Think you're a geek? You don't know the half of it...slantedsunlightJune 19 2008, 04:06:50 UTC
How do you feel about dramas from other Asian Countries? Ever watched any? If you're interested, I highly recommend One Pound Gospel, which is a Japanese drama about a young boxer who is really good in his weight class, but has a terrible love of food. And then he meets a pretty nun and has to strive to make something of his boxing skills to get her approval/love. :) Also, I'm currently watching one called Absolute Boyfriend, which is airing right now. It's about a girl who randomly gets picked as the test subject for a robot lover that a company is developing, but she has feelings for her boss. Very funny and cute. Another of my favorites is Hanazakari no Kimitachi e (I feel like I may have told you about it in the last info-dump I threw at you. Heh.) Simply: girl petends to be boy to attend all-boys school that her dream-crush attends. Of course, there's always the classics, like Hana Yori Dango; if you haven't see that, drop everything and get on it! And that's just the Japanese ones...
Taiwanese dramas are a mixed bag. Some of them are really funny and cute, some not so much. You sort of have to develop a taste for their cheesiness. Devil Beside You is a pretty good one to start with, and It Started With a Kiss has some feakin' adorable parts, but be prepared for the awkwardness and unlikely circumstances. Like, more than usual. If they're not ridiculously silly, they're melodramatic like you wouldn't believe. In the mood for some crazy emo drama? Try Mars.
Now, if you're craving Korean drama but don't want a whole series to wade through, there are a bunch of fabulous movies you should see. Did I tell you about these before? Skip this if I did. 100 Days With Mr. Arrogant is my favorite, involving indentured servitude between a rich, egotistical college guy and a rather dumb but cute high school girl. Another is 100 Pounds of Beauty, about an obese singer who is the real voice behind a popular music star but is harassed for her weight until she undergoes crazy plastic surgery and come out looking like a barbie doll, but with the same gorgeous voice. And also, there is Seducing Mr. Perfect, which I recommend largely for the lead actor Daniel Henney (10 kinds of hot right there- Korean American, with perfect control of both languages. Check, please!)
And that's all I'm going to heap on you for now. If you want more info, let me know! :)
Re: Think you're a geek? You don't know the half of it...zuppitJune 19 2008, 08:25:43 UTC
LOL, can't really call myself an addict after only watching 2 kdramas!
I haven't been exposed to much asian drama (being Australian-Vietnamese myself lol) but might get comfortable with Korean stuff first before I venture off onto other asian shows. I have one litre of tears now and Brown Sugar Machiato but will put it off for now, main reason because it is not Korean. Are Japanese and Taiwanese drama similar?
I like the formula of Kdramas, I do like that most are between 15-20 episodes and more into the romantic comedy genre. Even though they all seem to have a similar foruma - that one person likes the other who is in love with another but person 1 and 2 end up falling in love, and also at least one character moving to america.
LOL some of those shows sound a little silly, but then again, that is what I thought about Full house, but gave it a shot and fell in love!!! But seem interesting nonetheless. Should definitely check some of them out!
Thank you for your list! Now that i have finished school, and bumming around at home for a month, I have something to watch and do! Thank goodness for the sites like idols unlimited and www.mysoju.com to get the shows and movies from.
Oooohh Daniel Henney! I was checking out his pics last night actually and can't wait to see My name is Kim Sam soon for him! He is so fine, but I don't understand, how come he stars in Korean shows and film but hardly knows the language?
Re: Think you're a geek? You don't know the half of it...slantedsunlightJune 19 2008, 16:08:57 UTC
No, Japanese and Taiwanese dramas are very different from each other. Or did you mean from Korean Dramas? They're not wildly different from Kdramas, just as kdramas aren't wildly different from our own country's television shows. However, Japanese dramas have a lot more variety- from romantic comedy to office drama to high school love rivals, etc. all with different levels of seriousness. Taiwanese dramas, as I said, pretty much require the suspension of disbelief to watch. But there are good ones. Unfortunately, Brown Sugar Machiato was so cheesy and unrealistic I couldn't get through the first episode without gagging, much less desiring to watch the rest of it. But don't let one drama put you off of all Taiwanese dramas. I'm just warning you. :)
Yes, the formula of Korean dramas can be pretty similar, which is why I like to watch a Japanese or Taiwanese between one or two kdramas, to keep it from getting repetative. Yes, the premisis might sound silly, but they make for good entertainment.
