Did the Bali/Tahiti tourist board pay for this series?
A Prince's First Love is a love triangle that is mostly set at some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. A very rich family owns several resorts around the world. The chairman has a son that falls for an everyday-girl who wants to work there, but she has her eye on someone else. The chairman is a single father and there is a very good story involving his situation. There is a lot more to the story and I wont spoil it for you.
The series is 18 episodes and on the whole I cannot recommend a purchase of this series. The main problem lies in the obnoxious, annoying and mostly un-watchable behavior from the chairman's son that starts in episode one and continues through most of the series. Do the makers of this series really think I want to sit through hours of yelling and almost stalking-like behavior?
The other problem is that a very large part of the show is filmed at these resorts and while they are nice to look at, the constant daily activities of the employees which includes the lead players, got very repetitive.
I almost gave up watching this about half way through and was just going to consider it one of the bad purchases I have made in my life. Instead, I decided that since I paid for it, I should find out how it ends. So, what I did was use the fast forward button to get past the "filler" scenes and the annoying outbursts by the chairman's son. I eventually reached a point about 75% through the series.
It turned out to be a good idea that I endured through the first 75% of the series because the last several episodes turned out to be very, very good. The annoying son finally calmed down and every scene had sincere and heartfelt meaning. The other great thing about the last 25% of this series is that a major turning point occurs, and like a great mystery novel, we have no idea who will end up with whom. This brought a smile to my face and tears to my eyes. It was a wonderful experience for me and I actually stayed up late to finish the show. Its frustrating to see how well things can be done and then wonder why more effort could not have been put into the earlier part of the series.
I do have to be thankful of one thing from watching this - I have already started the planning process for a long cruise that visits some of the islands shown. Maybe that was part of the reason this series was made - to get people to visit those places. Well, it worked on me.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
My Girl (2006)
Every time it snows it's your birthday
*very minor spoilers
Award winning actress Lee Da-hae plays Joo Yu-rin, a drifter and streetwise tour guide. Her language skills get her in the stead of a hotel executive Gong-chan (Lee Dong-wook) who needs her to use all her other skills to save his dying grandfather. It seems granddad has one last wish before dying - to see his long lost granddaughter. Yu-rin is hired to pose as granddaughter and that would also mean her playing as Gong-chan's cousin. Not easy to do when she starts to fall for him.
As the story unfolds, a love triangle emerges while Yu-rin must also look after her own deadbeat dad. There are several side stories involoving people in Gong-chan's family and also friends of Yu-rin which were quite enjoyable.
Enough cannot be said about the acting performance by actress Lee Da-hae. She was simply brilliant and I believe she did in fact win an award for this series. What guy would not want to marry her after watching this? Her performance was on par with that of Song Hye-kyo from Full House.
The series spans 16 episodes and does a pretty good job at not being too repetitive. It does however have many moments of silliness and wasted time on scenes that might look cute on the drawing board, but should have been left on the cutting room floor. That extra time would have been better spent on some of supporting characters and their situations. Yu-rins best friends brother becomes interested in Gong-chans secretary and I would have loved to see that relationship given more time and perhaps interwoven into the main story line somehow. There was also a battle going on between the two elder ladies that was well done, but I wanted more.
Eventually we reached the critical point in the series and the tissue box started to empty quickly.....THEN.....in what could have been a heartfelt clinching series of events near the final act, turned out instead to resemble an obsession. Watching the male lead pursue Yu-rin after she was spotted, made me feel uncomfortable and it also spoiled the mood that had been setup so well earlier. It was not necessary and besides, we already had someone else pursuing her out of some type of strange lust, do we really need two half-crazy obsessed men? Of the Korean dramas I have seen so far, when the women pursues the man it resembles a work of art, but when it's the mans turn, sometimes it feels like stalking.
I think one of the problems is that the makers of the series are trying to get a certain number of episodes, instead of it just proceeding naturally as it should. Despite these setbacks, the final act itself was delivered very nicely, and if you do not cry then you are not human.
My recommendation is that this series is worth a purchase, rental or however you can see it. It has its flaws, but with Lee Da-haes performance and the high tear-jerker factor, you will enjoy the journey. After watching it you might even shed a little tear every time you see it snow.
*very minor spoilers
Award winning actress Lee Da-hae plays Joo Yu-rin, a drifter and streetwise tour guide. Her language skills get her in the stead of a hotel executive Gong-chan (Lee Dong-wook) who needs her to use all her other skills to save his dying grandfather. It seems granddad has one last wish before dying - to see his long lost granddaughter. Yu-rin is hired to pose as granddaughter and that would also mean her playing as Gong-chan's cousin. Not easy to do when she starts to fall for him.
