There is something so unexpectedly sweet about Ouran High School Host Club. For a story predicated on the absurd and littered with the silly, what ties it all together is really a very genuine undercurrent of affection. It’s like the host club is just a group of rich but lonely and complicated boys who have found a positive outlet together … Continue reading →
After posting about Bu Bu Jing Xin last night, I ended up kissing sleep goodbye and marathoning all the available episodes (10 out of 35 estimated episodes). I look like a very hideous raccoon this morning, but it was worth it. I haven’t loved a C-drama this much since LOCH2008, which surprise surprise, is also a Tangren production directed by … Continue reading →
I think it’s the lucky actress who has the talent to toggle between projects in film and in television in the Korean entertainment industry, and Lee Min Jung has just that perfect blend. While I worry she might get pegged as a Meg Ryan-esque rom-com film actress, what with doing Cyrano Dating Agency followed now by another rom-com Wonderful Radio. … Continue reading →
I confess that I’m going to have a hard time deciding which drama to watch first every Sunday night once Ring Ring Bell premieres against In Time With You. Each teaser snippet of Peter Ho and Janine Chang makes me smile giddily with a doofy grin on my face. The drama itself looks like an Autumn’s Concerto without the whole … Continue reading →
It’s here! And it’s everything I hoped for and more, literally drama crack on demand and I’m already in withdrawal mode needing more new episodes. More, I need more Bu Bu Jing Xin (步步惊心), THE long-awaited time-travel period C-drama. Before I get started, I make no bones about loathing Gong/Jade Palace Lockheart, the Yu Zheng knock-off of Bu Bu Jing … Continue reading →
Happy Chuseok to the folks in Korea, and an early Happy Zhong Qiu (Mid-Autumn) Moon Festival to the folks in Greater China. We’re one week away from the premiere of Ariel Lin and Bolin Chen‘s In Time With You on FTV. The cast held a media day this week to make moon cakes for the needy and the production donated … Continue reading →
I don’t know why, but since Moon Geun Young became the female face for Basic House this year, I’ve liked her ads for China much much better than the ones she did for Korea, where she’s paired with Won Bin. Is it the China concept being more interesting? Not sure, but I have a sneaking suspicion that maybe I ought … Continue reading →
This entire series of photos made me laugh. Not at Yoo Seung Ho, mind you, who I adore to bits and can do no wrong. But rather at the brain trust behind the uniform brand Customellow, who plucked the age-appropriate Yoo Seung Ho to model its line of school uniforms, alternatively turning him into Harry Potter meets Prince William circa … Continue reading →
I always enjoy watching outtakes or behind-the-scene footage, which are more commonly available for dramas. But occasionally a magazine shoot will release some, and Bazaar Korea just made available some wonderful pictures of Gong Hyo Jin and Cha Seung Won’s shoot last month. It’s clear they have a comfortable rapport built from filming a drama together, plus they have great … Continue reading →
We’re headed into the Fall awards season in Taiwan. The current Chairman of the Golden Horse Awards Association is famed director Hou Hsiao Hsien, who has creatively roped last year’s Best Actor winner Ethan Ruan into filming a charming spot for the upcoming film festival. The CF has all the evocative touches that make Director Hou’s works (A City of … Continue reading →
Black & White never pretends that it isn’t a police procedural, with the meat of the drama around the investigation of criminal matters that surround Pi Zi and Ying Xiong. What makes B&W more than just a standard police drama is how well it’s plotted, how perfect the acting roles are cast and the chemistry the characters have with each … Continue reading →
How can two people be so beautiful together? It’s ironic that Han Hyo Joo plays a blind girl in her upcoming movie Always with So Ji Sub, because watching the video first look with them almost blinded me with their collective beauty. His rugged reserved gruffness. Her delicate sparkling presence. Always has been selected to open the prestigious BIFF (Busan International Film … Continue reading →
I have faith in the writer for Protect the Boss, who hasn’t let me down yet. SBS just confirmed that it’s giving a two-episode extension to PTB, which has settled into a comfortable ratings groove of around 15%. It’s not so stellar as to automatically consider an extension, so I’m guessing the decision is tied to giving its follow up drama Tree … Continue reading →