East of Eden [K-drama] (Song Seung Hun, Yun Jung Hoon, Park Hae Jin, Lee Da Hae, Lee Yeon Hee, Han Ji Hye, Dennis Oh, Jo Min Ki)
- Title: 에덴의 동쪽 / East of Eden
- Genre: Action, romance
- Episodes: 50
- Broadcast network: MBC
- Broadcast period: 2008-Aug-25 to 2009
- Air time: Mondays & Tuesdays 21:55 (9:55 Korean time)
Synopsis
The drama will be about two men whose fates are crossed from the very first day that they were born. Both men were born in the same hospital. When he was a teenager, Lee Dong Chul witnessed the death of his father. From then on he promised to seek revenge on the man who caused his father’s death, Shin Tae Hwan. But unbeknownst to everybody is the fact that Dong Chul’s younger brother, Dong Wook, was switched at birth with Tae Hwan’s son, Myung Hun. Dong Wook grows up to become a prosecutor and vows to help his brother seek revenge. But what happens when they find out that they’re not brothers? What will Dong Chul do when he finds out that his real brother was raised by Shin Tae Hwan and that the brother that was beside him all these years is the son of his enemy?
Cast
- Song Seung Hun as Lee Dong Chul
- Yun Jung Hoon as Lee Dong Wook
- Park Hae Jin as Shin Myung Hun
- Lee Da Hae as Min Hye Rin
- Lee Yeon Hee as Gook Young Ran
- Han Ji Hye as Kim Ji Hyun
- Dennis Oh as Michael (Young Ran’s fiancee)
- Jo Min Ki as Shin Tae Hwan
Rainbow Song [J-Movie] (Hayato Ichiharam, Juri Ueno)
Rainbow Song (虹の女神 Niji no Megami) is a 2006 Japanese film by director Naoto Kumazawa and produced by Shunji Iwai (who also co-wrote the screenplay under pseudonym Aminosan). Kumazawa had worked with Iwai before, having directed the making-of documentary for Swallowtail Butterfly.
Plot
Tomoya Kishida (Hayato Ichihara) is working as a staffer in a television studio when he hears about the death of his close friend, Aoi Sato (Juri Ueno). This sparks his recollection of the events in life they shared from meeting at a record store, shooting a short film as part of their university film club, to saying their last goodbyes. Though in love with each other, neither had the courage to confess their feelings before it was too late.
Snowy Love Fallin’ in Spring [J-Movie] (Satoru Tsumabuki, Yuko Takeuchi)
Japanese Title: Haru no Yuki
Release Year in Japan: 2005
Director: Isao Yukisada
Casts: Satoru Tsumabuki (Kiyoaki Matsueda), Yuko Takeuchi (Satoko Ayakura)
Based on Yukio Mishima’s classic novel, “Snowy Love” depicts a tragic romance between a high-society young man and a young woman who is already engaged with a royal family member in Taisho era. It is often classified as an art-oriented literature film, but also can be considered as another “pure-love” film, popular genre in Japan that was brought to the main stream by “Crying Out for Love, in the Center of the World” of the same director.
The film is nominated in 9 categories in Japan Academy Awards 2006.
Turtles Swim Faster Than Expected [J-Movie] (Juri Ueno, Yu Aoi, Ryo Iwamatsu)
Movie : Turtles Swim Faster Than Expected / Kame wa igai to hayaku oyogu
Release Date : July 2, 2005
Country : Japan
Director : Satoshi Miki
Starring : Juri Ueno, Yu Aoi, Ryo Iwamatsu
Runtime : 90 min
Movie Review : Juri Ueno, Yu Aoi and indie film helmer Satoshi Miki (In The Pool / Damaged) all working together in a film? How can one pass up an offering like that? I couldn’t. So much so that the first time I watched “Turtles Swim Surprisingly Fast” was at a Japanese Indie Film Festival held in Korea – without the benefit of subtitles. During the first viewing the lack of subtitles was a huge barrier to enjoying the film and eventually I ended up dozing through parts of the film. This time around subtitles were available and I felt all the better for it.
