The Evil Twin

I am beyond thrilled: I actually found one of Jae Hee’s newest movies on Bittorrent, so I got to watch him again after all!! And

it was a horror movie!! ^_^

First off, this is a movie comprised of Asian-horror clichés—it has everything: the freaky long-haired ghost; same creepy music and sound effects; a vengeful ghost; the unbreakable bond between a mother and her daughter; predictable twists. It reminded me a lot of the failed-horror movie, Cinderella.

However, where Cinderella failed, The Evil Twin succeeded.

I actually liked this movie! ^_^

For one thing, I think this may be the first time I ever saw a horror movie that ended happily. There are so many movies in the horror genre where I’ll think: “They should have done this” or I’ll end up rolling my eyes at the absurdity of the plot. In this movie, that rarely ever happened! I’ll admit: it was pretty obvious what the “twist” at the end was going to be… but even knowing how it was going to end, I wasn’t disappointed. It ended just the way I thought it should… without leaving any unexplained plot points in its wake. Evil Twin focused more on the story and used the ghost and the horror elements to reinforce the plot, not for just the sake of appearing creepy without substance.

There were a few parts where I jumped… but I can’t honestly say this movie was all that scary. I liked it more for the plot and how it combined the two elements. If you’re looking for a movie that will just make you scream from start to finish, then you’d be better off watching something else. But if you’re looking for an intelligent horror film that isn’t afraid to use the usual conventions, but in a fun and interesting way, then I really think you’ll enjoy this one. Plus, Park Shin Hye is always a terrific actress, so you can watch it without fear of terrible over-acting and hilarious over-the-top screams.

Oh, and did I mention Jae Hee is in it? ^_^

My Rating:

The Art of Fighting

Okay, so this wraps up my Jae Hee addiction--but only because this is the last movie of his I have access to. I need his two new movies to come out ASAP, or I may start suffering from withdrawal! :(

Luckily, I’ve always liked these kinds of movies: seeing the underdog overcoming the odds; watching as they learn to stand up for themselves, and become stronger. It makes it a lot more fun cheering for them, since you know that in the end they’re going to succeed. After all, in this kind of movie, a successful fight at the end is a given—so it’s the underdog’s journey and how they improve that keeps you watching. I’m always excited to see that pivotal moment—when they just snap, and finally fight back.

In this one… it took a lot longer than expected.

I really liked the main character, Byung-Tae, but I found myself growing frustrated with the slow progress of his training. I just wanted him to get tough, and start kicking butt already! Of course, he eventually does, but it isn’t until the very end of the movie. So for almost an hour, we’re treated to a constant flow of scenes, in which the main character is either hiding or getting his butt kicked repeatedly.

But then suddenly it all just clicks.

Byung-Tae manages to become both scary and cool the moment he starts fighting back—and you can tell the exact moment he changes. The way his expression suddenly becomes resolved; the new confidence in his step. And yet the character isn’t lost in the shuffle. When he actually does start to fight for real, you can still see his faulty movements; the way he pulls back ever-so-slightly when he kicks his opponent after he’s already down; the way he recoils and stumbles around after throwing the chair through the window; the angry, animalistic way he attacks the boy moments later in the elevator with the can. It’s like he’s snapped, and the more he fights, the more confident he grows… the fear is completely gone, and he no longer holds back.

It’s disturbing, and not pleasant to watch. That is the art of fighting. It isn’t always pretty, and it isn’t always fair.

And through all of this, Jae Hee still manages to keep Byung-Tae in-character, while simultaneously making it seem like we’re watching a completely different person in action. And I’ve seen Jae Hee fight before… it’s completely different in this movie. It’s more sloppy, confused, desperate, and very very realistic.

I love how the final confrontation takes place in their classroom… in front of all the people he was constantly humiliated in front of. It made his victory all the sweeter. And that last punch… Whoa!

Another thing I liked was that it didn’t end the moment he kicked his tormentors butts. We actually got to see the aftermath, and their retaliation. Usually, in these kinds of movies, we get to see the final victorious battle, and that’s it. The fact that they went beyond that moment was really cool… even if, again, the result wasn’t pretty.

