[K-Movie Review] Antique Bakery (2008)

I want to begin by saying that I have been wanting to watch this movie for FIVE years. Not kidding. I can't even begin to explain why I waited so long. It's even harder to explain how upset I am at myself for waiting so long!

Antique Bakery is a well-written story about four completely different (but all very handsome) men who are brought together by chance to run a bakery together. The movie portrays the heartwarming, growing friendship between the four men--playboy owner Jin Hyuk, openly gay Seon Woo, young, abrasive, ex-boxer Ki Beom, and adorably clumby oaf Soo Yeong--as they work together to build a successful breaking. In addition to the great acting, likeable characters, interesting story, what I liked the most about Antique Bakery is that is not really the light, fluffy, lighthearted movie it first appears to me. Viewers soon learn that each of the four men have a painful history and their friendship with one another helps them overcome their pain. That's what makes this not only a fun movie, but an extremely touching one as well. I only wish that we could have spent more time seeing the reveal of the characters pasts. For that reason, I look forward to watching the anime series of Antique Bakery as well.

Don't follow my example and wait five years, watch Antique Bakery now. It's a must-watch as far as I concerned.

[KMovie Review] Hotaru no Hikari The Movie: It's Only a Little Light in My Life

*First Review of the 2014! Whoop, whoop!*

I watched this last night, unplanned. (Yup, it was a wild New Year's Eve for me. Well, they do say end the year as you plan to live the next one.)

I was updating my list on mydramalist.com and learned of the movie continuation of the Japanese drama series Hotaru no Hikari. I had enjoyed both seasons a few years ago and was excited about this movie that takes place after the events of the second season.

About Hotaru no Hikari The Movie: It's Only a Little Light in My Life

As I say above, the movie continues after the 2nd season of Hotau no Hikari. Hotaru and Boss are newly married and still their lovable selves. However, now they are considering a honeymoon in Rome, Italy. Hotaru exhibits her typical Dead Fish Woman act and would prefer to lounge around the house eating snacks than to travel. However, boss (coincidentally) has a business trip in Rome and Hotaru (believing that it's his dream to reenact a movie that takes place in Rome) decides to accompany him. Their trip is then filled with misunderstandings, odd happenings, the meeting of a kindred Dead Fish Woman, the mafia, a wedding, crossdressing, and drugs. Yeah, I know.

My Feeling About the Film After Watching

Overall, the movie is nothing special. It wasn't bad, but not great either. It had a lot of what I liked about the series--Hotaru's eccentric, but strangely endearing behavior. Watching, I found Hotaru childishness kind of annoying, rather than cute. Then again, sometimes it kind of was cute, especially when her hubby involuntarily found himself playing along. The storyline wasn't too bad. Interesting, but not particularly compelling until the end when we're finally given vital backstory. At first, I disliked Rio because I didn't understand her actions, but disliking a character for 5/6 of a movie is too long and I found it hard for my opinion of her to change, despite eventually feeling sympathy for her character. The ending, however was actually pretty cute and typical of Hotaru and her Boss. In the end, I'm glad I watched it in order to have Hotaru's story completed as I had always been curious after season two about how she and Boss would live. The movie, It's Only a Little Light in My Life, gave that to me in a fairly satisfactory manner. 

[Kmovie Review] Love 911 (2012)

Oh man, this is such a good movie!

Love 911 isn't your typical, fluffy rom-com, which is what makes it so dang good. Mi Soo (played by Hang Hyo Joo) is a cocky female doctor who misdiagnoses a patient based on assumptions about her brute of an husband. Uh-oh! When the patient has a brain aneurism, the husband sues Mi Soo. In order to save her medical license, she seeks firefighter, Kang II (played by Ko Soo), who could help attest to the husband's violent nature in trial. However, his gruff, but noble nature forced him to say no, but Min So doesn't give up. And that's how this love story begins.

What makes this movie stand out is not only its original plot, but its amazing cast and the smoking hot chemistry between the leads. The budding relationship between a self-involved doctor and a grieving firefighter is intriguing, engaging, and entertaining as hell as they don't get along to begin with. When they finally do get together, it's super sweet and swoon-worthy. The supporting cast is frigging stunning. They're all intriguing characters that you can't help but love. They also add depth and sometimes comic relief to the movie. The ending was absolutely beautiful and had me sighing contently.

Love 911 is a definite must-watch. Check it out on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqmTtD6jSy0 and let me know what ya'll think.

[Kmovie Review] Marrying the Mafia (2002)

In Korean movie, Marrying the Mafia, the typical "waking up next to a stranger after a drunken night" plot is given a twist when Park Dae Seo (played by Jung Joon Ho wakes up in bed with Jang Ji Kyung (played by Kim Jeoung Eun), the only daughter of big time Mafia boss, Triple J.

