kumango.speak

[K-drama Review] Nang Rang 18 Seh (Sweet 18)

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 04:24:47 GMT

Basic Info
Title: 낭랑18세; Nang Rang 18 Seh; Sweet 18
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Year: 2004
Length: 16 Episodes
Cast: Lee Dong-gun, Han Ji Hae, Lee Da Hae, Yoo Hae Jung, Park Hyung Jae,
Broadcast Network: KBS

Synopsis
The concept of an arranged marriage is often difficult to accept,especially amongst less traditional adolescents today. Sweet 18 (NangRang 18 Seh) covers this very premise and the story begins when KwonHyuk-joon's grandfather, the head of the traditional Kwon family agrees to an arranged marriage between his grandson (Lee Dong Gun) and Yoon Jung-sook (Han Ji Hye)when Yoon Jung-sook is born. 18 years later, the two families lose contact because soon after the contract is signed, Jung-sook's family encounters financial issues and is forced to run away.

Meanwhile, Jung-sook has grown up to be a rebellious and strong-willed girl who just wants to live her life as she sees fit.With little aspirations, she is the direct foil of her achievement-bound counterpart, Hyuk-joon. When the two meet each other,they clash horribly; Jung-sook thinks her fiancee is nothing but boring, and Hyuk-joon believes Jung-sook to be nothing but an immature child. The rest of the series follows their life living together as a couple, and the obstacles they are faced with. When Hyuk-joon's first love reappears and wants to claim Hyuk-joon for herself (despite thefact that he's married), who will Hyuk-joon choose? His first loveGa-young, or immature spunky Jung-sook? (KBS, Dramawiki)

Plot (7/10)
While the concepts of arranged marriage and big age difference are no longer new to us, Sweet 18 offers its audience something new by incorporating the traditional culture and values of Korea to the show. It served as a window for viewers to see how the traditional families survive the modern age.

At the same time, the story also follows the development of the lead female character Jung-sook, from an 18-year old brat who always saw things from a microscopic point of view, to a more mature, reliable wife. This is where most of the story's beauty comes from.

However, towards the end, the story becomes anti-climactic. Jung-sook's transformation was gradual, but it was not agonizing. The pace was just right, even for Hyuk-joon's realization that he actually loves his wife. However, beyond the point where the two realize that they have transformed into a true married couple, the story becomes dragging. Not particularly because it was slow, but rather it rushed in proving all the points it wanted to say, thus taking the story into all sorts of directions that confused the audience.

I feel that, if the story was given more time to develop on its own, it would have been a more spectacular drama.

Characters(8/10)
One good point of this drama is that the characters were treated with care, especially the lead ones. They developed gradually thus making the audience feel quite proud that they have been part of their development. The side characters were also fleshed out, from the grandfather to the five princesses. Their personalities were depicted well and they even had developments of their own.

Unfortunately though, for Lee Da Hae's character, there seems to be some confusion in the writers' part. First, they depict her as the all-evil husband-stealer. Then somewhere near the end, they make her change into this somwhat cute villain who only wants her first love back. And then they also add a detail that they weren't able to use in the end. In her first appearance, her mother asks her if Hyuk-joon knows that she had been married, and she violently reacts and tells her mother to be silent about it. However, no follow-up was made about this. In the end, it was a useless detail.

I think the writers changed their minds about Lee Da Hae's character, somewhere along the way. Nang Rang 18 Seh, is after all a romantic comedy drama, therefore a nefarious villain is not fitting.

Aside from that, the side characters whom the audience have loved from the first episode seem to have disappeared towards the end of the series.

Cast/Acting (9/10)
I was able to say that the characters were fleshed out particularly because the acting was good. They were able to make the audience laugh without exaggerating. Jung-sook's character development was portrayed very well by Han Ji Hae. Spunky female leads have always been part of Korean movies and dramas, but Han Ji Hae's portrayal wasn't a My Sassy Girl clone. More over, she was able to portray Jung-sook as a child more than anything else -- from the whims to the tantrums.

Meanwhile, Hyuk-joon's shifts from cool prosecutor, to dork in his own ways, to the insensitive husband was portrayed efficiently by Lee Dong-gun and was very fun to watch. I must applaud Lee Da Hae as well. Even with the sudden change of character, she was still able to act the part asked of her.

Cinematography(7/10) and Music (8/10)
These two criteria were coupled because there was nothing in particular that stood out. Nang Rang 18 Seh was literal and did not employ other levels of understanding through film. The 3D effects helped in depicting the story as light and funny though.

Music was not exceptional as well. It helped create the mood for the characters, but other than that, it had no other function.

Final Say: I would like to dub this K-drama as "the little drama that could have been." It showed so much potential in the beginning but wasn't able to hold out 'til the end. Still, if you're looking for a light, fun drama that will make your day, you shouldn't miss this series.

Over-all Rating: 7.8/10

Extra: Han Ji Hae and Lee Dong-gun are real life couples. ♥

[J-drama Review] Engine

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 11:38:09 GMT

Basic Info
Title: エンジン;Engine
Year: 2005
Length: 11 Episodes
Cast: Kimura Takuya, Koyuki, Sakai Masato, Okamoto Aya, Ueno Juri, Toda Erika, Nakajima Yuuto

Summary: For the last five years, Jiro has been a second seater racer in Europe, and for the last five years he has been unhappy with his career. One day after losing his temper, he gets fired. He goes back to Japan to return to his once glorious career, only to find out that he's treated as a has-been. Jiro also goes back to his old home, but finds out that it's been turned into an orphanage by his father. With mischievous brats and dignified teachers to deal with everyday, Jiro struggles to return to being a champion racer.

Plot (9.5/10)
The plot of Engine is well thought of. Its pacing is right, and it draws the viewer right off the bat. The viewer can also find closure in the ending, especially when it comes to the main ship -- a rarity for the not-so-romance-oriented J-dramas.

Characters (9.5/10)
The characters are very fleshed out and equally developed, despite the large number. Each character has distinguishing characteristics that make him unique. Their interaction is also very animated and fun to watch.

Cast/Acting (9.5/10)
It's the perfect cast! Well, if it's not perfect, it's very near to perfection. Even with very young child actors present, the acting is very good. It gives a feeling that the actors and actresses for this dorama were picked meticulously by the director, given that everyone's roles were played well.

Cinematography (9.5/10)
One of the good things about Engine, is that it is brimming with metaphors. In particular, the bus that Jiro drives serves as the metaphor for what the characters are undergoing. In Misae's episode for example, while Misae and Tomomi-sensei are fighting, Jiro tries to drive the but, but the engine wouldn't start. He then examines the engine closely and fixes the broken parts while the Misae and Tomomi-sensei are inexplicably drawn to watching Jiro. The broken bus in this episode represents Misae's unwillingness to open up to others. However, with Jiro's intention to move forward, Misae is dragged along and is pried open for him to fix.

Music (9/10)
The BGMs are good and are fitting to the dorama

Final Say:
This dorama is very touching and one of a kind. There are many doramas out there who revolves on a character(s) trying to better himself while resisting strong winds that come his way, but this dorama sews all aspects of the story; it leaves no loophole.

Over-all Rating: 9.4/10

[J-Music Review]Idea Single by Amano Tsukiko

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:20:43 GMT

Basic Info
Title:Idea (Single CD)
Artist:Amano Tsukiko
Release Date:November 3, 2004
Tracks:2

Idea contains two songs: one with the same name as the single CD and has been used as the fourth ending song of the anime series Konjiki Gash Bell! The other is entitled ID.

Track 01: Idea (7/10)
The intro of this song surprised me such that it sounded so much like bright and cutesy J-pop, very much unlike Amano Tsukiko's style. The rest of the song follows with strong beats and heavy electric guitar, a la J-rock. Somehow this song sounds so 80s to me. Perhaps it's because of the heavy basic drum beats, the keyboards/synth and the high-pitched background vocals in the chorus.It's a pretty much predictable song, no surprise in it.

Track 02: ID(8.5/10)
This song is more funky and fun to listen to. It's more Amano Tsukiko than the first track. This song somehow makes the listener think of detective chases and mysteries. This would be a suitable OST for any show under this theme.

Other comments:
Disappointingly, this single CD has no karaoke tracks. :(

Over-all Rating: 7.75/10

[Manga Review (Initial)] It's Not Just a Green Thumb: Silver Diamond by Sugiura Shiho

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 12:47:08 GMT

Title:シルバーダイヤモンド; Silver Diamond
Author:Sugiura Shiho
Genre:Shounen ai, Fantasy
Length:Ongoing; 9 Volumes released
Scanlation Status:Ongoing, Latest release - Chapter 18
Scanlated by:Various groups

Summary: Sawa Rakan is a normal junior high school student. Living alone in the suburbs, he supports himself through the money he inherited from his foster grandfather and by selling flowers from his garden which is strangely more profuse and abundant than normal. While tending his garden one day, however, a strange man suddenly appears and mistakes him for a prince. After studying him closely though, the strange man who goes by the name of Chigusa calls Rakan a "Sonome," a name given to someone with the ability to grow plants abruptly. As strange incidents involving Chigusa take place, Rakan is sucked into a world and a story much diffrent from his once normal junior high life.

Plot (8/10)
Silver Diamond comes from the normal student turned significant in another world genre, the height of which was in the 90s. It deviates from the familiar storyline, however, by making the main character already aware of his not-from-this-earth identity.

As a story of its own, Silver Diamond is interesting and promising, though judging from the early chapters, it does not quite capture the romance that the genre it comes from brings. Somehow it could not be paralleled (yet) to Escaflowne or Magic Knight Rayearth (both generally het titles, but of the same genre, nonetheless). It feels more like the reader is being presented with a setting like thatof Fruits Basket, with the characters living in the same house and trying to get along with each other.

It has the premise of a big (in terms of weight) storyline, but somehow, this manga removes us from that feeling as soon as it establishes it. It makes the reader more particular with the micro aspect, like individual character developments and the relationships of the characters. The macro aspect, revolving kingdoms and societies, are as of yet not given much attention.

The other world where Chigusa belongs to, is rather scientifically impossible, having no sun at all and yet having plants and other living creatures alive in a barren desert. This being of the fantasy genre can answer to that, however, some of the facts of the other world has to make sense, or follow some kind of logic. This may be explored and explained later by the succeeding chapters.

When it comes to flow, Silver Diamond's plot is fluid and things seem to naturally take place. The funny moments also help in fleshing out the story and the characters.

Characters (8.5/10)
Ah, bishies galore. The characters are fun and they mix well together. They have interesting relationships that draw the reader in. I personally like Kou, the snake, for being the most animated character.

Art Style (9/10)
The art style is pleasing to the eyes. It somehow reminds me of Mokona Apapa's(CLAMP) art, minus the anorexic bodies.

Over-all Rating: 8.5/10

[J-drama Review]Putting the Pieces Together: A Puzzle Review

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 19:42:13 GMT

Basic Info
Title:Puzzle
Type: J-Drama Special
Length: 4 Episodes, 23 mins/episode
Year:2006
Cast: Yanagi Koutarou, Nakamura Yuiichi
Summary
Class 3-A of Tokumen High consists of Japan's top students, and to ensure their success further, a training camp is held especially for them. With strict rules on studying, only the best of the best can stay in 3-A. One day, howeverr, a group of armed men takes hold of Tokumen High and takes a teacher and a student as hostage. Left with no other choice, Class 3-A is forced to complete a puzzle on the villains' whim, to save the hostages. With less than 24 hours to complete the puzzle, the future of Class 3-A hangs on the balance.

Plot (8.5/10)
A medium is deeply rooted in the culture that gave birth to it. In this case, Puzzle comments on the seeminly cold-hearted side of Japanese society, where an individual is defined by the success or his potential to attain it. With Japan having sky-rocketing figures on suicide, Puzzle addresses this issue by portraying one of the most prevalent causes of suicide -- the pressure society puts on the individual to succeed and make a name.

