TDrama Review: Meteor Garden

The Gist: Poor girl Shan Cai (Barbie Hsu) has always been an outsider in the wealthy university, Ying De, but her life becomes unbearable when she draws the wrath of F4. Comprised on the sons of Taiwan’s most financially affluent families, F4 is led by temperamental Dao Ming Si (Jerry Yan), followed by quiet Hua Ze Lei (Vic Zhou), and playboys Xi Men (Ken Zhu) and Mei Zuo (Van Ness Wu).  As Dao Ming Si attempts to bend Shan Cai to his will, he becomes impressed by her stamina and strength of will. Frustrated by her lot, Shan Cai becomes immersed in Hua Ze Lei’s kindness when he interferes on her behalf. Yet, as Dao Ming Si grows to admire Shan Cai’s unwavering character, a rift is drawn in F4. Helped by best friend Xia You (Rainie Yang), Shan Cai tries to sort out her own feelings without hurting anyone else. 

Love:

1.Dao Ming Si and Hua Ze Lei

 As someone who not only loves the original Hana Yori Dango, but also staunchly loves Matsujun’s Domyouji, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I like Dao Ming Si. His earnestness shines through way more than in other adaptations, constantly giving into his likable side rather than the fiery temper. He was astonishingly open about his feelings, never giving Shan Cai any reason to doubt. I loved this interpretation. Next, I loved this Hua Ze Lei. Oguri Shun’s Hanazawa Rui was lovable, but was always a little off putting to me. Hua Ze Lei doesn’t fight Dao Ming Si for Shan Cai (much), but rather is an amazing support for both of them. His genuine warmth and quietness made me shocked to realize he played the lead in Mars (opposite Barbie Hsu!). Either way both were as good as their Japanese counterparts and much better than the Korean. 

2. Affection

If there’s one thing I always go back to in Taiwanese dramas, it’s the physical intimacy their Korean and Japanese parts fail to bring. You don’t have to wait too long for the first intimate moment between Dao Ming Si and Shan Cai. In fact, even her kiss with Hua Ze Lei was incredibly touching. With emotions running wild, it’s nice to get people to kiss like they mean it and on that note, Meteor Garden definitely delivers. 

3. Aging Up

Probably my favorite major change in this show was putting the characters in college, instead of high school. The age bump makes their problems more adult and their destinies closer at hand. Also, we can add a little alcohol in the mix, living a little dangerously. It’s nice to put this story in the context of young adults rather than teens, even if most of our characters are still kids at heart. 

Meh:

1.The Length

 About halfway through this series, I was ready to put the length of this show in the love category. Before Dao Ming Si’s mother steps up, the show adds the length in all the right places. You get a lot of extra time building the relationship between F4 and how Shan Cai fits in with them. If I’d watched this version first, I’d be pissed about how much the Japanese leaves out. Still, the show really starts to wear on when Dao Ming Si is giving his life for Shan Cai and she just won’t confess. Just tell him you love him already! 

2.Qing He(Edward Ou)

I can see why every version leaves him out. He adds nothing to the story and you really just end up feeling bad for the poor fellow. He’s not as suave as F4 and never ends up fitting in anywhere. It would have been an easy write out. For that matter, there are just way too many extra guys in general – the fast food worker, Dao Ming Si’s supposed cousin, and the beach guy. All too much. It just gets repetitive. 

Hate:

1.Fight.Fight.Fight.

Even when things seem to be going smoothly Dao Ming Si and Shan Cai just can’t seem to get along. I understand the growing pains at first, but even when Dao Ming Si is being incredibly sincere, Shan Cai can’t be serious and the whole thing falls apart. This is exemplified later by a scene where Xiao You and Xi Men set up a date for the two of them and despite the incredibly romantic atmosphere, the two break into a screaming match. Obvious the conflict is needed for the show, but I thought the conflict needed to be turned outward way sooner, getting them to sort out how to like each other.

So:

So… for someone who holds Hana Yori Dango near and dear to her heart (and was incredibly disappointed by Boys over Flowers), I was impressed by Meteor Garden. I think they got the spirit of the show just right and it’s like getting a little extra from a favorite story. It’s a little disorienting how they order events, some things happen way sooner and later than in HYD, but it all makes sense if you’re open to it. As always, the Taiwanese dramas are a little low quality and this one’s got a few years on it, but I found that easy to overlook. Maybe a touch too long, but I can’t complain.

