Sungkyunkwan Scandal

Today is a drama review!

Title: Sungkyunkwan Scandal

Genre: Period, romance, comedy

Episodes: 20 

Synopsis: Sungkyunkwan Scandal is set in Sungkyunkwan University in the late Joseon era during the reign of King Jeongjo, revolving around the exploits and love stories of four youths. When her younger brother's illness worsens and their family is in danger of being evicted from their house for lack of money, Kim Yoon Hee enters the school under his name, disguised as a boy in her desperation to support him. There, she becomes friends with the intelligent and upright Lee Sun Joon, the playboy Goo Yong Ha and rebellious Moon Jae Shin. 

My Review: I really liked this drama. It was funny and cute and the historical aspects were interesting. Towards the middle, I fast-forwarded alot of it because of the political aspects. However, what made this drama special for me was the last five episodes.Kim Yoo Hee and Lee Sun Joon's relationship is so sweet and cute and I really loved watching them together! The best part of this drama is the characters! All of the characters are so interesting. You can't help, but fall in love with the main four (Goon Yong Ha and Moon Jae Shin were my favorites! haha). Despite how completely different they are from one another, they managed to build such a strong friendship. The supporting characters are also fun to watch as they were usually pretty funny. The political aspects of the drama bored me because I'm personally not interested in politics, but overall it is a very enjoyable drama.

Kimi Ni Todoke (season 1)

I'm on an anime binge! YAY!!

Title:

Kimi ni Todoke

Type:

TV Series, 25 episodes

Year:

Oct 7, 2009 to Mar 31, 2010

Genre:

Romance, School Life, Shoujo, Slice of Life

Status:

Complete

Summary

Kuronuma Sawako is the perfect heroine... for a horror movie. With her jet-black hair, sinister smile and silent demeanor, she's often mistaken for the haunting movie character Sadako. But behind her scary facade is a very misunderstood teenager. Too shy to fit in, all she wants to do is make some friends. But when a popular boy in class befriends her, she's sure to make more than just that--she's about to make some enemies too!

My Comments

 I really liked this one! Finished it in TWO days! It's different from most shoujo anime I've watched. For one, this one is so light-hearted and endearing. It's definitely not as angsty and dramatic as most shoujo anime. What I liked most was the lead couple! Sawako wasn't the typical shoujo girl in love. She wasn't the Tsundere, violent and too stupid to realize her feelings. She wasn't the cutesy girl type either. Even though the series was totally Rated G and the two didn't even confess their feelings for one another even at the end (because there will be a second season, scheduled to air Jan. 4th), you're not aggravated and annoyed by the slow romantic pace. That is because both Sawako and Kazehaya are so damn sweet! Especially Sawako-chan. At first, she seemed really dull and stupid, but you soon realize that she's just naive, but also totally honest about her feelings, at least to herself and her best friends, which is refreshing. Girls in complete denial always annoyed me. Kazehaya is adorable, even though I sometimes wished he would stop his blushing, be a man, and just pounce! lol Just kidding. This is most definitely a must watch. I found myself smiling or laughing in EACH episode, from beginning to end. The side characters: Sawako's friends Yano and Chizu and Kazehaya's bud Ryuu are also lovable and good for a laugh or ten. Give it a try!

Kaichou wa Maid-Sama

Another anime review!

Kaichou wa Maid-Sama

Plot: Seika High School, once an all-boys school notorious for its wild students and for generally being a terrifying place for girls, has recently become a co-ed school. With the female population still a minority and living in fear of the over-the-top antics of the males, Misaki Ayuzawa takes it into her own hands to reform the school and allow the girls to feel safe in the rough environment.
Training, studying and even becoming the first female student council president of the school, Misaki has gained a reputation among the male students body as an uptight boy-hating dictator and as a shining hope for the teachers and fellow female students. However, despite her tough-as-nails appearance, she secretly works part-time at a maid cafe in order to support her family. Unfortunately, her hard-earned reputation is threatened when the popular, attractive, and somewhat impassive Usui Takumi takes an interest in her after discovering her in a maid uniform after school. Afterwards he starts to rescue her from many mishapped situations and she slowly starts to have affections for him, even if she doesn't realize it.





My review: I really really enjoyed this one! It had every thing I love in a good shoujo anime. Interesting (aka crazy) characters, fun and hilarious plot and a cute relationship between the male & female leads. This reminds me of Special A (which I also enjoyed), in that the male likes the a girl who is outrageously tough, basically one of the guys and a complete idiot when it comes to romance. Misaki is the same way. She's the student council president of a once all-boys school just turned co-ed and she rules with an iron fist. Usui is always teasing her and suggestively coming on to her and she doesn't know how to handle. This was such a fun anime to watch! I watched the entire series in just TWO days!! This is definitely a must watch! It's on the same level as Skip Beat!

Uraboku aka Betrayal Knows my Name

Uragiri wa Boku no Namae o Shitteiru (Betrayal Knows My Name) aka Uraboku

Sakurai Yuki is a mysterious boy with a mysterious power. Right after he was born, his mother left him near an orphanage, and he was later found. Because of that event, Yuki strives for independence. He hates being a burden to anyone near him, but at the same time, he is afraid of being left alone. Moreover, ever since he can remember he had a strange ability where when he touches others, he can feel their emotion. Unable to control it, he often made insensitive blunders in the past. He later meets with a mysterious yet beautiful man who saves his life, but somehow he feels so nostalgic, like he's met him before. While death threats and his ability increasing, a man who claimed to be his older brother suddenly appears, so what will Yuki do when he learns the truth?

My Thoughts: I put off watching this anime, because I'd thought it would be mostly about the gay, but not really relationship between Yuki and Luka, which I'm all for by the way. But I figured they're torture us fangirls for 24 episodes of hinting a gay relationship without any proof! lol But, whoa was I wrong. This anime has an interesting plot-line, fun and lovable characters and great action scenes. This is a must see if you want to see beautiful beautiful men fighting to protect their loved ones and the fate of mankind against evil. What I especially like, is how complex the characters are. They're so real, each one with his/her own past and issues, even the main villain. This is an anime about the strength and importance of real friendship.

Playful Kiss (K Drama)

PLAYFUL KISS

• Title: 장난스런 키스 / Jangnanseureon Kiss
• Also known as: Playful Kiss, Naughty Kiss
• Genre: Romance, school
• Episodes: 16
• Broadcast Network: MBC
• Broadcast period: 2010-Sep-01 to 2010-Oct-21
• Air time: Wednesday & Thursday 21:55
• Related TV shows: Itazura na Kiss, It Started with a Kiss 

(Photo & Info from dramawiki.com)

My comments: OMO!!!! I really Love this! Sarangeh!!! (I know spelling is totally off, but w.e.) Seriously!!! KYAAA!! It's most definitely a new top FAVE! It's so similar to ISWAK, which is the Taiwanese version, but BETTER!! For one, as much as I LOVE Joe Cheng, the male lead in the Korean version is a total CUTIE! lol And the female lead was so much cuter and not as annoying! AND ALSO, there were more romance in the korean version. Korean dramas tend to be a bit more illicit...not much when compared to American shows, but still, there were a couple of really nice kiss scenes! Also, I absolutely LOVED Seung Jo's mother! She was a total riot and provided comic relief during the romantic angst parts!

THIS. IS. A. MUST. WATCH!!!! 

Looney Express gives it a 5/5!!!!

BAMBINO!

BAMBINO!

Episodes: 11 

Synopsis: A drama adaptation of a popular comic written by Sekiya Tetsuji. After a year of working at a neighborhood Italian restaurant, Ban Shogo (Matsumoto Jun), an enthusiastic, cocky young college student from Fukuoka, comes to Tokyo to perfect his cooking skills as a chef in Italian cuisine. He discovers he has much to learn and has to continually prove himself to the very competitive, quick and efficient staff at the upscale Italian restaurant. 

MY COMMENTS: THis was a cute drama. Nothing spectacular. Though Matsumoto Jun was pretty cute in his character. He was like a little kid, getting excited..then pouting, then excitement again. It's an alright drama if you want to watch something cute and slightly amusing. It's short enough that you don't feel like you wasted your life away watching it! lol I finished it in a weekend. Give it a try. *shrugs*

Beethoven Virus

BEETHOVEN VIRUS

 

• Genre: Romance, drama, comedy
• Episodes: 18 
• Main Cast: Kim Myung Min as Kang Gun Woo / Kang Ma Eh (Conductor), Lee Ji Ah as Du Ru Mi (Violin), Jang Geun Suk as Kang Gun Woo (Trumpet)
• Synopsis: Kang Gun Woo is a world renowned orchestra maestro who is a perfectionist in his work. He is not an easy person to work with and is fear by all his players. By chance, he comes across Du Ru Mi, a violinist, and a young cop who has the same name as his and discovers that even without formal training, the young Kang is a music genius. The three soon get tangled in a love triangle.  
• My COMMENTS: First of all...JANG GEUN SEUK!!!! *squeal* I have completely, totally, irrevocably fallen in LOVE with this cutie pie! LOL I developed a major CRUSH in "You're Beautiful", which evolved into a strong LIKE in "Baby and Me" and after watching "Beethoven Virus", I've fallen HARD! It's his smile....it's the most stunning I've seen on any Korean actor yet..it makes my heart beat faster and turns me into GOO! ^___^ The drama in itself was pretty interesting also, Jang Geum-oppa is just the icing on the cake! The romantic aspect of this drama isn't what's emphasized, as you watch you realize that what's really important about this drama is the strong love for Classical music all of the characters possess, the ties the bind people together through thick and thin and the idea of working hard for your dreams and never giving up. The drama gets those ideas across beautifully in an interesting and thoughtful manner. The music is absolutely ..moving! If you're a fan of classical music this is the drama for you. It reminded me of Nodame Cantabile a little bit, but ALOT more serious. There isn't nearly as much humor in this one, though there are some characters included for comic relief, such as Bae Yong Gi (played by Park Chul Min). It is DEFINITELY worth a watch.

P.S. I will no longer rate the dramas using numbers. It's too much trouble and no one really reads my blog, anyway! lol It's mostly a way for me to catalog the dramas that I've watched and my initial reactions to them.

Smiling Pasta

Another Taiwanese drama!

SMILING PASTA

• Title: 微笑 Pasta / Wei Hsiao Pasta (Wei Xiao Pasta)
• Also known as: Smiling Pasta / Smile Pasta / Sonria Pasta
• Genre: Romance / Comedy
• Episodes: 17 

Synopsis: Xiao Shi is a girl who has gone through many short relationships, 17 to be exact, not one lasting more than 3 months hence, she was cursed with a three-month curse. After being dumped by her 17th boyfriend, the world looks grimmer than ever. At that time, a famous idol, He Qun runs past, bumps into Xiao Shi, and they end up "kissing" on the street. Paparazzi swarmed by and to avoid a bad reputation, He Qun's manager declared Xiao Shi as He Qun's girlfriend of one year and fiancée. Thus, a love contract was made. This story is about how the couple learns to like each other after having disagreements in the beginning, as well as fighting the injustices the media throw at them. Will Xiao Shi finally break her 3 month curse?

My thoughts: This was a really cute and entertaining drama. The lead characters (He Qun and Xiao Shi) were really lovable and their relationship was absolutely adorable. I loved the way they interacted, always bickering, but in a really cute way. The side characters were also just as lovable (Rita and Ah Zhe). I smiled through all 17 episodes and the ending was really sweet and nicely done. And it's quite different from other romantic comedies I've watched (mostly Korean ones). For one, there's not really a love triangle, so no evil, manipulative exes. lol Also, her family was so endearing and cute! Give it a try!

Rating: Looney Express gives "Smiling Pasta" a 4/5.

