It’s unfortunate what was a super successful year for top K-pop groups BTS and TWICE reaching year end with a controversy, and one that appears not to be going away quickly. Both groups are on the outs with Japanese media and fans with a member’s choice of t-shirt attire that touch upon very sensitive Japanese topics. A BTS member wore … Continue reading →
Since folks seem to have really strong and broad opinions and mismatched drama casting lately, here’s one more that definitely will garner skeptical commentary. The cast for early 2019 airing K-drama How to Publish Love (Romance Supplement or Romance Bonus Book) gathered for the script reading last week led by leads Lee Jong Seok and Lee Na Young, with buzz … Continue reading →
It’s less than two weeks away for the premiere of jTBC webtoon adapted K-drama Clean With Passion For Now and after all the casting changes and commentary I’m just ready to see how it all turns out. A new batch of drama stills and BTS pics continue to showcase female lead Kim Yoo Jung as so adorable she’s a veritable … Continue reading →
The 80’s Hong Kong acting legends are making news waves in recent weeks and it’s only fitting that a long retired goddess also returns to the spotlight. Maggie Cheung has been retired from acting since 2006 and in the intervening 12 years she has rarely been seen in public. While her colleagues like Tony Leung, Andy Lau, and Carina Lau … Continue reading →
Fans of early Hallyu K-dramas should remember the trend for overseas shoots in romance dramas involving the two leads meeting as strangers in a strange land. That’s fallen out of fashion in modern romance dramas so it feels like a throwback vibe to see tvN drama Encounter (Boyfriend) emphasize the Havana, Cuba connection formed between leads Park Bo Gum and … Continue reading →
I may have been (slightly) more impressed and connected with Kim Dong Wook‘s character and performance in OCN thriller drama The Guest but my first love Kim Jae Wook still knocked it out of the park for his leg of the narrative triangle. This is the first drama of his in ages where I wasn’t left frustrated that his good … Continue reading →
The production of tvN drama Encounter (Boyfriend) is doing a great job of delivering a very clear vibe and message. The drama about an older rich divorcee and a younger scrappy man meeting in exotic Cuba and falling for each other is the kind of romance that drama fiction conjures up that is so unrealistic. And yet the promos have … Continue reading →
While attention right now is naturally on premiering soon high profile K-dramas Memories of Alhambra and Encounter (Boyfriend), coming in early 2019 is a fully pre-produced drama that I’m also excited for namely Vagabond with Lee Seung Gi and Suzy. The leads have been filming in Morocco over a month and Lee Seung Gi posted on his SNS pictures of … Continue reading →
The first teaser and lots of promos are out for upcoming SBS weekend drama Fate and Furies which actually looks surprisingly fantastic. I love the melodramatic moody vibe, it’s intensely dark and makjang romantic, sort of like a non-cheating mc-cheaterson version of Temptation. She’s poor and scrappy trying to escape a shitting life situation, he’s rich and they get involved … Continue reading →
The punny title of Bok Soo is Back (i.e. Revenge is Back) has now morphed into the rather bland English title of My Strange Hero which seems neither here nor there. But the casting remains legit awesome with cutie pie Yoo Seung Ho continuing in his rom-com streak after I am Not a Robot and this time he gets Jo … Continue reading →
The 2018 Elle Style Awards took place in Seoul this week and the red carpet was mostly black with a smattering of red, with one starlet in red especially a memorable standout. Best dressed for me was Son Ye Jin, she stuck with her usual style of elegant and feminine and her one shoulder black column gown with a giant … Continue reading →
Another K-awards ceremony came and went and this one was decided low key being from the Korean Film Critics Association but the winners merit a mention. It’s pretty serendipitous and likely a good sign that upcoming K-drama Brilliant costars Han Ji Min and Nam Joo Hyuk were winners, her as Best Actress for Miss Baek and him as Best New Actor … Continue reading →
There are two sageuk zombie projects slated for year end 2018 and the first to arrive was the movie Rampant (Outbreak) with Hyun Bin and Jang Dong Gun which premiered first in the box office but has since then petered out and will likely net less than it’s $15 million budget domestically and will need international and streaming sales later … Continue reading →