Final Grade: A

KDrama Review: Full House Take 2

The Gist: Jang Man Ok (Hwang Jung Eum) is finally free to pursue her fashion dreams when her strict grandfather, a hapkido master, leaves for a few months. Her dreams quickly sour when she posts a picture of Lee Tae Ik (No Min Woo), one half of the super popular group Take One, to her shopping mall page. In order to avoid getting sued, Man Ok agrees to become the group’s stylist at the urging of member Won Kang Hwi (Park Ki Woong), who loves her store’s vibe. Things are not easy for Man Ok as Tae Ik is stylist’s worst nightmare and a scandal finds her agreeing to become contractually engaged to him. Eventually Tae Ik warms to Man Ok, but that puts extra strain on the already tenuous relationship between him and Kang Hwi, who also vies for Man Ok’s affection.

Love:

1.Unpredictable

Ok, so this one comes with a sort of condition. Yes, as far as the romance goes, it’s perfectly obvious where this show is going from day one, but the journey getting there is windy and full of surprises. Many episodes would come and at the end, I’d have no idea where we were going next. This could be a bit confusing or irritating, but FHT2 does it well, keeping the twists refreshing and the focus tight on the characters. I like a show that keeps me guessing a bit, while still managing to tell a coherent story.

2.Pacing

Each episode of this show is broken up into two parts, which is an unusual technique but sets it apart when it comes to the pacing of the show. Instead of having little episode arcs, the whole thing really feels like one continuous thought, almost like a super long movie. I found that despite having 32 half hour episodes, it didn’t feel long and I powered through them quickly. 

3.Ending

Yay! Slight spoilers ahead. I am so sick of shows that separate our main leads at the end or just don’t quite wrap things up. It’s so nice to just have a cotton candy sweet ending that leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy on the inside. Almost all of our main characters get what they want in the end and while that may seem a bit predictable, the show does it well enough that I don’t mind at all.

Meh:

1.Basement Time!

So one of the things I was really looking forward in this show was the repairing of the friendship between Tae Ik and Kang Hwi. Yet, the show pushes it off as far as possible by never having the two of them in the same place at the same time. Kang Hwi spends way too long exiled in the basement, hiding from everyone and as soon as he’s out, Tae Ik takes off for Japan. The overall story is done well, but I think this aspect could have had more progression. It’s obvious the two care about each other in the first episodes, but that just devolves into straight hate for the duration of the show. I would have liked to see a little more affection between these two as the show went on and not just wrapped up at the end. 

 

2. STYLE

Oh my gosh. Man Ok has the worst personal style of anyone I’ve ever seen. Her hair is a messy fro and most of the time she looks like she got dressed in the dark. Now, in any other drama I’d chalk it up to being a quirky side choice, but she is a stylist. It’s her job to dress well. The choices for this character were totally unfathomable to me. Tae Ik’s style was a little better but his hair looked so ridiculous that you could really only appreciate it when it was flattened out for a performance. Luckily you get used to it until about ¾ through the series when Man Ok seems to magically remember how to dress herself , but it’s definitely distracting.

3.Jin Se Ryung (Yoo Seol Ah)

Honestly, for a show with characters that are layered, Se Ryung felt so one dimensional. If she wasn’t pouting and demanding things her way, she wouldn’t be in the scene. They could have given her a chance to grow a bit, but really she stays pretty one note until she leaves the show again. I get that the rivalry adds some extra tension to Man Ok and Tae Ik’s relationship, but there were already so many obstacles that I found it a bit unnecessary. She’s more of a plot device than a character.

Hate: 

1.Han Ga Ryun (Kim Do Yun)

If you want to talk about annoying characters, Se Ryung doesn’t hold a candle to Ga Ryun. She is probably the worst best friend I’ve ever seen on pretty much any show ever (second only to what’s her face on Personal Taste). Not only is she unsupportive of Man Ok, she hits her up for money, freaks out on her, then pretty much actively tries to destroy her life. Man Ok has to keep things a secret from Ga Ryun, but there is no understanding at all. If Ga Ryun was a more decent friend, she probably could have seen her beloved Kang Hwi more than once in a blue moon. Once again, Ga Ryun feels more like a plot device than an actual character who really just left a bad taste in my mouth. 

2.Music

For a show about an idol band, FHT2 is pretty slim on music. They really just play one song over and over and over again. The song’s fine, but the boys are terrible at lip syncing, making their performances a little cringe worthy. Not to mention anytime Tae Ik sang a cappella, it was obvious how much he can’t sing, which is amazing, since Min Woo is actually a singer. Maybe I’m just a little bit spoiled, but with all the excellent music dramas out there, FHT2 needed to step it up.

