First of all, I want to make one thing clear: "He was cool" should be treated differently from other movies. Why?
Well, first of all, you have to consider the time when it was released and the intention.
Because of my many reasons this movie will remain as my favorite one. Let me explain why:
1.The topics
Even though this movie's main target group might be young people, it also deals with very "mature"/serious topics.
The first time I watched this movie ( as a teenager) I didn't realize that this movie was kind of revolutionary or daring comparing to other Korean movies.
On the one hand, serious topics like AIDS and prejudices were shown. And on the other hand, it is also about a teenager's problems and everyday/love life.
For me, it was interesting to see how those "serious" and "ordinary topics" ( I can't think of a more appropriate word) were connected.
Apart from that, this movie was some kind of a roller-coaster ride: It was funny, sometimes sad and then it was funny again.

2. The characters
Apart from the great mix of the topics, the main characters were really...well, it is hard to describe each of them with one word.
The male lead did a great job as an actor considering the fact that it was one of his earliest work. Moreover, his character wasn't presented in a superficial way. As a viewer you could see and feel all his feelings and the changes he went through during the movie:
For instance the shyness when it comes to showing affection or even accepting it.
Actually, the movie helps one to understand his personality that seems to be a bit weird in the beginning: Sometimes he is nice to the female lead and sometimes he isn't nice. In many ways he is a immature young male and but in some ways he is more mature than his friends.

Even though the relationship between the main leads was one the weirdest one I've seen, I could feel/see the romance. You might wonder, why it was weird: The whole relationship between them was rather forced than planned at the beginning. But you could tell that it changed after some time.
For me it was kind of amusing to watch those two arguing,making up and once again arguing. It somehow reminded me of the young boys in the kindergarten who prefer to annoy the girls they like instead being nice to them.
The female lead: She acted pretty well. Even though she played the role of a rather immature student, she was able to show various emotions. I think, I will never forget certain scenes she played with all her heart like jumping up and down with weird clothes on in front of the school jard. Just the thought of it makes me laugh.

3. The plot
Movies aren't dramas with 16 eps or more. So, I guess, as a viewer I will always have the feeling that everything was a bit too rushed and ended too quickly.
Nevertheless, I liked the way everything progressed. It wasn't dragging or something like that.
Even now, I am able to divide the movie in different chapters.


To sum it up:
This movie is great! It might be a bit weird at first but you will like it the more you watch! Apart from that, a movie's intention should count as well. And this movies proves that you can make use of serious topics in a way that you don't even realize that you are learning something new.

Citeste mai mult

A tempting movie

"One of one hundred movies there's one that is fair, one that's good and ninety eight that are very bad. Most movies start badly and steadily get worse”, said Charles Bukowski once.
Well, I'm not a movie expert but as far as I'm concerned, this movie is "one of those hundred movie" that is "good".
The lead actress acted pretty well. From falling down through to bossing her boyfriend around she did everything in a convincing and cute way. There wasn't any moment when one realized that she was acting. She really lived out her character, cried, smiled and got angry.
The female lead even spoke English( but only sometimes). And by the way: Her accent is pretty cute.
Concerning the male lead...charming and hot as always and his acting was way better than you might expect ( after seeing him in Kim Sam Soon).
Apart from that, this movie used a new method to overcome the language barrier between the main actors( Daniel Henney doesn't speak Korean).
Nowadays, this language barrier isn't even a "barrier" anymore. Directors are able to make use of dubbing.
Integrating the language in the plot was something new to me when I watched this movie back then. ( Now I know that there are other dramas that used the same method: Kim Sam Soon, Sweet Spy).
At first, it felt somehow strange to listen to this Korean&English; mix of both actors. But I must admit that the explanation for this mix was very comprehensible: The male lead stated that he understands Korean pretty well. But for him it is difficult to speak Korean.
While watching this scene, I accepted it right away.
However, the only thing I couldn't accept right away was the plot.
Of course, I know that in movies everything works differently. It might be rushed as there is no time to show more of it.
But I wished that there had been more time to show the characters' and relationships' changes/ developments.
Nevertheless, the plot was unpredictable. Moreover, Korean drama clichés were used in a different and funny way.
“When everything gets answered, it's fake.” ( by Sean Penn)
Actually, I'm not a supporter of this opinion but this time I agree.

