TV and Movie Thread

[Peraphelion]

*returnsawkardsidehugcompletewithhighfive*

Yay! Another kdrama fan! What are your favorites?

Well, I've only watched a handful, but I think my favorite Korean film so far is I'm a Cyborg, But That's Ok, though there was also one that I think was a retelling of beauty and the beast, and I forget the name. The silly thing was, the "beast" wasn't even remotely ugly. Granted, it would be a crime to mess up that guys pretty face, but I don't think the girl actually had a tough time falling for him in his unnoticeable state of disfigurement. And now that I think of that, those are more "Korean romances"... I'm terribly uncultured. XP I'd like to try a couple more films for fun, if you can recommend any?

[Blackjazz]

Oooh! I haven't seen that before! I'll have to watch it. 

I've mostly watch series, but I can recommend a lot. The titles translate differently depending on which site you watch them on though.
Warning: if you binge-watch/-read/-do anything, beware. They are highly addictive and not usually very long (compared to the average successful American TV show).

Here are my absolute favorites:
My Love From the Star, Coffee Prince, My Fair Lady, Shining Inheritance, Secret Garden, My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, Gu Family Book, and King 2 Hearts (as you can see, I really like Lee Sung Ki haha). I also loved Jang Bo Ri Is Here, but I'm not gonna lie, the antagonist made me want to rip my hair out.

P.S. Hello Martha!

[Auleliel]

Oooh! I haven't seen that before! I'll have to watch it. 

I've mostly watch series, but I can recommend a lot. The titles translate differently depending on which site you watch them on though.
Warning: if you binge-watch/-read/-do anything, beware. They are highly addictive and not usually very long (compared to the average successful American TV show).

Here are my absolute favorites:
My Love From the Star, Coffee Prince, My Fair Lady, Shining Inheritance, Secret Garden, My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, Gu Family Book, and King 2 Hearts (as you can see, I really like Lee Sung Ki haha). I also loved Jang Bo Ri Is Here, but I'm not gonna lie, the antagonist made me want to rip my hair out.

P.S. Hello Martha!

Yes, yes, yes!
Also, if you like Rain, Full House is another great series.

[Blackjazz]

Wow! I am so happy to meet other kdrama fans. It makes my addiction seem worthwhile, somehow.
Full House was actually one of the first ones I watched! I really liked it, but it's not one of my favorites because I thought that guy was a jerk for a really long time.

....
I wrote a lot more, but I'll just leave it at that since this is the introduction thread. Hah.

[Ceceoh]

Ran across Fiddler On The Roof on TCM. It was my favorite movie musical back in the day and 45 years later it still resonate. If any of you younger forum members want an introduction to the classic musicals of the 60s and 70s, Fiddler would be the place to start. To me it's a perfect blend of movie magic and Broadway stagecraft. The pacing of films from that era can seem draggy to modern tastes, but Norman Jewison's direction and editing is spot on. There is an air of naturalism in the costuming and make-up that pulls you into the lives of a small 19th century village, and even when the characters burst into song and dance it never breaks the atmosphere of the moment. Plus could there ever be a more perfect Teve than the actor Topol?

[Lenny]

Ran across Fiddler On The Roof on TCM. It was my favorite movie musical back in the day and 45 years later it still resonate. If any of you younger forum members want an introduction to the classic musicals of the 60s and 70s, Fiddler would be the place to start. To me it's a perfect blend of movie magic and Broadway stagecraft. The pacing of films from that era can seem draggy to modern tastes, but Norman Jewison's direction and editing is spot on. There is an air of naturalism in the costuming and make-up that pulls you into the lives of a small 19th century village, and even when the characters burst into song and dance it never breaks the atmosphere of the moment. Plus could there ever be a more perfect Teve than the actor Topol?

Oh yes, Fiddler on the Roof is a very good film! I only ever watched it twice as some of the themes are too close to home to let me watch it without being affected adversely (I have the same problem with things such as Yes, Minister and Barchester Chronicles), but it is extremely good.

On the subject of musicals, some old favourites of mine: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (oh how I loved this one), Gigi, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music (of course - who actually hasn't seen this?), Mary Poppins (another beloved one - Julie Andrews is still my most favourite actress), Singing in the Rain, Jack and the Beanstalk, Hans Christian Anderson .... and there was this one version of Cinderella, which was absolutely beautiful, the best adaptation I've seen yet - but I think it was more a ballet than a musical. Anyway, even back then I was very impressed with Cinderella's character - I'd seen the Disney version, of course, and this one was so much more likeable. She was an urchin, hehe, short brown hair, horrible clothes, always dirty ... and she actually met the prince, accidentally, before the ball. It was a much more satisfying story.

Oh man I need to do an old movie marathon again... some of those were so good~ Others weren't too good, but they were fun.

[Sunflower]

Oooh! I haven't seen that before! I'll have to watch it. 