So:

So… Full House Take 2 was almost exactly what I was expecting. Light and enjoyable, this show is like popcorn, where you can just watch episodes back to back. The small cast made the characters very dynamic and the plot went in directions I wasn’t expecting, which is a nice change of pace. All of it wraps up nicely in a cute ending that didn’t make me crazy.

Final Grade: A-

KDrama Review: Monstar

The Gist: Pop sensation Yoon Seol Chan (Yong Joon Hyung) is frustrated when a scandal lands him back in high school, attempting to garner some positive PR. A little relief comes when he meets Min Se Yi (Ha Yeon Soo), a student who transferred from New Zealand after her father’s passing. The relief is short lived when Se Yi wants nothing to do with him and instead spends her time with his estranged childhood friend Jung Sun Woo (Kang Ha Neul). This also grates on the class outcast, quiet type Kim Na Na (Da Hee) who also has her eye on Sun Woo. Forced into working together for a music competition along with untalented but friendly Sim Eun Ha (Kim Min Young), the bullied Park Kyu Dong (Kang Ui Sik), and his tormenter Cha Do Nam (Park Kyu Sun), the seven of them have to figure out how to put on a show and maybe patch up some old scars.

Love:

1.Kim Na Na

I am so impressed with both this actor and character. While a lot of the characters are dealing with their own troubles, something about Na Na’s is so heart wrenching. She was also absolutely instrumental in bringing the seven together out of concern for her. Let’s not overlook the lungs on Da Hee because she was definitely the runaway hit of the series. This show is oozing musical talent, but her vocal/dancing/bass skills just blew me out of the water. It was really rewarding to Na Na start to go after what she wanted and open up a bit to people. All of her scenes with Sun Woo were really a treat and I wish there was a bit more resolution for them at the end of the show.

2.Min Se Yi

Finally, a character who treats people the way they should be treated. She didn’t give Seol Chan any slack until he started showing her that he deserved it. Granted, it takes them a little too long to warm up to each other, but she actually seems like a heroine with a good head on her shoulder. She, like Na Na, does a good job handling rather heavy material and expressing it well. Her dry humor was also a nice touch and she was overall just a joy to watch.

3.The Music

Holy snap, the talent on this show is staggering. Is there any instrument Kang Ha Neul can’t play? Man was he underused in To the Beautiful You. He’s sporting a rocking voice, bass, guitar, cello, and piano skills. Like man, that’s impressive. I’d say five of the seven had pretty spectacular voices (excluding Do Nam and Eun Ha), which is pretty solid. That’s not even to mention the mean talent rocking from their rivals All for One. We got some incredible classic and rock vibes from their side. Every time an actor opened their mouth or picked up an instrument, it was a real treat. 

4.The Magic of Friendship!

Woo! It sounds corny, but this show’s real strength lies in the relationship building between our core seven. I thought the way they learned to get along was much stronger than any of the romance plots and I wished that the show would have spent a little longer in the period of time of them getting along. It takes just a hint too long to get everyone on the same page and there’s still a few cracks by the time the show wraps up. Still, the characters branching out to help one another were really the highlight of this show. 

Meh:

1.Sun Woo and Seol Chan

I have problems with these characters both individually and as a pair. As a unit, the show never really fleshes out the problems between them and never bothers fixing them either. You long for the cathartic resolution given to Do Nam and Kyu Dong, but it never even gets in the neighborhood. Then individually, I liked Sun Woo a lot at the start of the show because he really reached out to both Se Yi and Na Na. However, he sort of devolved as the show went on and it got a little annoying to see him like Seol Chan. Now Seol Chan bugged me right from the start because he never let his cocky attitude drop. You get to see eventually that it’s a strong defense mechanism and that makes him a little more likeable. All in all, their rivalry is a little too harsh and doesn’t get patched up enough at the end to make it worth it, but they individually have some nice moments that balance it out. 

2.No Binging 

Something about the pacing of this show isn’t conducive to binge watching. Normally I inhale a drama like water and if by the end of one episode, I’m not ready to watch another episode, that’s generally not a good sign. Stepping back, I liked this drama as a whole, but the episodes were so long and a little bit awkward, that I couldn’t really sit down and watch episodes back to back. I think that’s a first, especially for a shortie 12 episode series. I feel like I need to introduce this show to the montage. 

Hate:

1.So Awkward!

Kyu Dong puts up some stellar vocals, but if every single second of his “Radio” persona made me cringe so hard I had to open a new tab. I suppose that’s the point, but Seol Chan’s interactions with pretty much anyone made my skin all crawly. I think this definitely added into why I couldn’t watch so many of these episodes together because it was just too awkward. I’m fine with a moment here or there, but it was a little overbearing.

2. Dok Ko Soon

Played by Lee Hee Jin, Dok Ko Soon was a very bizarre character. She didn’t seem to care too much for Se Yi, even though they’re closely related and her overall attitude just wasn’t that likable. But considering they weren’t making her a villain, I never knew if I was supposed to be rooting for or against her. I also wasn’t that crazy about Se Yi’s mom, who doesn’t seem to ever have to work at all? I mean, who just picks up their life and moves in with their sister for a while? The adults in this show were more like plot props than interesting characters, even Seol Chan’s manager and Se Yi’s dad’s friend. 

So:

So… Monstar was good but not the crazy good show I was hoping it to be. It took too long for things to play out and the end didn’t really seem like an end. Everything was still so open that I felt like I was missing the last episode. Still, it had some unique aspects, good music, and great acting, so it was worth the watch.

Final Grade: B

JMovie Review: Kyou Koi wo Hajimemasu

The Gist: Hibino Tsubaki (Takei Emi) is a plain girl, who loves to style others but not herself. Her modest appearance makes her the target of class playboy Tsubaki Kyota (Matsuzaka Tori), who doesn’t know what to do with a girl uninterested in him. However, her indifference is short lived as Kyota spends more time with her and she can’t help but develop feelings for him. After spurning her new advances, Tsubaki learns that Kyota has deep trust issues with women. In order to even get a shot with him, she needs to teach him how to trust people and convince him that not everyone is cruel. 

Love:

1.Decent Adaptation

As an avid reader of the manga, I was incredibly curious as to how they were going to make this a movie that preteens could see. Much of the manga has pretty strong sexual themes that are actual pretty vital to defining the relationship between Tsubaki and Kyota. I was glad that they left the karaoke scene in, even a less explicit version, because it really drove home the kind of person that Kyota is. I also thought they were going to leave the ending cheesy and innocent and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. 

2.The Scope of the Story

 Like I said, having read the manga, I know how much ground there is to cover to this story. I was pleased to see a bit of the dating life instead of spending all the time on the buildup. I felt that there wasn’t a decent chunk left out of the story like I do with most adaptations. I am glad that the producers decided to jump ahead into their relationship, so we could see some long term struggles. While it doesn’t follow the manga closely, it hits a bunch of the right emotional points.

3.Sibling Relationship

Shinkawa Yua plays Hibino Sakura, Tsubaki’s younger sister, who knows how to work it. The contrast between these characters was beautiful and I found Sakura to be a pretty typical teenage girl, which really highlighted Tsubaki’s unique personality. As the plainest of three sisters, I really identify with this relationship and I thought it was portrayed beautifully. It was great to see that despite their differences, they really supported each other. Sakura was a good sister at heart.

Meh:

1.Chemistry Between our Leads

While I am not totally in love with either lead actor, I also felt that their chemistry was a little off. I think Emi was able to pull off a better emotional performance than Tori, where I actually felt bad for her when their relationship starts to get a little bit rocky. I didn’t think that you could feel the tension between our characters, which I find to be a pretty big part of their interactions. I do think that Tori had a nice moment in the Ferris wheel, but I think overall he didn’t quite capture Kyota’s underlying sincerity and issues. 

2.Unoriginal

There’s not a lot to this story that I can really say is unique to KKWH. For the manga, I’d say it’s the stronger sexual overtones, but that doesn’t really translate to the movie. Everything this movie does has been done before. Unassuming lead gets the playboy and changes him for the better – doesn’t get much more cliché than that. That said, it does it well with likeable characters and decent writing.

Hate:

1.Running Everywhere!

OK. This could be on a whole bunch of reviews, but I’m finding it here. How small does Tokyo have to be to run everywhere? At the end when Kyota is running all over God’s green Earth, I’m just thinking, man this is ridiculous! Tokyo is huge, massive and to run to find someone should never really work in a show. 

2.Sick Mom

This was one thing I just found too cliché. The fact that Kyota’s mom is dying and now he has to go see her. Even though Kyota’s mom makes an appearance in the manga, I don’t believe there’s a sickness accompanied with it and I thought that was just too on the nose. I think it would have been better to leave her out altogether. 

So:

So… As far as Japanese shojo movies go, this one is really not bad. The story doesn’t feel rushed or incomplete and is a pretty fair representation of its source material, despite being way toned down. It’s not really covering any new ground and I didn’t love the leads, but it was an enjoyable few hours of my life.

Final Grade: B+