Ban-ready dramas

Dear Commission for Pissing Off Normal Viewers!

I prepared the list (with help of some readers here) of dramas, that your board may take under the consideration of banning. And when you're on it, ban peppero sticks (phallic symbols), ice-creams (OMG!!), lollipops etc. and create the enforce law that would put everyone under zen meditation to get rid of all emotions. Oh noez, I forgot, it was already done. The movie was called Equilibrium, there was a drug  injection. You remember how it ended, dear Cosmic Bullshit Commision?

Drama ban, next step - brain ban

   As promised, fairly moderate take on banning dramas, which I personally see as one of the most stupid moves people in Korea can take.

Drama Festival

   Website of the event: http://www.kdfo.org/2011/eng/main/index.asp

Oh, and I find it funny how butthurt some fans can be. I wrote the comment that I don't find Secret Garden all that good, and the reply I got was: "Sssh, go back to your Mary Mary show, and PLEASE, just shut up!" I find it hilarious because I don't usually get so worked up when someone criticize dramas I love (it's a natural phenomena), and here someone was so painfully hurt. And the person has chosen the most inadequate drama ever. Because I'm not really sure if there is any drama worse than Bury Me Mary. Oh, I used so multilettered words? You mad?

Queen of Reversals

The review of this drama was postponed and postponed for over half a year and when I finally gave it a green light – I forgot to bring the series with me for my vacation break. The quick re-watch was necessary.

I remember I had huge problems with starting to watch this series last year. I like (*cough*euphemism*cough*) Park Shihu, but the topic was absolutely out of my range of tolerance. Oh, how grave mistake! When I yielded, I was glad I started on this one.

The plot is simple and highly tricky, and it reveals nothing of the real series, so those of you who didn’t have the chance to watch it or don’t like spoilers, please refrain from reading, because my reviews are full of spoilers. They are also subjective, biased, and all of the insights (I hope) are based on my own personal Idaho experience, this is why I usually do reviews only of those dramas/movies that somehow “clicked” with me. If they don’t, I drop them mercilessly, like I did with Secret Garden and City Hunter. This is why I pour so many thoughts into them and maybe this is why I over-interpret them. But, as Umberto Eco said once, if an over-interpretation can be proven, it’s not over-interpretation.

Having said that, let’s jump into the wagon.

Seoul Drama Award 2011 nominees

   

   I voted last year and even though I cheated, Kim Namgil-nim didn't win. Wonder whether... oh, wait, SKKS is on the list! So we meet again, conscience... and bye!

Main Website

I planned to do something contructive this evening (night) and maybe translate another short story, but I was given some koan. And I bet no one from the great zen masters couldn't produce the answer. The koan is: "Why Marry Me Mary?". Well, I am not a zen master (and I'm sometimes faaar from being zen, organic and all that hipster talk), but I sense a satori coming my way. Yes, this satori is sparkling. A blinding light...

Omo, we forgot to pay you! Mian!

Producers and directors of soap operas and movies may have difficulty shooting as scheduled after a group of management agencies announced they were refusing to let their actors work due to unpaid wages and performance fees.
The Corea Entertainment Management Association disclosed Wednesday a list of companies responsible for 32 dramas and films, which have failed to pay actors, along with the names of the productions, production heads and directors who made the dramas.
It said actors of the agencies will not participate in films made by the companies in question.
The collective action follows a chronic overdue payment problem in the film and drama production industry.

Some ramblings

   Before I vanish again into the stuff I have to do for yesterday, I want to express my sincere hateful love for Life Is Beautiful drama. I have never thought any drama longer than 20 at most (yes, Goong was an exception) episodes could make me glued to the screen so much. Don't count taeha dramas. LIB was the first to do that and Assorted Jewels just followed. After that, only Seongkyunkwan Scandal made me feel rejuvenated again.

What has become out of me? I embarked on long journeys with New Tales of Gisaeng, Twinkle Twinkle and Royal Family (OK, this one is short). I'm helplessly enamoured with long, full of details and well paced dramas. So what if I have to wait for a proper "spark" between main couple 20+  episodes like in Family's Honor? So what if I have to endure all evil characters that apparently don't sleep only to come up with their ultimate plan to ruin somebody else's life? Long dramas have certain charm in their pace that no drama can fulfill. Or maybe I'm just getting old?

QoR and Park Shihu

I'm suppressing the strong need to bash something, anything. While I'm concocting the poisonous post that will ruin my already bad reputation, something gorgeous and normal. As I promised, two more cuts from a show Good Day. I love that show from the moment they aired the interview with KNG. Actually there are two similar shows (both Good Morning and Good Day respectively, but...). In the interview with PSH please pay attention to his words about marriage and the fact he's still single. Even the lady conducting the interview was amazed, hehe...

QoR: Behind the Scenes

   Actually the making of, the afterparty and PSH watching the last episode with fans. So yes, if you can't stand him, don't visit this post. I'm a real sucker for all kinds of "behind the scenes", this is why when I saw it I immediately wanted to share. Even if I'm the only one who enjoys those. *shrugs*
Update: in few hours 2 more cuts, one with QoR, the second one - with only PSH... what a loss... ekhem...

