The Mad Monk (1993) Sunday, Mar 9 2008

Cast:
Stephen Chow
Maggie Cheung
Anthony Wong
Kirk Wong
Ng Man Tat
Anita Mui
Wong Yut Fei

Summary:
The Heavenly King wants to punish the earthly people when Stephen stands out to stop him. He points out that since human can only live for so long, their mistakes are forgivable. Anita Mui in the role of Guan Yin appears to start a bet between Stephen with the Heavenly King. The bet goes, if Stephen can change the fate of 3 people, he will win and will be reward, if he is to lose, the Heavenly King will strip him off his title. Anita gives Stephen a fan which enable him to use magic 3 times throughout a day. Each time he uses it, the fan will lose a piece. When Stephen descends down to earth, he forgets about the fan, so his best friend Ng Man Tat persuade Wong Yut Fei which is a heaven soldier to come down to earth to give the fan to Stephen.
Unfortunately Stephen cannot see Man Tat because human can’t see God. Wong Yut Fei transform Man Tat into a woman’s womb to be born to become human and he will blow Man Tat bigger into an adult form. Even though Man Tat is in the form of an adult, he still has the brain of a little kid therefore he can’t tell Stephen about the fan. However, when the sky becomes dark, Man Tat will regain his intelligence.
Stephen tasks is to find and change the fate of 3 people; a prostitute (Maggie Cheung), a beggar (Anthony Wong), and an evil person (Kirk Wong). When he first meets Maggie, a lighting strike him causing him to regain his heaven memory and hence he needs not Man Tat to tell him about his deed.
Several lives ago before Stephen becomes a God, he was a monk at a temple. After he passed away, his remain still at the temple to guard the devil’s born or else the devil will kill innocent people. After Stephen regains his memory, he returns to the temple to become a monk again and offends Kirk Wong by saving Anthony Wong. Kirk Wong hold grudges against him so he goes to destroy Stephen’s home. This result in the death of Stephen’s parents.
Anthony as well as his ancestors has been beggar, so he has no shame when it comes to beg for foods and eats left over. No matter how Stephen tries to persuade him, beat him, even give him the opportunity to become rich, he still acts as a low life beggar. Stephen also fails in his attempt to change the prostitute into a regular person because she has a promiscuous nature. However, she is in loves with Stephen and willing to give up her career as a prostitute to be his wife which Stephen declines.
The devil is coming back to get his born so he recruits Kirk to work for him lying that to Kirk that he has change Kirk’s heart to be invincible. Kirk kills Anthony and to rescue Anthony’s soul from being eaten by the devil, Stephen agrees to give the devil his remains. The devil goes back against his word so Stephen has lost his remains too. Maggie asks Stephen to marry her but he pretends to say yes although he really doesn’t want to. She sees it through him so she disfigures her face and sworn never to get marry.
Stephen goes find Kirk to get his revenge and Kirk is badly beaten. Stephen shows Kirk that the devil who he worships tricked him about changing his heart. The devil replaces his heart with a piece of rock. Stephen gives him a choice of either take the rock heart back and continue his mission to kill people or die. Kirk destroys the rock and ask not to be human in his next life.
Stephen goes battle against the devil and they both die together.
The Heavenly people are excited for they thought they’ve win the bet. However, Anita points out that Stephen successfully changes the fate of all 3 people. Anthony before he dies gain his confident as a human and not as a low life beggar by admitting his parent given name. Maggie keeps her promise and is no longer a prostitute but a tofu seller. Finally, Kirk regrets for the things he did before he dies and so he asks not to be human in his next life. Stephen is rewarded to become a Buddha.

Comments:
This is another classic from Stephen. Beside from all the funny scenes, the story also has its moral but yet it doesn’t sound too preachy. Once again, I love the chemistry between Stephen and Ng Mat Tat even though their scenes together are limited. The graphics, especially at the end, seem so real and scary. The devil looks really scary and the settings as well as background gives a gloomy and depressing feel to the overall plot.

