Lately I’ve been getting really tired of this domain name. Actually it’s my third domain name and if I had it my way I wouldn’t have switched from the first at all. I liked it at first, but it certainly wasn’t my first choice for a name…after all I’d already lost two of my previous names. Now I’ve just grown out of it.
My first name was melancholy-aura.net and my friend at bought it for me. A year later when time came to renew it, she had lost the customer number, so we were just like okay whatever, let’s just buy a new one. So we did and that one was mylittlemoose.net. And a year later same thing happened. I didn’t want the same thing to happen again, so finally I bought it myself so I could keep track of it and that was is my current one - sillylittleme.net. Actually I still really like the name melancholy-aura.net but I’m not really a melancholic person, nor was I at that time either, but it sounds pretty, right? And I still love mylittlemoose.net too…named after my beloved stuffed moose =) But what can you do?
But anyway, my hosting will expire this coming April and since I’ve decided not to renew it, I’ve decided to just cut the domain expenses and move to wordpress.com
So please visit the new site! There’s still some work to be done, but it is in working order. Thank you wordpress for your import and export features! Otherwise it would have taken waaaay too long. And unfortunately, you can’t upload custom themes…but what can you do? it’s free afterall!
And also, as I redo formatting on the new blog, I will be deleting those posts here until all that’s left is just this one…..so, please update your links! =)
So instead of doing a drama preview and separate review, I bring to you near-end of season reviews! Short and sweet, hopefully. Well, even though I haven’t finished any series yet, I’ve been dying to do this! Dramas are so nice…they make a great study breaks, haha =)
Celeb to Binbo Taro
Starring: Ueto Aya, Kamiji Yusuke, Kunitaka Ryoko, Kashiwabara Takashi
It’s the story of a rich girl (Ueto) who’s the daughter a major hotel chain owner, who also runs her own fashion line. She meets a poor widower with three young kids (Kamiji) and blah blah stuff happens. Basically it’s a drama with almost everyone really exaggerated, where the villian’s motive is nowhere to be found (yet? who knows). But, it’s still a fun watch for when you’re bored.
Actually I would have to say that the best thing about this drama is the AMAZING insert song. I’ve just totally fallen in love with it. It’s called Hero by a group called Safarii. It’s their second single and they’re signed with Sony and it was kind of difficult to even find what the insert was to being with. Safarii is made up of Sophia, AK, and Oki. And that’s kind of all I know. I did listen to their first single, Fallin’, on youtube and I don’t like it nearly as much as Hero. Oh well… I have to say, Sophia’s voice is really really beautiful. And I’m even doing my first youtube embed because you need to listen to this song. =) This song reminds me a bit of MONKEY MAJIK, actually.
well, that was kind of rambly
ROOM OF KING
Starring: Mizushima Hiro, Suzuki Anne, Igawa Haruka, Watabe Atsuro, Itao Itsuji
There’s an unbelievably luxurious apartment with nine rooms called King and you decide how much you want to pay to live there. The catch? You can only live there if the eccentric real estate agents think you can become King. Oh, and you’ll be living with 8 other strangers and when one of you becomes King, the rest are all kicked out. It’s a weird premise with strange but charming characters (well, mostly). Mostly I started watched because of Mizushima Hiro, but the main cast is actually very lovable, even though they’re all quite strange. Nothing too stellar but worth a watch.
Ryuusei no Kizuna
Starring: Ninomiya Kazunari, Nishikido Ryo, Toda Erika, Kaname Jun
Three siblings lost their parents to murder when they were young. At that time, they vowed to find the murderer and kill him. Now the statute of limitations is coming up and they are running out of time. Even though the story sounds pretty dark and morbid, it actually isn’t. It’s a great mix of comedy and drama with an intriguing plot. And they’re swindlers! and when they are swindling people, they happen to see the murderer and that how that portion starts. I’ve never really liked Nino before and I once watched him in Stand Up!! and thought that it was kind of stupid. But I think I’ve had a change of heart; he’s not so bad after all. Also, it’s so weird to see Nishikido Ryo so soon after in such a different role. And as always, Toda Erika is great. And very pretty. This drama is my favorite of the season and if you’ve haven’t seen it yet, you are missing out! The production is quite interesting too, very fun.
