Choi Jin Hyuk Needs Happily Ever After In Kdrama Love

choijinhyukHandsome Choi Jin Hyuk Via Dramabeans

Choi Jin Hyuk should have many things going for him. He is tall, very handsome and had a cutest smile that can melt many girl’s heart. From what I have seen from Korean Dramas and interviews, he seems like a polite, nice and humble guy who seems down to earth. So, what does he need? He has yet to get “Happy ever after” in love so far in Korean drama or get a lead role. (It finally happened in 2014 in Kdrama Emergency couple)

Choi Jin Hyuk’s Dramas and Movies:

Choi Jin Hyuk has played minor, supporting roles in Korean dramas until he was noticed in small role in Gu Family book. Here are some of the Dramas, that he played a part;

 

Choi-Jin-Hyuk-15Cutest Smile of  Choi Jin Hyuk

I first noticed Choi Jin Hyuk in Gu Family Book Korean Drama. Although, he was there for only first 2 episodes and later on he came briefly on screen, viewers noticed  Jin Hyuk in small role cameo. He overshadowed other actors in the series, and viewer wanted more of him. He seemed really cute and I felt his pain and joy with him, I felt good when he smiled and looked handsome throughout the small screen time he had. He has a cameo role I was intrigued and  I wanted to know more about him and his other dramas and movies that he might have acted in.

 

cjh1Sexy Gumho of Gu Family Book: Cameo Role

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Via NetizenBuzz : You can feel the love and pain: Gu Family Book Doomed Romance

In Gu Family Book Korean Drama, Choi Jin Hyuk plays a role of Gumiho who falls for and protects human noble girl. He has super powers and stays forever young. He falls for and marries the girl (played by Lee Yoon Hee). He even eat her bad cooked food and even tries to become a human being by sacrificing him being of “forever young” and super powers that comes from being a supernatural being, just because he wants to be with her and die with her  being in love with her. The only thing Yoon Hee does not know his real identity as Gumiho, so when she finds out, she feels fearful for her and betrays him to authority. Choi Jin Hyuk’s character chooses to  dies instead of killing the betrayer and to come back later on as thousand years demon. In the end their love is redeemed but they do not find happiness together.

cjh2Via Pinterest: Handsome and Stylish Choi Jin Hyuk in Panda and Hedgehog Drama

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Via Couch Kimchi: Don’t they have Chemistry Together? Panda and Hedgehog Drama

After Gu Family Book, I wanted to watch more of his work, so I found Panda and Hedgehog Korean Drama, which had Donghae from Super Junior playing in lead and Choi Jin Huyk as a second lead who is also in love with Yoon Seung-ah’s Panda character. However, he loses the girl  yet again to main lead played by Donghae. Now, I like super Junior and Domghae both, but I am not sure  about Donghae’s acting ability so much. I have seen Donghae in Skip Beat Taiwanese Drama, he is sure pretty but as an actor he is improving and has a lot to improve. Choi Jin Hyuk acted better, looked better and yet he lost love again. I felt for him.

I also checked out very first “I Need Romance” original Kdrama that started the franchise of I need romance. It labeled as Korean Sex and city and so it was. I was surprised how much open the show was about sex scenes compared to Kdrama I am used to watching. Choi Jin Hyuk plays Rich guy, who is not jerk and falls for lead Noona girl, only to lose out again in love. I was feeling for him as he is much better actor who deserves much more in drama, seeing him loses out in drama again and again did not made me feel better.

chjromance1Choi Jin Hyuk in I Need Romance (20011) Original series, can’t you feel love? How can leave him girl?

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How can anyone say no to Choi Jin Hyuk In I need Romance via Han Cinema

Then recently I saw The Heir with Lee Min Ho and Park Shin Hye and when I found out he plays a Lee Min Ho’s Brother, I had my hopes up for him finally landing a good role and find a nice girl and have a happy ending. Alas..it was not meant to be. At first, he played heartless, cold brother to Lee Min Ho, which broke my heart as I knew he could do better. As drama progressed his role and his character improved a lot. But he loses a girl he loved by choosing a money, place in company first instead of love. While he did make that choice, we can see how heart broken and sad he was and I too cried for him, with him. I am hoping that one day he can get money, position and love all in Drama or movie he plays as he surely deserves it.

cjhheirVia mwave: They Both liked each other, only if she was richer or he was braver The Heirs Korean Drama

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Via Dramafever: Pain and Anguish of losing love From Heirs Korean Drama

Did you know Choi Jin Hyuk is also talend singer and has sang a few Koream Drama OST (Original Sound Track) Here is one from the 2013 Korean Drama “The Heirs”. Check it out, he is surely good singer as well.

Don’t Look Back By Choi Jin Hyuk : The Heirs

I am looking forward to his new Drama Emergency Man and Woman, also known as Emergency Couple where he plays a lead role first time. While, plot line says that he plays a rich character who falls for poor girl and marries her and they face lot together and in end they get divorce. But there is a hope as they get to meet again and work in hospital together. I am really hoping he gets love of girl this time. So far the series is going well, even though main couple gets divorced in the series, they still have feelings for each others and Choi Jin Hyuk is main lead so there are great chances for him to get the girl and happiness at end of Kdrama, finally! I am happy for him.

cjhnewVia newsen.com: Maybe finally lucky in love? Emergency Man and Woman Choi Jin Hyuk Korean Drama

Let’s wait and watch what happens for this tall, good looking and talented actor Choi Jin Hyuk. I hope he find love in kdrama land and in real life.

Under-Rated K-Pop Group UKISS, WonderBoyz

South Korea is K-Pop capital, where new aspiring kids debuting and hoping to be in Kpop boy band and Kpop girl band group. There are many great Kpop group that kept themselves fresh such as boy band Shinhwa, who are active and popular even after debuting over 15 years ago. Many girl groups and boy groups have formed and broken up before making it on chart.

Life of Kpop star is hard with all training before debuting and working long hours, without days off after debuting are known case. Many in western world would call that slave contract but in K-Pop world that seems to be norm. Most Idols work very hard, have special fan meeting with their fans and generally soft spoken in real life based on their interviews.

As I have written in what is K-Pop article, that there many ways K-pop differs from other Music Genre from other popular music. There are 3 big star management companies such as;

  • SM Entertainment: Tts current roster of recording artists include Kangta, BoA, TVXQ, TRAX, The Grace, Super Junior, Zhang Liyin, Girls’ Generation, J-Min, Shinee, f(x), EXO and Henry, all of whom enjoy great success both domestically and internationally.
  • YG Entertainment: Its current roster of recording artists are known to be some of the biggest K-pop acts internationally. Big Bang, 2NE1, Epik High, Lee Hi, and PSY have proved to be the front runners.
  • JYP Entertainment: Label’s current roster of recording artists include Wonder Girls, JOO, 2AM, 2PM, Miss A, JJ Project, Baek Ah Yeon, 15& and Lee Sunmi.

Of course, there are many management companies that churn out many new kpop idol bands. Sometimes, there are great and some not so great singers and boyband get more media exposure due to either their management company or variety shows they do. There are some are talented but do not get enough media exposure or get awards even though they deserve it.

In my opinion, UKISS and WonderBoyz are two boy bands that do not get ENOUGH media love, as they are talented, great singer, dancer and come across friendly on interviews and other shows. JYJ is another group that do not get enough media exposure on Korean TV due to some issue from the past, most of these band survive and spread news through internet such as youtube, fan sites and blogs along with their management company.

UKISS K-Pop Boy Band:

crazyhair5South Korean boy band formed by NH Media in 2008. Their name is an acronym, standing for Ubiquitous Korean International idol Super Star. The group consists of Soohyun, Eli, Kiseop, Kevin, Hoon and AJ and three 3 ex members Dongho, Alexander and Kibum.  Their breakthrough hit was Man Man Ha Ni (2009) from their EP ContiUKiss. Since their debut, the group has released three full-length albums, seven extended plays and various singles. The group also participated in various TV reality shows and films.

UKISS had member leaving, and Kiseop joining, now finally settling as 6 members boy band group. They have members who can speak English well such as Eli, Kevin and AJ. Main vocals are Soohyun, Hoon and Kevin. They are good singers, dancers and rappers in group and have great song but they have yet to win (as of Jan 2014) any awards. I personally think they are one of the under-rated Kpop group. If you do not believe me, check out few of their song Music Video and Dance Practice and you will know what I am talking about, they deserve much more recognition for their talent.

UKISS: Stop Girl MV

UKISS: She’s Mine Dance Practice

UKISS: Neverland MV

WonderBoyz:

wonderboyz2Wonder Boyz  is a Korean pop/Hip-Hop 4-member boy group that debuted in 2012 under ent102. Members are, Bak Chi Gi (Leader), Young Boy, K and Master One.  Very little is known about them about internet source but I already like their a few songs they have released and they are good, talented singers and dancers. I think they are another under-rated K-Pop boy band who needs more exposure so people can see how good they really are. See for your self in music video below.

 

WonderBoyz: Open the Door MV

Wonderboyz: Tarzan Dance Version

So, what do you think of UKISS and WonderBoyz Group now? Do you think there are other Kpop group which are under-rated who deserve much more media exposures and love?

Kpop Group TVXQ/DBSK and JYJ

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DBSK when they were together as five: (Image source: Wikipedia)

TVXQ or DBSK is a South Korean pop group formed in 2003 under S.M. Entertainment. In Japan, they are officially known as Tohoshinki, and are one of the very few K-pop acts seen exclusively as J-pop artists. TVXQ are also sometimes referred to as DBSK, an initialization of their Korean name Dong Bang Shin Ki. Their name translates to “Rising Gods of the East”.

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The group debuted in 2003 as a five-member boy band consisting of leader U-Know Yunho, Max Changmin, Hero Jaejoong, Micky Yoochun, and Xiah Junsu.

In July 2009, the latter three filed for an injunction against their Korean agency S.M. Entertainment, which led TVXQ to cease all public activities and appearances after 2009. Two years and three months later, TVXQ returned with remaining members Yunho and Changmin, and the duo released TVXQ’s fifth Korean album Keep Your Head Down in January 2011, topping albums charts in most major Asian markets upon release. Remaining 3 people Jaejoong, Junsu and Yoochun have formed band JYJ.

According to Wikipedia, TVXQ are one of Asia’s most successful music acts and are often referred to as “Asia’s Stars” and “Kings of K-pop” for their immense success and contributions to Korean pop. According to South Korea’s Gaon and Japan’s Oricon, TVXQ are one of the best-selling K-pop groups in the world, having sold over 12 million records in Korea and Japan since their debut.

They have two official fan clubs in Korea and Japan, known respectively as Cassiopeia and BigEast. According to news sources in 2008, Cassiopeia was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as “the world’s largest fanclub” with more than 800,000 members. I still listen and watch TVXQ2’s song and video, but I like them best when they all five of them together, they had of of friendship and chemistry together, it was hard to many fans and many still hope that one day they will get back together.

TVXQ Before 2009

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DBSK 5: Image source – Soul Beats

NOW in 2013:

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DBSK2 Source: Sharing Yoochun               JYJ Image source: Everlast East
Now the group has broken in to two DBSK (same name) and  JYJ. JYJ (formerly known as Junsu/Jejung/Yuchun in Japan) is a three-member Korean pop group, formed by the former members of South Korean group TVXQ: Jaejoong, Yoochun and Junsu. Their group name is taken from the first letters of each member’s names.
Their debut Japanese EP The reached No.1 on the Japanese Oricon albums chart. The band’s global debut album, The Beginning, was released in October 2010. JYJ’s second studio album and first Korean full-length album In Heaven was released on September 28, 2011. As of 2013, the members are continuing to pursue solo activities.

The group has caught the attention of various newspapers and media networks around the world, and became the first K-Pop group to perform in Chile, as the group continues to attract fans from many parts of the world.

Regardless, I still love DBSK old, new and JYJ both group and will support them just many of other fans. Here are some songs from DBSK5, DBSK2 and JYJ, they are talented in dancing, singing and amazing.

DBSK: Rising Sun MV

DBSK 2: Catch Me If You Can

JYJ: Only One MV

Top Korean Movies To Watch

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200 Lbs. Beauty: South Korean Movie Poster

I started watching Korean Movies before I became Korean Drama addict. I like Romantic and comedy movies of South Korea. South Korean Movie makers makes also great horror movies and psychological movies. There are many south Korean Movies have been re-made in to Hollywood such as My sassy Girl and Oldboy, confirming the power of South Korean Cinema.

Here are some of the South Korean Movies that I think makes a great viewing. Watching with subtitles has became a second nature to me, until I learn and understand enough Korean language to make it without someday.

100 days with Mr. arrogant:

Guy who bullys a girl in a slave contract and falls for her. After being dumped by her boyfriend just before their 100 day anniversary, Ha-Yeong (Ha Ji-Won) meets a college guy named Hyung-Jun (Kim Jaewon) when she kicks a can that accidentally hits him in the face and causes him to scratch his Lexus. He demands she pay him $3000 on the spot or be his slave for 100 days.

200 lbs Beauty:

Fat girl goes through cosmetic surgery to feel beautiful and find love. This is 2006 South Korean comedy film based on a Japanese manga, Kanna-san, Daiseikou Desu  by Suzuki Yumiko. The story is about an overweight girl who undergoes extreme plastic surgeries to become a pop sensation. The film was a financial success, and critically well received.

Daisy:

Under-rated love story about artist and cop and hit man who are in love with her. Daisy is an urban romantic melodrama involving young painter Hye-young (Jun Ji-hyun), Interpol detective Jeong Woo (Lee Sung-jae), and professional hitman Park Yi (Jung Woo-sung).

Always/ Only You:

Beautiful love story about reformed boxer and blind girl. Love overcomes it all. This South Korean film directed by Song Il-gon. Starring So Ji-sub and Han Hyo-joo in the lead roles, it is about a romance between an ex-boxer who has closed his heart to the world and a telemarketer who remains spirited despite slowly going blind. With online tickets selling out a 2,000-seat outdoor movie theater in a record seven seconds.

Nineteen:

Story of 3 teens who are all 19, gets entangled in a murder case. Three nineteen-year olds, two boys and a girl, are accused of murder and forced to run away. Everyone, including their parents, believes they are guilty, but the experience makes their bonds strengthen as they attempt to find the real killer and prove their innocence.

A Millionaire’s First Love:

Sad love story with hope and finding what is important, money or love? Jae-Kyung (Hyun-Bin ) is a rich grandson and tough guy,  his family lawyer informs Jae-Kyung about the will from his grandfather that he can only become a millionaire after he graduates from Boram High School,a countryside local school.  In his class, he meets Eun-Hwan (Lee Yeon-Hee)a pretty girl. She’s some kind of different from others. Things change Jae-Kyung’s mind and became close to their new friends. Sad ending but still beautiful.

My Sassy Girl:

In this modern classic romantic comedy, a chance meeting with a drunk girl on the train puts Gyun-woo in a masochistic relationship he never wanted. But despite her bullying ways he finds himself falling in love. It tells the story of a man’s chance meeting with a drunk girl on the train which changes his life. It is ostensibly based on a true story posted on the internet in a series of blog posts written by Kim Ho-sik, which was later adapted into a novel. The film was extremely successful in South Korea and was the highest grossing Korean comedy of all time.

Almost Love:

Childhood friends realize that they love each other despite the tragedy hits. Ji-hwan is a taekwondo student with a part-time job as a stunt man, who dreams of becoming Korea’s answer to Jackie Chan. Dal-rae is a drama student and aspiring actress, but tends to fail auditions because of her timid personality. The two are old friends who have grown up together, but their relationship becomes complicated when they each start dating other people.

Baby And I :

Jang Geun-suk plays teen who find a baby on his doorstep that is not his, but takes care of the baby. Baby and I is the story of a high school student (Han Joon Su) who is a troublemaker. He takes care of abadoned baby in his shopping cart and reforms as he takes responsibility for a baby.

Cyrano Agency:

Agency that makes people fall in love, but can it really work? As the title suggests, it is a modern take on Edmond Rostand’s 1897 play Cyrano de Bergerac, and the plot focuses on a dating agency that helps its customers win the hearts of the people they desire.

The Man From Nowhere:

Tae-shik, an ex-special agent, who lives in solitude, befriends So-mi, the young girl next door. When So-mi disappears, Tae-shik is drawn into a frantic search for their whereabouts. The film follows the story of a vengeful man who embarks on a murderous rampage when the only person who seems to understand him is taken from him

Dating On Earth:

Not easy to find, in this DBSK group movie where high school student is married to a teacher. It talks about married and school life of couple, student Park Yoochun and So Hyon Jin, class advisor. Jaejoong plays troubled transferred student and rest of 3 members played Yoochun’s classmate during thier DBSK5 time.

War of the Arrows (2011):

Set in 1636, the Manchurians kidnap childhood sweethearts, Ja-in and Seo-Goon on their wedding day. In an effort to save his sister, Ja-in and brother Nam-Yi sets out to defeat the enemy and save his sister and other Korean victims with only 1 bow.

Masquerade:

Political intrigue, betrayal, peril and forbidden romance play out in this lavish, critically acclaimed, historical epic set in the royal palace of Korea’s ancient Joseon Dynasty story of King and his body-double.

The Righteous Thief:

Fun movie! Mu-hyeok Hong is the 18th generation descendant of Hong Kil-dong (famous Robin Hood like character). By day, he works as a high school music teacher, but by night becomes a Hong Kil-dong like thief.

My Girlfriend Is An Agent:

A huge box office hit in Korea, this action-packed romantic comedy pits two former lovers now both working a secret mission to infiltrate the Russian mob.

Seducing Mr. Perfect:

Min-jun is yet again pondering over a recent break-up when she gets into a fender bender with a man named Robin Heiden, who turns out to be her new hotshot boss from the US.

Oldboy:

Pyschological thriller, after a drunken night on the town, Oh Dae-su wakes up in the morning to discover he has been locked up, without explanation, in a mysterious prison for the next 15 years.

The Thieves:

A stylish mix of light romance and dark crime caper, with nothing going on as planned. It was the one of the best crime heist film I have seen that will leave you guessing until the end.

There are many great south Korean Movies that are great to watch.

What South Korean Movies have you seen and liked?

Dating On Earth: Park Yoochun’s Early Movie

doe1Dating on Earth: Image Source

This is an early Banjun Theater production featuring all 5 DBSK members when they were all part of SM entertainment. I am not sure which years this movie production came in as finding much information about it is not easy, nor finding a copy of this movie is easy. I believe, Dating On Earth must came in 2005 or 2006 or later but surely before 2009.

Why I am writing about it if it is hard to find? Because, it is wonderful to movie production that we get to see all 5 members of DBSK together, after the kpop Idol DBSK broke up in 2009. Even though it is early production, Park Yoochun shows promise of acting style which is clearly more evident in Roof Top Prince, Missing You and other dramas that has starred in.  It may not have mainstream apeal and hard to find in netflix and drama streaming site, I got to watch through youtube once and it is my one of treasured movie that I like to watch once in awhile still.






Park Yoochun In Dating on Earth: So Young and Cute: Image source: DBSKnights

This movie story about Park Yoochun who is 2 year behind, so still in 3rd year of high school. He is already married at young age to So Hyon Jin and they seemed to be happily married. Yoochun has tried to save a junior (Max Changmin) from bad guys before so he had to go to prison for 2 years, that is why he is behind and still in high school. There are not many school who would take him.

Park Yoochun seemed to be popular in his school and class liked by both girls and guys. Jung Yunho plays smart and quite class president. Xiah Junsu and Max Changmin plays Yoochun’s friends and classmates. Kim Jaejoong plays transfer students with troubled past.

 

doe6Dating on earth: Couple’s Outfit: Source Youtube Freeze frame

Yoochun’s wife comes one day to school to work as Home room teacher to Yoochun’s class. He is surely not happy about it, but they keep their relation of marriage secret from school for time being. That causes some issues when Jaejoong’s character gets smitten by So Hyun’s care as he is orphaned and hardly showed love and care from anyone.  That create love triangle and rift between Yoochun and Jaejoong.

doe39Yoochun and Jaejoong: Love Rival

doe7Yoochun Finds Out His Wife is now his teacher

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Trouble in Marriage: Korean Hand Pulling

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Caring Teacher to Jaejoong

doe45Deep Thinking: source for all above image: Image source

There is also side track story of bad guys trying to recruit Jaejoon and So Hyun’s trying to save him. At the end, who class get together against bad guys and everything ends well between friends and married couple.

I like this movie very much, although it is hard to find, you can find it occasionally on you tube. Here is a current version on You Tube, so you can watch it for free and it has English subtitles too.

Watch Dating On Earth on You Tube for Free: Dating on You Tube

Things I Learned From Korean Drama

Until I started watching Korean Drama and became an addicted, I did not know many things about love and life as kdrama puts it. Here is wisdom and knowledge learned from watching Korean drama.

Asperusual.comic.com Via Rebloggy

Things I learned from Watching Korean Drama:

1. Love Square:

Korean Drama love triangle but Love Square, where 2 guys will be loving one girl and another girl would be loving one of the male lead. 85% Korean drama have “love square” that does not end well for 2 people.

2. Main Male Lead:

Main male lead would almost always good looking, super duper rich and jerk. He would be rude, jerk that will torment the main female lead and would be more good looking then girl almost always. He will have a mother issues, such as mother who left him or overbearing and evil mom such as one in the “Boys Over Flowers”. In end, you will forgive him for being jerk as he turns out he is “lonely” and needs love.

3. Second Male Lead:

Second male lead would be next best looking, and maybe rich too. However he will be most understanding and sympathetic guy who keeps on protecting the main female lead. However, main female lead almost never will return the kindness and friendship from him, and he will be “friend-zoned”. Second male lead occasionally can be jerk like drama “The Heir”.

4. Main Female Lead:

Main female lead, almost always will be dirt poor, have loan shark behind her family. She can start out as a feisty and independent girl, but she may end up crying and getting hurt by jerk Main lead in early episodes. She can eat a lot generally and still be thin. Even though, she is from poor family, she may have latest phone, shoes.

5. Second Female Lead:

Second female lead generally would be Main female lead’s ex. best friend turned evil, or sister who has turned evil like in “Roof Top Prince” and “Master’s Sun”. Very rarely, second lead would be nicer person that you feel for and do not hate her for example in “Marry him if you dare”, second lead was nice and I did not hate her.

6. Love at First Fight:

Korean drama love always starts with fighting, or mis-understanding between male lead and female lead, which eventually turns in to love slowly and jerk male lead becomes bit nicer.