To be honest, it was a very hard movie for me to watch. I was cringing and covering my eyes through a lot of it… and it was a lot darker, and more depressing that I thought it was going to be. I was glad that they threw in that small twist at the end though… the tone suggested it would end much worse than it did. It was a good movie, but it’s not one I’d care to revisit. Once is enough, thank you very much. If Jae Hee hadn’t been in it, I think I would have been more indifferent in the end… but it was really good for the kind of movie it was.

My Rating:

Sassy Girl Choon Hyang (17 Episodes)

(EPISODE 01-17)

((summary taken from dramawiki))

"Sassy Girl, Choon-hyang" is the 2005 interpretation of the "Legend of Choon-hyang". The story begins when Lee Mong-ryong is transferred from Seoul to a high school in Namwon, North Jeolla Province. Chun-hyang does her best to help Mong-ryong, her first love and the son of the Namwon Police Station chief, to enter a prestigious university. However, after meeting with Mong-ryong’s first love, Chae-rin, Mong-ryong’s love toward Chun-hyang is shattered, although Chun-hyang’s love remains unwavering. One day, Byeon Hak-do, CEO of a famous entertainment company, appears in her life. He exudes confidence that he can make any woman fall for him. But as Chun-hyang shows no interest in him, his self-esteem is damaged profoundly. Byeon Hak-do is determined to make her love him. 

3 Iron (Bin Jip)

I've wanted to watch this movie forever, ever since I read its synopsis and several glowing reviews... then I realized Jae Hee was the main protagonist, and that was the final motivation I needed!

First, I must get this out of the way: holy crap, he's hot.

Okay, now on to the movie...

It was amazing. The only draw-back for me was the fact that Jae Hee doesn't speak. At all. For the entire 2:35 minutes, I don't get to hear his voice... I won't lie... that hurt. But I could look at him, so that more than made up for it. And surprisingly enough, I was so captivated by his actions--by the subtleties of his acting--that I didn't realize he wasn't speaking until the movie was already well under way.

Of course, since this is by the same writer/director of Time, I should have seen this coming! ^_^

The concept itself is very intriguing: it never even dawned on me that language can be so unnecessary. It's something we all use... and yet, here are two people who don't need language to communicate. They both have the capacity for speech, and yet it's a personal choice not to use it. Still, it doesn't feel like we're missing anything. The woman speaks one word towards the end--it's short, sweet, and the only words they need. I loved watching them bond and fall in love. In a way it was very innocent; very touching.

I found the scene where they first meet extremely interesting. Trespassing is a huge violation, no matter how you look at it… of personal space, safety, comfort, and of piece of mind. Nobody likes the idea of having their privacy and property rummaged by a stranger—of finding their lives laid bare without their consent; it’s humiliating and overly humbling. The battered woman has already been humbled and humiliated by her husband; she has nothing left to lose. This is probably a huge part of the reason why she’s able to watch his invasion with a sense of detached fascination and awe—she doesn’t call the police or immediately confront him, but instead, shadows him silently—turning the tables by observing him without his knowledge. It’s very fitting then, that when she finally does choose to confront him, it’s when he’s in the middle of a very private, humiliating, and humbling act himself: masturbation. How very apt... ;)

Now, for golf. I've never seen such a boring sport used in such a creative, through-provoking way. One of my favorite scenes was when Tae-Suk watched the husband attacking his wife, and very calmly started hitting golf-balls into the huge target-screen--then, when confronted, started aiming the golf-balls at her husband instead. The golf motif was something that was constant throughout the movie, and I liked how it could convey so many things. It was also a nice touch how later, every time Tae-Suk would try to practice golf with his little tethered ball, the woman would silently block his way; shadowing him, so he couldn't play.

I'm also convinced that this writer could take any item and make it look much deeper and cooler than it actually is. Next, he should base an entire movie around an umbrella! I think he could pull it off...

