Thursday, May 24, 2007

Bump Off Lover 愛殺17

The watching of this drama was put off for quite a while. I absolutely cannot watch horror movies and have a good nights sleep. So, for my good health, I decided not to watch it. But it was kind of attracting, what with all those Golden Bell awards. So after a while, I decided to give it another try. It was actually not scary at all. In fact I couldn’t fall asleep because I kept on thinking about the case and everything. The story was very well written, the episodes very well structured. And, ok, I admit it, I did go looking for spoilers and knew before hand it was Jia Wei who did it, but, you know, it was so obvious.


This was the first time I’ve seen Angela Chang act. I was quite impressed. Around that time I also found out she actually came out from acting, which ruined all my views of her, because I always thought she sang first. Joa ke Chiang was a very likeable character. At first, I didn’t know what to think of him. I liked how he talked, but what was with the hair? -_- Very quickly, though, I began to like him. Lin Jia Wei is naturally despised. I hate him… He’s so evil… And as for the twins, I like Yee Jing better. She has a very interesting termalogy<--- does that think what I think it means…? Her thoughts aren’t evil, very human and most people will be able to relate to her jealousy towards her twin. Although I do agree she did go a little far. I hate the mom though. All she ever does is run away. Even at the end, she decided her life wasn’t perfect enough for her so she killed herself. Like, what the hell… I hate all the adults and Jia Wei. The model family also has dark secrets. They pretend and hide, but believe they have the power to do what they enjoy even if it will hurt everyone around them.

Getting too deep into this… let’s go back to characters. The detective guy was pretty funny; he always had a hanky… haha…. At first I thought maybe near the middle he’ll have some nervous breakdown. But near the end he kind of disappeared. I hate it when characters just disappear like that. It makes me feel as if the producer never took the time to make this character, and just decides, ok I can’t think of anything he should do so I’ll just make him fade away. Same with the teacher, after she gets things straightened out about Yee Jen at the time she tried to commit suicide with Yee Jen. That was kind of stupid and retarded. And also with that Ah Sa person, after she got hospitalized, she didn’t appear again and nobody went back to help her, which is actually pretty sad…


Enough about characters, the story as I mentioned before is very well structured. Even though I knew beforehand that it was Jia Wei, there were still things that got me looping. I feel very sorry for Yan Zen Yo. He got dragged into this and got himself killed, that’s very sad…

I forget if they won, but the sound effects and lighting was nominated for the Golden Bell awards. Even if it wasn’t movie level good, it’s pretty good for TV. And because it wasn’t at movie level it wasn’t that scary. Ha, I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing…

There were some unrealistic things in this drama though. Like when Yee Jing fell from the building and landed on the concrete she was all posed. That doesn’t happen does it.

And there was one question my sister and I were arguing about. When Jia Wei was about to die, his last words were= I really do love ______ a lot.” I didn’t catch whose name he said because he kind of whispered it. Plus, I can’t read Chinese so the subtitles were of no use. But I reckon it was Yee Jing, however my sister claims it was Yee Jen. Whatever, it doesn’t really matter…

It’s kind of sad how at the end she’s left with only her dad, who she still probably hates like hell. If I was her, I’d sever all connections with him and continue my life with Jou Ke Chiang and that other girl. The saddest kinds of dramas are the ones that, at the end, everybody you’ve ever cared about betray you of dies or something and you’re only left with one person. Like in Love Contract, and this one too.

Bump Off Lover is the kind of series that 16 episodes is more than enough. It doesn’t need a sequel, because everybody simply has gotten enough from it to reflect and enjoy for a lifetime. The first of its kind I’ve seen. Great OST too, but I can’t find it anywhere. T_T

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Hana Kimi 花樣少年少女

Second drama I watched one episode per week- the first was Smile Pasta, yeah? Remember? Anyway, after watching so much serious dramas, this one was very refreshing. It was like back in the ISWAK days, a laugh with every episode. When I saw the drama poster thingy (the one with Ella, Wu Zun and Jiro and Ella apparently nude but covered- you’ll get what I mean if you’ve seen it.) I was like; uh… what’s this… another The Rose? Being hypocritical here, but I really didn’t like the look of it. But of course Jiro was in it, so I had to take a look. >w< align="center">

After a few episodes, I got really, really addicted. Everything was Hana Kimi, Hana Kimi. I began to also really love Shiou-Yee (Jiro’s character). But, on the contrary, the more I watched Hana Kimi, the more I started to get annoyed (hate is too strong of a word…) at the two main characters. I like Ella, but I don’t like Rei Shi as much as I like Ella… But I despise Chuen the most. He’s a sissy puss. >_< align="center">

The way the drama was structured, in arcs, was quite refreshing. It was a lot more life-based, with all those ironic jokes. Haha. But I didn’t like how nobody found out she was a girl. It would’ve been much better for Shiou Yee. Poor Jiro always playing the sad characters. T_T Near the last few episodes, it was a little draggy, but the last episode was necessarily spiced up. With the 10¢ jokes. Haha, those were hilarious. I began to like that guy in the last episode, kind of wasteful. I liked how in the last episode every character, the more important ones, showed up again. It was like a memorial, yay everyone’s here, let’s celebrate- like that.