7. Love means Being Mean:

In Kdrama world, the more mean the guy is to girl, is secretly means he loves her more, I would have never guessed this logic until watching Korean drama.

8. Parents, and Relatives:

The richer the parents, means they will try to control their kid’s education and love life so much that they will sometimes hurt female lead and her family. Girl’s parents are generally poor, eccentric, almost ignoring kids by working long hours daily but show love towards each other. Relatives can be supportive or evil if parents are dead.

9. Back hugs:

Back hugs are very popular and I did not know you can back hug until I started watching Kdrama. They seem so romantic that I asked my husband to give me one but without OST music in background and him being less rich and much less jerk did not have same effect.

10. Piggy Back Rides:

Piggy back rides are almost preferred way of transportation compared to taxi or car. Often times, girl would be living in a house on top of a hill, where a guy would have to walk up to thousand steps stairs while holding drunk female lead and her shoes and handbag also in hand. One thing is for sure, Korean guys must have lot of endurance to do it.

11. Arm Pull:

When male lead is asking female lead to “don’t go”, he usually does arm pull scene and gives her hug. I always thought that arm pulls are in-considerate if any guy did that me however, it Korean drama it shows, love and desperation for lead to make girl stay so it could be considered romantic in Kdrama land.

12. Kindergarten Level Kisses or No Kiss:

When I first saw Korean drama, I was used to Hollywood way of kissing, so I was shocked to see lips barely touching and both girl and guy closing their eyes as they went for kiss in slow motion. Now as a veteran to Korean Drama, I am used to lip touching or no kiss scenes between leading pairs like in “49 days” drama. Now I get shocked when I see some tongue action instead in Korean drama and I find Hollywood kissing too much.

13. Drinking and Karaoke:

Almost every Korean drama has a several drinking scenes, including singing Karaoke songs. Female lead getting drunk and throwing up on Jerk male lead is also very popular. After that guy has to piggy back girl to her house by walking.

14. Obstacles In Love:

Main male lead and female lead usually go through many obstacles before finding a bliss in love. First has to be guy being jerk, then parent’s interference and sometimes second evil female lead tries to break lovers apart. Social status of rich guy and dirt poor girl is not enough, there will be other Obstacles such as falling in coma, amnesia or in some occasion lovers turning about to faux sibling such as in “Winter Sonata”.

15. Korean Guys are Gender Blind:

Korean drama loves stories where girl disguises herself as a boy and joins all boys school or group and almost always male leads falls head over heels over this “Faux Boy” and starts to question his sexuality. Everyone can but male lead will not find out that “Faux boy” is really a girl until much much later such as in “Sungkyungan Scandal”.

What did you learn as you watch Korean Drama?

Bollywood Movies For Beginners

There are lot of people who watch Bollywood movies and dramas. I was surprised to find a few non-indian people can even sing a song of Bollywood movies. Bollywood gets his name from Hollywood and movies are made in Bombay (now called Mumbai).  So Bombay + Hollywood makes kind of bollywood, at least that is what I think how name came about. If anyone knows, do let me know. Indian bollywood movies are fun, the outfits are colorful and bright. Girls look pretty and guys are rugged and handsome. There is a song and dance every 15 minutes or so in a movie and it feels like it is part of movie like old hollywood musicals. If you ever want to see the craze for bollywood movies and check out movies, here are some movies that I think are perfect for new beginners to bollywood scenes.

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai DVD Cover.jpg

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai:

The story is about 2 girls and 1 boy in college. One of the girl is a tomboy and in love with a guy name Rahul for a long time. They are best friends as well. Until one pretty girl comes in the college, who is not only beautiful but also has a good heart. a boy falls for Tina the pretty girl.  Anjali, the tomboy girl, leaves broken hearted to another city as wishes the pair well. Then story skips after 8 years, when Anjali is no longer a tomboy and has became beautiful but still harbor love from the past and unable to forget Rahul. She is about to get married to great guy whom she likes as a person but not in love with him. Meanwhile, Tina has died and she has 8 years old girl, Rahul is widower now. Tina has written a letter for her daughter when she turns 8 to read, as she feels bad about coming between Anjali and Rahul in college, so she ask her daughter and mother’s in law to help reunite Rahul and Anjali, can this happen? Do they have a chance at love second time around. Watch this very entertaining story of love, chances and dancing in this very popular and box office hit, Kuch Kuch Hota hai, which stars ever famous ShahRukh Khan, Rani Mukharji and Kajol.

 Click here to get: Kuch Kuch Hota Hai Bollywood Movie

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Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai

I simply love this movie and Hritik Roshan who debuted with this movie and plays a double role of one rich and one poor guy who are not related by blood, but just happened to look alike. Rohit is an aspiring singer who meets Sonia. Their attraction turns to love when their cruise ship abandons them on a deserted island. Upon return to civilization, Rohit meets with an accident and is killed. A grief-stricken Sonia is sent to New Zealand to her cousin to recover. When she reached there she meets Raj, who looks exactly like Rohit. Raj accompanies Sonia back to India, and at the airport, he is shot at. That s when they realize that Rohit s death was not an accident… I have also written a review about this movie as it is my favorite movie and I watch it a few times in a year. Read the review here: Kaho Na Pyar Hai, Bollywood Movie Review.

Click here for: Kaho Na Pyar Hai Bollywood Movie

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Om Shanti Om:

In this revenge and re-incarnation story that take place around movie industry. Shahruk plyas Omprakash Makhija is a junior artiste in the film industry. He yearns to be a top star like Shantipriya whom he admires and also loves. One day, Omprakash saves Shantipriya s life while shooting for a film. Shantipriya feels obliged towards him. Top film producer Mukesh Mehra is married to Shantipriya but he is not prepared to go public with the marriage. When she tells him that she is carrying his child, he locks her in a studio and sets it on fire. Omprakash is in the studio compound and all his efforts to save Shantipriya are futile. He dies thereafter. Shantipriya also breathes her last in the fire. On the same day on which Omprakash expires in hospital, a top star s wife delivers a baby boy in the maternity ward of the same hospital. The baby boy, Om Kapoor, grows up to become a top star. As time passes, Om Kapoor gets visions of his past life till it is clear that he is Omprakash Makhija reborn. Thirty years after Omprakash and Shantipriya s deaths, producer Mukesh now called Mike because of his base having shifted to Hollywood resurfaces. Om now seeks revenge on Mike by planning a film with him.

Click here for: Om Shanti Om Bollywood DVD With English Subtitles

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3 Idiots:

3 Idiots is loosely adapted from the novel Five Point Someone by Chetan Bhagat. The film stars Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, R. Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Omi Vaidya, Parikshit Sahni and Boman Irani. 3 Idiots went on to become the highest-grossing Bollywood film. The story is about 3 friends in elite and hard to get in University and pressure they feel, friendship, love and learning from sake of knowledge is all blended well together. It made me cry in happiness.

Farhan Qureshi and Raju Rastogi want to re-unite with their fellow collegian, Rancho, after faking a stroke aboard an Air India plane, and excusing himself from his wife – trouser less – respectively. Enroute, they encounter another student, Chatur Ramalingam, now a successful businessman, who reminds them of a bet they had undertaken 10 years ago. The trio, while recollecting hilarious antics, including their run-ins with the Dean of Delhi’s Imperial College of Engineering, Viru Sahastrabudhe, race to locate Rancho, at his last known address – little knowing the secret that was kept from them all this time.

 Click here to watch 3 Idiots Instantly

Click here to get 3 Idiots with English Subtitles.

