tVn Liar Game Korean Drama

At long last, in 2014, a drama made it to my "to post" list. Introducing Liar Game, the Korean remake of the Japanese very popular drama, Liar Game.

I had a short review on the Japanese liar game here: http://beu-tilicious.blogspot.com/2011/05/japanese-drama-liar-game.html and I loved the japanese version!

So I was really excited when I read that there would be a Korean remake of it.


The main characters:
Kim So Eun as Nam Da Jung (main leading lady)

Did she do a good job? Mmmmm, yes, I guess. She blends in very well but not outstanding. I prefer Erika Toda's version of Nao, all innocent and cute with those lovely eyes of hers.
Kim So Eun was a little bland as she blends in very well with everything around her.
Her physical traits remind me of Shin Se Gyung, however, I do prefer Kim So Eun over Shin Se Gyung. At least Kim So Eun has a large and vast variety of physical expressions that don't bore to death.

Lee Sang Yoon as Ha Woo Jin (main leading male)

Eeeks, I loved the male lead, Shota Matsuda, in the Jap version. Lee Sang Yoon's execution was mediocre. He did not perform badly, but perhaps there was a lack of focus on him that led to him to being overshadowed.
It was a refreshing change to see him act icy and cold. In my personal opinion, I do think he can perform better. It did not reach the ice cold depths of the Alaskan winter, but perhaps the icy winds in Melbourne.




Shin Sung Rok as Kang Do Young (main villain)

Well, this guy stole the limelight!!!!!!!
His execution was splendid!

What a villain. One that mystifies and draws you in again and again and deeper and deeper. I'm sure that he gained many fans and popularity with this role. Many articles and comments out there are so intrigued by him that there is somewhat in- depth analysis on his character and why he turned out to be such a psychopath with a twisted mind. People have gathered to comment and discuss and talk about Kang Do Young.

The plot and story of how the villain was connected to the two main leads is a new development from the Jap version. The writer did a great job of keeping everything tightly wound and revealing and releasing the truth in anticipated progress. Perfect.

Shin Sung Rok cannot be applauded enough for portraying a masked maniac. His whole life seemed to be preoccupied with only one thing. That is to continue his one and only desirable memory of childhood with the two leads in a game they used to play.

He called himself a failure and the last thing he wanted before he ends his miserable hellish memories and life, was to play, just once more, a game of "truth" and "trust" game with the two leads.

He is to be pitied and empathized with, even with all the evil and murderous deeds that he committed. He wins the hearts of the viewers with this trait..




General:
Ok, it was an very enjoyable drama and I was hanging off my seat through most of the episodes.

 But there were bits and pieces that i could not understand, could not put together.
The main factor to be blamed is the subtitles. The subs were not full, more like bits and pieces everywhere. Some of the important bits i had to decipher on my own. What a bummer.
For eg, why did Woo Jin's mother commit suicide? what did she lose that she had to end her life?

Overall, it's a remake worth watching with new and different developments from the original. A piece well executed and yes, the yummiest villain in all time.
Love Shin Sung Rok.

Oh ya, this is one drama with a perfectly executed ending where most, if not all, the loose strings are tied and most people are accounted for. I must say again, the pacing of the drama was excellent.

I'm having major withdrawals with this drama which i haven't had in a long long time!

Rating: 9/10 a must watch!

ALoha!

Oh dear,
it's been months, and i mean months! since i last updated my blog.
Well, the reason is because the Korean dramas of late since 2013 til date, have all been a major bore!

There is not one drama that strikes me at all. Nothing like my old favourites that would make me fall into major withdrawal modes, and i would watch it over and over again. None of them at all. I wonder if it is the beginning of the downfall in Korean dramas or it is just me. Are my standards too high? I've been fast forwarding the dramas like there's no tomorrow.

I'm currently watching "My Dear Cat" on kbsworld. Nothing much to shout about, just to past time. Eagerly waiting for "Liar Game" (korean version) and "Nodame Cantabile" (Korean version). Hopefully these will bring back my fever for Korean dramas, or else....................

My fave Korean variety is now "1N2D". This is the only Korean show that makes me look forward to it every week. Really liking JJY in it. He's kinda rude in a cute way.

