Dream High

Title: Dream High
Genre: Romance,Comedy, Music
Episodes: 16 ( 1 Special Episode)
Language: Korean
Complete: 2011

A story of 6 high school students of Kirin Art High School who all have dreams of becoming the next K-Pop Stars. Along with harnessing their singing and dancing skills they also need to face all the possible struggles that they need to overcome in order to succeed. Despite the test of friendship, trust and loyalty, their young minds grew maturity. With their strong will and heart, as a group, they were able to soar high and reached their dreams.

There are just so many reasons why I love this series. It's overflowing with positivity and good vibes. It’s well casted, well written, fast paced and extremely entertaining! It would make you smile, cry, fall in love and most of all dream… dream high!

The cast!  Aside from the fact that there's a special participation of my first korean idol Bae Yong-joon, the entire casts were just adorable and splendid since they're so fitting their characters. They look so fresh and radiant onscreen. They have the chemistry that makes each roles fit each other perfectly. It’s my first time watching Kim Soo-hyun and I sure love him! He can make you laugh but when he cries, it’s hard not to cry with him. He’s just perfect! And Ok Taecyeon was seriously handsome in his mysteriously bad boy yet selfless and kind role. Suzy was equally fitting her role being the coldhearted, arrogant yet softhearted fighter same with Eunjung. IU and Wooyoung... awww.. they make my heart flutter! They look so cute and lovely!!!

Since it’s a musical, the musical score didn't fail me at all. The theme song “Dream High” is so addicting like I can repeatedly listen to it all day. All songs were just perfectly blended and soothing to the ear. This is my first time listening to IU sing and I should say, her voice is that of an angel. I super love her voice especially with the song “Someday”, it’s just perfect!

The story line, it’s well written and well-paced. I just thought that the story is really crazy funny and interestingly entertaining. The conflicts that every character has to go through just validates all their reactions to their characters. The consistency of the story and the usage of the golden "K" amulet makes this story even more delightful to watch. There’s never a boring episode. After finishing one it’ll make you look forward to the next one. I love how the story was able to clearly portray the evolution of each and every characters from being lost innocent dreamers to being matured and bright stars. It’s entertaining and fresh to my senses that this is probably one of the most enjoyable Korean series that I have watched.

The ending. It’s mixed emotions. I was excited as to what the ending would be that after watching the last scene, I sat in front of my laptop, thinking did I love that ending? Did it satisfy the 16 hours I spent watching this series? I think I did. Yes, I am convinced that I am. It stimulates your mind making you create an ending of your own. There’s a lot of possibility of a good ending given the premise and this story sure didn't fail to do that.

I would rate this 10 out of 10!

Yellow Pickled Radish

I saw him at the corner of their ramyun shop slicing the yellow colored picked radishes. By the look of it, hes not used to what he’s doing. But in that corner you can see that he’s satisfied, he’s happy. People flocked the shop not just because of the ramyuns one of a kind taste but because of the handsome staff as well. As I stared at him, I know by heart that he’s he most handsome amongst all of them all. Everyone I guess figured that out as well since almost everyone patiently lined up to get their serving of the sweet tasting pickled radish and to get a glimpse of him as well.

The store is crowded but I made my way through and sat n the empty seat right across where I can see him.  I got my self one chicken ramyun and as I sat there patiently waiting for my order, I stared at him. My heart fluttered just by staring at him. That day he’s wearing that powdered blue shirt that complemented his hazel brown eyes. His faced has turned pinkish red from blushing as the girls lined up to get their serving of the radish. He looks at them, smile and sometimes wink as he hands them their radishes. And I thought, hmmm… what a player. But no, he’s just trying to be nice. I didn’t know how long I have been staring that him and then just like that, his eyes caught mine. My dreamy eyes caught his dazzling gaze. My heart skipped a beat as I stared at those sparkling eyes and that wide smile. I looked away as the sexy waitress handed my my ramyun. I was getting my first sip of the ramyun soup when I tried to get a glimpse of him but he wasn't there. I tried to scan the shop but he’s nowhere to be found. I looked down at my ramyun and decided to just eat it all up and leave. Then I saw a hand handing me a serving of the pickled radish and a deep voice saying, “...this is best paired with your ramyun” I looked up and there he was. My yellow pickled raddish guy right in front of my eyes, I can smell him! I can’t believe my eyes. My heart was racing that I didn’t know what to say. I was there, looking up at him smiling blankly staring at his sparkling eyes. When all of a sudden I heard a familiar song. He tried to say something but the background song was too loud that I can’t hear him. It’s becoming louder and louder and the surrounding was getting darker and darker that I can no longer see him. And just like that… I woke up!