If you had a rough day and don't know what to watch, you should try this movie!

Citeste mai mult

100% entertainment
A movie should be called superficial unless it doesn't leave any impressions. But what to do when a superficial movie itself leaves a lasting impression? Well, then it can't be called superficial anymore.
No matter how many years are passing, I can still remember the movie's plot and many funny scenes. Being able to recall a movie means a lot nowadays as one tend to forget a movie's plot quickly. Sometimes, one forget it after a day.
You might wonder what kind of things I still can't forget:
For instance, the funny voice of the female main actor is something unforgettable. The voice matched her character well as she was quirky and impulsive. Watching her acting was pure entertainment as you wondered: Is she in real life that crazy and funny as well?
Every time I see her picture somewhere I can't stop laughing as she will always remain as that crazy, funny, impulsive, naive and quirky journalist to me.
It seemed like as if the role was written for her and not the other way round. There might be some exaggerated scenes but even those scenes were funny.
The male lead also left a lasting impression, in short: Great acting, hot&cool; as always, managed to show various sides of his character.
Even though most of the movies show characters in a superficial way, this time it was different. Both main characters showed more profundity than other movie characters.
Why? Well, because after watching the movie I wasn't able to describe those characters with only three adjectives.

Apart from the characters, the plot was entertaining as well. Some twists and turns might be not that understanding.
But hey, if one want to watch something reasonable, the last thing you should see is a romantic comedy, right?
Even though this movie was rather comedy like than romantic, there was nothing missing.
Moreover, this movie served its purpose: It was entertaining/amusing.
And this adjective should say more than 1000 words.
So in short: Don't miss this movie!

Citeste mai mult

Great Expectations...and in the end....

"What the heck?" is the sentence I said after watching the last episode.
I don't know about the Hong Sister's intention concerning this drama but I somehow felt mocked after finishing this drama.
You might ask why.
Well, this drama started pretty good. The plot was new and interesting. A typical work of the Hong Sisters. But then it somehow became...well, it didn't meet my expectations.
The ending was so bad that you might get angry about that as you wasted time on this drama and just stayed till the end because of the actors.
The only good thing about this drama are the male and female lead. Both were convincing in their roles whereas the singer of Miss A...maybe it was just because of her role ( not because of her acting) that she was annoying in my eyes. Every time she appeared, I rolled my eyes and thought: "Not her again!" I guess, I like her as a singer better than as an actor.

Citeste mai mult

A Gentleman's dignity...I still must laugh when I read this title because those 4 Gentlemen defined the term "dignity" in an unique and new way.
After reading the synopsis I expected a lame drama but...wow...
After this drama I learned my lesson:
Never trust the synopsis. You might miss a great drama!

This drama showed the greatest "bro"mance, romance and comedy. And this all in one drama!
4 middle-aged men with 4 different stories and issues. And I still can't decide which one I liked the best as each of them were interesting, kind of new and moving.
This drama is another new and modern Korean dramas that are produced now. ( Thank God! We need new plots that deal with nowadays issues).
I guess, there are still fans debating about the topic "young woman and older man". But hey, no matter what you think of it, it doesn't change the fact that this drama is one the most outstanding dramas that I've ever seen.
Apart from the great male leads, the female actors did a great job as well. Everybody called them supportive actors. But for me, they are the female leads who did an outstanding job.
Especially, Kim Ha Neul was great. She did all the stuff like acting like a lunatic or being the typical clumsy female lead who seems to have the talent to make a fool of herself in a cute way.
Besides that, the chemistry between the couples and friends was so amazing. Especially the bromace: I have never seen such a funny and cute bromance.
I could watch the openings of every ep again and again. Ok, I have to admit that it was a bit awkward to see those grown ups dressed like students. And the heavy make-up didn't help that much. But who cares, the scenes were still so funny. Just the thought of it makes me laugh now. The openings reminded me of History of a Salary Man.
And it is also impressive that all the characters aren't shown in a superficial way.
At first, I thought: How boring, I will see the typical Korean characters like the "Clumsy woman", "The Womanizer", "The Macho" and so on. But after watching some eps, I realized that every character had some "emotional issues".
So 100 points for the amazing writers who accommodated a number of things. It was never boring, predictable or lame.
I just can repeat: Wow!