The movie stars Juri Ueno playing the role of Suzume Katakura. Suzume is a bored housewife that lives all alone while her husband works overseas. Her life is mundane enough that Suzume feels like she is leading an almost invisible existence. Her husband calls often but only to check up on his beloved pet turtle. One day Suzume decides to run up a flight of 100 stairs and during the middle of that run, she sees a trolley cart spill over along with the apples held in that cart. What’s a woman to do when an avalanche of apples are about barrel down your way? If you’re the quirky Suzume you lay down on the flight stairs and hold on for dear life.
After being pummeled by the falling apples Suzanne looks over at a nearby hand railing and notices a tiny stamp sized sticker placed on the bottom of a rail. The tiny stick advertises an opening position for “spies” with an interview being required. With Suzanne’s life being humdrum as it is she has nothing to lose and calls the mysterious phone number.
Three days later she goes for the interview and finds the location to be set within a modest apartment complex with an odd husband and wife couple conducting the interview. The couple claims to be a spies working for a foreign government. The couple looks over Suzume and believes she would fit in perfectly as a spy because of her nondescript appearance. The couple gives Suzume 5 million yen as an advance payment and thus she begins her new career as a spy.
The movie itself is set within a colorful world, reminiscent of Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s “Amelie” while having the quirky off-beat humor of Katsuhito Ishii’s “The Taste Of Tea”. What the film did well was to show how unique everyday life can really be. Suzume with her nondescript life (a lot like her pet turtle) finds out how interesting a “normally” life can be once she works as a spy. Her new job requires her to be as nondescript as possible and this is when the uniquely normal Suzume learns it’s not as easy as it would seem. From ordering dishes at restaurants that would not stand out to purchasing food in grocery stores that would be unmemorable to beating her futon cover in the normal kind of way. That’s not to say everything that Suzume did was your everyday kind of tasks. In fact the more memorable scenes were pure slapstick zaniness.
Highlights include Suzume getting into a sumo wrestling match with her father in his dirt filled backyard, her best friend Kujake (played by Yu Aoi) clothesline an opponent in a wrestling match, Suzume invents a fan that emits the sounds of the Northwest Wind and the after effects ofor Kujake after she cut the power lines at the local electrical station. Although Yu Aoi has a smaller supporting role in the film she does have several laugh out loud funny moments. None being more hilarious than her shouting match after winning a Seine netting trip.
While the pacing of the film is low-key there’s plenty of things to like about the film. The film has the quirky charm of Katsuhito Ishii films and features two of the better actresses today … Juri Ueno and Yu Aoi. Comedic moments come in spurts with many able to rise to the laugh out loud level and odd non-sequiturs that zing right on by. The end result is a charming film that portrays everyday life in the most unique way possible. Wei-Wei-Wei-Wei-Wei Azu-ki Pan-daaa Channnnnn.
Midnight Eagle [J-Movie] (Takeuchi Yuko, Takao Osawa)
Midnight Eagle (ミッドナイト・イーグル Middonaito Iiguru) is a 2007 action film directed by Izuru Narushima and written by Yasuo Hasegawa and Kenzaburo Iida, based on the novel by Tetsuo Takashima. Midnight Eagle is the third film directed by Izuru Narushima.
The film opened in the United States on October 2, 2007 in Los Angeles. It was also shown October 20, 2007 at the Tokyo International Film Festival.[2] The film opened in limited release in the United States in New York City on November 23, 2007, and opened in Los Angeles on December 7, 2007.
Cast
- Takao Osawa as Yuji Nishizaki
- Yuko Takeuchi as Keiko Arisawa
- Hiroshi Tamaki as Shinichiro Ochiai
- A-Saku Yoshida as Major Akihiko Saeki
- Yoshihiko Hakamada as Toshimitsu Fuyuki
- Nao Omori as Major Kensuke Saito
- Ken Ishiguro as Tadao Miyata
- Tatsuya Fuji as Prime Minister Watarase
Plot
A top secret American forces strategic bomber known as “Midnight Eagle” suddenly vanishes in the Northern Alps. Its payload is a specialized nuclear warhead. If it were to explode, the entire nation of Japan would be hurled into an unprecedented calamity. Prime Minister Takafumi Watarase convenes an emergency meeting of the Security Council of Japan. An elite squad from the Self-Defense Force able to operate in severe mountains conditions is formed, and heads off to try and recover the fuselage. Amidst the violent barrage of gunfire from agents of an enemy nation, an actual war is about to begin in the heart of Japan, 62 years after the end of World War II.