I think Daniel can speak enough Korean to get by, but mostly speaks English because he was raised in America and started out modeling around the world before he got asked to be in a Korean Drama. Acting wasn't his original plan. *shrug*
Re: Think you're a geek? You don't know the half of it...zuppitJune 20 2008, 11:00:32 UTC
Re Brown Sugar Machiato - when I saw the DVD cover of the school boys and girls, I thought it would be pretty lame lol. I wasn't interested in it, my brother got it off a friend.
I might stick to Korean stuff for now, just slowly get into the asian dramas, I am just after some light cute stuff at the moment, and like I mentioned before, romantic comedies are more my thing.
Speaking of Daniel Henney, I just downloaded "Seducing Mr Perfect" movie and will watch it later tonight. But saw bits and pieces, and he only speaks English and the girl speaks Korean but seem to understand each other, isn't that a bit weird?
Btw, are you from an asian country? How did you get exposed to asian film and tv? Living in Australia, we don't see this off tv, so never was interested in them until now.
Re: Think you're a geek? You don't know the half of it...slantedsunlightJune 20 2008, 14:50:49 UTC
:) That's cool, sorry if I was pressuring you into the other countries' asian dramas, I just get so enthusiastic about them, I tend to flail. ^^
I'm pretty sure the plot of Seducing Mr. Perfect involves the girl pretending she can't understand English, and him knowing only a little Korean. Or something. I watched it a while ago. But it's good!
LOL, no, I'm from Orlando, Florida. I got into Asian Dramas simply because I was looking for something on youtube one day and stumbled upon an Asian drama. My first reaction was "NO WAY. They have regular TV shows? I have to watch this and see what they're like." I never expected it to be really good. I thought it'd be silly and weird. In fact, I used to think Asian countries were pretty boring. haha. After I finished that one (Hana Yori Dango) I was recommended some others by a LJ friend and away I went. I think I've watched over 30 of them now, not including movies. I'm learning Korean through Rosetta Stone software, and I plan to do a summer term of college in Korea in a year or two. Also, I have a thing for Asian guys. ;)
Re: Think you're a geek? You don't know the half of it...zuppitJune 24 2008, 03:38:59 UTC
Gee, how far you have come now since randomly stumbling on a youtube clip lol.
Wow, 30 dramas! (but that isn’t only just Korean huh?) because I am only exposed to the American stuff, you don’t realize what is on offer from the other countries!
You are learning Korean? Ha ha, I see that you are becoming obsessed now! And considering visiting the country … and Asian guys? :) OMG I was drooling over Daniel Henney in Seducing Mr Perfect although his acting wasn’t the best, but the eye candy was what distracted me! Now I am on the lookout of his other projects *g*
Ooohh, Florida, I would love to go there, but was in the US over 6 months ago (I’m Australian) but only visited New York in the Eastern side :(
Re: Think you're a geek? You don't know the half of it...slantedsunlightJune 24 2008, 04:12:15 UTC
haha, that's for sure.
yeah, that's a mix of Korean, Japanese, and Taiwanese. I know, I had no idea how much TV was generated in other countries! But yes, I've become a little obsessed... :) My favorite Asian boys are Shirota Yuu, who's in this icon, Lee Dong-wook from My Girl, Ikuta Toma from Hana Kimi, and Matsumoto Jun from Hana Yori Dango.
Florida is actually the weird state. We've got, ecsentially, the laft unexplored frontier in the everglades, just up the street from the Happiest Place on Earth (Disney should actually be refered to as "Sometimes an okay place, but usually overcrowded, hot, and expensive- try Islands of Adventure." But I digress. Florida's a fun place, and I love living here, but I'm pretty sure I'm missing out on a lot and I'd love to visit other places.
Taiwanese dramas are a mixed bag. Some of them are really funny and cute, some not so much. You sort of have to develop a taste for their cheesiness. Devil Beside You is a pretty good one to start with, and It Started With a Kiss has some feakin' adorable parts, but be prepared for the awkwardness and unlikely circumstances. Like, more than usual. If they're not ridiculously silly, they're melodramatic like you wouldn't believe. In the mood for some crazy emo drama? Try Mars.
Now, if you're craving Korean drama but don't want a whole series to wade through, there are a bunch of fabulous movies you should see. Did I tell you about these before? Skip this if I did. 100 Days With Mr. Arrogant is my favorite, involving indentured servitude between a rich, egotistical college guy and a rather dumb but cute high school girl. Another is 100 Pounds of Beauty, about an obese singer who is the real voice behind a popular music star but is harassed for her weight until she undergoes crazy plastic surgery and come out looking like a barbie doll, but with the same gorgeous voice. And also, there is Seducing Mr. Perfect, which I recommend largely for the lead actor Daniel Henney (10 kinds of hot right there- Korean American, with perfect control of both languages. Check, please!)
