alienshore7

This is the second Kdrama I ever watched, after Dae Jang Geum. I know some people are scared off by long sageuks, but this is one of the best. #1 History -- In the Western world we're not taught enough about Korean history, & while much of this is purely historical fiction rather than historical fact, it is still enough to get you intrigued by the history of Korea. Korea's history is worth serious study & if you watch Jumong you will want to learn more; I promise you.

#2 -- Song Il Kook really is one of the best actors working today & Jumong is primary evidence in proving that. He was, I think, around 35 while filming this & yet in the scenes where he has to appear young, he really manages it. The man is a god of acting, & this is his Mona Lisa.

I could say many more great things about Jumong, but I'm just going to say: check it out for yourself and you will not be disappointed!

Missing from this list: Lee Min Ki (you cannot see this guy be sad and not empathize with him, like a beautiful, wounded puppy dog); Joo Won (seriously, who cries with more feeling than Joo Won in Gaksital); Yoon Si Yoon (kills it in Baker King and Me too Flower); Kwon Sang Woo (in anything he can rip your heart out, but check out Pain -- he is AMAZING); and, finally, Kim Kang Woo (brilliant in anything and could make a brick cry, but check out The Railroad or A Better Tomorrow).

Thanks. I started watching it on Gooddrama. Seems to be working out well.

Hmmm. I started deciding what dramas to watch based on actors and actresses I like (usually actors ;)). However, sometimes I'd see a really sad drama and then I'd want to watch something light to counter that, or sometimes I'd see a type of drama that I was in the mood for and wanted more (like revenge).

But normally it's based on actors. When I like an actor I then try and see everything I can with him until I'm done (like Lee Min Ki). Actually, the first actor I really liked a lot was Song Il Kook because I saw Jumong, so I watched everything I could find with him in it (which, sadly, even meant I watched Man Called God, ugh). Usually what happens then is that in watching those dramas or movies, I find a new actor or actress I really like and it sends me off on a whole new tangent!

Thanks!

Thanks for the answer. LOL! I actually did download it from Asia Torrents a while ago (after I had posted this question). Unfortunately, there was only one version on there and the audio on it is a disaster! The music and sound effects are normal but the vocals are almost impossible to hear. UGH! I'm so frustrated because it took all night to download it. I'll check out the link you recommended though, so, see, your comment was not in vain! :-)

No problem. I love talking about Kdramas and have no one to talk to them about except on this site.

I know what you mean about length. There are more sageuks I'd like to watch but don't just because the length is so daunting (although I've seen quite a few already). But I really enjoy sageuks so I like it when I find ones that are a little shorter (most of which are really fusion not sageuk) like Jejoongwon, Warrior Baek Dong Soo, Chuno, Painter of the Wind, Damo, Arang & the Magistrate, Hong Il Dong, and both the Iljimaes. I also really enjoyed the absurdly cute and quirky Tamra, the Island.

Jejoongwon is very good. You have to like sageuks & especially the time period where Japanese oppression was coming into play (just prior to Gaksital, at the end of the last Joseon king's reign). It also helps if you like medicine & science. It's a great underdog story! It has a nice romance too but that isn't the most important aspect & doesn't overwhelm the story. So if you are primarily into romance or comedy, this is definitely not the drama for you.

The acting is exceptional, as is the writing and directing. The main weakness is the abrupt ending and the annoying English speaking characters. If you've seen what passes for American characters in Kdramas before, you know what I mean -- however, the 2 main ones are actually not bad in this drama compared to the norm, but if English speaking characters annoy you, then this might not be the drama for you.

Happy New Year to you too!

I know, my list makes me seem like a crazy person after only 1 year of watching. The reason is because I work from home & my job entails a lot of just sitting in an office waiting for emails or phone calls. So, when I'm waiting I watch Kdramas!

When I watched Queen Seon Deok I just totally found myself rooting for her & her awesomeness! Then there is the acting, the directing, the action, and the really high quality production. It just had it all!

Jejoongwon comments in next reply.

I'm a horse and it fits me perfectly!

Happy New Year to you too (well it will be here in about 9 hours anyhow)!

A beautiful film. I wouldn't want to rewatch it because I cried too much. But the acting, directing, everything was just really good. It was a simple story beautifully told.

Thanks for the friend request.

King Sejong (Han Suk Gyu AND Song Joong Ki in Tree with Deep Roots)
Jumong (Song Il Kook in Jumong)
Kim Boong Do (Ji Hyun Woo in Queen In Hyun's Man)
Seo Jang Geum (Lee Young Ae in Dae Jang Geum)
Min Tae Yeon (Yeon Jung Hoon in Vampire Prosecutor)

Honorable Mention
Kim Hang Ah (Ha Ji Won in King 2 Hearts)
Eun Si Kyung (Jo Jung Suk in King 2 Hearts)
Miho (Shin Min Ah in My Girlfriend is a Gumiho)
Kim Eun Oh (Lee Jun Ki in Arang & the Magistrate)
Joo Wal (Yun Woo Jin in Arang & the Magistrate)
Hong Gil Dong (Kang Ji Hwan in Hong Gil Dong)
Choi Han Gyul (Gong Yoo in Coffee Prince)

Thanks for the friend request!

Thanks for the friend request. Wow, you met Jung Il Woo! That is so awesome!

The only one I can speak to is The Good, The Bad, and The Weird and it is AWESOME! I highly recommend it! It's definitely one of my favorite foreign films. Of course I like this kind of film in English too so I was bound to like the Korean version. But if you like Westerns or you like Tarantino films I think you would like this. Watch it!

Anyone know who will show this with English subs? It doesn't look like it will be on Viki or Dramafever (at least not right away).

Thank you for your comment. I agree that I find it unbelievable most of the time (especially in the misogynist context of Korean dramas). Sometimes I find it more believable than others, though. For instance, I find Dalja's Spring far more believable than Kim Sam Soon. I can't put my finger on why exactly except that I think Chae Rim is really pretty in that where I don't think the same of Kim Sun Ah in Kim Sam Soon. Either way, though, Hyun Bin is still pure awesomeness and I'd watch him read the phone book.

I absolutely cannot wait to see Kim Nam Gil in a new drama. However, if he dies in it, I will abosolutely lose my sh*t.