How about japanese dramas? so far, i've only liked "liar game" (jap version). Wonder if there are any other wonderful jap dramas out there.................

Korean Drama Review: Master's Sun

I finished this drama a while ago...............it was alright, zipped through it in no time. Light and funny. But seriously, didn't hit the high note for me. Wouldn't re-watch this.


It's fun and entertaining but nothing spectacular. So ji Sub was yummy but that's all.


Nothing much to say about this drama so i'll rate it straight away: 7/10.

Yes, it is watchable. But i prefer "Greatest Love", " You're Beautiful", "Secret Garden".

This drama is just ......well, plain nice. That's all.

korean drama review: The Queen's Classroom

oh have you watched this drama?
Just finished it and i'd say it was above my expectations.

Starring:
Ko Hyun Jung as Teacher Ma Yeo Jin

She's known to me as the face of Korea's cosmetic brand, RE:nk. I've never actually watched any of  her dramas, this is the first.
I must say, my first impression of her wasn't a really good one. I took on her physical qualities at first sight noticing only her bloated face (very!) and lack of a neck that seems not befitting at all on her tall and slender-looking body. She seems "off", kind of weird. However, as the drama progressed, i got used to it and didn't seem to mind the "weird" ET look.

Teacher Ma is like a witch, a demon woman. That's her nickname amongst the kids and in the school. She plays a cold as steel teacher with the weirdest way of teaching the kids. She teaches them not only academically but more on social values and ethics and her way of doing so is eccentric and sure does not look like she understands any of the children's needs. That is how it is felt on the surface. However, deep within she cares more for the children's well-being (emotionally which will lead to physical results), more than even herself. She uses the façade of a witch to steer the children in the right direction. In the end, she is always the victor, well able to conquer and eradicate all social inequality, ostracism and bad social behaviour.



The other stars of the drama are little children. The main child actor is

Kim Hyang Gi as Shim Ha Na

I've never seen her before, it's my first. And she is good. Really good. She displays poignancy and charm in her acting and i enjoyed her performance very much.


I've seen some of the other child actors before and most of them are good in acting, maybe, perhaps, possibly with the exception of this little guy:

Somehow i felt some of his parts were a little off, but overall still good. Some of his parts felt a bit pretentious , like we know he is acting.




I cried a lot with this drama as the story is so good. Plenty of hurdles, mishaps, misconceptions etc and each of them was tackled with a good ending. However, some of the "endings" were too lenient and too far fetched.

For eg, in one of those stories:
one of the kids had been stealing and putting the blame on our lead child actress. The thief even had the audacity to ostracise the lead child actress by getting things all mucked up and turning things around so that the lead child actress takes all the blame. Teacher Ma uses her eccentric ways to make the thief own up and the lead child actress stand up for herself. It was good, but the ending of where the thief was able to clear all conscience in just a short amount of time, and all the the other students forgave and so easily accepted the thief into their social circle again , is just plain ridiculous. How can such hurt and scars be gotten over so easily?
Well, that's just one of the not-so-realistic parts of the drama.


But all in all, the drama was good.

And the best part? Haha, you wouldn't have guessed, it's the background music!! Some fantasy, witchery background music that plays throughout the drama. I just love it! it fits so well.




My rating: 8.5/10.It's an underrated drama .

korean drama review: I Hear Your Voice

I just finished this drama and would like to pen  my thoughts on it.

Please be forewarned of SPOILERs ahead!

The 3 mains:
Lee Bo Young as Jang Hye Sung
Lee Jong Suk as Park Soo Ha
Yoon Sang Hyun as Cha Kwon Woo


I was impatiently waiting for the drama to finish airing so i could watch a marathon on it. I like Lee Jong Suk and Lee Bo Young. Particularly like Lee Bo Young for her wonderful performance in My Daughter So Yeong which i truly enjoyed.
So i was really looking forward to this one. Plus, i watched the episode of Hwasin featuring the three main characters and that got me more excited to start on the drama.

Eeek, my "nightmare" started. I never would have imagined that they actually really really paired Lee Jong Suk with Lee Bo Young. They look like siblings instead because Lee Bo Young looks, and in reality is, way much older than Lee Jong Suk. So it really turned me off.
I knew Lee Jong Suk had a crush on Lee Bo Young and i always thought it would be one sided since he is still in high school (not even in uni!) and she is already an experienced working woman nearing her 30s.