As the story unfolds, a love triangle emerges while Yu-rin must also look after her own deadbeat dad. There are several side stories involoving people in Gong-chan's family and also friends of Yu-rin which were quite enjoyable.
Enough cannot be said about the acting performance by actress Lee Da-hae. She was simply brilliant and I believe she did in fact win an award for this series. What guy would not want to marry her after watching this? Her performance was on par with that of Song Hye-kyo from Full House.
The series spans 16 episodes and does a pretty good job at not being too repetitive. It does however have many moments of silliness and wasted time on scenes that might look cute on the drawing board, but should have been left on the cutting room floor. That extra time would have been better spent on some of supporting characters and their situations. Yu-rins best friends brother becomes interested in Gong-chans secretary and I would have loved to see that relationship given more time and perhaps interwoven into the main story line somehow. There was also a battle going on between the two elder ladies that was well done, but I wanted more.
Eventually we reached the critical point in the series and the tissue box started to empty quickly.....THEN.....in what could have been a heartfelt clinching series of events near the final act, turned out instead to resemble an obsession. Watching the male lead pursue Yu-rin after she was spotted, made me feel uncomfortable and it also spoiled the mood that had been setup so well earlier. It was not necessary and besides, we already had someone else pursuing her out of some type of strange lust, do we really need two half-crazy obsessed men? Of the Korean dramas I have seen so far, when the women pursues the man it resembles a work of art, but when it's the mans turn, sometimes it feels like stalking.
I think one of the problems is that the makers of the series are trying to get a certain number of episodes, instead of it just proceeding naturally as it should. Despite these setbacks, the final act itself was delivered very nicely, and if you do not cry then you are not human.
My recommendation is that this series is worth a purchase, rental or however you can see it. It has its flaws, but with Lee Da-haes performance and the high tear-jerker factor, you will enjoy the journey. After watching it you might even shed a little tear every time you see it snow.
Princess Hours (aka: Gung, The Palace) (2006)
*Very minor spoilers
Palace is a very expensive, long and honorable attempt at creating a multi-faceted story involving a monarchy in Korea. It's a rag-to-riches story in one sense, a love triangle in another and quest for power in still another. Was it all worth it? To be honest, I was left a little disappointed.
The monarchy's young prince is required to marry a commoner chosen by his grandfather as part of a promise. This average girl played by Yoon Eun-hye also by coincidence goes to the same private school that the prince goes to. How her poor family can afford it is beyond me.
After the marriage, the girl moves into the palace and does her best Lucille Ball impression. This creates many funny, and sometimes not so funny situations involving all those at the palace. Of course, things get more interesting. Someone else has their eye on her and basically becomes obsessed with her. This particular situation is probably the most unconvincing crush I have seen on TV. Not that he doesn't try with some good acting skills, but it's so obvious that they are not right for each other from a casting perspective. Kim Jeong-hoon who plays Prince Lee Yul has a bright future in my opinion, but he seemed a little out of place in this series.
On top of all this we have a quite interesting story among the elders. Yes, adults actually get to do something in this series. There is a battle for power, a secret relationship from times gone by and the eldest mother trying to keep everything from blowing up.
The situation with the elders turns out to be the most interesting part of the series, and at one point I was hoping the young princes and princess could finish up their business so the show could just concentrate on His Majesty's issues. Look into his wife's eyes, and you can see her longing for true love without having to say a word.
The acting of the adults in this show was quite superb, and I also enjoyed the performance by the young girls mother who sees everyone as a potential insurance client.
I am not saying that there was never an interesting or heartfelt moment between the young leads. I sure cried a few times. They just came all too infrequently, and with a series this long, we get the stuff that all soap operas are guilty of - FILLER! That stuff that's there to fill time but really is not necessary to the story.
There are also some continuity issues. In one, the princess is scolded every which way for leaving the palace without anyone knowing where she is. She cried heavily and promised it wont happen again. So, what does she do after all this? Yep, she gets in her car and leaves the palace without telling anyone. It had to be done because it sets up a potential scandal later in the show.
All in all I would have to say that I cannot recommend that you purchase this series, but if its on TV or as a rental, give it a try. You might find it more entertaining than I did.
Palace is a very expensive, long and honorable attempt at creating a multi-faceted story involving a monarchy in Korea. It's a rag-to-riches story in one sense, a love triangle in another and quest for power in still another. Was it all worth it? To be honest, I was left a little disappointed.
The monarchy's young prince is required to marry a commoner chosen by his grandfather as part of a promise. This average girl played by Yoon Eun-hye also by coincidence goes to the same private school that the prince goes to. How her poor family can afford it is beyond me.
