A bunch of dudes are going to take the train and hopefully it ends up better for them than for Gong Yoo in Train to Busan, or for the poor souls in the rear of the Snowpiercer. Leading men Lee Seon Kyun, Kim Nam Gil, and Lee Sang Yeob, along with stars Kim Min Sik and Go Gyu Pil, all … Continue reading →
I’m adding a new K-drama to my watch and you should too! The surprise hit that is SBS Fri-Sat offering The Fiery Priest is a great weekend commitment, and starts the year off right for SBS finally doing something fresh and fun. Starring Kim Nam Gil as a hot-tempered Catholic priest, Kim Sung Kyun as a cowardly-esque cop, and Honey … Continue reading →
The concept of SBS Fri-Sat night K-drama Hot Blooded Priest (The Fiery Priest) sounds like one of those jokes like a priest and a few other religious figures walks into a bar and a difference of perceptions results in lots of luz. In this case, there is definitely laughter to come but Hot Blooded Priest is but the third drama … Continue reading →
If this week’s sad showing of mostly second and third tier K-stars at the Korean Drama Awards, then it was the exact opposite at the opening night red carpet of the 2018 Busan International Film Festival where I felt so much high profile faces beaming for the cameras. The hosting MCs Kim Nam Gil and Han Ji Min walked the … Continue reading →
I’m still savoring summer tvN medical and time-travel drama Deserving of the Name (Live Up to Your Name), a drama that has undone all the ill will and WTF-kery that Dr. Jin left behind in that specific genre. I can’t decide which of the two leads did better in Kim Nam Gil and Kim Ah Joong, which really means both … Continue reading →
Since Kim Nam Gil broke out eight years ago with Queen Seondeok in 2009, his career has been steadily on the high end albeit more consistently successful in movies than K-dramas. I’m a K-drama watcher so I’ll admit to rather forgetting about him after he did Bad Guy, I had a love/hate relationship with that drama but it was definitely … Continue reading →
Good til the last drop, that’s my takeaway from the just finished airing weekend tvN drama Live Up to Your Name (Deserving of the Name), one that I appreciate even more for really bringing back all the right touches that are unique to K-dramas. It was a time-traveling drama that didn’t waste the conceit nor let that one element drive … Continue reading →
The hit-making streak of tvN continues for the Sat-Sun time slot after Secret Forest (Stranger) did so well. Followup drama Live Up to Your Name (Deserving of the Name) has seem rating increases for the most part, except for one episode drop, since it premiered with 2.715% AGB and now in episode 8 it has broken a new barrier to … Continue reading →
Looks like Goblin will be tvN‘s most successful drama for the a considerable time atop the perch, but the network continues to churn out quality fare on a consistent basis even if not every project is a success. After Goblin on the Sat-Sun time slot the network followed with two disappointing dramas in Tomorrow With You with Shin Mina and … Continue reading →
This reverse Dr. Jin snuck up on me but the surprise factor totally worked with this one because I’m unexpectedly intrigued with it’s lighthearted teasers when the concept seemed more dramatic and serious. Live Up to Your Name (Deserving of the Name) with Kim Nam Gil and Kim Ah Joong premieres on August 12th on Sat-Sun after Forest of Secrets, … Continue reading →
I don’t know about you but it’s been a disappointing Summer movie season for me so far. I don’t need my movies to make all that much sense but it ought to ignite the sense of fun and passion in me. It can be popcorn but it damn well better be tasty cracktastic popcorn. So far it’s been stale popcorn … Continue reading →
Now this looks like a great Summer popcorn flick! The first teaser trailer has dropped for the upcoming Korean movie Pirates, which of course garners the immediate association that it’s going to be a Korean version of Pirates of the Caribbean. A bit of yes and no in that connection, yes it has Joseon era pirates but no it doesn’t … Continue reading →
Was anyone jonesing for a Joseon version of a pirate movie? Ever? Whether this upcoming simply named Pirates will be a hit or not, it surely is capitalizing on a relatively stable audience appetite for water-based adventure yarns. Hollywood has the indefatigable Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and recently China had the box office smash fantasy sea monster movie Detective Dee: … Continue reading →