I thought it would be like High Kick Season 1 where Jung Il Woo had a one sided crush on his teacher that never worked out. I could accept that.

But not this! it was a ridiculous pairing and i highly dislike it. Why oh why did they spoil the drama this way. I would have truly enjoyed it if it wasn't for this ridiculous pairing. As much as i like both of them i cannot, i repeat, i cannot, accept them as a pair of lovers.

And every time they kissed, hugged, touched each other, looked into each others' eyes, i would start "gagging". I would grimace in "disgust". Yup, "disgust" is a strong word to use, but i gave it heavy proportion due to how much it bothered me.

I know, there are those large age-gapped couples around like Demi moore and Ashton Kutcher. I don't know why, i just cannot see Lee Bo Young and Lee Jong Suk as lovers. It gave me the shudders as if they were committing "sibling relationship" (can't remember the word for it!). Can you imagine your younger brother looking  into your eyes, wrapping his arms around your waist and starts french kissing you??


This coupling really gave me "nightmares". On the final episode, they were kissing intensely and that image made me unable to sleep! I wish i never watched this drama.

And what happens to Yoon Sang Hyun? Is there no love line for him? what a pity. He should've been the main pairing with Lee Bo Young, they look so much more compatible. And he has a rather cutesy character in the drama. Fun and cute.



And yet another flaw in the drama is this guy, Jung Woon In:

He is the main villain in the drama, Min Joon Guk. Yup, he did well. But why is he never dead? He keeps reviving and the whole drama is circled around this one bad character. The drama is about prosecutors and lawyers taking on criminal cases and the entire drama had like only one criminal case that goes on and on for 18 episodes.

This guy keeps popping up, threatening and frightening people, killing people and always gets away with it. Of course, in the end he gets what he deserves, but i think it would have been nicer to keep this mighty villain toward the end and have more other criminal cases to show off Lee Jong Suk's inner voice reading skills.

It became tiresome to watch because it felt repetitive with no new ideas/criminal cases.




Rating/conclusion:
Personally, i would not even recommend this drama.

However, if i were to put the main couple issue aside, it won't be that bad, i'd give this a 6.5/10.



PS: i dislike the Cyrano agency couple even more! Father and daughter french kissing.... ewww. I gave up on that drama.


Aah, what should i watch next to erase such horrendous kissing memories ???

April 2013: Drama update

Phew, gave up on plenty of dramas............
it's been some time since i could find any drama that i could watch through, and i mean sitting it out and watching joyously.
Not much so far.

Given up on these:
Faith,
Iris 2,
Level 7 civil servant,
My Love Madame Butterfly
Panda & Hedgehog -this is ridiculously childish and lacks any plot whatsoever, even if Lee Dong Hae stars in it.


Currently loving:
Shut Up Family ~ seriously the best! Jjang! Love this to the max. But i'm pretty bias, i really love Shim Ji Ho. I've got a little more to go and i cannot bear to finish it and end my Shim Ji Ho "worship". He is just too hot. I guess i'll just leave the last few episodes un-watched so i can drag out the heartbreak of not being able to watch him anymore.
Given also, Shim Ji Ho does not have very many dramas for me to go through and he's pretty inactive in the acting arena. Don't think he's a full time actor. He was really very hot in "color of woman" too.


Just started on:
Incarnation of Money - hope this one is good and does not disappoint. Kang Ji Hwan's "lie to me" was such a disappointment.

korean drama review and thoughts: my daughter seo Young

Ta Dah, just finished this drama and it's time for a review.

This drama runs 50 episodes long and finished airing in March 2013. It's in the melodrama, romance and a touch of family zone.

Just thought i'd give it go, and yup, it was good. The title of the drama sounds "old-fashioned" and boring, so don't be fooled. It's not the plot or storyline that is unique, but more of how it was brought about; engaging and page turning.

The main characters are:
lead actress, Lee Bo Young as Lee Seo Young

To romance lee bo young -- Lee Sang Yoon as Kang Woo Jae

The plot  and storyline is quite cliché-d.  Very poor woman (Lee So Young), who saves every $1 and penny, meets rich guy (Kang Woo Jae) and develops a relationship to which the parents of the man vehemently objects to. They go through many hardships to be together, including personal mental and emotional turmoil to see if they really  love each and need each other.