After the marriage, the girl moves into the palace and does her best Lucille Ball impression. This creates many funny, and sometimes not so funny situations involving all those at the palace. Of course, things get more interesting. Someone else has their eye on her and basically becomes obsessed with her. This particular situation is probably the most unconvincing crush I have seen on TV. Not that he doesn't try with some good acting skills, but it's so obvious that they are not right for each other from a casting perspective. Kim Jeong-hoon who plays Prince Lee Yul has a bright future in my opinion, but he seemed a little out of place in this series.
On top of all this we have a quite interesting story among the elders. Yes, adults actually get to do something in this series. There is a battle for power, a secret relationship from times gone by and the eldest mother trying to keep everything from blowing up.
The situation with the elders turns out to be the most interesting part of the series, and at one point I was hoping the young princes and princess could finish up their business so the show could just concentrate on His Majesty's issues. Look into his wife's eyes, and you can see her longing for true love without having to say a word.
The acting of the adults in this show was quite superb, and I also enjoyed the performance by the young girls mother who sees everyone as a potential insurance client.
I am not saying that there was never an interesting or heartfelt moment between the young leads. I sure cried a few times. They just came all too infrequently, and with a series this long, we get the stuff that all soap operas are guilty of - FILLER! That stuff that's there to fill time but really is not necessary to the story.
There are also some continuity issues. In one, the princess is scolded every which way for leaving the palace without anyone knowing where she is. She cried heavily and promised it wont happen again. So, what does she do after all this? Yep, she gets in her car and leaves the palace without telling anyone. It had to be done because it sets up a potential scandal later in the show.
All in all I would have to say that I cannot recommend that you purchase this series, but if its on TV or as a rental, give it a try. You might find it more entertaining than I did.
Full House (2002)
Full House was my first exposure to Korean Drama (kdrama), and I must say I was taken hook line and sinker. This is coming from an American male who is tired of the aggressive, in your face, almost sexually explicit American soap operas, movies and TV shows.
The players are beautiful and if I was younger I would have grown my hair just like Rain after seeing him. The story is your typical love triangle comedy(or should I say quadrangle), but it is done in such a way that you find yourself emotionally tied to each characters circumstance.
The first three episodes are some of the best television I have seen in my nearly 50 years on this earth. The production quality, music and emotional tension are perfect.
This series I believe is about 16 episodes, and unfortunately, the series starts to sputter from repetition. The main characters are forced to break up so many times that it became hard for the director to find a new way for them to do this. In addition, by the time the series ends you would expect a grand finale twist or spectacle that would end up shocking the audience (in a good way), but instead, ends in a whimper.
A large part of the series was filmed at the "house" mentioned in the title, which from what I heard was built just for this series. I think maybe a little too much time was spent there. Its a very nice house and maybe I'm just complaining about the house when I should complain about the repetition that takes place there.
I don't want this review to sway anyone who loves a good romantic comedy against watching it. And I would almost say that Full House should be required viewing for everyone, especially for American film makers so they can learn a few lessons.
I think this story as it is could have been told in half the time, and had that been done, we might be talking all time classic here. But I cant change whats been done and I still say this show is worth every penny you spend on it. The first few episode are the ones I suggest you watch without interruptions or distractions. It is some very good stuff.
The players are beautiful and if I was younger I would have grown my hair just like Rain after seeing him. The story is your typical love triangle comedy(or should I say quadrangle), but it is done in such a way that you find yourself emotionally tied to each characters circumstance.
The first three episodes are some of the best television I have seen in my nearly 50 years on this earth. The production quality, music and emotional tension are perfect.
This series I believe is about 16 episodes, and unfortunately, the series starts to sputter from repetition. The main characters are forced to break up so many times that it became hard for the director to find a new way for them to do this. In addition, by the time the series ends you would expect a grand finale twist or spectacle that would end up shocking the audience (in a good way), but instead, ends in a whimper.
A large part of the series was filmed at the "house" mentioned in the title, which from what I heard was built just for this series. I think maybe a little too much time was spent there. Its a very nice house and maybe I'm just complaining about the house when I should complain about the repetition that takes place there.
I don't want this review to sway anyone who loves a good romantic comedy against watching it. And I would almost say that Full House should be required viewing for everyone, especially for American film makers so they can learn a few lessons.
I think this story as it is could have been told in half the time, and had that been done, we might be talking all time classic here. But I cant change whats been done and I still say this show is worth every penny you spend on it. The first few episode are the ones I suggest you watch without interruptions or distractions. It is some very good stuff.
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