I also watched that New Years special for Summer x Summer and Hana Kimi. It was worth it, because they claimed it was the only New Years special Fahrenheit went to- ha. It was funny how Danson Tang took pictures of himself and they were in the digi-cam. I was like, guys actually do that? Summer x Summer always had snack breaks and their dog thing was a hot dog being waved around- yay, go Wu Shiong!



As it applies to ISWAK and Goong, the existence of Hana Kimi 2 has been clarified. I think it comes out in 2008. I’ll watch it, of course, it’s one of those things that if you don’t watch, you’ll feel left out. Not that I have anybody but my sister to discuss about these things. ;_; Nevertheless, awaiting the sequel I’ll be for now. Don’t work too hard Jiro!




Sunday, March 25, 2007

Legend of Star Apple 星蘋果樂園

After Goong, I went through a stage where there was nothing I could find that was good to watch. Episode 1 after episode 1. I went through a lot of older dramas, until I came to this one, which had just ended, so I thought why not, let’s watch it.

This series was quite good at first; it started off fresh and original. After the arc where that kid showed up, everything started to look very familiar. Like a lot of dramas Ming Dao does, there’s a serious love square. Like in It Started with a Kiss, the love square wasn’t very serious, you knew Shiang Ching and Ah Jin weren’t for real and same with Zhe Shu and that other girl. But for these dramas, Magicians of Love, Prince turned to Frog, the four are dead serious. I really don’t like it when that happens, and it’s happened repeatedly so many times.
The relationship between ReRe’s friend and Tian Chi’s brother was just a filler kind of thing. In my mind, to give that guy from 183club (I don’t know his name) a role. No matter if he turned good or not, I still despise him.

The end was pretty sad. And OK, not what I thought it would end. I was waiting for a Magician’s of Love kind of ending. However, despite the originality, I hate to see ReRe turn very different. She turned in to an old lady, blind or not! But, unlike Love Contract, I did like the ending, because for one, they’re not dead, and two, there’s a whole future ahead of them. Yay!

The person who plays ReRe’s character is a new person in the circle. She sang both opening and ending songs. I think she has a lot of potential. I haven’t seen her around recently though. She used to go to Guess Show, but that was to promote her album. I hope I see her around again. Ming Dao did a pretty good job for his role. But 183 is kind of getting old. Their last drama together was Magician’s of Love, then Angel Lover had three of them. I really doubt they’re gonna continue on. Haha. Fahrenheit’s taking their place. Wang Shao Wei is weird though. What’s he planning -_-? He’s doing another drama with Chiao Chiao from Sweety. But, hm… 5566 and 183club? Back, back to Ming Dao, what’s he planning for 2007? Angel Lover was is last drama. On Kangxicome, it was funny how Joe Cheng made a comment that Ethan looks like Ming Dao. Haha! That was hilarious. I thought that too, when I first saw Ethan in Green Forest, My Home. Well, that’s about it. Spring break is over. >m<>

Goong 宮




For this drama, it was like drop everything and watch. This drama was the reason I stopped watching Tokyo Juliet and Love Contract for a while. This is also the first KDrama I’ve watched, and like with everything else, I watched it subbed because there is no way I could’ve withstood the dub. I don’t think there even is a dub…yet.


This drama, like a lot of my other favourite ones had a strong theme. It was interesting to see modern and olden combined. Much like a lot of western films about Prince William and the such. Except Korea isn’t a constitutional monarchy so it took a while to happen.

What I also like about this drama is the relationship between Shin and Chae-Gyung. They know they have to work together, but also they know they might have lived an easier life without each other. This was in part because of Yul and Hyo-rin. Hyo-rin was a little better near the end, but god, it was her fault in the first place. I forgive her though, she sacrificed a lot. Yul, on the other hand, is not forgivable at all. Only Shin was through that innocent face. Hyo-rin maybe knew too, but she wasn’t about to gain anything if she did anything about it. Chae-Gyung was a little dumb and too kind to realize what Yul was doing. But one thing’s for sure, Chae-Gyung did not like Yul. Which is a relief, because if she did, I would’ve stopped watching the drama, like Green Forest, My Home. Back to topic, Yul just went too far. His mother half-died for their sins. But for some reason after the car accident, everyone else didn’t feel sorry for them, didn’t even mention them…


After awhile, Shin started to like Chae-Gyung. This is when Hyo-rin gave up. But dumb Chae-Gyung didn’t get it. Tisuku, tisuku. And Shin wasn’t smart enough to know what to do. Tisuku, tisuku. At least he tried his hardest. There was a part in the series when they totally could not talk to each other. It was very heart-breaking. Like, hurry up and realize! At the end of course, it was happily ever after, like all dramas should be. I guess the fact that the sister became the queen is a good thing. Chae-Gyung would not have been happy doing that. It was funny at the end, when Shin was all disappointed about the ring thing. Then the thing in the car and how she was just sitting there when he got in was hilarious. The ending was good, I guess, kind of a hanging open.


