Fall Dramas: The Heirs, Reply 1994, Basketball

I'm only watching one drama now (Master's Sun), but come October I'd probably be sleeping just an hour a day. Seriously though.

There are three fall dramas I'm excited for in varying degrees! Though more Kdramas means a happier me, I also don't have the time to watch them all. But for the sake of my Korean drama-loving heart, I will make time for them!

☆*･゜ﾟ･*\(^O^)/*･゜ﾟ･*☆

THE HEIRS

It has a much longer title (The One Who Wants To Wear The Crown, Bear The Crown) but I'll stick to the short one. It stars Lee MinHo in his first drama for this year, and starring opposite him is Park ShinHye, a.k.a. the luckiest Korean actress ever. Really though, just look at her list of co-stars and you just want to be her! And now she's teaming up with Lee MinHo. Ugh, so lucky.

(Photo credits)

I have many reasons to watch this drama but mostly because Lee MinHo! Apparently, the screenwriter wrote the role specifically for him. So I'm hoping for great things. I'm hoping for a role that will once again put Lee MinHo at the top of the ladder! I know Faith didn't do that well when it comes to ratings. I want this drama to succeed for obviously biased reasons.

Other reasons for watching this include Woo Bin. Heehee. There are tons of other fresh, young actors and actresses in this drama and I.CANNOT.WAIT. From the title itself, it's about young, rich kids and their plight. Just like what a reader from Dramabeans sad, a Korean version of Gossip Girl. That sounds exciting!

What irks me though is that Park ShinHye plays an ordinary girl. For once, I just want the lead character to be the Queen Bee, the ruler of the school, the jjang, the bitch if you may. I want her to be the richest among the characters. I want the girl to be as cunning as the other players. But alas, this is just like Boys Over Flowers. Well, hopefully not!

My friend said I shouldn't raise my expectations but it's Lee MinHo! I can't help but be excited.

☆*･゜ﾟ･*\(^O^)/*･゜ﾟ･*☆
REPLY 1994
The prequel to the much-loved drama last year is finally here, and it looks promising.
Reply 1994 is set three years prior to Reply 1997 (quick math lol), but it's set in a different town and deals with different characters. It's a different world altogether, but it's helmed by the same people who brought Reply 1997 to the mainstream public. I have high hopes.
It stars Go Ara in a boyish and cutesy role. It's so different from the pretty and feminine Go Ara I usually see! I have no idea how she acts but I won't judge too quickly. Starring opposite her is Yoo YeonSeok (Gu Family Book, A Werewolf Boy). He looks so cute in the poster, whereas I'm not really a big fan. Hmm.

Reply 1994

Unlike in Reply 1997 where they focused on the start of KPOP in Korea, Reply 1994 will focus on another trend during that time: basketball. So it'll be a sports drama, but I'm pretty sure that it will just serve as one of the main themes.

TvN has been delivering one quality drama after another so I don't think it's too much to believe that this one will be good as well. I have no super crush in this drama, and if you know me, you'll know that I only watch dramas in which I like the actors. Haha. But I'll still watch this. 

I seriously cannot wait.

☆*･゜ﾟ･*\(^O^)/*･゜ﾟ･*☆

BASKETBALL

Another basketball drama. And yes it's set on a different time period. And yes it's also form TvN. It sounds a bit buffling on how they can premiere two basketball-period dramas at the same time, but hey, fans like me are still itching to watch.

Set during the time from the Japanese occupation in Korea leading to the division of the two Koreas, basketball will serve as the ray of hope for our lead characters. It will be lead by Do JiHan, a new face in the land of the oppar.

What I love about TvN or cable dramas in general is how it gives chance to new actors and actresses to be the lead in dramas. Basketball will have a bunch of new faces, and it's interesting because it gives cable dramas a raw quality into it. And you see characters as characters alone and not as the actors who play them or the characters they used to play. I'm not sure if I'm making sense?

Anyway, it will be aired the same time as Reply 1994! I'm not sure how that will work. I hope audience will not get confused.

