IRIS

After years of just making movies, Lee Byun Hyung comes back to TV drama. In this exciting, thrilling and extremely high production series, IRIS brings together some of the best well known actors in a story of friendship and betrayal that spans across several countries all around the world. The story sets off with two friends, Kim Hyun Jun and Jin Sa Woo, who are very competitive soldiers, who eventually end up working for the National Security Sector (NSS). Through various missions, they prove themselves to be of great value to the organization, but little did they know what the organization was really there for. Without giving out too much spoilers, I want to focus more on the production value of this series. IRIS is no doubt a big budget film, as it is filmed in several countries, including Korea, Russia, Tokyo and the U.S. It also boasts major stars that include Lee Byun Hyung, Kim Tae hee, Jung Joon Ho, Kim Seung Woo and Kim So yeon and many more.

Shinobi - Heart Under Blade

I hesitated to watch this film, because most Japanese live action films are not that great. Their Horror films are great, just when it comes to drama, sci fi, there's a lot lacking. However on their anime side, it kicks ass!
This film is about two Ninja tribes, Manjidani and Tsubagakure, who have been at war for 400 years. Due to a restriction to fight, the tribes have been hiding out in the mountains. They are called by the shogun to have a competition, the 5 best fighters from both tribes will have a duel until one is standing.
Many people may have thought that the film was based on Shinobi the video game made by Sega, and were very disappointed at the film. However, the film itself is aweseome. I really liked the concept of the film, I'm not sure how true it is historically, but the cinematography, the music, the special effects, the action sequences, and the story were all well done. The actors were pretty good for the most part, costume design is cool as well. It seems as if the director had borrowed many ideas from anime or other ninja like films. I'm not sure if that was intentional, or maybe I don't know enough about Japanese history, but some of the characters were very similar to animes such as Ninja Scroll or Ballistik. Yes, even Kagero was in this film. Also as a bonus, Ayumi Hamasaki sings her song "Heaven" for this film. One of the rare action/drama films from Japan that I would recommend. B+

Sorry, I love you

Sorry, I love you is a story about hope, love, anger, revenge and forgiveness. Known as "Misa," it was a hit drama in 2004, starring Lim So Jeong and So Ji Sub. This drama is quite different from the usual boy meets girl and falls in love stories. Cha Mu-hyeok abandoned by his mother at birth, is adopted by a family in Austrailia. (Historically, it seems that many Korean single mothers had put up their child for adoption during this time, mainly for a chance to start over since society had looked down on single mothers). Mu-hyeok believes that his mother had to leave him because of hardship, so he wants to some how make it big and find her one day to take care of her. Through his quest to find his mother, he meets Song Eun-Chae, who works for a lady that he believes is his mother. After discovering his mother, Mu-hyeok only has more questions unanswered, through all of it though, there was Eun-Chae...
One of the major drawbacks of the series though, had to be the poor editing. Some scenes didnot transition very well. However, both lead actors Lim So Jeong and So Ji Sub gave a wonderful performance in this drama. I was really suprised at how well the story was written. The writer's choice of bringing up this sensitive subject (adoption) as the premises of the story takes the viewer right into the lives of the unfortunate and abandoned children. In the end, the viewer will hear echos of Park Hyo Shin's "Snow Flower" song...
B+

Lee Young Ae attends Charity Show in Shanghai

Lee Young Ae is probably one of the biggest celebrities in Asia at the moment, mainly due to the popularity of the Kdrama Dae Jang Geum (aka The Great Jang Geum or the international title "The Jewel in the Palace").


I'm not going to do a full review of LYA, as you could probably google on her name and you will find many awesome sites out there that will give you details about her. (Not to mention all the wallpapers and vods).

This might take a bit to load, but it's well worth it. (There's a bonus at the end of the clip - you'll see LYA sing Onara).


oh my god, I wish I was in shanghai at the time when LYA came. LYA has been traveling around Asia attending and helping these charity events. In this case however, Kelly Chen (a Popular Hong Kong actress/singer) also met LYA while she was in shanghai. That's got to tell you something, even Chinese celebrities are fans of LYA. But dang, to have both of them in the same place is like heaven. Two of the most beautiful asian ladies in the world at one place. During their meeting, you could hear that they were exchanging compliments to each other. I had a friend translate some of the words that Kelly Chen had commented on LYA in mandarin, "Her skin is very smooth...and she is also very feminine..." LYA is admired by so many in East Asia and I'm sure here in the Americas as well. Only if she would come, that would really be awesome to get her autograph (I already got Kelly chens at her 2003 concert in San Francisco). Of all the comments or compliments I've heard of LYA, I think the best one came from the LG Electronics referring to LYA as Asia's Sweetheart. "Lee Young Ae is more than just a beautiful actress," said Mr. Sang kook Chung, Executive Vice President of LG Electronics, "While her image is sophisticated and upscale, Lee young Ae as Daejanggeum projects the aura of an out-of-box thinker and caring human being."

Credits:
www.leeyoungae.net
www.withyoungae.com
LG Electronics

Jay Chou - Huo Yuan Chia EP

After grabbing almost all the major awards from 12th annual Chinese Music Award, Jay continues to produce kick ass music. Written in two days, Jay releases Huo Yuan Chia for Jet li's final wushu film. The song sounds like Jay mixed classic sounds with mondern beats. He even used the "dan" voice (a traditional role of the female in a bejing opera). Many have said that this song is repetitive of his style, some hints of Blue Hurricane and Dragon Fist are noticable in the song. C'mon guys, the dude had two days to do it. Regardless, the song is still its own and I'm sure topping the charts in Asia. Besides CD single, the package comes with a major bonus DVD. The DVD includes all of the music videos from his recent album November Chopin (including both songs from Initial D). In addition also includes the Huo Yuan Chia MV as well. I have to say my favorite videos were "Huo Yuan Chia" "Nocturne" (A major hit in asia) "Hair like snow" "Maple" -- dude the DVD is worth it alone haha. Also have to give Jay Thumbs up for having some of the cutest asian girls in his Videos...particularly "hair like snow" and "Attacked from all sides"-- the guy has style...oh by the way, he did this song for FREE - something he always wanted to do for one of his idol...Jet li. A-

Kelly Chen - Live in Concert - Lost in Paradise

Kelly Chen's release of her 2005 Concert tour dvd in HK and China. I have a few of her live in concerts, and this one is suprisingly quite good. Those lucky people in China gets to attend one her best production concerts. The costumes are awesome, the tracks are excellent choices mixing from slow and fast pace songs.

(it looks like there are some influences from Ayumi Hamasaki's production - still different, since it's kelly chen)
After so many years (I believe Kelly started her career around '96), she still has quite a lot of loyal fans. In a province such as HK, where fashion and stars come and go, kelly shows that she still has it at her age.

The concert DVD is a must have for all Kelly Chen fans, it has karaoke functions to allow you to sing on your own if you'd like (uses multiangle mode to switch back and forth). It's a 3 DVD set, which includes over 30 songs on 2 Dvds, with the 3rd disc is a bonus, a compilation of mandarin songs from her tour throughout china! She sings classic hits as "wishing we would live forever" (wong faye), "The Moon represents my heart"(Teresa Teng). Even better on the 3rd disc it includes her live performance of "Hope" Both Mandarin and Cantonese versions. (Hope is chinese cover version of the Onara song from Dae Jang Geum).

I really enjoyed this and I hope Kelly will make her 3rd appearance in America (hopefully west coast). I'd go again, as her concerts are always entertaining. B (I would give an A if I was actually there -- major difference between live and watching it on your tv screen).