QoR: one more reason

Hmm, the beginning credits, not shown on HANrel releases (yes, I'm that obsessed, so I went to other versions), and ending credits from the last episode. Reason why I love this drama? Several of them.  It's not a perfect drama, oh no. There is nothing like "perfect drama". But I had my reasons to like it and to feel attached. And I also cut the small interview with Im Jikyu who played Kang Wu (Yongshik's secretary). I love the man :)

I'm anticipating PSH next project, he was terrific here, and I'm really, really impressed. And I don't say those words often.

Park Shihu - Last Episode with Fans

And forgive me if I don't write for the next few days...

QoR: what a ride!

  
                    This is how I feel after the last episode. I will come back to my senses. Eventually.

Park Shihu - Section TV

I recall I said once I'm a peace loving person, all benign and sweet as a fairy. I lied. Or I was joking badly, badly... on my worst sober mood. I completed all data to the article I'm working on (buahahaha) and as the award I watched Section TV. I watched, I cursed, I found my MBC account info. I believe all that in Latin would sound more profound. Anyway, back to the topic. There was an interview with Park Shihu as (hold on tight) Rising Star. Great. At the end of 2009 I remember another interview also with "Rising Star" and the name was: Kim Namgil. Do people who make the outlines for those shows understand what "rising star" means? I think it doesn't mean "an actor with at least 5 years of experience", but "a promising rookie". Damn... I can send some English Thesaurus, if the need be.

But it wasn't what irritated... no, not the right word... infuriated me. I summoned the hell's powers and crushed them in my fury. Because there was a photoshoot going on. Photoshoot as we can see on the still above, in front of the airport.
And what else? Ah well, a womanwannabie in an even more horrendous outfit than man-bra. Brrr...

Work and family dramas

    I avoided long, family dramas for some time, and when I gave one a shot, now I'm lost completely. There is  a totally different feel to those stories, usually long ones, over 30 episodes. I'm talking about primetime week/weekend dramas, not about those who air daily. I like the pace of those stories, so even though there are heart-wrenching moments and cliffhangers, it's not as condensed as in the regular 16-episodes shows (QoR is an exception - I will probably see few grey hairs next Tuesday on my stupid head). The first such drama that made me got glued to the screen was Life is Beautiful. Along with this one I watched Assorted Jewels. And now I can't stop.

I like how traditions and customs are shown in such dramas, like funeral ceremonies, marriage or different rites. For me it's like watching some kind of para-documentary on customs. Moreover, I like how they touch normal, everyday things, like marriage, work, friendship, changing of a person.

QoR: video cuts and stills

The first cut is from the show Good Day (or something). And the other is from a special that aired one day, and featured also My Princess special interviews. Since I dropped that drama already, I'm not interested, and I won't post it.

Few stills follow.

BTW. Did I mention my extremely efficient ninja skills in slicing throats? No? Oh, so I won't. For now. 4 episodes left still...
Update: 3 episodes. Please, someone kill Yongshik's brother, Director Han, and perhaps Junsu. 

Actors are freezing

   This is what I wanted to write some time ago after shivering with PSH in Queen of Reversals scenes. But I went to the gutter and forgot even about the meals, so blogging wasn't actually the first thing I had in mind. And yesterday, thanks to A^^ I had such a nice, heartbreaking and mellow gutter!

Fine, it's middle of the winter, but for their health sake, don't force them to wear just a jacket when the temperature is around 10 below freaking zero! Cause it looks nice without all those heavy, feathered winter jacket. There was this scene in QoR when both Taehee and Yongshik were sleeping in a hanok they found on the way, and early on the morning Yongshik is surrounded by the mist of his breath. It's crazy. I'm over-susceptible to cold, OK, but I was suffering along with them just by watching this. Are PDs and writers crazy? Are they not aware that the winter is harsh? It's not a breeze in the evening. It's freezing! I can't talk when I'm outside like this, so I just bow down they are able to act. Such finely act. But well, they are tough men and women. Not Princesses with precious complexion and sculpted for 3 hours ahjumma hair. But they act! And cry! Damn, I will kill all those at MBC if PSH will cry once again in that cold, freezing air!

QoR: one cut

A cut from an entertainment show.
And upcoming episode pics^^

QoR: pictures and videos

   I think I will knock myself down and sleep until Monday 2 pm. Last time I was watching drama live streaming was SKKS. Hmm... What do I like so much in a drama about a working housewife? I think everything. I like how the second man is becoming a leading man. This is actually a very nice move, Yongshik gets more screen time (can't say I'm complaining), romance is well paced and intense, oh how intense! I'm glad I don't have to deal with teenagers in the drama and screaming oppa-girls. But seriously honing my knife for Junsu's mother. The woman gets on my nerves with everything.

QoR: continuation of eye-candies^^

Jeez, I'm biased. I know. *shrugs*

QoR: some more pics

Today QoR wasn't aired because of Asia Football Games. I love football, but let's be frank, football players are not the most attractive men in this Solar System. 

WARNING: drool inducing pictures ahead!
And thanks to some great guy yesterday, I got the same haircut as Director Han, I love it!