Jeon Woo Chi Review

Title: Jeon Woo Chi

AKA: Woo Chi

Genre: Action, Fantasy, Period, Romance

Episodes: 24

Broadcast period: 2012-Nov to 2013-Feb

Cast: Cha Tae Hyun, Uee, Lee Hee Joon, Baek Jin Hee, Kim Gab Soo and Sung Dong Il

Lee Chi (Cha Tae Hyun) is a reporter in mid-Joseon, and lives life freely and without care, seems carefree and lazy. But underneath his presence, he hides a secret: he can use magic. He is Jeon Woo Chi, student of Hong Gil Dong, who is looking for his master’s killer Ma Sook (Kim Gab Soo) and his friend who betrayed him Kang Rim (Lee Hee Joon) who took away his love and fiancé Hong Moo Yeon (Uee) by poisoning her with magic - basically hypnotizing her. When a man is supposedly killed by a tiger, Lee Chi checks it out and finds traces of Kang Rims trade mark magic. Lee Chi loses the trace shortly after, but when a young girl Lee Hyun Ryung (Baek Jin Hee) steals a bag with some form of seeds from a smuggling ship and her father takes a bite, falling in a form of hallucination/coma, Lee Chi cures him. Soon after a slave, Bong Soo (Song Dong Il) whom lost money to Lee Chi while gambling, is accused for murder, Lee Chi goes to save his own butt, but finds out that the same poison he cured, was used on Bong Soo to make him confess, Lee Chi realizes that Kang Rim is somewhat involved, and follows him…

When I started watching this drama I was surprised how different it was, than the usual Korean drama. It was light, interesting and unique, but after the first half, it turned 180 degrees and it was as if the first part never really happened. And the Wuxia/flying/superpowers idea is a good for a change, makes you curious, or me at last. That aside, I had mixed feelings about the lead couple, not because I preferred a supporting-lead couple, it was just very different. Though the couples around were brilliant: I have a thing for queen-king love stories, and those innocent love stories :) Acting wise, mainly good, just occasionally odd, not bad, just odd, which was supposedly part of the drama. Lastly I would like to comment about the length: I don’t mind 24 episodes have done way more, but it is as if they really did everything to make it extra-long, adding extra stuff. But it’s not draggy like those other dramas, and not as stuffy (depends on how you see it and what interests you).

All in all recommendable for the playful soul. 

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Jeon Woo Chi Movie Review

Title: Jeon Woo Chi

AKA: The Taoist Wizard

Genre: Fantasy, Action, Period, Comedy, Romance

Origin: Korea

Release date: 23 December 2009

Cast: Kang Dong Won, Baek Yoon Sik, Kim Yoon Seok, Im Soo Jung, Yoo Hae Jin, Kim Sang Ho, Joo Jin Mo and Song Young Chang

Being a cocky yet talented magician, Jeon Woo Chi (Kang Dong Won) tries with all means to become the most famous person in the Joseon Dynasty. Though he can’t really use magic without his talismans, his Master (Baek Yoon Sik) believes he has some potential. When the flute, that summons goblins and shows humans their true faces, happens to fall into Woo Chi’s hands, the great Hwadam (Kim Yoon Seok) hears about it, and together with the three gods, finds the hiding place. As the wizard master and Hwadam try to decide who shall keep the flute, it breaks into two, and both leave their separate ways.

Later that same evening Hwadam returns and kills the Master, blaming it on Woo Chi, and with the help of the three gods, sealing him in a painting.

500 years later, in modern days Seoul, goblins have been trying to find out what has happened to the flute, even holding a god and subduing him, but when the two other find out, they aid to rescue, only to be attacked by them. Unable to fight back, they re-summon Woo Chi, in order to have him destroy the goblins, which he does, but he has his own agenda: finding the great bronze sword that has been said to have amazing powers.

This is nice movie for fantasy lovers, even though it is ‘Asian’ fantasy, but till pretty good. It has some period elements, without being confusing. I love and have always loved Kang Dong Won, here he doesn’t disappoint me and does a neat job, really entertaining. Im So Jung is one of my favorite actresses, has been since Sorry I Love You, and still is. I am not sure whether I recommend it, unless you like this Wuxia stuff, I usually don’t but here it’s okay.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts