness
Episodes: 17
Broadcast date: 2006-May to 2006-Jun
Cast: Kim Jae Won, Han Ji Min, Kim Ji Hoon and Lee Mi Sook

Due to his sad childhood, Kang Hyun Se (Kim Jae Won) was taken in by a mafia boss, who helped him by accepting him as a son. Different from other gangsters, Hyun Se doesn't like to use violence, but wont hold back if he's asked to use it. His life changes as his birth mother, whom he had tried to cut ties with, dies and leaves a will, where it says that Hyun Se is to inherit the kindergarten she owns. At first he tries to sell the kindergarten, and bumps heads with Yoo Mi Rae (Han Ji Min), a kindergarten teacher whom he had encounterd before, but as the kindergarten director Go Ah Ra (Lee Mi Sook) talks to the inheritage lawyer, they find out that Hyun Se has to work as a teacher for 100 days before getting the kindergarten. Hyun Se refuses, but as he finds out that his boss needs the land, he ends up agreeing to become a teacher for 100 days.
As Hyun Se and Mi Rae start to devolp feelings for one another, the ex-boyfriend of Mi Rae, Choi Shi Wan (Kim Ji Hoon ) returns to take her back, and to complicate matters more, he is competing company to Hyun Se's boss, meaning he also wants the kindergarten..

When I started this drama, I thought it would be a faveorite, which is rare for korean dramas. It's fun and the kindergarten children are waay cute! The lovestory was good, just didnt feel it, might be since I'm used to draining korean lovestories, which this drama isn't. The negative in this drama is the bussniss part, which consumes a big part of the series, and to be frank, it's insanely boring. But the children are soooo worth the watch. Kim Jae Won I only know from 100 days with Mr Arrogant, but he does this character pretty well and he looks pretty good :P. To sum up, good watch :)

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts