Overview: アンフェア - "Unfair"

Just finished the Japanese Series (アンフェア) "UNFAIR"..It's sooo good!! Each episode leaves u guessing and guessing, and when it think its over, something else pops up!

I just love watching Japanese investigative drama. It is just so good!!!! Tickle your brain abit while keeping u in suspense... Fantastic!!

Overview: Galileo

I moved on to good old Japanese drama - Galileo. If you havent catch on to this, you should jump onto the wagon immediately. At least the script writer DELIVERS what they are being paid for, a PLOT.

No matter that some may seem a little far fetched and convenient, its still a show that tickles your brain - like how does a guy die from sudden fire combustion on his head, or how a boy whose hindered window view can see a red car opposite the river. Its about a professor who doesnt believe in supernatural and helping the police solve the most "unseemingly" incidents (crime) with scientific explaination. I am up to watching episode 2 and I am glued! Its prob at episode 7 or 8 now in Japan.

[Review at end series ]
The female police is not brainless but definitely and not exactly sherlock holmes. She turns to the professor for every case that is unsolvable / unexplainable by "common" logic. As each case gets increasingly biazzare, the relationship between the 2 also evolves for the better. While the story does not explicity say they do not exactly fall in love, they progressed to a somewhat co-dependant and caring relationship where the final episodes build up to where he had to save her from a possible horrible death. Towards the end of the drama series, The professor while solving a mysterious "mask of death" case, is confronted by his past about his ex-professor who has his own set of philosophy about this world...

Its good, and definitely worth my hour a week.

Overview: "Yu Hee, The witch" (K)

Finished the korean drama serial "Yu Hee, the witch" in one go. It started out promising but towards the last 2 cd, the lead actor character started to annoy me quite a bit. Perhaps I am just not the romantic sort...

I am "suppose" to be impressed by the lead guy's devotion and dedication to his love interest but somehow, he come off more like a useless wishy washy guy with lack of determination to succeed professionally. All he does is always run off to the girl at the most critical testing moments when he is suppose to prove himself as a professional chef (which is suppose to be his life long dream). It begins to annoy me when he passes up chance after chance... So it ended up with me rolling my eyes at the last scene and think to myself "This dude is a god damn whimp." I guess guys with no ambition to succeed and only think of love doesnt really sell to me that much.

I surprise myself alittle feeling that way. I mean shouldnt I be going "Awww so sweet.. he give this and that up for the women he loves..." yet,the drama's indecisiveness and procrastination is not something I take very well. Its like "Get a grip man! Move on already! Stop looking back!" .

So while i think its still an ok light entertainment, it lacks the punch at the end. Plus I am still pondering if the doctor actually have any feelings or not for the lead actress? He always looks so "pensive".. hard to tell...

"The story is about a career woman named Ma Yu-hee who seems to have almost everything, and a young man named Chae Moo-ryung who hasn’t given up his dreams and hopes in becoming a professional chef.

Although Yu-hee is skilled and talented at her job, her looks and actions do not attract any attention from men. Her love life is nonexistent, so she has an earnest hope to fall head over heels in love. But she doesn’t know the basics of dating… So Yu-hee comes up with a dramatic plan to transform herself into an attractive, lovable woman.

Her love coach is none other than Chae Moo-ryung!"

Overview: Ikemen Paradise

Ok after the Taiwan version (花樣少年少女), now i am totally addicted to the japanese drama series ( 花ざかりの君たちへ ) which is currently airing on Fuji TV on every Tuesday (Broadcast period: 2007-Jul-03 to 2007-Sept-18 ): Ikemen Paradise (イケメン♂パラダイス )!

Thank god for internet!! I simply cannot wait for the official DVD to be out so that I can lay my hands on them... but meanwhile, you tube is good enough to satisfy my TV addiction. Both drama is based on the popular manga by Nakajo Hisaya.

After watching the first 4 episodes, I thought the Japanese storyline was more believable than the Taiwanese version, not to mention the lead actress is so much cuter and less annoying character. Ella was kinda weird for the role as she is too tomboyish which the manga was drawn for the girl to still be a bit girly. Unfortunately, I didnt know why they couldnt have pick a better looking or cooler dude for the lead actor role. Wu Zun in the taiwan drama positively looks better though his character is more "shy" than the Jap guy. Maybe the Jap guy will become better later after more episode.. who knows?

The Jap certainly goes for more meat in plot while taiwan series is cashing in more on the pure idolisation on young teenage girls infatuated with the handsome lead male actor. But in exchange, i had more laughs from the Taiwan series in the first 4 epi. Hard to compare but let's see how the japanese plot goes later.

No matter, I have derived much laughs in both series as far though i wish they will cut down on the silly acts of the dorm 1,3 and 2 groups. I mean come on, even if its in the manga, in reality, i doubt there are really guys weirdos like this, even on an entertainment value is hard to digest.

Also read the Hana Kimi Manga after watching Ikemen Paradise series. The J-drama ended with a cliff hanger sort of thing with sano coming to visit....so i am wondering if they will be expecting part 2 to be produced later....

The manga is certainly MUCH funnier and better than both the Taiwan and Japan TV drama combined. I realised that the Taiwan version followed pretty much faithfully to the manga until the ending few epi which is crap. If Taiwan had followed thru to the actual ending, it would be way fantastic. I guess they just wanted to save for part 2...which is really POINTLESS because whatever scenes they didnt adapt, Japan took most of the remaining/other manga scenes and acted on it. Japan's Hana Kimi version certainly tried to adapt the manga ending but not close enough as they left it hanging.

*Spoiler* if u want to know the true manga ending, -

Sano confessed his love to Ashiya before her real identity was discovered, and they affirmed their true feelings for each other after all the turmoils and incidents. Well, Ashiya left Japan as the Japan series portrayed when her true identity was accidentally discovered when the Hall one head saw her changing. In the end, Sano completed the remaining term alone and went to states to further his uni education to be with Ashiya. Happily ever after!

Anycase, for those who are wondering what Jap drama i am referin to, here's ep 1 for your preview.

Ep 1 (part 1/6):

ep 1 (part 2/6)

ep 1 (part 3/6):

ep 1 (part 4/6):

ep 1 (part 5/6)

ep 1 (part 6/6)

J-Music: Yuna Ito - Endless Story, Truth

Was wandering around aimlessly in Taipei and spotted the HEART album by Yuna Ito which is newly launched.

The only reason I picked it up was the theme song "Endless Story" from NaNA Movie. The album was an absolute gem. Worthy of every penny because almost all the songs were great! Apart from Endless Story, Precious and Truth were also fantastic tracks!

Loved the song. Always wanted to translate it but didnt found time to it, plus i think my Japanese is getting so crap (sliding downhill like falling from gravity)... sigh. But today, couldnt sleep, so here goes...

Track 01:Endless Story download



Track 11: Truth (download)


Endless Story Lyrics

If you haven't changed your mind
そばにいてほしいよ　Tonight (I hope you could stay by my side tonight)
強がることに 疲れたの (I am tired from trying to be strong)
幼すぎたの (I was immature in the past )
Every time I think about you baby
今なら言える　I miss you (Now I can say I miss you)
It's so hard to say I'm sorry

たとえば 誰かのためじゃなく (If, it is not for anyone else)
あなたのために　(But its only for you)
歌いたいこの歌を 終わらないstory (I want to sing this song, a never ending story)　
続くこの輝きに (A never ending brightness)
Always伝えたい　ずっと永遠に ( Always, I want to tell you , For ever and ever)

Memories of our time together
消さないでこのまま　don't go away ( Be this way and do not fade, dont go away)
あたたかく溶けだして 確かめるの ( A warm melting as it is once reconfirmed)
優しさのしずく　この胸にひろがってく (Pieces of warm memories Spreads from my heart)
切ないほどに ( The sadder I am)　
I'm missin' you
重ねた手　離さないで (Dont let go of the hands held together)

たとえば叶うなら　(If i can fulfil my dreams)
もう一度 あなたのために　(I would like to once again for you)
歌いたいこの歌を (to sing this song)
終わらないstory (a never ending story)　
絶え間ない愛しさで ( a never ending love)
tell me why　教えてよずっと永遠に (tell me why , please tell me, forever and ever)

たとえば 誰かのためじゃなく あなたのために　(If, it is not for anyone else, But its only for you)
歌いたいこの歌を 終わらないstory (I want to sing this song, a never ending story)　
続くこの輝きに (A never ending brightness)
Always　伝えたい　ずっと永遠に ( Always, I want to tell you For ever and ever)