Ghost

Title: Ghost / 유령 aka Phantom
Genre: Crime, Action, Investigation, Mystery
Cast: So Ji Sub as Det. Kim Woo Hyeon, Lee Yeon Hee as Det. Yoo Gang Mi, Uhm Ki Joon as Jo Hyun Min, Kwak Do Won as Det. Kwon Hyuk Joo
Directors: Kim Hyeong-sik, Park Shin-woo
Scriptwriter: Kim Eun-hee
Broadcast Network: SBS (Sony One Channel on Indovision ch 164)
Number of episodes: 20
Runtime per episode: 75 min
Language: Korean
Country: South Korea

A really nice story about hi-tech anti cyber crime squad, with twist of foul play of corruption inside of major corporation, media and even the police's and juctice organization themselves. I was hooked from the first scene of the series, when a hacker named Hades --yes, I thought people in cyber world always chooses extravagant names-- meddling police's investigation of online gambling, and there's a cyber duel between him and the leader of  the cyber invenstigation squad, Kim Woo Hyeon. I thought the episodes will devided into a series of crime/investigation like every other police stories while step by step closing to revealing this Hades persona, but I was wrong. The story line has another twist, involving Kim Woo Hyeon / Hades faith.

So, turn out that Kim Woo Hyeon is not that clean smart charimastic leader that he shows. In one of the case of a model/actress suicide/murder whose Hades became the main suspect, Hades found an evident that he was buried to the neck with covering a big corporation director's death. With some not-so-bizzare chance, Hades real personality was actually Pak Gi Yeong, Woo Hyeon best friend in Police Academy. Then with big boom boom bang bang explosive, 2 bodies discovered, one dead and one burned without recognition. Pak Gi Yeong who held Woo Hyeon police ID card mistakenly identified as Kim Woo Hyeon.

Fast forward a year after. "Kim Woo Hyeon" now fully recovered from the accident and back to police squad. Pak Gi Yeong took over Woo Hyeon life with the help of Yoo Gang Mi, who was Woo Hyeon most loyal, faithfull and 'he-saved-my-life-so-now-my-life-is-in-his-dispossal' subordinate, to reveal the one who responsible in all these haywires. Unfortunately, his position of Cyber Crime Squad Team Leader has been taken by Det. Kwon Hyuk Joo the Mad Cow of police squad, who did not really believe all these hocus-pocus cyber blah. He was a old school detective, who believes of old manner investigation process. He also believes that Pak Gi Yeong is responsible for the actress murder case and suspects Kim Woo Hyeon involved in Director Nam Sang Woo poisoned case, and had nosing around these two cases. So now WooHyeon/GiYeong should works triple responsibity, proving Hades innocence, investigating Nam Sang Woo murder while living Woo Hyeon normal life (uuhmm... did I mention that Woo Hyeon has a toodler son?).

But these cases gone cold after a while and both Det Kwon nor Det Kim don't have much to carry on. Until one case involving Korean Stock Market DDoS attacked case, the director, Jo Hyun Min, meet with Woo Hyeon and asked whether he knows him, which he didn't, of course. Director Jo tell him to have another meeting, when his memories got back. Few cases later, when Kwon Hyuk Jo officially re-opening Director Nam Sang Woo murder case,  a fact unfold that he was doing bussiness with Se Gang Company, where Director Jo was a black sheep nephew in his uncle's eyes, who was the owner and the Chief of Directors. But then all the evidence pointing to the son, not the nephew, who now next to throne.

One by one the curtains fall. All the secrets involving Park Gi Yeong resigned from the academy, Kim Woo Hyeon involvement in the Nam Sang Woo murder cases, Jo Hyun Min hatred to his uncle and cousin, the actress death,  it's all tangled one another into a giant decieve web.

Is it him or isn't it? That's the question both Kwon Hyuk Jo and Kim Woo Hyeon should answer. And while their individual search moved them closer to the truth and closer to each other, they still could not trust the other party. In rare occasion when they actually work together, they realized the benefits -Hyuk Jo unorthodox method and Gi Yeong/Woo Hyeon tech wiz-, and towards the end, they might need all the benefits and the support they could have.

****

Distance rumble:
OOOHHHHH, watching this series making me envious beyond words of korean drama compairing to Indonesian sinetrons. While the sinetron's theme still could not move forward from struggling for wealth and love, without any other morale of the story, Korean drama, eventhough the main themes were not so different from those, could sugar coated it with so many other things. This one here shown how very much advanced their ICT technology, which was my field of work and interest.

Faith

Title: Faith / Shin-ui / 신의
Genre: Classic, Palace Intrique, Medical, Time Travel, Drama
Cast: Lee Min-Ho as Choi Young, Kim Hee-Seon as Dr. Yoo Eun-Soo.
Directors: Kim Jong-Hak
Scriptwriter: Song Ji-Na
Broadcast Network: SBS (Sony One Channel on Indovision ch 164)
Number of episodes: 24
Runtime per episode: 75 min
Language: Korean
Country: South Korea

This is my new time splurge. I don't really into it, but, who can resist Lee Min-Ho's charm, right? Yeah....
And, I just saw it up to #4. So, this is 1/6 point of view's review.

***

Great General Choi Young tasked to bring King Gongmin from Yuan Empire (China) back to take throne in Goryeo (Korea). Gongmin had been taken as hostage for extended periods of time before the Emperor decided to named him King descending his unresponsible brother. Gongmin also had been married to Yuan's Princess Nogoog. On the way, they'd been attacked by some assassins, and although the new King was all right, Queen Nogoog's neck was slashed. This wound was quite severe, so even Jang Bin, who was the best doctor there was, could not promised to save her. By heaven's will, that time a "gate to heaven" opened so the King ordered him (correction: General Choi Young said that The King only have to give him a word, he'd do whatever it takes) to get a Doctor from Heaven to save the Queen.

This "gate to heaven" was actually a wormhole so General Choi Young was thrown some 700-ish years in the future to Seoul present time. Here he kidnapped Dr. Yoo Eun-Soo back to his time. She's actually learned to be a general surgeon but then thought being a surgeon was too much responsibility so she change her major to plastic surgery. Dr. Yoo did save the Queen, but not without fuzz. Accidently, she stab General Choi Young, which got to his liver. He's alive, but merely. His internal injury was not something that easy to heal in that past time. Meanwhile, the "gate" now closed, so she stucked in the past.

Being back to the capital, the King should faced many obstacle to preserved his throne. From power strugling with previous Queen's brother Ki Chul to not being a puppet to Yuan Emperor. All with sword hanging by a thread to his head. His only weapon was his General Choi Young. But he's injured and above all, a little reluctant to help him for some personal reason. The General's loyalty to King was unquestionable, but.....

***

Like I said in the first place, this serial is a splurge of time. The premises of the story are doubtful, unreal, and halfheartedly. The characters are very singular, not very intriquing at all (except for Queen Nogoog, I think she's smart and could be her King's strenght, if she want to). The costumes are much too contemporer for my taste and the colors are also off. The dialog, well, once in a while it has witty lines, I admit, but most of the time, nothing special. The acting is so so. The only thing that keep me watching it is Lee Min-ho, but in fact, I thought his face was too modern and cute to be an ex-assassin-for-hire-left-broken-hearted-I-have-nothing-to-lose Great General Choi Young.

But, having said that, I'm actually yearning to know how this different-time love story would end (yes, the doctor and the general, who else??). Last series I saw with the same theme was Journey to the Past, which ended nicely, but not entirely satisfactional (I haven't seen Time Slip Dr. Jin, so no comment on that). And then, there's The King and Queen relationship which is also worth seeing. Could they ever overcome the barrier of the different nation and being solid as ruler and as couple? I would also like to see more of modern versus traditional medical's way on action. If not, what a complete waste to kidnapped a doctor from the future just to do one stiches, no matter how important she was!

To be continued... next week!
(this 2 series a week is killing me... should find dvd... soon) **kepo mode**

-------------------

Updated 09/10/12 - up to #10

OOOHHHH..... I luuuvvv this quote!
I never heard such loyalty given in such way!! Good for you Great General Choi Young.

The king does not fight. The king possesses. There are simply kings who possess one or two, and kings who possess thousands, and tens of thousands. Start by possessing me. And I will do the fighting.

And the King finally get his brain and his guts back. And the Queen too. So things gonna be all right now??

Well, yeah.... not really. Ki Cheol is not going down so easily. By the end of #10, The King stands between  the rock and hard place. And it makes me want to screaaaaaaaaammmmm!!!

*uhm, oh almost forget, he had a new hair do* ;)

The Moon Embracing The Sun

Title: The Moon Embracing The Sun / Haereul Poomeun Dal / 해를 품은 달
Genre: Classic, Palace Intrique, Drama
Cast: Kim Soo Hyun as Lee Hwon, Han Ga In as Heo Yeon Woo / Wol
Directors: Kim Do-Hoon, Lee Sung-Joon
Scriptwriter: Jin Soo-Wan from same title novel by Jung Eun-Gwol (2005)
Broadcast Network: MBC
Number of episodes: 20
Runtime per episode: 65 min
Language: Korean
Country: South Korea

The Moon Embracing The Sun OST on 4share.

“In the beginning, there were two suns and two moons. But day was too hot, and night too cold. All of creation was thrown into chaos, and the people in misery. It was then that a hero appeared and shot one sun and one moon out of the sky with arrows, and brought peace to the world.”

The Moon Embracing The Sun is a fictional classic story setting in Joseon Dinasty (now known as Korea). TMETS is about a journey of a young crown prince and his beloved and choosen crown princess before they could be together as King and Queen, which in the way the King should face so many palace intrique and political issues while the future Queen undergo so many perturbation and affliction.

The story began with the shocking murders of a noble prince, the present King half brother, that in some people eyes was a thread to the King's authority. By this scene, we could see how much power some ministers had plus how the Queen Dowager play her ilicit capacity. As much as the King wanted to fight it, he didn't have the capacity nor the stregth.

From L to R, Prince Yang Myeong,
Crown Prince Lee Hwon, Heo Yeom and Kim Chae Woon

Meanwhile, The Chief Scholar Heo Yong Jae, one of the few man that still loyal to the King, had three main deciples. One was his only son, the handsome Heo Yeom, one was Yang Myeong, a prince but born from a concubine mother, and the other was the fast sword Kim Chae Woon. Woon had this lovely face that came from his gisaeng mother and a calm noble nature from his noble father, a some sort Official Governor or something. Just like Prince Yang Myeong, Woon did not had many advantages as noble birth because of his mother lineage.

Heo Yong Jae also had a beautiful smart and modest daughter name Heo Yeon Woo. Once when she went to the Palace to attend her brother and Woon honored as best scholar and best cavalier, she met a boy whom she thought was a thief. When she called for the guards, this boy grabbed her hand and run and hide under a bridge. After convincing her that he wasn't a thief, he was amazed by her knowledge and her confident to criticizing some of the Palace laws. Yeon Woo did not realised that this boy was the The Crown Prince Lee Hwon until she was at home and read his note gave to her by a court lady. Later, his brother Heo Yeom was  designated to be Crown Prince's mentor, and from him, the crown prince learn about her more, admire her and started to had feeling for her. She in the other hand, although started to admire him and his idea of how should a King would be, worried that he would still be angry to be called a thief.

Young Crown Princess Heo Yeon Woo

Some times later, the Queen Dowager wanted the King to start choosing the Crown Princess, the future wife for the King. She wanted Minister Yoon Dae Hyun's daughter, Yoon Bo Kyung to be selected, so both she and Minister Yoon could also puppet the future King. But the Crown Prince sure to have his own will, and after the King met Heo Yeon Woo -she was Princess Min Hwa study friends- he also favor this girl for her vast knowledge, kindness and modesty. After some tricky political treat from the Crown Prince and The King against Minister Yoon and Queen Dowager, much to Prince Lee Hwon delight, she was named the Crown Princess. Not to everyone perceived, this event scared Prince Yang Myeong heart's deeply, for he also had feeling for Yeon Woo. But he buried this in a smile and just walk away. The only one noticed about it was Woon and his sharp eyes.

Not admiting their lost, Minister Yoon and Queen Dowager made another evil scheme. Using Princess Min Hwa desire for Heo Yeom, they made her a means to put dark magic to Yeon Woo and killed her. Fortunately, Jang Nok Young, the head shaman that they forced to do the dark magic ceremony, had promised to her death friend - who was in life debt to Yeon Woo's mother - to protect Yeon Woo no matter what. So she planned to fake her death. The noble birth Crown Princess Heo Yeon Woo was death and buried, but then digged up again by the shaman, lost her memories and lifed again as commoner shaman in far away village.

Meanwhile, the Crown Prince left broken hearted and learn the hardest lesson of his life, as a man and as a political pawn. Added to this, his father suddenly stop the investigation and his half brother came with the same bleeded heart and rage anger, blaming him who could not protect one young girl. He never been the same again. His eyes lost the sparkle, except for the sparkle of hate towards Minister Yoon. His lips never smile, except for the cynical smile he gave the man in his court. He never said anything nice to anyone, and he dare not trust to say anything that he feel or think except infront of two men, his eunuch Hyung Sun and Woon, now his personal guards.

Eight years later, things are changed and somehow the same. Heo Young Jae died of illness not long after his daughter sudden death. Heo Yeom married to Princess Min Hwa. Crown Prince Lee Hwon, now King, forced to have Yoon Bo Kyung as his Queen, but their marriage never consummated. The court still rule by Minister Yoon and his accomplishes. Prince Yang Myeong still live free spiritedly. But, I guess faith could not be cheated forever. By some bizzare chance, the King and his guard, Woon, who decided to wondered alone met a young shaman who did not have recognition to her past. Her face reminded the King of her beloved Yeon Woo, while her knowledge and assertiveness astonished him. Because she had no name, he name her Wol (means Moon), in memory of his lost moon. He constantly should reminded himself that she was not her, but this made him wanted to investigated more about her death years ago. Back in the Palace he ask Hong Gyu Tae, a royal police that he knew still had loyalty to him and some bravery in his bones to ask around.

The King's rejection towards his Queen did not escape the Queen Dowager's eyes. So she sent a word to bring back Shaman Jang Nok Young to the capital, in order to strengthen her position and to 'cure' the King so he can intimately received the Queen and produce a heir.

"Don’t come close! But don’t go far…"
King Lee Hwon and Wol, confused

By accident, some fool thought that Wol was a powerful virgin shaman and secretly put her in King's chamber to eliminate bad magic. As much as Woon suprised, he kept it to himself. The King did slept better and awake -much to his own suprise- a happier man. So one night he pretend to take his sleeping tea and want to know what the scheme. He was totally confused and shocked to find Wol at his bedside but then worried and relieved at the same time. Worried if Wol is some kind of spy his opponent sent to him, relieved because deep down he wanted to see her again, also relieved it was her that calm the nightmare and longing he had been having. To Wol, this experience -his touched, his face, his smile - became more and more frightening to her, she started to have vision of someone else's happy and hopeful lifes. Buried memories that came knocked on her concious door.

So things became so much interesting. The same handwritting of Wol and young Yeon Woo noticed by Woon and then by the King. Gyu Tae noticed that hours after Heo Yeon Woo's death her body still warm. Woon saw Yeon Woo's maid lurking outside Heo's residence. Gyu Tae remarks that everywhere he investigate, Wol's maid also ask around. Later he learned from one of Hae residence's servant that both maid were the same person. The King started to learn what happened 8 years ago while Wol started to remember her past life. One occasion, when the eclipse happened, which literaly means the moon and the sun on the same perfect lines, Yeon Woo memory came back to her in full and Lee Hwon investigation triumph to open the secret behind the death of his Crown Princess. 

Prince Yang Myeong walked away again
while Woon watched in pain  

Of course these did not came freely. The King enforced to courted the Queen and Wol was framed and punished as traitor and seducer, tortured and exiled, humiliated beyond customary. Luckily, she always had Prince Yang Myeong by her side to help her and did simple things that made her happier. But after her memories' back, she could not help to feel guilty and sorrow to reject him again, and went back to Lee Hwon side. Like last time, Woon was the only one who knew, and now, more than ever, he was squeezed between his loyalty to the King and  his sympathy towards his best friend. 

Heo Yeom also had his own dilemma. He began to learn that his cheerful now pregnant wive, was one of the people responsible for his sister's death and undeliberatly for his father's deceased. How can he choose between his father/his sister and his wife/his unborn child. How can he choose between his past and his future.  

Prince Yang Myeong and King Lee Hwon draw swords to each other,
while Minister Yoon watching. Woon's sword also on Yang Myeong's neck

Around the time, Minister Yoon thought that the King was way out of his control. Her daughter, the Queen, was no used at all. So he masterplaned a big scheme to replace the King. He slowly made his move to approach Prince Yang Myeong and cut a deal to made him King, in return of making himself a Prime Minister. A broken hearted (again) Yang Myeong was hesitated at first, no matter what King Lee Hwon was his much adored younger brother. In the other hand, he took his only love, twice. After much consideration, he agreed, with only one condition, he's the one that would kill the King.....

***

OMG. I am not a big fans of palace intrique kind of drama, but OMG I loveeeed this story! Here's my 'why-list':

First of all, the protagonists were all smart people. They are not sitting duck target of the bad guys, they played chess with them. Well, they were not always winning, but they surely not lost all the time. It's fun to watch and I really enjoyed it. The main female character was also commandable and not pain in the a** who can only cry and be resilient. Well resilient was ok and needed, of course, but most of the time they tended to be idealized as damsel in distress. This is a Palace story, you want to be a Queen, fight for it and endure the bitterness. And so she did.

Secondly, it was not always a serious gloomy story. From time to time -even in the darkest hour of the story- there were still a sparks of humor that made me smile. But yes, we could see some men crying in some scenes. Well, what is oriental drama, without them, right? ;-)

Third, it was a nice picture of a palace situation. It's not just all glamour and comfortable place. It was also dangerous and tiring place. I also like to see the old Korean royal culture, not just the noble life of king's family and how's their lifes were bounded with protocols, but also the back stage living, you know like the lady in waiting, the maid, the royal chef, the doctors, the eunuch, etc.

