Korean drama reviews and other Asian goodies
Archive for September, 2011
Korean movie review: Haunters
01 year ago
Story: Cho-in (Gang Dong-won) can make people do things. With just a stare from his eerie peepers, he could make you jump off a cliff or even freeze you. We are shown how, as a child, he is hated by his abusive dad and feared by his mother. When he saw his father beating up his mother one day, the young Cho-in uses his powers to push his father into killing himself. But his mother repays his deed by trying to kill him. It was probably that betrayal that led him on this lonely and destructive path. From then on Cho-in was in pure survival mode. As an adult, Cho-in uses his abilities to steal the money he needs and to live in luxury hotels for free.
During one such robbery, he meets Kyu-nam (Go Soo) who is immune to his powers. Kyu-nam ends up being Cho-in’s pursuer, much to his annoyance. Kyu-nam tries to stop Cho-in with the help of his buddies Bubba (Enes Kaya) from Ghana and Al (Abu Dodd) from Turkey. But Kyu-nam doesn’t realise that he will pay a high price for his heroics.
Thoughts: This supernatural thriller earned up to US$13mil, and no wonder: The film is atmospheric and writer-director Kim Min-seok is an able man at the wheel for his debut.
Gang impresses as the soulless Cho-in, yet despite his feral-ness, he is still a sympathetic character. Go Soo is also good as the normal guy who ends up playing hero despite feeling scared as hell.
Kaya and Dodd are a revelation. Man, not only are they fluent in Korean, they are great actors too. Now, how often have you seen foreigners in Korean dramas that can act?
Haunters’ story may remind you of M. Night Shymalan’s Unbreakable. But the story is subtle without resorting to extreme displays of violence to thrill you. The show doesn’t spell things out though, so some mysteries don’t get explained, but it’s okay because there are enough clues for you to come to your own conclusions.
What I like: Gang’s dead-eyed stare. And how the director/writer never tells you exactly what’s up with Kyu-nam. (And I’m not tellin’ either.)
Protect the Boss episode 12 video and text preview
01 year ago
Hat tip to Welcome to Happy’s World.
Translation of preview from Rebel Souls:
M to J: I cant do it – I cant just easily send her to you -I told you in advance so it’s not against the rules
J warns E not to fall for M calling her a friend
E sees some papers she wasnt supposed to -jang tells her – You didnt see anything – got that?
J asks E if she was ordered to convince him so she explains it wasnt cuz the chairman -she is asking cuz she is curious about what J thinks about it
Looks like Eun Seol saw something she shouldn’t. See, the shady business thing is going to come back to bite Papa Cha, I’m sure of it.
Meanwhile, the text preview:
Muwon who meets Nayun on his way home after departing Eunsul visits a Karaoke with her due to his feelings of frustration, but becomes intoxicated after drinking a bit from a can of beer and loses consciousness. At Nayun’s call, Eunsul and Jihun run to Muwon and Jihun who takes Muwon to his home for some reason feels an aching heart.
On the other hand, CEO Cha calls Eunsul and visits a department store and gifts all kinds of designer clothes. To Eunsul who is uncomfortable, CEO Cha asks that she help Jihun become interested in having the right to control to the corporation…
Source: SBS
Translation Credit: JYJ3
I’m really touched that Ji Hyeon is hurting for Moo Won’s sake. Truly, he really loves his cousin, but they are so used to fighting each other any kind of friendliness or warmth is awkward or viewed with suspicion. I am so shipping the two. In a non-slash way, that is.
Looks like tonight’s episode is going to be stellar. I am so sad that I can’t watch it live though – I have work. Sniff!
Live recap of Protect the Boss episode 11
21 year ago
This is what I call the “language-challenged recap”. I don’t understand Korean, but thanks to how expressive the actors are, it’s not hard to guess what’s going on. Until Rebel Souls gets her recap up, hope this tides you by!
Eun Seol gets mad at the boys and hits Ji Heon then threatens to hit Moo Won. And then out of frustration she hits herself. Or was it by accident, lol.
Myung Ran and Na Yoon’s watching wrestling, and Myung Ran hits Na Yoon who cries. Eun Seol comes in upset and bangs her head against a wall.
Ji Heon has a talk with Moo Won about Eun Seol. And Ji Heon gives Moo Won a bear hug and MW says, “Are you crazy?” and marches off. But Ji Heon looks pleased.
MW and his mum discusses about business. MW looks concerned, and mum is defensive. MW mum calls Manager Park – the spy.
Chairman’s watching TV, flipping channels. Grandma comes in looking not pleased. She comes over to whack him. They sit down and have a talk. I hear MW’s mum’s name so I assume it’s about the whole business deal last ep. They also talk a lot about Ji Heon.
Protect the Boss episode 11 preview
81 year ago
I’m still wiped out from my work trip in Hong Kong, so recaps are going to be a wee late this week. Instead, enjoy the preview for episode 11. It looks like Eun Seol doesn’t react very well to Ji Sung and Moo Won’s declarations of love (or maybe they do something foolish after that that pisses her off).
And can I say how much I’m digging Ji Sung’s new look? He just looks handsomer and handsomer. And Eun Seol gets a hair cut too! I’m not too happy that we’re STILL focused on the love triangle though. I want more shady business shenanigans and more revelations about Ji Heon’s phobia. Oh well, but I’m still happy that tomorrow is Protect the Boss day!
If you’re dying for more there are spoiler pictures for episode 11.
Protect the Boss episode 8 recap
91 year ago
Eun Seol is shocked to hear from the Chairman that Ji Heon left the car without his things. She sorts of scolds the chairman for letting it happen again, and he remarks: “Are you scolding me?” And she quickly apologises.
She then runs around the city in search of Ji Heon, nearly getting knocked down by a car and scraping her heel as a result of running around in her heels.
She finally finds him at night, calling out for her. But she’s not happy at all. “Why are you calling for me? Why?” she demands impatiently.
Ji Heon comes and hugs her, smiling. He thinks it is incredible that she appears whenever he calls for her – like some kind of superhero.
Eun Seol pushes him off angrily, snapping: “What superwoman?!” Ji Heon is shocked that she’s talking so rudely to him.
Chairman gets a call from Eun Seol that she’s found his “lost son”. The chairman barks at Ji Heon to return and decides to use reverse psychology and tells him not to come home. But it backfires on him when Ji Heon agrees not to come home and hangs up.
Meanwhile, Moo Won waits for Eun Seol. A waiter fetches him his phone and says that it was in his car. Moo Won finally reads the messages Eun Seol left for him about being late.
Protect the Boss episode 10 preview
01 year ago
Eunsul: Even if I don’t fall for you, don’t be hurt, please.
Muwon: Of course!
Muwon: Is today the only day for us? (T/N: Since it is not, he won’t try to squeeze in everything today.)
CEO Cha: He’s someone who’s never had a drop of water on his hands for all of his life. (T/N: has never done any sort of manual labor)
Nayun: Until the day I die, I won’t date any “thing” called “man.”
Eunsul: Shall I do the same?
Nayun: You might end up like me if you lose them both— so hold onto them well.
CEO Cha: If you want to protect Noh Eunsul, you have to first protect yourself and become stronger.
Muwon: It’s that I want to become stronger. Someone said they don’t like this neighborhood—so I plan to change it.
CEO Cha: As for your impudence, it stops here. (T/N: in the alternative, “As for your impudence, I will put a stop to it from here.”)
Muwon: Then I have no choice but to win over your head, CEO Cha.
Jihun: The neighborhood of Noh Eunsul… It wasn’t the absolute worst, at least.
Source: mglovejj
Translation Credit: JYJ3
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