Okay, just for you, langdon-unnie...I'm trying to remember what I wrote in my previous post before it disappeared...

So, I watched the first eps of both Iris and You're Beautiful today, and I was surprised by my reaction. I had low expectations for both, and I did end up enjoying both...but I didn't laugh out loud at all for You're Beautiful, which I was expecting from the Hong sisters. I'm not worried, though, since it was enjoyable, and I'm sure the Hong sisters will have me ROFL soon.
I think it was because 1) I'm tired of seeing JGS in Emo, Angry-With-The-World-Got-A-Chip-On-His-Shoulder Adolescent characters, and 2) I watched YB after watching Iris.

I've never been in the LBH drool club - sure, he's got the bod....but as I've mentioned before, he kinda reminds me of a monkey, albeit a cute one...that CAN ACT.
I finally had the chance to watch G.I. Joe recently, and what a shame that he was limited to a few action scenes, eye-bulging directing, and questionable sound editing (his lines in the latter part of the movie sounded like his voice, but some of the earlier lines sounded edited/altered/voiced-over[???]).

I wasn't expecting much from Iris, but I was pleasantly surprised by LBH's wise-crackin' smartass character. He had me in stitches throughout the ep (luckily, no one heard me at work). The production quality felt more like a U.S. or British series than a Korean drama (it better damn well be for the budget), and I thought the music was better than YB. So, as far as first eps go, I think Iris has one up on YB, but I'm inclined to believe that that will change in further eps. ;)

@ langdon813 - I also may try to get hubby to watch Iris. It's just the kind of turn your brain off at the door action he enjoys. Yeah, he likes explosions. :P

Final notes -
Missed you all.
Sarah, your blog is crack. Good crack. :P
Stomach flu sucks, especially when it keeps you from your crack. (okay, that sounded better in my head)

^ get well soon, Hjkomo!

YB vs Iris... YB for me, I read every line of subs so far (not nec, but I'm just invested), which I'm usu too lazy to do. Iris, I read maybe 70%. I was wandering off first part of YBep3, but just how adorable and believable PSH was with that kitschy truck top scene caught me back to my full attention. I don't feel JGS was giving us just his normal emo glamqueen, he IS the glamqueen doing a character who is NOT ambiguously gay even in the full do. Nth wrong with Iris, very well done, great fight scenes, opposite of Ijimae stuff, I didnt catch KTH glaring once to my surprise! but frankly she's playing the real life KTH. it's just exactly what I was expecting, nth surprising, very predictable...and I did wander whenever LBH was not onscreen.

But YB... I was in tears in those scenes Belleza mentioned. LOL and that hug after the ring diabolical... is beyond cute. YB just has a magical synergy of parts/cliches that worked. It has 'it' /fairy dust. This is definitely the best first 3 eps Hong sisters drama for me.
IRIS has all the right parts, it's a calculated commercial sum of it all. I'm more interested in what JB has to say on IRIS than watching it.

hjkomo, so sorry to hear you've been sick! I thought you'd been out of town or something; didn't know it was a nasty flu bug keeping you away.

Still haven't seen IRIS yet ( :-( ) but I watched Ep 3 of YB again and laughed just as much as the first time. I really think you'll be as crazy about it as the rest of us seem to be once you're caught up!

Despite seeing several of his movies, I really didn't join the LBH Drool Team until TGTBTW, but after that I was definitely on board. I have been looking forward to IRIS so much (and for SO long) that if it weren't for YB, I would be just about ready to pull my hair out by now. Just knowing it's out there...somewhere...is driving me nuts!

But not to worry. YB is so sweet that I'm just floating around on my little sugar high-induced cartoon clouds, and all is right with the world.

:-D

@hjkomo
Hope you're feeling better!

@langdon813 and ockoala
So i'm officially on board HGD now! Watched the first episode and it's NOTHING like I expected. This is the first time I'm watching a period drama and I DID NOT expect so much laugh out loud moments!! I had steadfastly skimmed my eyes over all the HGD discussion here precisely because I knew I was jumping on board soon and I didn't want to know too much. But already I am curious...who is YiNok meant to be with? I hope it's Jang but...will I be disappointed? Oh no! Don't tell me! I want to find out for myself! Gah!!! I can't wait! Sorry for the unnecessary random thought!

