Joseon Gunman Review

Title: Joseon Gunman

AKA: Gunman in Joseon / The Chosun Shooter / The Joseon Gunman / The Joseon Shooter

Genre: Period, Revenge, Melodrama, Action, Romance, Suspense

Episodes: 22

Broadcast period: 2014-Jun to 2014-Sep

Cast: Lee Joon Ki, Nam Sang Mi, Jun Hye Bin, Han Joo Wan and Yoo Oh Sung.

“Third year of Emperor Gojong's reign. The Liberals and Conservatives were in fierce opposition in Joseon. The Confucian Scholars who advocated for Emperor Gojong's enlightenment policies and their doubts for gunmen holding a new type of gun were being brought down one by one...” (intro of drama)

Park Yoon Kang (Lee Joon Ki) is the son of the magistrate, but much to his fathers' dismay, he is quite the party boy. His father had taught him swordsmanship, but due to Yoon Kangs carefree life, he spends most his time entertaining gisaengs. The two don't see eye to eye, as Yoon Kang doesn't have any interest in his future, and his father spends most time away from home. All this changes, as notable people get shot in the middle of the streets, and the magistrate is unable to apprehend the gunman. Soon enough their family becomes a target, and the family goes into hiding with the Jung family. While there the daughter of the Jungs, Jung Soo In (Nam Sang Mi) and Yoon Kang, recognize each other, due to an earlier altercation, but soon they become close. As the situation with the gunman escalates and the magistrate dies, becomes labeled a traitor, and the rest of the family as well. Yoon Kang’s sister is sent into slavery, and while trying to run away with the help of Soo In, he is shot in the chest and falls into water - presumed dead.

Three years later, a Japanese business man called Hasegawa Hanjo, looking exactly like Yoon Kang emerges on the shores of Hanyang. Even though he is refuting everyone’s claim that he is Yoon Kang, Hanjo in the matter of the fact Yoon Kang - but has decided to pretend to be Hanjo; in order to clear his father’s name, save his sister from slavery, and exact revenge on his father’s death. But that is easier said, than done…

I started this drama because of Lee Joon Ki, since it was his first after military release, but it took me quite a while to finish. This drama reminds me of the typical Korean dramas that are too new to be ‘classics’ and too old to be ‘revolutionary’ - they are those ‘inbetweeners’ that bores both new and old crowd. While watching I expected it to be a “typical”, but they decided they wanted to make it different, and kind of ruined most of it. I felt that it dragged on for a very long while, and the ‘main story’ had a dumb ending. The second half was just unnecessary, and it ended, for me at least, as if the main cast were unlikeable antagonistic. I get what they were trying to do, but they were just unlikeable at the end, and I didn’t like any part of it - meaning I ended up not feeling bad for anyone at the end. They tried to make it reasonable and failed.

I didn’t enjoy Lee Joon Ki in this, and I felt that he was stuck in his bad old routine - I hope he snaps out of it soon. The female cast I forgot as soon as they left the screen - so I had situations where I forgot who the main actress it.

All in all, a drama bored people might enjoy, but not a drama to watch for excitement.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Chief Kim Review

Title: Chief Kim

AKA: Good Manager

Genre: Drama, Comedy, Real Life

Episodes: 20

Broadcast Period: Jan-2017 to Mar-2017

Cast: Nam Goong Min, Nam Sang Mi, Lee Jun Ho, Jung Hye Sung, Kim Won Hae, Kim Kang Hyun, JO Hyun Shik,

Can corporate politics turn a bad person into a good person? Kim Sung Ryong (Nam Goong Min) is a skilled accountant who works for gangsters. He makes his way into a company called TQ Group as a middle manager in the accounting department with the intention of embezzling money from the company. As he contends with hot-shot accountant Yoon Ha Kyung (Nam Sang Mi), financial prodigy Seo Yool (Lee Jun Ho) and peppy intern Hong Ga Eun (Jung Hye Sung), Kim Sung Ryong finds himself embroiled in office politics and notices other shenanigans by those in power that threaten to bring down the company. Kim Sung Ryong slowly comes to realize that he’d rather fight against corporate corruption and fight for employees’ rights than complete the mission he originally came to do. Can he succeed at his new objective against all odds?

Nam Gong Min is so much fun to watch, I think he's done such a great job with this character. At first I thought it was a bit over the top, but now it just seems more natural, despite his outlook on life and the fact that he's a criminal he's just too funny and likable. In the beginning I wondered what kind of character he will turn out to be, I like how he's different compared to a lot of other drama leads who are usually always "righteous" and on the "right side" of the moral fence. So I really enjoyed this drama so much, that I wish it didn’t have to end. No character felt unnecessary, everyone had a role to play, and I loved how it all comes together somehow. So definitely a fresh breath to all the lovey dovey, and fantasy dramas out there, this is from a realistic point of view.

☆☆☆☆☆ / 5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥♥ / 5 out of 5 hearts

Slow Video Movie Review

Title: Slow Video
Genre: Romance, Family, Life
Origin: South Korea
Release Date: October 2, 2014
Cast: Cha Tae Hyun, Nam Sang Mi, Oh Dal Su, Ko Chang Seok, Jin Kyung, Yoo Young, Kim Hyeon, Kim Kang Hyeon

Yeo Jang Boo (Cha Tae Hyun) was born with dynamic visually acuity, which enables him to visually discern fine detail in a moving object that ordinary people cannot, as if he's seeing the world in slow motion. Due to his special ability, Jang-boo has to constantly wear sunglasses, which made him a target of bullying at school and throughout his childhood. He spends 20 years isolated and alone, but his talent proves to be a gift later in life when he finally goes out into the world and ends up working at his neighbor's CCTV control center. One day while unenthusiastically watching passersby onscreen, he spots his first love Bong Soo-mi. Despite being terrible at social interactions, Jang-boo sets out to win her heart.

As the title of this movie, it is indeed very slow. Somehow, they managed to make the first half of the movie go scene by scene, as nothing happened. They used an awful lot of time to show how the character lived his isolated life from the others, if not for Cha Tae Hyun and his adorable acting I would have given up on it. Then the next half of the movie begins and stuff starts to happen, and before you know it, you fall in love with everything! I don’t regret that I kept watching, it was really worth it, you just don’t know it when you start. Cha Tae Hyun of course did a good job; he rather outshined all the other actors, even though I don’t know them I didn’t notice them either. The story were very moving too, It really touched me. Do I recommend the movie? Yes of course I do, you just need at little patience in the beginning, it will all make sense in the end!

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Bunji's Verdict

This movie was exactly perfect for me - sweet, mellow and not fast paced. Now you think of me as an old lady, but what I mean is that this movie is just perfect for someone who is stressed or tense. It has so much character and personality that you really don’t mind much of it. I was afraid it would be a humor/comedy movie, but was pleasantly surprised when I noticed how serious and fitted funny it is.

Cha Tae Hyun is genius in his acting as always, adapting to a character that well. Though I can’t say everyone else was bad, Cha Tae Hyun was just better (LOL).

The movie in general is a brilliant story, to the point of heartwarming, so I would recommend it. But be warned, it is slow paced.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Time Between Dog and Wolf Review

Title: Time between Dog and Wolf

Genre: Action, Romance, police

Episodes: 16

Broadcast period: 2007-Jul to 2007-Sep

Cast:  Lee Jun Ki, Nam Sang Mi and Jung Kyung Ho

Kay lives with his mother in Thailand who works as a prosecutor, and deals with the Thai-Korean mob. She made a promise with Kay that when she finally is able to deal with it completely they’ll return to Korea together. He lost his father at a very young age: he was an agent in the Korean force, but due to a secret assignment he lost his life, and is nowhere to be found, so Kay has never really gotten to know about him from his mother.  He meets Ari, a rich girl whose father is a gangster, but the daughter has never been involved in that business, but Ari’s mother is fed up with it so she seeks comfort in her house bends friend, and the two start an affair. Ari and Kay become close friends, but when Ari’s father finds out about the affair, he is keen on killing the lover, so Ari and her mother are forced to leave Thailand. At the same time Kay’s mother’s arrest goes wrong, and they are unable to arrest anyone useful, but leave’s a mark on Kay’s mothers back. That same evening Kay’s mother finally decides to tell Kay about his father, only to be killed in front of Kay, by a masked gangster who happens to be Ari’s father.

10 years pass, Kay, now Lee Soo Hyun (Lee Jun Ki) lives with his mother’s friend and the family with their son Kang Min Gi (Jung Kyung Ho), both with a good relationship. The two became trainees at the Korean National Force, like their father.  Even though Soo Hyun is a better police officer than Min Gi, the two’s relationship never had a stain, until Min Gi falls for a girl, who happens to be Ari, now Seo Ji Woo (Nam Sang Mi), whom Soo Hyun reconnects with…

I sort a feel bad for the rating, but I really am having a hard time with rating this drama. I have had the toughest time watching it. I actually found every episode long, and stuffy, not to mention draggy. Started watching it because of Lee Jun Ki, and was disappointed honestly. The Lee Jun Ki in this drama is over acting, way too much, and the chemistry with the lead actress is depressingly non-existent. I really didn’t like her character, tried, but unsuccessful. The one I like was Jung Kyung Ho, even though I don’t like the actor (or didn’t, now I do) - and that is because of his character, and decent acting.

The story is well thought, but just becomes… not boring but not catchy…  Some people might like it, I really think they would, loads of action and the entire revenge idea (reminds me a bit of City Hunter - just more messed up).

☆☆½/ 2½ out of 5 stars

♥♥½ / 2½ out of 5 hearts