The Vineyard Man (포도밭 그사나이 / Podopat Geusanai -2006)

Starring:
Yoon Eun Hye as Lee Ji Hyun
Oh Man Suk as Jang Taek-Gi
Kim Ji Suk as Kim Gyung-Min
Kang Eun Bi as Park Hong-Yi
Lee Soon Jae as Lee Byung-Dal
Jung So Young as Kang Su Jin (30)
Jang Jung Hee as Lee Jang Daek (43)
Lee Dal Hyung as Oh Young Bae (39)

In this romantic-comedy, (an adaptation of the book The Vineyard Man by Kim Rang), Yoon Eun Hye plays Lee Ji Hyun, a clothing designer in Seoul, who reluctantly leaves home for one year to work at her grand uncle’s vineyard in a small village. However when arriving in the country, she reunites with a Jang Taek Gi Oh Man Suk, a local resident who had been wrongfully arrested in Seoul by police after Ji Hyun reported having a dress-which she had designed-had been stolen. The two clash frequently as Ji Hyun has a difficult time adjusting to life in the country and working with Taek Gi. However, after many twists and turns Ji Hyun adapts to rustic life while falling in love with Taek Gi.

LOL! This was a riot. Yoon Eun Hye, the queen of situation comedy, was brilliant. This had the making of a typical romantic Korean drama but the story itself was unique and original. Enough so, that I had to watch it in one go. Oh Man Suk, the not the most handsome of men, but cute as the shy, naive vineyard worker (Taek-gi) who eventually falls in love with Ji-hyun. The bickering that eventually led to understanding then to love was truly heartwarming. Hey, even the ending was nice. This drama not the greatest, but truly original, will gladly put smiles on faces and leave us with a beautiful sigh at the end.

You will truly fall in love with the characters. A very beautiful love story..............

Soo (수-2007)

Starring:
Jin-hee Ji - Tae-soo / Soo
Seong-Yeon Kang
Man-seok Oh
Gi-yeong Lee
Kyeong-hwan Jo
Seong-kun Mun
Jun-bae Kim
Yeong-wook Kim

An assassin wanted by both the police and the underground, Tae-soo is know simply as Soo. His one goal in life is to find his twin brother Tae-jin, who was separated from him at childhood. Young Tae-jin was taken away and raised by a gang boss, KU Yangwon, when Tae-soo got caught stealing from the boss. For 19 years, Tae-soo heard no word from his brother. After a long search, he finally meets his brother: only to see him shot to death right before his eyes. Tae-soo hides his brother’s body and decides to act as his brother to find the killer. NAM Dal-gu, the detective intent upon catching Taesoo, is hot on his trail, while Tae-jin’s fiancé, Mina is filled with doubts about Tae-soo’s identity. Finally, Tae-soo realizes it was KU, the same man who had taken his brother away from him 19 years ago, who was behind the murder of Tae-jin. Realizing this is a fight to the finish, Tae-soo begins his request for revenge

Man! I don't know what to say about this one. It was DARK. Not just depressing and sad but visually too. It was filmed mainly at night, in the dark, or in shadows.

I will say I teared up near the beginning when his brother was killed. It was emotional. Well acted too. Enough, so, to make me feel awful. From that point on, it was slow. Lots of emotional baggage for Tae-soo. Lots of past scenes of their childhood and reasons for the way he is now. Guilt was the basis of this movie and redemption.

I'll tell ya...this isn't for everyone. The last fight scene was gruesome and bloody. Guns were rare in this movie but blades, knives and swords were used. So I'll leave that to your imagination.

Oh Man Seok


Ji Jin Hee