Arang v. Faith poll

[dangermousie]

Both start next week, both are fusion fantasy period dramas which look and feel somewhat wuxia, both star popular actors with huge fanbases. So, why not a poll?

Poll Arang v. Faith poll

Comments

[annezca]

Lee Joon Gi was the first choice in FAITH http://www.dramabeans.com/2010/11/kang-ji-hwan-is-lee-jun-kis-replacement-in-faith/ ~ apparently, they waited for him to be discharged too, but upon discharge he was also offered the Arang drama. He deliberated on it, but despite the wait, he chose Arang over Faith. It was somehow puzzling, passing up on a drama that has been "rumored(?)" to be made just for him

[annezca]

Lee Joon Gi was the first choice in FAITH ~ apparently, they waited for him to be discharged too, but upon discharge he was also offered the Arang drama. He deliberated on it, but despite the wait, he chose Arang over Faith. It was somehow puzzling, passing up on a drama that has been "rumored(?)" to be made just for him.

But when I saw the trailers and preview~ I knew why. Arang drama is trying to create a whimsical world in a Joseon stage era, a very fresh idea, versus a time travel drama that would have been a fresh one 2 years ago, but was passed by Dr. Jin's almost same plot. Time travel + doctors + sageuk.

I am all for Arang~ voted for it all hands down, but I will still watch Faith too~ also because of the writer. 2 stories no matter how similar can mean differently on how it is written and then interpreted by artists and directors.

[dangermousie]

Faith feels nothing like Dr Jin to me, any more than either of them feel like Rooftop Prince, Queen In Hyun's Man, 1000 Years Love (thank God for that!) etc. Plus, Song Jina is the best kdrama writer ever, IMO. So if that was LJK's reason, I can't really agree with it, but it's his own business. In any event, I am pretty sure LJK wouldn't pick up a drama he was attached to years ago - that just looks a little stale, regardless of anything about the drama itself.

Arang reminds me a lot of fantasy cdramas like Fairy from Wonderland etc, so I am very excited for it as I love those cdramas. I am much more excited for Faith though - Legend was (and possibly is) my favorite kdrama ever.

[annezca]

Yup~ one reason why I'm also curious about Faith was because of the writer, and also the reason why it puzzled me a bit when he chose Arang. One of his reasons were the freshness of the drama.

There has also been some issues about Faith asked to be delayed in airing because Dr.Jin was also still airing~though i don't follow much. I have seen the trailers too.

But truthfully, these two are on different day slots so there is no problem in following both. Both has it's merit that I can see and can be enjoyed equally within every week~

in my taste, Arang is more attractive though~ especially because of the actors, the chemistry in between actors and their own characters, the mystery in the plot, the fantasy setup, the cinematography that I have seen, and the talk the concept artists has put on their minds thru to be able to create a certain world that has its own rules and legends~

[kdramafan82]

Lee Junki was first casted for Faith, but I'm not sure that they waited for him to be discharged from the military. Kang Jihwan had been casted after Lee Junki went to the military, but unfortunately he had to drop the project too. The drama that had been "rumored" to be made just for LJK in 2010 was a totally different story about a great male doctor practising traditional medicine (based on news reports that the production had held discussions with traditional medicine pracitioners) and that's why it was originally called "Great Doctor", and it was supposed to be the 1st kdrama shot in 3D. There was no mention of time travel or plastic surgeons in 2010

[kdramafan82]

Just based on the long trailers, Arang seems to be more interesting. They managed to put in a good mix of romance, mystery, fantasy, humour, thrilling action and cliffhangers in Arang's trailer, all in just 10 minutes and set to great background music too! I was really impressed and already felt invested in the characters and wanted to know more about their stories, their relationships and their motivations. Ghost-seeing magistrates, adorable ghosts and heavenly/hell twins are also something new this year. I think I have seen one too many time-travelling doctors this season, and sword-wielding generals are also a dime a dozen in the Kdrama sageuk world. (Yes, Dr Jin was the one and that was already too many

[annezca]

True True,

Also the fact that Min ah has lots of stunt scenes in this one, as well LJG. And most stunt scenes that usually require stuntman has also been done by LJG alone, hence the fact that shots of these scenes is probably much better than tricks of trade of fooling people with stunt doubles.

I am also looking forward to the camera that they used, proposedly to be very high end, meaning more great shots/cinematography.

The idea that the hell twin looks old but acts like a kid and the heaven twin that looks young but more mature~ with a world of heaven seen from the concept artist's designs that has been shown in that special making video they released a week ago is nothing but fascinating.

[dangermousie]

I do want to see KHS and LMH romance each other in Faith but if you don't, never fear - based on the writer's past works, while she writes romance well, it's always a secondary storyline...

[hanjae]

I'm more excited for Arang, because I have yet to like Kim Hee Sun's acting in anything (though having seen the promo images, she looks GORGEOUS as usual). I am nervous over the OMG SHE'S A GHOST! thing, though! Simply can't see how it'd end anything but badly...

[dangermousie]

She can come back via king of heaven or similar?

[hanjae]

Or possess someone's body, LOL. I've seen one of the promo images where Jun Ki appears to be backhugging her or something, so she must've found a way to gain physical form somehow (at least temporarily).

[dangermousie]

I think in this world, ghosts can be touched or something? I guess we'll find out.

[dangermousie]

LOLOL. Poor KHS. It's OK, I still love you, Hee Sun-sshi :)