Love Keeps Going (2011) - Taiwanese Drama

Love Keeps Going

Taiwanese Drama

2011 - 13 Episodes

Synopsis: 

A story of an egotistic guy meeting a girl who aimed to please. A casual comment from her boyfriend on wishing to open a bakery store of their own caused Mei Le to immediately abandon her lucrative job in fiance to pursuit a career in baking bread. But, her boyfriend still dumped her for someone else anyway. Her breakup directly impacted Han Yi Lie. First, her cheating boyfriend was his brother. Second, he worked better after eating her bread and couldn't function when she stopped baking it. So he decided to help her get over the unfortunate event.   

Review:

Ahh..Mike He..How I looves you! lol I haven't watched T-dramas in a while, but after watching "Drunken to Love You", I started missing Mike He something fierce as it was weird seeing Rainie and Kingone, but no Mike! So I went hunting for some newer series starring Mike He and lo and behold, I found "Love Keeps Going".

I really enjoyed this one. To begin with, the love between Mike He and Cyndi Wang is so authentic. This isn't the funny, fluffy, playful love stories you usually see in romantic comedies. Instead, it is a real love strengthened by adversity and near tragedy.

Speaking of adversities and tragedies, the plot was very well scripted and totally sucks you in. The characters are all well-developed and are "real" people on screen--some you love (like Yi Fe and Yu Cheng), some you hate (like Mother Han and the manager) and the really special ones that you at first hate, but then come to love (Xuan Xuan).

The soundtrack was okay, nothing spectacular (not like City Hunter's. God, I loved the soundtrack for that!), but it wasn't horrid.

The only small downside that I can think of is the very ending. I think things were wrapped up a little too neatly, too quickly. One more episode would have probably been perfect. Also, I hate the fact that the series ended without showing Mike's face! I won't say any more and risk giving spoilers, but it was just a bit upsetting! lol

Overall, Love Keeps Going  is a definite must watch. Worth 13 hours of your precious life! SO, what are you waiting for? GO WATCH IT! Look, I'm even making it easy and providing a link.

Clicky, Clicky!

Until next time,

Tuma

P.S. Already watched "Love Keeps Going" or want to recommend a drama I totally need to watch? Leave a comment!

P.P.S. Expect a ton load of reviews in the near future. Two weeks left in semester. Just need to survive..and make it to summer break, then I'm home free to BINGE on dramas! I have a LOOONG "To Watch" list! ^____^

Wild Romance (2011) Korean Drama

Wild Romance

Korean Drama

16 Episodes - 2012

Synopsis: Everything starts on the birthday of Eun Jae's dad. Eun Jae ran into Park Moo Yul, who is the 2nd baseman of 'Green Dreamers', when she is drunk. Eun Jae who is a fan of 'Blue Seagulls', starts a fight with Moo Yul who led the 'Green Dreamers' to victory. The next day, internet is on fire with the video called 'Humiliated Park Moo Yul'. Because of this video, career of both Moo Yul and Eun Jae, who recently got a job as a bodyguard, are in danger.

In the end, they decided to put on a show against the public! They lie that Eun Jae is Moo Yul's private bodyguard and the video was recorded when Eun Jae was giving a self-defence demonstration to Moo Yul. Like this, Eun Jae becomes real bodyguard of Moo Yul. It seemed like everything worked out just fine, but the problem is that they can't stand each other's existence...

My Review: I really enjoyed this one! It didn't end up being anything like I was expected.

From the synopsis, I thought it would be a nice, funny fluff series, but man does it get crazy as you keep watching!

And the lead couple is sooo flippin adorable, and I loved the second minor couple too!

Definitely worth a watch!

City Hunter (2011) - Korean Drama

City Hunter

Korean Drama

20 Episodes - 2011

Synopsis: The story takes place in Seoul, 2011. Lee Yoon Sung is a talented MIT-graduate who works on the international communications team in the Blue House. He plans revenge on five politicians who caused his father's death with his surrogate father Lee Jin Pyo and eventually becomes a "City Hunter."

My Review:

This was a reallly good one! I put off watching it cause I wasn't in the mood for an action-y drama, but man was it worth waiting for! It had everything a girl could ask for...handsome leads, really developed characters who had six different sides to them, awesome action scenes that had you holding your breathe or cringing, angsty romance that made you go through two boxes of kleenex and har-har comic relief scenes.

And did I mention the AMAAAAZING soundtrack? No, well it is. Amazing, I mean! One of best I've heard in a drama yet and I've watch alot of dramas! I mean this is one of those OST, that you just have to download. If for no other reason than for therapeutic purpose. You know that feeling you get after finishing a really great drama? One you've spent the past few months following anxiously and religiously? The feeling of being lost? Of thinking, 'shit, what will I occupy my time with now? That bittersweet feeling after spending 20 episodes falling in love with characters, just to be forced to say goodbye? Having the OST totally helps! There is almost nothing more moving than auditory memory. You will find yourself smiling involuntary for some tracks, tearing up in response to others, feeling giddy, excited...happy, at peace! ^___^

My only "meh" was for the very very end...which I felt was pretty unsatisfying. It just left you with a "wait? that's it? What happens to them now?" kinda of feeling, which sucks, cause there's no other way to know what happens next...unless there's a sequel! Overall, a DEFINITE must watch. I'll even make it easy for you and provide a link to go watch IMMEDIATELY!

Watch "Shitty Hunter" (viki insider) here!

Baby Faced Beauty (2011) - Korean Drama

Baby Faced Beauty

Korean Drama

20 Episodes - 2011

Synopsis: The story of Lee So Young, a 34-year-old woman who's saddled with family debt and only has a high school qualifications, but dreams of becoming a fashion designer. Her youthful appearance is her only advantage; she is mistaken for a 25-year-old university graduate and subsequently lands her dream job when she's hired by a fashion design company, where she meets Choi Jin Wook, a man who looks more mature than his young age.

My Review: Oh man! This was so damn adorable!!

It dragged a bit (not too much) and I found myself fast forwarding in some places, but the relationship between So Young and Jun Uk was just too cute for me to not watch til the end.

I especially liked the ending. It's been a while since I've seen an ending that was as satisfying. I love the whole '1 year later' gambit. It allows you to see how the characters you've just spent 20 eps falling in love with (and fall I did!) end up. Too often, you get a drama that ends vaguely, leaving you with a "so what happens to em now" feeling, which I hate.

Overall, this is worth watching simply for the dynamic between Soo Young and Jun Uk! They were like high school children with first crushes. Totally adorbs! ^__^

Drunken to Love You (T-Drama 2011)

Drunken to Love You

Taiwanese Drama

18 Episodes - 2011

Synopsis: 

Two strangers, both proposed marriage to their respective girl/boyfriend, were rejected on the same day. They decided that the best way to deal with the rejection was to get drunk, real drunk. During the 24 hours of their crazy drunkenness, these two stranger became fast friends and got married... to each other. When they finally sobered up, they embarked on a mission to undo every crazy thing they did while they were drunk and prayed that their girl/boyfriend wouldn't find out. However, it turns out that Jie Xiu's girlfriend, Ai Wei, doesn't want a scandal affecting her movie so she asks him to stay married to Xiao Ru for three months.

My Review:  

This one is somewhere between average and good. The series was about 6 episodes too long and filled with absolutely silly plot points, which shifts the rating closer to 'average'. BUT, Rainie and Joseph!! They had amazing chemistry and their couple scenes were so damn cute, I could die! There was also a lot of really funny scenes. Rainie and Joseph are the only thing that kept me watching til the end, though I fast forwarded through so much of it (watching all 18 eps in just about 24 hours). A Must Watch simply for the cutest couple of Taiwanese Drama History!!!! LOL

Black and White (2009)–Taiwanese Drama

It’s been way too long I know. I have such a long list of dramas to write reviews for, but I’ll get to them eventually. Today, let’s talk about my new two favorite buddies—Pi Zi, the Ruffian and Ying Xiong, the Hero.


Title: 痞子英雄 / Pi Tzu Ying Hsiung (Pi Zi Ying Xiong)
English title: Black & White
Genre: Police, action
Episodes: 24
Broadcast period: 2009-Apr-11 to 2009-Jun-27
Download: http://myac.asia/tw-drama-black-and-white-2009/
 
Synopsis: Pi Zi and Ying Xiong are two cops who are as different as day and night. One does nothing except for drinking coffee and living a luxurious lifestyle while waiting for information from dubious sources to crack his cases. Another believes law and justice are the pillars of society and is constantly on the street catching criminals… a little overzealously for his superior’s liking. When a case brought these two top crime solvers together, sparks flied and a little light peeked into this dark city where the nation’s President is on friendly terms with the local triad and twins kill people while drinking milkshake.

My Review: This. Drama. Was. Amazing! Black and White has been on my To Watch list for so damn long and I’ve been kicking my own butt for waiting so long to finally get around to watching it. I’ve been putting it off because it’s not like my typical Romantic Comedy, but boy am I glad I took the plunge and watched this. Black and White isn’t your typical crime drama. From episode one, it grabs you tightly by the collar and doesn’t let you go as you, with the help of Pi Zi and Ying Xiong, struggle to solve a crime that it a lot bigger than it looks and to survive.

The Characters in this drama are diverse and all equally captivating. The relationship between the three leads is very powerful to the overall storyline, but the supporting characters are also just as important. Each one plays such a vital part that the drama would definitely not be what it is without them. I especially love how much Pi Zi and Ying Xiong need and balance one another, despite their vast differences.

The Plot is the best one I’ve seen in any Asian drama that I’ve watched. What I liked best about this drama is the lack of dramatic irony (technique in which audience knows something that the characters do not). I felt a stronger emotional connection while watching this drama because of the fact that the clues were revealed to me as they were revealed to the characters. I felt that I was also cast into the role of a fellow officer and helping to solve the crime. The countless twists and turns in the plot were masterfully placed to keep viewers hooked (like a 2 dollar hoe on crack). Just as I thought I knew what was going on and who was responsible, I get slapped in the face with a “That’s what you think! This story isn’t finished yet”. Another great thing about the drama was the build-up and suspense. They managed to provide the perfect amount, not too much in which you begin to lose interest, but just enough to have you holding your breathe from beginning to end, just enough to have your hand tremble just a bit as you move to click on to the next episode, just enough for you to cry and smile bittersweet smiles because it’s not all over quite yet.

The Soundtrack wasn’t anything special but then again I don’t think a good soundtrack is very necessary in an action drama like this one.

Overall, Black and White deserves to be number uno on your Must Watch list. Don’t put off watching this one like I did…. What are you waiting for? Get to it!

P.S. For those of you who have already watched it, what did you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments! :)

See you again soon,
Tuma

My Princess (2011)

It's been forever, I know! Sorry, super busy for school and life. Doesn't mean I haven't been watching dramas (nearly impossible), just that I haven't been blogging about them. So, I have a lot to catch up on!

Title: My Princess
Year: 2011
Episodes: 16
Genre: Romantic Comedy (Do I watch anything else? lol)
Starring: Song Seung Hun as Park Hae Young and Kim Tae Hee as Lee Seol

Synopsis: An ordinary college student, Lee Seol, finds out she's a princess. The grandson of Daehan Group, Park Hae Young, is put in charge of educating Seol on proper etiquette. However, Hae Young is put in a precarious situation when he finds himself drawn to Seol, the girl who will take away his inheritance if the monarchy is restored.

Romance/Plot: This was a very sweet story and pretty good. The progress of the romance was nicely done and subtle. Both the viewer and the characters weren't sure how or when the leads had fallen in love, just that they had. This princess plot is a bit different from others I've watched, which is nice. For one, the romance isn't between a commoner marrying into a royal family due to some promise (Goong), nor is it a romance between a princess and prince both fighting for the inheritance (Romantic Princess). In My Princess, Lee Seol is a typical, if slightly quirky, college student who finds out she's a princess and eventually falls in love with her tutor. There's some angst and political agendas, but most importantly a sweetly budding romance between her and her advisor.

Mood/Tone: What I like best about My Princess is that after all of the issues and problems, the relationship between Park Hae Young and Lee Seol is more playful than passionate. They tease and annoy one another, which I found totally cute!

Visual/Aesthetics: The castle was beautiful and so was Lee Seol's clothes. Hmm...nothing much as to say. This wasn't a drama relying on stunning scenes (not like Secret Garden).

Soundtrack: Oh man! Since I took so long to get around to writing a review, I don't quite recall the soundtrack and whether or not it was good. I'm assuming it was horrible, since one tends to remember very bad soundtracks, but I can't say it was amazing.

Overall: This is mostly definitely worth watching. The plot is interesting enough, but the lead couple if what makes this worth watching. They're so cute together.

Laters,
Tuma

“Chasing Fire” by Nora Roberts

 

Title: Chasing Fire

Author: Nora Roberts

Year Published: 2011

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons New York

Pages: 472

 

Synopsis/Blurb: 

Little else in life is as dangerous as fire jumping. Flying past towering pillars of smoke, parachuting down to the edge of an all-consuming blaze, shoveling and sawing for hours upon hours, days at a time, all to hold the line and push back against the raw power of Mother Nature.

But there's also little else as thrilling - at least to Rowan Tripp. The Missoula smoke jumpers are one of the most exclusive fire-fighting squads in the nation, and the job is in Rowan's blood: her father is a legend in the field. She's been fighting fires since her eighteenth birthday. At this point, returning to the wilds of Montana for the season feels like coming home - even with reminders of the partner she lost last season still lingering in the air.

Fortunately, this year's rookie crop is among the strongest ever - and Gulliver Curry's one of the best. He's also a walking contradiction, a hotshot firefighter with a big vocabulary and a winter job at a kid's arcade. He came to Missoula to follow in the footsteps of Lucas "Iron Man" Tripp, yet he's instantly more fascinated by his hero's daughter. Rowan, as a rule, doesn't hook up with other smoke jumpers, but Gull is convinced he can change her mind. And damn if he doesn't make a good case to be an exception to the rule.

Everything is thrown off balance, though, when a dark presence lashes out against Rowan, looking to blame someone for last year's tragedy. Rowan knows she can't complicate things with Gull - any distractions in the air or on the ground could be lethal. But if she doesn't find someone she can lean on when the heat gets intense, her life may go down in flames

My Thoughts:

As always Nora Robert s writes a beautiful love story with awesome, interesting, lovable characters, and equally interesting plot backdrop. I really liked this one as I like all of Nora's work, but this doesn't get 5 stars because of the ending. I feel that it ended too abruptly. Almost like Nora thought "Oops, don't wanna pass the 500 page mark, let's wrap this bad boy up". The pace of the last chapter was fast forwarded 8X compared to the rest of the novel. But still, did I say that I really enjoyed it? Rowan and Gull made the best couple! I loved them together. And the supporting characters were equally fun. Guess you gotta be a lil nutty to be a Zulie!

Secret Garden (Kdrama)

Another drama review and this one’s a real treat!