☆*･゜ﾟ･*\(^O^)/*･゜ﾟ･*☆

I'm not sure if I can watch it all while it's still airing, but I'm pretty sure that I'll watch all of it eventually. I work during the day and this week, I started my Korean language class, too. I wonder if I'll still have time for dramas. But hey, I had time for dramas when I was doing my thesis for college! So I'm pretty sure I'll still have time for my oppar.

Korean Film Festival 2013

Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines once again brings Korean cinema to the Filipino public. The Korean Film Festival 2013 features six movies namely A Werewolf Boy, Masquerade, Sunny, Green Days, Deranged, and Dancing Queen. It will be held in SM Megamall on Sept 18-22, SM Iloilo on Sept 26-29, SM Cebu on Oct 3-6 and SM Lanang in Davao on Oct 10-13.

SM MEGAMALL

Sept 18

19:00 A Werewolf Boy

Sept 19

16:30 Masquerade

19:35 Dancing Queen

Sept 20

16:30 Green Days

19:10 Deranged

Sept 21

13:00 Green Day

15:30 Dancing Queen

18:25 Sunny

Sept 22

13:00 A Werewolf Boy

15:55 Sunny

18:50 Masquerade

SM ILOILO

Sept 26

19:00 Sunny

Sept 27

17:10 Dancing Queen

20:00 Green Days

Sept 28

14:20 Green Days

17:10 Dancing Queen

20:00 Deranged

Sept 29

14:20 A Werewolf Boy

17:10 Sunny

20:00 Masquerade

SM CEBU

Oct 03

19:00 A Werewolf Boy

Oct 04

18:30 Deranged

21:00 Sunny

Oct 05

16:00 Green Days

18:30 Masquerade

21:00 A Werewolf Boy

Oct 06

16:00 Green Days

18:30 Dancing Queen

21:00 Deranged

SM LANANG PREMIER

Oct 10

19:00 Masquerade

Oct 11

18:00 Deranged

20:30 Green Days 

Oct 12

15.25 Green Days

17:45 Dancing Queen

20:30 A Werewolf Boy

Oct 13

15:00 Deranged

17:45 Sunny

20:30 Masquerade

I highly recommend Sunny because it's one of my all-time favorite movies! Masquerade, A Werewolf Boy, and Dancing Queen are good, too. I plan to watch Deranged this friday so hopefully that'll push through. :)

Just One Second (2012)

Just One Second is a mini movie sponsored by Pepsi. And by mini movie, I actually mean it's a couple of episodes with only 10 minutes each. This is the compilation of all the episodes.

It stars Kao Jirayu and Nattasha Nauljam, and this is their second time to be paired in a movie, mini or not. They first appeared in my favorite movie, Suckseed. This is basically the sequel all Ped and Earn shippers were waiting for! You have no idea how much I flipped when I learned that they're having a reunion. However, I feel like they could have done something more, could have formed a more cohesive story with a limited time. But since the main purpose of the movie is promote Pepsi, it's a lot easier for me to forgive them.

Don't get me wrong. I still think it's worth the watch. It's 27 minutes worth of Kao and Nat goodness! But no matter how you look at it, 27 minutes is still too short! 

Plot-wise, I feel like they didn't really give it much thought. It has a pretty good premise. A high school girl in the middle of a school scandal and the start athlete of the soccer team conquer all just to be together. But the whole running away thing seems so foolish for me. The guy obviously doesn't want the girl's image to be tainted. He's more bothered about the rumors than the girl even though he knows the truth. Then when the girl gets suspended over the rumor, they eloped! I mean, do you really want to clear her name? Running away with her can't do that.

There's much to be desired from this mini movie. Thankfully, Kao and Nat have a chemistry that can surpass any lack of depth in the plot or any decent ending. They can just appear together on screen and it's already perfect for me, okay. But seriously, they have palpable chemistry that they can make a very simple story work.

