I saw God Once When I Was Little

Some new cast members for Dream High 2 have been released. Park Jin Young is returning. In the first series he played the "misfits"' English teacher/secret tutor. Another teacher has been reviled Kim Jung Tae (last seen in Girl K will have a role, possibly as the students' teacher.

As for the students - three have been cast. Rumor has it two more student cast members will join them, though that hasn't been confirmed.


The cast: (who are all two years older than half the cast of the first Dream High)

Jinwoon (21) of 2AM has been cast in one of the leading male student roles.

Hyorin (22) of the K-pop group "SISTAR" seems to be taking on the Suzy role. Or rather a type of role like Suzy played. I say this, simply because they have a similar look.

Kang So -Ra (23) doesn't seem to be in any pop group, so I'm wondering if she'll be the female Kim Soo-Hyun of the group. At the very least, she has several acting credits to her, which is more than the other two student cast members.

After weeks of speculation,the casting for JGS's newest drama, Love Rain has moved forward. We now know two new cast members and more about the characters they'll play. We also have a plot:



"Love Rain will be a melodrama that transcends generations. It will tell the story of pure loves with emotion that will make the viewers cry and smile. It spans from a pure love in the 1970s analog age, to a trendy love in the digital age"

( The cast )




So. . .I'm guessing this is a "sins of the father/mother" type thing? Because JGS is said to be the male lead in both the 1970s and the 2012 parts of the drama. (We'll see both stories play out together.) I'm guessing In-Ha loses Yoon-Hee, but his son gets her daughter? That grosses me out a little, to be honest.




I also have to be frank: I'm not happy with Yoona casted as the female lead. Because - she's not a strong actress. She's wooden at times and never emotes as she should. I also think Yoona tends to bring down the talents of her co-stars. There were many other actresses in the 20-25 age range that would have been much better, in my opinion. I cannot remember Kim Shi-Hoo in anything, so I can't comment on him.




I hate to say it - but, my interest in this drama has waned. Love Rain starts filming next week and is shooting for an early 2012 air date.

Firstly, I want to give all my American f-listers a Happy 4th. I think it's become too crazy, but even I ate the hotdogs and the red, white, and blue strawberry shortcake.

Secondly, Myung Wol the Spy has several stills out - it looks like a fun drama with a bit of angst thrown in. Is it July 11th yet?

Thirdly, I'm suddenly looking forward to the weekend drama A Thousand Kisses because of the secondary cast: Kim So Eun (Boys Before Flowers) has been added as the leading lady's (Seo Young Hee) younger sister. She's also in love with Ryu Jin's character (Summer Scent, Loving You a Thousand Times). And Ryu Jin's character may or may not be the ex-husband of Seo Young Hee's character. How juicy!

Fourthly, a new Korean drama has been announced - Forget Me Not and the leading man is rumored to be Song Seung-Heon (East of Eden, My Princess). Also, the drama will be written by Kim Soo-Hyun, who wrote the weekend drama hits Life is Beautiful and Mom Has Grown Horns.

While You're Beautiful was an internet hit, it didn't fair so well in the ratings. It averaged 10% overall; the worse overall ratings of any Hong Sister drama. Still, it's being remade - in Japan. I don't know if it aired in Japan (I think it did), but it must have been a hit there; the remake has been in the works for a year now. The Japanese You're Beautiful remake will air this July on TBS and will be "heavily" based on the Korean version of the show.


It will star actress Takimoto Miori, and three young men from Johnny's Entertainment: Tamamori Yuta, Fujigaya Taisuke, and Yaotome Hikaru. I looked up the cast: none of them have done much acting and they are all younger then their Korean counterparts. I can't help but think this is a vehicle for Johnny's Entertainment.


The only thing good thing I can think is: maybe it will have better pacing. You're Beautiful was sixteen episodes and started to drag by episode seven or eight. Japanese dramas are usually ten-twelve episodes, so maybe all the pointless stuff can be left out. *shrug*



Also - remember Hanazakari no Kimitachi e? It aired in Japan during the summer season of 2007; there was a special in October of 2008. Despite its craziness, it was a ratings hit - avenging 17.3% for the series and an 18% for the special. It was a fun little thing and then it was over. We moved on. The story was finished and we were all happy, until now. It's being remade: twice.

A Japanese remake of the series is airing - three years after the special - later this summer. It will have a whole new cast and will have Maeda Atsuko (who was awesome in Q10) taking over the Horikita Maki role.


Also - a Korean remake is coming soon. It'll be done by SM Entertainment (they did the horrible Paradise Ranch). They have revealed that they have signed a contract that will give them the publication rights for the drama production. Representatives revealed, “The Korean version will have a total of 16 episodes that draw out stories of hopes and dreams. It’s a teenage comedy with a cute, but strong storyline and a slew of handsome cast members. We’re planning to begin airing it this summer.”



I can honestly saw I'm not looking forward to either Hana Kimi remake. Why are they remaking a show three years after another version aired? And. . . the Korean version will most likely star SM Entertainment boybanders. . .most of which cannot act. *sigh*

It starts April 27th. It seems too soon, as it feels like the cast and the main storylines were finalized a couple of weeks ago. That worries me, as I have a feeling the first few episodes will be very rushed. Also, a few things have been changed. The title is now The Greatest Love.

The synopsis is as follows: Ae Jung(Gong Hyo Jin) is a female band member who is already over the hill. When she enters a variety show to pretend marriage with the top star (Cha Seung Won), she gets entangled in a love triangle along with her bandmate (Yoo In Na). Yoon Pil Joo (Yoon Kye Sang)is a doctor of oriental medicine who has no interest in the entertainment industry but meets Ae Jung by chance and falls for her.


I have to admit, the synopsis worries me. GHJ's character is no longer an actress, but an "over the hill" (she's 31 in real life!) singer. The reminds me of I Am Legend, and not in a good way. And, there's a pretend marriage? Oy! Those are getting old, Korean Drama Writers. I'm also hoping the start date is wrong, because I think they haven't even started filming.

You know, I used to love the Hong Sisters, but I feel that they are doing too many dramas too close together. And, that is leading to them falling back on bad ideas and going more and more for the cliches. We'll see where this goes.

I really want to see this drama. The trailers and previews make me want it even more. It's been a long time since I've watched a Mainland China wuxia-type drama, and frankly: I'm excited. It's based on the Korean story of Iljimae, a comic by Ko Woo Yung.


Cast:


Wallace Huo as Li Ge Xiao (the hero)
Liu Shi Shi as Yan San Niang (hero's second-in-command)
Ma Tianyu as He Xiaomei (hero's third-in-command)
Shi Xingyu as Chai Hu (hero's brute force)
Edwin Siu as Ying Wu Qiu (the villain)
Deng Li Min as Gao Song
Yao Yi Chen as Zhang Zhong
Guan Xiao Tong as Chai Yan
Lv Yi as Su Ying
Tong Liya as Jing Ru Yi (li ge xiao's wife)



( more behind the cut, including a trailer )

Character's Descriptions


Mary (Moon Geun-Young) is a young woman with the energy of the sun. She looks like her dead mother, but her hot temper comes from her father. Her father always makes troubles as a failed businessman, but she also loves him the most. Because Mary can't afford to pay her college tuition fees, she temporarily stops attending school. Without having any special skills, Mary starts to work odd jobs. One day, Mary's father proposes that Mary marries a man named Mun-Gyul to pay off their debts. While Mary takes fake wedding pictures, Mary finds herself in the position of committing bigamy: marrying a second man. During Mary's first 100 days of marriage to two men, Mary starts to fall in love with Mun-Gyul. Then while working as Jung-In's secretary, she starts to develop feelings for him as well. Mary finds herself torn between two different men with different types of charm.



Mu-Gyul (Jang Geun-Suk) is the lead vocalist and guitarist for a rock band. He is chic and lives a carefree bohemian lifestyle. He doesn't talk much and only wants to make music. Mun-Gyul doesn't care about success. He also suffers trauma with his mother and, because of this, becomes tired of the women he dates and leaves them. Mu-Gyul is a bad guy to women. When it appears Mu-Gyul will never get married a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity comes about. He meets Mary, money becomes involved and a 100 days of marriage ensues. During this time, Mu-Gyul not knowing the meaning of family, surprisingly falls in love with Mary who is combative, loyal, and spunky. Mu-Gyul finds himself becoming a rival of Jung-In for Mary's love.