Hotaru no Hikari 2 (Glow of the Fireflies 2)

Hotaru no Hikari 2 (Glow of the Fireflies 2)

11 Episodes

Synopsis: (of Season 1)

Hotaru works for a famous interior design company. It's a glamorous job but Hotaru's private life is totally the opposite of glamorous. She lives alone, and when she isn't working she's mostly lazing about her rented house in training wear. She's not interested in men. In fact, she isn't interested in anything. "I'd rather lay around than fool around," is her motto.
Her landlord is a bar owner, and one day his son, who has just separated from his wife, comes to inspect the rental property, not knowing that someone is living there. He is shocked at the mess, but not as shocked as Hotaru. He turns out to be her boss, Takano.

My Comments: I really didn't think it was possible, but...Season 2 is even FUNNIER than the first one! BWAHAHA! I nearly died laughing while watching this drama! And Hotaru and Buchou are the CUTEST, and WEIRDEST couple I have ever seen!! They have so many quirks, but you can't help but love 'em because of it. Hotaru is essentially a slob and Seiichi (Buchou) is a perfectionist and clean freak. The way they interact with each other and show their feelings is so adorable. This drama doesn't have much depth or emotion. I mean you never feel the need to cry at any point. However, if you want something cute, light-hearted and crazily funny, THIS IS THE DRAMA FOR YOU!

Looney Express gives Hotaru no Hikari 2 a 3.5/5

Iljimae

Iljimae

• Title: 일지매 (一枝梅) / Iljimae
• Genre: Historical Romance
• Episodes: 20
• Broadcast network: SBS
• Broadcast period: 2008-May-21 to 2008-Jul-24
• Air time: Wednesday & Thursday 21:55

Synopsis: Set during the Joseon Dynasty, Yong acted as a hooligan in the marketplace by day but at night he was a thief who robbed corrupted government officials to give to the poor. After each robbery he left behind a painting depicting a plum tree branch to make his mark and was thus named Iljimae. His main purpose was not so much to rob but to search for the owner of a specially designed sword which he saw as a child was used to kill his father, a loyal subject of the emperor. Eun Chae is a government official's daughter who despite her upbringing has a lot of empathy towards the poor. She met Iljimae by chance and couldn't help admiring him for what he stood for even though she had never seen his face.

My Comments: This was my first historical drama and I was reluctant to give it a try. But, I am VERY glad that I did. Iljimae was unlike any drama I've watched before. The characters are so interesting and you cannot help but like them. The plot was highly intriguing and each episode had me glued to the screen. The storyline had a great balance of happy, funny, sad and suspense. While this drama is mostly a sad one, in that the characters go through so much in their short lives, their humor offsets the sadness, so that you not completely devastated throughout the whole drama. I really enjoyed this one and finished it entirely in a single weekend! The ending however, was a little disappointing, but still works. It's one of those most-hated open endings. Where you are simply left with the clues to figure out what happened, but you're not blatantly shown. However, it is still VERY much worth watching!

Looney Express gives Iljimae a 4/5.

Sweet Relationship

Hey World!

It's been a long time. I've been busy, busy, busy and just a bit too lazy to blog. Also, I was sucked into an anime and drama binge lately. I finished three dramas recently and thought I'd post about 'em. Here's the first one:

Sweet Relationship

Synopsis: Bai Hui has a refined palate that allows her to enjoy every wonderful texture and taste different cuisines have to offer. Ever since little, food has been the center of her world. It celebrated her college graduation and consoled her when her beloved father passed away. Her love for eating ignites passion in the heart of a genius chef, Zi Tian, who never found joy in food.

My comments: God! I hate these synopsis that you find online sometimes. They never do the drama justice! This is a Taiwanese drama starring Vic Zhou. He is the reason I decided to watch this one! ^___^ So his character Zi Tian is a cold one. He's had a tough childhood and though he is an amazing cook, he doesn't find joy in food. His love interest (though, it takes him FOREVER to admit it to himself) is just the opposite. Food has always been a central and happy part of Ba Hui's life. She decides to become a cook as a way to get closer to Zi Tian. The rest of the dramas is all drama, of course, filled with love rectangles, pain and tears, but also laughs and love. It's a really sweet drama and Ba Hui is such a sweetheart. However, the other female love interest of Zi Tian drove me NUTS throughout the whole thing. You'll see what I'm talking about as you watch. Other than her, the other characters are easily lovable and you'll find yourself enjoying this drama because of them. Give it a try.