Way back to near the front, both Shin and Chae-Gyung’s friends were a good addition to the drama. Comic relief and also to create the scene. Haha, Yul had no friends. He was too busy colluding to have a friend other than his ma.
The adults in this drama were, to me, just another complication to entertain the audience. I don’t think it was that important. Well, maybe the Shin vs. Yul thing in Pae-Ha’s eyes. And the fact that Yul’s mom and Shin’s Dad had a past made Yul decide to end this and run away. The story would have gone on without it playing such a big part.
I think I despise Yul’s mom more than Yul. She was the base of all the evilness. And Hwang Hu Tae Hu mama was all clueless trying to make peace. Che, che.

It all worked out in the end anyways, so whatever… I hope there is a Goong 2. But how would it go on? I hope she doesn’t really have a child. All those foreshadowing pictures were just too much… But at the rate they’re going, I don’t think there’s going to be a Goong 2. It turned out the website DramaWiki was getting their info from was a fake, so there really is no progress. But, I did hear that Goong S is a failure, and everyone hates it. So they might make Goong 2 because their original idea was stupid. However, they might think nobody likes the Goong theme so they’ll give up on it all together. Which is bad. Anyhow, we’ll just have to be on the look out for more news on it. Heeh… this was such a good drama that I think no other Kdrama would be better than it. So I don’t think I’ll watch any other KDramas, just let the good reputation stay there.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Tokyo Juliet 東方茱麗葉



I watched this drama on and off. I started sometime in the fall and have just recently finished. The reason, one, is that my sister hates this drama so I have to watch it in my spare time, and two, because it drags, on and on and on.

It’s good how they kept to the genre/theme, fashion design. This made the series much more appealing, unlike Magicians of Love which, in the middle, lost all traces of the topic hairstyling. I loved the clothing, one of the reasons I kept watching it. But that’s expected, because, after all the drama is on fashion design. The characters were very likable too. All their friends show up at the end. I didn’t like how they started liking each other way earlier in the series; this took out the suspense of the relationship. But I guess that’s how the manga went.

Again, in the drama, Ariel Lin’s character is way different from any of her other characters, this shows how competent Ariel is. >w<


Oh, Oh! And I forgot to mention, Tokyo Juliet has the best OST ever! Best one I’ve listened to so far. Care to compete?

Love Contract 愛情合約



This drama is quite hard to decide on. For one, its ending was horrid, but how the ending was different and special made it quite appealing. Also, I hate when dramas feel very lonely and desolate at the end. I hate how at the denouement, it seemed as if everything dropped and turned and everything was turned around. You can see how conservative I am, about how a story should be traditionally written. But, on another note, they did live happily ever after at the end, even though nothing was really solved. But you could also say that they reached understanding through love and forgiveness. Yes, this drama confused me quite a lot.
On to acting, this is the second drama I’ve seen that stars Ariel Lin. Again, her acting is flawless. Her portrayal of a tomboy is perfect yet, because of her nature, a bit of her girliness shows. After I found out that Love Contract was Mike He’s first big role in a drama, I forgave him for his acting. Very well done, for a model, but you have to admit, Ah Mong and Ah ken are exactly the same. Yes, Ah Ken is a little more gentle and artisty, but nevertheless, there is no difference.


This drama scared me a lot. I got the feeling of two lovers trapped in a world of misfortune and misunderstanding. The loneliness they felt scared me. –_- Like, at first there was so much people around, then the dad person ran away, Ah Ken’s mom died, Shiao Fong’s sister went away, photographer guy left. Then at the denouement, dun dun dun, Shiao Bai dies and Shiao Fong’s half dead. And for the rest of the last two episodes, it’s Ah Ken wandering around with Shiao Fong recalling all these events and it’s so sad. T-T That’s when you feel that sad loneliness down in the pit of your heart slowly rising… well, yeah, you get the point…
I’m falling behind on all these reviews. Gotta get writing…

Sunday, February 04, 2007

Ariel Lin Snoopy CM for 7-11

YAY! Ariel's recent CM for 7-11. I first saw it on YouTube and didn't know it was a recent one. Until I saw the commercial repeatedly on the online TV that my mom watches. I wonder if my cousins have any of those snoopy things. they were all wild over the Doraemon magnets in the summer, hehe.

On other things, Ariel has come back from New York!! Now she can start filming ISWAK 2!! YAY, cannot wait!!! heeeheeehehehhe. I heard she went to the same school as Paris Hilton's cousin, talk about a very very small world! I hope she enjoyed her time there. I think learning is a good excuse for not doing dramas. Haaha, thats a bit cruel. Its just I think going to school is more important than doing show biz. But who doesnt want to be a celebrity eh?