Giragira
Starring: Sasaki Kuranosuke, Maya Miki, Hara Sachie, Miura Shohei
It’s about a man who used to be the king of hosts in his heyday, but left that world when he got married. However, he never told his wife that he used to a host. Now, many years later, he is laid off and needs to a find job to support his family. When no one will hire him, he turns back to his old profession - a host. But it’s a hard world to get accepted into, especially when you’re older. And he can’t tell his wife, either.
Well, it’s a host story, what can I say? Of course, he’s trying to prove that being a host isn’t a corrupt profession, it’s about healing hearts, etc. and all that. What’s nice about this one is that it also incorporates a business aspect too it and it even has two of my favorite older actor/actress: Sasaki Kuranosuke and Maya Miki, which is always nice. They both are really talented and the plot is pretty good too, so it’s definitely an enjoyable drama. And as a side note, Ashina Sei, who plays a hostess named Yuna, is really pretty (and she’s also in Bloody Monday)
Yume wo Kanaeruzo
Tanpatsu starring: Oguri Shun, Furuta Arata
Renzoku starring: Mizukawa Asami, Furuta Arata
These are both stories about underachieving office employees who are miserable but of course want to become happy. When they’re at their lowest low, Ganesha, an elephant god, shows up and helps them become happy through his various tasks. Although some of them seem pointless or irrelevant, by completing each one of them, they are able to change themselves.
This drama has gotten really terrible ratings, but I actually am really enjoying it. It’s funny but not overly stupid, interesting but not too intense. Plus Oguri Shun starred in the tanpatsu and Mizukawa Asami stars in the series; what’s not to like?? But really, if you are looking for something light and fun to watch, this is a good pick.
Bloody Monday
Starring: Haruma Miura, Kichise Michiko, Yoshizawa Hisashi, Narimiya Hiroki, Matsushige Yutaka
It’s about a high school kid who’s a genius hacker and he goes against these terrorists bent on destroying Japan. He’s become caught up the investigation along with Japan’s special police unit specializing in anti-terrorism. But the terrorists are everywhere, including his school and even spies in the police force.
This drama is every bit as intense as it sounds. And every episode is like that, plus they all end with a cliffhanger! Anyone who likes thrillers and suspense would really like this one. The way they illustrate hacking is actually pretty interesting, don’t know if it’s really that exciting. But it’s still cool to see it in the media, especially for cs people like me. =)
Innocent Love
Starring: Horikita Maki, Kitagawa Yujin, Kashii Yu, Fukushi Seiji, Narimiya Hiroki
This series is kind of like Tegami because it’s about a girl whose brother is in prison for murder and how she gets discriminated for it. But unlike Tegami, this one’s more about romance (if you couldn’t tell from the show’s name). Actually, it’s kind of depressing and I don’t really like it that much. I don’t know if I’ll get around to finishing it. But I’m sure that fan of Maki or other stars will enjoy it.
Honorable Mention
Team Bastista no Eiko - it’s a medical mystery series. I watched the movie, which starred Takeuchi Yuko, and it was great. Actually, I don’t know why I haven’t started this one yet…
Prisoner - based on a true story, a Japanese is imprisoned in Thailand and attempts a jail break. Stars Tamayama Tetsuji! I want to watch this one, but haven’t started it…don’t know if I every will, though….
I was going to write something special, but actually I didn’t really have anything prepared and I had a midterm today, so actually…there’s really nothing but this short little message.
IT’S MY TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY! =D
I still have more posts in the works, but for now I’ll just list some albums I’ve been enjoying lately
MONKEY MAJIK - TIME: this album is so good! The singles on the album were really good (esp. Tada, Arigatou) but there are also some great new tracks (like brokedown) I want to write some more on this later….
ayaka - Sing to the Sky: there are a lot of singles that I hadn’t really paid attention to but I am soo in love with Te wo Tsunagou, Okaeri, and Jewelry Day
OLIVIA - Trinka Trinka: as if I hadn’t said enough about this album, I LOVE it! It was so worth the wait, every time I listen to the album, I like it more and more.
Rie fu - Tobira: have been listening to this more often lately and am re-realizing how lovely this album really is.
Fish Leong - Sunrise: my very first Fish album! though I hadn’t really listened to it too much last year, lately I’ve been going back to my roots and it really is quite beautiful.
That’s it for now, hopefully I can get together my drama preview/review soon =)
For some reason, there have been a couple of new hairstyles that are….less than attractive. I don’t go looking for these things, and well, usually, it’s not that big of deal that I would want to post about it but I really feel the need to.
First was Shige from NEWS.
I don’t really follow Johnny’s, but NEWS is one of the two groups (+Arashi) that I know more about and that I can actually name names! (seriously, only two groups, and as a side note, H!P scares me in this aspect). But I saw this and first off, didn’t recognize him. And after I did recognize him, I was kind of appalled, and really only for one reason: the hair color. It’s disgusting and the dark roots make it look like he didn’t keep up with a bad dye job. Another bad hairstyling choice would have to be the height that it sticks up to. Way to accentuate a bad look.
Next was Mizushima Hiro.
Apparently he’s going to be starring in a new movie called DROP (http://www.drop-movie.jp/) and that’s why he dyed him. But no matter what image he’s supposed to have, wouldn’t you think that the producers could just forget it because it looks TERRIBLE?! Unless that’s the look they were going for, in that case, they’ve done a great job. Even that great face can’t help him anymore. I was at the bookstore and saw him in a magazine and my jaw literally dropped. I forget exactly what hairstyle it was, but it wasn’t the ones I just posted. I didn’t find those anywhere online (or haven’t yet, though I don’t really want to search for ‘em anyway). And if you can imagine, he looks better in these pictures than he did in the magazine (which one you say? can’t remember). Thankfully I hear that he doesn’t like his blonde hair and will (has?) dye it back to black after filming is done. I wonder if he’ll do the promotions in that hair, though…
As a side note, Narimiya Hiroki (who’s co-starring) also has this weird hair (buzz cut - fire engine red) but it’s doesn’t look as bad as Hiro’s does. The poor boy(s).
And that’s it. I am overdue for a bunch of music reviews, drama reviews from last season, and a drama preview for this season. They’ll probably come in a condensed format. Somewhat soon…by the end of this month? School has been killing me.
Tracklist
1. Ai Ai Ai
2. Shu Li Zhen
3. Ge Shou Yu Mo Te Er
4. Ai! Feat. Fama
5. Si Ren You Feat. Fiona Sit
6. Shou Tuo Shou
7. Tou Xiao
8. Goodbye Melody Rose
9. Shi Ren De Qing Ren
10. Tuo Nan Dai Nu
11. Love Interlude
12. If you leave me now
13. Chun Feng Cui Zhi Cui Cui Feng (Mix)
Ai Ai Ai uses an interesting mix of strings and Khalil’s calm beats. The strings give the song a real classical feel but the rhythms are clearly soul, and it combines for a really pleasant song. I love everything about this song: the melodies, the lyrics, and rhythms. Even though “ai” is repeated, it doesn’t sound old or repetitive. Around the end, he’s backed up by a bunch of people and it sounds great.
Shu Li Zhen picks up the pace a little, using clapping and a lone violin. I especially like the chorus melody, which is a little sweet but definitely retains his light R&B and soul genre. This track has a happy and upbeat feeling to it, but at the same time there’s a little sadness.
Ge Shou Yu Mo Te Er starts off with acoustic guitar and I like the different kinds of percussion instruments he uses in the arrangements, which give each piece more individuality. The internal rhythms in the chorus are really nice and sometimes this song gives me a country feel. I don’t really like country that much, but I like this song.
The chorus in Ai! has a really catchy rhythm. Most of the time they are just backed up the beats but at some points there’s also a piano. There’s also a rap here. This is a pretty good song, I suppose, but I’m always annoyed with it by the end.
I really really like Si Ren You. It starts off with a conversation between two friends (ex-es?) that at the same time is sweet and heart breaking. Like in the chorus, they sing “I guess after all, we can only just be friends.” The song is really actually a conversation but still sung - at the beginning they talk about each other’s boyfriend/girlfriend. The melody is so great and their voices go together so well. I just love it.
Shou Tuo Shou has a jazzy feeling to it with the bass as its beat and big-band brass. I love the fun and upbeat feeling to this track. It’s kind of short, though, not even three minutes long. This piece, especially, shows how many genres his fuses together.
Tou Xiao goes back his usual simplistic style with just his beat and a couple of select instruments backing up his soulful singing. The chorus is especially good but the verses don’t stick out too much. For some reason his voice sounds a little off, but besides that it’s a good piece.