 

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Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham

This multi stars movie is about a loving family who gets separated due to a misunderstanding and how younger brothers grows up and vows to bring back separated older brothers and parents together. The movie title means “Sometimes happiness, sometimes sadness”. Although often times movie tend to focus on sadness, there are plenty of laughter, dance and song sequences and love stories amid all chaos.

Yashovardhan Raichand (Amitabh Bachchan) and his wife Nandini (Jaya Bachchan) have raised their sons, Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) and Rohan (Hrithik Roshan) showering them with love and affection. Yash has tried to pass on to his sons the values, heritage and traditions of their family. Nandini has different dreams for her sons. Dreams of love that she wanted both her sons to experience, more so Rahul as she shares a special bond with him. A bond that has been cultivated with love for a child that was never meant to be… a child who was adopted.

Rahul marries Anjali and brings her home but his father doesn’t approve of her. Rahul thus decides to leave home causing his mother’s every waking moment to be spent eagerly awaiting his return. Seeing this the younger son Rohan makes a promise to reunite the family and bring back the happiness they once shared.

Click here to get: Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham With English Subtitles

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Dhoom:

This movie and Dhoom Series franchise is not about award winning story or performance, however it is 100% fun and entertaining films that is keeps you edges of your seat until the end. This movie is thriler which has shades of Hollywood movies such as Fast and Furious and Ocean’s eleven, but still different.

Yashraj. Jai (Abhishek Bachchan), a smart assistant police commissioner has a tough time finding a clue to the theft committed by four helmeted men on bikes. They do it so deftly that nobody gets a clue. The only evidence is the super speed hi tech bikes they use for the heist. Jai’s investigation follow the bikes and he meets Ali ( Uday Chopra )an exceptional racer who works as a garage mechanic cum bike dealer. He is an easy going character and his weaknesses other than his bike are women and money.Although they are just the opposites and don’t get along well, Jai and a reluctant Ali form a team to book the culprits.

Meanwhile the gang of bikers lead by Kabir (John Abraham) carry on with their heists at night and work as pizza boys in daylight. Once they almost get caught by Jai but escapes leaving just a bike behind. Kabir informs Jai of their next venture and throws a challenge to either catch him or leave him alone. Even with all the planning the cops fail and the robbers goes scot-free. Jai feels dejected and wants to quit his job. Kabir plans his final robbery at a casino in Goa. Jai and Ali are ready for him. Will they succeed?

Click here to get : Dhoom With English Subtitles (under $10)

 

Krrish.jpgKrrish

This is India’s first true super hero kind of movie and sequel to Koi Mil Gaya. As a young boy Krishna played by Bollywood Hunk Hritik Roshan, was born with super intelligence and power that came from his father and an Alien called Jadoo (Magic) from the previous movie. His parents are supposedly dead and he is raised by his grand mother in remote village, as she does not want scientist and people to use and experiment on his super ability, so she lives in small remote village with him and asks to never reveal his talents to anyone.

As Krishna grows up to be in peace and sheltered environment from the world, he meets a girl who is visiting small town with her friends and falls in love with her. She is a reporter and promises to come back but when she does not, Krishna goes to a city to look for her. Does she really love him or want to use him? Will Krishna be able to help people, hide his true identity and win love? You will have to see this amazing Bollywood movie to decide for yourself.

Click here to see : Krrish with English Subtitles

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Kal Ho Naa Ho

Kal Ho Naa Ho takes place in Manhattan, New York, and is the story of three people, Aman, Rohit (Saif Ali Khan), and Naina (Preity Zinta). The plot is fairly simple. We have a love triangle with a twist. Boy loves girl, girl loves another boy, other boy loves girl. The twist comes when everyone finds out that Aman has a secret. He knows this and pushes Naina away from him and towards her long time friend who has fallen in love with her. It has nice catchy music beat and songs.

Naina lives in bickering, semi-Christian and Punjabi family, has handicapped brother and younger sister and widowed mother and is depressed in life but still tries to live and make best from it all. One day Aman who relocates in her neighborhood and makes her realize how beautiful she really is and brings love in from of Rohit. Rohit likes Naina but is unable to confess his love to her. Aman helps them both and shows them how to live, only to see he has dark and painful secret of his own that he is hiding.

Click here to see Kal Ho Naa Ho with English subtitles

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Ladies vs Ricky Bahl

This is entertaining movie about a con man Ricky Bahl, who frauds girls very intelligently and dumps them. 3 dumped girls get together to get revenge on him by hiring con-woman of their own. Ladies vs Ricky Bahl, as the title suggests, is primarily a tussle between a charismatic con man Ricky Bahl (Ranveer Singh) and three lovely ladies- Dimple (Parineeti), Raina (Dipannita) and Saira (Aditi). The war begins when Ricky (in disguise of fictitious names) cheats on the ladies by disappearing with their money.

Raina being the smartest of all, along with Dimple and Saira, plans to take revenge from Ricky, with a help of small-time sales-woman who works in a mall- Ishika Desai (Anushka Sharma). They are on the verge of winning the battle, when Ishika falls in love with Ricky, who too claims to be all hers. Now, will Ishika remain loyal to the ladies and con Ricky or will she get carried away in love is what follows next in the story.

Click here to get Ladies vs Ricky Bahl With English Subtitles (Under $10)

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Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

This is unlikely love story between a shy guy and energetic and extrovert girl. When they get married in family emergency situation, he is in love but she is not.

Shy, introverted, and kind-hearted Surinder Sahni is an office worker for Punjab Power. He quietly falls in love with the daughter of his former professor, beautiful and vivacious Tania Gupta, whom he first sees during the preparations for her wedding. Upon their first meeting however, Taani jokingly berates and blames him for setting an impossible set of standards that she was never able to meet as a child. A short while later, Taani’s father suffers a heart attack when the entire wedding party learns that her fiance and his family were killed in a traffic accident. Fearing that Taani will be alone in the world, the professor asks Suri to marry her. Suri concedes; Taani tearfully agrees only to please her father. However, Taani tells him that while she will try to be a good wife, she can never love him due to having no love left within her. Suri still continues to indulge her every desire that includes him becoming a extrovert alter ego Raj for dancing class, just the way Taani would like. Will she choose Raj or Suri at the end?

Click here to get Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi With English Subtitles

Indian bollywood movies are fun to watch, has plenty of funny scenes, colorful outfits, song and dance routines and of course love, revenge, suspense story that is entertaining to watch for even non-indians and Indians alike.

Click here to check out more Great Indian Bollywood Movies

Top Korean Dramas Based In High School

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The Heir: Highschool Korean Drama
Korean Drama are pretty cool, coming from Kdrama addict. Many of Korean Dramas are based in high school and have high school romance, triumph and trials period. At first I did not think high school drama would appeal to me, as I have passed high school decade ago and moved on. However, somehow I like high school age teen romance drama from Korea.

Top Korean Dramas in High School:

Korean TV networks and viewers does not seem to get tired of High school dramas, as there are plenty of Korean Dramas that takes place in high schools. How else can Lee Min Ho can play a high school kid in “Boys Over Flowers” in 2009 and again as 18 years high school boy in “The Heirs”? I totally buy it, he can pull it off, sort of. Don’t you think?

If you were in Kdrama High school, who would you meet? Here are some notable Korean Dramas where main characters played High School Students and some case University.

Boys Over Flowers:

Majority of the story takes place in Shinhwa Elite High School. Goo Jun-pyo is the leader of F4 and heir to Shinhwa Group, one of the most powerful business groups in South Korea. As leader of the most popular and powerful clique in Shinhwa High, he torments Geum Jan-di after she stands up to his bullying ways, but ends up falling for her instead.

