Fly High

Fly High (사랑하니까, 괜찮아/Sa-lang-ha-ni-kka, Kwaen-chanh-a), or here, is a 2006 Korean romantic movie. It stars Ji Hyun Woo and Im Jung Eun. The summary is as follows:

It's school festival day and Min-hyuk is busy dancing and singing. However, it is not the stage but a toilet that binds his destiny. He is bewitched by a daring high school girl, Mi-hyun, who comes into the men's room because the women's room is full. From that day on, Min-hyuk woos her, escorts her home at night, stuffs her locker with roses, and clears passages for her in the morning after a snow fall. For all his efforts, he doesn't get much more than a tender glance from Mi-hyun. When she suddenly vanishes "sorry" are the only words she leaves behind.

I don't quite know why I decided to watch this, only that I did. Wait - scratch that. :) I looked it up online and I realised that there's one important detail the summary leaves out, which makes sense, or it would have spoiled the plot for those who likes finding out things for themselves. This movie would fit into the tragic romance genre that is quite prominent in a good amount of movies and dramas.

It's cute - I know I say that a lot, but it is. There are some funny parts to it, mostly because of the characters' personalities but as they grew older (by two years or so), they also matured. Well, in comparison to before. The first half of the movie focused on the guy's efforts to woo the girl. The second half had its moments of angst but there was also a good amount of happiness as well. Her death is implied, so there's nothing graphic and her illness isn't really elaborated on. It focused mainly on the couple's relationship. In short, it was a pretty standard movie; not bad, but not outstanding either. What really got me was the rather unique way they met one another. :)

You can watch it at MySoju and at DramaCrazy. Just a warning, though: the quality of the videos are not very good - at all.

Frivolous Wife

Frivolous Wife (날나리 종부전/Nal-na-ri Jong-boo-jeon) [HanCinema, cHinKy], otherwise known as "A Naughty Daughter-In-Law Story" and "The Taming of the Shrew," is a 2008 Korean movie of the romantic comedy genre. It stars Park Jeong Ah and Park Jin Woo. The summary is as follows:

Inspired by Shakespeare's classic of the same name. Yeon-su is a beautiful but naughty young woman whose family became millionaires overnight. All men fall in love with her at first sight, but Jeong-do, the only son of a respected family, has no regard for her. Yet despite this, the two fall in love and get married. However, their conflicting families shake up their wedded bliss.

I found this pretty interesting since the main female character is usually either a 'nice girl' of the girl-next-door variety or a tom boy of some sort. In this movie, she was one of those 'tempting' women whose sole purpose seems to be a permanent ornament, hanging off of various men with the favorite destination being a club and I'm used to seeing them off to the side; or at least I haven't encountered many dramas/films that have them at the center of attention. I thought the movie was rather thorough in a sense, giving us an idea of how the girl was, then how she met this guy who seemed to be her complete opposite. (This was not a surprising aspect, though.) What the summary doesn't tell you is that this guy lives in the countryside and it seems like you step back in time - way back in time.

I find it sort of entertaining as a materialistic girl, used to luxury and modern-day conveniences, is thrown into a world that seems to be running under a feudalistic society. In the end, everything works out. It just makes me wonder if the Korean countryside is really how it was portrayed in this film, or was it just made like this for pure fictional entertainment. I would also like to point out how that guy has the most adorable smile and it was obvious that they were all actors - how could they have such perfect skin, working outside and doing manual labor all the time?? :)

All in all, I enjoyed the movie quite a bit, though there was some slightly exaggerated (and slightly ridiculous) moments, but that's nothing new.

You can watch it here.

The Naked Kitchen

The Naked Kitchen (키친/Ki-chin) is a 2009 Korean movie of the romantic comedy and drama sort. It stars Shin Min Ah, Kim Tae Woo, and Joo Ji Hoon. The summary is as follows:

Today is Mo-rae and Sang-in’s one-year wedding anniversary. After a busy morning preparing for the celebration, Mo-rae goes to an art gallery to find a gift for Sang-in. At the gallery, she meets a complete stranger and the two unexpectedly have sex. Mo-rae returns home feeling anxious and guilty about the incident and cannot help but confess it to Sang-in. That night, a visitor arrives at their house; Du-rae, who came from Paris to help Sang-in with his new business. To Mo-rae’s shock, he is the man from the gallery. He temporarily lives with the couple in their house and a risky love triangle begins.

