The 16th Busan International Film Festival opened on October 6, and the red carpet to the opening screening — So Ji-sub and Han Hyo-joo’s tragic romance Only You — was awash with stars.

(For those of you used to seeing the festival called PIFF, it recently changed its spelling. The festival is in its 16th year and began back when the city was spelled Pusan. The spelling of the southern city officially changed to Busan in 2000, but the festival kept its former spelling, which naturally led to some confusion. Yeah, the Korean romanization system changes hasn’t been the most easy to follow.)

It’s been a while since we’ve had a big, star-packed red carpet, but this reminds me that we’re heading into awards season, and will soon be seeing lots of events like this. Which means, lots and lots of red carpets to ooh over, or, as the case may be, snark.

There were some questionable outfits (always fun), but overall I really like what I saw, even if there was an overwhelming trend toward leg slits Up To There and a good amount of side-boob. But the colors! Yay for colors!

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Read the rest of 16th Busan International Film Festival’s opening red carpet (1,347 words)

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Post tags: Byun Jung-soo, Cha Seung-won, Daniel Choi, Eom Ji-won, film festivals, Go Soo, Gu Hye-sun, Han Hyo-joo, Hong Su-ah, Hwang Woo-seul-hye, Jang Dong-gun, Ji Sung, Jung Seok-won, Kang Hye-jung, Kang So-ra, Kang Ye-won, Kim Dong-wan, Kim Haneul, Kim Min-joon, Kim Sae-ron, Kim Sun-ah, Lee Beom-soo, Lee Je-hoon, Min Hyo-rim, Nam Sang-mi, Park Jin-hee, Park Ye-jin, So Ji-sub, Sung Yuri, Wang Ji-hye, Yeh Ji-won, Yoo Ah-in, Yoo Inna, Yoon Jin-seo

Last episode! I wasn’t sure whether Miss Ripley would wrap up in a surge of melodrama or in unearned happy endings, but it delivers a dose of peace and resolution, with a smattering of bittersweetness. It’s somewhat satisfying, though a little pat for my tastes, but most importantly it gives each of our characters an ending that I think is fitting. (Ish.)

This started out a drama about one desperate woman’s lie to save herself from a miserable fate, and became an interesting study on the power of love (and the devastation wrought by a lack thereof). The mother-daughter conflict was a late entry, but emerges as the core of Miri’s conflict, both internal and external.

SONG OF THE DAY

The One – “그만해” (Enough) [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Miss Ripley: Episode 16 (Final) (3,816 words)

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Post tags: featured, Kang Hye-jung, Kim Seung-woo, Lee Da-hae, Micky Yoochun, Miss Ripley

Miri reaches the end of her rope, as everyone comes to collect what’s owed. The men in her life continue to think that they can save her, and don’t stop hurling themselves under buses to prove their love. Apparently a simple candygram just won’t do.

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Read the rest of Miss Ripley: Episode 15 (3,039 words)

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Post tags: featured, Kang Hye-jung, Kim Seung-woo, Lee Da-hae, Micky Yoochun, Miss Ripley

Or rather, her lack of one.

And not for no reason, either, since Kang Hye-jung’s role as Miri’s (Lee Da-hae) friend/rival/foil in Miss Ripley has failed to materialize, having been drastically cut in recent episodes. Viewers have noticed her nonentity status and let loose a string of complaints, and now Kang’s own agency has spoken out as well.

On the 13th, a rep stated in an interview that Kang is disappointed that her role has been reduced to near-invisibility in the drama, although she is determined to do her best with the remaining material.

When the drama was first announced, it was presented as a story about four leads, rather than two leads and two supporting characters. It’s hard to see how the drama could have scored such strong actors as Kang and Kim Seung-woo otherwise, given that they’re leading material themselves. Kim Seung-woo’s character has had more weight in the storyline, playing a major role in Miri’s rise and fall, although his sharp decline in visibility in recent weeks has also prompted grumbling amongst viewership.

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Read the rest of Kang Hye-jung dismayed over Ripley role (326 words)

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Post tags: Kang Hye-jung, Miss Ripley

The shit, it meets the fan, and for more than one person. I do appreciate the speed with which this drama blows the lid off of all its secrets, letting us speed past the inevitable angsting about whether they’ll be revealed (’cause we know they will) and head straight for the fallout. It’s an episode of revelations — for those Miri has swindled, as well as Miri herself, and that ever-present spoiler, The Media.

SONG OF THE DAY

Shin Hye-sung – “조금 더 가까이” (A little closer) [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Miss Ripley: Episode 14 (3,230 words)

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Post tags: featured, Kang Hye-jung, Kim Seung-woo, Lee Da-hae, Micky Yoochun, Miss Ripley

It’s the villains’ episode to shine, and Hirayama and Lee Hwa rock it. I really wish Hirayama had been in more of the drama from the start, instead of cooling his heels for so long. But hey, it’s worth the wait, since Miri has built up her tower, and now he’s here to both speed her inevitable fall, but also… to catch her when she does. How come even the villains have savior complexes in this drama?

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Read the rest of Miss Ripley: Episode 13 (2,812 words)

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Post tags: featured, Kang Hye-jung, Kim Seung-woo, Lee Da-hae, Micky Yoochun, Miss Ripley

He knows! It’s the death of the puppy and the rise of Dark Yoo-hyun, who is no less polite than before, but eerily icy beneath the surface. And let’s not count out Myung-hoon, who is quickly becoming Miri’s biggest opponent yet. Basically everyone serves Miri up a slice of humble pie, and it’s kind of awesome. Let the real fun begin.

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Read the rest of Miss Ripley: Episode 12 (2,943 words)

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Post tags: featured, Kang Hye-jung, Kim Seung-woo, Lee Da-hae, Micky Yoochun, Miss Ripley

More secrets are revealed! Some are new revelations, while others are just passed on to new people — like, say, our resident energizer puppy, who’s maybe not as big a pushover as he seemed at the outset. Oh, we’ve seen glimpses of his sharper side in brief moments, but now he stops playing the dupe and gets wise to a few things.

SONG OF THE DAY

Jisun – “바람아 불어라” (Blow, wind) [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Miss Ripley: Episode 11 (3,474 words)

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Post tags: featured, Kang Hye-jung, Kim Seung-woo, Lee Da-hae, Micky Yoochun, Miss Ripley

I think the most significant development to come of recent events isn’t even actual fallout from Miri’s lie, but the fact that she starts caring. About people only to a (teeny, tiny) degree, but mostly about how far she’s come, which makes her desperate to protect her achievement.

In previous episodes, she’s been like a feral creature, rabidly protecting herself from immediate harm and uncaring of the cost to her conscience or morals. Now that she’s found some degree of comfort, she starts to feel pangs of getting here the wrong way. To paraphrase one famous realityshowgoer: You’re gonna need your soul one day, and you won’t have it.

SONG OF THE DAY

8eight – “그대는 정말 대단해요” (You’re really amazing) [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Miss Ripley: Episode 10 (3,424 words)

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Post tags: featured, Kang Hye-jung, Kim Seung-woo, Lee Da-hae, Micky Yoochun, Miss Ripley

The secret’s out?! Already? Granted, not all of Miri’s covers are blown, but at least one of them is majorly exposed, with others possibly on the way. It’s refreshing that after Miri’s been managing her multiple lies for so many episodes like a precarious juggler with too any balls in the air, some finally start dropping from her grasp.

SONG OF THE DAY

Park Yoochun – “너를 위한 빈자리” from the Miss Ripley OST [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Miss Ripley: Episode 9 (3,549 words)

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Post tags: featured, Kang Hye-jung, Kim Seung-woo, Lee Da-hae, Micky Yoochun, Miss Ripley