Hong Gil Dong Review

Title: Hong Gil Dong
AKA: The Hero
Genre: Period, Action, Romance
Episodes: 24
Broadcast period: 2008-Jan to 2008-Mar
Cast: Kang Ji Hwan, Sung Yu Ri, Jang Geun Suk and Kim Ri Na.

Hong Gil Dong (Kang Ji Hwan) is the bastard son of a high positioned minister, and is infamous for causing trouble at markets and in brothels. This is due to his father telling him that he is worth nothing and that he will never be able to do anything with his life. Heo Yi Nuk (Sung Yu Ri) is medicine merchant from China arriving with her grandfather, in order to make it big. Whilst on the boat she meets Lee Chang Hwi (Jang Geun Suk) who acts mysterious, even threatens her if she bothers him, and with her luck she unwillingly bumps into him every now and then. As soon as Gil Dong finds out about Yi Nuk, he asks her to teach him Chinese to he can take the net ship to China, and get away from Joseon. At first they bump heads, but eventually become very close.
When Gil Dong is accused for theft, which was set up by someone close to him, he tries to find out the real culprit, and ends up being accused for murder. To make things worse when he tried to clear his name, he ends up being accused for treason.  Eventually he finds out that everyone he thought were his friends betray him, so he decides to change his ways by helping the poor against the vicious king and his noblemen…

I don’t know why I suddenly felt like watching a period drama, but I just went with it, and it was okay. I am a fan of the original Hong Gil Dong story, so I was pretty satisfied with the drama, even though they weren’t completely identical. It was a bit sadder than I thought it would be and the love story sort of lost its flavor somewhere along the line. This is also the first time that I watched a coup where the new king was pretty annoying - they usually are better.
I really like Kang Ji Hwan, I don’t know why actually, I think it might be his dedication to the part? And how happy was I when I say Yu Ri in this - me happy! (Little bit of Fin.K.L fan :P)
All in all an okay drama to watch especially if you like the tale.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

You're My Pet Movie Review

Title: You're my pet
Genre: romance, comedy
Origin: South Korea
Release date: 10 nov. 2011
Cast: Kim Ha Neul, Jang Geun Suk, Ryu Tae Joon, Jeong Yu Mi, Kang Ha Neul, Choi Jong Hun, Kang Hae In . . .

Ji Eun Yi (Kim Ha Neul) is a succesful and independant young woman. You would think that this is great, but not so much in this society. The reason? Not many men want to have a relationship with such a strong woman. Eun Yi lives alone, focuses on her job and doesn't have much social life. One day on her way home, she sees a big box outside in the rain. She sees that the box is moving and approaches it. Inside the box she finds a young man, all dreanched and uncounsious. She drags him inside her home and takes care of him, until he awakens. As a joke she tells him to be her pet. And the young man, Kang In Ho (Jang Geun Suk) accepts as in reality he doesn't have any place to stay. As her pet, In Ho will get both shelter and food, all he needs to do is show her affection like a true pet.

This is a remake of the japanese movie, which is based on a manga. I watched the japanese version long time ago, only because it was starring Matsumoto Jun. But I must admit, I liked this version better. Not that sure why, but it was just better. This one I again mostly watched because of Jang Geun Suk, oh silly silly me.. ehmm ehmm.. anyway. It is a really fun movie actually, and I think it was somehow better done than the japanese version. Now it is pretty long time since I watched both movies, but thats just the feel it left. I dont remember much about what was bad about it. I think the korean version is more silly, the japanese version is more serious. The korean had much more comedy in it, funny scenes, and it wasn't that tensed as the japanese. It was a relaxed comedy. yup.

☆☆☆☆  / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Marry me, Mary! Review

Title: Marry me, Mary!
AKA: Mary stayed out all night
Genre: Romance, comedy
Episodes: 16
Broadcasting period: 2010-Nov-08 to 2010-Dec-28
Cast: Moon Geun Young, Jang Geun Suk, Kim Jae Wook, Kim Hyo Jin, Park Joon Gyu, Park Sang Myun, Lee Ah Hyun ...


Wi Mae Ri (Moon Geun Young) is a young girl who lost her mother at young age and whose father has been chased by debtcollectors for several years. Even though living such a life with many obstacles she manages to keep her spirits high and is always cheerful. One day she accidently hits a young man, Kang Mu Gyul, while driving (not driving fast but she still hit him). She starts chasing him so he can sign that it is not her fault so that he later on cant report her because if he did she would lose money and she cannot afford it. The problem is that Kang mu Gyul doesnt sign anything since he doesnt trust people because he has been betrayed but people (mostly his ex-manager). The two of them get to know each other. Meanwhile, Mae Ri's father meets his old friend and the friend tell him that he will pay all his debts if he agrees to let his daugther marry his son. The father agrees but Mae Ri has other plans. She does not want an arranged marriage so she convinces Mu Gyul to play her husband and tell her father that she is in love and she has married someone else. But her fathers friend doesnt want to give up that easily so they make a deal. A 100 day contract. Mae Ri has to spend 100 days with Mu Gyul and her-father's-friend's-son and then when the 100 days are up she has to chose between the two of them.

The dramas two lead roles are played by two of my favorite actors Moon Geun Young and Jang Geun Suk, though i might have expected a little bit too much of this drama. The story is new for me but it still wasnt really tht interesting. I mean it wasnt bad, it was fun while watching it but it wasnt "WOW!" haha. It needed something more,, something to spice it up. Also there wasnt as much comedy in it as i would want there to be. It i werent for the actors i might even have given it up because its a.. okay drama. And i dont like watching those! if you'r gonna watch might as well watch something more WoWish. But the good thing is that the love lines are very clear and who they love and who they wanna go for and it not like they go back and forth. Thank God! :P

☆☆☆☆/ 4 out of 5 stars

♥ ♥ ♥ ½/ 3½ out of 5 hearts

Bunji's Verdict
I actually didn’t expect much of this drama, mainly because people said to watch Secret Garden instead and Jenji rated it low; I think that’s what made me love it. It had all elements in making it a good drama, and I enjoyed every part of it. I felt I could relate to the characters, and not to mention understand them. Surprisingly I liked all the characters, even the ‘bad’ guys, and the entire supporting cast. Jang Geun Suk is perfect; the director was smart, choosing him, because he does every one of his scenes with credibility, and he even fixes all the small errors in the drama, which you would hate. But I can’t say that the other actors are bad; the four main actors do a splendid job.
I don’t think I have anything bad to say about it, except it being a bit heavy towards the end, but the final ending is good, better than those ‘and they lived happily ever after’. More realistic, and cute.
To sum up, I totally recommend it. I have no clue why Jenji rated it so low. Maybe the tables are turning? Im becoming ‘the nice one’, whereas Jenji is being ‘the critical one’? Hahah, anyhow, fun – without being ridicules, romantic – without being mushy, and interesting – without being confusing :)

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts