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All Told, A Pretty Fun Year [Year In Review, Part 4]

javabeans — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 04:01:28 +0000

After a pretty meh 2008, I was ready for the drama landscape to fire back up with 2009. And while there were a number of misses and disappointments — isn’t there always? — I was pretty satisfied with the dramas I watched in 2009. I still don’t think there were as many top offerings as, say, 2007, but I found a number of series to entertain me and satisfy my drama craving. There were a few selections early on that got me pumped for the year and things lagged during and after the summer months, but all told, I had an entertaining year.

(Okay, this is LONG. I tried to contain myself, really.)

SONG OF THE DAY

IRIS – “Empty” by Juni [ Download ]

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Post tags: Boys Before Flowers, Cinderella Man, Dream, Heading to the Ground, Hero, Hon, IRIS, Kyung Sook Kyung Sook's Father, My Fair Lady, Partner, Queen Seon-deok, Return of Iljimae, Smile, Sons of Sol Pharmacy House, Story of a Man, Style, Swallow the Sun, Tamra the Island, Triple, Will It Snow For Christmas, year in review, You're Beautiful

How was 2009 for you?

javabeans — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 03:00:54 +0000

With the year coming to an end, that means it’s time to take stock of the past twelve months (well, eleven really) in kdramas. The broadcast stations will be holding their awards ceremonies at the end of the month, and I’m working on my wrap-up of 2009′s offerings — as are some very talented (and prolific!) drama-watching fans — which I’ll post up closer to the end of the year.

But this is your turn to weigh in on what you liked or didn’t. I didn’t do a year-end poll last year (after putting one up in 2007) and people seemed to really want one, so it’s back.

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Post tags: A Star's Lover, Accidental Couple, Angel's Temptation, Boys Before Flowers, Brilliant Legacy, Cain and Abel, Cinderella Man, City Hall, Dream, Friend, Heading to the Ground, Hero, Hon, IRIS, Ja Myung Go, Job Well Done, Loving You a Thousand Times, My Fair Lady, Partner, Queen of Housewives, Queen Seon-deok, Return of Iljimae, Smile, Sons of Sol Pharmacy House, Story of a Man, Strike Love, Style, Tamra the Island, Triple, year in review

My Name Is: Im Joo-eun

javabeans — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 22:46:18 +0000

With MBC’s horror-thriller Hon being lauded as a well-made drama and its unknown lead actress garnering a lion’s share of the attention, Im Joo-eun has made a definitive leap to the big time. Here’s a look at the actress and how she beat out more than a thousand competitors to make such a splash in her first leading role.

Last March, a group of rookie actresses who had undergone an acting test took part in a question and answer period in front of MBC directors, who were acting as judges in the third round of auditions for the female lead of MBC’s special miniseries Hon. Out of 1,058 candidates, the final group comprised 14, and Im Joo-eun demonstrated comparatively solid acting skills. One director tossed out a question to Im, in a joking way, “If you want to be the lead in a horror drama, won’t you have to lose some of the fat in your cheeks?” Im Joo-eun didn’t hesitate for a second before calling out, “I’ll run 2 kilometers every day.” Immediately, she added, “Is that too little? Then, I’ll run 10 kilometers!” At her unexpected but determined attitude, everyone laughed. Two days later, director Kim Sang-ho ended his deliberations by choosing the large-eyed new actress for the lead role in the 10-episode drama.

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Premium horror drama Hon’s ending lacks punch

javabeans — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 05:40:31 +0000

This past Thursday, MBC’s “premium horror” series Hon (Soul) ended its 10-episode broadcast. While the drama has generally been received favorably, there were some comments expressing disappointment at its end. It’s been called “2% lacking,” which is an expression that means that everything was generally good, but missing a certain punch. (No spoilers in this article.)

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Post tags: Hon, Im Joo-eun, Kim Sang-ho, Lee Seo-jin

No extension for Hon after all

javabeans — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 04:15:18 +0000

Perhaps in reaction to the dip in viewership ratings, MBC has decided that it will not extend its “premium horror” drama Hon (Soul) after all. It had considered a two-episode extension after its successful premiere and good buzz for its fresh, taut story and suspenseful atmosphere. However, soon after the announcement, the ratings took a slight downturn from its high (about 12%) and currently sits around the 8%-9% mark.

Now it will end as originally scheduled with the 10th episode. Don’t be too disappointed, though; judging from the news last time, a potential extension wouldn’t have added new material, so it’s probable that this won’t result in any big plot changes. And with the Wednesday-Thursday battle shaping up for a tight race between KBS’s My Fair Lady and SBS’s Swallow the Sun, it’s not likely that Hon would have rallied back in a significant way. Best that it go out as planned, I say.

Via Star News

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Hon contemplates an extension

javabeans — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:25:51 +0000

MBC’s new horror-thriller Hon (Soul) aired its third and fourth episodes this week, but even before those broadcasts, the station had begun talks of extending the series.

The drama is doing well in its Wednesday-Thursday slot, looking strong out of the gate and buzz increasing for the well-produced, chilling story and its captivating rookie actress Im Joo-eun. Although the latest rating number is a modest 12% and puts it second after Swallow the Sun, given Hon‘s genre and subject material (and the 19+ rating doesn’t help), this is considered a good response (funny how the ratings work that way, isn’t it?).

I’m not a fan of extensions in general, but this is a bit different than your usual scenario: reportedly, this isn’t a move to hitchhike on the drama’s popularity, but rather because Episode 1 couldn’t fit in all that had been planned for the Episode 1 script. Lead actor Lee Seo-jin gave his tentative approval, saying, “If the script had been stretched out because of the extension, I would have turned it down, but I’m considering it in a positive light since this is because the drama hasn’t been able to show all of the plot that it had already planned.”

Part of the reason I convinced my wimpy self to give the horror thing a try was knowing that it would clock in at a brisk 10 episodes, but I suppose adding two episodes doesn’t make it that much more of a commitment. Still, I’m always wary of extensions…

Via No Cut News

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Hon: Episode 1

javabeans — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:32:37 +0000

I was hesitant to watch MBC’s new series Hon because I’m a big wimp when it comes to horror, but I was curious enough to give it a shot. And I found that while it has its jumpy moments, it’s not actually so scary that I can’t watch it. The fright comes more from ambiance and mystery than from actual scary moments — which on a psychological level may be more nerve-racking than a slasher.

What Hon does well is creating a mood, making moments out of little details. It’s very well-directed, confidently paced, and the music is downright fantastic — sometimes eerie, sometimes gentle, and often lovely.

[Watch the series at DramaFever]

SONG OF THE DAY

Mot – “Ghost” [ Download ]

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Post tags: first episodes, Hon, Im Joo-eun, Lee Jin, Lee Seo-jin, Park Gun-il

Hon goes underwater, on rooftops to build up horror

javabeans — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 03:20:47 +0000

Hon looks like it’s really building up the creep factor with its bloody promo pictures, its adult rating, and eerie shoots, like this one which involved submerging lead actress Im Joo-eun underwater for ten hours.

Such was the harshness of the conditions that Im suffered symptoms of hypothermic shock; the shoot began in the afternoon and extended till dawn the next morning. This particular scene which will air in the drama’s second episode..

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Hon drama production press conference

javabeans — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:29:16 +0000

Not that this is unusual for a kdrama, but I’ll say it again: This is one good-looking cast.

On August 3, the cast of MBC’s Hon gathered at the Ilsan MBC Dream Center for the drama’s production press conference. And while the drama’s two marquee names are Lee Seo-jin (Yi San) and ex-FinKL member Lee Jin (Hometown of Legends), a lot of attention was paid to the drama’s new face, Im Joo-eun, who was selected after an audition process that beat out more than a thousand competitors. Something tells me that whether or not Hon does well, she will be the buzz name the comes out of the project.

Plus, if you’re like me, perhaps your interest level in the supernatural thriller was on low until the recent announcement that the drama drew a 19-and-up age rating, which suddenly made it seem a lot more interesting.

Lee Seo-jin with Im Joo-eun

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Post tags: Hon, Im Joo-eun, Ji-yeon, Lee Jin, Lee Seo-jin, Park Gun-il, press conferences

Hon’s content rated too provocative for teens

javabeans — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 02:24:47 +0000

Ooh. Looks like MBC’s horror drama series Hon (Soul) actually IS as creepy as it looks, because it just got slapped with a 19+ viewer rating, which means that it is not recommended for viewers under the age of 19.

Given that this is a regular prime-time broadcast television series (and not, say, cable television, which is where the more risqué offerings usually reside), it’s rather unusual for a drama to be rated 19+. Another recent case is the Hyun Bin series Friend, Our Legend, which also received a 19+ rating for violence and ended up cutting and covering up some scenes.

Hon‘s production will be taking some last-minute editing steps before the show’s premiere next Wednesday. Producers explain that they attempted to fall within the criteria for a 15+ rating, but were unable to given the drama’s subject matter dealing with serial killings, its violent and provocative scenes, and use of profanity. They will also be curtailing the number of murder-related scenes and editing them, but because they would like to preserve the fright factor — it IS touted as a special summer horror series, after all — they won’t be changing too much.

Furthermore, reruns that air earlier in the day will have to be edited down to meet the more viewer-friendly “age 15″ rating. Hon stars Lee Seo-jin and premieres August 5.

Via Yonhap News

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