I found this movie refreshing, even given its subject. Perhaps it's because of the subject and how it's portrayed and dealt with. I mean, for a majority of people, if your spouse cheats on you, they would not be as accepting as this. In fact, the movie makes it into an even comedic affair. OK, well the fact that it happened is not quite hilarious, but it's put in a more light-hearted way and once it's all uncovered, there's a scene (or two) of some rather tense interactions and rocky parts. However, it ended in a sort of happily-ever-after fashion - OK, not quite "ever after" but it was a sort of a content type of ending.

Another reason why I watched it was because Joo Ji Hoon was in it. He seems to be taking roles in movies that address somewhat controversial subjects. Anyway... I thought it was pretty good. :) Not to mention it also revolves around food for a section of it - all of which looked absolutely scrumptuous. ^_^

You can watch it here.
Picture taken from here.

The Legend of Seven Cutter

The Legend of Seven Cutter, also known as Escaping Charisma (카리스마 탈출기/Kariseuma Talchoolgi) [review] is a 2006 Korean movie of the romance and school drama genres... and comedy. :) It stars Yoon Eun Hye, Ahn Jae Mo, Lee Jung, Hyun Young, and Jeong Joon Ha. The summary is as follows (taken from Wiki):

The "Seven Cutter" is a legendary fighter throughout various high schools within Korea. His name is Jung Han Soo and he remains unbeaten by the toughest fighters from many different schools. Many who had tried to defeat him not only suffered the circumstances of losing, but is left with his trademark: a 7-centimeter scar the he always leaves behind them to remind them of their loss. When a high-schooler named Han Soo at Seong Ji High School, he is instantly mistaken for the "Seven Cutter". An innocent kid, at first he is blissfully unaware of why the other students are giving him such an icy reception. So when the toughest boy at Seong Ji High School challenges him to a battle for the title of the toughest guy in school, he has no choice but defend himself and fight. Then, when he accidentally wins, things start getting really confusing for him. Soon, Han Soo meets tom-boy Min Joo, who's not just a great, skilled boxer, but a tough hard-to-deal-with knockout as well. After a few coincidences that make him look like a pervert, she also asks him for a battle for revenge. He defends himself by pretending to have a crush on her, even though he likes the pretty, but snotty, girl in school. Min-joo decided to accept his "love", and eventually starts to like his unique personality. Later, when Han Soo finally realizes he has fallen for her, Min-joo is heart-broken to find out that he likes the pretty girl, and that he never liked her. Then the bad guys arrive and try to kidnap Min Joo. Are they getting revenge from the wrong fighter?

I actually decided to watch it because Yoon Eun Hye, who's one of my favorite Korean actresses. :) I mean, she was great in Coffee Prince and though her character in Goong made me embarrassed for her, it shows off her acting talent. Anyway, it's pretty entertaining. It starts off with someone narrating a fighting scene rather comically and goes into school life. I liked Yoon Eun Hye's character because she was, well, cool. The other guy who was supposed to be the 7 cutter is a pretty nice, shy guy though he had his moments. :) There are some moments were it's somewhat serious, but everything generally has a comical undertone to it. The only thing I can say is how it doesn't quite show how he (Han Soo) slowly fell for her since it was a little sudden for me but I'm sure it was implied.

All in all, it was a good find. I'd give it a 3.75 to a 4 out of 5 if I had a rating system. :)

You can watch it streaming here and download it here.

Speedy Scandal

Speedy Scandal (과속스캔들/Kwa-sok-seu-kaen-deul) is a 2008 family/comedy Korean movie touching upon subjects such as being a single mother, family, and acceptance. It stars Cha Tae Hyun, Park Bo Young, Hwang Seok Hyun, Lim Ji Gyoo, and Hwang Woo Seul Hye. The summary is as follows:

NAM Hyun-soo was once a popular idol star among teens and worshiped liked a god. Although he’s in his mid-thirties now, he’s still a sought-after celebrity and the host of a popular radio show. But one day a very young single mom named Jung-nam sends her stories to the radio show that Hyun-soo hosts. Her stories about her longing to meet her father whom she’s never seen before grips the nation and catapults the ratings to make it the most popular program. But to his surprise, Hyun-soo later confronts none other than Jung-nam, and her 7 year-old boy, Gi-dong. Jung-nam and Gi-dong invade Hyun-soo’s home and his radio station, claiming that Hyun-soo is her father. Hyun-soo does what he can to salvage his celebrity image.

