Bits and Pieces of Me

Profile

Who am I? I am a screwed-up blogger and an active blog reader since 2007. A soulful dreamer who believes that passion is life and a person who is looking for meaning, just like any other human being in this world. A super girl wannabe who is currently taking chances and chasing pavements, while keeping up with time and living life in general. This is me, and this blog is the outlet of my random thoughts. (^___^)

Other Outlets in Cyberworld

Tumblr Twitter Facebook me2day Formspring Weibo Flickr

This Flash Player was created @ FlashWidgetz.com.

Blogger's Note

Most of the posts in this blog revolve around Asian dramas, movies and pop culture, so please proceed at your own risk. Don't say I didn't warn you. Haha! Have a wonderful and blessed day! :)

Disclaimer

Most of the images and the videos in this blog are not mine unless otherwise stated. No copyright infringement intended. All rights belong to their respective owners. The rules of this blog are simple: no spamming and stealing. x

Twitter

Tagboard

Yesterday was the last day of my Reply 1997 marathon, otherwise known as Answer Me 1997, a cable TV drama from the same TV station (TVN) which brought one of my most loved dramas on the small screen this year. I am talking about Ji Hyun Woo and Yoo In Na's Queen In Hyun's Man which I raved about a few months ago. Back in the days, most of the good productions on television came mostly from the three broadcasting giants such as KBS, SBS, and MBC, but these days, cable channels like TVN have been making waves domestically in Korea and internationally over Southeast Asia and the rest of the world. TVN is really on a roll this year! And I cannot wait for their upcoming dramas for the first quarter of next year. Reply 1997 is a drama from the mighty tandem of producer Shin Won Ho and screenwriter Lee Woo Jung. This drama takes us back to the year 1997 at the height of the popularity of male rival bands H.O.T. and Sechskies and the other first generation idol groups in South Korea. This marked the early beginnings of Kpop, even before the famous idol groups of today existed. It talks about the lives of six young people whose lives have been intertwined by fate back in the year 1997 in sunny Busan. At that time, they were just typical teenagers who were going through typical problems and struggles that youngsters usually go through. But more than that, it's a story about family, friendship, love, yearning, and finding oneself—a story that people can easily relate to.

This is Yoon Yoon Jae and Sung Siwon played by singer and actor Seo In Kook and girl group A Pink member Eunji, respectively. They are best friends of the same age who grew up together and have been stuck with each other ever since they were kids. Both of their families share a unique bond together, so they have treated each other like family as well. Yoon Jae is Siwon's best friend. They have shared their whole lives together and are too familiar of each other's strengths and weaknesses. Yoon Jae is the smart class monitor who is number one in class and good in everything he does, while Siwon is the typical girl who is obsessed with the then popular boy group H.O.T. which rose to stardom during the second half of the 90s. She is the ever loyal and passionate fangirl who would do anything and everything for the name of H.O.T. and its fandom. Because of that, she is always misunderstood. Despite her over-the-top fangirl musings, she is wholeheartedly loved and adored by lovestruck Yoon Jae.

Siwon and Yoon Jae

Then, let's throw in boy group INFINITE member Hoya who plays the role of Kang Joon Hee. He is the other best friend slash alternate guy pal to Siwon when Yoon Jae isn't around. He is a soft spoken, gentle, and delicate person who is also a loyal friend not just to Siwon but to all his friends. Joon Hee is the ever dependable friend who is always willing to go the extra mile for her. Because Yoon Jae sees him as a rival in pursuing Siwon, his friendly gestures have been misunderstood by jealous Yoon Jae countless of times. Unknown to him, Joon Hee has his own little secret, and that's probably the most heartbeaking part of the entire story. *sighs* Joon Hee is trustworthy and kind. He is the kind of guy friend that every girl would like to have—a partner in crime to all H.O.T. gigs, a shoulder to lean on, a confidant. No guy out there would probably understand how it's like to be a fan of somebody in K entertainment, and that fact alone has made me vouch for Joon Hee ever since day one. I, for one, am personally jealous of Siwon not because he has Yoon Jae by her side but because she has Joon Hee as a friend. Aside from Joon Hee, she has Yoon Jae's older bro Tae Wong too. Lucky girl, I must say.

