What have I been watching during this 'work from home' routine?
Train To Busan (2016): Finally plucked the courage to watch this. My original hesitation was down to the fact I don't normally like zombie films but after sitting through two seasons of Kingdom I went for Train to Busan this time to see what was the appeal. Needless to say despite the very emotional attachment I developed from start to finish, I enjoyed the film.
I knew people would die in this film because zombie genre = many deaths along with plenty of blood and gore. The film is about survival against an infection and it is somewhat fitting to watch it during self-isolation and a pandemic right? Everyone who worked together to deal with the zombies on the train deserved kudos. I cried, I yelled at those who were selfish and even cheered when people teamed up and had an ounce of triumph. It also reminded me of how much I liked Gong Yoo.
Cruel Love/Bad Love (2007): I just finished this melodrama earlier this week. I had abandoned it maybe six years ago due to too many commitments but decided to make use of the free time I have while at home. This Kdrama stars Lee Yuwon, Kwon Sang Woo and Kim Sung Soo and has a triangle that isn't as obvious as you may believe.
Cellist Na Injung (Lee Yuwon) falls in love with the quiet, handsome Lee Soo Hwan (Kim Sung Soo) and in the first episode they meet each other a few times and spend a night on a ship as their fast love blossoms. However the fairytale disappears when Soo Hwan comes clean and tells Injung he is a married man. Hurt yet unable to give up on their love Injung reluctantly breaks up then discovers she is pregnant.
Soo Hwan's impulsive wife Kang Joo Ran (Kim Gayeon) suspected he was having an affair and her intuition pays off when she confronts Injung and does not hold back her anger, bitch slapping her and as a result with the heroine losing her baby in the process. As if smashing Injung's cello and injuring her wrist so she can no longer play the cello any more was bad enough. Soo Hwan has to give up his love for Injung in order to protect his gambling junkie mother (a threat mildly provided by his mother in law) and to maintain his honour as the son in law of Daehan Construction's President.
Jumping to five years later, Injung has moved to a quieter town near the sea and owns a fried chicken stall to start afresh. Mischievous Kang Yong Gi (Kwon Sang Woo) meets Injung for a second time after accidentally hitting her head with a flying beer can in the first episode and they become friends. Over time they naturally become closer and their smiles break away when they realise they both have emotional scars from past romances. Yong Gi still grieves over the suicide of his girlfriend Joanne and in the quietest times Injung reflects on her relationship with Soo Hwan and all the things that lead to her downfall in life which makes her less confident in opening up to another man.
Like any drama, our characters will not have a peaceful moment when fate cruelly brings all the players to the field. As Yong Gi and Injung become closer, Soo Hwan meets her by chance and realises he still loves her. Injung still resents Soo Hwan for what happened in the past which is completely understandable. She also blames herself for foolishly believing their love could be saved no matter the circumstance. He wasn't able to give up everything to be with her back then. However over time Soo Hwan discovers he is ill and keeps it hidden for some time. And then there is the arrival of cunning youngster Lee Shin Young (Cha Ye Ryun) who resembles Joanne. Well this is jolly isn't it?
I find the cast do a decent job at portraying their characters' strengths and flaws. Yong Gi gives his heart completely and will do anything to make his girl happy. Soo Hwan says very little and plays his game quietly, stoically keeping his thoughts to himself. When he discovers he is ill and realises he deserved to die, that moment made me think wow. But what would your daughter Miso and your wife Joo Ran think? Injung is afraid and emotionally scarred but when in a comfort zone, she'll let go. Everyone sure likes to talk aloud about their feelings when they're alone. Joo Ran will never get over her hatred for Injung since she apparently made a mess of the Kang household. Yet she seeks love from her husband who does not reciprocate. It's also no surprise she unintentionally begins an affair of her own.
The other side characters are reasonable and bring the balance with the main characters when they are in a slump. Uncle Hwang and Big sister Chan Sook always help Injung and Yong Gi when they need it. Yong Gi's stepmother isn't as wicked and typically bitchy like all the would-be Mother In Laws in Kdramas. Lee Shin Young does not come into the drama until much later to make things more complicated for Injung and Yong Gi. I feel her character should have been brought in earlier to make the conflict more difficult. Her arrival and all round background as a person was kept brief once things were resolved. Eun Taek as Soo Hwan's junior colleague who is like his cheerleader is really good but so is Yong Gi's friend from America.
Cruel Love/Bad Love takes a lot of patience to sit through. You may find yourself in hair pulling moments while observing the characters who are all very flawed and doing whatever it takes to soothe themselves from their pain. Breaking up, running away, delaying bad encounters and breaking promises. Na Injung probably has so much bad luck in her life but then again it's the same for Lee Soo Hwan (giving his all in Daehan and dealing with his mother who we learn insisted her son marry Joo Ran) or Kang Yong Gi who never got a motherly love, even from his stepmother. But they all work through their obstacles over time individually and develop themselves, striving to become better.
Train To Busan (2016): Finally plucked the courage to watch this. My original hesitation was down to the fact I don't normally like zombie films but after sitting through two seasons of Kingdom I went for Train to Busan this time to see what was the appeal. Needless to say despite the very emotional attachment I developed from start to finish, I enjoyed the film.
I knew people would die in this film because zombie genre = many deaths along with plenty of blood and gore. The film is about survival against an infection and it is somewhat fitting to watch it during self-isolation and a pandemic right? Everyone who worked together to deal with the zombies on the train deserved kudos. I cried, I yelled at those who were selfish and even cheered when people teamed up and had an ounce of triumph. It also reminded me of how much I liked Gong Yoo.
Cruel Love/Bad Love (2007): I just finished this melodrama earlier this week. I had abandoned it maybe six years ago due to too many commitments but decided to make use of the free time I have while at home. This Kdrama stars Lee Yuwon, Kwon Sang Woo and Kim Sung Soo and has a triangle that isn't as obvious as you may believe.
Cellist Na Injung (Lee Yuwon) falls in love with the quiet, handsome Lee Soo Hwan (Kim Sung Soo) and in the first episode they meet each other a few times and spend a night on a ship as their fast love blossoms. However the fairytale disappears when Soo Hwan comes clean and tells Injung he is a married man. Hurt yet unable to give up on their love Injung reluctantly breaks up then discovers she is pregnant.
Soo Hwan's impulsive wife Kang Joo Ran (Kim Gayeon) suspected he was having an affair and her intuition pays off when she confronts Injung and does not hold back her anger, bitch slapping her and as a result with the heroine losing her baby in the process. As if smashing Injung's cello and injuring her wrist so she can no longer play the cello any more was bad enough. Soo Hwan has to give up his love for Injung in order to protect his gambling junkie mother (a threat mildly provided by his mother in law) and to maintain his honour as the son in law of Daehan Construction's President.
Jumping to five years later, Injung has moved to a quieter town near the sea and owns a fried chicken stall to start afresh. Mischievous Kang Yong Gi (Kwon Sang Woo) meets Injung for a second time after accidentally hitting her head with a flying beer can in the first episode and they become friends. Over time they naturally become closer and their smiles break away when they realise they both have emotional scars from past romances. Yong Gi still grieves over the suicide of his girlfriend Joanne and in the quietest times Injung reflects on her relationship with Soo Hwan and all the things that lead to her downfall in life which makes her less confident in opening up to another man.
Like any drama, our characters will not have a peaceful moment when fate cruelly brings all the players to the field. As Yong Gi and Injung become closer, Soo Hwan meets her by chance and realises he still loves her. Injung still resents Soo Hwan for what happened in the past which is completely understandable. She also blames herself for foolishly believing their love could be saved no matter the circumstance. He wasn't able to give up everything to be with her back then. However over time Soo Hwan discovers he is ill and keeps it hidden for some time. And then there is the arrival of cunning youngster Lee Shin Young (Cha Ye Ryun) who resembles Joanne. Well this is jolly isn't it?
I find the cast do a decent job at portraying their characters' strengths and flaws. Yong Gi gives his heart completely and will do anything to make his girl happy. Soo Hwan says very little and plays his game quietly, stoically keeping his thoughts to himself. When he discovers he is ill and realises he deserved to die, that moment made me think wow. But what would your daughter Miso and your wife Joo Ran think? Injung is afraid and emotionally scarred but when in a comfort zone, she'll let go. Everyone sure likes to talk aloud about their feelings when they're alone. Joo Ran will never get over her hatred for Injung since she apparently made a mess of the Kang household. Yet she seeks love from her husband who does not reciprocate. It's also no surprise she unintentionally begins an affair of her own.
The other side characters are reasonable and bring the balance with the main characters when they are in a slump. Uncle Hwang and Big sister Chan Sook always help Injung and Yong Gi when they need it. Yong Gi's stepmother isn't as wicked and typically bitchy like all the would-be Mother In Laws in Kdramas. Lee Shin Young does not come into the drama until much later to make things more complicated for Injung and Yong Gi. I feel her character should have been brought in earlier to make the conflict more difficult. Her arrival and all round background as a person was kept brief once things were resolved. Eun Taek as Soo Hwan's junior colleague who is like his cheerleader is really good but so is Yong Gi's friend from America.
Cruel Love/Bad Love takes a lot of patience to sit through. You may find yourself in hair pulling moments while observing the characters who are all very flawed and doing whatever it takes to soothe themselves from their pain. Breaking up, running away, delaying bad encounters and breaking promises. Na Injung probably has so much bad luck in her life but then again it's the same for Lee Soo Hwan (giving his all in Daehan and dealing with his mother who we learn insisted her son marry Joo Ran) or Kang Yong Gi who never got a motherly love, even from his stepmother. But they all work through their obstacles over time individually and develop themselves, striving to become better.