Innocent Steps

Moon Geum-Young's most recent film (A Tale of two sisters, My little bride). Geum-Young pairs up with Park Geon-hyeong to make a film about a fallen Dance star who finds hope and inspiration through his new partner. Initially, I thought this film would be more about dancing, something similar to the Japanese film "Shall we dance." The title of the film makes it sound as if it were her first steps into dancing (which is true) but the director went ahead and added a love story. A young korean china borned girl - Jang Chae rin is mistaken to be a great dancer marries the fallen dancer Na Young sae. Young Sae hopes to make it back into the Dance competitions after several injuries, only to find out that chae rin is a newbie. Chae rin shows Young sae that she has the dedication to learn and become the best partner he will ever have...
Both actors did quite an awesome job with their dancing (I heard that they had some hard core training for several months). The music of the film is quite good, however the soundtrack does not include the samba song that is played during the compeition. Geum Young also shows off her vocals here as she sings a classic Teresa Teng song. You could see that Geum Young is maturing as an actress, although at times still the cute little girl that she is. I was real hesitate to watch this film, after hearing so many bad reviews about it, however it's quite a nice mellow film. Not as fun as My Little Bride, still if you're a Moon Geum Young fan, you'll surely enjoy it. Give this a B-

Old Boy

"Old Boy" is sick. Plain and simple. Of all the disturbing movies out there, this one takes the cake. If you decide to watch it, be advised, it's very disturbing. The closest analogy to "Old Boy" that comes to mind is one of Stanley Kublick's psychologically inflicting dramas, like "A Clockwork Orange." But even Mr. Kublick's dark, atypical films don't stack up to Director Park Chan-wook's repulsive "Old Boy."

The whole revenge scheme in "Old Boy" is wrong, uncivilized and unnecessary. It's unnecessary to put someone in jail for 15 years. It's unnecessary to cut off the tongue and yank the teeth out with a hammer. And it's definitely unnecessary to plot revenge of such mass scale. Boys will be boys. They do and say stupid things. Let's all forgive each other and run to the ice cream truck for some Klondike bar or drumstick ice cream cone. Let's hug each other and watch Transformers or Looney Tunes on Saturday mornings.

That is why society emphasizes good parenting. Without good nurturing and spankings, youngsters will turn into fanatical maniacs and spend too much time plotting evil instead of learning grammar and arithmetic. If every grade school bully end up plotting revenge such as in the movie, civilized society would be nonexistent.

The only thing Director Chan-wook succeeded in accomplishing with "Old Boy" is disgust viewers with gory scenes and a despicable incest revelation at the end of the movie. I'm sorry to say, but the Oedipus Rex ending doesn't quite work here. It is neither tragic nor heart-rending. It doesn't make us lament the madman. Instead, it makes the viewers sick and walk out of the theater.

"Old Boy" is a pile of crap gigantic pile of crap. My copy ended up in the trash can.

F

My Little Bride

Starring Moon Geum-Young (A tale of two sisters) and Kim Rae won (Rooftop cat,...ing) is a light hearted romance comedy about an arranged marriage. Sang-min (Rae Won) and Bo-Eun (Geum Young)are to be wed to fulfill a wish of their grandfathers. Both Grandfathers had intended to wed their kids to each other, but both ended up with sons. Fortunately (or unfortunately) their sons gave birth to one girl and one boy. Bo-Eun at 16 and still in High school is attracted to another boy in the same school, while Sang Min is finishing up college and working on this teaching credentials, are tricked by their dying grandfather into going through with the ceremony. Although it may be a sensitive issue (marriage at a young age), the director takes the subject and throws in many realistic and unrealistic scenarios and creates an entertaining film. I do have to say though, Kim Rae won is just like himself, the Kim Rae Won that we may have seen in ...ing, rooftop cat, or My Love Patzii. But Moon Geum Young steals the show with her cute looks and facial expressions. She creates the mood for all the events that happens...this little one has a lot promising talent. The Ost is also very good, a catchy opening and some nice instrumentals that'll get you whistling with the song. A nice romantic comedy. B+ for this one.

Full House

“Full House” is a house full of hate and love as most of the mini-series consists of harsh bickering followed by gentle, hesitant make ups between the two main characters. A romantic comedy starring Lee Young-jae (Korean pop star "Bi" or "Rain") and Han Ji-eum (Song Hae Gyo), it is a story about an arrogant, aloof actor and a sassy, struggling writer trying to settle their differences and getting along under the same roof. The drama draws its humor from arguments across the dining table, in front of the bathroom sink, on the Mercedes roadster ride to/from the city, and pretty much everywhere else in between.