To put it in a nutshell: It is your fault if you miss this drama! The fact that I wrote such a long review ( with full of praise and repeated terms like "outstanding") should prove that there is something great about this drama...^^

Citeste mai mult

A new story

I do, I do is one of the new and modern Korean Drama that isn't alike stereotype Korean dramas. Let's face it! Topics like "getting pregnant before marriage" or "Older Woman is dating a young man" used to be taboo issues for a long time in Korean Dramas.
To tell the truth, I didn't even care or think about this when I started watching Korean dramas. But the more you watch the more you get aware of it.
And wasn't there some issues ( like: Is the drama family friendly) with the drama " 1000 Kisses" that also included the topic "older woman and younger guy". Ok, in that drama the older woman was divorced and had a kid (as far as I can remember) but you can still say that both dramas are daring and interesting when it comes to the plot.
So 100 points for having the courage to write, produce this drama and to take part as an actor.
Despite this, I wasn't really like into this drama. Maybe this whole "young man" and "old woman" was too new for me. However, I have to say that this drama was really funny. But the romance part...well, I wasn't that moved

Kim Sun Ah is a great actor. She proved this in many dramas such as City Hall or My name is Kim Sam Soon. But in this drama....I am not sure yet whether I don't like her acting or her role in this drama. She tried to be the tough woman and sure she was one. But still...I prefer her to be tough in another way- Somehow the way she talked got on my nerves as well...
But I guess, this is just me who thinks like that.
The other side actors did a great job! Especially, the one who played the young man's father and the "evil/good" girl.

Citeste mai mult

First of let me say this:
Actually I prefer to watch Japanese Dramas after all Episodes are aired and subbed. After all, there is only one ep. per week whereas the Korean Dramas offer one two eps per week.
But this time, it was different because of the main actor.
Oguri Shun as Hyuga Toru both impressed and surprised me.
His character in this drama was totally different from the ones he used to play. And from my point of view he managed to play his role well:
He was cool, charming and confident and at the same insecure because of certain issues.
Apart from that, he was able to show the new self of Hyuga Toru later.
In addition to this, the great chemistry between the main couple was another reason why I couldn't wait till all eps were aired.
However, I was a little bit disappointed when this drama ended as I expected a more exciting romance after reading the synopsis.
Plot: Ok. No pending questions.

All in all, I would watch this drama again and again. It was really worth my time.

Citeste mai mult

A new Cinderella Tale
After reading the title you might wonder who played the role of Cinderella. Maybe, I should have written "from riches to rags and back".
Confused now? Don't worry, I felt the same way while I watched this drama.
I must admit that this drama's plot and twist and turns weren't always that convincing. Everything seemed to be a bit rushed, especially the ending.
Nevertheless, let me explain why I still think of this drama as one of my favourite ones:
First of all, the male leads were both charming and convincing in their roles .
The bromance between the male actors was really funny and cute.
And I don't think that there was any boring episode.
Ok, it might be the case that Jung Il Woo looked a bit too old for his role. After all, he played the role of a young student. But come on, without him the drama wouldn't deserve the name "Flower Boy".
And I think, if a young one played his role, the romance part would be messed up.
And not forgetting the pillar! (Lee Ki Woo)
The way he always said stuff like "Ah, this is so tiring" cracked me up.
The female lead did a great job as well. Her acting improved a lot over the years and she was really convincing in the role as the "tough, rough and ready" girl.
From my point of view, the real charm of this drama lies in the fact that it is a funny, light and warm-hearted drama.
Of course, it wouldn't be a Korean drama if there aren't tears of joy, sadness and anger. However, when it comes down to it, I just can repeat this: it is a funny, light and warm-hearted drama.
Don't expect a sophisticated plot. It is a simple one and that's nothing bad.
The romance part...well, I don't want to ruin the fun. Just let me say this: it is a cute romance and you should give it a try!

Citeste mai mult