Joon Hee

There's also Moo Yoo Jung, played by actress Shin So Yul. She is Eunji's best gal pal who is also an H.O.T. fan like her. She also adores H.O.T.'s rival group Sechskies and gets in trouble with Siwon most of the time. Together, they are Korea's most devoted fangirls to their oppas. Although she argues with Siwon sometimes, their relationship is just like that of sworn sisters after a blood compact. Another character is Do Hak Chan, a general's son who came all the way from Seoul to study in Busan because of his father's job. He is played by singer turned actor Eun Ji Won, a member of boy group Sechskies in real life. He is meek and innocent but loves to watch porn during his spare time. He doesn't have that much friends as well. He is also very nervous whenever he is near girls. He cannot talk or even look at them in the eyes. However, despite his affinity to porn, he has his eyes set only on Yoo Jung. Truth be told, their pairing is one of my favorites in the entire series. I haven't watched that much projects starring Shin So Yul or Eun Ji Won. I am not a Sechskies fan either. But after watching the drama, I have started to ship them. Heh! If only Eun Ji Won isn't married in real life. Lastly, there's Lee Shi Un as Bang Sung Jae, the group's clown. In this drama and in every other drama, his character is just as important as the main leads. Without a merrymaker like Lee Shi Un, a drama tackling some serious, unresolved past issues an be boring, but Lee Si Un's was just the missing piece to the equation.

Yoo Jung and Hak Chan

Sung Jae

For a couple of days in the past few weeks, I smiled, laughed, and wept while watching the series. That's how attached I was to Reply 1997. While I was sick, it gave me strength and a reason to wake up a little earlier in the morning just to catch it on Youku or other video-sharing sites without English subtitles. I was pleasantly surprised to find a teen drama on a cable channel which spoke to all generations of crazy fangirls (and maybe fanboys) out there. But more than all the fangirling is the story and the brilliant directing and execution which was loved by many drama fans and Kpop fans alike because of its attempt to showcase the early days of the passionate pop culture during the 90s. Reply 1997 is a drama I didn't expect I would come across with this year. It is so different and unique in its own way, and that's what makes it shine among the rest. If you may have noticed, I haven't blogged about that many dramas this year. But for this one, I just can't sit back and watch. It's one of my favorite dramas this year, and because of the pure awesomeness that is the story, directing, and acting altogether, it is only fitting for Reply 1997 to have its own post in this blog.

I have a lot of favorite characters in the story and one is Siwon though she can be quite upsetting at times. She is the fangirl who puts all the other fangirls out there like me to shame. Her passion knows no bounds and reservations. When she loves something, she pours all her heart to it. She is also a kickass heroine, if I must say. What I love about her character is the fact that she is not the typical fragile girl who only knows how to cry in a corner. Despite being extremely loud for a girl, she is strong and dignified. She stands by what she wants all the time and her passion allows her to get right where she wants. On top of it all, she shows her love to H.O.T. like it's nobody's business. She is one tough girl who truly knows what she wants. Yoon Jae, on the other hand, is not necessarily a favorite character of mine but someone I think I would like if ever he existed in real life. All his life, he thought of Sung Siwon, his friend of too many years who is obsessed of a certain guy (or group) who only exists on TV. Yoon Jae, unlike most guys out there, is definitely a keeper. He is someone who would never ever trade Siwon for anything in the world, and that's what I like best about him. Even if he gets his hair pulled all the time, he is still the same lovelorn Yoon Jae who is constant and unchanging.

My second favorite character is Eun Ji Won's Do Hak Chan. I like how he is so naive about relationships and girls, yet he knows how to make Yoo Jung smile so well. He knows the right timing to strike all the time and he knows how to strike while the iron is hot. Despite being a man of few words, Do Hak Chan won my heart for too many reasons that I may never be able to explain why or how. He makes me smile for just being himself, and that is something that I really like about him. My third favorite is Yoon Jae's older brother Yoon Tae Woong, the high school teacher and self-made millionaire who became his own brother's rival in love at one point in time. In movies and dramas, his character is someone we can easily associate with—the kind and good oppa who always gets his heart broken at the end of the story. He was Siwon's older sister's childhood flame before she passed away, but after his girlfriend's death, he turned his all his attention to the young Siwon. He was very vocal about it and made sure that Siwon knew how he felt every day. Aside from Joon Hee, he was Siwon's other saving grace in the story. He loved her a lot but was willing to give her up for the happiness of his younger brother.