@kgrl
Hope you're getting well! If you have time and want more jdramas you may also want to check out Zettai Kareshi (Absolute Boyfriend) - another light romantic comedy fluff type that is about a robot made to be the "perfect" boyfriend ...so of course loads, truckloads of fangirling for our hunk Hayami Mokomichi. This is purely romantic comedy (I don't sense any underlying message or teachings from this, unlike Nodame) and despite it getting more serious (code: depressing) in later episodes is still good fluff to watch. I must say it doesn't beat Nodame though, but that's my personal opinion :)

@ mookie, langdon813, kdxmel

Thank you, yes, I'm recovered now.
You know what's worse than having the stomach flu (or similar virus)?
Two people in the same household both having it concurrently...and sharing one bathroom. O_o (sorry if that was too much info...blame the Korean genes)

So, while recuperating, I spent the weekend clearing off my dvr of Inspector Lewis and other Masterpiece Theatre episodes. Then, after watching Daniela Denby-Ashe on an old episode of Torchwood, I just had to rewatch my favorite bits of North & South. Oh, and watching Lost In Austen with Korean subtitles was quite interesting as well (it kind of gave me an idea of what a non-Korean's sageuk-watching experience would be like with the subs).

I'm only halfway caught up reading on this OT -
@ cingdoc - Welcome to the ISLAND!!!! :D
@ ockoala - sorry you had to endure the Mane of Distress and KTH. Unfortunately, she has not improved in Iris. LBH is emoting through every pore on his body, while KTH reciprocates with a blank stare.
@ kdxmel - HGD is pure fusion sageuk with the Hong sisters trademark wit. Enjoy!

@ Anyone - Question: Is TGTBTW an appropriate watch for a 12 year-old?

Huh. MBC-D is airing Ruler of the World right now. You know, this show is pretty good . . .

glad to see langdon813, lovenyc52, ockoala, and hjkomo are all in this thread =]

To choose btw Iris and YB, I will be on the YB train. Granted, I have not watched a single ep. of Iris yet (so that means that I shouldn't be so judgemental), but I will do anything right now to spare myself of having to watch KTH act. I will catch Iris when Kim So Yeon's love story w/ LBH starts.

I posted my opinions about YB on JB's episode 3 recap page. It's certainly "the crack drama of the year"- everything is sooo over the top and silly.

Recently, I have finished "The Last Scandal of My Life" and WOW,- "Why didn't I watched this drama earlier?"

Hjkomo-
Trust me, you are not the only one rewatching North & South. Once in a while, I would have a "craving" to see period dramas/films-- and I would watch P&P (2005) , then N &S (especially the kiss- good god- watching that like 20 times is enough for half a year), then maybe Jane Eyre (if I can stand all the dark and depressing scenes), then Northanger Abbey, then Sense & sensibility....I am catching Emma on BBC right now- Romola Garai (from "Atonement") does a pretty modern Emma- which I really like.
and also TGTBTW is probably not an appropriate film for a 12 year-old to watch, in my opinion. But that also depends on the child, if you think that he or she can handle the film and treat it as a work of art- why not? Still, I have to confess, that I did watch R- Rated movies when I was 12- and it didn't "affect" me much.- if you know what I mean, hee hee =]

@255, hjkomo

TGTBTW has some pretty violent scenes; there's no nudity or sex (sad for us but not so much for the 12-year old). We do get a very nice, very gratuitous scene of LBH in his underwear!

But the violence is pretty rough, although it's handled in a very over-the-top manner. When I first watched it I compared it to O Brother Where Art Thou meets Pulp Fiction, if that tells you anything. There's a cool Tarantino-ish / Coen Brothers vibe to it. Some absolutely BRILLIANT chase scenes.

I love North and South. Richard Armitage...the ONLY reason I watch Robin Hood on BBCA! Cranford is wonderful too, have you seen that?

@255 hjkomo -

My opinion is that average (American) 12 year olds can watch the good the bad and the weird with little to no issues (by the time they are 12, they will have seen way more violent and/or graphic imagery, but as always, it depends on the child and the parent).

The more important issue is how to guide children through the torrent of daily images and information from all sorts of sources, to give them foundation and balance among social / moral / ethical / cultural / generational mores, and what they see and read and watch and listen to.

:)

Personally, as good as the korean movie was (and is), I would recommend watching the original film, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly instead. It is a better film, imo, although it put my wife to sleep due to its inordinate length (I think it tops 3 hours). The original spaghetti western is a fantastic story and the acting is tremendous. One of Clint Eastwood's best acting roles ever.

@ hjkomo

Welcome back, and I hope you continue to get better! Everyone at work is sick as well, I've been lucky (knock on e-wood) so far. I have a business trip to Boston next week, and praying for good health throughout.

"@ ockoala – sorry you had to endure the Mane of Distress and KTH. Unfortunately, she has not improved in Iris. LBH is emoting through every pore on his body, while KTH reciprocates with a blank stare."