It's honestly really adorable. It talks about a guy who suddenly realises he had a daughter who, in turn, had a son and he struggles to make sure it stays a secret while his daughter and grandson stay at his place. How it spans two generations is such a great coincidence as well. It's endearing! It seems like the entire family's talented as well. It goes along with the plot and the character development carries out pretty nicely. You get the surprises that keeps you entertained, but not as if there's so much new stuff that it's overwhelming. I really don't know what else I can say about it but I have to say I like it. A lot. Though there are the moments when you go "why can't you just tell the person the entire story so there won't be a misunderstanding???" but that's sort of mandatory when it comes to dramas and movies.

You can watch it here.

My Boss, My Hero

My Boss, My Hero (두사부일체 /Doosaboo il che/頭師父一體), review1 and review2, is a 2001 Gangster Comedy film from Korea, starring Jeong Joon Ho, Jeong Woong In, Jeong Woon Taek, Oh Seung Eun, and Song Seon Mi. The summary is as follows:

As the boss of a small gang, KYE Du-shik had gotten by on his wits and bare knuckles for the past ten years. That was soon to change. Held back from promotion within the ranks due to his lack of education, Du-shik heads back to school on the order of a superior gang leader. His return is not without its complications. Intimidation dealt out by a high school hoodlum, a mischievous female student posing problems with her powerful parents relenting to her every wish, and a school that is out of control are but a few of the hazards that lay in the path of Du-shik’s education. The road is not so smooth for our hero. Although his classmates are infected by his charismatic personality and charm, will they stand by him when he most needs it? Eventually he sets out to avenge the wrongdoings of a corrupt school system. He may succeed, but will he graduate?

I watched this because I watched the Japanese dorama of the same name and I rather liked it so I wanted to see this version and how they decided to make it. It follows the same story but is comparitively less light-hearted. It focuses on the same main plotline (the boss of a gang needing to pose as a student in order to get his high school diploma) but also adds in the aspect of school life as well as its criticisms and, possibly, stereotypes. I know corporal punishment isn't allowed in the US (in fact, you can get sued and even thrown into jail for a period of time) but it was present throughout the movie, in school and out.

Of course, there were also some rather comedic moments but it's interspersed within more realistic subjects. The action's pretty good, though it has the usual "if-that-happens-in-real-life-they-should-be-dead-or-at-least-due-for-a-long-hospital-stay" situations that appear in movies all the time. However, it doesn't cross that line that much. All in all, I liked this movie in how it addresses certain issues and is pretty entertaining. If I had to choose between the Japanese drama and this Korean movie, I would say you would score more entertainment/funny points in the drama (and since it's a drama, it's longer and you get more details while some are sort of skipped or skimmed over) while the movie is a good way to entertain yourself if you're on a time crunch, even if you're not in the mood for some comedy.

You can watch it here.
Picture taken from here.

Guns & Talks

Guns & Talks (킬러들의 수다/Killerdeului Suda) is a 2001 Korean comedic film about four assassins who live together. Yes, I know, a comedic film about killing. :) It stars Shin Hyun Jun, Won Bin, Shin Ha Kyun, Jung Jae Young, and Jung Jin Young. The summary is as follows:

In the heart of Seoul, Korea, a band of killers-for-hire is slowly making a name for themselves in the business. Their style–kill the victims the way their clients want them to be killed, no questions asked. For this group to succeed, they need the help of each other–and an uncle who designs super cool gadgets in the privacy of his own home. However, the foursome will need more than manpower and an uncle to carry out a new mission they just accepted. Along with an intelligent detective hot on their trail, the killers must accomplish “the perfect crime” or face the consequences. Will their mischievous ways be too much of a burden or will they pull out the crime of the century?

I personally don't mind killing. OK, that sounded bad. What I mean is that I enjoy the violent film from time to time and it helps that I have a somewhat morbid sense of humor. I also find humor in anything and everything - which is probably why people think I'm a bit... odd. What I also enjoy are moments where things are MADE to be funny, where I'm not the only one laughing. Reading through the synopsis and half of a review, I decided that this movie would do it. After watching it... well, it's not bad. I have to say, the guns? Totally cool. I like how they nonchalantly go about their business but even then, they're completely different when they're not out killing people. Meaning they're rather... nice and even goofy. The four assassins living together is a rather odd bunch, with a brother-brother pair thrown into the mix. Romance is found and hilarity ensues. Don't get me wrong, though. There are some (generally) serious moments.