Most of the dialogue sequences eventually lead to childish remarks and quarrels over trivial matters, like for example, which toilet paper to get. One ply or two ply? This brand or that brand? In the end, someone gets his or her feelings hurt, and ultimately it leaves the viewers hoping for a reasonable resolution.

The source of such dysfunctional relationship lies in the fact that Young-jae is: 1) incapable of expressing his true feelings, and 2) he suffers from a real bad case of the saving-face syndrome. The former is so severe that it took the whole series for him to finally open up and spill his heart out in the last episode.

Indeed, Young-jae would make a great psychological case study. Let's take a few examples. Instead of a simple apology, he becomes hostile and makes Ji-eum do chores. His “I’m sorry” comes out as “Go clean and cook!” His “I love you” is something like “Do you want ice cream?” It is this kind of arrogant, tough-guy attitude that inflicts mental trauma and instigates conflicts. Watching the dialogue sequences is like waiting for a train wreck to happen.



Beef aside, “Full House” is a funny and captivating mini-series. While the constant arguments may irritate some viewers, the series' other qualities cannot be disregarded. It progresses quickly and is never boring. The actors truly embody their roles and their smart, witty dialogue makes the series entertaining and interesting. Ji-eum’s jokes may suck and Lee Young’s name-calling may be hurtful more than amusing, but it is this kind of chemistry that makes the viewers laugh. After a while, the incessant banter/whining/argument across the dinner table doesn’t really get old. Instead, it becomes satisfying and heart-warming, for that’s when we know that everything is “normal.”



Most viewers might not mind so much (or even notice and care), but there are few inconsistencies with the whole scheme of things that just doesn’t make sense. First of all, what's with the poor writer/maid wearing designer Paul Frank t-shirts and jammies? It looks great on Ji-eum, but those monkey-faced t-shirt ain’t exactly cheap (don’t get the wrong idea, I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing one of those. I got some female friends who dig that stuff). And then, you have this nice luxurious house without any appliances, like a washer, dryer and dishwasher. What is up with that? What really doesn't fly tough, is the whole idea about having a beautiful, expensive house with no car. That's just wrong. Although, it is conceivable that Ji-eum was never able to buy a cheap Hyundai after her parent’s accident.

I’m not going to dissect the whole drama apart, as I realize every mini-series has faults. So before things get sidetracked, let’s get back to the review.

The ending is a bit of a disappointment. Most viewers would surely disagree with me, but the happy ending sure feels less satisfying than one that would’ve amounted to a painful, even tragic, ending. Although I’m definitely not asking for a soul-crushing depressing ending for "Full House," it would’ve been favorable, and in many ways, consistent with the series for the two leads to walk away from a relationship that seems to be doomed from the very start.

A perfect example of this idea is the 80’s sitcom “Cheers.” Similar to Young-jae and Ji-eum’s rocky relationship, Sam and Diane’s turbulent tale ends amicably. But unlike our couple in “Full House,” the ending for Sam and Diane’s saga is a bittersweet one. Diane, an ambitious, career-oriented woman decides to quit waiting tables and leaves "Cheers" for the opportunity to use her intelligence and make it big as a writer, and in the end, Sam watches Diane leave the bar for the last time while uttering to himself “Have a good life.”

That been said, the reader must realize that this is coming from a critic of happy endings, and thinks the whole idea of “opposites attract” is horseshit. A neat freak (Young-jae) cannot live with a slob (Ji-eum). No way.

In the last episode of “Full House,” the unhealthy relationship is all but gone. Young-jae’s tough-love and Ji-eum’s sassiness are replaced by two characters forcibly trying to get along and make things work. It is a hasty solution to a complicated, long-term relationship problem; one that doesn’t quite work in reality. But it is a minor weakness compared to the story as a whole. As romantic comedies go, it is perhaps more fitting to have a beautiful, cute finale.

A-