Title: 시크릿 가든 / Sikeurit Gadeun / Secret Garden
Chinese Title : 秘密花園
Genre: Melodrama, fantasy, romance
Episodes: 20
Broadcast network: SBS
Broadcast period: 2010-Nov-13 to 2011-Jan-16
Air time: Saturday & Sunday 21:45
Synopsis: The drama tells the story of Kim Joo Won (Hyun Bin), a seemingly perfect man yet with certain arrogance and childishness in him, and Gil Ra Im (Ha Ji Won), a stuntwoman whose beauty and body are the object of envy of top actresses. One day they went deep into the mountains and entered a strange house. A strange grandmother offered them chocolate to eat. The next day they found themselves changing bodies.
My Review: “Secret Garden” takes the typical 'poor girl and rich guy fall in love despite opposition of the guy’s family’ plot and gives it a fun, magical twist! What if, in addition to dealing with all of the usual issues that arise with any new relationship—getting to know one another, admitting feelings, fighting, making up etc etc, you also had to deal with the occasional soul-swap whenever it rained? That’s what the love story of Gil Ra Im and Kim Joo Won is about.
It gets even better. Joo Woo is a the young president of a huge chain of department stores. He’s arrogant, eccentric, immature (at least with Ra Im) and claustrophobic. Ra Im is—get this—a stuntwoman. How cool is that?! Ra Im and Joo Won’s sweet love blooms each time she kicks him in the shin, or flips him over her shoulder. And kinky Joo Won thinks she’s pretty when angry, so it works for them both.
There are also the supporting characters: Joo Won’s cousin Oska, whose a Hallyu star and his first love, turned enemy, turned love again Yoon Seul. You cannot help, but love Oska, cause he’s just so damn full of himself, but in a totally playful, adorable way! And though at first you hate Yoon Seul, you begin to like her quite a lot towards the end.
Throughout the story, Joon Woo and Ra Im come against many obstacles in their love—Joon Woo’s evil mother, the two love birds themselves and a secret that’s been linking the two of them for 13 years.
“Secret Garden” is a drama that’s sometimes funny, sometimes silly, sometimes hot and heavy, sometimes sad and touching, but always full of a ton of ton between the characters.
Now, to make this a fair and “objective” review, I’d have to mention one not-so-awesome aspect of the series. *drum roll* And, the winner is…the soundtrack. Don’t get me wrong, the songs were pretty good and put quite nicely where they were put it. I just think a bigger selection was needed for a drama of this length (20 eps), to avoid sounding repetitious. I sometimes found myself fast forwarding or muting, especially in the last few episodes.
Overall, “Secret Garden” is a definite must watch. It’s a new Looney Express favorite!
So, go watch it, or I’ll “turn your vertebrae number five to number 6”!
Download here!
Watch here!

"White Heat" by Fatuma Hydara (me)

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…

everywhere…

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

in time for rose colored dreams.

Book Review: “The House on Fortune Street” by Margot Livesey

Blurb:

It seems like mutual good luck for Abigail Taylor and Dara MacLeod when they meet at St. Andrews University and, despite their differences, become fast friends. Years later they remain an unlikely pair. Abigail, an actress who confidently uses her charms both on- and offstage, believes herself immune to love. Dara, a counselor, is convinced that everyone is inescapably marked by childhood; she throws herself into romantic relationships with frightening intensity. Yet now each seems to have found "true love"—another stroke of luck?—Abigail with her academic boyfriend, Sean, and Dara with a tall, dark violinist named Edward, who literally falls at her feet. But soon after Dara moves into Abigail's downstairs apartment, trouble threatens both relationships, and their friendship.
For Abigail it comes in the form of an anonymous letter to Sean claiming that she's been unfaithful; for Dara, a reconciliation with her distant father, Cameron, who left the family when Dara was ten, reawakens complicated feelings. Through four ingeniously interlocking narratives—Sean's, Cameron's, Dara's, and Abigail's—we gradually understand how these characters' lives are shaped by both chance and determination. Whatever the source, there is no mistaking the tragedy that strikes the house on Fortune Street.
"Everyone," claims Abigail, "has a book or a writer who's the key to their life." As this statement reverberates through each of the narratives, Margot Livesey skillfully reveals how luck—good and bad—plays a vital role in our lives, and how the search for truth can prove a dangerous undertaking. Written with her characteristic elegance and wit, The House on Fortune Street offers a surprisingly provocative detective story of the heart.
 
My Review:
I wish I could give this a 2/5 because I'm completely stuck on the fence on this one. I didn't hate it enough to give it 1 or 2 stars, but I also didn't like it enough to give it 4 and certainly not 5 stars. The story was a bit bland. The writing wasn't horrible. The characters, however were! Okay, I exaggerate just a bit, but I found them so irritating! It was mostly the females that annoyed me. The story is suppose to be about how four people tell their own story of certain events in their pasts that influence how they live in the future. I found it so asinine, though because none of them had any devastating issues. Basically, the whole story reminded me of someone going to the ER for a paper-cut.

