Dance with The Wind

Another ballroom dance theme movie. And this time it's the Korean who made it. However, unlike its predecessors, Dance with The Wind tells a different storyline but with the same passion, the passion for dance.
In Korea, apparently ballroom dancing, unlike the Western counterparts, is identified as the dance that people do in bars which is involving naughty housewives and gigolos. So, it's a bit difficult for a man who really genuinely have the love to dance to express his passion, and he most of the time was being misunderstood as a gigolo, which he very much despised. The story ends with a heartwarming ending, and his search for

the dance that he's been wanting to have finally ended. This movie will leave you to ponder how far will you willing to go to pursue your passion, which in this case was done quite extreme.

Speaking of ballroom dancing theme movies, the hype was actually started by the Japanese with the title 'Shall We Dance?' which was released in 1996. The movie tells a story of how a man's life change after he discover the ballroom dancing. The boring life of salary man, which full of routine activities between work and family, makes him wonder of what's the meaning of his life. And he discover it with ballroom dancing. In Japan, where ballroom dancing is not really perceived as a man's sport, people are quite reluctant to admit to expressing themselves through this type of dancing. So the breakthrough that the main character have with ballroom dancing certainly emphasis the 'dare to be different' to obtain his own happiness. After all, everybody has the right to express their passions, as long as it doesn't hurt other people, off course.

So, with the success story of the Japanese counterpart, off course Hollywood would want to join the wagon. Thus, they make the remake (they're seems to be good at it now) in 2004 with the same movie title. Hollywood is not Hollywood if they don't throw in the big stars name in a remake movie. So they cast in Richard Gere as the salary man and Jennifer Lopez as the dance instructor. Although it's also a good movie, something is missing when you compare it with the Japanese version. My guess is because in Western culture, ballroom dancing is not a 'taboo'. People embrace dancing and the American salary man here doesn't have so much dilemma about his passion as what the Japanese salary man has.

In the end, it's all a good movies with the same message, pursuing your passion is liberating and give you the new meaning of life. What's better than enjoying life doing something you like?

Baby and Me

Another story about the life of single daddy. First, it's Rain in 'Sang Do Goes Back to School' and now here is 'Baby and Me'.

Joon Su's life changed when Woo Ram was left in his shopping cart when he did some grocery for the latter party in his house to celebrate his independence against his parents. Then, the life of a young single daddy started and it ain't easy.

What I like about this movie.

1. Off course it's the cuteness. The baby is cute, Geun-seok is cute. The pair make a good laugh itself. Geun Seok's role is very different from the one in 'Doremifasolasido.' In here, he portrays a irresponsible rich kid that suddenly must face the responsibility of being a dad. I like particular his acting towards the end of the movie. All the emotional roller-coaster and his dilemma of whether he should let go of Woo Ram or just follow his heart.

2. The storyline is not at all boring. It'll give you lots of laughs. Some funny moments are when Joon Su tried to hide Woo Ram inside the locker while he were in school. Or, when Joon Su left Woo Ram inside the train while he boarded off. But a drama is not a drama without touching moments too. Along the movie, Joon Su develop a bond with Woo Ram and it's hard to let go when the bond was that strong.

3. The message behind it. Teenage pregnancy is still not accepted in the society, but this is the reality and this movie reflect this issue behind the drama and comedy. It's hard having a kid to take care off while you're yourself still a kid. Going to school is tough. Looking for a job is even tougher. And, who will provide the food for the kid? The hardship that comes with is very challenging for a 19-year old kid. Especially if you're parents are not around, then you're on your own, Dude.

Overall, a cute and heart touching movie and definitely a must watch for Geun Seok's fans.

Do Re Mi Fa So La Si Do

This movie is about Eun Gyu and Jung Won. Then comes the protagonist Hee Won in the middle. 'Do Re Mi Fa So La Si Do' is the band name that Eun Gyu and Hee Won in. This movie has both sweet and bitter side of love with teenager's band settings. However, the message applies to us that love is all about sacrifice, giving, endurance and letting go.

What I like about this movie:

1. The OST. I like all the song, especially the last 2 songs that Geun Seok sang in the concert. It's a tear-jerker! Sang with the agonizing pain shown in his face. You'll definitely feel for him and start cursing Hee Won.

2. This movie is all about love. How the love started all come from different ways, different methods, different paths.

3. The characters. Eun Gyu with care free personality who make Jung Won to open her heart again after a painful past. Hee Won as the 'enemy' driven with revenge and bitterness but later on learned about how to let go. Jung Won who always let the guilt cloud her feelings and finally learn how to be true to herself.

4. And but not least, off course, the eye candy. We can always drool on Geun Sook and Wui Cheol *wink*. And with that mellow voice and this kind of story, it's a recipe to melt your heart. We're girls and we tend to get emo.... Ouuwww....

If you like chick flicks, this movie is definitely in your list!

西洋骨董洋菓子店 ～アンティーク～

Based on Manga with the same title by Fumi Yoshinaga, 'Antique Bakery' (in translation) anime will bring cheer to your home. The story starts with Tachibana partnering with Ono, the pastry chef to open a Western bakery shop called Antique. Come along in the story is Eiji, a retired boxing champion who decided to become Ono's apprentice after trying his cake. To make the drama more lively, a new guy is added, Chikage who is Tachibana's 'bodyguard' decided to company his 'master' joined the club as a waiter. Together they bring cheers to the customers with the super lucious looking cakes while solving the mistery behind Tachibana's past.

I come to know this anime because I watched the J-dorama years ago. Eiji is played by Hideaki Takizawa and the soundtrack is by Mr Children. It's a very lively drama minus Tachibana's kidnapping frenzy during his childhood. And, off course the drama must be PG rating if not PG-13, so Ono's yaoi episodes are out.

To my surprise, now they also have the K-movie version of it. Starring Joo Ji Hoon as Tachibana. FYI, he's the prince in 'Goong'. And, as Ono is Kim Jae Wook. For those fans, this movie will be a treat of eye candy guys serving cakes to the girls' tables. But, I'm not sure whether this will be as good as the J-drama. Off course, nothing can beat the anime because everything is possible in anime. Look at Ono's yaoi madness in episode 4, 5 and his relationship with Chikage.

All in all, this is a prefect recipe of success of having 4 bishounens all together in 1 bakery shops and which girls who doesn't like desserts? All are 'kireii' and 'kawaii'. Ne?

Virgin Snow

If you’re a sucker for romantic drama movies, then this movie is definitely highly on my must watch movie list. It’s a Japan-Korea collaboration, similar to ‘Friends’. The story is about Min who just transferred from Seoul to Kyoto due to his dad’s job. Not knowing any Jap, Min then meets Nanae and had love at the first sight moment (they always have to make it in slow motion). And thus their story begins. What makes me recommend this movie is definitely not the plot. Lots of movies are made based on similar plot especially Korean dramas. What makes it different is for a couple of reasons. 1. It’s so cute and adorable. Yes, the story is simple and to the point of cliché, yet the chemistry of Min and Nanae is so cute. Especially how Min reacts on Nanae is totally adorable. 2. Korean actors know how to express this kind of love in their acting (those \in Korean drama especially) and definitely know how to cry and make it looks so cool (only in movies, don’t make this as your assumption in the real world). ** This may be biased, but I like Lee Jun Ki so I think he’s doing quite good in this movie (his acting not as intense as his other movies though). 3. The setting, Kyoto, the movie shows the beautiful sceneries of Kyoto that will makes you wish you’d be there but definitely not alone haha (especially the scene when Min and Nanae were on their date in the bamboo park). 4. It’s a happy ending, so don’t loose your faith even though you watch Min sort of angry and giving up his love in the middle, but soon regretting of hurting Nanae and running desperately in the snowy weather clinging to his love. Hey, it really took faith to keep loving the person like that. The last 15 min of the movie is similar to Tada Kimi o Aishiteru, only this one is ended with happiness (oops, spoiler, but think only Feli will watch so what the heck haha)