HOWEVER, their brand of humor is the kind of humor that makes parts of the movie, well, a movie. It would most likely never happen in real life. The music that goes along also makes it a comedy. When the summary said "intelligent detective," don't take that seriously. There's the good type of comedy during the scenes when they're off the job, but, at times, while on the job, things happen. Like threatening to kill a cop at police headquarters in a room filled with other gun-weilding people and walking out without a single scratch by brushing them aside. The little banter during the scene and the way he handles the cops is pretty funny though - but I also like realistic things. Also, that scene lecturing on how love is found with that ridiculous music in the background had me cringing.

All in all, it left me in a pretty good mood and I liked it.

You can watch it streaming here and there's a trailer along with the torrent download link here.

He Was Cool

He Was Cool (그 놈은 멋있었다/Geunomeun Meoshiteotda) [reviews] is a 2004 Korean comedy romance film starring Song Seung Hun and Jeong Da Bin. The summary is as follows (taken from here):

Romance sizzles for Jung Da Bin (Rooftop Room Cat) and Summer Scent's Song Seung Hun in the silver screen blockbuster He Was Cool that is based on a best-selling novel. Jung portrays a vivid clever girl that gets involved in a touching affair with wealthy Song who has to display all his his lovely charms to overcome the shadows of the past ...

It's a pretty cute story though the plot is kind of redone. You know - a nice girl meets a tough guy and they somehow get to know each other better. However, there's got to be something there if the story keeps on being reused, yeah? Anyway, I admit I like seeing this process come to life on the TV screen though it's highly unlikely to happen in real life. It started pretty sweet and though there was one scene I was somewhat confused on, it worked out. I loved the fighting scenes and even though the girl annoyed me half the time with her... girly-ness (aka she cried in the most annoying way and was just a lump of flesh, not quite taking an active part in things) and sometimes, the guy was oozing male pheromones, it ended pretty nicely. Though it could have been done another way - there were some parts where they could have elaborated in the end.

I still think it was fairly entertaining for moments when you just want something to watch.

You can watch it here.

Heartbreak Library

Heartbreak Library, or Page 198 in His Book (그 남자의 책 198쪽), is a Korean movie made in 2008 about two people, both on the road to recovery from a breakup with their significant other. It stars Lee Dong-Wook and Yoo Jin (Eugene). The summary is as follows:

Eun-soo, a librarian watches for book vandalism that currently happens in the library. One day, she catches Jun-oh tearing off certain pages of books. Eun-soo accuses him of vandalism but soon discovers the complex story behind his actions. Jun-oh’s girlfriend suddenly leaves him with only a mysterious note: “Look up page 198”. Jun-oh’s girlfriend was a bibliophile and she checked out books regularly at the library. Jun-oh goes to the library and tears out page 198 from every book he comes in touch. As Eun-soo has just broken up, she gives him an advice saying that he has to let her go if she really meant it. However, looking at Jun-oh torn apart by his love, Eun-soo starts to help him decipher the messages on page 198 of all the books...

It's a pretty sweet story about coping with love lost, no matter how it happens, and just accepting it. It's interesting as both the guy and the girl are going through the same thing, even though there are some rather major differences between their respective failed loves. It doesn't go too in-depth in either of their stories, though the guy's background story is revealed more, which makes sense as it is a movie. I also like how the two didn't jump straight into the bandwagon of getting together - it would be way too unbelievable - and their relationship slowly progressed rather believably, even though they still didn't know much about the other.

All in all, it was a sweet story of falling out of love and the budding of new love, as it never really gets that far, and the pain that one may go through. Although there aren't many laugh-out-loud moments, there are moments that made me smile.

You can watch it here.
Picture taken from here, which also includes links where you can download this movie as well as the trailer.

A Millionaire's First Love

A Millionaire's First Love (백만장자의 첫사랑), wiki and review, is a Korean movie released in 2006 about a spoiled, rich kid who is sent to a small town to finish school and graduate in order to get his inheritance. Along the way, he meets this girl and that's where it continues. It stars Hyun Bin and Lee Yeon Hee. The summary is as follows:

Kang Jae-kyung is a typical spoiled rich kid; he’s arrogant, drives sporty cars, attends the big clubs, and rides through school corridors on his motorcycle. As his 18th birthday approaches, he’s set to inherit his grandfather’s fortune, including a five star hotel. However, Jae-kyung must earn his fortune. His grandfather lays down an ultimatum: Jae-kyung is required to transfer to a new school in Gangwondo and graduate. Until then all access to his penthouse, cottage and credit cards is denied. Should he fail to graduate or drop out, then he loses everything. With little choice he heads out to the countryside and a small town in which daily life is far removed from what he’s used to.

