Masked Prosecutor Review

Title: Masked Prosecutor

AKA: The Man in the Mask

Genre: Action, Comedy, Legal, Drama

Episodes: 16

Broadcast period: 2015-May to 2015-Jul

Cast: Joo Sang Wook, Kim Sun Ah, Uhm Ki Joon and Park Young Gyu.

Ha Dae Chul (Joo Sang Wook) is a corrupt prosecutor willing to look through things if he is payed for it. This makes him butt heads with Yoo Min Hee (Kim Sun Ah), a detective working on cases involving criminals Dae Chul is supposed to be prosecuting. But little does she know is that Dae Chul is a masked vigilante, making criminals confess and sends them to the police station. The truth is Dae Chul used to train wrestling at Min Hee’s Uncles gym, where he learned to wrestle to impress Min Hee. Then he meets his real father who tells him about his mother and how she betrayed him and Dae Chul to live a richer life with his father’s best friend.

This makes Dae Chul seek revenge by becoming a prosecutor, but due to his honest personality can’t let criminals go, so he becomes the masked prosecutor to bring them to justice…

Of all the Korean dramas, out there I was expecting (hoping) this would be more like the Japanese types of drama, and it does have all the elements, but Koreans just take themselves way to serious for it to be a funny and moral story. I understand what they were trying to do, and since they couldn’t keep it to the ‘masked vigilante prosecutor’ they tried to add another plot in the plot, making it more of 3 plot type of drama, all in one. Of course, as all other Korean dramas they have loads of sub plots, but they kind of die off, as well as the actual cases in police and prosecutor offices. I was expecting a light drama, but somehow ended up with another wannabe light version of makjang. I dunno why Koreans love birth secrets and revenge so much…

Anyways, the cast was fun, and to be fair I had a few laughs here and there, but else this drama is not really one of my favorites – even if I must say it grew on me.

So, all in all, an okay drama that I don’t think I wouldn’t recommend.

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Birth of a Beauty Review

Title: Birth of a Beauty
AKA: Minyeoui Tansaeng
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Episode: 21
Broadcast Period: Nov-2014 to Jan-2015
Cast: Joo Sang Wook, Han Ye Seul, Ha Jae Sook, Jung Gyu Woon, Wang Ji Hye, Han Sang Jin, In Gyo Jin, Han Jin Hee

Sa Geum Ran (Ha Jae Sook) is an ordinary ahjumma, an overweight woman who married a handsome man Lee Kang Joon (Jung Gyu Woon). They have been married for 8 years, he studies abroad while she is supporting him and his family, one day she discovers through a program Change, that her husband is actually in Korea and became a successful businessman and most importantly, he had an affair with a beautiful woman (Wang Ji Hye). When she decides to go to press with this information, she gets into an accident which she survives. That was the turning point in her life, she then decides to go under the knife and change her whole appearance and her identity. The one person that will help her is the mysterious man with a heartbroken syndrome, Han Tae Hee (Joo Sang Wook).

Okay, an interesting story, I admit. It was really good, I liked the comedy and the easygoing plot I even started rooting for the main couple. That lasted for the first 10 episodes… then it started to go downhill. I don’t know what happened; did someone take over for the writers work? Did the production team change? The concept of the drama was okay, shallow, but fine. I personally loved 200 Pounds of Beauty, and the concept is kinda similar. But the drama was such a mess, it preached and tried to show a lot of messages, like “be yourself” and stuff like that, and in the other hand it showed plastic surgery is the cure for all your problems, lol, talk about double standards. Now for the couple, as I said I loved this couple for the first 14-ish episodes, no joke, these two carried the show with a pleasant blend of chemistry and wit. Remember when I said I loved the first 10-ish episodes. All of that was true - until the writers realized that they were dealing with 20 episodes instead of 16, and then they got an episode extension on top of it, and they just threw in the towel. I won’t spoil anything, but let’s say it was like they all got amnesia (no one got amnesia), they freakin all forgot their characters, somehow they all changed for the super typical Korean draggy characters. Thanks for nothing. I’m giving this drama 2½ stars and hearts, because it really started out good, but sadly it left the audience feeling like idiots (for watching it).

☆☆½ / 2½ out of 5 stars

♥♥ ½/ 2½ out of 5 hearts

Paradise Ranch Review

Title: Paradise Ranch

AKA: Paradise Farm / Paradise Meadow

Genre: Romance, Drama, Comedy

Episodes: 16

Broadcast period: 2011-Jan to 2011-Mar

Cast: Shim Chang Min, Lee Yeon Hee, Yoon Ha Na and Joo Sang Wook.