Although, Puzzle fails to answer some of the questions that a critical viewer may have, with only four episodes it has managed to present a complete and concrete story. The pacing was also just right, something not very common for Japanese shows.

In the end, the dorama fulfills its purpose, which is to leave its viewers a definite impression.

Cast/Acting(8/10)
Aside from the two D-Boys who are relatively known to a definite fanbase, the cast of Puzzle is virtually unknown. This does not prove to be a liability for the show, however. For the cast it houses, the acting was neatly done. Most surprising of all is Yanagi Koutarou's significant improvement in acting, as his roles before Puzzle tend to be rather flat. Although the character of Yuasa is stereotypical, Yanagi manages to pull it off by putting his own spirit in him. It seemed like there was nothing special about his acting in the first episodes, but it was toward the end that Yanagi showed his skills .For this dorama, Yanagi has managed to express the character's thoughts and feelings clearly.

Nakamura Yuiichi, probably because of the similarity in roles, has performed his usual "bitchy self." I seriously think that he should get a change of roles for him to show more range. Still, he was able to portray his character properly, and give life to the show. In scenes that Yanagi fell short of expectation, Channaka was able to fill the gap, and thus bring out a well-played scene.

Dialogue (7/10)
Puzzle is clear in the theme it wants to express and thus revolves around it. There was no play on words, nor witty metaphors, but the lines served their purpose in creating a story. There are a bunch of quotable lines in the end as well.

Cinematography (8/10)
There's not much to say about the cinematography of Puzzle, however for a show with only two settings, the play on images did not make the scenes monotonous.

Music (9.5/10)
Somebody tell me what the title of the ending song is! I have to commend the show for having an excellent soundtrack. The BGMs were fitting, and the ending song just strikes through you. Its one of the memorable things when watching this show.

Final Say:
With a clear message to say, Puzzle manages to capture its viewers not only with the suspense and mystery it brings, but with a theme that resounds even after you have finished watching it.

Over-all Rating: 8.2/10

S-O 12 and GH 16

Sat, 10 Feb 2007 13:06:05 GMT

Do they look simlar or what? I laughed when Masahiro suddenly clutched his chest because or Kyuuki’s curse. Seriously, this is why Tactics and Shounen Onmyouji are often paralleled. Add the episode that Masahiro’s hair goes silver to that, too. One major difference though, is that S-O is taking the het path (much to my dismay), and Tactics is shounen-ai (still a headache though).

As you may have guessed already, S-O 12 is out and I just keep on blogging about S-O, ne? I’m not really sure myself why this anime takes a lot of my blogging space. Anyway, this episode kept me squealing, not so much because of Guren/Masahiro, because as I said, S-O is taking the het path… *shivers*

Still, there’s a lot to fangirl about S-O. One is that in this ep, Masahiro gets a sword. He’s got the mountain god Kifune’s protection too.

And look who dropped by to help? Rikugou, Tenitsu and the ever bitchy Seiryuu. I think he’ll beat Ricky Reyes with that gay stance of his.

Ah, and of course, G-E-N-B-U~! Kyaaa~n! This kid is so adorable~! Tenipuri’s Ryoma and S-O’s Genbu both have the same seiyuu, which is probably why I fancy Hongo Kanata dressing up as Genbu. Ah, but he’s too tall already.

One more funny thing about S-O 12 is that when Masahiro chanted a certain spell, it was the same as the one always chanted by Bou-san in Ghost Hunt! I laughed when I heard it, especially since I just watched Ghost Hunt 16 right before I jumped to S-O.

And speaking of Ghost Hunt, it is starting to kick some major ass! I was disappointed in the last two mysteries (excluding the filler, of course), being too predictable for me. But the latest arc keeps me damn hooked. There’s a lot of character development, especially on Mai, who now can cast basic spells. (Woo-hoo! Go Mai!) And yes, the Naru/Mai moments are certainly increasing! Kyaa~n.

Naru/Mai is one of my very few het pairings, and recently, one of the few pairings that have been working out. Others are just… not progressing at all. (-_-)|||

Sigh. I hope Sdreams will up the next ep tomorrow. The arc isn’t finished yet.