Really great article. Will probably try watching some of the old classics. I was interested in watching Smile You and Couple or Trouble before, but hadn't gotten around to them...will definitely make some time now.
He is definitely one of my top 5 favorite actors! My turning point was Arang and Magistrate. I had dropped the show originally, and boy was I glad I gave it another chance, because there forth I was hooked.
I haven't watched My Girl or Hero. LJG was okay in May 18, but not great. Maybe because it was a supporting role with less screen time. Fly Daddy Fly and Virgin Snow were good movies, but not really representative of what he could do as an actor.
Where he really shines is Two Weeks, Arang & Magistrate, Iljimae, TBDW and King & Clown. Sometimes he is guilty of overacting, but overall the intensity he brings to certain scenes is phenomenal. I'm really happy he's choosing roles that rely more on his acting skills than just his pretty boy looks. It shows how he is growing as an actor and becoming more versatile and experienced.
Really loving this one. It's not perfect, but what a pleasant surprise from your typical t-drama where the script borders on ridiculous, the lead female gets on your nerves for acting clueless and the lead male tends to be overbearing. Just about everybody in this drama is representative of what normal people are really like. And the OST rocks...added bonus!
Ok I just finished watching & WHAT? I am usually pretty good with this kind of movie but I did not understand…
Since the name of the movie is Pygmalion no Koi, I'm going to assume direct parallels to it's namesake in Greek mythology. Pygmalion fell in love with one of his sculptures because he thought she was the epitome of perfection. One day he kisses the statue and she comes to life. Later he marries her.
I think when Gyeon is sculpting, he begins to remember Mika, and the result is a statue that embodies the perfect woman for him.
In the gallery, after he kisses the statue, he laughs as he pulls away from the statue, b/c he knows it's silly to think a kiss will bring it to life. But then we get a view of the two necklaces side by side on the statue, one placed by Mika, the other by Gyeon.
This could mean 1) they realize they can't be together and leave their only connection on the statue OR 2) the necklaces represent life for the statue and they'll be a happy couple.
Great list. A Moment to Remember was one of my first Korean movies...back then I didn't realize that Koreans really know how to take tragedy to a whole new level.
Other sad movies..
A Werewolf Boy
Fireworks from the Heart
More than Blue
Our Happy Time
May 18
Our Heaven
Babo: A Miracle of a Giving Fool
Humming
Classmates
Try to Remember
Tokyo Girl
King and the Clown
Taiyo no Uta
Tada, Kimi Wo Aishiteru
Korea really knows how to make movies that are serious tearjerkers. The film is actually pretty light and has its funny parts given that one of the main themes is terminal illness. But then the last 10-15 minutes...it did me in.
And the pictures at the end, as the original band members are replaced by others...who in turn are replaced as well. Couldn't. Stop. Crying.
I commend you for sticking to the end with When A Man's In Love and Nail Shop...I dropped them after a few episodes. Haven't watched 7th Grade or Love Around...but might still take a peek just to see if they are as bad as everyone says they are. I enjoyed Just You...or maybe it was watching Aaron Yan and Dean that I enjoyed? lol Vampire Heaven was just stupid fun. When I first started it...I just laughed at how ridiculous of a jdrama it was...but I still kept watching! lol
It's certainly an interesting movie. Makes you think about how important of a role your subconscious plays on whether to confront your fears or avoid them altogether.
I enjoyed the majority of the movie, but it threw me for a loop near the end. I understand that the storyline is meant to be surreal, but the last 10-15 minutes were a bit...much. The movie progressed in such a methodical and subtle manner and then all of a sudden it broke into chaos that felt a little too over the top for me.
Wow...just wow. This movie is fantastic. Really enjoyed it. And Ikuta Toma rocks. Didn't realize how talented he is.
And that final bridge scene when he cracks a slight smile - makes you wonder if he always had emotions and was just able to deceive the psychiatrist and tests.
MBC Awards: When only high ratings dictate whether you'll receive an award and those who did outstanding work receive Most Suffering Character.
Ugh. Lee Joon Gi really got shafted for his work in Two Weeks.
I actually like Suzy, but her acting is still a work in progress. And Joo Won- excellent actor, but 7th Level was awful -- even he couldn't save it. And as promising as I thought When A Man Loves would be, in reality it was such a let down...had to drop it b/c of Shin Se Kyung. I have enough things in my life to annoy me--don't need a kdrama actress to drive the knife home.
Empress Ki is on my "to watch" list. Congrats Ha Ji Won.
Just You was not bad for a TW drama. But quite honestly only watched it for Aaron Yan and Dean. Made it half-way through Fabulous Boys before I became bored with it - need to finish it if only to watch Jiro Wang. :)
The top 2 winners were more popularity wins vs being the "best" of 2013. But I'm completely guilty of thoroughly enjoying them nonetheless. I really need to watch more jdramas...there are so many great ones out there.
Asahi to Kasumi when she returns after disappearing for three years to tell him she's marrying someone else. "You came all the way back just to tell me that? Congratulations, I wish you happiness." And then without turning around, Asahi rides away and leaves her there. That moment was so boss! Loved it.
After reading the spoilers, I finally watched the finale. The writers did a good job conveying how as time passes, people can grow and change for the better. In retrospect, if they had focused more on the boarding house characters and their individual journeys of growth (instead of just the love triangle), the drama could have been that much stronger.
Speaking of growth, part of CB's development was to reconcile (on his own terms) that you can't "win" love like a baseball game. But after his 2nd confession, NJ could have helped him come to this conclusion sooner with a "Sorry, I only like you as a friend, etc." Instead, she never responds. It just made her seem....selfish?
And why couldn't the writers give CB (and us) a more solid ending relationship-wise? All of the other characters had their moment. He just got a 60 second wrap-up with chicken girl. Really? That's it? Boooooo.
Disappointment doesn't even begin to describe how I feel about the ending. I had hoped the writers would avoid the formulaic "1st main lead gets the girl"...especially since it had been done in AM97. I was even convinced the writers were really going somewhere with the CB angle when they re-introduced him in episode 18 as still vying for NJ's affections. But it's obvious now the poor guy never had a chance. Once T was established as the 1st main lead, like the cliche, he would get the girl.
The writers had a unique opportunity to do something different with this drama. Instead, they managed to split the viewers into two camps, so that no matter who NJ chose, one camp would be left feeling dissatisfied with the ending. And to boot, they kept hurting CB over and over again, making it painful to watch at times.
My ship has officially hit rock bottom somewhere off the coast of Korea.
I haven't watched My Girl or Hero. LJG was okay in May 18, but not great. Maybe because it was a supporting role with less screen time. Fly Daddy Fly and Virgin Snow were good movies, but not really representative of what he could do as an actor.
Where he really shines is Two Weeks, Arang & Magistrate, Iljimae, TBDW and King & Clown. Sometimes he is guilty of overacting, but overall the intensity he brings to certain scenes is phenomenal. I'm really happy he's choosing roles that rely more on his acting skills than just his pretty boy looks. It shows how he is growing as an actor and becoming more versatile and experienced.
http://www.drama.net/bokura-ga-ita-zenpen-first-part-movie
Kouhen
http://www.drama.net/bokura-ga-ita-last-part-movie
I think when Gyeon is sculpting, he begins to remember Mika, and the result is a statue that embodies the perfect woman for him.
In the gallery, after he kisses the statue, he laughs as he pulls away from the statue, b/c he knows it's silly to think a kiss will bring it to life. But then we get a view of the two necklaces side by side on the statue, one placed by Mika, the other by Gyeon.
This could mean 1) they realize they can't be together and leave their only connection on the statue OR 2) the necklaces represent life for the statue and they'll be a happy couple.
Other sad movies..
A Werewolf Boy
Fireworks from the Heart
More than Blue
Our Happy Time
May 18
Our Heaven
Babo: A Miracle of a Giving Fool
Humming
Classmates
Try to Remember
Tokyo Girl
King and the Clown
Taiyo no Uta
Tada, Kimi Wo Aishiteru
And the pictures at the end, as the original band members are replaced by others...who in turn are replaced as well. Couldn't. Stop. Crying.
I enjoyed the majority of the movie, but it threw me for a loop near the end. I understand that the storyline is meant to be surreal, but the last 10-15 minutes were a bit...much. The movie progressed in such a methodical and subtle manner and then all of a sudden it broke into chaos that felt a little too over the top for me.
Would still recommend it to others.
And that final bridge scene when he cracks a slight smile - makes you wonder if he always had emotions and was just able to deceive the psychiatrist and tests.
Ugh. Lee Joon Gi really got shafted for his work in Two Weeks.
I actually like Suzy, but her acting is still a work in progress. And Joo Won- excellent actor, but 7th Level was awful -- even he couldn't save it. And as promising as I thought When A Man Loves would be, in reality it was such a let down...had to drop it b/c of Shin Se Kyung. I have enough things in my life to annoy me--don't need a kdrama actress to drive the knife home.
Empress Ki is on my "to watch" list. Congrats Ha Ji Won.
Speaking of growth, part of CB's development was to reconcile (on his own terms) that you can't "win" love like a baseball game. But after his 2nd confession, NJ could have helped him come to this conclusion sooner with a "Sorry, I only like you as a friend, etc." Instead, she never responds. It just made her seem....selfish?
And why couldn't the writers give CB (and us) a more solid ending relationship-wise? All of the other characters had their moment. He just got a 60 second wrap-up with chicken girl. Really? That's it? Boooooo.
The writers had a unique opportunity to do something different with this drama. Instead, they managed to split the viewers into two camps, so that no matter who NJ chose, one camp would be left feeling dissatisfied with the ending. And to boot, they kept hurting CB over and over again, making it painful to watch at times.
My ship has officially hit rock bottom somewhere off the coast of Korea.