Mr. Idol (movie)

From anyone who read my first blog post, yeah, I really did watch it.

O.O...

But wait, people aren't reading this for the abs, right? Right?

Now then, let's put those guns away and begin.

Plot: Basically, an idol group's lead dies and the group disbands. The producer of the group runs off overseas. She comes back several years later with the goal of reuniting the members and turning them into successes. But she kind needs a new lead vocalist, doesn't she?

You lied to me, you said this was a sci-fi movie. I can't be a zombie?

So who does she pick? Why, a rocker of course! Because you know rockers love to become pop idols! (Moo Kyul from Mary Stayed Out All Night is killing me right now. And now I realized I never reviewed that series yet I keep mentioning it. This must be resolved....)

Pros:

It shows a lot of truths. It shows that just because you have a good voice doesn't mean that you can be successful. It shows that in things like K-Pop, you really do need to have good teamwork and trust each other. It shows that it is difficult to get a break in the entertainment world.

Though as a KISSMe, it is sad to see U-KISS playing the bad example in the movie...

Cons:

It seemed too short. The movie was stuck between dragging here and there to not showing enough. Some things took a long time to mature or make sense, such as the relation of the lead singer to the old man (his father) and the little girl. And the whole point of the lead's character's view on life and singing didn't show the development it needed. Yes, he turns from hating pop-music to living it. But even in the movie a scandal arrises and he admits to his opinions. Then in the end, he admits how they were changed. Just like that. Poof! His eyes have been open.

There were several other hook-ups as well, such as why the guy who worked with Mr. Children's producer in the past gets such mistreatment from his company after she comes back. And that one of the members of the band can't find his mom (wasn't he popular before? If not for singing, at least for having one of his band mates kill himself during a live performance)

And lastly, the weakness of the love bond in this. Yes, there is romance here, but very subtly played out. It wasn't too bad and truthfully it can be seen a breather from the overly-dramatic romance angles other movies and shows have had. But in my opinion it needed a little more depth to keep the audience occupied.

Overall, the movie was fair. It was more of a nice break from drama if anything. Not many strong emotions or intense scenes. The movie is instead fairly calm. And while some may grow a bit bored with it as they watch, I found that the story was fairly nice. Though there weren't many ab shots unfortunately. Lying promo posters! T-T

You Are My Pet (Movie)

Movie time!

Now, who wouldn't like to see Jang Geun Suk at their pet? He's already proven to be an adorable kitty cat through Mary Stayed Out All Night.

But...I have to say I wasn't impressed...

Plot: Based on a manga series and Japanese drama, You Are My Pet is about a down-on-his-luck ballet dancer who ends up on the doorstep of a down-on-her-social-skills girl. The girl's a business woman with a great educational background and great credentials. But this makes her intimidating to others and she can't overcome this (see down-on-her-social-skills). So when she finds this guy randomly in her house (thanks to her brother who is friends with the guy), you can imagine the shock. The next day, he appears in a box at her door. And lookie! He reminds the girl of a dog she used to have. And he'll do anything to stay? Well then, come here, Momo!

I got this! I saw this in a Japanese drama once. I just have to bark, right?

Pros:
Acting! Sukkie has yet to disappoint me in his acting skills. Considering he's be acting and modelling most of his life, no wonder. But can acting alone be enough to save this movie?

Cons:
The plot, the style, the carryout...So many things wrong with this. Now, this may be a bit harsh, but I've watched the Japanese drama of this AND have read the manga. And while the movie had its moments:

it still feel short. But why? 

Including everything from a 10-episode live action drama into a 2 hour film and you get a bunch of disjointed ends. Everything became choppy. This happened, then this, then that. And guess what happens? Everything feels rushed, unexplained, and sudden. There were several scenes I felt should have just been cut. And because of all this cramming, there is little emotional buildup.

So what is a drama with no buildup? The Japanese drama shows us the buildup clearly, with the bonding of the two going from complete strangers to people who can't live without each other. They come to rely on each other for relief and comfort. And for such a buildup to occur, time was needed. I really hate to compare things to their originals as I believe every work should be able to stand alone, but even from an unknowing audience's view the movie was choppy.

Really, I wish I could joke more on this, but this movie was a disappointment for me. There was so much hype and Sukkie seemed amazing in the teasers and interviews. But the final product was in my honest opinion a bust. 

But, instead of drowning in misery, we should note what they should have done to make this a better movie. Namely, do what a lot of people yell at them not to do: take stuff out. So what if a minor scene here and there were cut? If that time could be better used to convey the emotions of the characters and to make us believe that they really do build up a bond that becomes a necessity, more power to them. Adaptations are natural, and while one might get ticked off at a few things missing or changed, one should always remember that a change of time of viewing and country can greatly effect the film.

Anyway, scolding over. And I would like to say that I don't mean to offend anyone. From someone more used to watching movies, this may not have been so bad. I don't claim to know the mindset of an average Korean viewer. But coming from someone who has been watching dramas and movies for several years, this truly is my opinion on the movie.

So, am I saying you shouldn't watch it? I'd never say that. The acting was fine, but the script was not so. But please, see it for yourself if your curious. I just warn that if you are used to more "dramatic" dramas, this may be one to avoid.

Back! ^_^

짜잔! I'm back. Well, at least for a little while. I've been ever the hard-working student, so unfortunately I haven't been posting as I used to. With what little history I have in posting...*ahem*

Anyway, time for a post or two, right? Though I must say that since I'm taking Japanese classes, I've been lagging a bit on my Korean Dramas. Which is so sad, since soooo many good-looking ones have come out over the past few months. My list of dramas to watch has grown so large...

But alas, I must finish terms papers and take finals. And one large note to make: I'm going to South Korea! *does a little dance* I'll be studying abroad in Seoul for the summer and finally be able to see Korea in person. My lovely Korean friends at my university here in the States have been helping me learn some Korean so I can survive the first few weeks on my own before my classes at the university start; I'm leaving early so I can explore a bit before settling down to studies.

And, lucky enough, the place I will be staying at has a very nice TV with many channels, so I may be able to watch a few dramas when they actually air instead of relying on the internet. Will I understand the gist of what's going on? I'm sure I can puzzle it out. Will I be able to understand half the stuff the actors will be saying? Probably not, but if the series is good enough I can always rewatch with nice subtitles or ask my Korean housemates for some help.

But anyway, on to the post!

*I take no credit for this picture.