Keizoku 2: SPEC (Jdrama)

Time for another drama review!!!
Today’s drama is a really good one. It’s intriguing, exciting and quite different from the dramas I usually watch!

Title (romaji): Keizoku 2: SPEC

Genre: Mystery

Episodes: 10 

 

Synopsis: Touma Saya is a woman with an IQ of 201 and an inability to "read the atmosphere" in social situations. Due to a previous case, her left arm is in a sling. Her partner Sebumi Takeru used to be the star performer of the Metropolitan Police. After some incident however, he was transferred to Mishou. Those two track down offenders with special abilities(SPEC) who managed to get away with their crimes.

My Review: I really really enjoyed this one. This was very different from my usual slew of romantic comedies, but I decided to give this a try after reading a funny review of it. What I love about this drama now that I’ve finished it?

1. The Characters. Toma and Sebumi have so many facets to them that you can’t help but feel some sort of connection to them as you watch. Toma comes across as an eccentric, socially inept, but extremely intelligent detective. Sebumi is a stiff, follows-the-rules kind of guy. But together they still make quite a team. The side characters also play vital roles and are just as intriguing, especially those with SPEC, or special abilities. I mean, you have a physic, a mind reader, changed memories, stopped time, clairvoyance, psychometry and more!

2. The Story. The plot was VERY interesting. Toma and Sebumi are apart of 3-man division that solves special cases involving humans with special abilities or SPECS. At first you may think that this will end up being an episodic series with them simply solving a case each episode, but that’s hardly the case. Each episode lays down the basis for the next, revealing clues and new secrets. The VERY best thing about this drama is that it absolutely keeps you on your seat. Just as you think you know who did and why, you’re hit with something else, something you didn’t even realize, This happens throughout the series, even at the very end, where the biggest secret of all is revealed!

Give it a watch, people! It’s short and sweet and definitely worth spending 10+ hours of your life watching!!!

Until next time! PEACE!

Sweet 18 (KDrama)

Sweet 18

Also known as: Sweet 18 / Little Bride / 18 Year Old Bride
Episodes: 16 

Synopsis: Kwon Hyuk-Joon's grandfather, the head of the traditional Kwon family agrees to an arranged marriage between his grandson (Lee Dong Gun) and Yoon Jung-Sook (Han Ji Hye) when Yoon Jung-Sook is born. 18 years later, the two families lose contact because soon after the contract is signed, Jung-Sook's family encounters financial issues and is forced to run away.
Meanwhile, Jung-Sook has grown up to be a rebellious and strong-willed girl who just wants to live her life as she sees fit. With little aspirations, she is the direct foil of her achievement-bound counterpart, Hyuk-Joon. When the two meet each other, they clash horribly; Jung-Sook thinks her fiancee is nothing but boring, and Hyuk-Joon believes Jung-Sook to be nothing but an immature child. Despite all this they do marry. The rest of the series follows their life living together as a couple, and the obstacles they are faced with.

My Review: ^___^ This drama was so damn sweet, it made my tooth ache!!! It's such a cute story  about true love that has everything a gal can want in a series! Lovable characters: You not only find yourself falling in love with the lead couple, Jung-Sook and Hyuk-Joon, but also with the supporting characters who all have such unique personalities that makes the drama even more endearing! What I liked most about this drama, other than how adorable the lead couple were with one another, is how REAL the characters were. Unlike alot of dramas out there, the actors/characters weren't these perfect mannequins, that had it all: looks, smarts, money, that makes you want to hate them. Jung-Sook is spunky and childish and doesn't give a damn. Hyuk-Joon is mature and very serious and that's what makes it so much fun for him to be teased by both Jung-Sook and his friend Jung-Chan! You even end up liking Hyuk-Joon's manipulative sister and ex, because they're just so interesting and I ended finding his sister Sun-ah cute as she found her own love interest. This is a sweet, simple story of true love, the very best kind, with none of the angst and psychotic exes and other love interests!!! Give it a try!