Whats on Asia?

Movie review: When Romance Meets Destiny(a.k.a. Gwangsigi Dongsaeng Gwangtae)

2008-05-15T08:18:00.000-07:00

AKA
Gwangsigi Dongsaeng Gwangtae

Summary

Gwang-sik can't always confess his love for his lover and hides when a rival appears. He runs a photo studio and can't forget Yoon-gyeong, his unrequited love whom he met seven years ago, while at university and couldn't reveal his love for her. One day, he meets her again at his friend Myeong-chan's wedding ceremony and loses his head when she remembers his name and his class vividly. She just goes saying that if she's in the mood, she'll visit his photo studio. His heart begins to go pit-a-pat.
Gwang-tae, who is 7 years younger than Gwang-sik, has met 70 times as many girl friend as his elder brother. He's the playboy and has his own dating policies---"don't sleep with a woman more than 12 times," "when sleeping with a woman, don't reveal your innermost feelings," and "don't play with a woman who he knows." He sticks to his own free style about life and love. Intending to meet a slender woman, he participates in the marathon race and he falls for the sexy Gyeong-jae there. A few days later, he meets her again and begins a hot and cool love affair with her. He is tormented by his policy that he should break up with her before sleeping with her a 12th time, but Gyeong-jae first bids farewell. Though he should be happy about her farewell, his feelings about her are unusually serious.

Cast
Kim Ju-hyeok
Bong Tae-gyu
Lee Yo-won
Kim A-jung

Movie review: Legend Of Seven Cutter

2008-05-15T08:16:00.000-07:00

The “Seven Cutter” is a legend around high schools across the country. His name is Han Su and he remains unbeaten throughout the school system. Whoever tries to fight him not only faces the indignity of losing but is left with Han-Su’s trademark 7cm scar to remind them of their loss.

When innocent new kid Han Su (An Jae Mo - Haan, Birdcage Inn) starts at Seong Ji High School, he is instantly mistaken for the “Seven Cutter”. He is blissfully unaware of why the other students are giving him such an icy reception, and so when the toughest boy at Seong Ji challenges Han Su to a fight, he has no choice but defend himself. And when he accidentally wins, things start getting really confusing for Han Su. Also starring comedian Jung June Ha and former Baby VOX member Yoon Eun Hye (Goong) in her big screen debut.

CAST
* Ahn Jae-Mo
* Yun Eun-Hye
* Lee Jeong(a)
* Jeong Jun-Ha
* Hyun Young(a)
* Park Seul-Gi
* Cheon Myeong-Hun
* Park Hyo-Jun
* Ju Ho-Seong
* Jang Jeong-Hee
* Kim Eul-Dong
* Yun Mun-Sik

Movie review: Casshern(a.k.a. Kyashān)

2008-05-15T08:10:00.000-07:00

AKA
Kyashān

Summary

In a world with an alternate history, a great war finally comes to an end leaving the earth diseased and polluted.

The geneticist Dr. Azuma vies for support from the government for his neo-cell treatment that he claims can rejuvenate the body and regenerate humankind. The government leaders, guarding their own deeply entrenched powers, turn down the professor.

Driven to complete his work, Dr. Azuma accepts a secret offer from a sinister faction of the powerful military. After an incident occurs in Dr. Azuma's lab, a race of mutant humans known as the Shinzo Ningen are unleashed upon the world.

Now only the warrior known as Casshern, reincarnated with an invincible body, stands between the Shinzo Ningen and a world on the brink of annihilation.

Based on a 1973 Japanese animé, Shinzo Ningen Casshân.

