Iljimae (일지매 (一枝梅) -2008)

Starring:
Lee Joon Ki as Iljimae / Yong / Lee Geom
Han Hyo Joo as Eun Chae
Lee Young Ah as Bong Soon
Park Shi Hoo as Shi Hoo / Ja Dol

Extended Cast
Lee Moon Shik as Swe Dol (Yong's adopted father)
Kim Sung Ryung as Dani (Shi Hoo's mother)
Lee Won Jong as Byun Sik (Eun Chae's father)
Ahn Kil Kang as Kong He / monk (Bong Soon's adopted father)
Moon Ji Yoon as Dae Shi (Yong's friend)
Kim Chang Wan as the king
Kim Roe Ha as Sa Cheon (chief assassin)
Kim Moo Yul as Shi Wan (Eun Chae's brother)
Do Ki Suk as Hee Bong / Slick (Castor Oil gang boss)
Kim Hyun Sung as Heung Kyun
Jung Jae Eun as Sim Seok
Suh Dong Won as Eun Bok (Hunter Jang's son)
Lee Won Jae as Hunter Jang
Kim Kwang Sik as Geok Doo
Yang Jae Sung as Shim Gi Won
Jo Sang Gi as Moo Yi (Sa Cheon's follower)
Lee Il Hwa as Lady Han (Geom's mother)
Son Tae Young as Lee Yeon (Geom's older sister)
Jo Min Ki as Lee Won Ho (Geom's biological father)
Yeo Jin Goo as young Geom
Kim Yoo Jung as young Eun Chae
Jung Da Bin as young Boon Soon
Ahn Ji Hong

Set during the Joseon Dynasty, Ryung acts as a useless gangster in the marketplace by day but at night he is a chivalrous robber who robs corrupt government officials to give to the poor. After each robbery he leaves behind a wooden branch from a plum tree at the site of the robbery to take responsibility for the robbery. The poor citizens only know him as Iljimae. Bong Soon is a hilarious girl with good martial art skills and lives as a swindler. She only loves Ryung and sacrifices her whole life for him. Eun Chae is a government official's daughter and is good in nature and usually helps miserable people. She meets Iljimae once by chance, and their sweet love story begins. However, her love puts Iljimae in a dangerous situation because an Imperial Guard also loves her.




Wow! I loved this drama. My kids would get sick of me every Thursday or Friday when crunchyroll.com would submit the newest episode. "Iljimae!" I'd yell, scream and/or cry. LOL!
Okay, seeing Lee Jun Ki lookin' his awesomest with that pretty, long dark hair gave me the lovely willies. LOL! I love his hair long. But enough about how cute he is....y'all can obviously see for yourselves......

I'll admit the first few episodes bored the living daylights out of me. I understood they were setting up the story. It took a lot out of me to watch that part. But once Geom/Yong-ee/Iljimae grew up......it got livelier and exciting. I'll admit I was routing for Yong-ee and Bong Soon. Eun Chae was just toooooooo nice. Kind of made me sick to my stomach to how sweet she was. Bong Soon was lively, funny, and a spit-fire. Perfect for Yong-ee.

The fighting scenes were fun to watch and as the story progressed my stomach got the twitters because I didn't want the episode to end. Again, as the week was ending, I was all over the internet looking for the latest episode. And, yes, I'm downloading the entire series per bittorrent.

Now let's talk about the ending. In perfect Korean fashion, it wasn't all that. Don't get me wrong, the series was freakin' awesome but I knew that once the ending came I wasn't sure sure how it was going to end. Well, it wasn't sad or a happy ending.....really, I think they set it up for another season. I didn't feel there was a conclusion to the story. Now if they did another season, I don't think Lee Jun Ki would come back because of his popularity and awesomeness. LOL! Ah, but if he did....well, I'd be on the Iljimae train wagon all over again.

