LDW’s Bitter/Sweet Life

I’ve known about this project since last week. I also just found out that this new MBC series will start this weekend in South Korea. Before the news gets stale, I will share what I found out.

After more than 2 years being away from the small screen, South Korean heartthrob Lee Dong Wook will be seen again in the small screen. His latest project is the MBC weekend series “The Sweet Life” or also known as “Bittersweet Life“. Dunno which one it is since I have seen articles wherein the drama series was named as both or either one of those two titles.

His character Joon-su will have a relationship with a married older woman, played by Oh Yeon Soo. Their characters meet on a trip to Japan. Meanwhile, he will also be entangled with a younger woman who happens to be involved with an older married man. Complicated Story! But it gets even better, you can read the synopsis <here>, just a click away! Warning though ~ it has a major spoiler.

In another article, Lee Dong Wook mentioned that the story is different from the other series out there with a similar plot. But the actor refused to divulge more info since he is afraid to give too much away (duh!). The only other explanation he gave is that his character supposedly has a “devil inside him”. Now, it might be a way of him telling us that Joon-su is the opposite of the handsome chaebol Gong Chan in the popular TV series that shot him to fame 2 years ago, “My Girl“.  LDW co-starred with the lovely Lee Da-Hae in that kdrama series. Ooohh I love love love Gong Chan!

Lee Dong Wook is not really lonely in the set of his new drama since he is accompanied by another “My Girl” alum ~~ sorry to dash your hopes but this drama is not a reunion of the loveable Dong Wook/ Da Hae pairing ~~ he is reunited with none other than Park Shi Yeon, as seen below. The conniving ex-girlfriend in the previous series.

I know, I know. For the “My Girl” fans out there ~ I feel the same way. ;(

I just hope it will not turn out as heavily melodramatic and cliched as Kwon Sang Woo’s “Bad Love”.

Lee Dong Wook and Park Shi Yeon will be co-starring with veteran actors Oh Yeon Soo and Jung Bo Seok in this MBC drama series.

Aja! Aja! Hwaiting!

Photo credit: MBC Global Media

 

 

My Sassy Girl

 

My Sassy Girl (2001) is the first South Korean film I watched and it got me hooked. It is so laugh-out-loud funny and endearing at the same time. The lead girl, played by Jun Ji Hyun (or Gianna Jun) is so flat-out crazy while the poor lead guy, played by Cha Tae Hyun, is endearing clueless and sweet. Plus, it has the most heart-wrenching songs like this one. It also spawned the prequel, Windstruck. I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a funny and sweet romcom movie

Also, I knew for several months now that Hollywood is planning to remake this classic South Korean film. I’m not putting much stock on the Hollywood version since Hollywood remakes of Asian films always ends up not up to par compared to the original (i.e. Lake House with Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock vs. the original Il Mare with Lee Jung Jae and Jun Ji Hyun, then horror flicks The Ring, The Grudge etc.)

Now a trailer of the Hollywood My Sassy Girl can be found online. The movie stars Elisha Cuthbert and Jesse Bradford. I also posted a trailer of the original South Korean movie. You will notice a lot of similar scenes. I’m not sold on the Hollywood version but here’s the two videos for your viewing pleasure.

 

 

 

AnyMotion

Just want to share the AnyMotion video starring korean popstars Lee Hyori and Eric of Shinhwa. At 7 minutes long this music video is more like a mini dance movie than a regular music video. Also, this video is my favorite from all of Samsung’s Anycall music videos. 

The other Anycall videos are the AnyClub with Lee Hyori, Eric and Kwon Sang woo, the AnyStar with Lee Hyori and Lee Junki.  Then there was the AnyBand with a new group of korean popstars including BoA which I haven’t seen yet and the latest AnyDream in which Rain composes, choreographs and stars in. Try checking it all and see for yourself.

But now, I present to you AnyMotion.

 

Hana Kimi Special

Oh My! I just posted something about Hana Kimi now this….

This is GREAT  NEWS!!!

 Last summer’s “Hanazakari no Kimitachi e” drama series is returning for a one-episode special. Starring Maki Horikita, Shun Oguri, and Toma Ikuta, the show was very popular, especially among female viewers. It averaged 17.3% ratings, with the final episode reaching 21.0%.

More >>>

Source: Tokyo Graph

 Read more about Hana Kimi <here>

 

Jdorama: Hana Kimi

The full title is Hanazakari no Kimitachi e or just Hana Kimi for short. It is my latest obsession. There are a lot of japanese dramas or jdoramas that I really liked watching thru the years, like Gokusen and Hana Yori Dango, which were highly entertaining because it doesn’t take itself seriously. This jdorama is of the same thread and definitely worth watching.

The cast of Hanazakari no Kimitachi e. 

It also has really colorful and memorable characters. Each will pull at your heartstrings like one such character which became my favorite.

That precious one is Nakatsu (Ikuta Toma). 

He is so endearingly sweet and funny. For some reason he is not on the cast photo above. He should be on the right side of Mizuki. Anyway, his photo is on the right. As you watch the story, you will fall inlove with his character. He plays the star soccer player of the school and the 2nd male lead. Just writing that down breaks my heart since 2nd male leads never get the girl.

There is a taiwanese drama based on the same manga as this one. Can’t compare it since I haven’t watched the taiwanese version yet but based on reviews, more people like the jdorama better than the taiwanse version. Maybe I can watch the other version in the future but for now, I’m enjoying the jdorama too much. It leaves you laughing so hard and grinning foolishly just by thinking of it.

I have only watched 8 of the 12 episodes of this series so I still have a 4 more to go. You can check wikipedia to read more on this jdorama. You can also watch it online. Just be really clever when looking for it.

Meet the cast and read more on the series <here>

 

LV Star-studded Affair

I posted yesterday that Choi Ji Woo attended the Louis Vuitton’s flagship store’s opening in Tsimshatsui, Hong Kong last March 14, 2008. Now I bring you the other stars that graced that event. Other stars who attended were Lovely Zhang Ziyi, Chow Yun Fat, Vic Zhou, Lee Jun Ki and Hidetoshi Nakata. (Unfortunately I have no photos of the last two stars so I posted another CJW photo to even up the layout.)

Source: Batgwa