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Conman in Tokyo (2000) Saturday, Mar 8 2008

Cast:
Louis Koo
Nick Cheung
Athena Chu
Christy Chung
Lai Tai
Ben Lam
Yasuaki Kurata
Joe Cheng
Leung Ka Yan
Wong Tin Lam
Zuki Lee

Summary:
Nick Cheung is just a typical triad guy who hangs around bowling alleys and clubs with girlfriend, Christy Chung. Louis Koo is his idol who heard many stories of but yet to meet. On his trip to Japan with his girlfriend, they happen to come across a Chinese restaurant who owner is no one else but Louis. Since their first meeting, Nick is confirm that Louis is the legendary conman that he admires. Nick found out that Louis comes every morning to take a sneak peek from afar of Athena. From Louis, Nick realizes that the reason Louis disappear from the gambling world is much due the lost of his girlfriend, who is now in vegetative state. Apparently, Louis’ best friend is jealous of Louis’ success and was plotting to destroy Louis. He married to Athena to make Louis’ life miserable.
With much persuasion from Nick, Louis decides to kidnap Athena back to Hong Kong and come back to the gambling world. Fortunate enough, Athena woke up from her vegetative stuff and Louis is more happy than ever. Nick begs Louis to teach him all his skills which Louis agrees. In come the Japanese guy who is eager to challenge Louis in a poker match. Louis best friend kidnaps Athena and Louis has no choice but to comply which him – that is have a dual with the Japanese guy. However, it turns out to be a trap by his best friend to lure them together to kill them off.
When Louis rescues Athena, she without any hesitation stabs him. But Louis has predicted that she is going to do that because he knew that that is not the real Athena – she is Athena’s twin sister. He has his doubt since the first day she woke up so he sends Christy to Japan to find out and tis its true. Louis’ best friend kills the twin sister and plan to escape with a helicopter. Louis caught up to him and while they were fighting and they were caught up in the helicopter engine. Nick came to Louis rescue while the best friend died blowing up to pieces. Louis decided to go away with Athena to live quietly while Nick continues his usual ways.

Comments:
This is a typical formulaic movie dealing with gambling. I have seen numerous other movies of the same genre dealing with similar storyline. What I like about this movie is the casting of Louis Koo, Nick Cheung, and Athena Chu. Louis Koo looks as hot as ever while Nick Cheung is excellent as a wacky sidekick. I just love his ridiculousness sometimes. I haven’t see Athena Chu in movies lately and the last time I watch her series was back in the Condor Heroes 94 with Chi Lam. She looks a lot older and it really shows on her face. This movie doesn’t require a lot of her acting so no comment on her. I don’t really see any chemistry between Athena & Louis or Louis & Nick for that matter. But I like this movie thanks majority to Louis Koo for looking so damn good.
What irritates me most is they didn’t dub the Japanese guy voice and the version that I saw have no English subtitles either so whenever he talks, I go huh. I have to listen to how other people respond to him to be able to guess what he’s saying. What I found weird is the Japanese man talks in Japanese while everyone else reply back in Chinese.

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God of Gamblers 3: Back To Shanghai (1991) Saturday, Mar 8 2008

