Lovely People! 

American yardie & fellow drama addict since late 2012. I work in the film industry so generally I'm more of a movie person than a TV series person, but now that I've caught the Asian drama bug I'm not in any rush to be  cured!


PICK OF THE MONTH
I watch several movies a month & will choose the one I enjoyed the most for each month. Doesn't mean it was the best movie ever, just that of all the movies I saw in that month the one chosen resonated the most with me. 
Movie of the Month (April):

Love and Honour (2006), Japan

starring Kimura Takuya & Dan Rei


REVIEWS

I write them first & foremost as a guide for myself. Months or years later when I revisit a movie or drama I want to be able to recall what about it worked for me and what didn't. Yes, I work in the biz as a producer & writer/director (of short films at the moment, but hopefully feature length films too in the not so distant future), but don't expect any expert reviews. I'm not a film critic. I watch shows for my own enjoyment and will rate/review them based on one or a combination of the following:

1) Emotional resonance - how did the movie/drama make me feel overall?  

2) Characters/actor performances - did I connect to them? Were they memorable?

3) Production value/artistry - this is important because as an emerging filmmaker when I come across a particularly well made production that inspires my own work I have to comment on it. The vast majority of movies are average in this regard though so I don't include this in my reviews a lot. 

RATINGS

I hardly give 10s. Usually in order for me to give 10s all of the above criteria (or more, sometimes I won't know until the end of the movie) must be met. Sometimes just 2 of them are enough to warrant a 10, but that's rare. Most of my ratings are 6 and above. Anything below that means I generally did not enjoy the picture. 


My 5 ingredients for the perfect drama:

  • Mature in tone, mood & topic (no school/youth stuff) - eg A Gentleman's Dignity, Pride
  • Can be of any genre with romance preferably being a significant part of the plot - eg Padam Padam
  • Real kissing & physical interaction between characters who are supposedly in love, eg Coffee Prince, Buzzer Beat, Queen In-Hyun's Man
  • A lack of melodrama and over the top theatrics which stir up negative emotions
  • Happy ending 


My Firsts & Favourites

First Korean Drama: Padam Padam
First Japanese Drama: Want to say Pride, but it's actually a '90s oldie, but goodie called Oshin
First Taiwanese Drama: Autumn's Concerto
First Asian Crush: Lee Byung-hun

Favourite Japanese Drama: Orange Days
Favourite Korean Drama: Padam Padam
Favourite Japanese Movie: In the Realm of the Senses
Favourite Korean Movie: 3-iron
Favourite Asian Actor: Lee Byung-hun
Favourite Asian Actress: Kim Nam Joo
Favourite Female Character: Song Shi Won, Reply 1997
Favourite Male Character: Kim Boong Do, Queen In Hyun's Man
Favourite New Crush: Seo In Guk

Actresses I don't want to see on my screen (apologies in advance to the fans):

Ha Ji Won 
Kim Na Heul 

I realise the above 2 actresses are quite popular, so don't hate me, but I find them annoying & rather obnoxious in their interpretation of roles.

Choi Jung Yoon - either plays whiny, childish, immature characters or whiny, spineless, woe is me characters.  I hate both.
Let's be friends:
Due to my interest in more mature themes I prefer to accept friend requests from adults, 18 years or older. Please do not send a request if you know you're under 18.

Details

Drama Statistics

  • Times (Days) 18.79
  • Watching2
  • Completed21
  • Plan to Watch105
  • On Hold34
  • Dropped1
  • Total Entries163

List Updates

Movie Statistics

  • Times (Days) 7.07
  • Watching3
  • Completed73
  • Plan to Watch158
  • On Hold12
  • Dropped3
  • Total Entries249

Comments (884)

  2. 1800 characters remaining Spoiler?
  • AmandaMarta 5 hours ago
    http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xxe414_ran-1985-pt-1_creation
    If not the ones down below doesn't work, try dailymotion for Ran
  • AmandaMarta 5 hours ago
    http://www.solarmovie.so/link/play/1001524/ <-Ran's movie link
    Or
    http://www.solarmovie.so/watch-ran-1985.html and click Novamov or nowvideo.eu

    Let me know if it works for you. :)
  • AmandaMarta 1 day ago
    I was interested in Smile, You until I found out that Jung Kyung Ho was a part of this drama. I really dislike his character especially in Sweet 18. I dropped the drama mainly because of this actor but I probably will try it again in the future and complete it. I am not much of a drama/film dropper. Yes, I heard good things about this drama as well.
  • AmandaMarta 1 day ago
    I did find the link for Ran, however now, I have to find in my History on IE. Otherwise, I will post the link for you. Looking forward to finishing 13 Assassins.