As cool as the rest of the movie was, the ending, I'll admit, confused me. But really, that's nothing new... I guess I'm just not smart enough to decipher all these deeper, hidden meanings the writers and directors want me to take away from their films. Up until the end, even with the emphasis on silence, I thought everything I'd been seeing was pretty believable... and yet, once he's released from jail, everything I thought I knew about Jae Hee's character went out the window!

It's hard to tell that the world we live in is either a reality or a dream.

As beautiful and cool as everything leading up to that moral was (the focus on the scale reading "0" was a nice touch) it came out of nowhere. I loved watching him shadowing the husband; being ghost-like in all the houses they stayed at; hiding on the guard in his cell. But none of it made sense.

The moment he was released, I wasn't sure what I was expected to believe. The first half of the movie (strange as it was) could easily be based on reality. I could honestly see people doing this, even if the odds of them escaping the police (or the tenants notice) seemed unlikely. The fact that they actually were caught several times, only reinforced that sense of realism. Yet, during the second half of the film, this concept of reality we've become familiar with, is stretched to its limit.

It peaks the moment he's released from prison.

The ghost-like shadowing; the sinking into the wall; the impossible scale. All of this I could've bought... if it weren't for the woman's husband. It's through him that we're informed Jae Hee's character was released from jail--not that he's dead or missing. If this had been hinted/alluded to instead, then I would have had an easier time buying everything that followed. By having an outside character (who's one of the most reality-grounded people in this whole movie) tell us outright that this person is out there somewhere, planning to return. Why wouldn't we believe it...? Especially since the woman can see him, and we can too. Why then, are we suddenly shown a series of blurred, impossible scenarios, that seem impossible?

Whether it is reality or a dream, I don't really care... what I want to know is why the sudden change? Is it just to give the movie a deeper meaning? A cool way to throw in a twist? At the end, what are we supposed to believe? Is he a ghost? A really good hider? Did he suddenly develop the ability to move through time, space, other dimensions...? I know what the writer/director is going for at the end: we're told what he wants us to take away from this film. I just have trouble buying it.

I guess it's the down-to-earth, non-professional critic in me that bulks at something that isn't explicitly spelled out, or hinted at from the get-go. How anyone can expect mainstream movie-goers to understand something so complex--something that only people with film degrees are likely to understand--is beyond me. So consider this the layman's review, and click the title link above, to find out what's really going on. ;)

Oddly enough, I still enjoyed this movie.

And no, not just because of Jae Hee, lol.

Even though the ending had me scratching my head, overall, the film works. It was definitely thought-provoking, and the idea was unique and interesting. I didn't even realize I enjoyed this movie as much as I did until I sat down to write the review! I can appreciate a movie that makes me think, wonder, and isn't afraid to push the boundaries of its limitations. Even if I don't always understand it. ^_^

EDIT
Oddly enough, I didn't realize this was another Kim Ki-Duk film when I started watching it-- hence the confusion and head-scratching that followed immediately afterwards. If I'd known ahead of time, I would've been much more open-minded to the ending. But since I had no idea at the time (this only being the second movie of his I've seen--at present, I've seen 4 or 5) I had no idea what to make of it. Now, however, considering the source, it makes perfect sense: Almost all of Kim's films mix the real with the unreal--with impossible scenarios that appear almost dream-like in their execution. Knowing these things ahead of time has a huge impact on how you interpret or react to a film. By watching this unaware, I really missed out on something.

Just be aware of this fact before watching it yourself, and try to keep an open mind: it really is the kind of movie that wants you to think outside the box. So as long as you throw the box away, you should be fine. ^_^

My Rating:

Liar Game (11 Episodes )

(EPISODE 01-11)

((summary taken from dramawiki))

Kanzaki Nao is an honest college student who receives a hundred million yen one day, along with a card saying she has been chosen to take part in the "Liar Game". The aim of the game is to trick the other players out of their hundred million dollars. At the end, the winner gets the hundred million and the loser is a hundred million yen in debt. The next day, she receives notification that her opponent is her former teacher, Fujisawa Kazuo. She goes to him, seeking help, but ends up getting tricked into handing her money over. Desperate, she approaches the police for help, but they are unable to do anything. However, she is told of a mastermind swindler, Akiyama Shinichi, who is to be released from jail the next day. Desperate, she goes to him for help. -- Rikayla (Updated by Backalley)