Sang Doo Let’s Go To School:

Cha Sang-doo (Rain) and Chae Eun-hwan (Gong Hyo-jin) grew up as best of friends, who secretly have crushes on each other. Circumstances separates love birds and send Sang Doo to Prison. Whenhe comes across his long-lost first love, Eun-hwan, who is now a high school math teacher in his city. In an effort to regain her love, he returns to high school, first as a security guard and then as a student in her class .

Playful Kiss:

Oh Ha-ni is a not so bright girl and is the bottom of her class. She has a crush on Baek Seung-jo, the smartest and handsomest boy in the whole school. One day, Ha-ni decided to write a love letter for Seung-jo but Seung-jo rejected her through correcting the grammars of her letter. Fate happens when an earthquake strikes Ha-ni’s new buit home and they are invited to his father’s friend house, who turns out to be Seung-jo’s house.

Dream High (Season 1):

Six students at Kirin High School have the dream of becoming K-pop idols. During their school years, they learn how to develop their singing, songwriting and dancing skills while undergoing personal growth. They also go through their love life and start to develop feelings for each other.

Dream High (Season 2):

Like its predecessor Dream High, it follows a group of students at the Kirin High School of Art stars who pursue their dream of becoming K-pop stars. However, it has a slightly different plot with a completely new group of students.

School 2013:

The teen drama depicts the struggles and dilemmas that modern-day Korean youth face, such as bullying, student suicides, school violence, deteriorating teacher-student relations, private tutoring and other real-life high school issues, all within the confines of one small classroom at Seung Ri High School.

To Beautiful You:

The series centers on Goo Joo Hee (Choi Seol Ri), a Korean girl becomes attracted to one of the high jump competitors, Kang Tae Joon (Choi Min Ho). Tae Joon suffers an accident that could potentially end his career. However, Tae Joon attends an all-boys high school and Jae Hee must disguise herself as a boy to enter to help her idol

Shut Up Flower Boy Band:

When their delinquent-ridden school is forced to close down, A few students debate whether it’s even worth returning to high school at all. However, due to an outside confrontation with their new school’s current ruling band, Strawberry Fields, Eye Candy decides to attend Jungsang High out of spite so they can rule the school once again

Reply 1997:

This series that centers on the lives of six friends in Busan, as the timeline moves back and forth between their past as 18-year-old high schoolers in 1997 and their present as 33-year-olds at their high school reunion dinner in 2012, where one couple will announce that they’re getting married

God Of Study:

Based on the Japanese comic series Dragon Zakura, it is about a determined lawyer who takes up a teaching position at a failing high school. To save the school from the ax, he comes up with the unconventional plan of starting a special class curriculum devoted to getting the school’s five worst students into the country’s top university

I Am Sam:

The story focuses on the conflicts between the young teachers and the problems that high school students have. Jang Yi San (Yang Dong-Kun) is a timid and incompetent homeroom teacher who has to teach the only daughter of a highly dangerous mob leader, Jae-kon Yu (Park Jun Gyu).

Hello, My Teacher:

After overcoming numerous hardships and getting her GED, Na Bo-ri rejects job offers from other high schools and works on becoming a substitute teacher at her old high school so she can work side by side with her longtime high school crush, the art teacher Ji Hyun-woo (Kim Da-hyun).

Love Rain:

Story starts its first generation story in college. It’s love at first sight when Seo In-ha (Jang Geun-suk) and Kim Yoon-hee (Im Yoona) meet as shy university students in the seventies. Their love did not get happy ending, will their kids will get theirs?

Goong / Princess Hours:

Yoon Eun Hye plays poor, normal girl who by chance get to get married to royal prince in modern era. Prince is love with some other girl and prince’s cousin who also attends same high school as prince and girl falls in love with her to complicate matters further.

Heart Strings:

Set at an art university, the youth romance drama “Festival” depicts the sweat and tears of students who run towards their dreams of love and friendship. It includes modern as well tradition Korean music.

Tree Of Heaven:

Bright and optimistic Japanese teenager Hana (Park Shin-hye) lives at a small hot springs inn owned by her mother. When her mother decides to marry a Korean man, she tries her best to reach out to her odd, introverted stepbrother-to-be Yoon Seo (Lee Wan) more than one way. Story takes place in high school and continues after graduation.

White Christmas:

Deep in the mountains of Gangwon, the private, elite Soo-sin High School is attended by the top 1% of students in the country. Their stellar marks are the result of constant pressure and a strict punishment system, to the point where students avoid any activities outside of studying. It is in this atmosphere that seven students and a teacher remain at school for the winter break, joined by Kim Yo-han, a psychiatrist who was forced to take shelter with them from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day.

Jungle Fish:

A drama about school life that sheds light on the serious issue of cheating and falsifying grades, as well as the stress of entrance exams at ruthlessly competitive South Korean high schools.

Winter Sonata:

Story starts off as high school sweet and innocent romance between main leads and supportive characters. Story moves 10 years later to what happens in their lives.

The Heirs:

The Heirs also takes place in elite high school and stars Lee Min Ho and Park Shin Hye. But unlike Lee Min Ho character from Boys Over Flowers, here Lee Min Ho’s Character Kim Tan is more mature and level headed person,.

Reply 1994:

Set in 1994, six university students from various provincial areas (Jeolla Province, Chungcheong Province, and Gyeongsang Province) live together at a boarding house in Sinchon, Seoul, which is run by a couple with a daughter named Na-jung. The timeline moves back and forth between the past in 1994 and the present in 2013.

Top Japanese Dramas To Watch

Japanese television drama  also called dorama, are a staple of Japanese television and are broadcast daily. All major TV networks in Japan produce a variety of drama series including romance, comedy, detective stories, horror, and many others. Japanese drama series are broadcast in three-month seasons, with new dramas airing each season.

Japan has four television seasons: Winter (January–March), Spring (April–June), Summer (July–September), and Autumn or Fall (October–December). Some series may start in another month though it may still be counted as a series of a specific season. One characteristic of Japanese drama that differentiates it is that each episode is usually shot only a few (two to three) weeks before it is actually aired. Many fans have been able to visit their idols shooting scenes even as the show is still airing.

My love of Japanese drama started slowly,  from a few Korean drama and Taiwanese dramas based on Japanese Manga and based on other drama lover’s recommendations. Many of the Japanese drama are based on Manga and high school based where teacher is trying to make difference to life of students. Some of the Japanese drama are down right funny.

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Zenkai Girl:

Devoted to becoming an international lawyer, Ayukawa Wakaba is full of ambition. Her hard work pays off when she lands a job at an international law firm, but to her disappointment, the first prestigious assignment that is given to her is to babysit the boss’ 5 year old daughter, Hinata. Wakaba loathes kids and nursing, but unwillingly takes on the job as she is fixated on wealth and success.

One day when she goes to a preschool to pick up Hinata, she meets a man named Yamada Sota. Sota is a man without higher education, wealth, or a future goal, someone that Wakaba absolutely cannot stand, the complete opposite of her ideals. Once again, contrary to her will, she ends up looking after Hinata and a few other kids along with Sota. Despite being exhausted from all the first-time experiences in child care, Wakaba begins to realize what is truly important to her. A heart-warming comedy about work, relationships and love.

Click here to get and see Zenkai Girl with English subtitle

 

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Zettai Kareshi (Absolute Boyfriend):

Riiko is a girl unlucky in love. One day a strange-looking salesman gives her a business card for a website that sells “love figures” (androids designed for love-making). On the spur of the moment and without really understanding the implications, Riiko orders one for a 3-day free trial.

She forgets to return him before the deadline, and must then work out some way to return the one million debt she now owes without anyone discovering about this embarrassing secret. Meanwhile, robot boy also develops real feeling of love for Rikko. Love between a Robot and human can be possible? Watch it in Japanese Manga, which will make you root for Robot!

