The Best, Must-See Kdramas #2

Following in no particular order, 

2. My Girlfriend is a Gumiho

Cha Tae-Woong (Lee Seung-Ki) is a spoiled young man with no interest in staying in college. Instead, Cha Tae-Woong wants to become an action actor. His wealthy grandfather isn't thrilled with the aspiration and threatens to cut him off. When Tae-Woong runs away in anger, he finds himself in the middle of nowhere on a late, rainy evening. He runs into a Buddhist Temple where he has his first of numerous, hilarious encounters with a "Gumiho," a legendary nine-tailed fox (Shin Min-A). By accidentally freeing the Gumiho, Tae-Woong becomes her unwitting ally. As Tae-Woong fears for his life, Gumiho just wants to be loved (and eat lots of beef!). 

I spent 2 months avoiding this show on my Netflix top recommendations. I thought Netflix had lost their mind. A show about a nine-tailed fox with one of the worst posters ever? (Not to mention the fact that I'd only seen one other K-drama)

It's not even accurate as far as the apparel would indicate...

But, after being convinced by the great ladies at Dramabeans.com, I gave it a try. On this drama, we are in agreement. Pure joy and funny radiates from Shin Mina and, while it took me a while, I did warm up to Lee Seung-Ki. To this day, Shin Mina's Gumiho is my favorite character in a Kdrama.

Things you might like:

1. Funny jokes about being obsessed with food.

2. Fantasy that adds to the story instead of taking away from it. 

3. Gumiho misinterpreting things we humans are so used to, like brushing our teeth.

4. Hong sisters drama (again, the Poehler-Fey team of Korean writers)

5. References to old legends and cultural practices in Korea.

6. Gumiho, there's really no other way to explain it.

Things you might not like:

1. Some of the fantasy gets a little wacky/hard to follow, but it doesn't make up a huge chunk of the show.

2. In the first episode, Tae-Woong is somewhat annoying, but he becomes less so later.

3. Both nemesises in this show are somewhat ridiculous, but it's kind of fun to laugh at them.

The Best, Must-See K-Dramas #1

So, thanks to the wonderful Psy*, liking Korean things has become ever so slightly less nerdy** for us American TV addicts. And, thanks to Netflix & Hulu, it's becoming easier and easier to access the awesomeness.

*Can someone enlighten me as to how that guy stays chubs while doing that dance all the time?! That galloping with arms extended thing is no joke, people.
**The first reaction I usually get is, "You watch shows with subtitles?" --perplexed look--


Compared to the Korean drama fandom (even excluding native Koreans) I am by no means an expert, but as this blog seems to be based on my giving out advice without prompting or superior knowledge, let the recommendations begin!


(Summaries from Asianwiki.com & my brain)

1. Big

18-year-old Kang Kunk Joon's spirit suddenly finds itself in the body of 30-year-old Seo Yoon Jae (Gong Yoo) . Seo-Yoon-Jae is a successful doctor and engaged to high school teacher Gil Da-Ran (Lee Min-Jung). Gil Da-Ran just so happened to be the teacher of 18-year-old Kang Kung Joon (who's now in her hubby-to-be's body). More problems ensue when questions begin to surface that make Gil Da-Ran doubt Seo Yoon Jae's love and appreciate Kang Kung-Joon's sincerity. Kpop star, Suzy from Miss A, drops in to play the high school girl obsessed with Kang Kung Joon.

Things you might like about this drama:
1. FANTASTIC SOUNDTRACK (Please keep reading.. I just really love good music)
2. Gong Yoo can make you swoon and laugh.
3. Magic in the real world that doesn't seem overdone (which is the trademark of...)
4. HONG SISTER DRAMA(s). The Hong sisters are like the Poehler-Fey team of Kdramas.
5. Big brings up an interesting question, "what do you really need to have a successful relationship?" & "How far would you go for it?"
6. It's available on YouTube for free. Search "Big sub eng ep 1." (also available in ESP)

Things you might hate:
1. The last couple of episodes provide no dénouement and only a little catharsis. It's as if the Hong sisters completely ran out of money and motivation. Or maybe their periods synced up. (little 30 Rock humor for ya!)
2. Hong sisters always have a superfluous female nemesis that stays around for too long.
3. Mary Kay Letourneau ish...ness...but not really.

Plot sounds too weird for you? Give it a chance anyway. I don't usually dig sci-fi nor fantasy, but the Hong Sisters must have prayed to Korean Jesus cuz they've got the magic touch.

The food is talking again... and the toaster's been laughing at me

Ever wondered what food might say if it could talk? It'd probably say, "Don't eat me," but let's take that out of the running. Without further ado...

For the record, I looked up Ramen's origins and saw that it's actually Japanese, but as it's mentioned in every single episode of every single Korean drama, I'm standing by this.

Top 11 Original Scores

"There are few people in England, I suppose, who have more true enjoyment of music than myself, or a better natural taste. If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient."- Lady Catherine in Pride & Prejudice

~

I love original scores. The naptime CD I play for my students everyday is made up of calm songs from movies from the 90s and 2000s. During "yoga" (breathing exercises) we sometimes put on original scores, identifying and pretending to play the instruments we hear.

I feel a bit like the ever-so-haughty Lady Catherine when I say that if I could play the piano, I'd be the best film composer of all time. But, seriously, I do regret forcing my parents to relent in their efforts to make me musical. After 3 years of piano and 2.5 years of temper-tantrums, I could play "Mary had a Little Lamb" and "French Children's Song." Yikes.

Anyway, scores are my passion (but not my expertise) and here a few of the best:

1. Little Women

2. Pride and Prejudice

     

3. Peter Pan

4. Lord of the Rings

5. Water for Elephants

6. Ever After

7. Titanic

8. Atonement

9. Avatar

10. Coraline

11. The Young Victoria