I’ve always liked Goodbye Melody Rose. I think it’s the ominous piano melody that plays throughout the entire song. There’s also some string parts in here, which just further the ominous and hurried feeling. Plus the melodies are really well done as well.
Shi Ren De Qing Ren has some really interesting, very ethnic sounding instrumentation. I don’t really like the verses that much, but the chorus is really well done, especially the vocal back-up which sounds just impeccable.
Tuo Nan Dai Nu is a pretty fun track, with its bouncy tempo and rhythms. Everything about this track has this “feel good” vibe. What’s really interesting about this song is that all the lyrics are repeated, except translated into English. And what’s really great is that is sound so good both ways. The beats and rhythms are so good and I really like the piano and string parts in the arrangement.
Love Interlude is similar to his Prologue in his debut album. It’s Khalil just talking a bit with a computerized voice in the background listing off the definitions of love.
If you leave me now is an R&B flavored ballad. It’s all in English and Khalil’s English is perfect, as expected. I really love this song because the melody is so sweet and the tempo is perfect. I love how he varies parts of the verses/melody near the end. As much as I love sweeping arrangements and complex pieces, simplicity is always welcome because who doesn’t like a classic sound?
Chun Feng Cui Zhi Cui Cui Feng is a remix of Chun Feng Cui from his first album. It’s really beautiful, but keeps the best parts of the original track.
Khalil Fong’s second album continues with his fresh mix of hip-hop and soul. Actually,Ai Ai Ai was the first album I listened to from Khalil. I was really taken by his melding of different genres, not to mention how diverse his influences seem to be. A few of the songs are pretty reminiscent of a few tracks off his debut album, but as a whole this is a very strong album - and definitely worth a listen, even if you think you won’t like it (seriously!).
Starring:
Lee Joon-ki as Min
Miyazaki Aoi as Nanae
Min is a Korean high school student who has moved to Japan with his father, who is a pottery teacher. Riding his bike around Kyoto, he accidently crashes and is cleaning his wound at a shrine where is meets Nanae, who works there. Min doesn’t understand a word of Japanese, and Nanae doesn’t know any Korean. At first, the two communicate through hand gestures and broken English. After enrolling at the high school is father will be teaching at, he chases after Nanae who coincidentally is also a student there. He pursues her pretty aggressively and slowly the two overcome the language barriers, but unfortunately that’s not the only thing that is destined to keep them apart.
One thing that’s really important to enjoy this movie is to be able to tell the difference between Japanese and Korean. If it all sounds the same, then the whole idea of overcoming cultural and language barriers is mostly lost. And that’s a lot of what the movie is about. Like this: when Min first realizes that Nanae is a student at his school as well, he pursues her kind of aggressively, but his friend and classmates tells him that Japanese girls (especially Kyoto girls) are shy and that he needs to go slower. Or this scene where Min races this random monk on a bicycle that he bumps into on the street, just for kicks. If you’ve ever been somewhere where you couldn’t understand their language, you can probably understand Min’s frustrations and funny coincidences. Generally, his integration into daily life can be quite entertaining.
The film moves at a pretty good pace, though it can be slow at some points. And while Lee Joon-ki and Miyazaki Aoi are both excellent actors, I don’t know if I really believe in them as a pairing. I still think the romance aspect was well done, though. There’s definitely that aspect of fate and that through all these obstacles they still managed to find each other. It’s ironic that the first time they meet, the only way they can communicate is through broken English. But even still, without really speaking each other languages, they find this common ground and become so close.
While Virgin Snow is a pretty enjoyable romance film, the best theme here was overcoming the cultural and language barriers between the two leads. If you like these types of quiet love stories or cultural stories, then this film is for you.
Starring
Eita as Komoto Takuma
Ueno Juri as Shibata Haruka
Yoza Yoshiaki as Niimi Masaru
Kawaoka Daijiro as Koizumi Shunsuke
Nagano Munenori as Soga Atsushi
Maki Yoko as Ito Yui
Sasaki Kuranosuke as Jose
Muri Tsuyoshi as Ishimatsu Daigo
Honda Riki as Tamura Akira
Summer Time Machine Blues is one of the most fun movies I’ve ever watched that only gets better the more times you watch it. It’s the story of five guys in the sci-fi club (though they’re not really sci-fi fans) and two girls in the photography club that share a clubroom. It’s a hot summer day and in an accident, the remote to their air conditioner breaks. The next day a time machine suddenly appears in their clubroom. At first, the gang is unsure of what they should do with it, but then they have an idea. How about going back to yesterday to prevent the air conditioner remote from breaking?
What’s so enjoyable about this movie it that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. I mean, I love deep movies, but if that was all I watched (or anyone watched for that matter) I may as well become depressed. Plus, isn’t it so great to just have random fun sometimes? And that’s what Summer Time Machine Blues is all about: spontaneous, random silliness.
The first time around is confusing, I admit. But once you watch it twice, three times, etc. you’ll notice something new every time. For other movies, watching it more than once can be a chore, but it’s total fun every time - and doesn’t that make a movie so much more worthwhile? Even though it’s still fun to watch more than once, it’s important to not know everything the first time around, so I won’t say much more.
The cast did a good job, giving a charming and fun-filled representation of a group of friends always playing around with each other. Eita and Ueno Juri are sort of paired up in here as the couple that could be. In the end, this is film is worth your watch and begs the question of whether the future is already determined or if it’s something you take control of.
Tracklist
1. Wo You Wo De Young
2. Xia Xue
3. Zhi Dui Ni You Gan Jue - featuring Hebe from S.H.E.
4. Yi Ge Ren Liu Lang
5. Zhao Xing Fu Gei Ni
6. Ai Dao
7. Chu Kou
8. 2 Yue 30 Hao Jian
9. Qing Zai Wo Hou Hui Zhi Qian Li Kai Wo
10. Bu Si Zhi Mi
11. Zhi Dui Ni You Gan Jue - remix
Even though I’ve said that Fahrenheit as a group is pretty different from Johnny’s group, music-wise, they’re not much different. They’re well produced, supported by good songwriters, and most importantly - well marketed. Vocally, they’re not bad, but of course there’s always room for improvement. Also, when you first start listening to them, it’s difficult to tell the different between their voices except for Wu Chun who’s bass; the rest are all tenor.
Wo You Wo De Young is their first single; it’s a pretty standard boy band track that gives each member some solo lines with the rest of the group harmonizing in the background. It’s pretty obvious in this song that they can’t quite reach some of the higher notes. In their vocal range, there’s no problem at all - it’s all very good. Next time the song writers better keep their ranges in mind…it’s no good to hear them stretching for the note. Besides that though, this is a really fun song with a catchy chorus.
Zhi Dui Ni You Gan Jue features Hebe Tian from girl group S.H.E. of the same music label. Their voices go together really nicely and the song is quite catchy. The synth and the strings are some really nice touches in the arrangement. This was one of the first song I ever listened to, before I really became a fan and even then I still liked this song. The album also includes a remix. It doesn’t really depart from the original very much, a bit faster with a heavier beat and has a little extra synth. It’s not bad, but it’s not better than the original mix.
Generally, Fahrenheit does well with ballads and there are loads on this album. Xia Xue is the first of their slow and sweet ballads. The arrangement is quite pretty and utilizes their ability to harmonize well, while keeping them in their respective vocal ranges. It’s not ground breaking or anything, but it is very soothing to listen to and I wouldn’t mind having this piece on repeat. Yi Ge Ren Liu Lang is a really nice acoustic piece, starting off with some solo lines. I really like the guitar part in the arrangement; it’s simple but very pretty. Like Xia Xue, it’s a soothing piece and vocals are pretty good here too. Although the verses are a little boring, the chorus is quite nice.
Chu Kou is a slightly more upbeat semi-ballad. Vocals are pretty good here and the harmonizing is done well. There’s a little piano solo in the middle that’s really nice. The verses are also not bad and the chorus can be quite pretty at some points. There’s also a key change, but it doesn’t really add anything special to the song.
2 Yue 30 Hao Jian picks up the pace (finally!) but unfortunately whoever wrote the melody lines forgot that these boys can’t reach some of the higher notes in the chorus. This is sad because the verses are pretty good and rather fun. Maybe they should re-record this someday when they develop a better range. Qing Zai Wo Hou Hui Zhi Qian Li Kai Wo is another ballad that suffers similarly from the boys stretching for a few of the high notes. The melody lines are rather pretty at some points and there is this one part where Aaron (I think) is just backed by piano, which is really nice.
For some reason the intro to Zhao Xing Fu Gei Ni sounds really familiar, like I’ve heard it somewhere but I can’t put my finger on it. The arrangement has a bit of a Latin feel to it and as for the song, it’s another ballad. There’s a little bit of English and since 3/4 can speak English fairly well, pronunciation is spot on. This one is a little boring and feels a little draggy, even though it’s not actually very long.
Ai Dao has light R&B feeling. I really like this track especially because of chorus. Even though it’s a bit repetitive, the melody is quite nice and I don’t really mind it. Although it’s ballad-like, it distinguishes itself from others because of the light beat and the slightly faster tempo. Also, the guitar part is quite nice.
Bu Si Zhi Mi is a big departure from the rest of the album with its heavy rock and rap theme. It feels really out of place on an album full of ballads, but I am welcoming it even though I don’t really like rap that much. It’s done quite well, and I’m liking it.
What’s kind of nice is that they don’t stick to one genre or look. They have their straight pop and their ballads, but there are also light R&B and even rap tracks. But still, it’d be nice to see less ballads and a more balanced album the next time around.
Starring:
Yamada Takayuki as Takeshima Naoki
Sawajiri Erika as Shirai Yumiko
Tamayama Tetsuji as Takeshima Takashi
Fukiishi Kazue as Nakajo Asami
Onoue Hiroyuki as Terao Yusuke
Fukikoshi Mitsuru as Ogata Tadao
Every month, Naoki receives a letter from his brother, Takashi. Though they used to be very close, Takashi is now in prison for life. While Takashi was never a star pupil, Naoki is, and Takashi is determined to send his little brother to college. He works very hard, but unfortunately he hurts his back and was fired from his job. Unable to find work, he robs a house out of desperation, and when he is running he bumps into the elderly woman who lives there; the two struggle, and she dies. Because of this, he is send to prison and Naoki is branded “a murderer’s brother.” The story focuses mostly on Naoki and discrimination against him because of his brother, though he has done nothing wrong. Other characters include Yumiko, a girl who has always watched from the side and becomes his good friend; Yusuke, his friend since junior high; and Asami, who becomes his girlfriend.
Tegami is a good example of a movie that could only be Asian. I could never imagine Hollywood releasing a film like this because even if your relative is a criminal, you wouldn’t be blamed, much less blatantly discriminated for it. I think this stems from the fact that Western society is very individualistic and what you doesn’t have much to do with your relatives. But for Asians, what you do reflects on the rest of your family. Even the circumstances of Takashi’s “murder” are questionable. And since he hurt is back while working, we Americans would demand payment for that, but I suppose it just doesn’t work that way for the Japanese.
Because of this, Naoki is forced to find new jobs and to move often, even though he was the top student and could have easily gone to good university. Instead, he works jobs for meager wages, just trying to get by. At first, he feels wronged and discriminated against. Eventually, he comes to accept this as his fate of a murderer’s brother. Though he receives letters from his brother every month, he has stopped writing back.
You know, no matter how much Naoki may have loved his brother before the “murder,” what’s happening to him now is enough to make him hate his brother. It’s regretful that it comes to hating his brother when the real culprit is society. It’s partly because Asians are so gossipy and prone to spreading rumors (just looks at all the scandals in Asian media!). Many times, rumors and gossip hold more weight than the truth. For Hollywood stars, not even being charged with illegal drug abuse and the like is enough to destroy a career…
Not only does Tegami have an interesting and compelling storyline, the three co-stars are all accomplished actors and actresses. Tamayama Tetsuji impresses me in everything I see him in, no matter how small the role. He always makes an impact. Also, he has a wonderful narrating voice, since he isn’t the film physically as much as he is vocally, narrating his letters. Yamada Takayuki as Naoki was also a treat. He was one the first actors that I ever got into; I’ve watched bunches of his dramas (Sekachu, H2, Water Boys, Byakuyakou, etc) and it’s nice to watch him again. He pulls off this role well, starting from feeling discriminated against to just quietly accepting it without question. Even if Sawajiri Erika is a bitch (or seems to be one), I still like her acting. She starts out looking a little more homely and then later turns into a much modern student. I watched this movie with my sister and she said, “what? Is that the same person?” Besides that, she plays the role of a strong woman nicely, with plenty of determination and spunk.
Tegami is a very interesting film that is definitely worth a watch. With a great cast and an equally great storyline, what’s not to like? It’s not a light movie, though, so don’t expect much romance.
Starring:
Barbie Xu as Yu Xin Lei
Alan Luo as Qin Lang
Lu Jia Xin as Cai Xiao Yang
Carolyn Chen as Wen Bi Zhu
Dean Fujioka as An Teng Feng
Fang Fang as Du Dan Po
Harlem Yu as Lian Sheng Quan
Zhang Li Wei as Ah Da
Chen Yan Ru as Jiu Ba Dao
Huang Hong Sheng as Ah Yi
Chen Zhi Kai as Yin Shang Dong
Jiang Chao as Xiao Pang
Fan Ming as Cui Ge
Xiao Jian as Bao Che Ren
Wu Yan Xuan as childhood Qin Lang
Corner with Love starts off in Shanghai, introducing us to the two main characters: Yu Xin Lei and Qin Lang. Xin Lei is from a wealthy family and is dating Shang Dong, who comes from a family just as privileged as hers. Qin Lang, on the other hand, works at a small restaurant and lives upstairs with his co-workers. He’s from Taiwan and came to Shanghai to pursue his dream of drawing, but was conned and lost his money and passport. The two meets when Xin Lei’s chauffer brakes suddenly, causing Qin Lang to crash into them with his bike.
They meet again later when Xin Lei is looking to impress Shang Dong’s parents by cooking Taiwanese snacks. She comes to the restaurant Qin Lang works at and is impressed with their oyster pancakes and he teaches her how to make them. Though they often argue, they somehow build a tentative friendship. Soon after, Xin Lei’s parents go bankrupt and they leave without telling her, leaving her with a note and a key to their house in Taiwan. Then Qin Lang returns to Taiwan, so he and Xin Lei say goodbye, thinking they will never see each other again.
Little do they know that the house Xin Lei’s parents left for her is actually Qin Lang’s house and his family has been living there for decades. When Xin Lei arrives, Qin Lang’s grandmother allows her to stay as a tenant. The drama chronicles Xin Lei’s adjustment to her new, much less sophisticated and privileged life and the budding relationship between her and Qin Lang.
As a whole, I really enjoyed Corner with Love. Straight away, Qin Lang narrates to us that he loves corners because of the surprises around the bend; you never know what’ll happen. This theme plays a huge role in the drama; it’s all about coincidences, missed chances, and misunderstandings. Coincidences such as the meeting at the restaurant and the same house; missed chances like walking past each other but not seeing the other person or being a second too late; and misunderstanding each others’ words, causing arguments on accident.
The integration of Qin Lang’s art into the drama was a nice touch. I’m not sure who actually drew it, but the drawings in the drama really do exist. Since the drama was adapted from a novel of the same name, which was written by Jiu Ba Dao who seems to be a popular writer in Taiwan, a lot of the his quotes and novel’s artwork was used. I have to say, I really like the art pieces; it’s cute, rather sweet, and wistful at points. Next time I go to Taiwan, I might want to go and buy this book just for the art.
As per usual of Taiwanese dramas, side characters are given little back story, even when the drama starts setting it up. I guess this is just something I have to get used to, but it’s still a shame that you don’t really get to know any of the other characters, even with the longer episode series. Well, all the side characters are likeable, except for Xiao Yang, which I shouldn’t have to explain (if you watch it that is). I think I fell in love with Dean Fujioka (even though his Chinese isn’t so good) and he’s going to be co-starring in a drama with Abe Tsuyoshi (from Hanadan) and the girl who sang the opening theme, Megan Lai, so I’ll be interested to see that later.
I’ve watched Barbie Xu in a couple of other dramas (Meteor Garden, Mars) and she did a great job in all of these. I think this drama was her first time acting as a wealthy girl, unlike her dirt poor character in Meteor Garden and lower class character in Mars, and she really played the part well, with all the little mannerisms that you’d think of rich people. Alan Luo was really good as Qin Lang, though starting out, it was a little shaky. He was a little annoying at first but later on, became a lot more likeable and somewhat charming. The two have really nice chemistry, though, and ultimately that’s the most important thing in a romance drama.
I’m kind of picky about watching Taiwanese dramas because they’re so much longer than Japanese dramas and you have to invest so much time into it that if it doesn’t sound promising, then I won’t bother. I guess that’s why I usually like all the Twdramas I watched and less of the Jdramas. There seems to be rumor of a sequel to Corner with Love and I hope it’s true because even though the loose ends were mostly tied up, the ending could have been a lot better. If there is a second season, I’m watching!