Que Sera Sera (17 Episodes)

(EPISODE 01-17)

((summary taken from dramawiki))

Kang Tae Joo (Eric) is a player with charm and good looks who always dates rich women. One day, he finds a strange poor girl named Han Eun Soo (Jung Yoo Mi) sleeping in front of his door. Although he initially despises her, he eventually finds himself falling for her. Cha Hye Lin (Yoon Ji Hye) is the daughter of a rich shopping mall CEO. Her first love, Shin Joon Hyuk (Lee Kyu Han), dumps her at her father's request. Hye Lin buys herself a new boyfriend to make her ex jealous. That man is Kang Tae Joo, and during their contract relationship, Hye Lin begins to fall in love again. However, Tae Joo already has a girlfriend and he can't forget her as easily as he has forgotten all the women in his past. This drama is basically about the redemption of Kang Tae Joo from bastard to human.  

Coffee Prince (17 Episodes)

(EPISODE 01-17)

((summary taken from dramawiki))

The life of Go Eun Chan (Yoon Eun Hye) is not easy; she works many jobs to pay off debts and even gave up her feminine image. Choi Han Kyul (Gong Yoo) is the heir of a big food company, but his grandmother wants him to settle down, so she arranged many dates for him. After Eun Chan bumped into Han Kyul and was mistaken for a boy, Han Kyul decided to hire Eun Chan to be his gay lover in order to avoid the arranged dates. Desperately in need of money, Eun Chan had no choice but to accept. Han Kyul's grandmother also made Han Kyul in charge of a filthy coffee shop in danger of being bankrupt. Eun Chan begged to work at the coffee shop, and not long after, feelings start to spark, except, how would Han Kyul accept his "homosexuality"?  

Dal Ja's Spring (22 Episodes)

(EPISODE 01-22)

((summary taken from dramawiki))

‘Dalja’s Spring’ is the story of Dalja, a 33-year old single at a crossroad of whether to remain single or get married before she gets older. The drama aims to comically and candidly portray the reality and undying pursuit of romance of a thirty something single woman.

The love triangle of Dalja, Taebong and Gijoong brews conflicts over love versus marriage. Taebong, a hunk six years younger than Dalja, works as substitute dates and becomes Dalja’s fake boyfriend. Gijoong is the type who dreams of an ideal and rational courtship. The drama also highlights the life and work of women in their thirties through Dalja who is a talented managing director at a home shopping channel.

The Twins Effect

((summary taken from AsianMediaWiki))

Ace vampire slayer Reeve (Ekin Cheng) tracks his arch-enemy, the Duke Dekotes to Hong Kong. The Duke is hunting for Kazaf (Edison Chen), the fifth prince of the vampire nation. With Kazaf's blood and the ancient vampire bible, the Duke will bring a new age of darkness. On arrival, Reeve learns that he has a new partner, a feisty but inexperienced young beauty named Gypsy (Gillian Chung). Matters are further complicated when Reeve's innocent younger sister, Helen (Charlene Choi), develops a romantic relationship with Kazaf. With all the odds against them, our heroes get some unexpected help in the form of high-kicking paramedic Jackie Fong (Jackie Chan). In a high impact final reel, Reeve, Gypsy and Helen join forces to fight the Duke and his minions¡K Horror, comedy and high impact martial arts action collide in 'The Twins Effect'.

Miscellaneous Dramas #1

Since there are so many dramas I've watched/enjoyed over the years, I decided to do a small series of miscellaneous posts, where I list some of my favorites, along with its rating and an accompanying music video. My memory is admittedly horrible, so it would be too hard for me to go back and give individual, in-depth reviews for each of these series (though one or two of them I may eventually go back and rewatch.) Hopefully the mv's will showcase them better than my poor rambling ever could.

(Click on the drama title, to read a synopsis.)