And that's all I'm going to heap on you for now. If you want more info, let me know! :)
Reply
I haven't been exposed to much asian drama (being Australian-Vietnamese myself lol) but might get comfortable with Korean stuff first before I venture off onto other asian shows. I have one litre of tears now and Brown Sugar Machiato but will put it off for now, main reason because it is not Korean. Are Japanese and Taiwanese drama similar?
I like the formula of Kdramas, I do like that most are between 15-20 episodes and more into the romantic comedy genre. Even though they all seem to have a similar foruma - that one person likes the other who is in love with another but person 1 and 2 end up falling in love, and also at least one character moving to america.
LOL some of those shows sound a little silly, but then again, that is what I thought about Full house, but gave it a shot and fell in love!!! But seem interesting nonetheless. Should definitely check some of them out!
Thank you for your list! Now that i have finished school, and bumming around at home for a month, I have something to watch and do! Thank goodness for the sites like idols unlimited and www.mysoju.com to get the shows and movies from.
Oooohh Daniel Henney! I was checking out his pics last night actually and can't wait to see My name is Kim Sam soon for him! He is so fine, but I don't understand, how come he stars in Korean shows and film but hardly knows the language?
Thank you again *hug*
Reply
Yes, the formula of Korean dramas can be pretty similar, which is why I like to watch a Japanese or Taiwanese between one or two kdramas, to keep it from getting repetative. Yes, the premisis might sound silly, but they make for good entertainment.
I think Daniel can speak enough Korean to get by, but mostly speaks English because he was raised in America and started out modeling around the world before he got asked to be in a Korean Drama. Acting wasn't his original plan. *shrug*
Glad to help! Enjoy them! <3
Reply
I might stick to Korean stuff for now, just slowly get into the asian dramas, I am just after some light cute stuff at the moment, and like I mentioned before, romantic comedies are more my thing.
Speaking of Daniel Henney, I just downloaded "Seducing Mr Perfect" movie and will watch it later tonight. But saw bits and pieces, and he only speaks English and the girl speaks Korean but seem to understand each other, isn't that a bit weird?
Btw, are you from an asian country? How did you get exposed to asian film and tv? Living in Australia, we don't see this off tv, so never was interested in them until now.
Reply
I'm pretty sure the plot of Seducing Mr. Perfect involves the girl pretending she can't understand English, and him knowing only a little Korean. Or something. I watched it a while ago. But it's good!
LOL, no, I'm from Orlando, Florida. I got into Asian Dramas simply because I was looking for something on youtube one day and stumbled upon an Asian drama. My first reaction was "NO WAY. They have regular TV shows? I have to watch this and see what they're like." I never expected it to be really good. I thought it'd be silly and weird. In fact, I used to think Asian countries were pretty boring. haha. After I finished that one (Hana Yori Dango) I was recommended some others by a LJ friend and away I went. I think I've watched over 30 of them now, not including movies. I'm learning Korean through Rosetta Stone software, and I plan to do a summer term of college in Korea in a year or two. Also, I have a thing for Asian guys. ;)
Reply
Wow, 30 dramas! (but that isn’t only just Korean huh?) because I am only exposed to the American stuff, you don’t realize what is on offer from the other countries!
You are learning Korean? Ha ha, I see that you are becoming obsessed now! And considering visiting the country … and Asian guys? :) OMG I was drooling over Daniel Henney in Seducing Mr Perfect although his acting wasn’t the best, but the eye candy was what distracted me! Now I am on the lookout of his other projects *g*
Ooohh, Florida, I would love to go there, but was in the US over 6 months ago (I’m Australian) but only visited New York in the Eastern side :(
Reply
yeah, that's a mix of Korean, Japanese, and Taiwanese. I know, I had no idea how much TV was generated in other countries! But yes, I've become a little obsessed... :) My favorite Asian boys are Shirota Yuu, who's in this icon, Lee Dong-wook from My Girl, Ikuta Toma from Hana Kimi, and Matsumoto Jun from Hana Yori Dango.
Florida is actually the weird state. We've got, ecsentially, the laft unexplored frontier in the everglades, just up the street from the Happiest Place on Earth (Disney should actually be refered to as "Sometimes an okay place, but usually overcrowded, hot, and expensive- try Islands of Adventure." But I digress. Florida's a fun place, and I love living here, but I'm pretty sure I'm missing out on a lot and I'd love to visit other places.
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