A Little Thing Called Love Review

Alternative Title: First Love

Year: 2010

Language: Thai

Genre: romantic-comedy, school

Image Credit: Amazon

Synopsis:

Nam (Pimchanok Luevisadpaibul) has been crushing on the most popular guy in school named P'Shone (Mario Maurer). The problem is, her plain looks and average intelligence make her virtually invisible. Nonetheless, the strong-willed girl is determined to win her first love's affection. With the help of her friends, Nam works hard by joining clubs and changing her appearance. Sadly, no matter how hard she tries, the only thing she seems to get is nothing more than friendship.

Cheerfulnuts' Review:  

This Thai movie totally melts my heart! A Little Thing Called Love is about an ugly-duckling who develops a crush on a campus heartthrob. The movie depicts the phase that we all have been through. It gave me so many flashbacks from my own life LOL.

The movie starts during Nam's most awkward stage  - adolescence. She has been secretly in love with her senior P'Shone, a handsome, athletic, and kind-hearted guy whom she thinks is out of her league. Well, it isn't entirely a secret because her friends know about it. Because of their plain looks, Nam and her friends make up a group that is considered unpopular in her school. 

It's a typical story about first love and crushes. But as an adult, it still makes me go awww. Several Nam-Shone scenes would remind us of our own sweet moments with our object of affection. It's not hard to visualize our own crushes in Shone's character. I love how the movie captures those sweet moments. The slow-mo effects are spot-on! They're done right when it matters.

Despite being teased about her looks, the love-struck girl is determined to get noticed by her crush. Her very good friends are of course with her. They bought a book called "Nine Recipes of Love" that promises to win a guy's heart. Throughout the movie, they will reveal each recipe or advice which Nam will obediently follow. I pity those girls for wasting their money on a useless book, because none of the recipes worked. I think it should be called "Nine Recipes to Disaster" instead LOL.

It's quite funny, but not to the point where you'll hurt your stomach from laughing (at least that is how I felt when I watched it). Most of my laughter came from Teacher Inn (Sudarat Budtporm). The teacher is Nam's adult version in the movie. Like Nam, she is also lacking in the looks department and is crushing on a co-teacher. However, she is more forward and is not afraid to make advances toward her crush. She plays a key role in putting Nam and Shone closer together even if she does it unintentionally. I love the scene where she is directing her drama class students while eating something that looks like a huge cracker. I don't know why, but it made me laugh!

There are several scenes that made my heart beat faster because of its pure sweetness. I believe most of us can relate to the movie, because seriously, who hasn't have a crush? I especially love the Snow White scene where Nam nearly falls off the stage and Shone catches her. Awww... I couldn't stop swooning! The world seems to have stopped at that moment.

I was wrong when I thought that the entire film would show an ugly Nam with a makeover in the end. After playing as Snow White in a drama play, Nam somehow retains her beautiful looks throughout the second half of the movie. Guys in her school start to notice her, but none of the attention makes her happy because they're not from Shone. Yeah, after all those time, she's still head over heels with Shone. It seems that nothing she does will ever get his attention. Still, even the tiniest things that Shone does for her (like carrying her bag when she twists her ankle) makes her dance inside.

The acting isn't award-winning, but it's quite good. I didn't expect I'd get teary-eyed in some scenes. Or maybe I tend to tear up easily, I don't know. The movie shows a span of over a decade period. I find it really amusing that both Nam and Shone's growing up look so convincing. Shone looks like a real teenager when he was actually in his 20's during the time of the filming.

SPOILER ALERT: I just LOVE the revelation near the end of the movie! I have guessed that Shone likes Nam, but how his feelings is revealed is just perfect. That one final touch makes the total picture a lot more beautiful. I have replayed that part twice because that's how much I love it! The ending itself is not as great though but still okay.

Do I recommend this movie? Of course! If you're not into love stories, it's still fun to watch because of the comedy. As a movie that caters to young people, don't expect a very deep story. Having said that, I appreciate the movie's awesomeness without sacrificing its wholesomeness (hey it rhymes!). It's a feel good movie that can be enjoyed by both teenagers and adults alike. It's about love minus lust and sex and rude teenagers. I'll tell you that I've never been so satisfied with the ending (or rather, the near ending) of a movie as much as I have with this one! One thought that sticks with me after watching - it's so nice to be in love, especially with a good guy.

Cheerfulnuts' Verdict:

10 out of 10 stars

49 Days Review

Year: 2011

Episodes: 20

Language: Korean

Genre: drama, fantasy, romance

Image Credit: 49 Days


Synopsis: 

After a serious car accident, Shin Ji Hyun (Nam Gyu Ri) is pronounced as brain dead. It's not her time to die yet, so her soul remains on earth. She meets the Scheduler (Jung Il Woo) and is given a task to collect at least three tears that are 100% genuine from people that are not blood-related to her. If she is able to complete this mission within 49 days, she gets to live again. She borrows the body of Yi Kyung (Lee Yo Won), a girl who wants to die and lives like a zombie for five years. As the series progresses, the bond between the two different women becomes stronger. Ji Hyun also starts to see her life from a different perspective as she learns about the man who truly loves her.


Cheerfulnuts' Review: 

Watching 49 Days makes me feel like being possessed by a spirit. I became hooked and couldn't get it off my mind. The drama starts with all the characters being introduced in one episode. Before I get to like any of them, a girl dies. I didn't even know that she's the protagonist (I haven't seen the poster). From then on, I became addicted to 49 days. I couldn't wait to see what was next!

The story focuses on Ji Hyun, the nearly-dead girl who has an almost perfect life during her lifetime. She is rich and loved by her parents. She is about to get married to a wonderful man. Her friends love her. But K-dramas seem to hate happy people. Before she can live happily ever after, a woman named Yi Kyung attempts suicide by running into traffic. She doesn't die but she causes a truck to swerve, which leads to several car crashes. Just then, the happy Ji Hyun arrives to the scene and her car crashes to a truck. Her soul pops out of her body and she is shocked to see herself unconscious in her car. She helplessly watches herself being rushed to the hospital and her loved ones crying over her.

She realizes that she's become a ghost. Only one man can see her though. He is known as the Scheduler, which is the series' fancy term for Grim Reaper. He explains that she is not supposed to be dead. Since it's not her time yet, she is given a chance to reclaim her life by collecting three tears that are 100 percent genuine. It means that at least three people have genuinely loved her, making her life worth living again. To do this, she is allowed to borrow the body of Yi Kyung while she sleeps. There are rules though, and the most important one is she cannot tell anyone that she's Ji Hyun.

The girl is relieved to hear it. She is confident that she can retrieve three tears in no time. She believes she can even collect more than that. Little does she know that getting those tears is not as easy as she thinks. And she realizes this painful reality as the drama progresses.

The drama has piqued my curiosity. The storyline may not be very original, but it's very interesting. As I followed Ji Hyun in her mission, I could actually feel that I am her. The emotions are very real. I watched her collapse as she learns about her bestfriend and her fiance's betrayal. I watched her parents trying to be strong for their daughter. I watched her old classmate Han Kang loving her even without her knowing it. It shows the irony of life. Sometimes, life isn't what is seems to be. People whom you think love you may not really love you, and those you think hate you may have loved you all along. It gives me a different perspective about life, love, and relationship. It's sad that Ji Hyun only gets to see who truly loves her when she's half-dead. I came to a conclusion that it's not your status, your career, nor your appearance that defines who you are. It's your soul that counts. And those who can see right through your thick outer shell are the ones who truly love you. We focus too much on superficial things.

Despite the gravity of the plot, 49 Days has it's light and sweet moments too. The Scheduler provides a comic relief in the story. He's one funny Grim Reaper LOL. What's more amusing is he has a story too. I love the love story of this drama. I am definitely a fan of Han Kang's (Jo Hyun Jae) character! I just love the chemistry between him and Ji Hyun/Yi Kyung. Han Kang is one stubborn guy who has been in love with Ji Hyun since high school. Of course, Ji Hyun doesn't know it and thinks he hates her. Another lesson learned: let the woman you love know your feelings.

In terms of acting, most actors did a great job. The Scheduler is the favorite of viewers. While I agree, I think Kang Min Ho (Bae Soo Bin) is the best actor in the series. Ninety-nine percent of a time, he did a decent job. But the remaining 1%, which is when he exhibits strong emotions, is really superb!

