A Fantasy Drama with Impressive Story and Cinematography

It is very evident from episode one that this is a Lee Ji Eun drama. As I mentioned earlier, I have never seen her previous dramas. But during the first few minutes of Hotel Del Luna, I was captivated by how she portrayed the moody, greedy, and funny Jang Man Wol. I found myself laughing whenever she tries out food or jewelries, or when trying to justify her reasons for getting a new car. It made me look forward to seeing the other dramas she starred in. A few singers and idols have been dabbling into acting recently, some have transitioned from being an idol to an actress and has gained massive popularity for their immense skills. Take note of Kim Yu Jin or Uie, a former idol and member of the group After School. The dramas she starred in always end with high ratings and has earned her numerous accolades. Like Uie, Ji Eun is also a singer and a talented songwriter known by her stage name IU. Hotel Del Luna has cemented her as a skilled actress.

I know people might call me an ancient or old-fashioned, but this is my first time to see a Korean drama with an impressive cinematography and use of CG effects. Is this the new trend in K-Dramas? I was actually looking forward to seeing one in the upcoming series ‘SF8’, but watching Hotel Del Luna had set my expectations higher. The stunning cinematography really compliments the dark/fantasy genre of the drama, even the colors were well-chosen, from hotel’s walls to Man Wol’s garish clothing.

Overall, Hotel Del Luna is South Korea’s most popular drama of 2019 and it’s a no-brainer. It is a drama that breaks away from the typical romantic comedy genres which in my opinion has saturated the Korean drama industry. A drama that deals with death and the unseen world, it also deals with justice, healing and forgiving which are good values. For me shows that one who have been wronged will always get the justice he deserves. But sometimes in order to achieve justice, one should let go of all his grudges and learn to forgive so he can be fully healed and be free. Overall, it’s a must-see drama with great story, great visuals, and great cast.

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Collectors is Indiana Jones meets Ocean's 11

An elite group of underground thieves gathers together to carry out a dangerous mission- grave robbing a royal tomb located in the bustling Gangnam area. I had mixed feelings about this film. It's not the tomb raider mission we know where they visit ancient places and sacred temples to steal an artifact. The mission is located right in one of Seoul's busiest districts which gives off a new and fresh vibe in the story. The story itself, however, is a bit lacking. Maybe I was expecting an action-packed movie, with lots of stimulating plots. While the film has an ensemble cast of great actors, including the Shin Hye Sun, it felt like the characters were a little restricted. It could be in the script, but nevertheless, these actors could have given more vibrance to the characters if these characters were written more dynamically. If you are someone who likes stories like Indiana Jones, Tomb Raider, or Ocean's 11, Collectors would be a good film to watch.

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A promising drama with a refreshing feel

Stories of poor folks rising and becoming successful in their life appeals to me a lot, and it's one of the main reasons why I watched Birdie Buddy. It may not be the typical rags to riches story, but I like how the main character Mi Soo, became successful in the field of sports. The pacing was just right. Although there were parts where I find dragging, it was compensated immediately by succeeding episodes. There were also scenes that I find unnecessary, but still okay to show for the viewers to understand the other characters' backstories.

I am a little disappointed with the antagonist's character and storyline. It felt weak; I was expecting that he has a grand scheme to hurt the protagonists. I never expected that his downfall would be that way, it was unsatisfactory. Hae Ryeong's character reminded me of Wang Bit Na's character Gyeong Hye in the drama 'Mysterious Personal Shopper'. They grew up rich and pampered, both have personal struggles which I thought were resolved during the mid part of the drama, but then towards their end they became hateful, but had their beautiful redemption at the last episode.

Finally, Mi Soo showed that the love she has for her coach was unconditional. Some folks who watched the drama were disappointed that Mi Soo and John didn't end up together, but honestly, there were moments/scenes in the entire drama that tells the viewers they won't get the happy ending they want. Yet, our heroine Mi Soo still got her happy ending in terms of her career.

The production team did a good job of selecting the actors for this drama. The surprising moment was when the gorgeous Julien Kang appeared in one episode as Mi Soo's golf rival. This drama was produced in 2010 and aired in 2011 because of several postponements. Also, since it was made a decade ago, I was not really expecting much in terms of technicals, but still, the majority of it was beautifully shot and edited. Most likely because the production team had enough time to edit the drama (more than a year).

This is also the second Yoon Sang Ho drama I have watched, the other one being 'Different Dreams'. I am looking to watch his other works in the future.

Birdie Buddy is based on the comic of the same title but focuses on one of the female protagonists rather than the coach. It is a promising drama with a refreshing feel to viewers who'd like to reel aways from the usual rom-com drama themes. It talks about family, friendship, first love, and passion. And to be honest, watching this drama also helped me learn more about the sport.

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An fantastic yet underrated drama

Ho Goo's Love is based on the webtoon of the same title by Yoo Hyun-sook. A story that is solely built on misunderstandings and bemusement between all characters that ended really well. I find it odd that viewers are not really into it when it's one of the few Kdramas with a romantic yet quirky plot. Some scenes and sequences were outlandish, but it got me laughing throughout. And when you thought that Ho Goo's Love is a cute drama, it also tackles burning issues of today's society such as rape, unwanted pregnancy, suicide, plastic surgery, and sexuality. Props to the production team and the cast for delivering a wonderful, unique drama.

It's a shame that this drama is underrated. But if you want to have a good laugh from the first episode to the last one, this drama is for you.

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