Asian drama update

[alexandral]

I have watched quite few different things recently:

Slow Dance. I gulped it in one go on Thursday which resulted in huge under-sleep on Friday. This is a lovely drama if you are a fan of the story how "an older woman helps a younger man to find himself and after that they marry in a very happy way". To be fair, the drama felt a little as if it was made to cater for the needs of over-thirty working ladies. But I didn't mind this at all because any drama that has both Fujiki Naohito and Tsumabuki Satoshi brooding, angsting and falling in love is wonderful by default.

I would appreciate recommendations of any dramas with Fujiki Naohito and Tsumabuki Satoshi very much.

Money's Warfare I have almost finished it, I just don't want to watch the last episode because I don't want the drama to finish. I have fallen in love with it's crazy ways completely. It scooped Baeksang awards for the best drama and the best male perfomace by Park Shing Yang. I must do a full post on "Maney's Warfare" to try to lure others into watching it :D, but at this time I have to mention that the episode 13 had the best kiss in the history of Asian drama. :D

Powerful Opponents (Kangjeok) I loved the first two episodes for the sake of the female herouine who is the cutest thing and the secondary guy, Yoo Gwang Pil who is wonderfully gloomy. He rocks my socks with his reserve. On the other hand, this drama has the ugliest lead male I have ever seen up to date. The President's Son has: Rabbit Teeth, Scared eyes, Bad dress sense and the haircut of Hong Gil Dong. I intend to call him Rabbit Teeth (or RT in short) from now on.

See what I mean: (Update: I watched more of "Powerful Opponents and Rabbit Teeth is improving on me).



One question: Do female bodyguards wear high-heels? Wouldn't this interfere with the duty? Don't they have "sensible shoes" dress code??????

Zettai Kareshi Love, pure love. If anyone have read the manga, please spoil me - Whom will the herouine (Riko) will choose at the end? The Robot? The Cheeky Manager Guy? I am rooting for the Cheeky Manager.. because he is human and the Robot (a gorgeous looking guy, no doubt!) is not and Riko won't be able to have many cute babies with the Robot, right?

Around 40.
Big plus: Fujiki Naohito!
Big minus: He plays a militant ecologically conscious guy and this self-righteous type annoys me to no end. I have personal reasons. :D
Some more big plus: I have only seen two episodes but so far I like the way the drama is dealing with the questions of "What is more important for a woman? Her career? Her family? Her friends? And should a woman marry and live in her marriage without love, just for the sake of the social acceptance?". The main female herouine is awesome and absolutely free of any stereotypes.
The result: I would recommend this to any fan of grown-up range of Japanese dramas.

Comments

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for all these recs!!!

I rewinded some parts of "Slow Dance" .. :D Wasn't the ending wonderful? I was rooting for Richi so much.

ah_chung told me that Itoshi Kimi e is about a photographer that will go blind in 3 months and a pediatrician in training who ends up falling for him and the obstacles that they have to overcome to be together.

This sounds totally yummy. I love stories about "the love against all odds". I don't like terminal illness stories (unless they involve Hyun Bin) but any story where a disadvantaged person finds his/her haplinness is a total win. They make me feel better about the unfair world we live in. :D

[miss-dian.livejournal.com]

Yes, the ending of Slow Dance was great! It's a slow but feel good drama :) Re: Fujiki Naohito. I just bought a DVD of his live concert performance from a few years back. Am keen to see whether or not I will like his music ^^ I thin for a first drama of his, I will try Hotaru no Hikari.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Oh gosh, they all sing, don't they? I am not a huge fan of Asian pop at all, but I am generally not a fan of pop.
I think for my next Fujiki Naohito's drama I am sold on the "photographer goes blind" one.. :D


But I am watching Aishiteiru to Itte Kure now. So great. It is like "Silence" without dying.

[miss-dian.livejournal.com]

Oh gosh, they all sing, don't they?
*laugh* You are so right. Even Daniel Henney seems to be doing a bit of singing. In his latest movie My Father, he also sang a bit (though I don't think he's very good, hehe).

I am not a huge fan of Asian pop at all, but I am generally not a fan of pop.
Ah, you must listen to Faye Wong! I just discovered her songs recently, and really love them. The ones I have listened to so far and really like are: The Book of Laughter and Forgetting, But Meen Fei Hung, and Hong Dou. She doesn't sound like she sings off chord either, unlike (you once said) Jay Chou *grin*

Re: Aishiteiru to Itte Kure. It sounds very good from your review and dangermousie's. I am currently in between watching Bad Love and Band of Brothers ^^

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I love Fujinki Naohito's singing. Because he doesn't go over the top or wear stupid sparkly stuff or whatever. He just stands there and sings and I approve of that sort of thing much more than JE.

Here:

http://dangermousie.livejournal.com/1048885.html#cutid4

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Oh, this was very pleasant- thank you so much. Don't tell anyone but I am scared for life of JE. :D

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I won't tell if you won't: JE freaks me the heck out too. Yikes. Ugh.

I like people like Yamapi and Takki in dramas despite them being in JE, not because of it, and every time I like an actor who is not in JE, I feel much better about liking them. It feels less...weird.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

and every time I like an actor who is not in JE, I feel much better about liking them. It feels less...weird.

I find it hard to separate different sides of what one or another actor does.. I often even try to ignore any personal information about the actors I like too because some less savoury things in the actors' lifes or even interviews where they talk "less than intelligently" can spoil my viewing pleasure. I know it is silly but I am just like this.