The Immortal Admiral Yi Soon Shin Review

Title: The Immortal Admiral Yi Soon Shin

AKA: Immortal Admiral Yi Sun Shin

Genre: Period, Historical

Episodes: 104

Broadcast period: 2004-Sept to 20044-Aug

Cast: Kim Myung Min, Choi Jae Sung, Lee Jae Ryung, Choi Chul Ho and many others..

This drama is the biopic of the great admiral Yi Soon Shin, from his childhood till his death.

Yi Soon Shin (Kim Myung Min) was born as a poor noble, due to his grandfather being convicted as a traitor, which leads to his family being labelled for generations. Being book-smart and intelligent, Soon Shin has together with his two best friends Won Kyun (Choi Jae Sung) and Yoo Sung Ryung (Lee Jae Ryung) made a promise to apply for scholar positions at Sunkyungkwan, but due to the lack wealth and reputation, he decides to change paths, and becomes a soldier.

In the army Soon Shin goes through ups and downs, and while noticing the increase of Japanese pirates, he investigates, and discovers that the “pirates” aren’t pirates but actual militia, the Japanese Navy. Terrified of the possibilities and man power of the Japanese Navy, Soon Shin tries to get help from the ‘higher ups’ but is dismissed. This doesn’t stop Yi Soon Shin, and he decides to get help in order to become the admiral of the Joseon Navy, so that he can prepare for possible invasions. This doesn’t lie good with the higher ups, the king and even his best friend, as they see him as a man trying to get power. Soon enough the Japanese attack, and while rooting for a Joseon win, the public start to see Soon Shin in a better light than their own king - which doesn’t lie well with the shallow king…

This is another one of the most popular heroes of Korean history, and probably one of the most liked one too. The best part for me was that it almost fit the ‘real’ story perfectly (almost), but another good part is that it was very exciting to watch - there were things happening quite often. There was storytelling, but not in the boring kind of way. That said, 104 episodes is a lot! Even if you love every character and love the story, it seriously is long. Even if you binge it, it takes a lot of time. I remember when I was at the last episode and they showed the entire storyline, it seriously felt like it was years ago. And I do think it took me a week or so… and I was binging… The casting was perfect: Kim Myung Min is great as Yi Soon Shin, and his voice just fits like a glove.

The bad part is though the makeup and wigs/fake beards… It really looked fake. Also the ‘wars’ looked very cheap - I don’t know if it because its from 2004, but you could see that some scenes were used more than once, and the “turtle ship” was also filmed from different angles, so you would think there were more than one. Besides that (actually not something I spend much time thinking about), it was a really good watch.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Pandora Movie Review

Title: Pandora

Genre: Disaster, Thriller

Origin: Korea

Release date: December 7, 2016

Cast: Kim Nam Gil, Kim Joo Hyun, Jung Jin Young, Kim Young Ae, Moon Jung Hee and Kim Myung Min.

Kang Jae Hyuk (Kim Nam Gil) lives with his mother, sister-in-law and nephew in a small village in the outskirts of Daegu. The village has nuclear reactor next to the harbor, due to that no fish are in the water, hence no fishermen. The sole live hood of the workers in the village is power plant, which Jae Hyuk does as well and his girlfriend Yeon Joo (Kim Joo Hyun) who works at the power plant information center. He lost his father and older brother because of the plant, so he hates everything about it – including working there.

When an earthquake hits the village, everyone – including the president – is told that the quake didn’t affect the plant. But the reality of the consequence is much more severe and as Pyung Sub (Jung Jin Young) tries to warn everyone, unfortunately he is met by opposition.

Aware of what the nuclear plant is capable of Jae Hyuk wants to get home and save his family, but fate has different plans for him, as he is stuck with his fellow workers…

First of all I need to point out that I am a 'disaster movie'-fan, meaning I enjoy those adrenaline filled "gotta save everyone" thriller movies/dramas. There is just something about them that makes me ignore plot holes – so I sometimes rate them as great, but later realize how weak a plot or storylines they really have. Fortunately this movie had all: amazing storyline, great plot, loads of great screenplay and perfect acting. I don't think I have anything bad to day about this movie honestly. From the beginning to the very end it was perfectly paced and superbly executed. I think that due to the Fukushima incident this hits closer to home than older 'power plant situations' or stories, as they really are quite alike.

So do I recommend it? Yes! (Available on netflix 17^th of March)

☆☆☆☆☆ / 5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Six Flying Dragons Review

Title: Six Flying Dragons
AKA: Roots of the throne
Genre: History, Politics
Episodes: 50
Broadcast Period: Oct-2015 to Mar-2016
Cast: Yoo Ah In, Kim Myung Min, Shin Se Kyung, Byun Yo Han, Yoon Kyun Sang, Chun Ho Jin, Jung Yoo Mi, Park Hae Soo, Ahn Suk Hwan

Set in the fading days of the Goryeo Dynasty, this drama depicts the lives and aspirations of six characters in establishing a new country called Joseon, with Lee Bang Won (Yoo Ah In) as the central figure. A fusion of saeguk and fiction, the story follows the conflicts of those 'six flying dragons' with the deep-rooted powers set against them, as they attempt to realize the dream they all share of a new nation founded on Confucian principles, which would eventually last for 500 years.

