Monster Review

Title: Monster

Genre: Business, Romance, Revenge

Episodes: 50

Broadcast period: 2016-Mar to 2016-Sept

Cast: Kang Ji Hwan, Sung Yu Ri, Park Ki Woong, Jung Bo Suk, Jo Bo Ah, and a whole lot of famous actors and actresses.

Right before turning 18, Lee Guk Cheol (Lee Ki Gwang) lost both his parents, and his eye sight, in a car crash. This left him to be the heir of the biggest company in Korea, but due to greed and conspiracy, Guk Cheol is left without any allies, and his entire heritage is stolen by the man he calls his uncle Byun Il Jae (Jung Bo Suk).

Several years later, now living on the streets, Guk Cheol (Kang Ji Hwan) lives as a beggar with one goal in his mind: to get revenge on the people who killed his family and get his company back. As it happens he meets a woman who offers him help, in return he has to donate his blood with has antidotes to a virus, which he had been injected while young. While trying to infiltrate the company, now known as ‘DoDo Group’, Guk Cheol, now Kang Gi Tan, meets Do Gun Woo (Park Ki Woong) who has a hidden agenda, and Oh Soo Yeon (Sung Yu Ri) whom he finds awfully familiar for some reason.

At the same time Byun Il Jae has an agenda of his own, but little does he know Kang Gi Tan is right in the middle of it…

I cannot believe I finished this! Yes, there are 50 episodes, but this drama is soooo makjang and complicated – like secrets and drama and lies… The only thing missing what a brother-sister-possibility, which by the way I am more than glad didn’t happen. I remember watching the first few episodes feeling excited that it was so simple – fast forward 20 episodes, it’s hell. Like it is SO confusing. When I had write the review/summary I was squeezing my brain to remember the beginning, only to feel as if years had gone by and these characters were from another drama… I think the director went for the miserable feeling, and got a really annoyed Bunji instead, who predicted every outcome at every single episode ending. Especially the ending – which didn’t move me at all. The leads are pretty common – disappointed I Kang Ji Hwan for a second time after Big Man, which was a bore like this one – and the other actors… almost all of them, particularity the lead actress, who annoyed me more and more as every episode went by… but the all kind of did. The only one that grew on me were: Do Shin Young (Jo Bo Ah), the spoilt brat who showed character development, and Moon Tae Gwang (Jung Woong In) the loyal servant of Dodo group until he was fired due to it. I actually loved for their moments – and yes, to see how it ends as well (If I had predicted it well – and I had). And somehow these characters grow on you... I mean 50 episodes!

Besides that, this drama doesn’t really offer much, only the typical chaebol’s fighting their typical fights of power. But I guess that is what Koreans love to watch.

All in all; not something I would recommend to people – maybe to hardcore binge watchers?

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥½ / 2½ out of 5 hearts

Secretly Greatly Movie Review

Title: Secretly Greatly
AKA:  Covertness (Literal title)
Genre: Action, comedy
Origin: South Korea
Release Date: June 5, 2013
Cast: Kim Soo Hyun, Park Ki Woong, Lee Hyun Woo, Son Hyun Joo, Kim Sung Kyun, Park Hye Sook, Go Chang Seok, Jang Gwang, Shin Jung Geun, Hong Kyung In, Lee Chae Young, Park Eun Bin, Choi Woo Shik, Joo Hyun . . .

A group of youngsters have been trained by the North Korean elite forces since they were kids, in order to become a secret spies, whom even the people at the top do not know about. Lieutenant Won Ryu Hwan (Kim Soo Hyun), a top agent, is on a mission in South Korea, he disguised himself as the village idiot Bang Dong Gu, and has spent two years, pretending to be a fool, while monitering the situation, though there is not much to monitor. He has amazing fighting skills as well as speaks 5 languages, yet he doesn't get to use them very much. All of this he does only because he believe that his mother is being protected by the government. As two years passes, another member of the secret spy group arrives at the same village, Rhee Hae Rang (Park Ki Woong). Hae Rang disguises himself as a rock star, yet to make his debute, so he goes around auditioning to become a star. As soon as he arrives, Ryu Hwan thinks there is something wrong, why would they send a spy where there is another spy, unless there is something going on. Things get even more fishy when their student/dongsaeng spy Rhee Hae Jin (Lee Hyun Woo) is sent to the village to check upon both of them. What is going on suddenly after no notice for 2 years? Is there a great mission coming, or are they in danger?