My Lucky Star (Episode 01-20)

(EPISODE 01-20)

As far as most dramas go, this one took me awhile to get drawn into. Originally, I thought the plot was cliche and the over-exaggerated dub-job for the main character, kind of annoying. Actually, it wasn't until I skipped 10+ episodes to work on timing episode 13 for Sublimes, that I got truly "addicted" and had a My Lucky Star marathon. There's just something about seeing an angst-ridden Tian Qi torn between love and hate, that really did it for me. After their reunion scene, I just had to go back and watch the series from the very beginning--how else would I find out what tore this potentially loving couple apart, creating such anger and hostility in its place?

And wow, am I glad I did!

This drama had everything I love: humor, angst, romance.

Okay... so that sums up just about every drama, but still... ;)

For me, as always, the main draw was the romance... and Zhong Tian Q/Xia Zhi Xing, did not disappoint. I haven't cheered this hard for a couple in a LONG time!! I like how Tian Qi had a past, and that the first half of the drama was focused on him trying to move on from his ex, while unknowingly falling in love with Zhi Xing. Some of my favorite scenes were from the first half, when they finally get together and are so loving and obviously in love... it doesn't take long to see that their relationship is going to outshine his past romance in every way. Plus, Zhi Xing is such a likable character--even if she is an ex-con, you can tell she has a good heart, and always tries to put other people before herself. It's not hard to see why Tian Qi falls for her. I was cheering for her from the very beginning, and really wanted her to be happy. And watching Tian Qi forsake everything for the girl he loves was adorable (and beyond heartbreaking) when he lost her...

One of this dramas strongest points for me though, surprisingly enough, was its length. Despite the fact that this series was comprised of 20 episodes... for me, it didn't drag at all! This is VERY unusual. Almost every Taiwanese drama I watch, I find myself groaning in frustration, or yelling at the screen mid-way through, wishing for the story to wrap up. My Lucky Star, however, had me captivated from beginning to end. Its pacing was perfect, and never once did I feel like it was growing draggy or boring. Even after watching episode 20, I wanted more!

When I say "marathon", I really mean marathon: this series kept me up several nights, and had me glued to my computer screen. I couldn't seem to go to bed without knowing what would happen next!

The acting, I will admit, was a little over-the-top. But honestly, I haven't seen a Taiwanese drama that isn't! In fact, I'm starting to think that overacting may be a requirement! But still, I can't help but love the playfulness of it all... you can tell that the actors are having fun, and it really comes across while watching it.

The way Yoo Ha Na handled her role, in particular, was really impressive--especially since she is korean and doesn't speak much chinese--yet, she seemed so at ease in her role, I had trouble believing she wasn't even Taiwanese! It would be interesting to see her in something else, maybe something Korean, where she gets to use her own voice. Also, I thought she did exceptionally well with all the crying scenes she had... and trust me, she had a lot!

I'm probably one of the only people who will ever say this... but this was the first time I'd ever heard of Jimmy Lin. At first, I didn't get the big deal--sure, he was somewhat cute, and he's a decent actor--but so are a lot of other Taiwanese actors out there (some, who personally, I find a lot cuter). And although I agree the boy can sing--hearing him trying to sing Elton John's My Song was one of the funniest/most disturbing thing I've ever heard.

Of course, aside from his rendition of My Song, my other earlier impressions were short-lived...

I quickly fell in love with him, especially the way he brought Tian Qi to life: he went from a carefree, rebellious, rich boy, with no interest in his fathers business, to an angry, obsessed, workaholic who had no qualms against using his wealth and power to track down the ex who betrayed him. And he made the transition so well!

Oh, man, his eyes.

How can someone have so much control like that?! It was like watching two completely different characters fighting for dominance--the sweet, naive, Tian Qi of five years ago, against the bitter, angry, revenge-driven Tian Qi of the present--and oh geez, he was hot when he's angry!!

Overall, I loved this series! The length was perfect; the acting, entertaining; the story, intriguing; the race-scenes, exciting; and the romance, adorable.

Plus, I loved this couple.

Beware: it IS a very typical idol drama. But personally, that didn't bother me. I still thought it was much better than average, and seeing a drama dealing with jewelry rather than fashion was a refreshing change.

I would definitely give it a try if you're looking for something fun and entertaining to watch.

My Rating: