For some reason, this year, I've really been all about doramas as well as K and J movies. Despite all odds (that's my country; All Odds) I managed to watch a few which fed the craving but also encouraged it. They really are like good chocolate!
Anyway, I plan to write reviews of all of them overtime so anyone can decide if they want to see them too, but this post in particular is dedicated to the K-dorama, "You're Beautiful," which just finished airing on Korean TV, end of last year (Also sometimes known as He's Beautiful or She's Handsome).
(bottom right is actress Park Shin Hye! You could tell, right?)Like most doramas, this one flows like a shoujo manhwa (I say manhwa as opposed to mangas cos the Korean stuff has a sense of humour that I feel is a lot closer to ours and some of that is evident in the show.) It's a gender-crossing romantic comedy starring cute, multi-talented Park Shin Hye as a Novice (about to be a nun) who has to fill for her identical twin brother as a new member of the hottest, boy band in the country, A.N.Jell.
("Boys" of A.N.Jell)Her brother is of course absent for most of the show and we get to watch Shin Hye's hilarious attempts to keep her gender a secret from the rest of the band and it's management team. Attempts which mostly fall apart by episode 2. The cuteness factor is ramped up by how adorable she looks in her boy disguise most of the time and her and the rest of the boys' androgynous wardrobe is actually worth watching the show for. That and the love rectangle!
But the real reward for watching this show is its lead bishounen, the ridiculously charismatic, real life idol, Jang Geun Suk (or Jang Keun Suk) who'se image is currently gracing my laptop's desktop. He plays the character of cold, arrogant and anal retentive band leader, Hwang Tae Kyung and he plays it with aplomb!
It's funny because when I first started the show, I didn't think he was that cute. He was always sneering, smirking or just looking pissed off. I liked Kang Shin Woo (the sweet and sensitive type back up guitarist) and "Jeremy" (the blond quirky drummer) better. But I was very fascinated by his ultra, ultra bishounen idol hair and wardrobe and I also loved his walk or, for lack of a better term, swagger.
(sure she doesn't look much like our idea of a boy. But in Asia, few boy idols do ^-^)As the show proceeded and he and Go Mi Nam's (Park Shin Hye's) relationship grew, my admiration for this actor seriously climbed. He managed to bring an unbelievable amount of charisma and humour to a very bitter and anal character so much so that by the middle of the show, I had eyes for no one but this arrogant bastard. And when he finally smiled........HUGE pay off!!!!!!!!
(me? bitter? anal? A behind the scene smile from Sukkie.
Watch the show to see the one there ;))That's why I'm currently a Suki-holic. I think he's filled up the sad space in my fan girl heart that Tony Leung left and since he's just 22, he'll probably be there for a while! ^________^
Despite his age, Geun Suk has charmed the ladies via TV and Movies for the last 18 years. I had seen him in Do Re Mi So Fa Ti La Do where he was also a musician in a band before this Show but I didn't even know it was him because he looked and seemed so different. The charm and the huge performance were the same though prompting me to feel that this guy is really someone to watch out for.
In addition to his acting career he is a musician, a DeeJay and a hawt model. What more could a girl ask for in a real live bishounen, I ask you?
(Multi-talented Seuk on the Turn Tables!)Anyways, look for Jang Geun Suk in You're Beautiful, Beethoven Virus, DoReMiSoFaTiLaDo, Baby and Me and The Itaewon Murder Case, his latest and most gritty to date (goodbye squeaky clean, idol image). Also catch the songs he's done for Promotional purposes. You won't believe how catchy and listenable they are, kinda like Black Eyed Peas! Currently on repeat on my mp3 player: "Drag," "Toucholic" and "Black Engine."
(Images from "Toucholic" (Sukiholic? Geddit?) and Black Engine Vids)This guy is my favourite right now and if you check out his stuff, I'm pretty sure he'll be your favourite too!
Eh-to...atashi-wa, Neogogo-chan. Suki-holic desu!
My Screen Caps from the Show(Discover the Mystery of Pig Rabbit!)
(Hyung-nim does not like to be touched) (My favourite hairstyle. Bishounelicious!)**Disclaimer: Most of these images were pilfered from sites giving news of or praise to Geun Suk. I am very grateful to them for their work but I have lost the credits and I hope they will forgive me for reusing these pics pleeeeeeeeeeze! Just trying to spread the love on my side of the globe! Go Fighting Eels!! ^_^;;