This movie starts of with comedy, however! (you know where im going with this) - It certainly changes your mood halfway through. It's very light in the beginning but you end up really wondering about their lives. And yes of course, it's typical since this is a north korea vs south korea movie, and yes north korea is not portrayed very positively. It get's really tough and almost meaningless. You just end up thinking "what the heck!". It is pretty terrible, especially since these "boys" are so young, and yet have these lives. The positive about it, ehmm hello~ pretty handsome boys/young men. What do I say, I loved Park Ki Woong's acting again, brought me back to bridal mask. And Kim Soo Hyun of course, amazing job. I really feel he is getting better and better at acting. This is only my second time seeing Lee Hyun Woo (first time in Equator Man and liked him since that) well I dont know how much I can say, I wasnt super impressed by his acting. The fighting scenes were great EXCEPT for those typical flying jump scenes that ruin the whole thing (for me!) and yeah dont you break your arm if it gets hit by a metal pole!? I guess not if you're Kim Soo Hyun. I recommend it, it's funny most of the time, with a serious note, it shows the lives of young agent.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Bridal Mask Review

Title: Gaksital

AKA: Bridal Mask

Genre: Period, action, drama, romance

Episodes: 28

Broadcast period: 2012-May-30 to 2012-Sept-06

Cast: Joo Won, Shin Hyun Joon, Chun Ho Jin, Park Ki Woong, Park Joo Hyun, Han Chae Ah, Ahn Hyung Joon, Jin Se Yun, Song Byung Ho, Son Yeo Eun, Seo Yoon Ah, Jun Noh Min, Kim Myung Gon, Park Sung Woong, Ji Seo Yoong ...

Set in the 1930's in the land that would become the Korean Republic, during the Japanese occupation, we follow the story of a hero. The hero known as 'Gaksital', bridal mask. Gaksital is the protector of the people, working against the japanese occupators, the government and regime. Lee Kang To (Joo Won) is a Korean young man working for the police. He is often confronted and molested because he isn't Japanese, but got into the police because of his great skills. Kang To bets his everything on catching Gaksital and is therefore extremely hated by the Korean people. He goes as far as torturing his own childhood friend and first love, Oh Mok Dan (Jin Se Yun), and manages to catch and shoot Gaksital, only to find out that it was his older brother, who was fighting in order to take revenge on the Japanese, responsible for their father's death. Having almost lost everything, he decides to take on the mission of revenge. He decides to keep working at the police office undercover, but meets trouble as his best friend Kimura Shunji (Park Ki Woong) joins as an officer to catch Gaksital, for the revenge of his older brother death, who was killed by Gaksital. This is the story about the struggle and opressed people, fighting for freedom and love.

Halfway through second episode I was so surprised and impressed that's when I understood why this drama was popular and knew I definitely had to watch. I was especially impressed by Joo Won's acting, as it was very different from what I had seen earlier.I reeaallly felt like looking up spoilers and finding out what's gonna happen like already from the beginning. It was almost too much to bear, I couldn't stand having to watch to find out what's gonna happen and get all questions answered. And of course I accidently spoiled a part, seriously if you are like me (don't read or watch anything about a drama before you start) then avoid such as tumblr and youtube aso, which is reeeally hard, but that's what I like the most and that's how I enjoy a drama the most, not knowing anything and just going with the flow. This drama really leads you through it all, it wasnt boring at all, and all these unexpected things happen ALL the time (unexpected if you havent seen spoilers). I was often confused because it is a very different historical drama, it is set in 1930’s and I kept thinking it was long before, so it was weird, but interesting as well. It has some really tough moments and I really cried like really badly. I really recommend it, it is a great drama with action, romance, friendship and revenge. It doesn’t get boring and just leads you through the episodes ;) 

☆☆☆☆☆ / 5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥♥ / 5 out of 5 hearts

Bunji's Verdict
This drama is one of this year’s best dramas. Every actor does a great job, and all characters are brilliant. There are some small things that does take you aback, like the that 1/3 of the drama is about torturing people, like really, I think most characters were tortured. And the amount of people dying is like omg, like flies really. Then there is the entire “mystery” about “who is gaksital?” which is really exciting until people find out and then the tension suddenly lessens, lol. But it’s great, as it is. Joo Won is great as a villain, love him like that, and as the good guy he does a great job. I can’t get over of how good Kang To, Joo Won’s character, was at lying, totally believable, making even me believe him, even though I knew what really happened.

All in all a good drama, really recommendable. But be careful, the tension and the hurt actually can (and prolly will) break your heart, or at least make you get strong feels.

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts