Wonderful LIfe (원더풀 라이프 / Wondeopool Laipeu -2005)

Starring:
Kim Jae Won as Han Seung Wan
Eugene as Jung Se Jin
Lee Ji Hoon as Min Do Hyun
Han Eun Jung as Lee Chae Young
Joo Hyun as Han Bum Soo (Seung Wan's father)
Sun Woo Yong Nyeo as Yoon Tae Hee (Seung Wan's mother)
Kim Hye Ok as Pyo Jae Kyung (Se Jin's mother)
Choi Joon Yong as Han Seung Pil (Seung Wan's older brother)
Yoon Hyun Sook as Baek Hyun Joo (Seung Pil's wife)
Kim Hyo Jin as Jung Il Jin (Se Jin's older sister)
Kim Seung Min as So Chang Myung (Seung Wan & Do Hyun's flying academy classmate)
Jung Da Bin as Han Shin Bi (Seung Wan and Se Jin's daughter)
Lee Hye Sook as Do Hyun's stepmother

Let me start off that this was a typical Korean drama. After episode 9, after slugging away my emotions to pulp and hating the characher Chae Young to wishing for her death, I had to skip to the last episode. And you know what? I didn't miss a single thing. I didn't see the trauma of the love quadrangle the show was working on. I didn't see the start of Shin Bi's illness which would have been torture beyong belief.

What I did see? I saw the end of the quadrangle and the start of the loving relationship of Se-jin and Seung-wan. I didn't see a death. I didn't see the family fight over Shin Bi. Let's put it this way.......from episode 10-15 was the same old, same old dragged out till you bleed drama. So in other words, there really wasn't any movement in the show. I might have missed some things which I might go back and see what I missed but for now....I wish the Korean drama figures would get a brain like the Japanese and just get to the gist of the story and move on.

On the whole.....the movie started out wonderfully and ended wonderfully. A very good drama but typically sluggish and emotionally draining.

Would I see it again? Probably so.....give me few more months when I get bored and am looking to watch some reruns..................

Kim Jae Won

Wonderful Life (ワンダフルライフ -2004)

Starring:
Sorimachi Takashi as Kirishima Akira
Hasegawa Kyoko as Isayama Mizuki
Yashima Norito as Tsumasaka Masayoshi
Horiuchi Ken as Okegawa Osamu
Taguchi Hiromasa as Hayashi Jiro
Inuyama Inuko as Hayashi Nobuko
Muramatsu Toshifumi as Onoda Isao
Oshima Satoko as Onoda Sanae
Yoshimoto Miyoko as Shinoda Mika
Ichikawa Yui as Katsuragi Touko
Hamada Mari as Isayama Yukie
Kaneko Noboru
Oishi Megumi
Masu Takeshi
Ito Shiro
Nishimura Masahiko as Isayama Yasushi
Sato Kazuya
Sawamura Ikki (ep5, 8)
Moriguchi Yoko (guest)
Takahashi Kento

Momonoki Jaguars
Kawaguchi Shouhei as Isayama Sho
Matsukawa Naruki as Konsuke
Kumatani Tomohiro
Kawakita Junya



Kirishima is the most famous baseball player in Japan. However, an unfortunate injury forces him to retire. His family abandons him, and all that's left is a vacant coaching position at a local baseball team for young boys. This club is on the verge of being disbanded—so far, they have never won a single game. Will Kirishima be able to help the club?

Through the television screen, popular baseball player Kirishima tells the kids, "dreams come true." His baseball techniques are so fantastic that he is called the "miracle man." But in reality, Kirishima is an arrogant and selfish flirt who spends money like there's no tomorrow.

Mizuki is a girl who wants to become a lawyer. Her brother plays on Kirishima's team, but can't stand the sight of Kirishima. She hates men who fool around, and especially those who deceive children. Will Mizuki and Kirishima be able to come to a mutual understanding? --Fuji TV

I loved this drama. Sorimachi Takashi hit a home-run with this series. Geez, I cry everytime in one of his dramas. Doesn't matter if it's a comedy or not. This man is great! I hope to God that he is like his characters that he plays. I love the morality of the story. It was heart felt, endearing, sad at moments, funny when needed, and inspiring all in one.

When life seems to be over, it's not over until your final swing at bat. It might be bases loaded, one point behind, 9th-inning, 2-outs......until you do your best....you can always come from behind to win!!

After watching this show, memories of my youth swirled in my head. I'm a girl in a local softball association. We were pretty good. I was the catcher. Our pitcher was awesome. We played fast pitch. She was so good that everytime the ball she threw hit my glove, my palm would burn. And not to boast, I was really a great batter. I loved that time in my life. All seemed to be perfect..................

Ganbatte!!!

Sorimachi Takashi