    Thanks :) I try to watch like you said "outside my comfort zone" and be more of a variety, open-minded watcher. I have become comfortable with finding jems lately. Petty Romance was a decent film. I like how it involves the theme of mid-life crisis and the phone sex scene made my day! I like watching mature films more now than before. At least the kisses are more passionate and the characters are on my level of life and can totally relate.

    I should try your rigid formula. Perhaps in the future. For now, I'm concentrating on doing monthly movie challenges. I find it encouraging to discover new movies that aren't in my zone of watching ex. supernatural, historical, bizarre (Love Exposure)
  • Little-Dream 2 days ago
    I just watched "Chunhyang"! :D I liked it n_n Especially the love story :') Still, I almost dropped it because of the old man's singing. I cringed every time I heard his voice :/ Thanks for the recommendation! The film is trully beautiful, and now I think I'm ready for a Drama! ;)
  • azndrama 2 days ago
    Yes, I watched both of the recs you gave me. :) Really enjoyed too. I'm actually in the middle of Petty Romance now, but I think I have to stop now and watch with my bf. :D I think he'll laugh too. In the background of the cafe scene, I see the main ml of Queen IM.
  • Bladey-Steeleye 2 days ago
    Hi. Was just passing by. I haven't forgotten about your Bible. But I just don't spend enough time watching dramas these days to think of a worthy response for the time being. I hope you're enjoying dramas. I've been in a bit of a slump and am still impatient with dramas.
  • -winnie- 2 days ago
    I have heard of Love story in Havard but only the title. I have to check it out a bit more. It sounds good. Anything with a mature approach to romance is good for me.
  • -winnie- 2 days ago
    I know Yoko kissed him first but he didn't have to kiss back right? I mean he doesn't really like her. I was screaming NOOOO when he kissed her back. I don't like kiss scenes when it happens to couples I'm not rooting for :)

    I will add Petty Romance!

    I will be watching Bara no nai Hanaya and My Daughter Soyoung but not sure what else afterwards...I have to see what mood I'm in.

    Have you seen Kdrama The Devil? I heard it's good. Revenge drama I think.
  • azndrama 2 days ago
    Yup, Guilty and Yup again on spamming crazies! :D I sometimes check out other posters who send me friend reqsts. just to ensure they are safe and not crazies like 'unmentionable'. :P You sure did manage to deflate the air out of a really hot air balloon though huh? Great job. hehehehehehehe

    Bare eldstegutten er 1/2 Norsk. :)
  • azndrama 2 days ago
    Ah, sa morsomt. Jeg har 2 barn-Visste du det? :P Begge 2 gutter, og eldstegutten (12 ar) sover natten med vennen sin. Minstegutten (4 ar) var trist, sooooo.....vi satt opp telten pa rommet og na sover han inni! Oh sa sote... :D
  • tiitek 2 days ago
    Hmm I’m not sure if my life experiences has any influence for my drama picks, maybe I’m not aware of that ^.^ Ofc many things that happenes in dramas are in real world but 8 out of 10 scenarios are pure imagination- that’s why I like dramas they take me to another world and I can escape for a second for hardship of daily life. Hmm I never seen relationship with such huge age gap as in Last Cinderella, none of my friends had that experience so I cannot really relate to that. You are right we chose dramas based on our tastes and believes ^^
    OMG so true Seo In Guk is a bomb >.< aww… cannot believe that I’m info flower boys now, I never had any interest in younger guys before and feminine like whatsoever and now O.O I’m pedonoona xD
    1 ❤
  • azndrama 2 days ago
    Haha, just thinking reading some random posts, (no one in particular). Wouldn't it be great to be able to spam certain users who are NOT on our friends list from posting to our profiles? >:D My evil thought of the day. "old lady echoing cackle"
  • AmandaMarta 2 days ago
    I've added both Oasis and Sweet Room to my PTW list. Thanks for the suggestion! Look out for my next list of movies that I'll be crossing out for next month. It's gonna be a fascinating list to watch through :)
  • AmandaMarta 2 days ago
    Not a problem :) Time is always a major opportunity cost when it comes to drama watching. LOL I saw the word 'chingus' and became confused with the word itself. When I looked it up in the Urban Dictionary, one of the meanings were crystal meth, speed. It made me laugh. Overall,I know what you meant.

    Your method for choosing dramas is an interesting alternative way. It's quite useful and almost guarantees you that you will obtain a drama that is in other's best interest.

    I only had one drama slump so far and currently still in one. I believe that I will begin to watch dramas soon. My holidays are coming up in almost exactly one month from now. More time for drama watching.

    Under my profile page, I believe that there is only 13 Assassins and Ran (1985 Japanese film) left to watch for this month. I am currently creating a list for next month's movie challenge-Summer Romance.


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