Last but not the least is Joon Hee. I have said this previously and I will say it again. I adore Joon Hee's character not because of how well he treated Siwon but because he is a selfless and admirable person. He had somebody in his heart all this time but did not let those things get in the way of friendship. He is actually someone I would like to be friends with in real life. Haha! Joon Hee's character in the drama represents one-sided love in whatever form, so I am not surprised why many were able to relate to it. I don't want to spoil the story, but at the end of the drama, it seemed to me that he got his own happy ending after all. Although it wasn't what he originally hoped for, it was probably even better than what he wanted.

Reply 1997 is a good reminder of the old days—way back when listening to the radio, portable CD players, and cassette tapes were all the rage. I remember doing such things when I was younger. *Good times...good times* The drama also gave us a glimpse on how serious fans were on the competition between old school Kpop groups and on how Kpop fans acted back then. The drama reminds us that fangirling is a serious business and is a competition of the fittest. I have turned 24 two months ago, and from being a fangirl for the past 12 years, I have learned how to support my fandom (ELF here!) and my favorite idols quietly. Back in the days, I used to be as passionate as the others, although not on par with Siwon. Hahaha! These days, I support my favorite idols and/or actors and actresses by watching their dramas and buying their latest releases from iTunes, Soribada, or other online music sites, but that doesn't make me love them less. :)

If you are looking for a good teen drama to marathon on boring days, whether you are a Kpop fan or not, I recommend Reply 1997. More than its reference to the pop culture during the late 90s, it's a drama about family, friendship, love, life, finding happiness, and letting go—a drama that everyone can enjoy.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bumping into someone on the street, reaching for the same book at the library, or running under someone’s umbrella, I thought that falling in love would be special. I couldn’t imagine that I’d fall because of something like this. During the spring of 1996, my first love began that suddenly.

Back then, she was pretty because she took off her glasses. But now she’s still pretty even when she wears them.

When you’re a big brother or a big sister, you may sometimes want to be selfish, but your instinct just tells you not to. You may also have tried so hard to keep things you wants for yourself; however, in the end, you always have to let your little ones have them because you prefer seeing them happy.

First love is reckless. Without calculating, it throws everything in with pure passion, and inevitably fails. But that’s why it’s dramatic—the reckless tales wrapped up in experiences or feelings that you can never have again.

If we do not accept the truth, we will have to live with lies. We have to live with inconvenient truths. What we see is not all we know.

There is no better time then now. The next time may never come. A next time may never come when now is right in front of you. Life is too short for that.

[It is]A relationship determined before I was born, a relationship established regardless of what I wanted. That’s family.

Love is not a choice. It’s what the heart wants.

The reason I like you? Because it’s you, just you. That’s the only reason. I wish I knew then I could figure out how to stop liking you. Because I can’t avoid it, I only want one thing—to stay as a friend who doesn’t change.

The easiest thing we can do for the person we love is to throw ourselves away. The strength to do things that is not in our nature—that’s love.

Only those who wait will find love.

First love is thoughtless. If you don’t calculate and just throw your innocence and passion at it, it’ll end up failing. That’s why it’s dramatic. The thoughtless stories, mixed with the emotions and warmth can never be retrieved again. That's why my first love is my life's most dramatic story. Therefore, failure is even okay. Instead of a happy ending, a sad ending remains in the memory longer, so it’s okay to leave even just one sad ending of a failed first love in one small portion of my life. First love is a season. When it passes, it’s gone. Now, it’s time to greet the new season and give it a chance for a new romance. Even though we’ll never experience the warmth and innocence of a first love again, we have to wait for the romance when we become adults after becoming mature from the pain of a first love.

That nostalgic time that was passionate and innocent...

Can you hear it? If you hear it, reply, my 90s.

Video Sources: Silver93lov@youtube.com, soso438music@youtube.com

Disclaimer: All the pictures used in this blog post are not mine. The credit or credits go to all their respective owner or owners. :)

Labels: korean drama, Reply 1997, TVN

A First Look on the Upcoming Drama "Arang and the Magistrate"

Sunday, August 12, 2012 @ 9:42 PM | comment (0)

I'm marking my return in the blogsphere after a hiatus for a couple of weeks with the upcoming premiere of MBC's latest drama, "Arang and the Magistrate." I have been away because of too many reasons lately, but the slew of dramas which are about to premiere in the coming days are not allowing me to just simply sit back and watch as they premiere one by one. The first drama which captured my attention in the heavyweight line-up of dramalandia's summer–autumn season flicks is Lee Jun Ki and Shin Min Ah's first ever team-up on the small screen. The drama is set to replace Kim Sun Ah and Lee Jang Woo's "I Do, I Do" in the Wednesday–Thursday timeslot of MBC on the 15th of August. It's a day before my birthday (and I don't have anything on that day), neither the following day, so I will just munch on popcorn and get my favorite blanket ready in order to preempt my birthday in a slumber-esque way, even if it means being alone.

Lee Jun Ki will play as the magistrate Eun Oh, while Shin Min Ah will play the role of Arang, a girl who dies all of sudden and wanders in between the life-death-afterlife continuum to find out about the cause of her death. In short, that makes her a ghost, and she will haunt our poor Jun Ki, who has the ability to see the supernatural, to help her sort out the missing pieces of her sudden death. What excites me the most is that although this may be a rom com in every aspect, it also mixes fantasy and magical thinking in every way. I am not sure how many times I have reiterated this in my previous posts, but I actually like dramas of this theme or nature—lighthearted but entertaining with the right dose of fluff and romance. Just the premise alone is entertaining enough, so I am hoping for the drama to be really good and up to everyone's expectations.

This is Lee Jun Ki's first project after his two-year military service, so I am excited to see what he will bring to the passionate Asian drama audience this time. He is one of the very few actors who I've genuinely liked since I started out watching K dramas. I like his eye smile and his carefree, easygoing personality. During my teens, back when YouTube was still inexistent and DVDs of popular dramas were all the rage, he had been one of Korea's hottest heartthrobs, and the ladies had nothing but good praises for him. In present-day dramaland, although we have a lot of fresh and new faces in the brood, I can't still seem to find somebody comparable to the beloved Jun Ki. Thankfully, he chose a good post-military service production, and that is something that excites me.

Shin Min Ah, on the other hand, has not appeared in any production after the famous and highly-rated drama "My Girlfriend is a Nine-Tailed Fox" or "My Girlfriend is a Gumiho" with Lee Seung Gi. I have honestly been waiting for her to take on another role like that in her former drama, so this is like a reappraisal of the "Shin Min Ah trademark roles" that majority of drama addicts adore. Shin Min Ah is really charming, and for snagging a leading man like Lee Jun Ki, I'm sure that they will be creating a truckload of chemistry and fireworks all over the place. I love their eye smiles by the way! When their casting was announced a couple of months ago, it garnered a lot of interest and curiosity from many, and I must say that it is one of dramaland's best pairings in the visual aspect alone. Both are really very talented, so I am looking forward for their onscreen chemistry more than anything.

Aside from the leads, I am in this drama for another good reason as well, and it's the supporting cast. The previews have been cute and strangely addicting so far, so I believe that having a talented bunch of good actors will give the main leads just the right amount of back-up. From the top left and the bottom right of the photo below, we have Kwon Oh Joong and Hwang Bora as the magistrate Eun Oh's (Lee Jun Ki) faithful servants. We also have Yoon Woo Jin at the back as the son of a rich nobleman and is second male lead (Oh, how typical of saeguks!).

Rounding out the star-studded cast is the weird yet funny combo of Yoo Seung Ho (left, in white) and Park Joon Gyu (right, in black) as the twin gods of the heavens and the underworld, respectively. This is really funny and out of this world considering how big the age difference is between the two. I just saw, a few months ago, Yoo Seung Ho in "Operation Proposal", which was the first proper drama that I watched where he was the main lead. I was really in awe of his performance in that Japanese remake, so I have vowed to watch this one with a hopeful and excited mindset. Both are very good actors (Yoo Seung Ho and Park Joon Gyu) who have been a part of various productions in their respective careers, so I am really anticipating a refreshing tandem from the people who supposedly controls the dynamics of the earth, the heavens, and the underworld. Our heroine's life will surely depend on the decisions that these two will make. Let's just hope it will all end in a good conclusion with Shin Min Ah and Lee Jun Ki together, regardless of them living as mortals (Min Ah being resurrected) or ending up as ghosts (Jun Ki dying and them living in happy afterlife bliss). Han Jung Soo (middle) also joins the cast as the grim reaper dressed in all black. I don't know who he will serve between the two gods, but I am sure we are in for a fun ride.

Can you come up with an even better conclusion than this? Hmmmm...I guess not. It won't really matter if they both live or die in the end, just as long as they're together, they will, for sure, rock the living world or afterlife together. ^ ^

You can watch the 10-minute trailer with sparks and fireworks flying all over the place below!

Video Source: smaintfans2@youtube.com

Labels: Arang and the Magistrate, Han Jung Soo, Hwang Bora, Kwon Oh Joong, Lee Jun Ki, mbc, Park Joon Gyu, Shin Min Ah, Yoo Seung Ho, Yoon Woo Jin

Currently Reading - "Fifty Shades of Grey" The Trilogy by E. L. James

Friday, July 13, 2012 @ 9:24 PM | comment (0)

"And from a very tiny, underused part of my brain – probably located at the base of my medulla oblongata where my subconscious dwells – comes the thought: he’s here to see you."

-Anastasia Steel, "Fifty Shades of Grey"

~~******Uh oh! At this rate, how will I be able to go on duty? HAHAHA! *smirks*~~

Labels: E. L. James, Fifty Shades of Grey, fluff, romance

Payphone

Sunday, June 10, 2012 @ 10:01 PM | comment (0)

"I should stop using a payphone now. I don't like to keep wearing other people's clothes nor do I like that every time I see you, we have to go to the countryside to meet. I hope to find a house near where you live. Of course, I will not only need a hand phone. I need some clothes as well. The money should be enough, right? It's because I said I would take responsibility for you—to take responsibility for suddenly interrupting your life and making things difficult for you. Just becoming your boyfriend temporarily, buying you an expensive car, or spraying water at that friend, I realized that it's not enough. I realized that to take responsibility is to stay always by your side. What do you think? I couldn't come up with any other conclusion."

-Kim Boong Do (Ji Hyun Woo), Queen In Hyun's Man

Labels: Ji Hyun Woo, korean drama, Queen In Hyun's Man, Time Traveling, TVN, Yoo In Na

"Queen In Hyun's Man": A Pleasant Surprise

Monday, June 4, 2012 @ 9:47 PM | comment (0)

"Why do I feel as if I've been captivated? This attraction is so strange." -Choi Hui Jin, Queen In Hyun's Man

What are the odds of meeting someone who once lived during the Joseon period in present time? In real life, well, I doubt it. But in dramas and movies, at least, there is. I've watched a couple of time travel dramas lately, but I have been pleasantly surprised of the effect that Queen In Hyun's Man, a TVN drama which has started to air not too long ago, has in me. I've just watched up to the fourth episode so far and I must say that this is indeed a must-watch drama. I am amazed by how well the actors are suited for their roles and how good they are playing them. Aside from the story which is a catch in itself (I am a sucker for time travel plots BTW), I am more hooked by the OTP of Ji Hyun Woo and Yoo Inna, the lead actors of the drama. Yoo Inna plays as Choi Hui Jin, a model turned actress who is waiting for her first big break. She finally lands in her first big acting project in a historical drama as Queen In Hyun, a famous figure during the Joseon period of ancient Korea. Through this role, she meets Ji Hyun Woo, Kim Boong Do, a scholar and nobleman who lived some 300 years ago during the same period Queen in Hyun lived. He travels through a talisman which transports him to the present time and that's how his world and her world collides.