Looney Express awards Sweet Relationship with a 3.5/5.

"Watching a Movie" by Fatuma Hydara (A Prose Piece)

Hey, this is something I wrote about a month ago and forgot to post. Totally random thing, but I kinda like it! Anyway here it is!

It’s dark.

 I’m alone, or more precisely I’ve stopped noticing those around me.

 I’m sitting on the edge of my seat…

 unable to breathe,

 not willing to blink,

 eyes riveted to the big screen in front of me.

‘Oh Shit’, the breathless scream echoes loudly inside my head, as my fingers grip the armrest tightly, tight enough for my knuckles to slowly lose their color.

The suspense, the not-knowing…

 My heart is speeding up, faster and faster. I gasp, as the figure on the screen narrowly misses a knife wound.

 I keep starring, waiting for it to end,

 hoping,

wishing,

praying.

‘Johnny Depp, you can’t die on me yet. There are other movies for you to star in!’ I close my eyes briefly, taking in a sharp breath, as the knife finally meets its intended target. I hesitantly open them again just in time to catch the flurry of action that ends with Johnny’s character as victor.

 I relax, blood pressure slowly lowers and smile. ‘What a great movie’.

The Caged Animal by Fatuma Hydara (ME, DUH!!!

A/N- I've been writing a bit of poetry lately..It's not usually my thing, so I don't know where this inspiration-if you can call it that-is coming from. Anyway, take a look at it and see what you think.

I know why the caged animal screams,

a roar of frightful pain,

having just woken up from a dream of free,

just to see his trapped reality.

I know why the caged animal cries,

a wail of aching sorrow,

having just reminisced of a past of uninhibitation.

I know why the caged animal shrieks,

a howl of nostalgic agony,

of a previous life in a wild open plain.

I know why the caged animal bellows,

in tortured anger,

for things done against his will.

I know why the caged animal screams, but do you?

He cries and shrieks and bellows,

because he is no longer free, and may never be.

Untitled- by me! April 27, 2010

A silk strap falls off a supple shoulder.

A soft, silky hand lingers.

A breathless whisper, a gasping moan, a stifled cry

Passion glazed eyes

Touches here…

there…

and everywhere…

Inflammable skin, burning hotly just beneath the surface

a coming together, hearts synced, beating a love-filled rhythm

Spirits and senses soar

higher and higher…

and higher

Then,

slowly float back down to earth on a cloud,

returning to a sated vessel,

                                             
                    a smile, a wink, a sigh… eyes gently close,

                                    in time for rose colored dreams.

Anime: Special A & KDrama: 100 Days with Mr. Arrogant

Hello World,

I know it's been a while, but I've been sooo busy that I haven't done or watched anything of interest to blog on, except school work... AND THAT'S NO FUN!!!

Due to a much appreciated snow day, I was able to finish watching an anime I started a while ago

SPECIAL A

The anime revolves around a special class in an Highschool that consists of the seven highest students on the honor roll, or whatever. They are a group of mostly eccentric rich kids. Here are the characters (curtesy of wikipedia):

Hikari Hanazono (華園 光, Hanazono Hikari^?) Voiced by: Yuko Goto

Hikari is the protagonist of the story and is ranked 2nd in the school. She is energetic and kindhearted, but rather dense to more subtle matters, in particular love. She is the daughter of a carpenter. When she was six years old she experienced her first defeat and humiliation when she lost to Kei Takishima in a pro-wrestling match. In order to beat Kei, Hikari convinced her father to allow her to attend Kei's prestigious elite school and strives to defeat Kei at anything, from academics to athletics.

