Holika Holika

I love Korean beauty products. Just got this lip balm. I mean, how cute!!!

Film Review: Love, In Between

Released in 2010, Love, In Between is a melancholy love story with a dark existential undertone. This film is NOT for children as there are intense sexual content and VERY graphic sex scenes. Shin Eun-kyung (pictured above right) is one of my favorite Korean actresses. She is mesmerizing to watch and I'm just obsessed with her art! After watching her in the kdrama, Flames of Desire, and then watching her in this film, I was surprised to see her range of emotions.

This is a story about an odd love triangle.Yun Ji-Seok (played by Jeong Jun-Ho pictured above and the only man) is a university professor who teaches architecture. You can tell he has a deep passion for the arts and you can also tell that this is a highly intense emotional man but he tries very hard to control. His beloved wife So-Young (played by Shin Eun-Kyung, pictured above right) is an OBGYN and she loves her husband tremendously. They seem to have a perfect marriage. He has a very high sex drive and almost sexually mauls his wife in the first five minutes of the film.

However, when she surprises him by going to his office she doesn't find him there but finds instant messages from a female student which suggest a very friendly relationship. She discovers the girl is Su-Ji (played by Shim Lee-Yeong, pictured right) and decides to follow her around. She follows her to her yoga class in order to spy on her and find out more about her. Su-Ji is very loveable and sweet to So-Young and So-Young finds herself befriending her. She goes through emotions where she hates Su-Ji and where she's sympathetic towards Su-Ji.


A really good scene is where So-Young and Su-Ji are riding in the same car when Su-Ji gets a call from her boyfriend. Su-Ji calls him sweet names which is normal. Meanwhile, So-Young secretly dials her husband and gets a busy signal. The look on her face when she gets the busy signal is priceless. She is enraged but must be as unsuspecting as possible while Su-Ji is sitting next to her. As the story progresses, So-Young's friendship with Su-Ji strengthens and Yun Ji-Seok is stricken with an incredible choice especially when an event arises that no one can ignore.





The music is lovely as it's usually dominated by a piano with minimalistic melodic lines that sound empty. I thought it was a perfect effect it highlighted the dark existential undertone I believe exists in this film. On the surface, the film appears to be a basic love triangle but I believe, as the title suggests, it aches at the notion of a different kind of love; not true love and not just brotherly love but a love that exists in a world with individuals who have exercised their right to be free regardless of the consequences. This freedom then makes them vulnerable to the effects of their choices which aren't always at the hands of others but by their own hands.

I like to watch movies for free online before purchasing them so I've embedded the movie from hulu below. You can also purchase the DVD at the very bottom of this post. However, please note that this particular DVD has a Region code of 3 so you will need an all region code DVD player (Considering all the foreign movies I have, I've already bought one. Very handy!) in order to view it. I can't wait until Ya Entertainment or some other company decides to manufacture this film so Americans can enjoy this great movie. Enjoy! .-_-

Jung Ryeo-Won

Born January 21, 1981, Jung Ryeo-Won is one of my favorite Korean actresses and definitely has become my fashionista obsession. She has a laid-back chic style but her style is very flexible. She can be rocker chic, edgy, punk, and hip-hop. I've always been a fan of the lazy chic look and I find that Jung Ryeo-Won captures that look beautifully! I've been watching a tv show with her in it and like Seo Woo, she rocked the Bitten Look which I'm loving right now.

Though she is 5'6" and 99 pounds, she's known as cute with "chubby" cheeks in her home country of Korea. She's 31 years old but can play characters who are 10 or more years younger. I don't know if she's found the fountain of youth but I think she should share it with everyone else. She learned English in Australia so when she speaks English she has a slight Australian accent which I think is beyond cute. 

I first saw Jung Ryeo-Won in the Korean drama, History of a Salaryman. I was blown away by her acting abilities. She is fiercely talented as she can portray comedy roles and sad roles very well. Watching her cry is heart wrenching and watching her comedy caused me to laugh hysterically.  Below are a list of her works both in movies and tv. Check this gal out and maybe you'll be impressed too.

Films:
Never Ending Story (2012), Pain (2011), In Love and The War (2011), Castaway on the Moon (2009), Melos (2008), Two Faces of My Girlfriend (2007), My Boyfriend is Type-B (2005), Emergency 19 (2002)

Kdramas:
History of a Salaryman (2012), Princess Ja-Myung (2009), Which Star Are You From (2006), My Name is Kim Sam-Soon (2005), Autumn Shower (2005), Hello, Franchesca (2005), Love Story in Harvard (2004), Argon (2003), Saxophone (2002)

Film Review: Seducing Mr. Perfect

Since it's Valentine's Day I thought it would be perfect to review a wonderful romantic comedy. Seducing Mr. Perfect was released in 2006 and is highly entertaining! (Other romance films I've reviewed: I Do, Zelary, and Elegy) This is a great Korean film; first off, the guy (Daniel Henney pictured left) is so hot it's unbelievable. I think he's the most attractive man I've ever seen! (That's why the picture above is so big. lol)

June (played by Uhm Jung Hwa and pictured right) is a feisty girl who wears her heart on her sleeve. Her boyfriend dumps her and takes advantage of her kind heart. In the meantime she works for a boss, Robin Heiden, (played by Daniel Henney) who is relentless. When she discovers her boyfriend has been cheating she confronts him with crying and screaming; her boss happens to witness her public meltdown. While drowning her sorrow in alcohol, he tells her that she is treated poorly because she is pathetic in relationships. She doesn't know the "rules" of dating. He decides to take her on as a student and teach her how to get her ex back. She follows his instructions religiously and is successful but there are two problems: she isn't her authentic self and her boss begins to adore her. The more she learns about her boss' "rules" the more he reveals his true feelings for her and that he is still healing from his own heartbreak. How will this play out? Will she stay with her ex or will she catch on to her boss' feelings for her. You have to watch and see! .-_-

I was able to watch it free online through koreandrama.tv and bought it right away on amazon. I've embeded the movie below in eight parts so you, too, can watch it free! Enjoy! .-_-

Snackaroo of the week: Gosomi Biscuits

I love snacks. I especially like snacks that are light and guilt free. For this week I've chosen Gosomi Biscuits.  They are made by the Orion Corporation located in Seoul, Korea. These sweet Korean biscuits are more like thin crackers than biscuits. I purchased this small box for $1.60 and it came with two smaller packs. It definitely satisfies my sweet tooth. It's super thin and has a sweet nutty taste with subtle hints of coconut which is amazing because I don't even like coconut. Try it out! You won't be disappointed! For more information click here.