Craziness and Gangster Comedy ensues. This movie was nothing special. Ji Kyung's brothers were entertaining enough, especially as they played matchmaker. However, I wasn't too impressed with the development of the romance between Dae Seo and Ji Kyung. Their relationship was improving in a subtle way that I found cute, but then Ji Kyung got hurt, ran back home to daddy, Dae Seo chased after her, then bam, wedding! What? It didn't make sense to me and was kind of stupid. The very end wasn't too bad. I liked how we finally got the chance to see how they actually ended up in bed together. I couldn't help, but smile.

In short, I may have better spent my two hours watching something else, but I'm not upset that I gave up that time. It was cute and a bit funny. But definitely has no re-watch value for me.

[KMovie] Seducing Mr. Perfect (2006)

There's been a recurring theme of car crashes leading to romance in the movies I've watched lately. Min Joon has really bad taste in men. They're not particular jerks or anything, but they always dump her, placing the blame on her--she's too nice, too clingy etc etc. In short, she's a bit pathetic. Anyway. After being stood up by her boyfriend (after skipping out of work with a fake medical excuse *rolls eyes*), she crashes into the car of none other than Robin Heiden, who she discovers is her new boss. Uh-oh! To make matters even worse, Min Joon is assigned as Robin's assistant. They get close really quickly and Robin eventually begins giving Min Joon love advice. And of course they fall in love in the process.

The plot line was really cute, however the execution needed some work. Certain aspects of the story were drawn out too long, or weren't portrayed when you thought they should have been, or not given as much attention as you'd expected. The best part of this movie is how Robin spoke entirely in English while everyone else, including Min Joon, spoke in Korean. Daniel Henney (the actor who plays Robin) was raised in America and doesn't speak much Korean, so the director worked around it in a really cute way. The premise is that Robin can understand Korean pretty well, but finds it different to speak and so refuses to do so. I expected to find that aspect of the movie annoying or frustrating, but instead I thought it was SO adorable and his voice was to die for--so sexy!

Other than the pacing of the story, Robin and Min Joon's relationship developed nicely and I enjoyed watching. There was a bit of humor thrown in with some really cute, awww, scenes. Overall, Seducing Mr. Perfect is worth watching. Find it on Youtube!

Laters Gators,
Tuma
Looney Express

 

[KMovie] Petty Romance

Korean Movie

Romantic Comedy/ Rated 18+

118 Minutes/ 2010

Synopsis:

An adult cartoon contest is announced offering a W130 million prize.
Da-Rim (Choi Gang-Hee) does translation work for an adult magazine. Da-Rim wants to become a writer. Due to her creativity, Da-Rim is always making mistakes and gets fired by company. Talented cartoonist Jung-Bae (Lee Sun-Kyun) is constantly turned down by publishing companies because of his poor story lines. The two, who seemed perfectly matched, team up for the adult cartoon contest. Trouble is set to brew.

Click here to read my thoughts about Petty Romance!

[KMovie] Mr. Wacky

Korean Movie

90 minutes

Romantic Comedy/ School

Synopsis:

Woo Ju Ho likes to spend his days – and his money – on good drinks, fun clubs and loose women. Hoping to build his character, Ju Ho’s grandfather threatens to disown him unless he agrees to teach high school for two years. At first Ju Ho approaches teaching much like he did his previous playboy life – lackadaisically. Fellow teacher Yun So Ju finally gets fed up and decides to take it upon herself to set Ju Ho straight. But can a playboy teacher be reformed? 

Click to read my thoughts about the movie!

[KMovie] 200 Pound Beauty

Korean Movie

120 minutes

Romantic Comedy

Synopsis:

Korea’s all-time box office (#8 overall) comedy leader and winner for Best Film, Director, and Actress in Korea’s Grand Bell (their Oscar equivalent), is the story of a singer that resorts to drastic “head-to-toe” plastic surgery in order to become a huge star.

Review:

I have been meaning to watch this movie for long time. I first discovered it and mentally added it to my "To-Watch" list maybe two or three years ago! I'm not really sure why I waited so long before watching. Just kept being distracted by other dramas, I guess.

Anyway on to what I thought of it. Overall, I enjoyed. It's not worthy of becoming a new addition to "My-Absolute-Faves" list, but it wasn't too bad either. It was just a movie. The plot was original, at least to me. This is the first Korean movie or drama I've watched that portrayed plastic surgery so directly. I think the reason why I couldn't love the movie was because it was all so shallow to me in the end. And things didn't quite add up.

Spoilers below! PROCEED WITH CAUTION.