Shortly after settling into his new home he meets 19 year-old Choi Eun-whan, who just happened to run into him back in Seoul. They don’t exactly hit it off; he’s far too stubborn and cool for school, while she sees hope for him and sets out to make him see it for himself. As they eventually draw closer, thanks to a set of coincidences and school projects they learn more about one another, but soon a shattering revelation will change these people forever.

It's a sweet movie where there's a nice girl who eventually changes the arrogant, rather frustrating boy for the better. There's a little more to that - but that's the gist. Even so, it's more on the tragic romance side of things as we find out certain things. I have to say that there is a high possibility of the shedding of tears while watching this movie. :) All in all, it's sweet and though there are scenes that are funny, it's not a comedy.

You can watch it here.

100 Days With Mr. Arrogant

100 Days With Mr. Arrogant (내 사랑 싸가지) is a Korean romantic comedy movie. I actually watched it while trying to calm myself until the next episode of Boys Over Flowers comes out (this is why I usually DON'T watch dramas unless they're complete because it drives me nuts with all the waiting). It stars Ha Ji Won and Kim Jae Won. The summary is as follows:

Ha Young (Ha Ji Won) was dumped by his boyfriend the day before their 100 day anniversary. Out of frustration she kicked a can that accidentally hit the face of a college hot guy Hyung-Joon(Kim Jae Won). The can hit his face and his Lexus car so he demanded her to pay $3000 for the damage. Ha Young escaped but not completely since she left her wallet.

Hyung-Joon then used the information on her wallet to stalk her and demand the payment for the spot on his car. Ha Young is a poor high school student so she unwillingly entered an "Enslavement Agreement" as a way to pay for the car's damages. She will be his slave for 100 days, duties includes cleaning his house, running his errands, doing his homework and cleaning his car. Are they ready for the consequence of this agreement?

In short, the movie's plot is similar to those dramas where a girl and a guy meet, they hate each other, and then they eventually fall in love. It's pretty sweet, though since it's a movie, it's pretty fast paced. The times when they finally develop feelings for each other isn't very clear but it's there. Then again, I was also pausing the movie every once in a while, talking to some friends online. O_o I wish the video quality was better, but hey, it's streaming. What more do you want? haha... Anyway, it was pretty cute and would be better if my roommate wasn't blasting the TV and the volume could be louder (I made it go as high as it could and sometimes I needed to lean forward to hear). At some points, I felt it lacked deep emotion but overall, it wasn't bad. The end was sweet, when it's revealed what the guy did for her. :) Of course, it also frustrates me that she was left to suffer until the very end...

You can watch it here.

2 Faces of my Girlfriend

2 Faces of my Girlfriend (두얼굴의 여친) is a Korean movie of the 'romantic comedy' genre (with a bit of melodrama thrown in) released in 2007, starring Bong Tae-Gyu and Jeong Ryeo-Won. The summary (taken from here) is as follows:

Gu-chang (Bong Tae-gyu) is 30 years old, still in college, unemployed and leeches of his family. Worst yet, Gu-chang has never had a girlfriend or even kissed a girl before. His friends are aware of his situation and usually has Gu-chang appearing as the butt end of their jokes.

One day, Gu-chang falls asleep on a subway, after a night of drinking. When he wakes up, he sees a girl (Jeong Ryeo-won) that he mistakes for a ghost. The girl isn’t a ghost, but works as an extra in a horror film. She’s on her way home, after becoming ill on the set of the film. Gu-chang doesn’t know this and immediately runs away from her. He drops his cellphone, which the girl picks up.

They eventually do meet again, but in a more typical circumstance and seem to get along well. Even more remarkable for Gu-chang, is that the girl seems to take an interest in him. She introduces herself as “Anni” and thus, Gu-chang and Anni’s budding romantic relationship begins. Unfortunately, when the couple spends an evening drinking, “Anni” suddenly takes a whole new personality, a rough talking brute like person that likes to fight. Gu-chang slowly comes to the realization that Anni suffers from multiple personalities.

I actually watched it because it was one of the top movies listed at MySoju so I decided to give it a try. It focuses on love blossoming between a guy who has no experience and a girl who has MPD and all the troubles (and laughter) that comes with it. I actually enjoyed it a bit and it made me laugh and I admit it squeezed a tear or two out of me at one point. All in all, I enjoyed it and I recommend it.

You can watch it here.