Cast
Yusuke Iseya - Casshern/Tetsuya Azuma
Kumiko Aso - Luna Kozuki
Akira Terao - Kotaro Azuma-hakase
Kanako Higuchi - Midori Azuma
Fumiyo Kohinata - Kozuki-hakase
Hiroyuki Miyasako - Akubon
Jun Kaname - Barashin
Hidetoshi Nishijima - Lieutenant Colonel Kamijo
Mitsuhiro Oikawa - Kaoru Naito
Susumu Terajima - Sakamoto
Hideji Otaki - Kamijô-Sôsai
Tatsuya Mihashi - Furoi hakase
Toshiaki Karasawa - Burai
Mayumi Sada - Sagurê

Movie review: Volcano High(a.k.a. Hwasan High School)

2008-05-15T08:08:00.000-07:00

AKA
Hwasan'go
Hwasan High School
WaSanGo

Summary

It revolves around a troublemaking high school student named Kim Kyung-soo who finds himself transferred to the last school that will take him, the prestigious Volcano High.

It's an institution whose students display an incredible talent in martial arts, with a few demonstrating even more mysterious psychic powers, notably Jang Ryang and Song Hak-rim.

Kim is drawn into fights between different clubs, a Manual that is told to hold great power, and a group of teachers that will do whatever possible to keep the students in line.

Cast
Hyuk Jang - Kim, Kyeong-su
Min-a Shin - Yu, Chae-i
Su-ro Kim - Jang, Ryang
Sang-woo Kwone - Song Hak-Rim
Hyo-jin Kong - So, Yo-seon
Sang-hun Jeong - Golbangi
Hyeong-jong Kim - Shim, Ma
Shi-ah Chae - Yo-mi

Movie review: Art of fighting(a.k.a. Ssa-woom-eui Gi-sool)

2008-05-15T08:04:00.000-07:00

AKA
Ssa-woom-eui Gi-sool
Ssaum-ui gisul
Ssaumui Gisul
The Art of Fighting

Summary

Song Byeong-tae is a timid and weak high school student whose daily routine consists of being beaten by school bullies.

Dreaming of a peaceful life free from the beatings, he reads all kinds of books, but every day life is a series of hardships. Then, one day, he meets a strange man, named Oh Pan-su, staying in B, a special room, in Daemyeong reading room.

Waiting for the day to leave for the blue sea of Mexico, Pan-su was a legendary master of martial arts while secluding himself from the world with his own art of life. 15 years ago, he was the master of the masters, winning nationally with his legendary ability to fight.

Although he seems indifferent to everything, Byeong-tae's hidden ability stimulates his interest. However, it's not easy to break the fear of Byeong-tae, who has been beaten continuously.

Will Byeong-tae, who lacks practice and experience, be the true master in the world where life itself is a series of fights? What will Pan-su teach to Byeong-tae?
(Source: Unknown)

Cast

Yun-shik Baek - Oh Man-su
Yeo-jin Choi - Young-ae
Hae-Yeon Gil
Eung-su Kim - Hyung-ho
Hyun-kyoon Lee - Song Byung-tae (as Hee Jae)

Movie review: A Millionaire's First Love

2008-05-14T05:38:00.000-07:00

AKA
A Millionaire's First Love

Summary
Kang Jae-kyung is your typical spoiled rich kid; he’s arrogant, drives sporty cars, attends the big clubs, rides through school corridors on his motorcycle and - wait, that’s not typical at all is it? As his 18th birthday approaches he’s set to inherit his grandfather’s fortune, but that comes with a price. Jae-kyung is going to have to earn his fortune. His grandfather lays down an ultimatum; Jae-kyung is required to transfer to a new school in Gangwondo and graduate. Until then all access to his penthouse, cottage and credit cards is denied. Should he fail to graduate or drop out then he loses everything. With little choice he heads out to the countryside and a small town in which daily life is far removed from what he’s used to.

Shortly after settling into his new home he meets 19 year-old Choi Eun-whan, who just happened to run into him back in Seoul. They don’t exactly hit it off; he’s far too stubborn and cool for school, while she sees hope for him and sets out to make him see it for himself. As they eventually draw closer, thanks to a set of coincidences and school projects they learn more about one another, but soon a shattering revelation will change these people forever, or something.