Cast:
Stephen Chow
Gong Li
Ng Man Tat
Ray Lui

Summary:
After Stephen Chow defeated the “slanted eye” guy in part 2 and became The God of Gambler’s disciple, Stephen is now live in a mansion with his 3rd uncle Ng Man Tat. However, the “slanted eye” guy finds a group of special magic train guys from China to kill Stephen. During the fight, they created a change in the time machine and all of them is taking back to the 1930s of Shanghai. Stephen wakes up not realizing that he is now back in time, he still able to receive a phone call from HK police station. He meets Gong Li whose beauty mesmerized him. As he goes further to figure out where he is, he saves a man who resemble his 3rd uncle. This is when he is convinced that he has travel back in time, and the person he saves is his grandfather. They go to the town but they are entangle in a gang fight; the red and the black gang. Stephen defeats the leader who the red gang and is honored by Ray Lui. Ray convinces him to stay in Shanghai to work for him which Stephen refuses but when he sees Gong Li, he agrees.
On the opening day of Ray’s casino, a Japanese general along with Ray’s rival and the “slanted eye” guy come in in hope of winning Ray out. Stephen asks the “slanted eye” guy to use magic with him to take them back but the “slanted eye” refuses. Stephen then battles with the guy and he able to win everything back for Ray. They ask to challenge again.
Stephen is unhappy that Gong Li ignores him and denies the fact that she met him before when he first arrives at Shanghai. It is then reveals that Gong Li has a mentally challenge twin sister who is the one that Stephen saw on day 1. The older sister is engage to Ray but Stephen still thinks they’re the same person.
The Japanese general and Ray’s rival kill Gong Li, Ray’s fiancee and force the father into lying that the mentally challenge Gong Li is Ray’s fiancee. Stephen is captured by them and is force to kill Ray for them. To save his grandfather, 3rd uncle, and Gong Li, he promised to kill Ray but Stephen can’t bare to kill Ray so together with Ray, they decided to fake his death.
On the day of the gambling challenge, Stephen rescues everyone from the prison and manage to return to the casino in time. To everyone surprises, Stephen’s opponent is not the “slanted eye” guy but a French gambler who is Stephen’s idol. Like Stephen, the French gambler also knows magic and on the first round both use all the special power. On the last round, Stephen realizes he has no chance of winning because the “slanted eye” guy can easily change his cards. Just then he remembers reading from a biography book of the French gambler and realized he loses to 1 person. Stephen is looking around for that person when Ray tells him that the person he is looking for is indeed Stephen. As everyone is confident that the french gambler will win, the “slanted eye” guy changes the french gambler’s card. Stephen is the winner.
Ray kills off his rival to revenge for Gong Li. The “slanted eye” guy use his magic to deliver Stephen back to the future. Unfortunately, Stephen can’t bring Gong Li because she is part of the past hence she cannot go to the future.

Comments:
I found this to be the funniest part of all three parts. I wasn’t use to the fact that Andy Lau is not in here but then the storyline is much better than the 2nd part. Like all of Stephen Chow’s movie, this is another classic from him. Although the theme of gambling is repeatedly use, it doesn’t get boring because it’s not about winning or losing that matter, what matters is how. I just love the chemistry between Stephen Chow and his “3rd uncle”. I realize that Stephen also uses his real name in most of his movies and Ng Man Tat always acts as his uncle.
Ray Lui looks extremely handsome in here and his classic look does resemble Shanghai in the 1930s which reminds me of The Bund.
I recommend this movie to anyone who hasn’t watch it. This is one of Stephen’s classic that a fan can’t miss out.

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The Sting 2 (1993) Saturday, Mar 8 2008

Cast:
Nat Chan Pak Cheung
Christy Chung Lai Tai
Victor Hon Kwan
Kwan Hoi San
Andy Lau Tak Wah
Anita Lee Yuen Wah
Tony Leung Ka Fai
Liu Kai Chi
Wan Chi Keung
Johnny Wang Lung Wei
Tommy Wong Kwong Leung
Kingdom Yuen King Tan

Summary:
Andy Lau is a conman who often goes around casinos to cheat for money. Together with girlfriend, Christy Chung and best friend Liu Kai Chi, they are after Wan Chi Keung at his casino for his money. On the poker able there are Andy Lau, Wan Chi Keung, Tony Leung, and Nat Chan. Tony Leung’s occupation is a warden at a local prison while Nat Chan is a Singaporean Chinese who both are into the game for big money. Unfortunately, they’re lost to Andy Lau who won the whole pot. Later that night Tony Leung met Andy, Christy, and Liu Kai Chi at a bar and realizes that they’re together to con money. Tony Leung is badly beaten up and swears to have his revenge once Andy is in jail.
Wan Chi Keung is no saint either. He found out that he is tricked by Andy Lau so he has his men beat up Liu Kai Chi and hold him as hostage. In exchange, Andy Lau has to go to prison to befriend an old man, Kwan Ho San, to trick him into telling the whereabout of 30 million dollars with a deadline of 1 month. Andy Lau has no choice but to agree to save his friend.
In prison, Tony Leung tries to has his revenge numerous times but each time fail because Andy gives money to prisoners to be on his side. Wan Chi Keung also has his men in there to constantly harass Kwan Ho San but Andy is always there to stop them. Wan Chi Keung who is impatiently waiting, killed Liu Kai Chi to warn Andy Lau. Upon the death of his friend, Andy Lau, swears to revenge so he sided with old man Kwan Ho San. Andy gets Tony to be his helper with the promise of giving him 30 million when they have the job finish.
Tony’s job is to woo Wan Chi Keung’s girlfriend Anita Lee and lures her into taking him to Wan Chi Keung’s house so Andy can find his way to the money which he believes is still hiding in the house. However, Wan Chi Keung and Anita exposes Tony’s plan and call the cops on him for intruding. Tony is then put in jail too. Wan Chi Keung knew Andy is no good so on his engagement day, he has people create chaos in the prison to kill Andy and the old man off. However, Andy, Tony, and the old man escapes during the chaos and sneak back to Wan Chi Keung’s house. However, Tony knocks both of them unconscious on the way there and find his way back to the house by himself thinking that the money is hiding in the pillows. When he arrives, Wan Chi Keung spots him and is about to kill him off when Andy walks in. He knocks Tony unconscious and shot Wan Chi Keung. Wan Chi Keung is wondering how he can sneak into the party when Andy has Christy dresses up as Anita to trick Wan Chi Keung into believing that it was Anita who has an affair him Andy and who led him in. With this Andy walks downstairs, gives a fake gun to Anita. Wan Chi Keung who regains his conscious, go straight downstairs to shoot Anita. The cops then arrive at the scene and arrest Wan Chi Keung for murder.
Kwan Ho San gets his money which he hides under the sand in the reptile tank in the house. Together, all 3 of them return to prison where the chaos is subdue by the cops. They get release from prison and Tony demands for his share of 30 million dollars. Andy tells him that he put all the money in a Swiss bank for interest so that in 4 years the 30 million will grow into 90 million son each one of them will get 30 million dollars.

Comments:
Andy Lau looks extremely handsome in here. I’m assuming that he is a very good looking guy back in the days and it is no surprise that he is a heartthrob to any young females and old females alike. I was basically drooling over him throughout and I admit Andy has a special charisma that no other actor can compare. I really enjoy watching this. I always thought Andy is only capable of serious role such as Infernal Affairs and other recent movies but I realize that he can be a comedian too. I have watch too many gambling movies during the early 90s so there is nothing spectacular about this one. There are occasionally funny scenes and the funniest character in here have to be Tony.
This is no Stephen Chow’s movie but it definitely worth watching. In fact, I recommend this movie to anyone who has not watch it.

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Bad Love Friday, Mar 7 2008

Cast
* Kwon Sang Woo as Kang Yong Ki
* Lee Yo Won as Na In Jung
* Kim Sung Soo as Lee Soo Hwan
* Kim Ga Yun as Kang Joo Ran (Soo Hwan’s wife & Yong Ki’s sister)
* Cha Ye Reon as Park Shin Yeong / Jo Ann (Yong Ki’s first love)

Extended Cast
* Kim Hyang Gi as Soo Hwan’s daughter
* Song Ok Sook as Lee Jin Soo (Joo Ran’s mother)
* Kim Chang Wan as Hwang In Soo
* Park Geun Hyung as Kang Woo Taek / Chairman Kang (Yong Ki’s father)
* Choi Yong Min as In Jung’s father
* Yoo Ji In as In Jung’s mother
* Park Eun Hee as Park Chan Sook
* Choi Sung Min as Yoon Sil Gang

Synopsis
This melodrama depicts the lives, struggles and up and downs of 3 people when falling in love. Na In Jung (LYW), a chelo player, falls in love with Lee Soo Hwan (KSS), the son-in-law of a famous business tycoon. She later discovers that LSH is a married man and is thoroughly devastated. Kang Yong Gi (KSW) is the step-brother of LSH’s wife, the rebellion in their family. As an illigitimate child of the family, he grows up not appreciating the love given by his father. He expresses his feelings and passion thru art and does not care what other ppl think of him. The 3 ppl get entangled in a story of love and deceit when NIJ lets go of LSH and cross paths with KYG….

Comments:
I had really high hope when I decided to watch this drama only to be disappointed as a drag myself further into the show. There are so many factors I dislike about this drama in particular, the way love is portrayed throughout the drama.
People often said that the first love usually leave the deepest impression on a person and I nonetheless believe this. A typical Korean drama often portray that way too – that first love is the strongest love. I never had a problem with this because I think it’s true. When I watch a HK drama or a modern genre type of shows, love always portray as an easy come easy go sort of thing. With one person leaving is another chance of getting a different person. I usually hate this because it makes love seems superficial and not a part of one’s life. While I do not expect a love till death type of love, I just hope that with separation, there is at least some type of beautiful memory left between the two. I don’t expect the departing party to completely forget about the relationship because to me that’s unrealistic. With that in mind, I sorta hesitate to watch Bad Love after I read the synopsis because base on my experience with Korean Drama, forgetting about first love to move on is almost impossible since most if not all Korean dramas show that first love endure and last forever.
The beginning starts of the developing relationship between Na In Jung & Lee Soo Kwan and the relationship between Kang Yong Ki and Park Shin Yeong. At first I told myself that these 2 couples are not permanent couple because I know for a fact that Na In Jung will be with Kang Yong Ki. But as the drama continues to the point where Na In Jung and Kang Yong Ki are together, I feel nothing for them. Their relationship is so unrealistic I do not know where to start. Well, let’s start with the fact that Kang Yong Ki misses his dead girlfriend one moment and the next thing is he said he likes Na In Jung. Then we see one moment Na In Jung still has some sort of feelings for Lee Soo Kwan because she always seems so not herself in front of him, then the next moment she’s playing around with Na In Jung. I don’t blame the actor and actress for carrying out this mix of feelings thing between them, I blame the script. The time the drama spent showing the sparks of love between Na In Jung and Kang Yong Ki is just too short. Whereas the time spent showing Kang Yong Ki being miserable, depress, despair, and longing for his ex is substantial to the point that I wish he can get his girlfriend back and they would have a happy ending. I mean, seriously, he loves his exgirlfriend (first love) dearly that I feel he could have kill himself numerous times if it’s not for I don’t know what that still keep him living. I do not see the same love when he looks or held onto Na In Jung. Their relationship feel like “we’re together because we’ve to be together.” yes true, everything seems dramatic with Kang Yong Ki’s family disapproval, and Lee Soo Kwan in the picture but that still does not shows how deep their love is. I refuse to believe Kang Yong Ki loves Na In Jung because if i’m not mistaken, when he saw the girl that resemble his ex, he was mesmerized. At that moment, even Na In Jung doesn’t matter. It was this split second that reveal he still loves his ex the most. With Na In Jung, it seems like he’s in too deep and can no longer back out. He hold onto her because without her, he has nothing. Some might argue that if he still loves his ex, he could choose over the girl who resembles his ex but instead he didn’t. Kang Yong Ki knows for a fact that the one resembles his ex is not his ex, he loves the ex girlfriend for who she is not the physical appearance. That to me show how deep is his love for his ex.
Then there is Lee Soo Kwan, the jerk, who abandons Na In Jung then crawls back asking for forgiveness. Some might pity him for suffering from sickness and blames Na In Jung for being cruel not to visit him. I blame himself for being in that state. The jerk knew he had a family, yet still go fool around and ruin someone else life. I know some people hates his wife for doing the things she did to Na In Jung, but honestly, can anyone blame her? She is afterall a woman who try to save her marriage and family. She had done nothing wrong. If someone is too blame, then it is Lee Soo Kwan who inflicted pains on both women. His indecisiveness in the beginning led him to the conclusion he had and even do I feel he doesn’t deserve to die, it is for the better. If only he learns to let go then his life would be so much better. Let go of his wife to be with Na In Jung. Let go of the company that in the end is not even his.
I don’t like Na In Jung either. it’s true that she is the victim in the beginning, she had a miscarriage, her mom passed away, while her dad becomes a vegetable. I thought after all the pain she endured she becomes mature but I was wrong when she still obviously afraid of Lee Soo Kwan’s wife and still act like a weakling in front of Lee Soo Kwan. Have she not realize she owe them nothing. As a matter of fact they owe her. They owe her for causing her miscarriage and having to live such a horrible life. Why does she feel guilty? She shouldn’t. After so many years, what is Lee Soo Kwan gonna do to her. Why is she feeling so scare? Her character is so inconsistent which drive me crazy and led me to hate her. She acts so weak and fragile in front of Lee Soo Kwan and his wife yet when it comes to Kang Yong Ki, she’s nothing but cruel. I blame her for the death of his father and her for making his life worst than it used to be. I don’t see happiness when she’s with in. All I see is he trying to win her and he sacrificing so many things for her. I do believe if he had never meet her, he would eventually continue his life and perhaps become a happier person.