I've mostly watch series, but I can recommend a lot. The titles translate differently depending on which site you watch them on though.
Warning: if you binge-watch/-read/-do anything, beware. They are highly addictive and not usually very long (compared to the average successful American TV show).

Here are my absolute favorites:
My Love From the Star, Coffee Prince, My Fair Lady, Shining Inheritance, Secret Garden, My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, Gu Family Book, and King 2 Hearts (as you can see, I really like Lee Sung Ki haha). I also loved Jang Bo Ri Is Here, but I'm not gonna lie, the antagonist made me want to rip my hair out.

Now that I've moved this discussion of Korean dramas to the TV and Movie Thread, I'm curious:

What makes Korean dramas distinctive?  Where/how do American audiences watch them?  (I'm OK with a TVTropes link or two if nobody feels like writing a dissertation.)

[Blackjazz]

Into the Woods though...oh my god. I didn't like it at all

NOOOOOooooooo! Tell me you've seen the Broadway one! I haven't seen the movie, but the original is a video of the actual Broadway production and it is absolutely fantastic! Seriously, Bernadette Peters is to die for! Meryl Streep can't hold a candle to her. At least I think so. It may be one of my favorite movies, I dunno... >.>

As for the kdramas, I could tell you all about them! Haha. I think what makes them distinctive is that a) they have a definite ending, b) the majority of them are between 16-24 episodes long, c) they are all romances (like condensed soap operas, really) and d) the romance portrayed in them is much more innocent than in American TV shows. The main couple usually only kisses two or three times during the whole run of the show and a hug is something to squee at. I don't really know why, but people get all excited over the hugging...

Oh. And sex before marriage (much less a baby) almost never happens. But innuendos are everywhere.

As for where to watch them, you can just search "watch {insert name of show here} korean drama online" and you'll find tons of sites. I usually watch them on here: http://www.viki.com/countries/korea

[Koeshi]

and d) the romance portrayed in them is much more innocent than in American TV shows. The main couple usually only kisses two or three times during the whole run of the show and a hug is something to squee at. I don't really know why, but people get all excited over the hugging...

This most likely stems from the fact that Asians are a lot more reserved about public displays of affection than Western countries.

[Peraphelion]

Oooh! I haven't seen that before! I'll have to watch it. 

I've mostly watch series, but I can recommend a lot. The titles translate differently depending on which site you watch them on though.

Here are my absolute favorites:
My Love From the Star, Coffee Prince, My Fair Lady, Shining Inheritance, Secret Garden, My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, Gu Family Book, and King 2 Hearts (as you can see, I really like Lee Sung Ki haha). I also loved Jang Bo Ri Is Here, but I'm not gonna lie, the antagonist made me want to rip my hair out.

I'm a Cyborg had a strangely abrupt ending, but I found the extreme difference from American storytelling to be really thought provoking and refreshing. I think that's what I've enjoyed about all the ones I've watched. And I appreciate that they focus on the relationships and it's not just everyone falling into bed with each other. (Yes, I'm talking about you, America T_T )

I'm excited to dig into some of the ones you mentioned. They all have such interesting names.

[Blackjazz]

This most likely stems from the fact that Asians are a lot more reserved about public displays of affection than Western countries.

Ah, you're right about this. I was mostly referring to the non-Asian viewers who comment on the show (on the site I watch them on you can post real-time comments) but I guess I was just more obtuse in figuring out the importance of the gesture than other viewers. It is funny though that if I watch one where the couple does sleep together I just *gasp!* and get all "dearie me" about it. French and Spanish shows do not do this to me.

I'm a Cyborg had a strangely abrupt ending, but I found the extreme difference from American storytelling to be really thought provoking and refreshing. I think that's what I've enjoyed about all the ones I've watched. And I appreciate that they focus on the relationships and it's not just everyone falling into bed with each other. (Yes, I'm talking about you, America T_T )

I'm excited to dig into some of the ones you mentioned. They all have such interesting names.

Some shows just do not know how to end right. Like with Shining Inheritance, although I loved it, the main conflict went on all the way into the last episode and then it was like, "oh! we're done." The two main actors didn't have all that much chemistry either, I don't think. But in Gu Family Book and King 2 Hearts the main couples are the be~st!

Please, tell me what you think of them! If you finish them and want more, I have way more I could recommend. haha

[Solovei]

Because I'm the kind of person who goes through fandom phases and has to gush about said fandoms to everyone:

MAD MAX FURY ROAD
YOU GUYS

its so good
everyone go see it right now

[RandomTexanReader]

One of my favorite movies of all time.

*runs*

[Piney]

One of my favorite movies of all time.

*runs*

!!! HIGH FIVE

[SectoBoss]

Because I'm the kind of person who goes through fandom phases and has to gush about said fandoms to everyone:

MAD MAX FURY ROAD
YOU GUYS

its so good
everyone go see it right now

Yes! This! It really is an excellent film - serious while still being deeply entertaining. Probably the best action movie I've ever seen (you know they did pretty much every stunt in it for real, at 60mph? There's so little CGI in that film compared to similar ones!)