Cast

Hyun Bin
Lee Yeon-Hee
Lee Han-Sol
Jo Yong-Jun
Ham Yu-Seon
Jo Gyu-Cheol
Jeong Wuk
Kim Byeong-Se

REVIEW

One of Kdramas that would bring tears to your eyes. Its really amazing how fate can change one's life and how you can find a light in an unexpected situation and suddenly lose it. Surely one of my favorite movies.

Note: Full movie can be seen at crunchyroll.com...

Movie review: Wind struct(a.k.a. Nae Yeojachingureul Sogaehamnida)

2008-05-13T05:34:00.001-07:00

AKA
Nae Yeojachingureul Sogaehamnida

Summary

Opposites attract in Windstruck, the successful 2004 romantic comedy/drama from writer/director Kwak Jae Yong, the man behind the 2001 box office mega hit My Sassy Girl! Jang Hyuck, star of such films as Volcano High and Please Teach Me English, takes on the role of Myung Woo, a mild mannered teacher who gets mistaken for a purse snatcher while chasing the real culprit down! To Myung Woo's surprise, he finds himself arrested by Gyeong Jin, a gung-ho, tough-as-nails young cop played by none other than Jeon Ji Hyun, star of My Sassy Girl and Il Mare.
Although this hilarious case of mistaken identity is eventually sorted out, Myung Woo has to return to the police station only a few days later in order to carry out some "community service" by accompanying a police officer while he walks his day-to-day beat. However, Myung Woo is shocked to learn that he's going to be following "Dirty Harriet" herself, Gyeong Jin! After spending the entire night handcuffed to his sexy, but dangerous partner as she chases down no-good criminals, Myung Woo begins to discover that he's falling for the brassy, and yet, sassy law enforcement agent! But as a relationship begins to develop between the two, will Gyeong Jin's over-enthusiastic police tactics get in the way of her love for Myung Woo? Is "Happily Ever After" even a possibility for these two? The answers to these questions and more are waiting to be discovered in Windstruck, a film which many fans regard as an unofficial companion piece to My Sassy Girl!

CAST

* Ji-hyun Jun as Kyung-jin Yeo
* Hyuk Jang as Myung-woo Ko

Movie Review: Love me not

2008-05-12T07:56:00.000-07:00

SUMMARY

Julian has lived off with the money he lures from his rich female customers. But now he faces usurious debts from a hasty expansion of his business, and he will be killed unless he clears the debt in one month. The only way to save himself is to pretend to be the long-lost brother of an heiress and kill her to get her huge fortune. Min, the blind heiress, cold-hearted like Julian, slowly opens herself to him, and he, too, falls for her. But Julian has to pay his creditor and what makes it worse for him is that the illness that took Min’s eyesight relapsed, threatening her life.

CAST

* Kim Joo-hyeok
* Moon Geun-yeong
* Do Ji-won
* Jin Goo
* Lee Ki-young
* Choi Seong-ho
* Seo Hyeon-jin
* Jo Sang-geon
* Park Jin-yeong

Movie Review: Two faces of my girlfriend(a.k.a. Dooulgurui Yeochin )

2008-05-12T07:49:00.000-07:00

AKA

두얼굴의 여친
Dooulgurui Yeochin
Du Eolgul-ui Yeochin
Du Eolguleui Yeochin
Two Faces of My Girls
Two Faces of My Girl Friend

Summary

23-year-old Gu-chang has never been kissed and his friends always make fun of him not having a "proper" experience.

One day, he picks up a lost purse, which leads him to meet the owner of that purse, Ani. He falls in love with this lovely girl who is also a bit strange and wild.

She seems to be a perfect girlfriend for Gu-chang only until he finds that Ani has multiple personality disorder due to a harsh memory of her ex-boyfriend's death. Ani is just one of her alternative characters, and her real name is Yuri.