In between the main romance, there's family issues whereby Seo Young and her father have a broken and untended relationship which cause further complications and is the root of a time bomb for Woo Jae and Seo Young's marriage.

I really love to watch the father. I'm not sure why, but Chun Ho Jin (as Lee Sam Jae), did a great job with all those emotions vividly and abundantly displayed for us viewers. Well done Chun Ho Jin. The love and sacrifice he had for his daughter Seo Young were all piercingly touching. The guilt he piled on his shoulders was so heavy that he seemed to be crawling on his knees most of the time. He had a selfless and very sacrificial heart for his children.



Well, what i love best from the drama are not the main characters, but the sub ones. I love watching Park Hae Jin and Choi Yoon Young. Damn! these two are just too cute!

Twin brother of Seo young -- Park Hae Jin as Lee Sang Woo

To romance Sang Woo -- Choi Yoon Young as Choi Ho Jung

Oh my, this couple is as cute and delicious as any iced vanilla cupcake there is. Choi Ho Jung literally glues herself to Sang Woo ever since she met him. And she's been doing that for quite a few years! She's so cute and innocently sweet it's hard to resist her charms.
When they finally became a couple, it was even more entertaining to watch! Haha, they are just so sweet. I love them.



The most boring parts are the ones with CNBlue's Lee Jung Shin. I know he is very pretty and all, but his parts are boring. I usually fast forward those.
Even the scenes of the parents of Kang Woo Jae are better in terms of entertaining level.


Overall, nice drama, and if you have time, you can watch all 50 episodes, if not, just skip to the parts with Lee Sang Woo and Choi Ho Jung. That'll keep you entertained enough.

Rating: 7/10

korean drama: current

Ah
Chinese New Year is just around the corner. Aren't you excited?

i've just finished watching these dramas :
1. Cheong dam dong Alice; and
2. School 2013

Perhaps I should do a review on these two, ..............ah, feeling lazy again. hehe


Currently watching:
1. Jeon Woo Chi - update 4april 2013: i gave up on this, it was too boring
2. Flower Boy Next Door - update 4 april 2013: i gave up on this too. Did  not finish the last 2 episodes.

I wonder what other dramas are there to fill up my time during CNY. There seems to be nothing much of late. Where did those great dramas like Greatest Love, You are Beautiful and Secret Garden go? I miss those dramas that pull me in so much that it leaves a huge gaping hole in my heart once it ends. The entire 2012 had none of it and is such a disappointment.
Hopefully 2013 would be better. I must say, School 2013 is almost a breakthrough. Pretty darn good.

what are you watching?

Welcome 2013!! huurray

Wishing everyone a happy new year ,
let's jump into 2013 with great expectations, and great hopes.
Don't give up and continue to fight. Hwaiting!


I am so waiting for korean dramas of 2013 and the first January drama  i am longing for is "Flower Boy Next Door"!

It's a comedy starring Park Shin Hye and Yoon Shi Yoon.
Of course, other flower boys will be in it too: Kim Ji Hoon, Go Gyung Pyo, Kim Jung San, Kouki Mizuta.

Gosh, looks like PSH will be working amidst a swarm of pretty men! envy!
I can't wait for it to premier.

Here are some teasers:






And for skin care, what are you using now?
 i haven't been doing much to my skin. i slackened in my skin care routine in 2012 so have decided to buck up in 2013.
With crinkles and sagginess i can see, hopefully something out there can firm up the skin.
Any suggestions?

Gmarket haul 15

I had a mini Gmarket Haul this week..............................after such a long long break.

Wanted to try the Sum37 Flawless Regenerating Line. It's the new luxury line from Sum37 launched in Aug 2012.
Gmarket had stopped all previous sample sales a few months ago, so samples were nowhere to be found. But they came back out a little while ago and so I went on a small spree.


Here's my mini haul:

Came in a smallish cardboard box. No dents this time. Gmarket seemed to have improved their cardboard boxes quality.



What's in the loot?
Hehe, couldn't resist some of the newly launched stuff like Sulwhasoo's Innerise complete serum.

