![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Oct. 13th, 2008 01:31 pmIt has been a while since I was feeling head-over-the-heels in love with a Korean drama. The current airing dramas either have no subtitles yet ("Painter of the Wind" with Park Shin Yang whom I adore) or , like "Mawang" in the past, have subtitles that stop appearing ("When it's at night", I like you so much!) or are 50 episodes long that is far above my limit of attention span ("East of Eden").
I have tried "Save the last dance for me" but it didn't grab me, because the main couple's wedding came too soon, because there were not enough obstacles/angst, and mostly because I didn't feel enough chemistry between the heroune and the hero. I read somewhere (must be![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
dangermousie's journal) that the actor playing the hero was dating the secondary girl in RL. This shows, I think.
Beautiful days
But then I started watching "Beautiful days" and fell in love with every single minute of it. I am going to recommend it until I drop, it is absolutely made for me. My belated big thanks todangermousie who recommended this drama to me in the past.
The hero, Min Chul, a son of a music record company boss, is best described by his own words "I am no good at showing my feelings, I am more at ease hiding them". He is not cold, but comes across as one because he never lets himself to show his emotions. He grew up in a family where everyone lies, rejects and betrays each other and worked out a mechanism for himself, "in order to avoid rejection I will reject others first". This could have been a hard role to play for many actors, but not for Lee Byung Hun (could be seen in excellent films "Joined Security Area" and "Bittersweet Life") who is so good at playing subtle hidden emotions I want to freeze every moment he is in.
The herouine, a young artist Yon Soo, in played by probably the most classically beautiful Korean actress, Choi Ji Woo ("Winter Sonata"). She is one of these women who are so naturally graceful and exquisite that you can't help but fall in love with their every gesture. You know, the type of women that don't seem to belong in our century? Whose strength is in their inner integrity and kindness. They are no pushover but at the same time they never ever say a single unkind word and always think about others first?
The third wheel is Min Chul half-brother, Sun Jae. The actor and singer, Ryu Shi Won, is not pretty at all, but I like his character. Like Yul in "Goong", he is brought up by a mother who is harbouring some weird agenda. Plus Min Chul and Sun Jae's father is a prime example of Korean drama's terrible rich fathers, whose idea of good parenting is to throw Sun Jae's electric piano out of the window (it is no good for a guy to waste his days playing a piano, you see!). So I guess, between his mother and his father, I don't blame Sun Jae for wanting some love and acceptance for himself and falling in love with lovely and kind Yon Soo. But I wish the drama went the other way and he fell in love with Yon Soo's "sister" (a girl she grew up in an orphanage with) instead, they seem to have a great chemistry together.
The fourth wheel is Yon Soo's friend from the times they grew together in the orphanage, Sena. She comes across as obnoxious but she also has some cuteness and tenacity. I like her moments with Sun Jae the most. The actress (Lee Jung Hyun) is also a singer and the journey of her character on the way to the top of the music industry is quite interesting to watch.
Min Chul's younger sister, Min Ji is played by my favourite (by far!) Korean actress, Shin Min Ah. Min Ghul and Min ji are a true family and their interactions are wonderful to watch.
The story is very interesting and consists of several threads. Firstly, there is a part about the main OTP, full of angst and excellent kissing scenes. Secondly, there is a part about a mysterious singer who distributes his records only over the Internet, Zero. Thirdly, there is a big explosive bunch of lies and betrayals of the Lee family. Fourthly, there is a terminal illness story, BUT WITH A GOOD ENDING!!!! Fifthly, there is Sena's story which is reminiscent of "X-factor" or "Pop idol" programs (if you like this type of thing). Sixly, there is Min Ji's finding herself story. All good stuff.
( My favourite scene so far, in screencaps )
PS: Somebody please watch this with me. I am exploding! :D
I have tried "Save the last dance for me" but it didn't grab me, because the main couple's wedding came too soon, because there were not enough obstacles/angst, and mostly because I didn't feel enough chemistry between the heroune and the hero. I read somewhere (must be
dangermousie's journal) that the actor playing the hero was dating the secondary girl in RL. This shows, I think.Beautiful days
But then I started watching "Beautiful days" and fell in love with every single minute of it. I am going to recommend it until I drop, it is absolutely made for me. My belated big thanks to
dangermousie who recommended this drama to me in the past.The hero, Min Chul, a son of a music record company boss, is best described by his own words "I am no good at showing my feelings, I am more at ease hiding them". He is not cold, but comes across as one because he never lets himself to show his emotions. He grew up in a family where everyone lies, rejects and betrays each other and worked out a mechanism for himself, "in order to avoid rejection I will reject others first". This could have been a hard role to play for many actors, but not for Lee Byung Hun (could be seen in excellent films "Joined Security Area" and "Bittersweet Life") who is so good at playing subtle hidden emotions I want to freeze every moment he is in.
The herouine, a young artist Yon Soo, in played by probably the most classically beautiful Korean actress, Choi Ji Woo ("Winter Sonata"). She is one of these women who are so naturally graceful and exquisite that you can't help but fall in love with their every gesture. You know, the type of women that don't seem to belong in our century? Whose strength is in their inner integrity and kindness. They are no pushover but at the same time they never ever say a single unkind word and always think about others first?
The third wheel is Min Chul half-brother, Sun Jae. The actor and singer, Ryu Shi Won, is not pretty at all, but I like his character. Like Yul in "Goong", he is brought up by a mother who is harbouring some weird agenda. Plus Min Chul and Sun Jae's father is a prime example of Korean drama's terrible rich fathers, whose idea of good parenting is to throw Sun Jae's electric piano out of the window (it is no good for a guy to waste his days playing a piano, you see!). So I guess, between his mother and his father, I don't blame Sun Jae for wanting some love and acceptance for himself and falling in love with lovely and kind Yon Soo. But I wish the drama went the other way and he fell in love with Yon Soo's "sister" (a girl she grew up in an orphanage with) instead, they seem to have a great chemistry together.
The fourth wheel is Yon Soo's friend from the times they grew together in the orphanage, Sena. She comes across as obnoxious but she also has some cuteness and tenacity. I like her moments with Sun Jae the most. The actress (Lee Jung Hyun) is also a singer and the journey of her character on the way to the top of the music industry is quite interesting to watch.
Min Chul's younger sister, Min Ji is played by my favourite (by far!) Korean actress, Shin Min Ah. Min Ghul and Min ji are a true family and their interactions are wonderful to watch.
The story is very interesting and consists of several threads. Firstly, there is a part about the main OTP, full of angst and excellent kissing scenes. Secondly, there is a part about a mysterious singer who distributes his records only over the Internet, Zero. Thirdly, there is a big explosive bunch of lies and betrayals of the Lee family. Fourthly, there is a terminal illness story, BUT WITH A GOOD ENDING!!!! Fifthly, there is Sena's story which is reminiscent of "X-factor" or "Pop idol" programs (if you like this type of thing). Sixly, there is Min Ji's finding herself story. All good stuff.
( My favourite scene so far, in screencaps )
PS: Somebody please watch this with me. I am exploding! :D