Cast

Bong Tae-Gyu
Jeong Ryeo-Won
Kim In-Kwon
Kim Tae-Hyeon
Kim Jeong-Guk
Kim Kyung-Rae
Jang Ji-Woong
Kim Hye-Ok
Lee Hye-Eun
Go Tae-Ho
Lee Su-Na
Lee Young-Ah(a)

Movie Review: The Classic(a.k.a Keulraesik)

2008-05-10T22:00:00.000-07:00

AKA

클래식
Keulraesik
Classic

Summary

Shy Ji-hae's friend is having problems expressing her feelings to the boy she loves, so she asks Ji-hae to write e-mails to him in her name.

As the boy falls in love with her letters, Ji-hae discovers the story of her mother's romance which is remarkably similar to her own circumstances.

Cast

Ye-jin Son - Ji-hae / Ju-hie
In-seong Jo - Sang-min
Seung-woo Cho - Jun-ho
Ki-woo Lee - Tae-su
Sang-in Lee - Su-kyeong
Ye-jin Lim - Shopkeeper
Hyeon-tae Yang - Seok-woo

Review

The movie is good, it's plot is really interesting. It will keep you craving for more.
A story of a girl that slowly discovers the past story of her mother and how it would affect
her future.

Note: movie can be seen at crunchyrool.com

Movie Review: Il Mare(a.k.a Siwolae )

2008-05-10T21:20:00.000-07:00

AKA

시월애
Siwolae
Siwora
The Sea

Summary

The story begins with Eun-joo moving out of a house by the sea called "Il Mare". As she is leaving, she leaves a Christmas card in the mailbox, asking the next resident to please forward her mail to her.

Sung-hyun, an architectural student, receives her card, but is puzzled, since he is the first resident at "Il Mare" and the card is dated 2 years in the future.

After a series of back and forth correspondences, Eun-joo and Sung-hyun realize they are living 2 years apart, Eun-joo in the year 2000 and Sung-hyun in the year 1998.

After some testing, Eun-joo and Sung-hyun discover that the mailbox at "Il Mare" is enabling their communication and they can pass objects through it.

Cast

Jung-Jae Lee - Han Sung-hyun
Gianna Jun (formerly, Jun Ji-hyun) - Kim Eun-ju

Review

This is the Korean version of the movie Lake House. If you've watched the Lake House then you must see this one for theirs some difference in the plot.

Note: full movie can be seen at crunchyroll.com

Movie Review: My Tutor Friend 2(a.k.a Donggamnaegi Gwaoehagi Reseun 2 )

2008-05-10T21:06:00.000-07:00

AKA
Donggamnaegi Gwaoehagi Reseun 2

SUMMARY:

Japanese-Korean girl Junko (Lee Cheong Ah) travels to Seoul as an exchange student in hopes of seeing a Korean student whom she had fallen in love with in Japan. When she arrives at her new university, she finds out that her love-to-be is in the army.

On top of that, the guesthouse she's staying at is full of rowdy young guys, including the owner's grating son Jong Man (Park Ki Woong) who also happens to be her Korean tutor. This disagreeable tutor, however, is a lot more interested in teaching her inappropriate words than conjugation.

The two initially spend all their time fuming and feuding, but Junko slowly discovers there's more to Jong Man under his insensitive exterior.

Review

Unfortunately I was not able to get the list of its characters. This one of those comic-love stories that would really keep you laughing till you drop. It's a cat-and-mouse story that ends up into a sweet love story. Two different people from two different world and different countries comes in contact with each other. What could more wackier that their adventure to find true happiness.

Note: Full movie can be seen at crunchyroll.com

Movie Review: Virgin Snow (a.k.a Hatsuyuki no Koi )

2008-05-10T20:55:00.000-07:00

Summary

Min moves to Japan following his professor father. One day at a local shrine, he meets a beautiful Japanese girl with innocent eyes. Her name is Nanae, and she is an aspiring painter. Min falls for her at first sight, and soon learns that Nanae attends the same school to which Min has just transferred. They become friends, and despite the culture and language barriers it is an intense friendship. When his grandmother suddenly falls ill, Min hastily returns to Korea but can’t get in touch with Nanae beforehand. After his grandmother regains her health, he hurries back to Japan to reunite with Nanae, but she is nowhere to be found. Had his true feelings for Nanae not been apparent to her? Why has Nanae disappeared without a word?

Cast

Jun-gi Lee - Min Kim
Aoi Miyazaki - Nanae Sasaki
Ayaka Morita
Otoha
Shun Shioya
Miyu Yagyu
Kimiko Yo

Review

This movie is wonderful, it so nice. Specially the part where they try to communicate with each other and finds it hard due to language barrier. They both enjoyed each others company and tried to understand each other conquering their differences. In the end you'll discover the secret of Nanae's most acclaimed painting.

Note: full version can be seen at crunchyroll.com

Movie Review: Shindo(a.k.a. The Prodigy)

2008-05-10T20:41:00.000-07:00

Summary:

One 13-year-old piano prodigy, Uta Naruse (Riko Narumi), and her struggle with the meaning of playing classical music. Her father (Hidetoshi Nishijima) died mysteriously some years earlier, leaving her mother (Satomi Tezuka) poor and obsessed with making Uta fulfill her immense promise. But Uta is not sure if she even wants to play the piano. She gains a new perspective one day when she runs into Wao Kikuna (Kenichi Matsuyama) in a park.The piano-playing son of a greengrocer who is still trying to enter the music academy after several failures, Wao is six years her senior but far below her level of talent. Yet through his clumsy and misguided but earnest efforts to pursue music, Uta touches a more down-to-earth love of playing the piano. Wao, although a bit envious of Uta's genius, is sparked by her presence to have his own moments of brilliance.

Cast:
Riko Narumi ... Uta Naruse
Kenichi Matsuyama ... Oto Kikuna
Satomi Tezuka ... Mika Naruse
Masahiro Komoto ... Kazuo Nagazaki
Hidetoshi Nishijima ... Koichiro Naruse
Shihori Kanjiya ... Kane Kamogawa
Kazuyoshi Kushida ... Professor Mikoshiba
Kazuyuki Asano ... Professor Komiyama
Midoriko Kimura ... Masako Kikuna
Keita Okada ... Susumu Ikeyama
Kazuya Sato ... Morimoto
Tamae Ando ... Kikuko Mishima
Erisa Yanagi ... High School Student
Hideko Yoshida ... Professor Katsura
Akira Emoto ... Hisashi Kikuna

Review:

Although i don't really understand the run of the movie, I can say that its one of those inspiring movies. It would definitely want you to pursue your own dreams just like the main actor of the movie. Wao Kikuna (Kenichi Matsuyama) pictures a person pursuing his dreams and trying so hard to become good at what he is doing. Uta Naruse (Riko Narumi) pictures a person who has given the talent or the ability to do things more beautifully but doesn't want to do it. You will see in this movie their struggles as they both search the real reason why they play the piano.

Note: full version can be seen at crunchyroll.com

Movie Review: Ashita no Watashi no Tsukurikata(a.k.a. How to Become Myself)

2008-05-10T20:25:00.000-07:00

Summary

Based on a novel by 30-year-old Kaori Mado, HOW TO BECOME MYSELF, tells the tale of two girls faced with that typical adolescent choice — fit in or be cast out. Juri portrays the role of the ideal daughter at home and in school, but all she really wants is for her parents to stop fighting. Deep down, she admires her popular primary school classmate Kanako. However, Kanako suddenly becomes the class outcast. Years later in high school and still craving popularity, Kanako begins receiving mysterious emails about a popular girl named Hina. Inspired, she adopts this fake persona. But what happens when the emails stop?

Cast

Riko Narumi ... Juri Oshima
Atsuko Maeda ... Hinako Hanada
Mariko Ishihara ... Satsuki Oshima
Yoshizumi Ishihara ... Masashi Sugitani
Sousuke Takaoka ... Hiroyuki Tamura
Yoshimasa Kondo ... Kenichi Furugaki
Kaoru Okunuki ... Hinako's mother
Tomorowo Taguchi ... Koji Ueshima

Review

At first glance, this seems like another “seishun eiga” or youth drama. But Director Jun Ichikawa transcends the clichés associated with this popular film genre and focuses on how two girls struggle to define their individual identities in modern Japanese society.

Personally I really like this movie. It depicts the struggles of two persons to find their places in society. Juri(Riko Narumi) is a popular girl in their school who struggles to find what family really means in the other hand Hinako( Atsuko Maeda) is an outcast who transfered to another school to avoid her past. They both find strength with each other as they travel the long hard path of life. I recommend that you watch this movie for it is one of those worth-to-watch movies. It will surely touch the deepest part of your heart.

Note: Full version can be seen at crunchyroll.com

Movie Review: Kimi ni shika kikoenai(a.k.a Calling you)

2008-05-10T20:15:00.000-07:00

Movie Review:
Kimi ni Shika Kikoenai (a.k.a. Calling You)
Only You Can Hear Me

Summary

Shy, quiet, and unsure of herself, Aihara Ryo (Narumi Riko) doesn't quite fit in anywhere. Though she wants to make friends, she has trouble speaking up and holding a normal conversation like everyone else. It seems that whenever she talks, the words just don't come out correctly. Gradually, Ryo has gotten used to living life in silence as a lonely and introverted student. With no one to talk to, Ryo also has no need for a cell phone. Longing for friends to talk to, she creates a cell phone in her mind for imaginary phone conversations, and much to her surprise, one day Shinya (Koide Keisuke) picks up on the other side. For the first time in her life, Ryo has found someone she can talk to.

Cast
Riko Narumi ... Ryo Aihara
Keisuke Koide ... Shinya Nozaki
Mika Hada ... School Doctor
Shinichirô Ishikawa ... Yoshida
Kouichi Iwaki ... Toda
Nana Katase ... Ryo Harada
Yûko Kotegawa ... Nobuko Aihara
Hideo Nakano ... Tetsushi Aihara
Rikako Sakata ... Miki Aihara
Nobuhiko Takada ... Mr. Yamaguchi
Kaoru Yachigusa ... Sachi Nozaki

Review:

Directed by Hagishima Tatsuya, Kimi ni Shika Kikoenai (a.k.a. Calling You) is based on the same-titled light novel series by popular writer Otsuichi. Like Otsuichi's Waiting in the Dark, which was also recently adapted for the big screen, Kimi ni Shika Kikoenai revolves around two lonely young people who find each other in an uncommon manner. The film's strengths lie in its haunting, empathetic story and genuinely affecting performances from young leads Narumi Riko and Koide Keisuke. At only 15 years old, Narumi Riko has established herself as one of Japan's best young actresses, already with seven years of acting experience under her belt and a maturity that belies her age. The beautiful actress has found both popularity and acclaim with her many television outings, as well as subtle performances in films like Shindo and How to Become Myself. Koide is also a familiar face to audiences, having appeared in many popular youth films and dramas like Pacchigi!, Linda Linda Linda, and Nodame Cantabile, and he takes on his first leading film role in Kimi ni Shika Kikoenai.

The only thing I dislike in this movie is the fact that the whole telepathy thing really works like a cellphone. It really rings and hang up, it's totally unnecessary because it only makes the movie a bit cheesy. What I love in this movie are the twist, like Shinya was a deaf and mute person and that Narada lady was actually her in the future, no wonder she told Ryo that "What ever happen she will overcome it." and the sign language at the end that Shinya showed her. Over all I love this movie.

Other movies that Narumi Riko stared in are Shindo, Ashita no watashi no tsukurikata, Ame no machi, Gigglo Wannabe, The Great Yokai War and Trick: The Movie. These movies are guaranteed worth the watch.