dramas update.

Have been watching quite some dramas recently simply because i've nothing else better to do. Here is a summary of three dramas i've been watching recently.


1. Last Friends [ラスト・フレンズ], 2008.



Main casts:
Nagasawa Masami as Aida Michiru
Ueno Juri as Kishimoto Ruka
Eita as Mizushima Takeru
Nishikido Ryo as Oikawa Sosuke
Mizukawa Asami as Takigawa Eri

Last Friends is a very atypical jdrama, because of the themes tackled it--homosexuality, domestic violence (DV), cohabitation, dysfunctional family, etc. The plot setup is awesome, and characterization of every lead is so realistic that it hurts to watch.

Brilliant acting by Ueno Juri, who played Ruka, a motorcross racer secretly in love with her high school classmate Michiru. Also to be noted is Nishikido Ryo, who played Sosuke, an officer at Child Welfare, who ironically abuses his cohabiting girlfriend Mirchiru. I can still remember his cold hard stares and the sound of his raised voice. *shivers*

However the writers of this drama has failed to fully develop its plot, leaving pockets of questions unanswered at the end of the drama. It's a real pity, given it's potential. Nonetheless, it's a drama worth watching.

Rating: 8/10.


2. First Kiss [ファースト・キス] , 2007.



Main casts:
Inoue Mao as Fukunaga Mio
Ito Hideaki as Kano Kazuki
Hiraoka Yuta as Yuki Akio
Matsuyuki Yasuko as Takagi Renko

This is a comparatively much more light-hearted and typical jdrama. The story revolves mainly around Mio, a 20 year-old with a heart illness, and due for a crucial surgery with only 50% success rate. She decides to return to Japan and spend her last summer with her brother Kazuki, whom she hasn't seen for ten years.

The acting is rather mediocre, i must say. But something interesting about this drama is the characterization of Mio. She is irritable, has an attitude, and gets on everyone's nerves. Yet as an audience, you'd find it hard to dislike her. The subtle display of Mio's softer nature engages the audience's empathy has a luring power.

This is something to watch if you have time to kill.

Rating: 6/10.


3. Boys Before Flowers [꽃보다 남자], 2009.



Main casts:
Koo Hye Sun as Geum Jan Di
Lee Min Ho as Goo Jun Pyo
Kim Hyun Joong as Yoon Ji Hoo
Kim Bum as So Yi Jung
Kim Joon as Song Woo Bin

This is the Korean adaptation of Japanese manga Hana Yori Dango, or also known as 流行花園. I haven't watched Hana Yori Dango nor read the manga so i can't give a comparison on that.

But compared to Taiwan's 流行花園, Boys Before Flowers definitely is much more elaborate, with overseas filming at New Caledonia and Macau. Afterall, this story is about frigging rich kids, so naturally shooting should be done more elaborately.

As usual, sadly, nobody in this drama can act. The casts of F4's prolly been picked because of their looks. Koo Hye Sun, playing Geum Jan Di, barely made the cut. Despite the poor acting and predictable storyline, this drama make a good pastime because of the common fight-for-the-underdog theme and its exaggerated humor.

Rating: 6.5/10

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