However, there's one thing that I really appreciate about this. What I like about Thai movies is that they don't they try to be prude, and that's something that I can say about Just One Second. It's set in high school yet they talk about prostitution and sex as if those are two things you commonly talk about in high school. Maybe in the West it is, but in Asia? Not really. It's talked about in whispers, in hushed voices when there's no one else who can hear them. But here, it's talked about in the open. Don't worry, it doesn't focus on that! Hehe.

Suffice to say, it's not a perfect mini movie. But I'll watch it again and again just to see Kao and Nat. Also, I'm still waiting for a real Suckseed sequel. Thank you very much.

Rainy Day Movies

It may be sunny in other parts of the world, but in the Philippines we're facing one storm after another. Right now, we're still battling Maring, one of the strongest storms to hit the country. A huge part of the metro is still submerged in flood. I'm luckily in my home province, and the rain won't stop falling. It's scary to go out.

So far the past five days, I do nothing but watch anime, movies, and kdramas. Thankfully, I never ran out of things to watch!

My Rainy Days

My Rainy Days (2009)

Of course, this has to be on the list!

This movie tells the story of Rio, a high school student who banks on her looks to gain friends and to find love. When she meets the college professor, Kouki, she realizes that there are some things in her life that she has to change.

Their first meeting happens in a hospital. The second takes place in the rain. It's a cute love story about two individuals who can't be more different from each, but they learn to adapt to each other's quirks. I actually expected a more mature type of movie but was surprised that it takes on a more innocent approach.

This could have been a typical Japanese romantic movie, but I'm glad that it takes a different path for its ending.

The Garden of Words

The Garden of Words (2013)

Takao promises to only skip school everytime it rains. And everytime it does, he goes to a park and sketches. Here he meets Yukino, an older woman who drinks beer and eats chocolate during daytime. As rainy days happen more, the two meets more often and eventually develops a subtly and genuine friendship.

This movie is really beautiful and I think I need to write a proper commentary for it. It's written, produced and directed by the man behind 5 Centimeters Per Second, so I guess it's no surprise that this one is amazingly drawn, too. However, I think I prefer this over 5 Centimeters.

I don't know what to say, but it definitely is the perfect movie to watch while cuddling in bed. Well, that's what I did anyway.

Memories of Murder

Memories of Murder (2003)

When it comes to crime/detective movies, expect Korea to produce the best ones.

Based on a true story, Memories of Murder details the events that took place in the 80s when the first known serial murderer in Korea was on a rampage. Two detectives try to solve the case while both are trying to adjust to each other's own sense of justice.

It's a thrilling murder case especially when things start to get personal. What makes this movie enthralling is how it tries to look into the heart of the murder, but ends up looking into the hearts of the detectives as well. When it comes to seeking justice, sometimes the one carrying it out gets blinded  by their own conviction.

Nothing can make you feel the chill of rainy days than a good crime movie. It's been quite a long time since I watch it but it left quite a lasting mark.

Temptation of Wolves

Temptation of Wolves (2004)

Not my favorite Guiyeoni novel adaptation, but it's definitely a nice movie to watch while curling up in bed. Nothing beats high school sappy love stories when it comes to warming up your insides.

HanKyung is a country bumpkin who moves to the city. She's pretty daft, and somehow, she finds herself in the middle of a whirlwind story full of romance, gang fights and some brotherly love.

She's definitely not the best heroine out there, too, but she has to two leading men enough to turn away the dark clouds of your day. (Okay, that sounds ridiculous. Sorry.) This is the movie that sent Kang DongWon into stardom, and he definitely made me love TaeSung. In the novel, I actually prefer HaeWon.

If you end up enjoying this movie, try Doremi and He Was Cool, too!

Sunny

Sunny (2010)

Definitely my favorite movie of all tim, so it's the perfect movie to watch in any season. But when it's storming outside, this is the kind of movie that can cheer you up. Heck, even the title says so!

Nami is an average housewife who's going through a mid-life crisis. One day when she visits her mother in the hospital, she meets an old friend. Together, they reminisce their high school days and tries to find their other friends. It's a heart-warming movie about friendship and growing up.

Nothing perks me up more than this movie does. I think it's the best example of how a woman loses herself once she becomes a wife and a mother. Together with her friends, Nami tries to find her old self.