Forth, all the cast, played briliantly, especially the King. I often got goosebump when he stare so icely or smile cynicaly towards someone. I also like the difference countenance that Wol and Yeon Woo gave, sometimes in the same scene. Just by her look or the way she uphold her chin, we could know who she was right that time. For the record, this series was name The Best Drama and and Best Actor in Drama Series (Kim Soo Hyun) on 48th Paeksang Arts Awards - TV Dramas Categories 2012. People reception was not far different, after just 3 episodes, it peakes the Korean National TV Rating and never went down. It's 18th episode (when the King and Yeon Woo finally met) top with more than 47% shares.

Fifth, it was short series, it was only 20 episodes. I never was a patient person, long series bored me (ogk how I can finished Dae Jang Geum 80 episodes!).  :-)

There... there were my reasons. If those wasn't sufficient enough, just check out those HHHAAAANNDDDSSOMME cast and say they are not tempting... *lap iler*
Wakakakakka..... enjoy...... ^_^

BTW: I keep some of my favorite The Moon Embracing The Sun OST songs on my 4share. Fell free to enjoy them.

Also read:
Faith / Great Doctor, new k-drama series starring Lee Min-Ho and Kim He-Seon

--More Crime Story Fever--

These are my curent fever of crime story series on TV. Can't get enough of them!!!

First one, Korean drama....

Title: 특수사건전담반 TEN / Special Affairs Team TEN
Episodes: 9
Broadcast network: KIX

Special Affairs Team TEN is a criminal investigation unit that tackles the most violent crimes in South Korea. These crimes usually have less than a 10% rate for arrests. They chase the most notorious killers who attempt to commit the perfect crimes.

Yeo Ji Hoon is former top-notch detective, but now works as a professor. He then becomes the leader of Special Affairs Team TEN. Nam Ye Ri has been a detective for 4 years. She joins Special Affairs Team TEN because of her psychological reasoning powers. Baek Do Sik is 24 year veteran detective. He possesses a keen sense of intuition, which he honed from his many years as a detective. Park Min Ho is a new detective. He joins Special Affairs Team TEN after impressing Professor Yeo Ji Hoon with his reasoning powers.

I really like the twists in every episode, and how logic walks well beside intuition and experience.
(IMHO, why can't Indonesian sinetron made one like this? Put that screaming away and start do some LOGIC in the stories) *yeah, keep dreaming!*


Second one, Sherlock's back! Darker and sexier, demanding... now more than ever!!

Title: Sherlock Season 2
Episodes: 3
Broadcast network: beTV

Yeah, BBC's new interpretation of old Sherlock is back. Just saw the first episode A Scandal in Belgravia which starring Irene Adler as THE Woman that could made Sherlock blinks his eyes. Love it. Love it. LOVE IT.
Brain is the new sexy.... hahaha.....!
Can't wait for the next two.

Quiz from God S1

Title: Quiz from God / Shin-ui Quiz / 신의 퀴즈
Genre: Medical, crime, mystery
Cast: Ryu Duk Hwan (Han Jin Woo), Yoon Joo Hee (Kang Kyung Hee)
Directors: Lee Joon Hyung
Scriptwriter: Park Jae Bum
Broadcast Network: OCN (KiX on Indovision)
Number of episodes: 10
Runtime per episode: 50 min.
Language: Korean
Country: South Korea

Synopsis (from Drama Addicts)
Han Jin Woo, Korea's top medical examiner, leads a team of experts in conducting a medical crime investigation after strange events and mysterious deaths occur in a hospital. He first clashes with but is later aided by Kang Kyung Hee, an attractive female detective who possesses excellent skill in martial arts and a strong sense of justice.

***

I stumbled into the first episode of this series a while ago, and couldn't missed any of them since. It's like the CSI/Body of Proof meet Dr. House story. Just saw the final of S1 yesterday and can't wait for a re-run (or better, the S2).

So Dr. Han was a boy-genius protege in Han Kook University majoring in mechanical/robotical engineering (or something like that, couldn't really understood the background). But he became very ill with some rare brain disease. That's when he decided to study the best machine ever existed, the human body. Thus, he switches major into medical science. His illness, and his aloof behaviour, made him alienated from the others, until he met Prof. Park, a neuro-surgeoun doctor who also a director of Han Kook Medical Dept. He kind of took Jin Woo under his wings and introduced him into medical examiner world and team up with the police (lead by beautiful Det. Kang) to solved various murder-mysteries, with most of the cases (take that back, ALL of the cases) were involving a rare disease or syndrome or condition that for me, is the main attraction of this series.

So, the first case on episode 1, was a man with severe burned marks and several injuries. I thought it was an ordinary police story, until Dr. Han, with his twisted way of thinking and arrogant way of explaining, made clear to everyone of a Vampire's syndrome. A rare condition of a man that photosensitivity/sensitivity to the sunlight. Really! That's when I thought of this as a special treat. Of course after that, there was Det. Kang representing the police solving a murder case and a touch of humanity to tided everything together.

The next episodes were dealing with a lot of odd strange unordinary human genetic conditions, while showing an everyday life of ordinary people who had it. A music star wanabe, a high school girl who wanted to feel love, a young man who secretly loved his childhood friend 'till death do them part, a woman who had nothing and had to sell her egg cell, etc. And, as a good mystery series mix should be, to finalize the series, there are a genius psychopat serial killer who hold a grunge to our leading man. Oh yeah, and there were a sprinkle of romance too (no kidding!).

Love it. You can learn about diseases without have to tune in to Discovery or BBC Knowledge channel. :p

nb: I just don't get what the poster stated with half and half face. it wasn't the same size either. they were the same man, and with a scalpel in one hand and a surgical gloves in the other, what's the different? eh....

Man In Black 3: Back In Time

Just saw MIB III last night. It's good enough. Nothing 'nutricious'. Classic american super hero alien movie, with time travel twist. I like Emma Thompson and Josh Brolin as additions to Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith. Looks like WS now a leading man rather than a rookie to TLJ. Griffin stole some spotlights. Boris was terribly conventional villain. Missed the Worms and that big mouth dog a little. The coolest gadget was the one-wheel-motorcycle. Love it! :) (and funny to see "now" standard issue gadget way back then).

