"Kwon isn’t bad, but he does seem way too old for this role — I could have worked if he was trying to play, say, 28."

Honestly, I think it's the Pama. It's black magic to me, black magic I tell you! :D

I seriously thought he could pass for 25-28 or so. But, you know, part of it is that in recent photos, you could definitely see the wrinkles (esp. the smiling lines.) I was so glad I didn't see that here.

"But it’s like he’s trying to play 23, and that’s a little much, plus he has that exaggerated accent when he’s playing Poor Guy"

Yeah, that's the thing. I get confused between the Pauper accent and his lisp. His sloshiness tends to win over all dialects. :D

I noticed that Yoona seemed to grimace a lot (that and her hair looks damaged, which makes more look more mature? O_o ) When she cries, she makes the same face I make when I'm eating bitter melon.

I think the thing is, the scenario kinda reminded me of East of Eden, but in a way that I really enjoyed. Babies are taken away; there's a bunch of funerals; Kwon Sang Woo gets slapped around by grandmums; there's plenty of lamentations and big hair. This could be a great comedy. :D

#21 Kobe -
"Same writer as Lobbyist and Air City yes, but why doesn’t anyone mention his successes such as All In, Love Story in Harvard and Jumong?"

Er, I thought Love Story in Harvard performed below expectations ratings-wise (in Korea).

Anyhoo, I'm still watching this for Lee Byung Hun. Even though Kim Tae Hee DOES look pretty dumb in that poster.

I'm really only interested in seeing TOP. I don't expect much from him acting wise and I predict, as in I Am Sam, he will just stand around looking TOP like. Which I am completely okay with.

#52

Just checked the LSIH ratings at dramawiki and it averaged 19%. For today's standards that's a rip-roaring success, but I agree back in those days anything below 20% wasn't that impressive.

LSIH was however a HUGE hit in other Asian countries and turned Kim Rae Won and Kim Tae Hee into superstars. And they are still riding the LSIH wave as of today despite not much success in their subsequent projects.

There's no doubt it wasn't a great drama with it's low budget, awful acting by American extras and a very typical storyline, but it was most definitely a Hallyu drama with Hallyu stars and thus considered a success.

"LSIH was however a HUGE hit in other Asian countries and turned Kim Rae Won and Kim Tae Hee into superstars."

Yup, can't emphasize that enough. LSIH was maybe only half a notch below Full House in Hallyu popularity. How do I know? Let's just say the "SHK vs. KTH" poll (or the "SHK vs. KTH vs. YEH. vs. LDH" ultimate deathmatch poll) over at D-addicts only finally died somewhere in early 2007. :D

Kim Tae Hee was/is LOVED by Chinese guys. The Hallyu rubric goes like this:

The Perfect Chinese Daughter: Lee Young Ae
The Perfect Chinese Short-Term Girlfriend: Jeon Ji Hyun
The Perfect Chinese BFF: Chae Rim
The Perfect Chinese Long-Term Girlfriend: Kim Tae Hee
The Perfect Chinese Sex Symbol : Song Hye Kyo

SHK is considered a sex symbol by Chinese men? 8O

I have never really seen SHK as a sex symbol because she is too good for that. She is the embodiment of beauty and should not be desecrated by the status of mere sex symbol!! But then again, I'm not Chinese, although I do share similar tastes to them :)

Kim Tae Hee I most definitely agree with as long term gf because she has brains and brains ranks as the #2 thing us men look for in a long term relationship. The #1 prerequisite is of course: Her face needs to smaller than the size of a single CD. That is the very reason I carry around the latest Wonder Girls single on my dates. :D

@Kobe,

"SHK is considered a sex symbol by Chinese men? "

Yup, I just verified this with my brother in case I was misrepresenting SHK's insane popularity with Chinese men.

It's difficult to explain, because it's not Lee Hyori-type sexiness and it's not really "Western" concept of sexy. It's a little bit like Gong Li type sensuality: buxom, full, and yet intensely femininine, serious and raven-like. It's not even 2008 SHK per se, more like "Chubby SHK" (her words, not mine LOL) I can't really explain it -- Chinese guys just go NUTS over Chubby Song Hye Ko. It's actually kinda annoying LOL

Maybe you can explain to me? ;)

"The #1 prerequisite is of course: Her face needs to smaller than the size of a single CD."

It's definitely that. ;)

Face size of CD = beautiful.
Face size of eraser = super beautiful!!!
Face size of proton = more beautiful than beautifulness!!!!!!!

seems like a boring one. i dont like kim tae hee's looks in this poster. i dont think she fits the role. her image is more of like a cute whiny romantic gal in romantic dramas instead of gun banging fighting drama. and lee byung hun?? never too fond of him..... and yes, i agree. i get the same vibe, lobbyist. totally a disappointment......expect another flop??? dont get ur hopes too high??..... big prods tend to lose big time as well......

p.s.: totally hope they'd change the casting.... maybe someone tougher for the guy instead of byung hun and someone sexier and more mature and yes MORE DEADLY for the lead girl. maybe like that girl in TAZZA

@Belleza

"Chinese guys just go NUTS over Chubby Song Hye Ko. It’s actually kinda annoying LOL

Maybe you can explain to me? ;) "

Wait, wait, wait....are you telling me that you don't go nuts over Chubby SHK? And all this time I thought you had a thing for her ;) But just in case you don't, I'll try to explain:

Actually you know what? I can't. 1/ Because I'm not very articulate, and 2/ SHK's beauty is something I have never come across before, at least not in more than a quarter of a century of exposure to western entertainment. So I can't really explain why I'm attracted to "Chubby SHK".

All I know is that Song Hye Kyo circa 2000-2004 is the ideal beauty to me, and I find other "chubby" Korean actresses very pretty also, such as Park Min Young who has also been referred to as chubby and seems to be incredibly popular amongst Chinese guys too. Western men think I'm absolutely crazy when I tell them I find SHK more attractive than say Angelina Jolie or Jessica Alba. "Song Hey Who?! You're Nuts!!". Exactly. Nuts over SHK :)

@Diana

Are you talking about Tazza the drama or movie?

KOBE

--> definitely the movie one. i like more mature one for the TV role who knows exactly what she's doing instead of a 20 sumthing actress who's obviously a newbie and doesnt know how to spice up the scenes and ends up going for cliche

ps: tazza drama version sucks big time. very unrealistic in parts of the leads' friendship and drags a lot....... ( -__0)

to BELLEZZA

--> never thought SHK as a sex symbol, a girlfriend maybe.... but a sex symbol??? wow. never once crossed my mind.... hahahah

Ahh yes Kim Hye Soo was very sexy & deadly in Tazza and that kinda role suits her perfectly. But don't forget that early indications suggests that Kim Tae Hee's role will not be a femme fatale type character, and I'm kinda hoping it will be more like her role in the Nine Tailed-Fox in which I thought she did quite well.

i think that the fact that kim taehee is in there as the main female lead makes me uninterested.

she's never done really good in any of her roles besides the supporting actress role in "stairways to heaven"

Oh yay...ANOTHER drama with a "pretty" actress who can't act to save her life. If I were LBH, I'd try to get out however I could. Why be involved in a production like this? It's just asking for trouble.

I know I ask this question a lot but I just HAVE to ask: Is there REALLY such a shortage of GREAT actresses in Korea? Jeon Do Yeon...Moon Sori...Kim Jung Eun...Han Ga In...anybody?!?!? What I'd give to see a LBH-JDY combination!!

LMAO SAMSOOKI... That was great! Whatever happened to giving everything a chance before anything? Can't wait for IRIS. LBH-sshi will be great, thats for sure.

BISCUIT you are my hero!!!!! I don't have to say anything, you have said it all for me. Thanks!!! <--- of course this is due mainly because I hate BOF, and I LOVE, absolutely, LBH-sshi

I have never understood the fascination with Kim Tae Hee. I thought Forbidden Love was better than Love Story in Harvard. But I do understand that dramas like Full House and LSIH are liked by younger audiences. Anyhow....

Everybody writes only about KTH and LBH as if they were the only ones casted. What about the rest? My personal favorite is Kim Seung Woo (Hotelier, How to Meet the Perfect Neighbor, Rosemary, etc., and a ton of movies). Besides Lee Byeon Hun, he is the other movie star in this series. I hope he plays a good guy. BTW Did you see his cameo as a police officer in one of the first episodes of Queen of Housewives?