Damn it was just a dream! Damn this alarm clock! Damn it! Guess who my pickled radish guy? Ha! Guess it right… Jung Il Woo! My ultimate Korean idol. And thanks to his lovely face and Flower Boy Ramyun Shop, I had my moments with him even if it was just in my dreams.

Cheaters : A Movie Review

Cheaters

 

Title:  Cheaters
Also knows as: Nae yeojaeui namja chingu/ 내 여자의 남자친구
Genre: Romance
Language: Korean 
Complete: 2007

Unknown to every single women surrounding Seok-Ho (Choi Won-Young) is that he’s married. Yes, he is married but hesitates to remain faithful and plays around with his playboy tricks. He maintains a sexual relationship Ji-Yeon (Ko Da-Mi), a successful photographer and at the same time is also eying a college school girl named Chae-young (Pu-reun Kim). Ji-Yeon is the submissive partner which tends to bore Seok-Ho so he had all his efforts now on the school girl whom he thinks is so pure and innocent. Little did he know that Seok-Ho is also in a relationship with a college guy which he may be very familiar of and spends more time in a motel rather the library.

If you think it ends there then you’re mistaken. Those complicated relationships turns to be a lot more complicated as more secrets of infidelity and betrayal are revealed along the way. It’s not just a crowd but a very crowded circus of cheaters on the loose!

It was one hell of a roller coaster ride. A series of complicated relationship interestingly tied up and revealed in the end. One crazy plot, paired with a crazy, artistically perverted casts and one brilliant directing is I guess what made this small budget film stand out for me. Despite the stories complicated nature it was able to bring all characters together to an extremely climactic scene that would excite you more than their hot bed scenes. This movie is not for the conservative, sensitive at heart. But this sure is very entertaining to watch. If you've been a victim of one, watching this movie, you'll hear yourself whisper... "I should have known better.. tsk!"

Cheaters? They’re everywhere! I was once a victim and I’m glad I’m off it. I’m over… I’m done!

I would rate this 7.5 of 10!

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Koizora (Sky Of Love) : A Movie Review

“If I had not met you that day, then I would not have experience that pain and sadness and memories filled with tears. But if I had not met you, I would also not have experienced that joy, excitement and memories filled with tears. But if I had not met you, I would also have not experienced that joy, excitement, preciousness, happiness and the feeling of absolute happiness.”

Title: Koizora: Sky of Love
Also known as:  恋空
Genre: Drama, Romance
Language : Japanese
Complete: 2008 

Mika (Yui Aragaki) and Hiro (Haruma Miura) first met during their freshmen years. It was an unlikely encounter as Hiro happened to be that mysterious guy who found Mika‘s phone after she lost it. Every day she gets a phone call from him. At first she was hesitant to talk to the total stranger on the other line until she became interested with him and agreed to meet up.  She was stunned to find out that her secret phone friend is the scary looking, silver haired guy named Hiro.

The two suddenly became a couple despite all their differences. Then Mika experienced her first love, her first kiss and her first heartbreak. One tragedy after another over a series of years and it will be true love that will bring them back together again.

 

"If the person likes you, they will definitely call you."

"My first love is like a river, it rolled way just like that."

"A rainbow, this is my birthday gift to you."

Mika : "Were you truly happy?" Hiro: "I am very happy."

Okay, I cried another bucket of tears. Guess it right… I’m just extremely melodramatic and when it comes to stories like this, it just hit me straight to the heart. I easily relate to it which makes the movie a lot interesting for me to watch. Although, I admitted I was kinda dumbfounded at the start of the movie since I was thinking, freshmen year and they’re already doing that thing? Oh my, this is going somewhere and indeed it did.

