Kdramas try out It Started With a Kiss. I remember BOF and shudder

[dangermousie]

Apparently the long-rumored Korean adaptation of It Started with a Kiss is going to proceed after all.

Hmmm. Very mixed feelings on that one. The iconic twdrama version was not only one of my all-time favorite dramas, it was one of my earliest ones. Even now, when I need cheering up, I fish it out and watch some bits of it.

It's a polarizing story (my flist is equally divided between intelligent, eloquent women who adore it and intelligent, eloquent women who can't stand it) and it really stands or falls not even as much on the script as it does on the cast. Twdrama version lucked out by casting Ariel Lin and Joe Cheng as the silly, cheerful girl and the icy brainy robot-type boy she is obsessed with. The two went on to not just fame but becoming one of the most beloved on-screen twdrama pairings ever. Ariel Lin was silly without being irritating, obsessed without being pathetic, and Joe Cheng's iciness was always moderated by the barely held in check amusement and a genuine puzzled lack of understanding of human feeling. Not to mention their chemistry burned.

So yes, the casting is crucial. Dramabeans barely posted the news a couple of hours ago and the thread is already full of people's suggestions, some of which make me cringe - Won Bin and Song Hye Kyo? They are at least 10 years too old - the leads in question are highschoolers - the whole story is about growing up and discovering what you want. Or Jang Geun Seok and Park Shin Hye - the day JGS does a convincing icy reserve on my screen would be something, Park Shin Hye's attempts at dim in YAB annoyed the heck out of me, plus JGS's insane fangirls traumatized me for life. Some I could see (Im Ju Hwan and Seo Woo) except for the fact that it would be a bit of Tamra rehash (kdramas aren't keen on reusing pairings) and also conflict with IJH's What's Up drama.

I honestly have no idea who they could cast. Maybe Jung Il Woo - he is gorgeous and can do icy, and Return of Iljimae proved he is a heck of an actor so he can pull off any role whatsoever. As for the female lead - no idea. Maybe Go Ara? If only Yoon Eun Hye was 5 years younger - she is the one Korean actress who most reminds me of Ariel Lin.

In conclusion, have this adorable ISWAK mv:

I really feel like rewatching both ISWAK and its sequel now.

Comments

[ambergold.livejournal.com]

I'm actually mildly excited about this one now that the director is apparently really good, though of course it will depend on the casting(I would actually LOVE Jang Geun Seuk and Park Shin Hye - YB was super flawed and quite annoying by the end but I thought the casting was the only thing that saved it from utter horrificality). Also, I'd love there to be an adaptation of this I actually like - I fall in the latter camp as far as ISWAK goes but I like the idea of the story so am hoping that Korea will surprise me and give me a manga adaptation that I actually like more than the Japanese and Taiwanese ones(though given their track record for BOF, let's just say I ain't that hopeful).

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I don't want to see either PSH or JGS in anything ever again, tbh. I hope they have long successful careers starring in things I have no interest in. PSH was horribly one-note, IMO and JGS was fine but his crazy fangirls prejudiced me forever.

Joo Ji Hoon and Yoon Eun Hye were born to play these roles (they've actually already played a variation of those roles in Goong, anyway :P) except for the whole age issue and JJH being in the military (plus drugs) issue.

The twdrama is one of my major pet loves and I am ridiculously protective of it. Once the kdrama is made, I will wait for flisties' take before even risking checking it out.

[ambergold.livejournal.com]

I would DIE if JJH and YEH got cast - they'd be perfect, I agree, but I don't really have any hope- JJH still doesn't seem to have returned to dramas after his drug thing and I feel like this would be a risky(though high profile) role for YEH.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

People on dramabeans are insane - they are suggesting Gong Yoo or Kang Dong Won - in a story about highschoolers. The guys are in their 30s!

[seven-trees.livejournal.com]

You know, I'll probably give this a shot. I'm not a fan of ISWaK but I like the director.

Oh man, I'd DIE if Seo Woo got cast in this. That would definitely put this on my Must See list. As for the guy...huh, can't really think of anyone who'd fit into that age bracket. All I hope is that it isn't some frail little boybander.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

If they got Seo Wooo I might be tempted. Ahhh, well, we'll see. It's Group 8, I don't hold out much hope.

[village.livejournal.com]

I actually did find Ariel's character irritating and pathetic, which is why I always found ISWaK so hard to take at times. One thing in her favour, for me, though was that she was sort of endearing. I can't imagine a Kdrama adaptation of this show working out well but you're right casting (and writing) is key.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

In the hands of a wrong actress the character would be so unwatchable the show will be a torture test. I hope they cast well.

[booknerd14.livejournal.com]

ye.. i read this earlier, and i think i might be more scared about this kdrama take than i was with news hit of Hanadan being made into a kdrama. =| maybe it's because i haven't seen a character similar to Xiang Qin's in a kdrama that i didn't want to pummel after a while of watching.

i think i may even prefer an all new talent all together for the lead roles, cause i just can't picture any actors/actresses i've already watched to be good enough to play the two.

and i just binged on ISWAK and TKA 2 months ago. with this news hitting, i feel like a rewatch again myself =P

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yes, kdramas don't do that type of character well (twdramas do).

Yes, new discoveries, that would be good.

[ifruity.livejournal.com]

I really can see Jung Il Woo and Go Ara as the leads now. Jang Geun Seok and Park Shin Hye, it would be the exact same coupling as in YaB with their personalities, which I would get tired of. As for Im Joo Hwan and Seo Woo, I love them, but in my mind, I think if I saw them in something else other than Tamra, my love for their OTP would diminish slightly, which is why I wouldn't want old couples in new roles.

I could see Han Hyo Joo as Xiang Qin, though. I think she could do dim and optimistic.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yes, I agree on rehash pairings.

I doubt HHJ will be available. Isn't Dong Yi 11 billion eps long?

I really think they should go with newbies.

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

I think the casting and writing are what will or won't make this drama. The



A large question on my mind - will they keep the characters high school age or make them college age or older? I've seen many an Asian adaption (mostly in Taiwan and Korean series)up the ages of the characters in order to get not only better actors but also be able to do more with the characters.


It's a Group 8 production, which makes me nervous. Sure, they've done things like Goong Return of Iljimae and Tamra, but they also had a hand in BBF. The director is Hwang In-roi, who gave me some very pretty shots in past Group 8 things. Not sure about the writer.

But, as I said, it will largely depend on the writer and the cast. I remember many people mentioning Kim Bum and Kim So Eun - I like their chemistry, but seriously doubt they'd be cast. I think the casting of the leads will be people who new, up-and-coming, or haven't done anything for a while.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I think a large chunk of the reason the story works is because the characters are young and are finding themselves. The two leads being like this at 25 is much less appealing IMO.

[jennyhime.livejournal.com]

There is also actually a jdorama version all the way from 1996, it's a fun watch even though the fashion is horrid.
The first season of ISWAK is great the second was not that great but the chemistry between Joe and Ariel was also excellent.
I hope they go for new faces and actors that can portray the characters well, please don't be like the koeran version of HYD was.
I wonder how will they make the ending, Tada Kaoru died before she had finished the story so in the TW version they had created the ending but talking with Tada Kaorus husband what kind of end would she have liked.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Jdrama fashion is always horrid :)

Yes, BOF does not inspire me. ROI and Goong which were good were based on Korean source material so that is different.

[shinystory.livejournal.com]

I actually haven't gotten into "It Started with a Kiss" although one of my closest friends really, really loves it.

The thing going for me here is Hwang In-roi. "Goong" remains one of my big favorites.

But, like many people already said, I think it would have to be a good writer and a great cast. I highly doubt they'd cast popular actors: I think, as with "Goong," and the other Group 8, they'd cast relative unknowns, or on-the-verge ones. Which is also what I prefer.

So: much as I love Im Joo-hwan and Seo Woo, Kim Bum and Kim So-eun, I really think the drama could do with new discoveries.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I think unknowns would be good. Surprise me, Korea!

[kitkat-cat.livejournal.com]

ooooo, i feel a re-watch coming up asap! in between ps man, calling superstar and this, how will i have time for anything else!?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Don't forget about the wedding! :)

[jennyhime.livejournal.com]

I really hope they'll go for unknows actors at least for Kotoko and Irie.
Som people are suggesting Sandara Park, she's way too old and Kotoko is not suppose to be cutesy.
The jdorama version had a good looking Irie, personally I think he looks better now
http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Kashiwabara_Takashi
It seems group 8 also bought rights for hanakimi which I hope they wont make because the jdorama was so funny.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I didn't care for HK jdrama (too wacky and not enough like the manga for me) so I won't mind Group 8 having a whack but why don't they adapt some of the awesome manhwa instead?

[quaggy]

I give Ariel Lin major props for being able to be not bright without being dumb as rocks. Though I doubt it was deliberate, a lot of the time, I got the feeling her character, rather than actually being stupid, had a learning disability. You rarely could fault Xiang Qin's reasoning and while she was gullible, she wasn't a dim bulb or an airhead. In the hands of a lesser actress, her character would just be annoying, stupid and an obsessed freak.

Ariel Lin wasn't even all that clingy. Whenever Xiang Qin said that she was giving up on her crush, Ariel Lin sold it as being real and only some attention from Zhi Shu to trip her up and have her fall for for him all over again (with Joe Cheng helping things along by letting the audience know that he WAS trying to encourage her deliberately.)

The casting was so strong, I'd be a little nervous about who will get what part in the Korean version. The bar is set WAY high. But all the speculation is pretty silly. My bet that they will cast unknowns. All the other cited versions have been vehicles for breakout stars. Yoon Eun Hye and Joo Ji Hoon in Goong. Lee Min Ho and (to a lesser extent) Lee Min Jung in BOF. Seo Woo in Tamra the Island.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

It's an interesting thought about learning disability. It would make sense.

And yes, if they are smart they'd go for unknowns. Some people I've seen suggested (Kang Dong Won e.g.) are totally insane picks - much too old.

[jpookemon.livejournal.com]

How about actual teenage actors. I know you avoided God of Study, but I could see Go Ah Sung (Pul Ip) playing the lead. Also, the kid that plays the teenage Kang Jin from Will It Snow For Christmas can play the male lead.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

They go from haighschool to college to med school so they have to be believable as both. As long as they can pull it off, I am all for it