ShanaTalks's Profile - MyDramaList.com

Jun 2, 2012 16 of 16 episodes seen 4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Dream High

by ShanaTalks
- Overall 8
- Story 9
- Acting/Cast 7
- Music 10
- Rewatch Value 8
I never thought I'd finish this after my initial impression when I first watched its 2 episodes a few months back. I tried watching this after Heartstrings and I can't help but compare the characters so I ended up dropping Dream High because of my partiality with its cast. My boyfriend, was the one who pushed me to watch this series. I decided to finish this a month ago.

Having KPop artists as cast was a turn off. It was one of the reasons why I dropped the drama the first time. I know you think it's a lame reason considering most singers and group band members are transitioning to acting and I've probably seen them in one drama or so. I even watched Heartstrings. So what's wrong with Dream High's cast? Well, it wasn't really their fault, I just got tired of watching pathetic acting skills and Dream High's main casts are all newbies in the drama scene. My prejudices got the better of me so it took me 6 months to finally pick this up and continue where I left off. I'm glad I did. I'm not sorry I did not watch it sooner (I would have ended up giving it a low rating), it was worth the wait.

I thought this drama is gonna bore me to death but after watching 4 episodes straight, I found myself clicking the next episode right after the other, oblivious of the time and totally immersed with the story. read more
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Jun 2, 2012 1 of 0 episodes seen 4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Chilling Romance

by ShanaTalks
- Overall 9
- Story 9
- Acting/Cast 9
- Music 8
- Rewatch Value 10
It's not every day that I get to watch a film that would make me laugh out loud then scares the hell out of me in a matter of seconds. This movie has the right amount of romance; comedy & creepiness that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

This is a unique find. Koreans are good in making horror and romantic-comedy films, mixing them both in one movie is a brilliant idea. Though it's not easy to execute since these factors should not overpower the other and the quality of both genres should be maintained and evident in the film. This is what I liked most in this movie. The scary scenes are eerie and startling. The romantic-comedy scenes are simple yet effective. Hwang In-ho did a good job in balancing these genres in Spellbound.

It’s been a while since I purely enjoyed watching an Asian Romantic-Comedy film. In fact, this is now on top of my recommended Asian films. So if you're tired of watching the same movies you always watch, Spellbound is nice way to clean up your palette. read more
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May 25, 2012 1 of 1 episodes seen 1 of 4 people found this review helpful

200 Pounds Beauty

by ShanaTalks
- Overall 9
- Story 10
- Acting/Cast 9
- Music 8
- Rewatch Value 9
Anyone can easily relate to Hanna. Admit it or not, we’ve once felt ugly, used and useless. I’m pretty sure you’ve been humiliated for once in your life and had felt really down because of it. Hanna had to endure that for as long she can remember—and she gets that treatment all because she’s fat.

I like the message the movie wants to impart to its viewers. Beauty is not only what you see outside, it should be inside and out. A person should be atoned with himself/herself. Love yourself before anything else.
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May 25, 2012 15 of 15 episodes seen 8 of 10 people found this review helpful

Heartstrings

by ShanaTalks
- Overall 7
- Story 6
- Acting/Cast 5
- Music 8
- Rewatch Value 7
It’s been a while since I watched a drama without skipping some or probably most of its chapters. I think the last Korean series I watched without missing even one episode was Boys Over Flowers. Perhaps it’s out of habit. If the story gets too boring and dragging, I can’t help but resort to my fast-forwarding syndrome.

Heartstrings (You’ve Fallen For Me) was a surprise. I don’t have any expectations before watching this. All I know is that the leads were in He’s Beautiful and I was curious how Park Shin Hye would look as a normal heroine. I thought this was just one of those series I’ll end up skipping half of it but to my amazement I didn’t even miss a single episode of this drama. And I even spent 17 hours watching this series straight.

