Rody reviews jdramas / #9 “Hana Yori Dango”

Woohoo, another review, and this time it’s one of my favorite dramas ever, as this isn’t the first… or second time I watch it. I actually reviewed the Korean version before (Boys Over Flowers review), and it’s about time to review the original and more fantastic version. Of course you all know that “Hana Yori Dango and its Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese adaptions are all based on the manga by the same name by Yoko Kamio. It became super popular, even after all these years. I gotta say though I loved the Korean version, the Japanese one will always be the best,  well after the manga that is, you’ll know why in the review.

Remember, there’d be some spoilers and photo spam. 🙂

• General info:

Title: 花より男子 / Hana Yori Dango
Also known as: Boys Before Flowers / Boys Over Flowers
Episodes: Season 1: 9 episodes, Season 2: 11 episodes, A special episode, A Final movie.
Genre: Romance, Drama.

• Synopsis:

Makino Tsukushi is the only poor student at Eitoku Gakuen, the school of the ridiculously rich and privileged that is ruled by Flower 4 or F4, a group of four boys who come from extremely powerful families: Domyoji Tsukasa, the leader and heir of the Domyoji World Finance Group; Hanazawa Rui, the introverted son of a large company; Nishikado Sojiro, a player who is the heir of a tea ceremony school; and Mimasaka Akira, a madam killer with ties to the underground. If a student gets on the F4’s bad side, he/she gets a red notice and is bullied and driven out of school.

Makino hopes to pass her days quietly– without drawing any attention to herself– but one day, she stands up to Domyoji in defense of her friend. The next day, Makino gets the dreaded red notice. Even though she is harassed, Makino decides to keep going to school because she is a “tough weed”. She declares war right back on the F4. Her resolve gets the attention of her crush Hanazawa Rui and oddly enough, rouses romantic feelings in her worst enemy, Domyoji Tsukasa.

• Characters:

Makino Tsukushi (played by Inoue Mao): The powerful independent poor girl, who manages to win the hearts of F4 and changes them all somehow. I like this version best of Makino, she’s sweet, powerful, and stubborn at times, but she’s the one that resembles the original Manga Makino the most. She’s a poor girl who’s dream (later on) is to become a lawyer, her first love is Rui, but her true love and the one she’s destined to be with is Domyouji. We see her change a lot during the two seasons, she starts off as somehow uncaring person, and ends up defending her love and her right to choose the way she lives. Well, we gotta give it to her; she stood up to Domyouji’s mom quite a lot. She’s funny a lot too, and cute. Well you obviously can see that I’m biased to this Makino.

 

Domyouji Tsukasa (played by Matsumoto Jun): The stubborn, selfish, aggressive, and adorable heir of Domyouji group, and Makino’s true love. At first I really hated him, for the two first episodes he was like this aggressive animal, who only cared about beating others for no apparent reason. After Makino enters his life he COMPLETELY changes, and turns into this adorable little boy, with a lot of mistakes, both in English and Japanese. He’s so passionate when it comes to love, he’s willing to do anything, and through the episodes he slowly develops to become a real adult. Also, That wink! ❤

 

Hanazawa Rui (played by Oguri Shun): The cool, somehow lazy, and handsome prince and heir, and Makino’s first love. You can always see him holding a book, like ALL THE FREAKING TIME (don’t get me wrong, I love books. But isn’t it a bit too much?)! He starts off as the one who’s saving Makino from all the bullying for no reason other than he just hates Domyouji’s ways, but later on falls in love with her after moving on Shizuka, his first love. After losing Makino’s love to Tsukasa, he works as her knight, whenever Domyouji’s not there. He even became the priest in their wedding, how sweet is that? I always felt sorry for him for not getting the girl, but I’m pretty sure he’d get the love he deserves, with this killer smile and angelic presence, and it’s not that hard! ❤

 

Nishikado Sojiro (played by Matsuda Shota): The playboy and tea ceremonial family descendant, and the love interest of Makino’s friend Yuki. He plays the role of F4’s playboy with traditional Japanese background, coming from one of the top Japanese families in tea making. He’s had a little cute sad love story with his childhood friend, Hinata Sara, but because of his arrogance, he lost her. But Yuki managed to change him, and they’re (somehow) dating, I guess. I don’t really get it since whenever he sees her he just runs away.

 

Mimasaka Akira (played by Abe Tsuyoshi): He played the son of underground business who loves older, married women. This Akira version is much better, since the Korean version gave him no depth at all. It shows the reason for his love to older women, having two little sisters, and a young and childish mother did that to him. Also at the end, when he takes over the underground business, he tries to make it all clean (but how, I don’t know). He’s like the glue and the brains of the F4; he’s the one who’s keeping them together.

 

Family: Makino’s family though they love money, they aren’t as horrible as the one in the Korean version. This family truly cares about Tsukushi and loves her dearly, and it clearly shows. I also love her brother Susumu; he’s got this cute pitchy voice. As for Domyouji’s family, his mother is pure evil, she becomes all sweet at the end, but you’ll really REALLY hate her through the drama, his sister is lovable, on the contrary.

• Acting:

The acting was superb, the chemistry between Mao and Jun was apparent; I was feeling like they’re a real couple (unlike the Korean version). Jun was amazing, he’s truly the only suitable Domyouji, he adds his quirkiness and language mistakes and his attitude, it all made him super lovable. Shun, was sweet too, but too lazy to act, I mean the only time I saw him actually acting and getting some emotions out when he was lecturing Domyouji about Makino, come on, Rui in the manga wasn’t that lazy. The rest of the cast was amazing, but I gotta say my least favorite character, is Abe Tsuyoshi, though he has his moments, I felt that his acting was awkward most of the time.

• Is it funny?

I .. COULDN’T … RESIST! 😀

One word for funny, well maybe two: Tsukasa Domyouji. He’s hilarious; he’s the reason behind all the laughter throughout the drama.

Apparently, that’s what you say on your first date. 😀

• Is it Romantic/Tear-Jerking?

loved this part ❤

Romantic, YES, Tear-jerking, once again YES! There are a lot of romantic scenes between Makino and Domyouji or Makino and Rui. As for the crying scenes, all the times they’ve broke up or when his mother does something horrible… again. Also, the time when he lost his memory made me tear a bit, because of frustration.

• Soundtrack:

The drama mostly focuses on background music, but it’s got four or five amazing songs, I’m still addicted to. The first season got “WISH” by Arashi and “Planetarium” by Ai Otsuka, the second season got “Love So Sweet” by Arashi, and “Flavor of Life” by Utada Hikaru. And the theme song for the movie is “Forever Love” by, yes you’re right, ARASHI. They did a good job working on these songs; they’re so addictive and sweet.

• Hotness level/Style:

There isn’t much style or fancy clothes like the Korean version, as this version is much older, and J-dramas doesn’t focus that much on clothes and wardrobe, though I loved Rui’s outfits. But they make up for it by the hotties that are Matsumoto Jun and Oguri Shun, who are enough for me! Also Mao is really cute.

• Moments to Remember:

The Proposal ❤

When Domyouji was leaving to New York, the meeting in New York, The Proposal, their time on the island, the silliness, Okami-san boyfriend’s stories, the wedding, when Domyouji found out that Makino is pregnant, too much great moments, I’ll leave you some pics.

Domyouji’s perverted thinking. 😀

• Did it end well?

Season 1: YES! Makino running after Domyouji left her the Saturn necklace and telling him that she loves, also the kiss by the sunset. It was all too perfect.

Season 2: The proposal was so Domyouji-ish, he was in love and proposing, yet he couldn’t keep out stuff like “Almighty Me” which I found really cute.

The wedding ❤

The Movie: Though the whole movie is nowhere to be found in the manga, it’s completely fantasy of the writers, it was sweet, funny, and full of suspense, and we get to see them reconfirm their love, and the best wedding scene and happy ending. Ahh~~

• Rating: 5/5… if I could give it million out of five, I would ❤

 

Rody review kdramas / #8 “Dream High”

Annyeong~

I’m back with another drama, and a review full of spoilers (Some serious ones), and a photo spam. I watched “Dream High” which story is written by Park Jin Young “JYP” himself, and it’s all about dreams. It certainly charmed me, and left occupied with it for a while. Though there’s a second season, it follows a completely different people with different cast, though some of the original cast appears as cameos, and there is news of season 3. Anyways, here we go with the review.

