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dangermousieUmmm, I am kinda obsessed with Ikemen Desu Ne. They took all the parts of YAB that I adored and seemed to fix a lot of the parts I found problematic. Now watch me marathon first three eps (first ep alone is close to two hours!!!) as my pile of unwatched kdramas from last week gets longer.
I am continuing to watch Ikemen Desu Ne and am honestly adoring it to the extent that I have been spending the evening watching it instead of Warrior BDS/Myung Wol/Heartstrings on which I am behind. It is largely a remake of YAB but it does bring its own, rather different vibe - less stylized, more 'maybe this could actually happen' (yeah, well, maybe not). None of the guys are attractive to me with the possible exception of Ren (maybe I am just adoring the height difference btw him and Mio - most jdrama leading men are pretty short so I rarely get the height difference I crave) but I am entertained by them. The actress who plays Mio is awesome and adorable and can actually pass for a JE boy :P
I am enjoying Ren/Mio's vibe so far - it's similar but different from the original. He's a lot less drama-queenish than Tae Kyung and is much quieter (even if just as high-maintenance), but he's so very odd and so baffled by her, it makes me LOL and LOL and LOL. Here she is, imitating a "Ren face" at him:
Or take this. I giggled like a lunatic (and how fitting that the OCD perfectionist who is the opposite of a people person is going to end up with the extremely friendly and messy and impulsive Mio. Heh).
The actor isn't as awesome as Jang Geun Seuk (but then who is?) but he makes the funniest faces and has lovely chemistry with Mio. Somehow, Ren and Mio come across as less childlike than Tae Kyung and Minam, which is an interesting choice and one I like (though I have no problem with the original take either).
This about sums them up:
Best change is that the bond between Mio and her brother comes through very strongly, which is not something I felt in the original at all. Plus, it's interesting which things this choses to highlight - teamwork and hard work, which is again, not something dwelled on in the original which focused on other things. And also I kinda adored the orphan subplot because I didn't think this version could make Ren's mommy/abandonment issues any more huge than the original but they managed. He first starts getting fixated on Mio when she gets obsessed about helping orphans!
(Also, this is a random comment but the whole subplot with the orphans? The orphanage director needs to go on some serious meds. He's got ISSUES. GTFO or your kids are going to grow up warped. Or maybe he only likes enka :P).
Have a love triangle MV of the first two eps:
You know, I can't remember the last time I followed an airing jdrama and now I am following two (this and Ouran). And both involve cross-dressing girls who attract high-maintenance guys with parental issues. I guess they know my weakness.
To conclude for those who usually prefer second lead love:
I am continuing to watch Ikemen Desu Ne and am honestly adoring it to the extent that I have been spending the evening watching it instead of Warrior BDS/Myung Wol/Heartstrings on which I am behind. It is largely a remake of YAB but it does bring its own, rather different vibe - less stylized, more 'maybe this could actually happen' (yeah, well, maybe not). None of the guys are attractive to me with the possible exception of Ren (maybe I am just adoring the height difference btw him and Mio - most jdrama leading men are pretty short so I rarely get the height difference I crave) but I am entertained by them. The actress who plays Mio is awesome and adorable and can actually pass for a JE boy :P
I am enjoying Ren/Mio's vibe so far - it's similar but different from the original. He's a lot less drama-queenish than Tae Kyung and is much quieter (even if just as high-maintenance), but he's so very odd and so baffled by her, it makes me LOL and LOL and LOL. Here she is, imitating a "Ren face" at him:
Or take this. I giggled like a lunatic (and how fitting that the OCD perfectionist who is the opposite of a people person is going to end up with the extremely friendly and messy and impulsive Mio. Heh).
The actor isn't as awesome as Jang Geun Seuk (but then who is?) but he makes the funniest faces and has lovely chemistry with Mio. Somehow, Ren and Mio come across as less childlike than Tae Kyung and Minam, which is an interesting choice and one I like (though I have no problem with the original take either).
This about sums them up:
Best change is that the bond between Mio and her brother comes through very strongly, which is not something I felt in the original at all. Plus, it's interesting which things this choses to highlight - teamwork and hard work, which is again, not something dwelled on in the original which focused on other things. And also I kinda adored the orphan subplot because I didn't think this version could make Ren's mommy/abandonment issues any more huge than the original but they managed. He first starts getting fixated on Mio when she gets obsessed about helping orphans!
(Also, this is a random comment but the whole subplot with the orphans? The orphanage director needs to go on some serious meds. He's got ISSUES. GTFO or your kids are going to grow up warped. Or maybe he only likes enka :P).
Have a love triangle MV of the first two eps:
You know, I can't remember the last time I followed an airing jdrama and now I am following two (this and Ouran). And both involve cross-dressing girls who attract high-maintenance guys with parental issues. I guess they know my weakness.
To conclude for those who usually prefer second lead love:
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no subject
Date: 2011-07-31 04:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-31 05:11 am (UTC)One of the thing I love the most about this version is since jdramas are much shorter than kdramas, the pace of this is so much better and they cut out a lot of filler to focus on the main story (I really like YAB this time around but it really didn't have enough plot for a 16 ep drama).
no subject
Date: 2011-07-31 04:12 am (UTC)Oh and Awakawa Under the Bridge is WONDERFUL. It's very quirky and the production values makes it seem more like a movie. There are some elements of fantasy and breaking the third wall moments which makes it more fun. The only complaint? I wish the episodes were longer since it's 30 mins not 45 but oh well. Still a great show.
no subject
Date: 2011-07-31 04:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-31 06:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-31 06:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-31 06:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-31 01:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-31 05:13 am (UTC)As for other currently airing J-dramas, I'm also watching Ouran and I find it to be quite fun, so I'll watch more of it. I do find myself face-palming a lot as I watch it though, due to the wackyness. I am watching it mainly for Yamamoto Yusuke, since I'm a fan of his from "Tumbling."
Oh, and, the main reason why I'm posting is because I want to recommend you to watch the 2011 version of Hana Kimi. There are 3 episodes out right now, and it is really good, imo. I like it more than the 2007 version already. If you do decide to check it out, I recommend not to get too turned off by the first 20 mins or so of the first episode, IT WILL GET BETTER!!!! :D
no subject
Date: 2011-07-31 06:05 am (UTC)If you are a manga fan like me, is 2011 going to be OK or is my inner purist going to die? :)
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Date: 2011-07-31 02:59 pm (UTC)About the 2007 version, I also find myself being able to enjoy only the first half due to the crack, but the enjoyment soon faltered as the plot were getting nowhere.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-01 02:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-31 07:42 pm (UTC)Part of my problem - aside from the frenzied, insane atmosphere - was that I HATED the actors for Sano and Mizuki. I didn't feel the chemistry at all, and despite my HYD love, have never been a huge fan of either actor (thank god for Toma, who made an amazing Nakatsu). Plus, it's totally superficial, but I didn't find any of those guys attractive.
However, I like the cast a LOT more in this version (they picked the perfect Mizuki) and though the pace is still a bit frenzied, you can definitely tell that they've toned it down a notch. Plus, I really like the changes they made, which keeps it feeling fresh and new. I've only just now finished episode 1, but I'm definitely feeling optimistic, and can't wait to watch episode 2 and 3.
haha, quite a change after watching Episode 1 back in 2007 - when all I felt was disgust, horror, and blind-rage, lol. ^_^
Of course, I've been on a J-drama kick lately - what with Ikemen and Ouran Host Club, so maybe my tolerance has just improved, lol. Either way, I definitely think you should give it a shot. Who knows, you might be pleasantly surprised like me.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-01 02:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-31 11:14 am (UTC)all 3 guys are Johnny's boys - first 2 from Kis-My-Ft2 and the third from Hey!Say! JUMP, Hey! Say! BEST
They tested secondary guy as lead material in Misaki Number One! which I just finished . I was curious if he is any better than Jung Yong Hwa ... and I was disappointed. He can act but doesn't have the charisma JYH has even though Fujigaya Taisuke looks better
In YAB for me Shin Woo was to die and root for (or for u to be annoyed ), but in IDN they concentrate all the shipness available just for the OTP, which is a good thing and less cringe for lots of ppl, I loved that they bring their own values in the drama and more A J Entertainment values ( team work and a few bla blas ) and u can see it often as J Entertainment - they had the A covered for a few times
Ren - was in Shiawase ni Narou yo earlier this year, in the middle of the drama they gave him the chance to show off himself and his acting was pretty good so I can see why him and not another guy from JE
I like the change of subplot or the rescue scene... they took scenes from YAB give them a spin and voila!!! SURPRISE ! and I love it
Indeed the brother was mega absent in YAB but here is just right
about Smexy scenes... c'mon don't forget that we are in Japan this time, so all the "innocence" Korean dramas has is gone to the fishes!!! Bring on the sex on my screen coz I love it ( u're not the only perv around here :D ) while YAB was sweet, romantic and zany this one is sexy, romantic and zany :D
I hope I'll have time today to watch ep 3
no subject
Date: 2011-07-31 01:43 pm (UTC)I think the secondary guy is a better actor than JYH was in YAB (the improvement between YAB and Heartstrings is startling) but I don't find him attractive at all, unlike with JYH where he was so gorgeous it was unreal.
OK, a mean comment about the blond kid - his teeth are horrifyingly scary. Seriously, I have problems focusing on anything else when he's on screen. Surely, seeing how much money JE has for sequins and questionable photoshoots, they could have gotten him braces.
I really like the actor who plays Ren (looked it up, he's 21, which is much better than my nightmare scenarios of him being as young as Yoo Seung Ho or similar). He's the only one I find attractive of the three and he has a ton of charisma. Plus, height difference! I am such a sucker for that (my hubby is almost a foot taller than me :P)
Yes, I like the changes they made.
Re: smexiness. Oh God yes. In IDN, I actually believe that once Ren and Mio get together, they are going to have a banging sex life (I was seriously chanting for them to make out in that pond) while I am not sure TK and Minam even got the birds-and-bees talk yet.
no subject
Date: 2011-07-31 06:11 pm (UTC)"You guys are just in it for image sake." Just paraphrasing. What director dude says is true, and the resulting actions of Mio? support that. At end, problem is solved and they have a concert. If they had just made it so they didn't get the concert, I would have liked it much better. Don't need such lame platitudes.
Oh, and about blond kid's teeth, I have it from a major fan of Japanese tv shows (my sister) that oftentimes in Japan such teeth is considered "cute." Go figure. Apparently, they have a different take on it.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-01 02:51 am (UTC)I don't think anyone (director or band) were claiming that they want to become rescue workers. All anyone wanted or needed was a concert. Sure, publicity is good but they were also doing it because they sincerely wanted to grant the kids' wishes and it was the truth of the latter that the director needed to be convinced of. But mmv.
The teeth thing - eeeeeek. I keep praying he keeps his lips shut throughout.