The plot was pretty normal. It’s not over the top and can even be considered plausible. There’s nothing exceptional with the story but the directing, soundtrack and the cast’s performances made this drama revitalizing and a whole lot of fun.

What I appreciate most in this drama are the character development, back story and the story flow. It wasn’t dragging since the biggest conflict in the story was immediately presented and resolved in the first 6 episodes. It also had strong back stories for the characters not only for the hero and heroine but for the secondary characters as well. It’s nice getting to know the people in the story bit by bit.

Jung Yong Hwa and Park Shin Hye have a very refreshing chemistry. It’s one of the things you’ll initially notice in the first few episodes of the drama. The setting is a plus too. It was very nice that this was filmed in spring which made the scenes pleasant to watch. And it added up with the drama’s romance. read more
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May 25, 2012 20 of 20 episodes seen 6 of 15 people found this review helpful

Devil Beside You

by ShanaTalks
- Overall 3
- Story 3
- Acting/Cast 3
- Music 5
- Rewatch Value 2
If I remember it right, I first watched this series 6 years ago. Well, I was looking for something to watch last weekend and I happen to see my copy of this drama so I decided to watch it again. I still find it funny and amusing but I guess I’m way passed my teenage years to go gaga over cheesy-predictable storylines.

Most of the scenes and the actors’ performances are exaggerated. The plot is bearable but the acting of the characters just ruined it. Rianie Yang‘s strenuously cute, bubbly and over the top acting is very annoying! I might have found it cute 6 years ago but now it’s a pain in the eyes. Mike He‘s no different. God, I can’t for the life of me understands why I liked this guy so much before. His domineering, rich, high-maintenance, character is overrated. And the devilish grin? Ugh. It makes me want to puke out of disgust.

There’s no question with Mike and Rainie’s chemistry together. I still had those occasionally kilig moments when I watched it. I just don’t find them cute anymore. I’m not saying I won’t watch their present dramas. I would still give it a try but if by any chance their acting is still the same after so many years in the business, that’s the time I would have to say enough. I’d rather spend my valuable time with worth-watching series. read more
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May 25, 2012 13 of 13 episodes seen 5 of 8 people found this review helpful

Love Keeps Going

by ShanaTalks
- Overall 3
- Story 5
- Acting/Cast 3
- Music 6
- Rewatch Value 2
Love Keeps Going is the third Mike He drama I’ve seen since I started watching Asian Dramas. I first seen him in Devil Beside You then in Why, Why Love and I want to strangle myself for giving him the chance to redeem himself because right now I literally want to slap him.

I kind of liked this at first. Mike He and Cindy Wang‘s team up is something new. I got tired seeing Mike with Rainie Yang so being paired with a new love interest is enough to pique my interest in giving this drama a chance.

Mike’s role is the usual stereotyped, arrogant, rich, high maintenance character he frequently get cast into hence I assumed playing this role is a piece of cake. Well, I expected too much.

In the first few episodes of the drama, his acting was over the top. I was hoping that his acting would come naturally since he played a similar role in most of his dramas. I did say he always gets this rich-bad-boy-facade role, right? I wish he’d come to his senses and get a new role that’s out of his comfort zone. He should challenge his self more! I’m getting tired seeing him play the same roles over and over again.

Cyndi Wang didn’t do better. She’s also overdoing it in the first few episodes of the series and her role doesn’t fit her. Though she’s far better than Rainie Yang when it comes to acting, there’s still a lot of room for improvement. This is the first drama I watched with her as part of the cast so I don’t have much to compare her performance with.

It was a good thing that Cyndi Wang and Mike He have a good chemistry together. They looked good as a couple and if not because of this I would have dropped this drama half way through.

If you’re a fan of Mike He and would enjoy by merely seeing him, go ahead. I won’t stop you. Watch it for all your heart’s content.

But as for me this drama nailed it.