Innerise corrects the skin's natural density, preventing ageing by beginning at its source. The anti-aging line will keep you looking young and refreshed. Notice small wrinkles on your face? Innerise line will rejuvenate your face (taken from sulwhasoo's website).
So are you intrigued  by the newly launched innerise serum?






Sulwhasoo's concentrated ginseng cream:

Small 5ml bottles and 2 sachets. Creamy and rich smell of ginseng... for my sister.







Restocked some Qi & Jin Eye cream:

Pretty heavy stuff. Best used at night. Sis likes the creamy heaviness of it and the strong herbal smell. It does have a pretty heavy herbal scent.





Sulwhasoo's Rejuvenating Eye cream from their basic line:

From the website:
"This age-defying eye cream revitalizes the delicate skin around the eyes, smoothing lines, wrinkles, dark circles, and puffiness with a potent blend of Korean medicinal herbs. Hydrating and smoothing, this anti-aging treatment restores radiance and vitality to the eye area. Green tea, pomegranate, and six-year-old Korean red ginseng fight free radical damage to prevent signs of age."





Sample packs of Sulwhasoo's infamous First Care Serum:

This is a must have on every korean woman's beauty table.
"Formulated to replenish essential moisture and nutrients and to boost the effect of every subsequent treatment. Milk-vetch, licorice, and dwarf lilyturf work synergistically to optimize the Korean herbal ingredients in the complete collection while deeply hydrating."
This serum has been reported to work wonders for any skin type and can be paired with any line/brand of skin care. It helps to regulate the skin to receive and absorb the rest of the skin care and that is why it is the first thing you put on after cleansing, even before your trusted toners.





Sum37 Flawless Regenerating Cream

Sum37 Flawless Regenerating Eye cream

Sum37 Flawless Regenerating Essence

The Flawless Regenerating Line is Sum37's new luxury line for anti aging launched in August this year. And it is the main reason why I had this haul. I am entering into the era where i am in desperate need for anti aging products.
The Flawless Regenerating line uses a special V.O complex which focuses on microbial fermentation of 5 beneficial microorganisms/bacteria which have been cultivated/fermented especially for the range of products. The line boasts skin improvement on tightening, clarity and transparency thereby promoting flawless skin with zero defects! The line aims to provide nutrition for the skin and improve moisturising capabilities.

The big regret, I was not able to get the accompanying toner and emulsion, which would have completed the set and satisfied my longing. I feel only half full .



Samples and freebies that came along with the mini haul:
Hera Homme multi BB................... for the boys

Wet tissue:

Snail sheet masks:

Sooryehan's Hyo Fermented cream sachets:

That's all for today, and i'll update on the Flawless Regenerating Line a few weeks down the road to see if it's any good on me.
I tested some the minute the haul arrived, and it seemed to be quite good, especially the cream. It is rich.

Remind me to update if I forget ;)

korean drama: full house 2

oh
No Min Woo drama!

yep that's right, currently started airing on 22nd october.

Just wanted to take a peek and found the trailer:



Er, No Min Woo looks entirely "plastic-ky" in the trailer, too fair, face too "hard" and "stiff".  Like too much botox or something

 Hwang Jung Eum looks T-errible! her hair is atrocious, and though she's supposed to be cute, i can't help it. She's just donwright crappy looking in the trailer. Her brows and hair, oh dear, i can't say anymore.

The only human looking thing in the trailer looks like its Park Ki Woong.


 Sigh, and i was so looking forward to watch this. Kinda lose my appetite after watching Hwang Jung Eum. I'll let the drama finish airing and give this a go anyway. I adored Full House season 1 with Rain and Song Hye Kyo. Let's see how season 2 will fare.
 However, it's already minus 50pts with Hwang Jung Eum's horrendous style in it.

Korean drama review: Haeundae lovers

I just finished watching Haeundae Lovers.......... and i got to say it's a cute and fluffy romantic comedy for those who enjoy cotton candy and teddy bears, which i do, and so i love the drama!

I enjoyed Kim Kang Woo's play in "Slingshot" and was looking forward to a new drama with him in it. Haeundae lovers fits the bill perfectly: a rom com with Chae Do Woo (Kim Kang Woo's character in Slingshot).