I don’t like this drama at all. I dread watching it and I could careless after Kang Yong Ki got together with Na In Jung. The reason I watch till the end is to find out what happen to Lee Soo Kwan’s wife. She becomes a better person and I think without Lee Soo Kwan, he life would be much happier. I don’t even care if Kang Yong Ki and Na In Jung have a happy ending or not. I would probably be happier if it’s a sad ending. But all in all, it’s not a bad drama, just not my cup of tea and I would never watch it again.

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Snow Queen Monday, Mar 3 2008

Starring:
Hyun Bin – Han Tae Woong/Han Deuk Gu
Sung Yuri – Kim Bo Ra
Im Ju Hwan – Seo Gun Woo
Yoo In Young – Lee Seung Ri

Other casts:
Kim Tae Hyun – Choi Choong Shik (DK’s friend from the boxing arena)
Ko Doo Shim – Park Yeong Ok (Tae Woong’s mother)
Chun Ho Jin – Kim Jang Su (Bo Ra’s father)
Oh Mi Hee – Bo Ra’s mother
Kim Weung Su – Lee Dong Sul (Seung Ri’s father/owner of the boxing arena)
Lee Sun Ho (not Andy from Shinhwa) – Kim Jeong Kyu
Kim Hak Jin – Ahn Sang Ho (Tae Woong’s roommate)
Lee Seo Yun – Hong Ji Hye (Jeong Kyu’s junior high/high school friend)
Ko Ju Heon – young Bo Ra
Jang Jeong Hee – Ko Sun Ja (Bo Ra’s house keeper)
Jeong Ji Ahn – Park Deuk Nam (Ko Sun Ja’s daughter/works for Bo Ra)
Lee Cheol Min – Park Dong Pil (boxer)
Park Jin Yeong – Jang Park Sa (Bo Ra’s doctor)
Choi Deok Mun – Oh Shil Jang (Kim Jang Su’s assistant)
Kim Beol Rae – college math professor

Sypnosis:
The beginning starts off with Tae Woong’s (Huyn Bin) moving into a boarding school. Already on the first day of class Tae Woong gets on Kim Jeong Kyu’s (Lee Sun Ho) bad side by pointing out the math question Jeong Kyu answered is wrongly phrase by the teacher. Jeong Kyu strongly believes that it is merely Tae Woong’s luck and nothing else. However, as times goes by, Jeong Kyu realizes that Tae Woong is a true genius and the two becomes best friend. Jeong Kyu insists on introducing a special someone to Tae Woong but Tae Woong refuses. Tae Woong by chance save a little girl, Kim Bo Ra, from being bully and the two already develop a bond with one another. The friendship between Tae Woong and Jeong Kyu gets deepen as they spend more time together and they both enter an International Math Contest. Jeong Kyu is confident that he will gets first prize but when the winner is announced to be Tae Woong, He is devastated and decides to end his life on that very day. The deeply sadden Tae Woong is effected by the death of his best friend, drops out of school and leaves to travel. He did not show up to meet Kim Bo Ra before he departs and therefore the two never know each other name.

8 Years later, Tae Woong becomes a Han Deuk Gu, named after Jeong Kyu’s favorite boxer, returns to Korea. He once again meet up with the snobby and naughty Kim Bo Ra but the two do not recognize each other. Deuk Gu saves Bo Ra several times from killing herself and learns that she is deeply effected by the death of her brother years ago. Deuk Gu understands what’s Bo Ra is going through and the two becomes closer. They soon find out that they’re indeed the other person whom they met 8 years ago. As their love blossoms, Deuk Gu learns that Bo Ra’s brother is Jeong Kyu, whose death he blame upon himself for. Bo Ra also finds out but her love for Deuk Gu but realizes that the suicide of her brother is due to her brother’s inability to think right and have nothing to do with Deuk Gu. However, Bo Ra’s father opposes their relationship but then give up when realizes that Bo Ra is suffered from a terminal illness. He has no other choice but to let the two be with each other. But happiness do not last long for them as Bo Ra is dying.

Comments:
I enjoyed the first half of this drama very much because the theme that was focused on the first half is different than the typical korean drama’s theme. The friendship between Tae Woong and Jeong Kyu is the highlight for the beginning. Although the drama fails to spend more time on the developing of their friendship, it succeeds in showing the depth of their friendship through the life Tae Woong live after the death of Jeong Kyu. Although I do not understand why Tae Woong chose the path that he is choosing, I nonetheless support his decision. Unlike other people, I don’t blame Tae Woong for Jeong Kyu’s death because it is Jeong Kyu’s own decision in choosing to end his life. However, I do feel unjust for Tae Woong for taking such a big guilt to himself and sometimes I do wonder if it is even worth it. It is apparent that Tae Woong treasures this friendship more than Jeong Kyu did because everything Tae Woong does thereafter Jeong Kyu’s death is for his friend, but there is never a moment in Jeong Kyu’s mind that he is considerate for Tae Woong. Since the beginning of this drama, Jeong Kyu is a competitive and arrogant fellow who feels threaten and envy of Tae Woong’s presence and he tries every way to find fault in Tae Woong. However, when he realizes that Tae Woong is truly capable, he befriends Tae Woong, but even to this point, he still never recognizes that he is not up to par to Tae Woong. One can argue that it is not his fault for not realizing that Tae Woong’s is better than him. But look at the moment after the Math Contest, everyone cheers hoping that Jeong Kyu would win and Jeong Kyu is so full of himself, too confident as a matter of fact, that he will definitely wins the competition. It never crosses his mind that Tae Woong is capable of beating him not even a little bit, that is why news of Tae Woong is winning hit him so hard. Other people blame his father for pressuring him to the point that he feels stress and being such a loser when he lost. I blame himself for doing the things he did and to a point, I hate his character for doing such an inconsiderate act that effects so many people who loves him. Bo Ra is right when she confronts her father that the death of her brother has nothing to do with anyone but the only one to blame is himself because of his incompetent to think clear. Jeong Kyu ends his life because he cannot accept the fact that anyone else is capable of beating him not even his best friend so when he lost to Tae Woong, he feels he has hit rock bottom and therefore commits suicide.
At times I cannot stop but curse at what Jeong Kyu has done to the people who loves him. He has basically ruins everyone’s life, his father, his sister, and of course Tae Woong. If only he stops to think one second of the impact of his action then it makes all the difference. But no matter how selfish I think Jeong Kyu’s character is, I cannot ignore the fact that he is a good person, a good son, brother, and friend. Just look at the effect of his death on those people to find out how much he mean to those people. I understand Tae Woong’s punishment for himself but I do not support him for doing the thing he did. I understand because Jeong Kyu is the only person who gives a damn for the existence of a poor person like Tae Woong. Because of Jeong Kyu, Tae Woong realizes what friendship is like and automatically Jeong Kyu becomes his whole world ever since they start hanging out with each other. This friend look pass his faulty background and forget the fact that he is from an upper social class to become his friend. However, I don’t support why Tae Woong do the thing he did after his friend’s death. Maybe the impact is deeper than I thought.
The love relationship between Tae Woong and Bo Ra is nothing special in my opinion. It’s similar to those typical love portrayed in all other korean dramas with the only difference as having the death of her brother as the obstacle between them. I do not understand Bo Ra’s character at all. It is given that the reason she wants to die in the beginning and her rebellious nature toward her father is because she blames him for her brother’s death. She thoughts that it is due to her father strict control over her brother that causes him to feel pressure which led to his death. She cannot help but punish her father by neglecting his feelings and do everything contrary to him. But when her father forbids the relationship between her and Tae Woong, she clearly explains to him that the death of her brother is caused by no one but her brother himself. So had she been wrongly accuse her father all this time? She has room to forgive when it comes to Tae Woong but no room when it comes to her father? Although I do agree that her brother’s death is not cause by anyone too, I do feel that she is a little unfair to her father.

Overall:
Like I have said above, I enjoy the first half of the drama very much while I drag the later half. I’m more interested in the friendship between Tae Woong and Jeong Kyu than the love relationship with Tae Woong and Bo Ra. I also do not like the last half because of such a sad ending. I don’t like the fact that Bo Ra is dying because I feel Tae Woong and the father deserve a happy ending for the horrendous 8 years they have been living. Especially for Tae Woong whom I doubt will ever again love because his love for two people resulted in the death of them both although none really associate with him. This drama gives me a sad feel that I do not like at all. I rather watch a nonsensical romantic comedy than a sad ending because what make me laugh makes all the difference.

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