Sigh, Korean dramas, Japanese dramas, Taiwanese dramas, you have to admit, as an Asian person, you've probably had watched them before and probably still watch them. Even some people who are not of an Asian background become exposed to Asian dramas and get hooked on. There's no denial, Asian dramas are a real big hit, appealing to older and younger people. But one things for sure, Asian dramas are losing their originality now. We've always dissed Hollywood for stealing our Asian movies, however has it ever come to thought that even Asian directors are stealing stories off each other? Think about it, when have you seen a story where the main character loses their parents in a tragic accident or somehow get separated from them and raised by and adopted family? Not many, right? Also, the cliche story where the main character is in a car accident and loses their memories and their loved ones. Sure, it makes us feel sad and spark a few - if not; bucket-load of tears. But it's all just too cliche.
On the other hand, I still love these dramas. Not because I'm Asian - trust me, I like watching movies and dramas by Hollywood as well and Australian directors - but because it takes you into a whole different world. You experience romantic situations that probably wouldn't actually occur in real life and you're exposed to violence that -thank dear God, you will hopefully not feel. Well, enough about why I like dramas, it's about time I told you about a series I've just completed.
It's called Iljimae and stars Lee Jun Ki. It's a fictional, historical drama filled with laughter and tears. It was about a noble family who were scapegoats due to the corrupted kingdom in Korea and because of that, half of the family were killed off. The surviving boy who escaped imprisonment lost his memory due to the trauma of seeing his loved ones die right before him and finally adopted into a family. However, there is more than meets the eye to the family who adopted him. I don't really want to spoil the drama for you, so you should watch it yourself. Trust me, you'll be absorbed by it. However, I watched it in the Vietnamese dubbed version, as I found it in my house, so I'm pretty sure my Mother bought it. i reccomend you buy it in the Korean version with English subtitles. You don't have to buy the original - nobody ever does anymore, it's too costly -, all you need is a pirated and good quality version.
Another drama I watched way before that was Hwang jini. It's about a girl who was abandoned by her kisaeng (Korea's equivalent of a geisha) Mother so that she could lead a peaceful life, however having the blood of a kisaeng running through her veins and lured in by the music and dance, she chose the pathway that her Mother chose anyway. Through this movie, we watch as Hwang jini blossoms from an innocent and naive little girl into Korea's greatest and coldest kisaeng, her failed relationships and also her art. Staring in this movie is Ha Ji Won, Jang Guen-suk and Kim Jae Won. Yes, very good and hot actors in one drama, however I must admit they look kinda weird in the conservative get-up.
If you have any enquiries, click on the link and you know where you'll be heading. Thanks for your time :3

Labels: Asian, cliche, Dramas, geisha, Ha Ji Won, Hollywood, Hwang Jini, Iljimae, Jang Guen-suk, Japanese, Kim Jae Won, kisaeng, Korean, Lee Jun Ki, Taiwanese