Starring:
Kim Kang Woo as NamHae, Lee/Yang Tae Sung

Yes yes that's right, he has three identities in the drama. Nam Hae, Lee Tae Sung and Yang Tae Sung.

I really loved him in "Slingshot" and majority of his dramas/movies so far has had him playing cold, aloof, steel-like characters with not much of a smile but a great body and intensely good looking.

In this drama, he made a 360 degree turn with a wacky and downright goofy character. At first, a cool and aloof prosecutor who is hated by people, he then loses his memory and turns into the cutest little NamHae who follows Jo Yeo Jung around like a little lamb.
Cute, real cute!

And in the drama, he throws away all that steel and ice image that he has been portraying over the years into this little adorable goofy. Check out some cuteness:

The "demon" hair while stranded in an island

Trying to wink seductively at Jo Yeo Jung

Playing little lamb with Jo Yeo Jung

Getting face acupuncture with cross eyes

Making faces and Jo Yeo Jung

Turning into ice in an ice room

Making kissy lips at Jo Yeo Jung

Trying to peek while Jo Yeo Jung baths

He is just the cutest little thing in the drama. Yep, and a big change from Chae Do Woo's psycopath character in Slingshot.
Gosh, I think the name Nam Hae is too cute.


Lead actress: Jo Yeo Jung as Go So Ra

Only watched her in "I need romance". I think she's really good here too. Makes a good pairing with Kim Kang Woo. Cute acting and pretty face.
Go So Ra is the daughter of a former gangster and lives to protect her 3 uncles and father with a mental ability of a 6-year-old. Her family hates prosecutors and tend to stay far away from them.
Lee Tae Sung tries to infiltrate into the family pretending to be a body-builder.
The scenes are hilarious and gets me laughing too much.


Other people in the drama:
Jung Suk Won as Choi Jun Hyuk

He gets to be the love rival of Kim Kang Woo.



Kang Min kyung as Hwang Joo Hee

A small bitchy role she has. And her skirts are so figure hugging you could tell her body measurements just by looking.
Also, her complexion is very so fair, like a white sheet of powder. Too white.



Nam Gyu Ri as Yoon Se Na

Gyu Ri plays Kim Kang Woo's wife who holds on to a marriage through a belief that making your spouse feel sorry toward you will be answer to it all. Quite a pitiful character who deludes herself too much.
Her choice of clothing looks highly uncomfortable. 4 inch heels and the shortest mini skirts.



The main theme motto for the drama is "This is the first time I've felt this way" 내가감정처음. The sentence is sprinkled throughout the drama and Kim Kang Woo has sole usage of it. The funniest moments comes when he uses it and man, do i laugh my head off!

 Here he uses the sentence to infiltrate into a drug association, mistaking Jo Yeo Jung as the middleman. He whispers it time and again to Jo Yeo Jung who has absolutely no idea why and thinks he is a pervert.

They get into an awkward embarrassing position as if filming for an erotic movie:

And ends up with a flexible physical kick from Jo Yeo Jung:

Haha, Kim Kang Woo does not give up and runs after her yelling "This is the first time i've ever felt this way"

This scene plus the comical background music is the best! I keep replaying it and get great laughs out of this. It is a little wacky and goofy, but hey, I enjoyed the wackiness.


The drama also ends with the same sentence, this time with Jo Yeo Jung acknowledging and kisses Kim Kang Woo:

Ah, and with Kim Kang woo, no doubt there'll be some body baring:

His physique is sooo good. And he goes into a messed up fight with the three uncles baring his top body all the time. Nice shot.



I can't help but notice, why does Kim Kang Woo look so skinny and thin in this drama? his cheeks are all sunken and his jaw bones are jutting out. There's not an ounce of meat left on that gaunt face.
Take a look at his "meatier" face in "slingshot":

Isn't it much more plumped. At least he had some cheeks in there. I wonder what happened to him in 2012, did he lose so much weight? was it necessary to lose those pounds?




I love this romcom and it's the best romcom for 2012. I've seen many comments saying that is all fluff and too goofy for their liking.
Take heart, only watch it is you are in for some real wacko moments.


Rating: 9/10.
This one is a keeper for me and will be replayed for all the silliness and laughs! Oh  and yea, nice OST too. Kang Min Kyung's "farewell" was good.