As former war photographer Yuji Nishizaki spends time in the mountains taking pictures of the skies, he is startled by gunfire, and notices the freshly spilled blood of soldiers on the snow. Aware that his country is under attack, Nishizaki seizes his camera and heads for the battlefield.
In Tokyo we encounter Keiko Arisawa, the only sister of Nishizaki’s wife, who has died of illness. As Nishizaki never fully acknowledged his wife’s condition, Keiko is extremely resentful of Nishizaki. Two years have passed since her sister’s death, but Keiko still cannot forgive Nishizaki. While continuing to work as a magazine reporter, she has taken over custody of her sister and Nishizaki’s son.
Nishizaki, his high school friend, the newspaper journalist Shinichiro Ochiai, and Major Akihiko Saeki of the Self-Defense Forces, find themselves In the midst of a terrible blizzard as they are desperately heading towards Midnight Eagle. Simultaneously in Tokyo, Keiko contacts an agent who might shed light on an accident she has become privy to. The agent reveals to her the situation going on in the Northern Alps.
Each protagonist is driven by a different set of motivations. Nishizaki risks his life in a battle to protect the life of the one he loves; Ochiai doesn’t flinch from the onslaught of the enemy, his journalistic instinct driving him to record reality; Saeki risks all to protect his country and fulfill his professional duty as a member of the Self-Defense Forces. As to Takafumi Watarase, the anguished Prime Minister, he has no choice but to entrust the future of Japan to these three men. At last, Keiko finds the ﾒkeyﾓ to the incident that will determine everyone’s fate.
With only two and a half hours remaining until the specialized warhead is to explode, will Keiko save Nishizaki, Ochiai and Saeki, and bring to a halt the crisis, which could change the fate of Japan?
One Fine Day [K-drama] (Gong Yoo, Sung Yu Ri, Nam Goong Min, Lee Yeon Hee) (HQ version)
- Title: 어느 멋진 날 / One Fine Day
- Eps: 16
- Genre: Romance
- Broadcast network: MBC
- Broadcast period: 2006-May-31 to 2006-July-20
- Air time: Wednesdays & Thursdays 21:55
Synopsis
After Seo Haneul (Sung Yu Ri) lost her mother in a fire, she was later adopted by a wealthy family and experienced a life of many twists and turns. Seo Gun’s (Gong Yoo) father had married an unwed mother, thus making Seo Haneul his sister in the eyes of the law. After their parents passed away, Seo Haneul was adopted by a wealthy chairman of a large organization who has also became a gangster. Upon using Haneul to extort money, Seo Gun and Haneul slowly fall in love with each other.
Cast
- Gong Yoo as Suh Gun
- Sung Yu Ri as Suh Ha Neul / Park Hye Won
- Nam Goong Min as Kang Dong Ha
- Lee Yeon Hee as Goo Hyo Joo
Extended Cast
- Kang Sung Jin as Goo Seong Chan / James
- Lee Ki Yul as Goo Kyung Taek (Gun’s adoptive father)
- Jung Dong Hwan as Park Jin Kwon (Ha Neul’s adoptive father)
- Sun Woo Eun Sook as Ji Soo Hyun
- Yoo Ha Joon as Park Tae Won
- Ahn Yeon Hong as Kim Mal Ja (Ha Neul’s friend)
- Lee Eon Jeong as Choi Sun Kyung (Gun’s friend)
- Woo Hee Jin
- Suh Ji Hee as young Ha Neul
- Lee Ki Young
Little DJ [J-Movie] (Ryunosuke Kamiki, Mayuko Fukuda, Ryoko Hirosue)
Director: Koto Nagata
Original Story by: Tadashi Onitsuka, Screenplay by: Uiko Miura / Koto Nagata,
Director of Photography: Jun Fukumoto, Lighting: Tokuju Ichikawa,
Production Designer: Noritaka Sasaki, Sound: Shinji Watanabe,
Film Editor: Tsuyoshi Imai, Music by: Naoki Sato
Ryunosuke Kamiki / Mayuko Fukuda / Ryoko Hirosue / Naomi Nishida
Lifted by a nostalgic medley of 1970s pop hits, Little DJ transports the audience back to a simpler era with a heart-tugging story of first love. Directed by Nagata Kotoe (Shibuya Maruyama Story) and based on Onizuka Tadashi’s popular same-titled novel, Little DJ is a gentle reminisce of love, loss, and music in the 1970s. Talented child actors Fukuda Mayuko (L Change the World) and Kamiki Ryunosuke (The Great Yokai War) star as the film’s doting adolescent leads, while Hirosue Ryoko (Bubble Fiction: Boom or Bust) plays the adult version of Fukuda’s character.
Radio producer Tamaki (Hirosue Ryoko) falls into a depressive slump when her late-night show gets cancelled. As she’s wallowing in unhappiness, an old song comes on over the radio, a song that brings her back to 1977 when she was 13 years old. That year she (Fukuda Mayuko) was injured in a car accident and ended up in the hospital, wrapped up like a mummy. There she befriends Taro (Kamiki Ryonosuke), one year younger and hospitalized for a blood disease. Fanatical about baseball and radio, Taro begins to DJ a music program over the hospital PA, and it becomes a big hit among the patients. First love blooms for Taro and Tamaki to the reassuring sounds of 70s J-pop, but how long can Taro keep spinning when time and illness are catching up?
http://www.little-dj.com
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Three Kingdoms: Resurrection Of The Dragon (2008)[C-Movie] (Andy Lau, Maggie Q, Vanness Wu)
Three Kingdoms: Resurrection Of The Dragon 
San guo zhi xian long xie jia (Mandarin)
Andy Lau & Maggie Q
Synopsis:
His country torn asunder by civil war, Zhao, a common man heeds the call of duty and from the humblest of roots rises through the ranks on wings of courage and cunning to command an army charged with liberating the land from an evil warlord.
Inspiring by action, honor and a dream of unifying his divided nation, Zhao’s heroism becomes legend, but as the years pass and the throne changes hands the war still rages on. When a newly enthroned king decides peace can only be achieved by defeating the warlords once and for all, the aging Zhao embarks on his final and greatest campaign, a road to adventure that will crown his name in glory for all time.
Three kingdoms is a great Chinese masterpiece that is set in the era of the three kingdoms that ruled china. The cao, wu and liu dynasties were trying to unite china each under their own leadership and in a result it produces wars between the three houses for decades. The story in this movie is told from the Liu’s point of view and my gosh what a story that is.
This is one movie that shouldn’t be missed by Chinese history/mythology fans. Its a 10/10 and I don’t care what other people might think, its just a masterpiece. ( Quote From IMDb
Cast:
Andy Lau, Sammo Hung Kam-Bo, Maggie Q, Vanness Wu, Andy On, Rongguang Yu, Quanxin Pu, Lung Ti, Hua Yueh, Chen Zhi Hui, Damian Lau, Timmy Hung
REF:
The Silver Season [J-Movie] (Eita, Tamayama Tetsuji, Aoki Munetaka, Tanaka Rena)
Aka: Gin iro no shîzun
Year: 2008
Directed: Eiichiro Hasumi
Genre.: Drama/Sport
Runtime: 108 Mins
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Subtitles: English/Japanese
Cast: Eita, Rena Tanaka, Tetsuji Tamayama
Synopsis / Plot
Slacker extreme skiers Gin (Eita), Yuji (Tamayama Tetsuji), and Juro (Aoki Munetaka) live life at top speed on the snow white peaks of Hakuba. Other than skiing and more skiing, the three “Alpine Handymen” run odds jobs, ruffle feathers, and make reckless fun, often all at the same time. Gin lands himself a ski instructor gig when city girl Nanami (Tanaka Rena) shows up at the Dogwood Ski Lodge to prepare for her lavish ice chapel wedding. A crash course is in order since her groom-to-be is an expert skier, and she can’t even take the bunny hill without, well, crashing. Impatient speed freak Gin and perennially clumsy Nanami couldn’t be more different at first gander, but they’re both struggling to let go of the past, looking for answers that can only be found on two skis.