D*mn......^*&%^&$^%&*(HJVGJI^&*%^*$%*^(*&U........ I've been hesitating to watch IRIS, because the recent photos of scenes involving KTH, I see her stare in full action, and it makes me pissed/distressed, because it really is one of two reasons I am probably NOT going to watch IRIS during it's initial run, but will wait until it's done airing. I'm hoping either she or LBH dies in the end, then I'll watch.

The other reason is - I am so in love with You're Beautiful (a drama I had below zero expectations of once they started releasing promos), that I'm suddenly in the rom-com mood, and cannot for the life of me (even as a card-carrying member of the Drool Team) want to switch genres and watch IRIS. I'm actually wanting to watch my darling Junki in HERO, and making those 2 dramas my commitment this fall.

I stand to be persuaded otherwise - also, I'm kinda contrarian, IRIS is doing blockbuster numbers, I kinda want to help the underdogs.....

As for TGTBTW, landgon described it perfectly, but I think it's suitable for a 12 year old, but that depends on the 12 year old. The more mature one would be fine, still a kiddo, I would skip.

@ kdxmel

Please don't ask anything about HGD, because I'll be tempted to answer you - and that would spoil and detract from the ride. Enjoy!

@ langdon-unni

*humph* so now, it's not enough you've got Kim Bum on your babycakes train, you want to add my cutie Jang Geun-soek, who I've been fangirling mommy-like since his Hwang Jin-Yi days......well, you can borrow him, but remember I called dibs 2 years ago! He's cute and a good actor, isn't he? =-) I pretend not to see him in any other incarnation other than his dramas, as JGS in real life is......odd.

^ Thanks for the TGTBTW rating. I'm looking for something to watch with my nephew this weekend...two birds, one stone...I always feel bad watching drama episodes because he doesn't get to watch the entire series, so I thought I might try a movie.

I rewatch all my favorite BBC period dramas at least once a year. Hubby always knows when I get into my period-fix-mode - "You're watching this again?! Haven't you seen it like 100 times?"

Romola Garai in a new Emma production? Can't wait until it airs here. :)

@260, ockoala

I feel bad about trying to steal JGS from you, but as soon as I saw that little Pebbles and Bam Bam ponytail on top of his head, it was beyond my power to control.

That, and the "I will NOT hug her back, I WILL NOT hug her back, NO NO NO I WON'T DO IT" pose with his arms up in the air.

OMG, now I have to go watch it again. :-D

this thread is still going on so strong.. i feel like i've been missing out..

i'm so jumping on the YB bandwagon and torturing myself w/ the waiting for the next episode to air having a tantrum... starting tomorrow :-p

i just LOVE the OST for YB... i dl'ed it this morning.. and i have it on repeat along w/ the OST for Tamra the Island. funny.. i've not watched either of these dramas, but love the OSTs.

YO, IRIS!

I...I'M REALLY HAPPY FOR YOU WITH THEM HUGE RATINGS AND ALL, BUT IMMA HAFTA HIT YOU BACK LATER, CAUSE YOU'RE BEAUTFUL MIGHT JUST BE ONE OF THE BEST DRAMAS OF ALL TIME!

ONE OF THE BEST DRAMAS OF ALL TIME!!

shrug....

I like IRIS ep2 more... it's growing on me (not that ep1 was not good). If some scenes were given better editing (end of ep1, beginning of ep 2... draggy for me) I'll even like it more.

on KTH though, I think she's serviceable in IRIS and cant be more gorgeous, the writing and the directing is tailoring to her capabilities well. I don't find her buggy because the storyline will clearly be heavy on LBH. She's never going to win any credible acting awards...which I think she is smart enough to know. But again, she's dazzlingly gorgeous which is a requirement for the character. The prob I have is she looks way younger than her age, she still looks like a fresh college grad at most, let alone the boss of the guys....and LBH, JJH look their real age, esp jarring when next to KTH. I think we're being harsher on her because she's a girl, SSH has exactly the same amt of acting chops, but we cut him slacks thro the years because we can drool all over him..... and he got an acting award for just being his insanely gorgeous self.

Hello all! IRIS is truly amazing and You're Beautiful, very entertaining so I definitely recommend those two. Watch out for Smile, You - all the characters are so incredibly annoying - from the tyrant Grandpa down to the disrespectful mechanic assistant - ugh! I just had to quit!

Have a great weekend everyone!

serve the world for no honest use; therefore you
But, as I think,--for truly would I speak,
'spare not me?' Indeed your 'O Lord, sir!' is very
When in a wood of Crete they bay'd the bear
Clown O Lord, sir! spare not me.