They are so adorable and cute together that I just can't help but smile from ear to ear. It has been a while since I last saw a drama this quirky and fun. I have mostly watched tearjerkers for the first half of the year, and although they were good dramas, I still have not picked my favorite rom con of the year. There were a few good dramas this year which have wrapped up already, a few good ones which are currently airing, and a number of highly anticipated ones which are yet to premiere, but I am already raising my two thumbs up for Queen In Hyun's Man as early as now. I did not expect to see how pleasant Ji Hyun Woo and Yoo Inna's combination would be. They're very refreshing to see on screen, and I have nothing but adoration for this couple. I am not exactly a fan of both actors and I have not followed all of their dramas and projects but I have developed a liking for both Yoo Inna and Ji Hyun Woo as individual actors. I have seen Yoo Inna only in Secret Garden and Best Love and Ji Hyun Woo in A Thousand Kisses, which I have not finished yet (laughs), but I was already convinced that both of them have great potential to become even better actors.

I like how Ji Hyun Woo is the prim and proper scholar who clashes with Yoo Inna's fun and quirky character. It's strange how they communicate because he is from the past while she lives in the now, but in a strange kind of way, the two of them connect, and it's a lovely connection of all sorts. It's kind of Kate and Leopold-ish with a mix of fluff and the right amount of squealing all over but in a really cute way. Ji Hyun Woo is amazingly brilliant (and...errrrr...handsome) as the all righteous nobleman who lives in 17th century Korea, and Yoo Inna, on the other hand, lives up to the easygoing and free-spirited role which people were able to originally associate of her in Secret Garden. They live 300 years apart, but through a talisman, they are able to meet and exchange stories. The budding actress is trying to make a name for herself at present time by acting out a part of history where he is involved, while he, on the other hand, is trying to find the answer of the mysteries of his time, including his death. I like this drama because it makes everything ordinary seem romantic—telephones, telephone booths, and everything! I may be an anti-fairytale heroine but I will give Queen In Hyun's Man a try. I like the longing, the waiting, and the hoping combined. The depth of the characters and mystery that surrounds each suits my palate. Ji Hyun Woo, well, I have just decided less than 30 minutes ago that I am going to be a fan. HAHA! I just love love love the quirkiness and the sincerity combined. It's really weird, but I think I like this kind of weirdness. I hope this feeling that the drama gives off stays with me until the very end. To sum it all up, I have nothing but praise for the plot, the actors, and the OTP. Did I just say the OTP? Oh yes, I did. HAHA! I love the OTP and I'm shipping them from this day on.

Will there ever be a future for these two souls? That we'll have to find out. Heh. Before I go cray-cray, I have to catch the remaining episodes before 11pm. Meanwhile, here are some really cute stills of this lovely OTP below!

*The photos are not mine. All rights belong to their respective owners.

Labels: A Thousand Kisses, Best Love, fantasy, Ji Hyun Woo, korean drama, Queen In Hyun's Man, Secret Garden, Time Traveling, TVN, Yoo In Na

FNC Music's Newest Artist JUNIEL Reveals her First Album's Title Track Feat. CNBLUE's Jung Yong Hwa

Tuesday, May 22, 2012 @ 12:48 PM | comment (0)

These days, I've been very picky with the songs that I listen to. I don't know what has gotten into me but I have noticed that although I listen to quite a lot of songs in English or in other languages on a daily basis, I still can't seem to say something like, "Ah! I like this one!" I don't know if I am acting weird these days or if I am just dead tired, but I have not really picked any favorites in the past few weeks. There are a lot of releases in Asian pop this week which are good per se and from very popular singers but are not my cup of tea. Aside from IU's latest album, I have not been able to add any songs into my iPod in the last 15 days.

However, a new talent from FNC Music, which is home to talented bands FT Island and CNBLUE, recently released her debut album. She is JUNIEL (real name: Choi Jun Hee), 19, pretty, and absolutely talented. Her musical style reminds me a lot of IU when she just started out. For her title track, she has enlisted the help of another talented labelmate, Jung Yong Hwa of CNBLUE, to feature in the song and music video. I like how the song is very fit for summer in transition to the arrival of the rainy season—carefree, relaxing, and easy to listen to. Yong Hwa also makes a great addition in the entire picture by featuring in the song and video, and FNC knows that there isn't a better way to showcase the talent of a newbie than to have someone as popular, handsome, and talented as Yong Hwa to help in promoting the song.

Talented individuals, an acoustic song with lovely vocals, a cute and dreamy MV concept, and, last but not the least, Jung Yong Hwa's arms—that is totally my cup of tea! Check out the video below!