Blog Archives

Bad Guy

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Posted on October 9, 2022 by Alison

The casting director deserves a bonus for this series. I can imagine the briefing notes: “Find us a lead actor who can smoulder. We want someone who can seduce all women, and some men, convey a broad range of emotions, or appear mysterious and enigmatic as needed. The ability to look sexy on a motorbike and deliver a spinning back kick would be good too.” Well, they certainly got all that and more with Kim Nam-gil. Add Han Ga-in as … (read more)

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Dali & Cocky Prince

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Posted on September 18, 2022 by Alison

Who’d have imagined that Lovely Nurse Park ™ from Doctor Romantic could metamorphose into a shouty, obnoxious, tossbadger? It certainly wasn’t on my bingo card, but Kim Min-jae does a sterling job, carrying off the role of the nouveau riche gamjatang tycoon with an unsuspected elan.

I suspect Kim has been typecast as the mild-mannered romantic lead far too often, so this role must have been a welcome opportunity. It was first offered to Lee Jae-wook, of Do Do Sol … (read more)

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A Korean Odyssey

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Posted on September 11, 2022 by Alison

Do we need another version of Journey to the West? We’ve already had the Japanese TV series Monkey! (exclamation mark damn well included), the massively cool anime series Saiyuki, The Monkey King, and numerous other versions of the 16th century Chinese story about Great Sage Equal Of Heaven, otherwise known as the Monkey King.

And my answer is yes, gentle reader, we absolutely do. We need this particular version because we need the mesmerising Son O-gong that only … (read more)

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Special Delivery (2022)

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Posted on September 9, 2022 by Andrew

It’s that time of year again. KOFFIA rolls into town, offering the chance to see some fresh films without knowing much about what’s coming. Special Delivery reminded me once more that South Korean movies, even broad crowd pleasers like this, are consistently surprising.

The movie’s forty-five second trailer sells itself on the car chasing and other action, but elements of a lot of other genres — jokes, jump scares, melodrama and more — are along for the ride as well. … (read more)

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Hwarang

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Posted on September 4, 2022 by Alison

Co-posted at Still Just Alison

TV Series – 20 episodes

Is it just me, or does Park Seo-jun’s contract stipulate at least one shower scene in every drama?

In this case, he’s joined in his ablutions by several other young men, so if that’s one of your criteria for a good drama, then put Hwarang on your list.

Ditto if you want as many K-pop stars as possible, because this has no less than three: Park Hyung-sik (ZE:A), Choi Minho … (read more)

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My Girlfriend Is A Gumiho

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Posted on August 29, 2022 by Alison

Co-posted at Still Just Alison

TV series – 16 episodes

Most men would be thrilled if the lovely Shin Min-ah followed them home, but not Cha Dae-woong (Lee Seung-gi). Possibly because she’s got nine tails and 500 years under her belt, but more likely because she threatened to eat him – that kind of thing does tend to put a damper on even the most modern relationship.

If you can get past Lee Seung-gi’s startling hairstyle and plenty of shameless … (read more)

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Strong Girl Bong Soon

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Posted on August 21, 2022 by Alison

Co-posted at Still Just Alison

TV series – 16 episodes

This is for all the women who want some vicarious ‘beating the crap out of everyone who’s ever looked at me sideways’ enjoyment. It’s also a whole sack full of fun even if you don’t have the urge to pummel anyone.

Do Bong Soon (Park Bo-young) is tiny, perky, and possessed of the superhuman strength that runs in the females in her family. Park brings an effervescence to the role … (read more)

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The Master’s Sun

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Posted on August 14, 2022 by Alison

Co-posted at Still Just Alison

TV series – 17 episodes

This is just stitched together from a whole steaming pile of wrong. It can’t seem to decide what it is, so it veers between Cinderella rom com, mystery, and episodic ghost series, while never managing to be good at any of them.

Then there’s the acting and characterisation. Some of the actors manage, although the script doesn’t give them much to work with, but the male lead is like a … (read more)

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