Tuesday, July 24, 2018

First Impressions: Meteor Garden 2018


There's a new version of Boys Before Flowers in town (yes, we're pretending that the failed U.S. attempt of 2013 never happened) and it's a Chinese remake starring Shen Yue and Wang He Di.  The 2009/2010 series seemed more loosely based on the original story, while the current drama is sticking closely with the original premise.

The one glaring difference, though, is that the F4 is thoroughly de-clawed.  Keeping with the present day sensitivity toward bullying, the threat and menace of the F4 and their influence over the student body has been completely disarmed.

After the first episode, I found myself sympathizing with Dao Ming Si (Domyoji) and quite irritated with Dong Shan Cai's (Makino) rude, violent and aggressive behavior.  The production quality and casting seem to be good, but the script is lacking.  Not only is the main female lead unlikable, but there is no sense of tension, conflict or intrigue to the story.  Nothing is really at stake.  There are no wrongs that need to be righted.  Perhaps the characters will mature, but nothing in the first episode stirred any interest in me.  The only motivation I would have for continuing to watch is the fact that I've seen all the other versions, but I'm not sure it's enough at this point.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Happy Birthday December Week 2!

08

Inagaki Goro (SMAP)
Jo Sung Kyu
Yeon Kyu Jin

09

Bae Soo Bin
Choi Min Ho (SHINee)
Han Sang Jin
Heechul (ZE:A)
Ki Tae Young

10

Kwon Hyung Joon
Park Se Joon (SPEED)
Seunghwan (Romeo)

11

J:eta (AlphaBAT)
Jo Dong Hyuk
Jung Man Shik
Lee Do Hyun
Ohn Joo Wan
Ryu (Mr. Mr)
Song Jae Hee

12

David Innis
Dok Go Young Jae
Im Jong Yoon
Lee Kyung Young
Seung Ri (Big Bang)

13

Go Se Won
Joo Ah Sung
Kim Jung Tae
Won Tae Hee
Shin Seung Hwan
Xiao (UP1IOTION)

14

B-Bomb (Block B)
Choi Won Hong
Lee Sun Ho
Onew (SHINee)
Shin Gook

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Happy Birthday December Week 1!

01

Im Si Wan (ZE:A)
Lee Tae Woo
Byun Woo Min

02

Choi Sung Gook
Kim Do Hyun
Yoonhak (Supernova)

03

Baek Joon Ki
Kim Hyung Gon (A-Jax)
Kim Jung Woon
Peter (One Way)

04

Jin (BTS)
Red (M.Pire)

06

Ryu Dam

07

Choi Sung Min
Kang Ji Hoo
Ryu Tae Joon
Shin Min Soo
Sungmin (SPEED)
Teo (Lunafly)

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Happy Birthday November Week 4!

22

Ahn yong Joon
Dongwoo (Infinite)
Eunkwang (BtoB)
GyeoUI (VAV)
Jihun (Seventeen)
Jung Jin
Kihyun (MONSTA-X)
Wonjun (Boy's Republic)

23

Jonghwan (100%)
Kang Chang Mook
Kim Kyung Shik
L.Joe (Teen Top)
Shin Sung Rok

24

Kwon Oh Joong

25

Jude (Big Star)
Kevin (U-Kiss)
Lee Dong Shin
Shin Dong Ki
Shin Dong Woo

26

Lee Ji Oh
Kang Shin Il
Kim Kyung Nam
Min Wook
Ohno Satoshi (Arashi)
Yoon Chan

27

Chanyeol (EXO-K)
Hyesung (Shinhwa)
Jung Eun Chan
Lee Tae Gon

28

Daniel Henney
Hyungon (Click-B)
Jung Sun Il
Park Sun Woo
Song Kyung Il (History)
Yoo Joon Sang

29

Changjae (Mr. Mr)
Chun Jung Myung
Ji Hyun Woo (The Nuts)
Lee Min Hyuk (BtoB)
Lee Sang Kil
Ryu Seung Ryong
Taguchi Junnosuke (KAT-TUN)

30

Im Chang Jung
Lee Joo Suk

Monday, November 14, 2016

Happy Birthday November Week 3!

15

Kang In Duk
Kim C (Hot Potato, Peppermint Club)
Kim Roe Ha

16

Changjo (Teen Top)
Park Hyungsik (ZE:A)
Ryu Jin

17

Aiji (LM.C)
Sungje (Supernova)
Yugyeom (Got7)

18

Choi Jae Sung
Jang Hyuo Jin
Jin Young (B1A4)
Yoon Park (Can't Play Well)

19

DJ Tukutz (Epik High)
Hyunjun (SMASH)

20

Han Jung Soo
Nuri (F.I.X.)
Pan Yu Geol
Seyong (MYNAME)
Yan Aaron (Fahrenheit)

21

Gyujin (UP1OTION)
Kim Dong Wan (Shinhwa)
No Hyung Wook
Park Hae Soo

Monday, November 7, 2016

Happy Birthday November Week 2!

08

Jian (IMFACT)

09

Han Yun
Kim Hyuk
Lee Chan
Se7en

10

Chen Calvin (Fahrenheit)
Leo (VIXX)
Park Joon Mok
Won Bin

11

Choi Min Hwan (F.T. Island)
Huh Jung Min
Kang Yi Suk
Kim Young Choon
Kuhn (UP1OTION)
Oh Hyung Kyung
Oh Jae Moo
Park Joon Hyuk

12

Jun Chang Gul

13

Kimura Takuya (SMAP)
Lee Dae Yeon
Lee Il Jae
Lee Moon Shik
Maeng Se Chang

14

Ahn Byung Kyung
Park Jung Hak

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Happy Birthday November Week 1!

01

Ahn Suk Hwan
Jang Seo Won
Park Gun Hyung
Park Shin Yang
Sun Woong (TOUCH)
Taeho (IMFACT)

02

Kim Byung Gi
Yoon Seo Hyun

03

Han Suk Kyu
Jun Young bin
Minhyuk (MONSTA X)
Ren (NU'EST)
Youngsaeng (SS501)

04

C.A.P (Teen Top)
So Ji Sub
T.O.P (Big Bang)

05

Geonil (Supernova)
Jang Won Young
Jin Sung
Jo Min Ki
Jo Sung Ha
Kim Young Min
Park Gun Il
Park Jung Chul
Song Kyung Chul
Tanaka Koki (INKT)

06

G.O (Formerly of MBLAQ)
Kris (EXO-M)
Kwon Hae Hyo
Lee Dong Wook
Lee Woo Suk
Sunyoul (UP1OTION)
Yun Jung Hoon

07

Choi Min
Ji Il Joo
Myungho (Seventeen)
Park Wan Kyu
Yoon Bong Gil