Jung-In (Kim Jae-Wook) is the president of music company JI Entertainment producing a music drama. Jung-In was born into a wealthy family and has never lacked money. Jung-In is also good looking and has good manners. Because of this, Jung-In appears to be highly eligible bachelor for marriage. But, Jung-In also has a cold side - he doesn't like becoming too close to people. His weakest point is that he can never say no to his father. He enters into a 100 day fake marriage with Mary and soon falls in love with Mary. Jung-In also comes across Mu-Gyul who will help fulfill Jung-In's dream in the music world. Mu-Gyul will also become a rival for Jung-In over Marry. Then Seo-Jun enters the picture.




Seo-Jun (Kim Hyo-Jin) is a sexy and sophisticated woman. She also comes from a rich family. Seo-Jun works as an actress, preferring to make movies rather than dramas. Seo-Jun broke up with Mu-Gyul about a year ago, but still occasionally attends his performances without his knowledge. She also has the same care-free spirit as Mu-Gyul. Seo-Jun then meets Mu-Gyul once again and makes a contract for a drama produced by Jung-In. Seo-Jun starts to develop feelings for Jung-In in a bizarre love triangle.




So, my guess is that Mary's father tells her to marry Mu-gyul, but she fakes the marriage, because she doesn't want to marry. Then, Jung-In comes along, and since she's his co-worker (and known him for years?), she agrees to pretend to be engaged to him, in order to please his father.


Either way, I'm looking forward to this. Nothing anyone can or will say can make me not watch this one on the 8th.

All I can say is that it looks cute. I know several people on my flist are not interested in this for many different reasons, but I'm looking forward to it. All I can say is: remember dramas can be surprising - promos don't always tell the whole story. (Tamra the Island, My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, Cinderella Story, etc)

Mary Stayed Out All Night is an internet comic by Won Su-Yeon, of Full House fame. The story is described as a romantic comedy and is:


The story of Mary Wei (Moon Geun-Young), a young and stubborn woman with little dating experience. Her life changes suddenly when she meets tough rocker Kang Mu-Kyul (Jang Geun-Suk). The two begin dating (and may enter a contract marriage?). But, things get more complicated when Byun Jung-In, a handsome and seemingly perfect chaebol enters the picture. - by me, with info from Asianwiki and Dramabeans



Details are a bit all over the place because the drama is being tweaked in much the same way Full House was. (For those that don't know, the Full House comic took place in England, and the lead was an English actor, not Korean.)For this drama, My-Kyul is apparently going to be more 'indie' rock and more of a 'free-spirit'. According to Dramabeans: or 100 days, Mary will have an “imaginary marriage” (as in simulated) with both guys; the exact circumstances remain unclear.


The drama is being written by In Eun-ah, who wrote Goong, this gives me hope, because that was a well-written drama, that was also based on a comic. But, I'm still a bit worried.



I love Moon Geun-Young, and I do think she is one of the best Korean actress in her age range (she's a '87'er, making her 23); however she's mostly done drama roles. You see, Moon is trying to give up her "little sister" image, and has taken on more dramatic roles of late - which she has been highly praised for -, but if you look back at her acting history, she really has done mostly drama. Love Me Not, A Tale of Two Sisters, Cinderella's Sister, The Painter of Wind, Empress Myseongseong, the new play Closer, were all pieces she was praised for, and all were dramas. Of course, she also did My Little Bride and some family dramas back in her younger dramas, and those had some humor in them. MLB was a romantic comedy and even a hit. I'm just a little worried, because while I love Moon and found her adorable in the romantic comedy My Little Bride and even the romantic dramedy Innocent Steps, I still know that it's harder to do comedy than it is to do drama.


Then there's Jang Geun-Suk. In Hong Gil Dong he went from nearly wooden to 'alright' - sadly, his co-stars outshone him, and his character wasn't that well written at times. In You're Beautiful, I think he did the best he could, but didn't have much to work with toward the end of the series. While the Hong sisters wanted to parody the "Idol" set, I think they were also scared to go to far, and then there was all that unneeded drama, and well. . .Jang worked with what he had and did the best he could. I know he has a lot of comedic talent: he was wonderful in Baby and Me, where he played a rebellious high school student who finds himself the father of an abandoned baby. (Yes, it was a comedy.) Basically, I like him and think he does well when given a good script. So, if he has something to work with, he'll do okay.


As for chemistry, well, Moon could have chemistry with a rock and Jang always does well with his leading ladies, so I'm not worried. I'm actually looking forward to this one. It starts in November, after Sungkyunkwan Scandal.