It’s been one hell of a journey, and Six Flying Dragons delivers a solid finale for an altogether solid, engaging show that I’m still not ready to let go of just yet. I have been following this drama from the very beginning when they announced Yoo Ah In were casted to this drama. I even mentioned it in my Secret Door Review (A great drama too). Words can’t describe the roller coaster feelings I have been through because of this drama! It’s really hard to break down a 50-episode drama, I need to make a full 50 pages analyze to make sure you get every little detail in why you should watch this drama. Believe me, there has been no 10 boring minutes throughout the whole drama. No time to breathe or get used to the awesomely-written script or the out-of-earth acting. There’s that heart throbbing feel about the whole drama it’s insane. How can I not like Lee Bang Won when it’s Yoo Ah In acting him? The ultimate Yoo Ah In! His gloomy eyes hide varieties of emotions, and that’s what makes Yoo Ah In who he is. You swim in those eyes but you lose yourself instead of finding answers. Well, I do. I can’t really find the words to sum up this review, because I haven’t even started yet. If you haven’t watched the drama yet… What are you doing then?

☆☆☆☆☆ / 5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥♥ / 5 out of 5 hearts

A New Leaf Review

Title: A New Leaf

AKA: Repentance / Reformation

Genre: Drama, Human, Legal

Episodes: 16

Broadcast period: 2014-Apr to 2014-Jul

Cast: Kim Myung Min, Park Min Young, Kim Sang Joong, Chae Jung Ah and Jin Yi Han

Kim Seok Joo (Kim Myung Min) is a cold, ruthless and cruel lawyer that is merely concerned with cases as long as they give him any kind of profit. If the evidence is against his client he’ll buy the witness’ out or he’ll make new solid evidence. At his law firm, every single lawyer thinks and acts the same: the more ruthless the better, except for the new intern, Lee Ji Yoon (Park Min Young), who Seok Joo had met some time before and ended up having a one-night stand with. She is filled with ambition, talent and justice, but is a blabbermouth. The two butt heads, and when Seok Joo gets into and accident and loses his memory; Lee Ji Yoon tries to help him. However the amnesiac seem different somehow by going up against his law firm and he happens to have an effect on the people around him…

I don’t really know what I was expecting of this drama, since I only knew Park Min Young, so I kind of still am in a drowse after it. The drama is a good one, but the financial terms and discussions lefts me confused and dazed, since I had zero knowledge about what on earth they were talking about. As a general you could understand most of it, but I have no idea what the climax was about, let alone the ending.

The main actor Kim Myung Min is fairly new to me, I think he was popular in Korea from before. And OMG, his voice: eargasms. 80% of the time he was talking I didn’t look at the subtitles, and made me go back because I missed it. Min Young was as she always is, not a favorite of mine. The drama is kind of a realistic every-day, with a twist of amnesia in the middle.

To sum up: okay drama, for the serious ones.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Kamjis Verdict
Finally finished! A 16 episodes drama have never felt as long as this one. On the other side, I think I can easily become a lawyer in Korea now, the drama was bombed with all those facts and laws and stuff, so those 16 hours were satisfactory used.

The drama itself were okay, not bad as I had a hard time watching it, but not as good as I was looking forward to next episode. Nevertheless, I managed to finish it, and that was a success for me since I had many other dramas I wanted to watch more. I can’t really say more about it without spoiling anything, but one thing I can assure you of, the writers did a good job with all the cases and trials. There were really intimidating and believable, so good job with that. 

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Yeongasi Movie Review

Title: Yeongasi
AKA: Deranged
Genre: Disaster, Thriller, Horror
Origin: Korean
Release date: 5 July 2012
Cast: Kim Myung Min, Moon Jung Hee, Kim Dong Wan and Lee Ha Nui

Jae Hyuk (Kim Myung Min) is a former biochemistry professor, who lost all his life savings, his entire fortune and job, due to an investment on a stock advised by his younger brother Jae Pil (Dong Wan), who is detective. When a dead body in found in a river, the police is convinced it is a suicide, and when the case is given to Jae Pil, he couldn’t care less since he tries with all his might to get some more tips on stocks, so he can help his brother get his money back. Due to the failure Jae Hyuk has become a workaholic: doesn’t have time to spend with his family or just time to do anything at all, and can’t seem to forgive his brother for the mistake.
When numerous dead bodies are found in the rivers all over Korea, the apparent suicide is re-investigated, and its found out that a fatal parasite of a worm form called Yeongasi, which is usually is inside animals, has mutated and has found hosts in human bodies. The symptoms are excessive hunger without gaining weight, and after a while extreme thirst, which makes the victims jump into water and suffer from a heart stroke as the worm exits the hosts body. 
Jae Pil tries to figure out the source if the virus, but when Jae Hyuk realizes that his family has started to show the exact symptoms, he tries with all his knowledge to find the medicine that has seemed to vanish..

Eish, this movie has made me terrified of eating almost anything, like my favorite spaghetti! Like I see worms all over the place, and that is not something that I would like to continue thank you very much. It’s very short for such a disaster movie honestly, since they usually take loads of time, but I feel that from start to end, everything went fast. Not that I didn’t feel Jae Hyuks frustration, that I did, but it just makes me go: why on earth or the American disasters so... impossible to cure? Like in this one we have hope, from the beginning… Of course makes you more interested. But still, growing up watched hopeless stories this just is different.
The acting was great, I was expectant of Dong Wan since I am a fan of Shinhwa and I only watched Cheer Up Mr. Kim, but it wasn’t the most amazing thing, but still okay... Can’t get used to his serious face, used to the smile. Anyways, the movie is great, with some faces Ive never seen, but great!

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts