Midnight Runners review

Movie name: Midnight Runners
Country: South Korea
Year: Aug 2017

I seem to be on a Park Seo Joon shows review marathon! :D This movie was advertised on my local cable TV as a movie on demand, I wanted to watch it since he was starring in it... 

So, what's this movie about?

This movie is about two young guys, Park Ki Joon and Kang Hee Yeol who wants to join the police force. In order to do that, they must first be accepted into the police university. Park Ki Joon is from a single parent family with not much money, he has a big heart and is like a happy go lucky kind of guy. 

Kang Hee Yeol on the other hand, is from a top school in Seoul, his father runs a meat business and he is someone who is very rigid with many principles and rules for living. 

Their opposite personalities definitely made them enemies right from the start. It was not until after a training episode where Park helped Kang down the hill because Kang offered to buy him a steak if he did so. They escaped punishment and became best friends after that. Aww... 

Fast forward about two years, Park and Kang are now best friends and they have day offs... They can leave the university campus and enjoy a night out in town. This is where the story actually starts... The two went clubbing trying to pick up girls but failed hahah!! They met a girl walking on the street and wanted to get her number. But to their horror, they saw her being abducted into a van... 

Being police cadets in training, they went to make a police report immediately only to be told that their case is not important as the order from the top commissioner. The two decided to take matters into their own hands. 

The rest of the show goes on with the duo trying to find the kidnapped girl, tracking her down and stumbling into a bigger, more sinister plot behind it all. 

Overall thoughts

I wasn't expecting anything of the sort from the movie title. To be honest, I thought it was about runners who do work at midnight or something... Haha.... I know, I was kind of let down that the story line wasn't what I thought it would be. 

Best parts of the movie

The bromance between Park and Kang is fun to watch... 

I guess the only part which I liked and it is literally the movie title... Midnight Runners... there was a lot of running... Hahahh!! XD Park Seo Joon looked so good running with his long legs... 

Another best part would be his body.... XD Hahaha... Well, there were some shower and working out scenes that might be of interest for some fans... ;D 

I also liked the part in class where Park and Kang's answer to the same question really shows their different personalities. Both answers were correct in their own respective ways... and not to mention the middle finger scene! XD 

Conclusion

If you are guessing what I'm guessing about the kidnapped girl, you could be wrong... :O Yeah, the girl was kidnapped not for prostitution or such... but for her human eggs. *horror scream* In name they are young students who sell their eggs for money to couples who want to have children but in reality these girls are runaways from homes, they are captured and sold to be human hens... (somewhat)

You would have to leave your mind behind for the ending... Haha... Yeah, two young cadets tracking and bringing down a big syndicate all by themselves... There is a good ending don't worry, the girls were rescued and the bad guys busted. 

As they are still in the police university and a disciplinary institution, their actions deem as breaking the rules and must be punished. This part is nice as well, the play of words and the core value of being a policeman is reinforced... 

There is an epilogue at the end which shows the same girl from that night visiting them. It ends on that good note... Aww... 

This movie has some comedic moments but I somehow felt a bit disturbed overall after watching it... It is good for such topics to be featured, as we do not know of such things happening. I do hope and pray that all young girls out there to be safe and well... I'll leave you all with the two guys looking all dashing in their uniforms... See you around! Thanks for reading. <3 

The Beauty Inside review

Movie name: The Beauty Inside

Country: South Korea

Year: Aug 2015

I stumbled across this movie while surfing the Chinese movies channel on tv one day. The guy on screen was Turtle (I don't know his real name but in the kdrama Entourage his nickname was Turtle :D ) and he caught my attention. Wait a minute, this is a korean movie... what is it doing on this channel?! I stayed on that channel and ended up watching it. Haha!! I missed a little bit at the beginning but it was all good. 

So, what's this movie about?

Kim Woo Jin has this weird ability to morph into a different person every day. The moment he falls asleep the next day he wakes up with a different face, different body and sometimes, different gender. This phenomenon started one day when he was about 18 years old and his life was never the same after that. 

Due to his weird ability, he couldn't work like any normal person would. It was a good thing that he had a talent in making furniture and together with his good friend (Turtle) he became a furniture designer. He would work in the factory while his friend deals with marketing and meeting clients. They would operate online so they do not have a physical office which makes their furniture more exclusive and mysterious at the same time. 

One day, Woo Jin visited the local furniture warehouse and he saw Yi Soo working there. Somewhat like love at first sight, he would go there everyday with his different face and body just to talk to her as a customer. Stalker much?! ;D He knew he could never ask her out with the current face and body so he waited until one fine day, he woke up as a handsome young man. Like whattt??!! Smh...

The story goes on from there with Woo Jin trying to have a relationship with Yi Soo and the struggles that they both have to overcome with Woo Jin's strange morphing ability. 

Overall thoughts

This movie is unique because it tackles the perception of beauty. What beauty actually means, is it only physical appearance or the personality of the soul inside the outer shell that is our bodies. If I'm not mistaken it is adapted from a book or some western movie... The show is pretty slow moving but if you can sit through it, it does have some nice scenery of Czech Republic and artsy stuff.

Best parts of the drama

The furniture warehouse where Yi Soo worked, I'm not sure if Mamastudio really exists in South Korea but I think it is also the same place where Jay Park filmed his "All I wanna do" music video... ;D

As you already know I love design stuff, the furniture design in this movie is really nice... I love those chairs and tables etc..

Woo Jin's apartment in Czech Republic is pretty neat as well... Very quaint...

Notable scenes

The initial moment where Yi Soo found out about Woo Jin's strange ability, she wanders into his closet where he kept clothing, shoes of all sizes and even prescription glasses for any type of eyesight...

The part where Woo Jin grasps Yi Soo's hand telling her that's how to recognise him... A simple love language as holding hands with much meaning behind it... Aww sweet...

Conclusion

As with any relationship, there are problems to overcome. However, dating Woo Jin has taken a toll on Yi Soo's mental health. She started to have anxiety and had to take sleeping pills to sleep. I mean, who could blame the poor girl... Imagine you sleep with a guy you think is your boyfriend the next day you wake up and the person next to you is a totally different person... Your mind will be fcked up seriously...

Woo Jin decided to leave her because he could see she was in pain. Yi Soo's life went back to normal after that, she stopped taking the sleeping/ anxiety pills. However, Yi Soo realised that she had really fallen in love with him... Despite his appearance, she realised she fell in love with the soul inside the person... Huhu... some sad moments here... ;'(

She went to Turtle and managed to get Woo Jin's current location... It was in Czech Republic and he had launched a new furniture brand...She flew all the way there and when the door opened, Woo Jin recognised her at once but he pretended to be someone else. She told him that she was interested in his furniture and managed to get inside his apartment... Haha... Nice move girl! ;D

It's a happy ending everyone, don't worry! ;D Yi Soo held his hand and he broke down in tears.. Aww, he really loved her... The movie ends with girl proposing to the guy... Haha!! I'm not joking... it's really sweet. 

But the sweetest part was after she asked him to marry her, the guy pulled out a wooden box. Twist it open and the wedding ring is hidden inside. Dayummm!! Furniture designer moves man... hahah!! I think that's one of the simplest design of a wedding ring box but it looks soooo good... Noice. XD 

The end! The closing scene was the flashback of all the characters in slow motion walking towards her and finally the kiss. It's a sweet movie, if you have some time to waste you could give it a try but it is seriously a very slow moving show.

However, there one thing that I am disappointed with... That is there was no explanation on why Woo Jin has that weird morphing ability. It's like he's a mutant or something... :O And I'm wondering of the various people he woken up as... What happens to the original person of those bodies?! *flips table* 

Alright, thanks for reading.... I just realised the last guy is the same playboy in the movie, "Mood of the day"... XD No wonder he looked familiar. The girl is my fav from W-Two Worlds... I'll leave you with her pretty face, she really is beautiful! ;D 

*Image credits Google and my own screenshots*

What's wrong with Secretary Kim review

Drama name: What's wrong with Secretary Kim
Country: South Korea
Year: June- July 2018

This show was heavily promoted by my local cable tv and I saw many of the kdrama fans were talking about it as well. Park Seo Joon was starring in it and I was happy to see him again in a drama just right after he completed the reality series Youn's Kitchen where he worked as a part time waiter in Garachico. I managed to catch the repeat of the first episode on tv and started watching from there. 

So, what's this show about?

Aside the drama title, the show starts off with the male lead's life instead. Lee Young Joon is the most eligible bachelor as he is the vice-president of his family owned group of businesses. He exudes aura and is a narcissistic person. He thinks he is the best, most perfect person who will not lose at anything. 

Kim Mi-So is Young Joon's personal assistant or secretary of nine years. She had to start work young to pay off her father's debts and her sister's education. She was selected out of many applicants who had better education or experience. Young Joon made her his personal secretary and she struggled at her job as she did not know many things such as languages and corporate life. 

Slowly but surely Mi So improved herself with Young Joon's powerful work drive. He pushed her to the limits as he believed that was the only way to succeed in life. One day, Mi So had enough and decided to quit. She wanted to find herself as she felt she had been living someone else's life for the past nine years. 

This is where the story actually begins, Young Joon tries to figure out what's wrong with secretary kim, why she wanted to resign and does everything to keep her by his side. While in the process of doing so, Mi So discovers Young Joon's hidden childhood secret which ultimately involves her as well. 

Overall thoughts

I was expecting some office power struggle kind of drama with romance thrown in. But I was so so wrong, it was totally a romance drama with very little substance. It almost doesn't make any sense, that being in close proximity for nine years... Nine freaking years and no chemistry??! Oh come on... It's not like Mi So is ugly or anything, she even ties his tie everyday... Unbelievable. Smh. It had too much cheesy love scenes, from dating to proposal and finally marriage. In fact, the drama title should be re-named as How Secretary Kim got married instead. 

Best parts of the drama

The architecture and interiors of this drama is really nice. Very minimalist and modern, I like it very much. Starting with Young Joon's house, which I believe is actually not a house but an art gallery or some sort... 

The night view of his house is really beautiful when it is all lit up... 

Besides his house, his office suite and office building is really cool too... 

There was a library featured in this drama as well and the design is worth a mention here... 

Other than interiors, my favourite is cars! :D Especially Maserati... Love, love, love! <333 

The storyline was really flat, in fact there was little story at all to be honest. I actually found the side characters more interesting than the two leads story. At least there was some comedic relief...

Notable scenes

There are several scenes from this drama which were memorable. The first goes to the amusement park night where Young Joon booked the whole place for a date with Mi So, complete with fireworks, boat ride and all... 

The love making scene which took like thirteen episodes to happen... XD 

Yes, yes I know girls are screaming at Park Seo Joon's body there... but if you remember he was already shirtless earlier... ;D 

And of course not forgetting the marriage proposal.... Who can forget his singing with the piano and beautiful cascading waterfall behind there?! 

Conclusion

As I have mentioned earlier, the storyline is really lacking. The backstory of their childhood experience was that Young Joon and Mi So were kidnapped by a mentally unstable lady. She had wanted to kill both of them but because of Young Joon's reasoning with the woman, she changed her mind. She hung herself to death at that abandoned house. 

That was how Young Joon had his fear of twist ties as he was bound up tightly with it that night. It left a scar on his ankles. He also had a fear of kissing women as each time he tries to kiss the memories of the dead woman will appear in his mind. Mi So had the fear of spiders because Young Joon did not want her to see the dead woman hanging from the ceiling so he bluffed her it was a giant spider. 

How Young Joon's brother was involved in all of this was that he had massive guilt which made his memory shut down and swap identities. I'm not sure about this maybe those in psychology or psychiatry can explain this behaviour. 

Nevertheless, we all know it is a happy ending... Young Joon and Mi So got married and lived happily ever after...(Well, not sure about their real life dating rumours if they really are then kdrama fans dream comes true for a Park- Park couple! ;D) As for Mi So finding herself, she realised that her dream is to be Young Joon's secretary because that's what she does best. What??!! *Flips table* ... XD 

Would I recommend this drama? Hell no! Hahah!! Sorry not sorry, this is one drama which I dislike. But if you are into fluffy romance dramas then this would a drama you might like. A lot of kissing scenes to keep those fans happy... 

Alright then, until the next drama I'll leave you with Mr. Aura Park Seo Joon! ;D 

*Image credits Dramabeans, Saint Google and my own screenshots*