This is one of the few K-dramas that make me think really hard. It has made it to my list of favorite dramas of all time. SPOILER ALERT: My only gripe is the ending! Yes, I can deal with Ji Hyun's death. But not telling Han Kang about it, or not even telling him she loves him, is totally absurd! Before Ji Hyun finishes her 49 days, she cries to the Scheduler and says she's willing to give up her three remaining days in exchange for three hours with Han Kang as herself. But when she can finally do it, I don't understand why she has to pretend not to love him! Anyway, the ending got mixed reactions. You may like it or you may hate it.

Overall, this Korean drama is a must-watch! 49 Days made me cry bucket of tears. It has several poignant moments. I really appreciate to see the increasing bond between Ji Hyun and Yi Kyung. Ji Hyun used to be a bit selfish (though she has a big heart). Seeing her starting to care for Yi Kyung is a turning point in her character. It makes me love her more. I highly recommend this drama to everyone.


Cheerfulnuts' Verdict: 

9 out of 10 stars

One less star because of that one gripe.

Itazura na Kiss: Love in Tokyo (2013) Review

Year: 2013

Language: Japanese

Episodes: 16

Romantic-Comedy, School

Image Credit: Amazon Japan

Synopsis:

Kotoko, a not-so-smart girl, finally confesses her love to campus hearththrob and genius Naoki Irie. Unfortunately, Naoki coldly rejects her and tells her he doesn't like dumb girls. As she tries to move on, Kotoko's new home is destroyed by a meteor. With nowhere to live, she and her father moves into the home of the latter's bestfriend. However, to Kotoko's horror, she learns that Naoki is the eldest son of the family. Living with Naoki makes it harder for Kotoko to forget him. She quickly realizes that she still loves him and is determined to do everything to win his heart. 

Cheerfulnuts' Review:

I'm now officially a fan of Itazura na Kiss: Love in Tokyo! I love this Japanese drama to pieces! It's loaded with fun and surprises! I have watched the 1996 Japanese adaptation and wondered what could possibly make the 2013 version stand out. Well, after completing the series, I can say that it has surpassed the original version. Let me explain why. 

I have greatly enjoyed the 1996 version. But 9 episodes are not enough to show how the cold Irie-kun would finally fall for the not-so-smart Kotoko. I'm glad that the 2013 version has successfully filled in the missing holes. Itazura na Kiss: Love in Tokyo stars Honoka Miki and Yuki Furukawa, both of them whom I've never seen before. Furukawa may not be as good-looking as Takashi Kashiwabara in my opinion, but his portrayal of Irie-kun is quite different. He is equally cold, but we get to see how he softens up to Kotoko in each episode, which is exactly what I want to see in this series! Miki is not as experienced as actress Sato Aiko, but her Kotoko is cuter and more girly. A lot of viewers who have criticized Aiko's Kotoko find Miki more lovable and less annoying. I don't dislike Aiko's portrayal, though I can see why many people are annoyed. I kind of missed her though, so I appreciate the drama's casting an actress with big ears like Aiko's! 

Naoki's rival, Ikezawa Kinnosuke, is played by Yamada Yuki. He has more screen time in this version compared to the original one. Honestly, I think he did a good job in portraying Kin-chan. He's goofy, funny, and mushy. So much like the Kin-chan I knew. 

The older version is more funny than romantic, while Love in Tokyo is both funny AND sweet. There are love triangles and yes, we get to see a jealous Irie-kun! Though Naoki's jealousy is very subtle, it makes me jump for joy when he's secretly getting jealous. It's fun to see him falling for Kotoko. 

I'd like to point out that the acting is kind of raw. Thankfully, the drama doesn't need superb acting skills to deliver its message. To me, the message isn't about a girl confessing her feelings to her love interest. It's not exactly about winning a guy's heart either. It's about being optimistic and cheerful, being true to yourself, and loving someone despite his/her flaws. I'm really learning a lot from this drama, especially from Kotoko. I love her. She is naive and isn't good at anything, but I'd love to have her guts and her cheerfulness! 

Needless to say, this drama caters to young audiences, especially females. The good thing is it doesn't contain all the negative elements that you'll find in a typical teeny-bopper show. This is something that I wouldn't worry my own children watching. If you want a fun, entertaining, and sweet drama that isn't shallow, this will definitely make the list. 

Note: If you haven't seen the 1996 adaptation, I highly recommend you to watch it FIRST. It will make you appreciate Love in Tokyo more!  

Cheerfulnuts' Verdict:

10 out of 10 stars