I Love my sanity so I’ll keep going and leave Mike He behind. I’m not going to watch any of his dramas again. Ever. read more
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May 25, 2012 21 of 21 episodes seen 4 of 11 people found this review helpful

Autumn's Concerto

by ShanaTalks
- Overall 5
- Story 7
- Acting/Cast 5
- Music 7
- Rewatch Value 6
Second time to watch Autumn Concerto and I’m still drooling whenever I see Vanness Wu‘s body! I have to say my reaction I had now compared to when I first watched it is fairly different. Yes, I still love it but there are just things I can’t make myself not to notice. This time my gushiness as a fangirl isn’t enough to make little flaws pass.

Gosh. I’m totally captivated. Not by the drama but by Vanness Wu! I want to hug that delicious body! Yum. Haha. What? I’m still a fangirl you know. I can’t stop it. Haha. Seriously, I can say that my love for this drama isn’t as profound as when I first seen it. One of the things I let pass before was the plot. It’s almost similar with our local teleseryes. I don’t know if that’s a plus or what but I’m certain I’m not a fan of overly dramatic scenes and utterly stupid storylines.

Autumn’s Concerto‘s story is promising. I know the plot is nothing new; it’s one of the most used and abused storyline in our local dramas. But this drama had so much potential. They happen to choose the right cast for the characters and the kontrabidas (villains) are not as evil as the kontrabidas we have here. It was nice, really, but there are some parts of the story I can’t tolerate.

I enjoyed the first six episodes of this drama. It was interesting and the kilig moments are there. The story slowed down in the next few episodes and it picked up pace after Guang Xi had remembered his past. This was a long drama. I personally think that the story would fit in 12 or 16 episodes. Stretching it to 21 Episodes is just probably because of the ratings. read more
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May 25, 2012 20 of 20 episodes seen 0 of 2 people found this review helpful

Secret Garden

by ShanaTalks
- Overall 8
- Story 8
- Acting/Cast 8
- Music 8
- Rewatch Value 8
I waited for the series to end in GMA 7 before making this review. I watched the original Korean series with English subtitle but I didn’t enjoy it. I don’t know if it was the actor’s or actress’s voice or the subtitle but I really didn’t find the series appealing. So when I saw the teaser from GMA 7 a few months back, I decided to give it another try. I watched Hyun Bin from the series My Name is Kim Sam Soon and I love him ever since. That’s why watching it twice was not a bad idea.

I wasn’t disappointed. I liked the way the Filipinos dubbed the series. The “kalye” language they used was very appropriate for our culture and made the series more natural. I definitely love the “saltik” term Jamie used to call Owen. It became an endearment. (How was that possible? You should watch the tagalized series.)

Secret Garden was one of the most popular drama series to hit mainstream Korea. It has high ratings and continued to be on top of the charts till the last episode. I won’t argue with that. It was really funny. I understand why the Koreans loved it because after watching the tagalized version, I fell in love with it too. I thought that the series was like a Korean remake of the movie It’s a Boy Girl Thing (2006). I’m not saying it was the same but I think the concept was derived from this movie. The Koreans just expanded the concept and made the story suitable for Asian audiences.

Hyun Bin’s portrayal of Owen’s character was very smooth. The acting was very natural. On the other hand, Hai Ji Won’s acting may not be impressive but she improved very well since she started in the business.

Hey, wait up! It’s not all negative. There are a couple of things I love from the series.

First, Owen’s trademark track suit. That sequenced blue track suit was probably the most popular item ever copied and mass-produced in Korea. It looks funny in Owen but it looks adorable in Hyun Bin. (The analogy is difficult to explain. Ha-ha)

Second, Owen’s attitude with love. If there’s a guy out there like him, pwede akin ka na lang? (Can you please be mine?) He fought for what he wanted. He didn’t give up on love. Even if Jamie threw him out, physically and emotionally hurt him—he stayed. He showed the cold, afraid and aloof Jamie what it means to love and be loved. read more
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