Kei Takishima (滝島 彗, Takishima Kei^?) Voiced by: Jun Fukuyama

Kei is Hikari's rival and holds the 1st position in the entire school. He is good at everything he does and is always a smooth winner. He is the son of the CEO of Takishima Corporation. Kei has been in love with Hikari since they were children, but Hikari has been too dense to realize his feelings for her. He maintains a stoic and cool facade most of the time, except for when Hikari is in trouble.

Jun Yamamoto (山本 純, Yamamoto Jun^?) Voiced by: Tsubasa Yonaga

Jun is ranked 3rd in school and is the son of a music producer and a talented vocalist. He is a nice guy and is usually quiet like his older twin sister, Megumi. Like Megumi, he is very possessive of Ryuu and seems to worry Ryuu as much as he worries about the two of them. Jun is rather shy around girls, which resulted in a split personality that enables him to charm almost all women effortlessly.

Megumi Yamamoto (山本 芽, Yamamoto Megumi^?) Voiced by: Ayahi Takagaki

Megumi holds the 4th position in school and is the older twin sister of Jun. She and her brother are very close to Ryuu, whom they have known since they were children. Megumi refuses to speak so as to preserve her singing voice and writes what she wishes for people to know on a sketchpad. When she sings, her voice is so devastatingly powerful that everyone ends up dazed and disoriented afterward.

Tadashi Karino (狩野 宙, Karino Tadashi^?) Voiced by: Hiro Shimono

Tadashi ranks 5th in school and is the son of the school's director. He suffers from a bit of wanderlust, likes to travel alone and do whatever he wants or sees fit. He enjoys eating sweets, especially food made by Akira. He seems to end up as the character most comically attacked (frequently by Akira and Kei) because of his careless comments or reckless behavior.

Akira Toudou (東堂 明, Tōdō Akira^?) Voiced by: Hitomi Nabatame

Akira holds the 6th position in school and is very fond of Hikari; as a result, she is very protective of her. She loves afternoon tea and is very fond of cute girls. Akira apparently is in love with Tadashi although she never seems to hold back when hitting him. She is the daughter of the owner of an airline company.

Ryuu Tsuji (辻 竜, Tsuji Ryū^?) Voiced by: Kazuma Horie

Ryuu ranks 7th in the entire school cohort. He is the son of the CEO of a sports car company and one of his family's clients is Yahiro's family. He is an animal lover and is very good at handling children. The twins, Megumi and Jun, are unusually close to him, because they have been together since childhood and it seems that Ryuu has saved them once. It is hinted that perhaps he is smarter than 7th place, but spends the majority of the time during exams worrying about Jun and Megumi, who tend to become bored or sleep during tests.

 

This anime was soooo amusing and funny! hehe :D Hikari and Kei were the most amusing couple I've seen in a long time in anime. Actually..all of the couples were wacky! lol I won't tell you who pairs with who...you gotta watch to find out. This was a fun watch and only 24 episodes. Give it a try.

Looney Express gives Special A 3.5/5!

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Next, is a Korean movie called: 100 days with Mr. Arrogant!

 

HAHAHAHA!!!! This movie was soo funny! I usually don't watch movies, I'm not sure why, except that I prefer longer works, so that I can really see the development of the romance, but this movie may change my mind!!!

I'll start by saying it's a romantic comedy....you know..I've noticed that all I watch are romantic comedies. It may be time for a change! :) Ha-Young gets dumped by her boyfriend the day before their 100 day anniversary and upset she kicks a can on her way home... (who does this? lol) And luck should have it, said can hits someone who driving a convertible...with the top down of course...causing him to hit a pole scratching his car. WAIT! It gets even better! So, this man who is the VERY arrogant Hyung-Joon who literally hunts her down, when she runs away and makes her his slave in order to repay him the $3,000 it would supposedly cost to fix his car. And of course during her time as a slave...she falls in love. Typical..lol except Hyung-Joon is such an ASSHOLE!!! BWAHAHAH!!! But he's an incredibly charming one! Anyway..give it a go. It'll be an entertaining hour and a half!

Looney Express gives 100 Days with Mr. Arrogant a 4/5!!! 

WOOT WOOT!!!

Until whenever, my friends!!!! =D