At the age of 18 Han Doo Jin (Shim Chang Min) and Lee Da Ji (Lee Yeon Hee) tried to elope duo their families’ objections to marriage. After being caught on the airport, their elders decide to let them get married, but they divorce half year after.

Six year pass and they lead separate and different lives: Da Ji is a clumsy veterinarian who passed school with flying colors, living with her father on “Paradise Ranch”. Doo Jin lives as the third generation heir of his grandfather’s company, with no care for business or work. Being put down by his father, he doesn’t believe in himself, and simply doesn’t do anything.

One day everything changes as his grandfather threatens him with taking his credit cards, if he doesn’t go to japan to get a racehorse he wants. Reluctantly he leaves, and bumps into Da Ji. She is there to buy the very same horse, and different from Doo Jin she is happy to see him. The two separate on a bad note, but as fate will have it, they meet again: on Paradise Ranch, where Doo Jin’s company had bought the land in which she lives in. Now their lives get entwined once again, what will they do?

Hmm, this is a bit tricky: First of all I a huge fan of the theme ‘divorce’ which is a taboo word almost in every society. Second of all I love themes which involve living as a farmer (like rich kids getting sent/put to live in the country). This drama has both, but it really is not good. To be honest it’s overrated and Shim Chang Min is a bad actor (I know there are different opinions here, be he really can’t act). The main female lead is bad also, but not as lost a case as Chang Min. The back stories of the couples (second leads) are horrible, like I just couldn’t see any realistic side of it. And the main chemistry - the two leads - was lacking too. The general storyline is kind of too simple-minded for such a story.  And omg those tacky clothes! :O

Okay that was the bad part. The good part is very short and mainly the reason for the drama to get the rating as it did: the divorce and the ending. The theme gets 2 stars on its own because one, it’s realistc and two, honest. And the ½ point is the ending. Because I actually saw the growth of the couple and the story - I’m not gonna tell what.

To sum up - I wouldn’t recommend it and it really isn’t 16 hours’ worth of your time.

☆☆½ / 2½ out of 5 stars

♥♥ / 2 out of 5 hearts

Kamjis Verdict

Okay, I watched this as soon as it came out in 2011, I remember it because the divorce theme were still kinda new, and I was still a huge TVXQ fan there (was, now it’s JYJ). So believe me when I say I got the biggest drama-disappointment ever! I don’t really have more to say about it than Bunji, so I’ll just have my ratings speak for itself. 

☆☆ / 2 out of 5 stars

♥♥ / 2 out of 5 hearts

The Huntresses Movie Review

Title: The Huntresses
AKA: Joseonminyeo Samchongsa
Genre: Historical, comedy
Origin: Korea
Release Date: January 29, 2014
Cast: Ha Ji Won, Kang Ye Won, Son Ga In, Ko Chang Seok, Joo Sang Wook, Choi Seung Min, Park Dong Bin,

Joseon Dynasty’s top bounty hunters, the intelligent and talented martial arts swordwoman Jin Ok (Ha Ji Won), the housewife and fighter Hong Dan (Kang Ye Won), and the youngest of the trio: Gabi (Son Ga In). This trio never failed to capture a target, no matter the criminal. One day they get a mission from the king to search for a stauroscope that could protect Joseon, little did they know that a powerful group would do anything to prevent the king from finding it.

One of the best movies this year so far. I liked how funny and entertaining it was, while still having that twist of darkness and evil. You can say Ha Ji Won knows how to pick her projects, after acting out as a serious empress in Empress Ki, and then acting as an easygoing, little crazy girl, I have to say she did it with remarkably good results. It felt like two different persons. Not to forget the other two girls, who also contributed with amazingly fresh characters. As this being Son Ga Ins debut to the big screen, she should consider continue in this field, as she did a good job. To conclude this, I would like to recommend this movie to all of you.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Special Affairs Team TEN 2 Review

Title: Special Affairs Team TEN 2

AKA: TEN 2/ Special Crimes Force TEN 2

Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller

Episodes: 12

Broadcast period: 2013-Apr to 2013-Jun

Cast: Joo Sang Wook, Jo An, Kim Sang Ho and Choi Woo Shik.

The second season continues with the search for the Tape Bound Killer, and the search for their Team Leader Yeo Ji Hoon (Joo Sang Wook) who disappeared when the killer had re-appeared. The team now disbanded due to the warrant search of Ji Hoon, secretly decide to find the team leader who has been accused of being the Tape Bound Killer. When they find the evidence left by Ji Hoon they all realize that all of it points at him being the killer - even when re-investigating the case. Confident in his innocence they continue to search desperately, but no matter what they do every piece they find points directly at him. And when they find out that Ji Hoon had been in the victim’s house few hours before her death, they become more and more suspicious…

I can’t say it’s bad, but I wasn’t exactly what I expected. I know this drama being amazing to begin with, having to compete with that and making it more; I have to say they didn’t really manage. It is very much like season one with the sad stories and all, but they really try to make the killer either so sad or pathetic that you immediately know who the killer is. Though the pace and the strong acting is the same, the overall just seems like a repeat. The only thing that saves this drama is the beginning, and the ending.