But what I want to hightlight here was the movie comically pictured about how time changes people perceptions in just few decades. So in one scene, a little boy saw Agent Jay drank his choco milk, and said to his mother, "Mr. President just stole my milk!" In few scenes after, back in 1959, a man ride an elevator with the very same Agent Jay and he's like very frighten or disgusted, then in other scene, two policemen stopped him for driving a convertible just bc his race. Hilarious!!!

It's a entertainment's movie. Don't think too much. Just sit, relax and enjoy the 3D.

Looking forward... soon:
* Batman: The Dark Rises
* The Amazing Spiderman

The End of an Era

Can't believe it all ended now! No more stories, no more books, no more movies. Fin.
. . .
. .
.

SHERLOCK

(TV Series - 90 Minutes runtime)
Casts: Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman
Creators: Mark Gatiss, Steven Moffat
Based on Sir Arthur Connan Doyle's Works

*****

Don't you hate when they took something very good and very classic and turn it entirely wrong and hideous. It happens a lot, so when I saw the advertisement for this Sherlock Holmes series, I kind of hold my breath a little. After all, Sherlock is one of my fav character. Thank God, this one turns out very very good.

Sherlock now is not just smart and attentive to every details as ever, but also a young, very modern and technological savyy as well, and yeah... a very well dressed guy too (no wonder the gay's rumours is all over the place ^_* ). He's not doing drugs ("I've been clean for months!"), he doesn't not even smoke ("It's very hard to keep smoking habbit in London these days."). His peculiarity and arogancy still there to stay ("Dear God, what is it like in your tiny little brains? It must be so boring. "), he IS Sherlock Holmes you know, go figure! Another interesting spin in the character... he sometimes humorous and even a little childish -specially with people who knew him quite well- which I really like, made him... more human ("Sherlock Holmes is a great man, and I think one day-if we're very, very lucky-he might even be a good one.").

How about Dr. John Watson? He's an army doctor, just back from peace keeping tour in Afganistan. He got shot in his left shoulder but had a psychosomatic limp in his right legs (the writers made a little fun out of Sir Arthur blunders in Dr. Watson's wound). The limp latter was cure by his association to Sherlock ("When you walk with Sherlock Holmes, you see the battlefield. You're not haunted by the war, Dr. Watson. You miss it.") He's fascinated by Sherlock's way of thinking, which to Sherlock himself rather bizarre to be greatfuly receipt("That was amazing." |"That is not what people normally say." |"What do people normally say?" |"Piss off."). He and Sherlock is calling each other first name based, not Watson and Holmes like in the original books (yeah... that's punctuated the title too).

John and Sherlock relation to other people are oftenly mistaken as romantic couple (or are they...??!?), but I stick to the original premise that Sherlock just don't interested in love, hell... he even does not eat while in a case ("Don't eat when I'm working. Digesting slows me down.") But this err keep emerge and bothered John a little. Everytime Sherlock introduce him as his "friend", John keep correcting it to "colleage". I find it a little ludicrous, Sherlock keep to the words original meaning, they are not just colleages, not after John saving his life (noticed, that before this event, Sherlock never introduce him, he just said that Dr. Watson is with him), they are friends. While to John, he feel more about what people thinking as "friends", so he keep it in bussiness term as colleages.

I haven't seen anyone better to play Sherlock character than Benedict Cumberbatch. In my mind, that was the image of pointed-pale-harsh-face with smart-piercing-eyes and somewhat awkward-unsosialized-manipulating behaviors of Sherlock Holmes. He potrait it best, even better than, say... Robert Downey Jr. And his chemistry with Martin Freeman as John Watson and Rupert Graves as Lestrade is just perfect. All and all, I must said I'm highly impressed by this series and couldn't stop craving for more. IMDB gave it 9 out of 10 stars, I give it 5 over 5 stars.

The 3 episodes in 1st season:
1-) A Study in Pink: A pink suitcase hold the key to solving four suicides, which actually a serial killer in action.
Sherlock first met his flat mate Dr. John Watson.
Sherlock first heard of his archenemy Prof. Moriarty.
We acquitance to his brother, Mycroft Holmes.
The title is a pun to the original series: A Study in Scarlett

2-) The Blind Banker: A painted symbols open a deep underground smuggler of chinesse antiquities.
It reminds me of the chryptography -which is one of many fields that Sherlock being omniscience-, both in The Adventure of Dancing Men (the pictures and symbolism) and The Valey of Fear (the book referenced), but nothing obvious, we can still enjoy the mystery.

3-)The Great Game: A double case of theft and a death regarding missile plans and a massive bomb blast/hostage situation.
Sherlock finally met Prof Moriarty.
Sherlock has Homeless Network instead of Baker Street Irregulars.
This is taken from the original series The Bruce-Partington Plans, with Alan West instead of Arthur Cadogan West, added a little twist and modernise setting. I also recall this simillar idea have been taken by Agatha Christie to be added her own twist for Poirot's adventure in The Submarine Plan.

A Man Walks Into a Bar...

A man walks into a bar, asking for a glass of water. The bartender pulls out a shotgun and shoots, barely miss the man. The man walks to the counter, says thank you and goes out, leaving a tip.

Well, turns out, everything in our live is about reaction. And how would you react depends on what drive you in the first place. Sometimes, what you think a hoarse reaction to someone is really what they need. Don't you think??!? ^_^

(If you still wondering why, the man has a hiccups!)

--A man walks into a bar, NCIS S8/E14--

My House in Umbria

It's a peacefull morning. One woman rushing to the station, almost miss her train. Then, in her compartment, already sit an american family with a little daughter, an old english general and his daughter, and a young lovers. They all ready to settled to their journey, when suddenly a bomb tearing it apart.

That woman is Mrs. Emily Delahunty (Maggie Smith). A so called romans novelist, enjoying her pensione time in a house in Italian countryside called Umbria. She came out as a survivor along with the little girl, the old general, and the german young man. They all lost someone dear to their heart that day, except her, "cause there are no one left to be lost anymore", she said.

So as a favor, she welcome them all to her house, while waiting for the politia investigates the incident. She also waiting for the little girl's relative came from america... the uncle. Here in this house, one by one, secrets of everyone life revealed. Bittersweat love story, anger, idealism, righteous, and debt colouring their past and their relations one another as well as founded their future.

###

What I'm really take from this movie are 2 things. First, it doesn't put people in black and white. They all just human. With their own dark side and sweet side. So yes this woman has good nature, but she also nosey, drinks a lot and write adult romans. And who said terorist is always cruel and fearful. How about a ambitious workaholic? Is it bad or just a passion to work? This movie not just said, they have their own reasons, or bad things happened to everyone. It potray human as humanbeing. Not more not less...

Second, as fans of Agatha Christie, Mrs. Delahunty really reminds me of Ms Marple. Old woman, nothing to do, busybody, good intuition, and lot of people would say smart-pants. But in the end, when proved that what she said is true, actually it just because she was a good observer with deep feelings to the others. A really complex personality.

Eternal Sunshine - Constantine - Closer

I've been seen to many movies lately. Well, it almost Oscar time (meaning a LOT of good movies around), and getting frustrated by Cala Ibi can caused it, I guess. Anyway, there's another three. Cannot write proper reviews, just quick ones.

First, Eternal Sunshine on Spotless Mind, starring Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Elijah Wood, and Kirsten Dunst. This is seriously funny story. Really! With so many bitterness in our life, would you willing to erased some part of your memory? In my opinion, good memory and bad memory is just one coin with two faces. They're shadows of the past that have made us now. If we erased one bad memory, who could say we can't go back doing the same mistake again??

My name is Constantine, John Constantine, ###hole! ;-)
If you would watched this movie, and you happened to Christian, just put aside your faith and watch. Constantine (Keanu Reeves) is a man who was gifted (or curse) to be able to see angel and demonic form. He killed himself once, so his soul is promised to be in hell for all eternity. But being sent back to this human world, he became exorcist and sent demonic form back down to try to buy his way up. In one case he meet Angela (Rachel Weisz), a police born with similar gift but never embrace it. Her sister's death was call suicide, but she think someone, or something has killed her. Together they try to stop Mammon, son of the Devil to be born into this world.
This is not Keanu best acting performance. Somehow I feel he trapped on stereotype matrix kind of hero. But as a movie, it's OK. Just relax and enjoy....
At least good guys win again
and God is proved to be mercyful.
(And remember, smoking can caused lung cancer!!) ;-)

Closer is originaly a play. That should be in your mind while watching it. Looong dialoque, rich emotional relation, minim set, and time jumping from years to years is the main menu. It is a story of two couples, their inter-connections, love and lies. Sometimes people more believe their version of truth, instead of the real truth, and they force the other to lie to match their own truth, in order to be releave and happy, coz they think they have heard the truth. So what is truth anyway?? Comfortable lies!
Starring Julia Roberts, Nathalie Portman, Jude Law and Clive Owen. Owen have been nominated for the this year oscar in actor in leading role on this film.

21 Grams

How much does life weight
They said the moment someone died, they lost exactly 21 grams of their weight. Does it the weight of their soul? their memory? or their missery and hope? Where does this weight go, or more than that, what does this 21 grams would bring or would not bring to others? How could this 21 grams effected so heavily while it is just 21 grams.... the weight of a bar of chocolate, the weight of 7 nickles....

Professor Paul Rivers (Sean Penn), frustrated smoking addicted and dying unless he got a heart transplantation soon. His english wife wants to have memories of him by having his child.

Jack Jordan (Benicio Del Toro), ex confict that found peace in extreme way of the church. He tried to put everything behind and live stable life with his wife and raise their children. Live words-by-words by the Book

Christina Peck (Naomi Watts), married with 2 lovely daughters. House in suburbs, backyards, jobs, husband and friends. Her life could not be more happy.

These life seems to run independently until one terrible accident run a turnmoil among them. One day, while driving his truck, Jordan unintentionally hit Peck and his daughters. Instead of helping them, he panic and runs, and then sent his wife and priest to find news about them. The older sister died instantly while the younger died because of late handling of the injury. Their father suffer a brain damage and medically call death. His heart then transplanted to Paul.

Later, feel pain of quilty feelings, Jordan turn himself in and being sent to jail for sometimes. He refuse any help from their family and friends and then start to refuse God himself. Even though lawyers could make his time short, after the deliverance day, he choose to leave his family and live by his own.

Paul, who get better soon enough, find curiousity for the donor and their family, and sent for private detective just to found out about Christina who now finds comfort only in drugs and sedative. He try to be friend with her and help her for time to time. This relationship then evolve into an affairs that sent his wife back to England. Christina still drown in anger, ask Paul to seek revenge to Jordan.

Paul, being debt to Christina for his heart could not object, instead, he put this matter to his own hand. He look for Jordan, and after some yells and lectures he set him free and ask him never to return. To gratify her, Paul said that Jordan's death and that his body never could be found. But for his revealation and redemption, Jordan came back to them and seek for death himself. Another twisted fate, bring these three lives in an odd mournful reality again....

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This movie is extraordinary. It can potray human emotional behave in the most tragic life of their time, and their effort to find redemption and peace in their hearts (literarly and metaforaly speaking). And don't think the storyline will be as linear as that, it will sharp-wittedly twist, bend and wretch your logic timeline to give more emotion gestures and chemical interaction between the protagonist. It will be much confusing in the beginning, more demanding in the middle and beutifully concluded in the end.

Just don't loose your concentration while watching it.

Finding Neverland

Young boys should never be sent to bed. They always wake up a day older, and than one day, they are all grown up.

I often wonder how famous writer get their inspirations, specially for their classic and unforgotten masterpiece. Finding Neverland answer one of my curiousity. This is the story of Sir James Matthew Barrie in short period of his life when he got inspiration of Peter Pan, developed and wrote about it until the opening night of the play in London Duke of Yorks Theatre.

It begins when JM Barrie (Johnnie Depp), a famous playwright in his time, felt bored of the same old theme for his play. Then one day, while walking his dog into Kensington Garden, he met the Llewelyn Davies boys and their recently widowed mother (Kate Winslet). Being friends with George, Jack, Peter and Michael suddenly reminds him of the wider childhood imagination. He sudennly found himself playing Indians and cowboys, prince and princesses, pirates, castaways and fairies with them. Turning backyards into hills, hills to galleon ships. Unlocking their every imagination by just believing, even for Peter, one who's bitter to life after his father died, and tried to grown before his time.

This relationship is not without resistance. Mme du Maurier, the boys' grandmother is concerning about her daughter friendship with married man could narrowing her future, while his own wife suddenly felt jealous and left behind, much more than ever been in their already cold married.

While living the life with the children, Barrie developed Peter Pan, a play based on them. And eventough half disbeliefing, his loyal producer (Dustin Hoffman) agreed to produce it. He deal with the actors and shock them by his childish request. Thight costume, flying in stage, talking to fairies, dogs-nanny, and ticking crocodiles. Then, he deal with the audience to reminds about a child trapped within themself.

But then, real life struck. Fate bring this writer to his adulthood again. Could sickness, separations, death or even growing up tought him and the ones he love to the wonder of neverland?

###

Every once an a while, one movie took stand and tickling your emotions. Sometimes with their awsome grand idea, sometimes with the shocking history, but sometime just by their simple life story. Finding Neverland is such a movie.

Peter Pan is a character that Freud himself need to make a psycological review about him. Seeing this movie, makes us a little bit understand what behind him and his creation proccess. Is wonderland only a land where time was put aside and could only hounting us like crocodile, or is it a sanctuary where our innocence, childhood dream and imaginations life forever. Growing up its not deniable. One minute we're just a child, the next, misery, responsibility and adulthood took over. But is it true that our imaginations and innocent lock behind with it? JM Barrie is just a genius writer who being true to wrote about it. And in my opinion, his idea of 25 scattered seat is really a great idea.

To storyline and editing itself quite enjoyable. It's amazing to see from a creator eyes, how children play add by imagination could result a remarkable play. If you just believe!!

Johnnie Deep never fail me to admire his work. Character he played is abundant in kind. From kindhearted monster in Edward Scissorhands, a father under stressed of terorrist in Nick Of Time, split personality writer in Secret Windows, flamboyant Captain Jack Sparrow of Pirrates of Carribean, or even a future mind constable in semi-horror Sleeping Hollow.I wonder what next....

Kate Winslet is as beautiful and talented as usual. But the debut of all of the boys of Llewelyn Davies are the best, especially Peter. He is really stealing some scene!!

Oh, I'm mumbling to much..., go on see it yourself. And bring a box of tissue... you'll need it.

After the Sunset

The first 10 minutes of this movie had made me wondering, how can a movie tell a story about thieves, stealing the biggest diamond under FBI protection, without taking the audience to the very basic of it, the plans and preparations? Or maybe it is my mistake, this is not about it, it is a romantic comedy setting in Bahama....

Max Burdett (Pierce Brosnan) and Lola (Salma Hayek) are partners in crime (and in love). They decide to retired after stealing big diamond and overwit FBI Agent Lloyd (Woody Harellson) who swore to get even.

Some seven years latter, Burdett, wealthy and bored on the beach Bahama, get an wake up call from Agent Lloyd. A cruise with Napoleon Diamond's exhibition are going on shore of their island for a week. Meanwhile Sophie (Naomie Hariss), beautiful loco cops are pursuing Caribean mafia (Don Chaddle), who incidently has a personnal agenda for this diamond. So this mouse and cat game begin, overwit and double cross for everyone. Who's gonna laugh the last??

In overall, this movie has nothing special in any way. The stealing part it's not awesome. The love story, predictible, bored and too many french kiss. If there's no hilarious scene between Burdett and Lloyd going fishing to save the day, I think this movie should never released. With that line of cast, we should hoping something much much more. Hayek is played poor pity girl who wants paradise but ended making beach deck. What a wasting of talent. Don Chaddle is really down on his carrier on this movie after Hotel Rwanda, dissapointing. For Brosnan, Burdett is not the first thieve character he played, he also starring Thomas Crown on the remake of Thomas Crown Affair. I heard the sequel of Thomas Crown is on the way. Another stereotype cast after being kicked out from James Bond?

Beside that there's a lot of thief_got_away kind of movie nowdays. From Swordfish, Ocean Eleven (and the sequel Ocean Twelve), Italian Job, The Entrapment to remake movie like Thomas Crown Affair and The Saint. Is it the sign of our culture that getting more permitive, or just bored and want more challenge in life??

Paparazzi

This movie tell a story from inside out view. How would you feel if you and your entire family's privacy is widely explored? You can't do anything without a couple photographer tailing your footstep. Their weapons of choice are long lenses camera, their works can make... or destroy ones carrier. But one thing for sure, when you reach the top, you are the prey and they became the ultimate hunter.



Bo Laramee (Cole Hauser) ones was an average man, happily married with a son, when suddenly one movie boost his star over the sky. It is like everything he ever wished for, accept this come with high price. Not a single minute passed by without flashing for the tabloids.

This annoying feelings turn into desperate hate after four of them trap him and his family into car accident, and unmorally taken picture of the injured family. Facing a wife in intensive care and a son in a coma, and police could not do anything without hard evidence, he decides to vangeance himself. And the prey begins to hunt the hunter.... one by one.

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The term paparazzi begin well known when they stalked Princess Diana, during her life and it said to caused his accident. Nowdays, they are everywhere around the famous, no matter if it is a movie star, pop star, athletes, politicus, royal family or even a criminal. When their ethic and moral oftenly questioned, people_who_read_tabloid's ethic and moral is not just as well. The chain was, paparazzi shoot, tabloid sell, people read. People can argue that they don't need those pictures, but hey... tabloids oplah prove otherways.

Mel Gibson who produce this movie, I think, has a problem with taking justice to his own hand :p (remember Payback??) But most of all, this just a glimpse of what celebrities consequencies would be. So be carefull for what you wish for :D

National Treasure

Just last night I saw this movie. Quite good. Have some riddle, some adventure, some action chasing scene. Kind of mixing Indiana Jones and Lara Croft.



Basic line of the story is about finding The Knights Templar Treasure. Well is sounds familiar right... Well, there are three things that makes it special. One, the treasure map. It said that 9 people of the Founding Fathers were actually members of Freemason organization, decendent of knights that protect this treasure, so they think, the Iron Pen, the perfect place to be the map was the American Declaration of Independence itself. Two, the clues are actually public item, 100 dollars bill, sand and stew bell, sillence togood letters. Three, the chasing scene of action is located in the city, Washington, Philadelphia, New York.