Click here to get Absolute Boyfriend with English Subtitles

 

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Hana Yori Dango

This is a 2005 Japanese TV series based on manga Hana Yori Dango was serialized in Shueisha’s bi-weekly Margaret magazine from October 1992 to September 2003. This manga has been remade in Korean (Boys Over Flowers), Taiwan ( Meteor Garden and Meteor Garden II) , Japan (Hana Yori Dango Retruns 2007) and bad US version ( Boys before Friends). Story is about Makino Tsukushi who is a tough, hard-working, middle-class student at the prestigious escalator school Eitoku Gakuen. The elite school is ruled by the F4 or Flower Four, composed of playboys Nishikado Soujiro and Mimasaka Akira, introverted Hanazawa Rui and violent and bratty Domyouji Tsukasa. The F4, sons of Japan’s wealthiest and most powerful tycoons, bully fellow students out of boredom or malevolence until they are expelled or quit. The courtship between Tsukasa and Tsukushi is the main theme throughout the series. Various challenges threaten their blossoming relationship including Tsukushi’s wavering feelings for Rui, the envy of fellow Eitoku students, an obsessed childhood classmate, their differences in social class, Tsukasa’s brash and possessive nature, and the animosity of Domyouji Kaede, Tsukasa’s mother.

Click here to learn more about Hana Yori Dango

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Majo no Jōken:

This drama aired in 1999. It revolves around Michi, a 26 years old high school teacher and 17 years old Hikaru and their love.  As their relationship grows they realize that they both feel that they have lost themselves to the pressures of those around them, and it is this common bond that draws them dangerously close. What follows is a heart-wrenching story of forbidden love where Michi must face society’s judgement for corrupting a minor, abandoning her fiance, and disappointing her parents and co-workers. It was an interesting and forbidden love theme for 1999 time.

Click here for more information on Majo no Jōken

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Orange Days:

This 2004 Japanese drama just popped up in search when I was watching another Japanese drama in youtube. When I searched the plot line, it looked interesting so I watched it. Yuuki Kai (Tsumabuki) is a senior at a university studying social welfare psychology and trying to find a job. One day, he encounters a girl, Hagio Sae (Shibasaki), playing the violin, and becomes intrigued. He eventually discovers that she has lost her hearing, and can now only communicate using Japanese Sign Language. Before they reveal what they think about each other, Sae and Kai must overcome a lot of barriers. They both become stronger along the way, finding their goals.

Click here to find out more about Orange Days

 

Proposal Daisakusen (Operation: Love)

Ken Iwase is at his friend, Rei Yoshida’s, marriage ceremony. However, he still loves her and regrets not having confessed his feelings towards her. A fairy helps him and  lets him travel back in time and try one more time to get Rei’s heart. The lead protagonist of this drama. Ken’s biggest regret is never being able to confess his feelings to his Rei. Rei calls him Ken-Zou as a term of endearment. He was on the baseball team in high school and is currently a salesperson for electronic whiteboards. During Rei’s wedding, he is given the chance to relive key moments of his life by entering into different photos in one of the presentations. He is extremely kind-hearted, even helping Tetsuya Tada knowing that in the future, Tada will be his main rival for Rei’s affection

In each episode, Ken travels to each photo that will appear in the slideshow that Mikio made, so that he can correct his regrets in each photo. Will he be able to change the past? Does time wait for anyone?

Click here to get: Operation: Love With English Subtiles

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Hana Kimi:

The drama is based on the popular comic of the same name by Nakajo Hisaya. I had seen the Korean Version of drama called “To Beautiful You” first even though Japanese manga and series came first. So, I had to check out the original version of the drama and I was not disappointed to watch this series with funny moments and made me a fan of Japanese drama.

Horikita plays the protagonist Ashiya Mizuki, a Japanese girl in the United States who one day sees the young athlete Sano Izumi compete in the high jump on television. She begins to idolize him. Sano gets injured one day in America while trying to help Mizuki escape from some gangsters. He stops high jumping ever since. Mizuki blames herself for the incident and decides to go to Japan and help Sano find his love for high jumping.

Click here to get  Hana Kimi with English Subtitles

 

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GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka:

Eikichi Onizuka is in his early twenties, never had girl friend or relationship and ex gang member.One day he meets a girl, who agrees to gi out with him and later to hotel with him. Onizuka fails to sleep with her when her older boyfriend and teacher shows up and she leaps from window to leave with that teacher. Onizuka, upon seeing this display of a teacher’s power over girls, decides to become a teacher himself. While he is earning his teaching degree, he learns he has a conscience and morals so he won’t be able to take an advantage of innocent and impressionable school girls but good looking moms to those schoolgirls are different matters. He enjoys teaching and, most of the time, he teaches life lessons rather than the routine schoolwork.

He sets out to become the greatest teacher ever, using his own brand of philosophy and the ability to do nearly anything when under enough pressure. He is hired as a long-shot teacher by a privately operated school, in Kichijōji, to tame a class. He embarks on a mission of self-discovery by breaking through to each student one-by-one, and helping each student to overcome their problems and learn to genuinely enjoy life.

Click here for more information on Great Teacher Onizuka

 

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Rich Man, Poor Woman:

It is a modern Cinderella Story take between a rich guy and poor girl, a staple for many Asian Drama. Oguri Shun plays Hyuga Toru, an affluent CEO of an IT company whose personality with many flaws. A A woman who meets Toru and eventually becomes attracted to him is Sawaki Chihiro, played by Ishihara Satomi. Chihiro is a hardworking college student at Tokyo University who is looking for a job. Upon meeting Toru, she begins to unravel a genuine pureness inside him and solitude resulting from such pureness, which eventually draws her closer to him. The two repeatedly conflict each other, but little by little learn about one another to grow and develop together.

Click here for more information on Rich Man Poor Woman Japanese Drama

 

ourandramaOuran High School Host Club:

In the story, high school freshman Haruhi pretends to be a boy so that she can take part in the wealthy school’s Host Club, to which she owes a large debt.

Scholarship student Haruhi Fujioka has made the grade for the super-elite Ouran High School. Looking for a quiet place to study, Haruhi runs into the six member Host Club – filthy rich young men with too much time on their hands who entertain filthy rich young women who also have too much time on their hands. Unfortunately, Haruhi accidentally breaks a very expensive vase they were going to use to raise money – and has to pay it off by joining the club. The catch? Haruhi is a girl. So begins her crossdressing adventures with Tamaki Suoh, the loud and overdramatic fearless leader; Kyoya Ohtori, the calculating veep who’s the most normal of the group; Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin, the mischievous, funloving twins whose world is turned upside down when Haruhi becomes the first person who can tell them apart.

Click here to get Ouran High School Host Club

meinchanMei-chan No Shitsuji:

The plot seems like a typical and ordinary story however the drama actually is beautiful and has many comedic scenes. Only thing I would that English subtitles were translated bit poor, even non-native speaker would find. The story revolves around a young woman named Mei, who was rescued as a young girl by someone calling himself her “butler.” With only a vague memory, though, the experience seems like just a dream.

But one day, after her parents’ accidental death, he appears: Rihito comes from a line of outstanding butlers, and he has been appointed to serve her! Now her ordinary life has completely flipped, as she discovers that she’s actually the heiress to a fortune, and is forced to transfer to St. Lucia Girls’ Academy, where all the students have butlers! As a result, her childhood friend Kento decides to enroll in a butler school so that he can stay close to her.

Click here to get Mei-chan No Shitsuji With English Subtitles

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Pet Lover / Kimi wa Petto:

Smart, successful and good-looking Iwaya Sumire works for a big newspaper. However, her boss asks her to leave for being too “perfect” a woman. Feeling angry and dejected Iwaya returns home depressed, and most of all lonely.

