90 posts tagged “drama”
So who isn't happy about the Golden Bell result, especially for Best Actor?
Now, for best actor, I was hoping, and expecting, Zaizai to win.
Okay, Zhao You Ting (Mark) was good but I agree with most netizens' observation that the GBA panel seemed to have judged him based on his being a newbie. For a newbie, certainly, Mark acted well.
BUT.
His role was one-dimensional, it did not show depth in characterization. On the other hand, Zaizai's role was more difficult to do. He was good and at the same time bad. He was funny, at the same time pathetic. And Zaizai managed to get across the constant struggle of his character.
That is why I think Zaizai deserves the award more.
Ah well, another year, another GBA. They don't fail to disappoint anyway, always.
Let's see now if there's truth to the GBA curse. That would be unfortunate for a newcomer like Mark who still has a lot to offer though.
I just finished watching Black&White and am I glad it's over.
And the most unacceptable factor for me is the basic foundation of this drama. A would-be-president, his illegitimate son, the love of his life, his best friend, the best friend's daughter and the daughter's love interest. The ties just defy logic. And the romance just brought down the entire story. It was totally unnecessary and completely annoying (now I hate not only the lead female character but Ivy Chen herself)!
Zaizai is good as the bumbling cop with a mysterious past, he provided the much-needed comic relief. Of the F4, I liked Zaizai the least but I found myself liking him more here. Of course Zhao You Ting is the biggest discovery of the year in Taiwan and for a newcomer, he can really act. Where do I get a number to be Mrs Zhao?
I admire Tsai Yue Hsun's work but he has the tendency to over-extend things until they become too exaggerated for comfort. The first half of this drama was fun and riveting to watch but everything falls apart in the second half when all the conspiracies and complicated ties start to unravel. Too many subplots to handle. All in all though, still a good one to watch. Not really looking forward to the movie but will still watch it when it comes out.
got curious over Zhao You Ting so I watched.
Not like any other drama I've seen.
it's like watching a movie.
reminds me of Infernal Affairs too.
I always like Tsai Yue Hsun's works, except for Meteor Garden 2.
Zaizai is so funny as a Lothario, laiback, vain cop.
But Mark... omg no wonder he's Taiwan e-circle's biggest find this year.
The blur (Zaizai) character alongside the overzealous one (Mark) is a good combo.
and Mark looking pissed all the time is kind of unintentionally hilarious.
Or maybe I just always go for the bad guy.
on Mark Zhao!
This is how Taku looks in his ongoing drama, except he's usually in a funny-looking plaid suit with a hat that makes him look more like a magician than a neuroscientist.
I prefer his look as the prime minister in CHANGE (why is it that the titles of Taku's dramas have to be in all caps?), but I would still want to watch this. And I'm glad the ratings are high.
Ah this Matsujun, first few minutes into SMILE and he's already making me cry.
I don't know where the drama is going. It feels so heavy for me. It's also so unlike Matsujun's previous roles (Bambino comes to mind, he was also the underdog there but that did not tackle such a sensitive topic as SMILE does). I hope he gets an award for his efforts.
After Korea, China is next to do a remake of Hana Yori Dango and they're calling it... Meteor Rain. Already, the F4 cast are being bashed by fans as the fugliest of the lot. See for yourself here. I have one word: baduy. And if that's not enough, there's another report that the Philippines is also planning its own remake. This is the first time I came across this news so I have no idea if this is even true. And the cast? Oh no, please no.
Disclaimer: It's a free world and what's written here is just my opinion and not meant to "badmouth" the Korean production.
I really tried to like Boys Over Flowers. But...
Ko Hye Sun is too old for the role of Jian Di and her feistiness annoys me. A friend (I won't mention who you are just in case you don't want to be identified) said she is channeling Nodame in acting as Jian Di and I agree. The original Makino Tsukushi is supposed to be feisty and cute, not a weed you'd really love to step on so she would stop annoying you.
Lee Min Ho's Joon Pyo... I have no words for those hot rollers curls. Oh I have one. Peluka. He does look like Jerry Yan and perhaps that was the main factor why they picked him. But for some reason, he's just good looking but not quite there as Domyoji Tsukasa. Jerry, for all his stiffness, was a funny Daomingsi. Matsumoto Jun, undoubtedly, owned the role and while he may have been short to be the perfect Domyoji, he made up for it with how he combined dorkiness and arrogance and came up with perhaps the most endearing portrayal of the famous rich idiot.
Kim Hyun Joong as Ji Hoo reminds me of a white lady, not only because of his complexion, but like a ghost, he has no expression. He looks through you, he even looks through water. I mean, Hanazawa Rui was laidback but never this lifeless.
Kim Joon is passable as Song Woo Bin perhaps because I never really care for the role. I mean, Vanness Wu made a very entertaining Mei Zhou but he was the only one who shone in the role IMHO.
Now, Kim Bum as So Yi Jung is perhaps the only reason why I would like Boys Over Flowers. I always have a soft spot for the role because both Ken Zhu and Shota Matsuda were good as Xi Men/ Soujiro and Kim Bum is as equally good.
Overall, I can't understand what the scriptwriter and the director are trying to achieve. First, Domyoji is supposed to be unwittingly funny but why is it that I can't laugh at Joon Pyo's lines? Is it because the script itself falls flat or is it that Min Ho falls short at giving his role the right ounce of bakaness? Then there is the whole feel of the drama itself. I read that there was a change of camera director and the one who's doing the job now has a documentary background. What the hell right, this is supposed to be a light-hearted romance drama not Christiana Amanpour on CNN. The Korean production really needs to lighten up, including Min Ho and Hye Sun then maybe they'd be more fun to watch.
I'm done watching Worlds Within (except for the ultra heartbreaking episode 11 where Ji Oh wanted to break up and the SP) and it was actually a pleasant experience. Except for that glaucoma thing because I felt that's where the drama fell into Korean melodrama territory. Perhaps the production panicked at the low ratings and wanted to inject something melodramatic to it to rein in the audience but that route of one of the leads becoming ill and wanting to break up has been used countless of times before it doesn't work anymore. Besides, if you're so sick, would you still think of breaking up? I don't think you can even think of anything else but to get better, how much more break up with someone. Aiyshe.
My fave characters are (from left below) Uhm Ki Joon (sharp tongued, egocentric and high rating drama director who's the son of a politician), Lee Seo Woo (the eccentric scriptwriter), Park Yun Sup (the drama CP who pokes his nose in everyone's business and is just outrightly funny... imagine an old man who is gossipy). I'm guessing the lady with Park Yun Sup is writer Noh Hee Kyung who's responsible for the meaty lines in this drama.
I was just reading through the forums on WW and many people were really disappointed in it huh? The concept about behind-the-scenes of a drama production is not exactly new (they did it with On Air which rated really high). But I guess people got bored with all the talk, which ironically, is the gem of this production, aside from the cinematography. If one is looking for mindless, senseless drama just for the sake of drama, then I suppose this is not the one to watch.