Time goes by, the story buried under secret and legends, pass from father to son to grand son. Last person who know and dare to believe it is Benjamin Franklin Gates. Yeah.... the name speaks the man. He dig some old story to find the first clue. Unfortunately, this first clue and the humbla dumbla treasure story fall to a villain. So now the treasure hunter turn to be treasure protector. Like the bad guy does not crowd enough, here come the FBI. So.... the chashing and outwitting began....

What I like the most from this movie, was when they all trapped in the dungeon full of treasure. The treasure they were looking for so long, was there on their sight, but the most beatiful sight was the ladder up.
Hehe, logic and priority! :)

I wonder if there is a treasure hidden in Monas?? Or beneath?? Hmm... ;p

Famous Thief - Xiao Shi Yi Lang

Kungfu Series, 40 Episode
Starring : Nicky Wu, Athena Chu, Yu Bo

Synopsis, taken from Mars
Xiao ShiYiLang is a happy-go-lucky thief who robs the rich and gives to the poor. On one of his missions, he gets involved in a messy fight for a legendary saber, the Deer Carver, and makes the acquaintance of Shen Bijun, the fairest woman in the martial world. By the will of fate, he rescues Shen several times, which plants the seed of love in both of their hearts.
However, Shen is engaged to Lian Chengbi, a young and outstanding martial artist from a prominent family. The wedding is to be held in a couple of days, and it doesn't help that Xiao is a mere thief, which is no comparison with Lian's or Shen's prominent family background. It appears that the romance between Xiao and Shen is hopeless from the very beginning.
Feng Siniang, Xiao's best friend, is a beautiful swordswoman with a quick temper. Feng has always loved Xiao, but Xiao looks upon her merely as a sister.
Meanwhile, another young man, Yang Kaitai, is infatuated with Feng. The Yangs are prosperous horse breeders who run a big ranch under Lian family. As a seasoned businessman, Yang is usually cautious and shrewd. However, whenever he is in Feng's presence, he becomes a dumb goose. Unknown to Kaitai, his father Yang Tianzan is hiding a dark secret as murky and as astonishing as the puzzle of the Deer Carver.
Their destinies are interwoven into a tangled web of love, greed, jealousy, hatred, and vengeance.

I really really like this series. Never been this satisfied to kungfu series in a long time. It is nice and funny but the story has a solid plot.

The hero is not the kind stupid downtrodden victimized man, but much more smart and free (and all other good character a hero should have).

The main lady character is cute, but more than that, she also strong, clever and percertive. She may be not to good in martial arts but she definetly not weak. Diferrent from Huang Rong in Legend of Condor Heroes, Bijun is not as knowledgeable. But she does have a brain and use it very accurately. She listen and watch people talk and do, think about it quickly but carefully, and can sense what hidden before it. So, the actions she take is never stupid husty one. The one that really suitable for the hero, she is not a burden to him, she become his strength against the villain.

Yang Kaitai, is another story. First impresion will be fool, but first impression could be deceived. He develope along the story and becoming a man you can really depend on.

Watching Lian Chengbi character in this story, I'm not sure what I'm thinking of him. Some part of me really hate him, but than I also feel sorry for him. He just insecure man needing for love and all he knows that people will love him if he is powerfull and great. None does he knows that it is his ambition and cautios that is keep driving people away from him.

My fav part is when Chengbi try to get advantage by making ShiYiLang decide not to kill him in any reason, because some poison makes Chengbi and Bijun's live conected. But Bijun see it in another perpective and said, Chengbi didn't get like that because of her, but it because he wanted to poisoned her. So if Chengbi killed ShiYiLang, she will killed herself too and get him destroy along. By saying that, she reminds Chengbi the same advantage ShiYiLang has as he do!!
Hmmm... what a smart spirit girl!

Troy

I don't have heart to watch that movie!!

A paper worth reading about Helen by Patricia Hamilton.

All this time I always thought Helen is a betrayal and Paris is a FOOL.
The name Helen of Troy is also a disgrace of her... It's should be Helen of Spartan!!

Beauty... bless or curse...??!

The Day After Tomorrow

This movie supposely tell about global heat, but turn to be "nowhere to start nowhere to end movie". I mean seriously, how on earth that sudennly climate could turn so dramatically without any devine cause (no big asteroid, no sun spot, nothing) than come back to normal in 10 days.... c'mon... is it some kind of pratical joke or something?? Last ice-age is staying for centuries... and yes, mankind survive!

It is really a waste for a very good theory about global heat (I mean, I completely agree when Jack Hall said, "If we don't start act now, our grandchildren will suffer"). The rest of theory is also fascinating, pollution, glasshaouse effect, global heating, sea water salinity, ice storm, frozen mamoth and so on. But the cause and the end of the disaster itself is too "made up" and I find it hard to believe.

Despite of that, special effects is spectacullar. And the ideas, really Roland Emmerich's. The stunning part is when a BIG ship docking in front of New York Public Library!! :)

And beside that, the drama under disaster is really enjoyable. A family that really a family even when every and each of them reaching for their dream (whiiuu... good example for luv is set free). A friendship under presure circumstances. Some dedicated workers. A promise to keep.

One thing that keep dancing in my mind is the survivor in this story, all is the most bright people (four students that was the top of their class, two librarians who knows their books well, and a girl who debates about Nitsche) or the most lucky person (like the lucky homeless and his dog). A nature selections?? Really??

Movie reviews from other source

Love Actually is all around!

Not many of brittish movie is came to face. I can only think of Four Funeral and a Wedding.
This another one, it's called Love Actually, and it has a bunch of hot English MovieStar. And I mean HOT :)
It's said that love actually is a perfect little movie about love and it's many faces. about the way, love can happen to anybody, in any situation. Can't agree more than that.

The story of Mark really touch my heart. Almost couldn't believe there are such a nobel, fool... but still nobel, way of loving. He loved her very much, and want her to be happy.... just happy.... without condition and without confusion. He loved him very much, to much to never jeopardize their friendship. He love himself, enough to show them their love, and then move on.... carrying memories, friendships and love inside. Ahead to long journey of life........