• General info:

Title: 드림하이 / Dream High
Genre: School, drama, comedy, romance
Episodes: 16 + 1 special episode

• Synopsis:

Six students at Kirin High School have the dream of becoming Kpop idols. During their school years, they learn how to develop their singing, songwriting and dancing skills while undergoing personal growth. They also go through their love life and start to develop feelings for each other. Each one of the students has his or her own strengths and weaknesses, but they strive to debut with the support and guidance of each other.

• Characters:

Go Hye Mi (played by Suzy): The arrogant classic music singer, the one who cared only for herself, honestly I truly hated her at the first two episodes, then she started growing on me as the show proceeded. It was funny seeing her cold attitude and how she transformed into this sweet girl. The whole show you’d think that she’s in love with Jin Guk, while she’s really in love with Sam Dong. My only regret is not enough romantic scenes with Sam Dong, after he found out that she loves him back. She’s truly talented and her attitude that made her lose her friends at the beginning of the show, changes into the complete opposite at the end. She at first, gives up her classic music and decides to enter this academy to repay her father’s debts, but soon after she realizes that this is her real dream.

Song Sam Dong (played by Kim Soo Hyun): The hard-working, sweet, adorable, AMAZING guy, and guess what? FINALLY, the sweet guy wins the girl’s heart, though from what it seems they don’t end up together. I mean, I know it’s not supposed to be a romantic drama, but couldn’t they ease the hearts of people like me and show him ending up with Hye Mi? He’s one amazing actor, and the only actor among the cast of singers, and he did an AMAZING job. The dilemma of his hearing disability totally crushed me, and it’s been a while since I’ve cried for a character this much, I still ache for him. He’s a naive character, who only knows two things in the whole world, music and Hye Mi. he’s this country boy who never had the courage to sing or show his true talents and him being a genius in composing until he’s got the chance to get into Kirin academy. And I actually couldn’t believe that he’s “K”, as Hye Mi said in the last episode he’s the brightest and most successful star among them, yet he’s all alone.

Jin Guk/ Hyun Shi Hyuk (played by Taecyeon):  The rebellious dancer with father issues, he’s the character with an overdose of problems yet I didn’t sympathize with him that much. He’s an illegal child of a political man, who tries to hide his history and son to win the elections, it all changes when his son decides due to some events to become a singer through debuting from Kirin academy, oh, and he’s in love with Hye Mi. It all works out alright with his father, and he manages to debut as a successful singer. He at the end accepts that Hye Mi is in love with Sam Dong, not him. He’s a nice guy, and I totally love his eyes. 😀

Yoon Baek Hee (played by Ham Eun Jung): Hye Mi’s best friend and her enemy during school years. After being in Hye Mi’s shadows for years and looking up to everything she does, when Hye Mi betrays her during the auditions to Kirin she turns into the most horrible creature ever, thankfully she returns to being nice and all by the end of the drama. She really is a complicated character, everyone around even her mother are proud of Hye Mi and never paid attention to her talents, that resulted in her belief that no one is there for her. She also has this crush on Jin Guk, which is one-sided. She really made me sympathize with her in the first episode, then really hate her in the next, she’s good.

Jason (played by Wooyoung): The foreign/Korean guy with the extreme ego, dance moves and awkward English. He’s a dancer and a man with courtesy, which many people mistake for flirting, he also ends up falling for Pilsuk. at the beginning seems like a guy with no passion or motivations to get better, but he starts working hard for her sake. Though he didn’t impress me much, his cute little love story with Pilsuk did.

Kim Pilsuk (played by IU): The fat-turned-thin-then-again-fat girl with beautiful voice and sweet character, she’s my favorite cutesy character. She’s this girl who appears in a sushi outfit because she’s not confident in how she looks, yet her voice is amazing. She’s in love with Jason, and she even loses all her weight for him (which I didn’t like). She’s so sincere, and even after being a singer for a while, she returns to be fat again saying that she’s happy this way.

The Teachers: Uhm Ki Joon (who looks a lot like Lee Seung Gi) as Oh Hyuk was just adorable, like the most inspiring and cutest teacher EVER! And his little love story Kyung Jin (Lee Yoon Ji played her) was amazing, they made me squeal, and she’s so cute. But the star here is the man, JYP himself, he was HILRIOUS. He’s funny, a good dancer, and FUNNY.

Others: Cameos by Bae Yong Joon and Kim Hyun Joong were precious; I love those too just TOO MUCH! Also Lee Teuk and Eun Hyuk made hit the reply button. And Ma Du Shik, the loan shark, who I thought would be evil turned out to be the complete opposite.

• Acting:

The first thing you’d notice is Kpop stars who could act, especially Taecyeon, Eunjung, and IU. But the master prize in the acting department goes to Kim Soo Hyun, he’s a genius, I’m hoping to see him star in more and more dramas. JYP was amazing himself. You know what? The whole cast, even those who were awkward were good somehow. Also the complications and twists are kinda more realistic than most dramas.

• Is it funny?

They’re dancing “Tell Me Your Wish” by SNSD. Hilarious.

YES! I was practically tearing from laughter at JYP and Soo Hyun’s roles, both are adorable and hilarious. Also there are some Suzy/Taecyeon funny scenes. Here are some moments.

HAHAHAHA, his outfit!

Bromance moment 😀

• Is it Romantic/tear-jerking?

Romance is lacking a bit here, especially between the two main lovers, Suzy and Sam Dong, I wanted more moments, and especially since they both like each other. Instead we see more romantic scenes with Suzy and Taecyeon, and she doesn’t even love him. But Pilsuk and Jason scenes are cute, like hell. As for the tears, you’re going to tear A LOT for Soo Hyun’s character, like A LOOOT! So yeah, it’s also tear-jerking.

OMG!

• Soundtrack:

The main song “Dream High” is so motivating, yet whenever I hear I felt the emptiness that I finished the drama and want to start it all over again. There are some amazing tracks too, I’m happy that the actors participated in it, “Dreaming” by Kim Soo Hyun is amazing, so is “Someday” by IU, “Winter Child” by Suzy, and “Can’t I Love You” by Changmin and Jinwoon from 2AM.

• Hotness level/style:

Sam Dong ❤

KIM SOO HYUN, MARRY ME! He’s dorky and cute at the beginning, lovable and sweet in the middle, and HOOOT at the ending, he’s the main Eye candy in this, also Taecyeon looks great. As for style, they’re most of the time in their school uniforms, but I loved Suzy’s and IU’s outfits, also the performances outfits were great!

These outfits are really too kpop-sih.

• Moments to remember:

A lot, I’ll just leave the pics to do the talking.

The only ones who’d make a flash mob work.

When Sam Dong found his picture in Hye Mi’s wallet, I was squealing like crazy.

Remembering the good ol’ days.

• Did it end well?

The lucky pendant, I want one!

Eight years later, Hye Mi is a successful singer, so is Jin Guk. Baek Hee is a dance teacher at Kirin Academy. Pilsuk, after a long career, sings to children in a nursery and returned to her older self, saying that she’s happier like this. Jason? Well, he seems to have become successful as well. But the star among them all is the genius Sam Dong, who became the world-wide famous singer “K” who got nominated for a Grammy, big, eh? Oh Hyuk and Kyung Jin married, too. Although I’m a bit disappointed in the ending, I get it, it’s not supposed to focus entirely on their love stories, it’s about their dreams, but I wanted more Hye Mi x Sam Dong moments. They deserve it. I also get irritated by open endings. Also there was this special episode, where they sang the OST songs and had some talk in a mini concert attended by some fans, it was aired after the drama was finished.

Sam Dong when he became “K”

• Rating: 5/5, it left me speechless and made me feel all kinds of emotions, I wanted to go out in the streets and accomplish my dreams whatever it is. I completely recommend it