This was so much fun......and it finally ended. *sigh* What am I going to do now? I still have 2 perfectly good series I'm watching now but they are also about to come to a close. *sigh*

Park Shi Hoo

Okay, I had to put him in here. He's such a cutie in the show. I hope to see more of him in the future. He might have been a little bit of an ass on the drama but he made up for it well in the end.......

Stars Echo (별의 소리 / Byeolui Sori-Korean, あなたに逢いたくて / Anata ni Aitakute-Japanese -2004)

Starring:
Jo Hyun Jae as Sung-jae
Nakagoshi Noriko as Misaki
Lee Da Hae as Ji-young
Tanihara Shosuke as Suji
Kurotani Tomoka as Tomoko
Lee Joon Ki as Chan-gyu
Kim Yong Hee (김용희) as Min-suk

The Story is centered on the love between a musically gifted South Korean man, Sung-jae Jo Hyun Jae, and a Japanese woman, Misaki Nakagoshi Noriko. Misaki, who feels guilty over her boyfriend's death, is transferred to Korean and meets Seong-jae who helps her cure her wounds of the past memories with love.



Wow! For a Korean romance, this one was really good. I'm not a fan of Korean romances because the endings either have someone in the main couple split, die of illness, or they end up with someone other than their main love. So I was a little frightened watching this.

I'm glad I did. The flow was fast but corners weren't cut. The love triangle wasn't drug out to where you want to beat someone up or kill yourself. LOL! And it was a happy ending. Okay, I cried when her boyfriend died at the beginning. He was such a sweet guy. (I'd like to find out this person's name because I can't read Japanese/Korean in the credits and he's not credited in the review pages. Errrgh.)

This movie had me laughing at the subtitlers. Poor guys. The Korean and Japanese was switched off sooooo much that I'm sure it just made their heads spin.

Lee Jun Ki


Jo Hyun Jae

May 18 (화려한 휴가, Hwa-ryo-han Hyoo-ga-2007)

Starring:
Sung-kee Ahn - Heung-su Park
Sang-jyung Kim - Min-woo Kang
Jun-gi Lee - Jin-woo Kang
Yu-won Lee - Shin-ae Park
Jae-ho Song - Priest
Won-sang Park
In-gi Jeong
Eol Lee
Cheol-min Park

Having lost his parents at a young age, Min-woo takes care of his younger brother Jin-woo much like a father would. He harbors a secret crush on Shin-ae, a nurse he meets at a church gathering, and persuades her to go on a date with him to the movies. But not long after the film begins, they hear the sound of sirens and are rushed out of the theater. Outside they find chaos in the streets : Tear gas dances wildly and soldiers mobilized for crowd control have taken to violent beatings. Bewildered and enraged, the citizens form a militia, determined to protect the ones they love - and Min-woo finds himself in the middle of it all.

Sad but true:

May 17, 1980
After the Coup d'état of December Twelfth (1979) in Seoul, ROK Army Lieutenant General Chun Doo-hwan, commander of Security Command, declared martial law on May 17, 1980 to suppress student demonstrations around the country. The next day, students in Gwangju protested at the gate of Chonnam National University against the closing of the university, when armed forces blocking the university responded with violent means. After the incident, students moved into the downtown area, where they were joined by the citizens of the city. The growing crowd was met by the use of force, including gunfire, that caused some fatalities.

May 20, 1980
As the news of the fatalities spread, on May 20, protesters burned down the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation local station which, under effective government control, portrayed the protests as hooligans led by Communist agents. By May 21, some 300,000 people had joined the protest against the General's power; weapons depots and police stations were looted of their weapons and the civil militias, known as the Citizen Army, beat back the armed forces, killing several soldiers.

With all routes and communications leading in and out of the city blocked by armed forces, a civilian body was formed to maintain order and conduct negotiations with the government. Although order was well maintained, a number of negotiations to resolve the situation failed to achieve any results.

May 27, 1980
On May 27, airborne and army troops from five divisions were inserted and defeated the civil militias in the downtown area in only 90 minutes.　


I'm telling you right now, I didn't expect to sob as much as I did during this movie. It's heavy on emotion, national pride, love, brotherhood, friendship, and faith.

I hope that my two sons will be as close as Min-woo and Jin-woo were in this movie. The bond was intense. The scenes were bloody and loving.

I only thought you would only see this in America. But to see this, and for it to happen in 1980 was just insane. At that time, I was blanketed in the security of believing in Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and that Rick Springfield was god. To think, I don't want to think about it, it's just unbelievable.

I guess at that time, the Communist scare was hidden in the shadows and for the government to lose control on this one town....it stinks. I can only hope that, not just S. Koreans, but the world at that time learned something. I'm saddened.......and I weep for those who died for that cause.

Okay, tears are forming again. I feel my chest tightening.....sobs are about to escape.

Lee Jun Ki

The King and the Clown (왕의남자, Wang-ui namja-2005)

Starring:
Woo-seong Kam - Jang-sang
Jin-yeong Jeong - King Yeonsan
Seong-Yeon Kang - Nok-su Jang (as Sung-Yeon Kang)
Jun-gi Lee - Gong-gil
Hang-Seon Jang - Cheo-sun
Hae-jin Yu - Yuk-gab
Seok-yong Jeong - Chil-duk
Seung-hun Lee - Pal-bok

At the height of the 16th-century Chosun Dynasty, a pair of rural male actors—boisterous, macho Jang-seng and quiet, feminine Gong-gil—travel to Seoul and team up with a struggling acting troupe. When their irreverent show—complete with enough bawdy humor and gender-bending to make a contemporary audience blush—mocks the famously hedonistic king, they get more than they bargained for. After being promptly arrested, they’re given a chance to spare themselves if they can make the king laugh. To everyone’s surprise, the ecstatic monarch loves the show and names the actors official court jesters, giving them more extravagant food and shelter than they’d ever imagined. But the king’s attentiveness to Gong-gil makes it quickly apparent that humor isn’t the only thing motivating his generosity. The king’s mistress, the country’s ministers and Jang-seng soon grow suspicious, and jealousy and anger spring from all sides.



This was a most interesting movie. The vibrant colors, the scenery, the acting, the script.....WOW! I can so totally see why this movie was the most grossing Korean movie of all time!! Bravo!

Lee Jun Ki is amazing as an effeminate man. My husband walked by and I had to tell him that it wasn't a woman. He was stunned. I think in a previous post I mentioned that Jun-ki could have been a woman because he is that pretty. But dang if he isn't also good-looking as a man too!

I can't think of anything bad to say about this movie. The movie moved rather nicely. Their wasn't any holes that were left for you to wonder. The ending didn't leave me clueless or pissed or even crying. It just ended. LOL!

Definitely a top grade movie that should be on anyone's Korean must-see collection!! Woo-hoo!

Lee Jun Ki

Fly Daddy Fly (Peullai, Daedi~2006)

Starring:
Lee Jun Ki ... Seung Guk
Lee Mun Sik ... Ga Pil

An ordinary businessman in his forties, Jang Ga-pil returns home one day to find that his daughter has been sexually abused by some schoolboys, including school boxing star Kang Tae-wook. Realizing that he has no background and money to fight back, he plans to stab Kang on the way to school. His attempt fails, but another student named Go Seung-suk agrees to teach Ga-pil to fight in only 45 days.

Another freakin' good movie. Kudos to Lee Joon/Jun Ki. Sheesh! He is so freakin' amazing. I'll admit it took me 3 tries to get past the first 15 minutes. Finally, I just said "screw it" and trudged through. Not that in any way was it grotesque, boring, or stupid. It was just heartwrenching to watch between the father, daughter, and assailant. Whew! I made it through.

I will say I wasn't thoroughly impressed with the final fight between the father and the assailant. With the training he got from Seung Guk (LJK), I was expecting more out of this. Instead the father knocked down the assailant and just "wailed" on him. I guess in real life it wouldn't have been "hollywoodified"...so in all maybe that is how it should have ended. Don't know. I just wanted more.

But the entire story itself was exceptional. Come to find out the Korean version is actually a Japanese remake. I'm now in search of that one just to compare.

Anyway...ready for more hottie pics?

Lee Jun Ki


In real life LJK is a 3rd degree (might be farther than that by now, not sure) in Taekwondo and 1st/2nd in two other forms of martial arts. Amazing!!!!!!

Flying Boys (Ballet Gyoseubso~2004)

Starring:
Yoon Kye-sang as Min-jae
Kim Min-jeong as Su-jin
Ohn Joo-wan as Chang-seob
Lee Jun-ki as Dong-wan

Kang Min-jae, a senior at Taesung High School, lives with his stern father, who's a captain of a famous airline. He has liked a blunt and staunch girl named Hwangbo Soo-jin in the same apartment building but he never had the courage to go up and talk to her. Soo-jin lives in a family that puts the son on the pedestal, she has no room to escape the pettiest housework even while she's studying for the college entrance exam.

After the exam, Min-jae has a drink with his buddies and then sneaks out with his dad's car. On the way, he discovers a victim to a hit-and-run accident. Yang Jung-sook, a ballet instructor at the community center in the district, sees Min-jae and the body. Jung-sook, having difficulties in finding enough students for her class, threatens Min-jae, who she caught drinking and driving without a license, and drags him and his two friends to learn ballet. Meanwhile, Soo-jin's parents also forces Soo-jin to learn ballet to get rid of her stiff and boyish appearance.

Finally, Soo-jin, Min-jae and his buddies, Dong-wan, and Chang-sub, meet at the ballet school at the Hwangkeum community center. With Yang Jung-sook at the center of the ballet school, various people from all walks of life learn ballet. While they all clash and open each other's hearts to one another, they finally come together in a memorable performance in the end.

This was an all-round good movie. It didn't get rave reviews but I seriously liked it. The only thing I didn't like was a completion of Min-Jae's and Soo-jin's relationship. I was a little left hanging there but in all it was a definitely good movie. I won't lie. I 'bout spewed my soda out my nose during the scene where Min-Jae and Dong-wan were putting on their dancing gear for the first time. OMG! That was the best hilarious 10 minutes of my life and then coming out of the dressroom only to have put them on wrong and the entire class to witness it. Oh God! That was a riot. And the next best scene, not a funny moment, was when Min-jae's dad beat him up outside and Min-jae confessed he hated his father and missed his mother while sobbing. Oh, that choked me up beyond belief. Then Soo-jin chased him....such a tender moment. Ack! Tears forming again. It's hard to see a grown man cry. Loved it immensely!

Okay, you know the pics are coming.

Yoon Kye Sang

I'm salivating beyond belief. I've never seen such gorgeous artwork on a man's abs. I couldn't help myself. Lots of torso shots.
Ohn Joo Wan

I have to say that out of all the actors he looked like a real dancer. I don't know if he is or not. But dang did he look good!

Lee Jun Ki

I can't stop! Every picture of Jun Ki is exceptional. OMG! Okay, I must revise my hunkiest Asian man list. Lee Jun Ki is the most prettiest, finest, gorgeous specimen. I want to see his parents. The genes they gave him were of the highest quality. Does he have brothers and sisters? Damn. Every part of him is PERFECT! And he is the most popular of all Korean actors. He isn't a retard in the acting genre. This man can act. So whatever girl this man chooses will be the luckiest female on earth. He was in Virgin Snow. Lovely movie. A must see. I'm going to be having the most erotic of dreams tonight. Oh geez. I think I might be on a Lee Jun Ki movie and drama hunt. The long hair has me turned on. What drama or movie was that? I'm sure I'll find out! Whew!