Sky of Love may come as your typical love story wherein we’ll have a couple who would go through the odds and fall in love and once their relationship is close to perfection, they break up, then someone has to die in the end. However, right before the movie ended it made me think, what would make this movie different from the other romantic movies that I have watched? What would make this stand out? Could it be the actors? Could it be the location? Could it be the story itself? And I know that what made this movie unique is its consistency. It’s consistency from the title, to the evolution of the story right down to the ending. The plot may be common and the ending predictable however, the storyline was well composed and each scene was interesting enough that you’ll definitely have your eyes glue on the television set. Overly fast paced however, this gives you a total package of emotions from that feeling of enjoying your first love, first heartbreak, the tears, the happiness, excitement, frustrations and hope.

I just love the director of this movie, Natsuki Imai, and his artistic means of using symbolism and metaphors. Comparison of human traits and love to that of the sky, the river and the sea was remarkable. The cinematography was pretty awesome in this movie as well. It was very articulate especially the use of the two white doves flying to the sky towards the end of the movie was deeply moving, heartbreaking however it gives that much needed hope and reason for living.

The lead casts did a pretty great job as well. I love the contrast in character between Hiro (Haruma Miura) and Mika (Yui Aragaki). Mika is this lovely, charismatic lady paired with Hiro the fierce, rebellious young man who surprisingly has a strong heart. Both had a strong connection with each other and their chemistry is what draws me to fall in love with this movie. They were very much convincing in their roles and were able to show this overwhelming love towards each other that it’s saddening and heart warming all at the same time.

I would rate this 9 of 10!

Wedding Dress : A Movie Review

Wedding Dress

Title: Wedding Dress
Also known as: 웨딩드레스 
Genre: Drama
Language: Korean
Complete: 2010

Go-eun (Song Yun-ah) is a wedding dress designer and single mom to her daughter Sora (Kim Hyang-Gi). Despite her busy schedule she makes sure that she finds time for daughter. Sora on the other hand, often times misinterprets her mom’s busy schedule and feels that she’s taken her for granted thus, she learned independence at an early age. However, this independence didn’t do her well since she also grew distance from the people that surrounds her including her friends in school.

Upon realizing that she has limited number of days to live, Go-Eun tried to change her routine and made sure that she spends more time with Sora. She even has to lie to Sora’s teacher so she can take the day off and they can spend time in the beach. Go-Eun just wants to do everything for Sora before parting from her including making a beautiful wedding dress that she can wear once she gets married. As her condition worsens, So-ra finds out about the cancer and in her own little way tries to fulfill her mother’s wishes.

Being a single mother is not easy and I should know coz’ I am one. I was deeply moved by this movie not just because I can relate to it being a single mom, but because the movie was really nice and heartbreaking.

I should say Kim Hyang-Gi who played Sora was well casted. She was just adorable, fierce and her acting skills at a very young age was commendable in this movie. I first saw her in Cruel Love playing the character of the cute and lovely Mi-So and she was pretty young then and this movie brought her to the next level. I even felt that she has stolen the limelight in most of her scenes with Go-eun (Song Yun-ah). She sure is the one who made me cry especially the part when she was leaving for school and slowly trying to walk out of her house leaving her mom vomiting in the bathroom. She was walking out trying to hold back her tears, trying to be strong for her mom but when she closed the door tears just fell from her eyes. You can just see and feel that pain… it was extremely heartbreaking for me and yes I cried with her.  

 

This movie was well casted and just like what I mentioned the two lead casts did a good job in bringing me into tears. The storyline was well composed and you can see the obvious shift of the mother’s priority from work then to her daughter upon realizing that she was sick, however you would feel that there is something missing along the way. What’s missing is that big blow, something that you can grab a hold of… that climax! That just wasn’t there. Or maybe I was just expecting a lot from this movie based on the synopsis that I’ve read. It seemed like it would want it’s viewers to guess how and why things happened. There was just no explanation that would have nailed the present situation. Another disappointing thing about this movie is there was not much emphasis on the title being the Wedding Dress. Aside from the fact that she is a wedding dress designer and she was trying to create a wedding for her daughter that she can wear in future and that was it. It’s like creating a very ear catching theme and brushing it off in the sideline. And there was the yellow umbrella that I think would rather leave a lasting mark to its viewers rather than the title.

Nonetheless, I still love this movie and this brought me to tears.

I would rate this 8.5 out of 10!