But I do recommend for those who have watched season one, just because of the last two episodes.. Much worth all the episodes..

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Special Affairs Team TEN Review

Title: Special Affairs Team TEN

AKA: TEN / Special Crimes Force TEN

Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller

Episodes: 9

Broadcast period: 2011-Nov to 2012-Jan

Cast: Joo Sang Wook, Jo An, Kim Sang Ho and Choi Woo Shik.

Baek Do Shik (Kim Sang Ho), better known as “Baek Dok Sa” (White Venomous Snake) for his clean cut cases, is a man with sharp eyes and a great instinct for finding evidence and clues. As he is called on a case to investigate a suicide, he immediately notices that it isn’t the case, and finds out that he is a big gambler. That habit leads him to a near casino, where he finds out the victim has a sister, no one knows about.

Nam Ye Ri (Jo An) is Phycology graduate from Seoul University, and works in the Crime Victim Support Center. Though she has a great sense of noticing when people are lying or hiding something, she tries hard to pretend she doesn’t know most. When a known police officer tells her boss to make Ye Ri find a missing person, even though she isn’t qualified she takes it, and her traces take her to a house which seems as an empty house.

When a hostess is found dead in her apartment, taped up and with fingers cut, the Korean Police Force is called into a meeting due to the suspicion that the murder is the famous Tape Bound Killing which happened years ago. The person introducing the case is Yeo Ji Hoon (Joo Sang Wook), known by “A monster hunting monsters”, who once before had encountered these killings. He is informed that he will be the Team Leader of the new unit called Special Investigation Team, a group with aces with the goal to find the serial killer.

Joining him is young blooded Park Min Ho (Choi Woo Shik), and by a twist of fate both Ye Ri and Do Shik appears at the crime scene as their cases are somehow strangely connected…

 Okay so out of all the crime dramas out there this one most defiantly is the best ever made, and is so believable it gave me chills. And damn it’s both creepy and scary. When you have spent a lot of time seeing fake blood and badly made wounds, this one is groundbreaking, mainly because is so greatly made. Also the stories are so sad oh my God, like many of them are so upsetting. And realistic.

I have only seen Joo Sang Wook and Kim Sang Ho before, and I have to admit I really like them for those roles. Somehow the cast seem to fit every character well, even though I had my doubts along the line.

So do I recommend it? Well I don’t hate it, but I am not sure if everyone would like it, since it’s not that pretty classical Korean romanticized drama style, but a more honest realistic story. That means, you decide.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Good Doctor Review

Title: Good Doctor

AKA: Green Scalpel

Genre: Medical, romance, human, melodrama, family

Episodes: 20

Broadcast period: 2013-Aug to 2013-Oct

Cast: Joo Won, Moon Chae Won, Joo Sang Wook and Kim Min Seo.

This drama is about the pediatric department and its doctors.

Park Shi Ohn (Joo Won) is recovering autistic patient, which he has had ever since he was a kid. But with the help of doctor whom he sees as his father, he was thought how to speak, converse and act. Due to his illness he has been bullied, teased and seen as a handicapped person, all that giving him low self-esteem and inferiority complex. Living with the trauma of the death of his brother and his father’s abusing him; he has built a wall in his memories and forgotten his parents completely.

When the doctor who helped him all his life happens to be the director of Sung Won University Hospital, he gets the chance to become a resident of the pediatric department, which of course doesn’t go well with most of the board of directors since he medically is seen as a handicapped individual. But when he by sheer coincident saves a child’s life, and it gets media attention, the board decides to give him a shot, of course if he makes mistakes or does anything to ruin the hospitals reputation both he and the director would leave the hospital..

First of the review is a bit dull, since I tried not to give much away, so it ended up being shitty, sorry. Second, this drama is so good it is not okay. I have watched a lot of dramas with pathetic or/and pitiful, but this guy seriously broke my heart. His story and everything about his life is so sad, I was rooting for him all the time. And I do admit, I kind of though Moon Chae Won was ok.. I don’t fully like her yet, but she is better than she was in Nice Guy.. Better acting and most defiantly a better character.. I love that the love story wasn’t the main focus, and that the patients’ stories were much more centered. It is heartbreaking and sad, yet it melts your heart. I never dream of dramas, I dreamt of this. For me that says a lot.

All in all very good!

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts