I think you may be disappointed, then with the 2nd half of the show. His character seems to drift away from the main storyline as the show progresses. Unfortunately, in that vacuum, Nam Sang Mi’s character takes over . . . . and uhh even Choi Ji Woo would slap that woman silly!

“Time of Dog and Wolf is much better than I expected. It’s a bit like Infernal Affairs mixed with Shanghai Bund, lol. ”

Oh no doubt. TODAW was written by the people who made Typhoon, and it’s almost a classic HK police story — “us” vs. “them”, right and wrong be damned, corruption all the way to the top! And the plotting of the last 1/3 of the story is just marvelous, literally you’re holding your breath until the last 5 minutes. And then in the last 5 minutes . . .

I like Lee Jung Ki (and he’s gloriously cocky after the plot twist), but I still feel he (like Nam Sang Mi and even Jung Kyung Ho) were miscast for the show. His adolescent, indecisive rage would have been perfect for the Oh Seung Ha character in Mawang. But, here, it’s a touch hammy, and well out of depths against actors like Choi Jae Sung and the Great Kim Gab Soo, both men who walk like giants among the dogs and wolves.

If you end up liking Dog and Wolf, I really recommend Iljimae. Once you make it past episode 7, the show becomes one heck of a page turner.

“(btw, I think SSH’s 50 episode drama East of Eden is pretty much a korean retelling on a HK melodrama – except for the switched at birth part, lol).”

I’m hoping East of Eden is a remake of Dallas, and Dennis O gets to play JR Ewing.

*continued from open thread #38*

@belleza

“Thanks to our lord and master Yonsama, Korean-Japanese relations have reached new heights!”

Lol, yeah. What next…Rain hooking up with Ayumi Hamasaki?

“Oh I think Women in the Sun (or at least up through Episode 8), it’s close to brilliant. The story takes the familiar revenge melodrama formula, and then tweaks it into a story about fear, isolation, human duality, familial bonds, etc.”

I’ve downloaded WotS up to episode 8 already and will start soon after I finish with Time of Dog and Wolf (it’s so engrossing right now!). From your description, it sounds really good, like a classic HK drama from the golden 80s. heh. Revenge, familial ties etc, multi-generational conflict was what HK dramas were famous for (btw, I think SSH’s 50 episode drama East of Eden is pretty much a korean retelling on a HK melodrama – except for the switched at birth part, lol).

Time of Dog and Wolf is much better than I expected. It’s a bit like Infernal Affairs mixed with Shanghai Bund, lol. Lee Jun Ki’s acting is still somewhat lacking in depth, but my estimation of him has increased from ‘My Girl’. But his foster brother in TODAW almost stole the show from him. Jung Kyung Ho deserved to win the best supporting actor award last year if MBC had this category. His performance was stellar.

I just had to post because you made me laugh since I have a younger brother I regularly call KJ. I just didn’t expect to read that.

@belleza

Heath Ledger actually was playing the Joker based on a specific comic book take. Basically the “zombie Joker” version, which I think (not seen it yet!) will be epic to see. So take a look at the comic book (or is it books? I can’t remember) if you could find that specific take. It should be interesting to see what inspired Heath Ledger’s take on Joker.

@coffeewhore

Now my college is insanely small (450ish tops) right now. So it’ll be different ’cause I bet you’ll be going somewhere else. However, I found my to be generally fun at orientation – but I also used that time to sneak away with the friends I made to go hang out, outside of the schedule they gave us. You really don’t need to be that outgoing, I’ve quite a few friends who aren’t. When in doubt, the outgoing ones really tend to find you. I met my group of friends from a (FREEZING!) slip and slid time where we just were chatting, someone mentioned how the stars were really bright, and so we snuck off to the rose garden to have a better look from all the lights. Just bring some spontaneity and I’d say you’ll be golden.

The movie will also get a shot at a Best Picture nomination if the movie has longevity, and if the winter season doesn’t produce a Hollywood prestige film that clicks with the audience.

Meryl Streep is a goddess. Didn’t know she could carry a tune. Her “winner takes it all” rendition was the absolute highlight of the film, and being the sentimal sucker my mother is, ate it all up with tears down her face.

Oh well, I wasn’t the intended demographic for the film, so I can’t complain.

Heath Ledger’s performance really is as good as published. What makes it so terrifying is that you sense no aggression (not even the passive aggressive sarcasm of Nicholson) or even anger from the Joker. This Joker is intimate, soft spoken . . . genuinely happy. And therefore, because you can’t sense his intention, none of the other characters can’t prepare for him. He enjoys the abyss and thinks you should too.

@coffeewhore,

Yeah, orientation can be an awkward vibe for most people. Freshman year is like that because you really want to make friends and kinda replace the social support system that you had in high school. Or at least at first. You want to be liked.

Later on, you’ll wish your friends would just go away already. Welcome to 2nd semester of freshman year.