However, when she finds an unconscious young man lying in a box out the front of her home and takes him in. He looks like a dog she used to own called Momo. She dubs him Momo and decides to “keep him as a pet.” It’s the start of an unexpected life together as they overcome obstacles and become quite attached to one another. But can love like this exist?

The plot sounds corny to me, but when I watched it, this was a very fun and sweet romantic comedy that should appeal to many people.

Click here to get Pet Lover / Kimi wa Petto With English Subtitles

 

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BOKU TO STAR NO 99 NICHI:

An inconspicuous body guard Namiki Kohei (Nishijima Hidetoshi) is assigned to be a body guard to a mega Korean super star, Han Yuna (Kim Tae Hee). Kohei is less than ordinary, a single man almost 40 in age working part time at a security company. Despite his kind and attractive looks, he is surrounded by people who boss him around with unreasonable demands.He keeps a dream to himself, a desire to someday become an astronomer and find his very own star. He justifies not being able to fulfill this dream to lack of funds and issues with his family.

Han Yuna, on the other hand, while having a perfect face and body, loves to eat junk food. She also has a kind heart for helping others in need. While every aspect of her life may seem like a girl’s dream come true, she feels a certain solitude being in the entertainment industry. As Kohei and Han Yuna come closer and closer to each other, they become an inseparable couple, discovering true love. Where will the couple end up after the contracted 99 days? A heart-warming love comedy that will make you realize once again how precious love can be

Click here to get BOKU TO STAR NO 99 NICHI With English Subtitles

 

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Trick Japanese Drama:

This 2000 Japanese TV series based on novelizations and meta-fiction novels about a failed magician and an arrogant physicist who debunks fraudulent spiritualists. It stars Hiroshi Abe and Yukie Nakama. 23-year-old Naoko Yamada (Yukie Nakama) considers herself a talented magician, she is continuously fired and broke. Before firing her, her manager shows Yamada an ad for a physics professor, Jiro Ueda (Hiroshi Abe), a non-believer of all things magical, offering money to anyone who can prove to him that magic is real. Desperately needing the money, Naoko accepts the challenge, which is how she comes to meet Professor Ueda. Falling prey to her simple magic tricks, Ueda is impressed, and enlists the reluctant Naoko to help him uncover the tricks behind a local cult. Soon, they are debunking spiritualists. Eventually Ueda develops a reputation for solving supernatural cases, but his secret weapon is Yamada, who hates the work but needs the money.

Click here for more information on Trick Japanese Drama

liargame

Liar Game:

Liar game is interesting and intelligent drama about a few people chosen to play game, where they can lose or win big. At the start of the manga, a scrupulously honest college student named Nao Kanzaki – receives a package containing 100 million yen (about 1 million dollars) and a note that she is now a contestant in the Liar Game Tournament. In this fictional tournament, contestants are encouraged to cheat and lie to obtain other contestants’ money; those who lose have to bear a tremendous debt. When Nao’s first opponent – a trusted former teacher – steals her money, she seeks assistance from a con man named Shinichi Akiyama. Though they manage to defeat him, Nao and Akiyama decide to buy out his debt and advance through different rounds of the Liar Game Tournament against merciless contestants, while at the same time attempting to free their opponents from debt and to defeat the Liar Game organization from within.

Click here for more information on Liar Game

Surely I see more Korean Dramas but there are many good Japanese, Hong Kong, Taiwanese and Chinese Dramas that are fun to watch.  If I find right dramas and with good English Subtitles I am going to try to see more good dramas.  Which Japanese dramas you have seen that you like?

If you want to know more Japanese dramas to watch click here: Japanese Drama with English Subtitles

Kaho Na Pyar Hai: Say It Is Love Movie Review

Kaho-Naa-Pyaar-HaiKaho Na Pyar Hai: Hritik and Ameesha

Kaho Na Pyar Hai (Say It Is Love)

I like Hritik Roshan since I saw this movie! KAHO NAA…PYAAR HAI . Kaho Na Pyar Hai is a 2000 blockbuster Bollywood film which first introduced Hrithik Roshan to the world and made him an overnight success. Rakesh Roshan who has directed many other successful movies, director of the film is also Hritik’s father. Debuting actress Amisha Patel, who looks like sweetness and light personified, also became,an instant commodity as well. Certainly, without the two leads (and specifically Hrithik), the movie wouldn’t be all that and a bag of chips. As it is, it’s box office bonanza.

Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai was the biggest Bollywood commercial success of 2000 and won many awards, including eight Filmfare Awards. Rakesh Roshan collected his first ever Filmfare Award, which he won as producer and as director. Hrithik became the only actor to win both, the Filmfare Award for Best Debut with the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for the same film. He was praised by young and old for his acting and dancing abilities. 

KahoNaaPyaarHaiHritik and Ameesha in Kaho Na Pyar Hai

Get this movie under 7 bucks at Amazon: Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai Bollywood DVD (With English Subtitles)

Cast

  • Hrithik Roshan as Rohit / Raj Chopra
  • Ameesha Patel as Sonia Saxena
  • Anupam Kher as Mr. Saxena / Sirjee
  • Dalip Tahil as Shakti Malik
  • Mohnish Behl as Inspector Kadam
  • Ashish Vidyarthi as Inspector Shinde
  • Satish Shah as Anthony Uncle (Rohit’s landlord)
  • Farida Jalal as Lily Aunty (Rohit’s landlady)
  • Rajesh Tandon as Atul Malik (Shakti Malik’s son and Sonia’s friend)
  • Asha Patel as Mrs. Chopra (Raj’s mother)
  • Tanaaz Currim as Neeta Saxena
  • Vrajesh Hirjee as Tony (Rohit’s friend)
  • Abhishek Sharma as Amit (Rohit’s younger brother)
  • Johnny Lever as Inspector Parab
  • Kamya Punjabi as girl on cruise ship

The first half of the film indulges in some pretty sappy romantic fluff, cruise scenes that are mushy. Suddenly movie takes turn with murder.  Then the scenery changes to New Zealand and the story gains serious momentum as the oh-so-gentle love story turns into a gripping crime drama and chase film.

So, exciting action for the guys. For the girls, a leading man with flashing green eyes, a muscular physique, explosive dancing skills, and one other thing. Boyfriends and male buddies of the female audience might end up loathing this dude,but one can’t really deny that the man can actually deliver his lines and effectively perform in his dual roles. Amisha Patel, cute and lovable as she is, is still overshadowed by Hrithik.

KAHO NAA…PYAAR HAI is almost three hours long, which gives the movie ample time to plug Coke and Popcorn. The songs are mostly fun and are, in turns, wistful and hopeful and romantic.

Pyar Ki Kashti Mein: Kaho Na Pyar Hai Song (Double Role _ 1st Guy)

Ek Pal Ka Jeena: Kaho Na Pyar Hai Song (Double Role_ 2nd Guy)

I loved this movie so much. have already watched it several times. Hrithik Roshan does great playing two totally different characters. I could watch it again and again. Loved the music. And the dance scene, especially the one in the club was spectacular!!! If you like Hrithik Roshan, this is a must see!!! Not only is he the most gorgeous guy I have ever laid eyes on, but he is an extremely talented dancer and actor. I don’t like too many action flicks, but this movie kept me captivated. What I love about Bollywood movies as opposed to Hollywood, is that they are so clean. They are far more romantic than most Hollywood movies without all the physical and not enough emotional connection. This movie is no exception.

If you are interested in getting this movie with English Subtitle, you can get it under 7 bucks at Amazon: Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai Bollywood DVD (With English Subtitles)