It's weird how I haven't blogged about this movie, but if anyone will ask for a movie recommendation, this will always be on the list.

The Classic

The Classic (2003)

JiHae, a college student, moves to the house her mother used to live in. Here, she finds a collection of letters and diary entries of her mother's first love who happens to not be her father. As she slowly learns about her mother's past, she also starts to fall for SangMin. The tricky part is that her best friend likes him, too.

It's a movie that deals with two different love stories but somehow finds a link in both. It's quite a treat since both stories have their own unique charm. Up till now, I haven't decided which one I like better.

Can there be a more defining movie than The Classic? Who can ever forget the rain scene in this movie? I have no idea how many times I have tried to imitate that scene.

If you haven't seen this movie, then you better do something about it. It's one of the must-watch RomCom South Korean movies, you know.

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It definitely feels nice to stay in bed and watch movies all day, but I do hope that the rain will stop. We had too much already. You can help by donating or volunteering. The easiest would to check out redcross.org.ph. In the meantime, I do hope that all my readers are safe and warm at home.

Purok 7 (2013)

Purok 7

It's rare to watch a movie about kids living in rural poverty and yet, leave the theaters still feeling elated.  But Carlo Obispo's Purok 7 successfully does that. 

A fourteen-year-old Diana (Krystle Valentino) lives alone with his kid brother, Julian (Miggs Cuaderno), since they have an OFW mother and their father lives with his new family. Together, they desperately try to get by with the money Diana earns from her part-time jobs, all the while awaiting the fate of their mother overseas. It's a story about family, hope, kindness, and surprisingly, first love.

I am completely taken by this movie, and I am afraid to say something that will fall short of how incredible it is. It's not your typical indie movie that deals with poverty. Yes, there are the same elements. There's the same resilience that Filipinos show everytime the worst that can possibly happen happens. There's the absentee parents and siblings having to take care of each other in their absence. What makes Purok 7 different is how it capitalizes on the little things and the people around them that make life still enjoyable for the siblings, instead of dwelling on the negative aspects of living.

This movie never fails to show that life isn't a field trip and there's no reward waiting for them at every turn. But Purok 7 is probably the best representation of Filipinos' resilience and the sense of community around. Here are two children who experience challenges on a daily basis but with each other, they still know how to laugh and to enjoy each other's company. Here are two kids who may not have parents guiding them but they have the neighbors who treat them like family and ready to jump to their aid anytime.

There's no resolution to the siblings' dilemma. There's no concrete ending that will tell you what exactly will happen next. But the movie is still wrapped up pretty well by showing us that life goes on despite all the things that seem to signify great changes in your life.

I'm not sure where they found Krystle Valentino but she does a lot of heavy-lifting in acting in this film. She's not only convincing as the candid and honest Diana, but she can also rip your hearts out by her struggle to accept their situation. She's amazing, and I hope that she gets more job that will challenge her as an actress. It's not just Valentino who does a good job, but the entire team also pulled off a really good movie. I'm not sure if it's in their intentions to create something so heart-warming and uplifting, but they did. What's even more amazing is how the movie seems to engage the entire audience that we ended laughing and crying with the siblings. Their emotions felt so raw that the audience can't help but empathize with them in every scene! It's effective storytelling at its finest.

What I particularly love in Purok 7 is how it touches on a reality that is rarely (or yet to be) tackled in the media:  the stories of the children of OFWs caught drug-trafficking in other countries. The faces of their parents plastered on every TV screen, the children have no choice but to await for news from the TV programs. It's amazing how they managed to put emphasis on what it could possibly be like without making light of the situation.

Have you ever felt grateful after watching a movie? Because it's what I felt once the closing credits rolled. It's not the gratefulness in the sense that I have more while others have less. It's more like being thankful for having the chance to see such an amazing movie. Too bad that it probably won't go mainstream. It's really the type of movie that many Filipinos will appreciate.

It's one of the only two movies I watched from this year's Cinemalaya. And of the dozens screened this year, I'm glad that I picked this one.