Boys Over Flowers Review

Boys Over Flowers Review

Alternative Title: Boys Before Flowers

Chinese Title: 花檨男子

Korean Title: 꽃보다 남자

Year: 2009

Language: Korean

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Episodes: 25

Boys Over Flowers - Korean drama (5DVD Digipak - Complete Set, 25 Episodes) All Region with English Subtitles

Synopsis:

Geum Jan Di (Ku Hye Sun) is an average girl living an ordinary life. She is happy with her life until she crosses paths with a suicidal student in Shinhwa School, an exclusive school for the rich. Since then, her life starts to change. She is offered a scholarship to Shinhwa which she reluctantly accepts. There, she meets the infamous group known as F4. She tries to avoid the group, though she develops a crush on one of its members Yoon Ji Hoo (SS501's Kim Hyun Joong). Jan Di can't stand the obnoxiousness of F4, especially its leader Gu Jun Pyo (Lee Min Ho), the heir of Shinhwa Group. When Jandi’s friend is insulted by Jun Pyo after she accidentally drops her ice cream on his shoe, Jan Di stands up for her friend. Jan Di automatically becomes the target of bullying for going against F4. Jan Di perseveres and continues to go to school, something that has never been done by anyone who becomes the target of F4. Jandi earns the group's respect, and Jun Pyo unexpectedly falls for his very nemesis.

Review:

This drama is based on the popular manga Hana Yori Dango. Boys Over Flowers isn't the first live action adaptation of this manga. The first ones are the Taiwanese version Meteor Garden and the Japanese version with the namesake of the manga. Though I haven't read the manga, I have seen and loved both drama adaptations. So when I first learned about the Korean version, I thought that it could just be another adaptation. Nevertheless, it didn't stop me from watching. I have seen a lot of Korean dramas and I believed that they wouldn't just create a carbon copy of the manga. I'm curious how they're going to make it the Korean way.

In the first few episodes, I was a bit disappointed because about 80% of it is just like Meteor Garden. Boys Over Flowers may have changed a few details and sequence of some events, but it's still quite predictable. However, it did get better and I started to think of it as an entirely separate drama (and not just another Hana Yori adaption). I got excited and anticipated episode after episode.

The first time I saw Boys Over Flowers, I was amazed by the great similarity between Lee Min Ho and Jerry Yan. Both of them made Jun Pyo/Dau Ming Si's character work. The other F4 members are pretty much what I have expected, though I think I like the Korean F4 better. However, Geum Jan Di (played by Ku Hye Sun), the lead female, is different from her two counterparts. She's very goofy and I find her acting too exaggerated. Her cartoonish actions can be a bit annoying sometimes, especially when things started to get serious. I think she has to loosen up a bit and stop being too cartoonish so the viewers can connect with her. Granted, I still sympathize with her when her classmates bully her. Honestly, who wouldn't feel bad for a girl who's mobbed with eggs in school?

I don't know if everyone would agree with me, but I think Lee Min Ho fits perfectly into this handsome but cocky Gu Jun Pyo character. Jun Pyo is the only heir to the great Shinhwa Group. He is practically every girl's dream. Yes, he is a jerk, but his extremely good looks and his fortune make it almost impossible for girls not to swoon over him.

In real life, I would probably dislike Jun Pyo. But everything is different in dramaland. I just love seeing this seemingly callous guy fall head over heels in love with an average girl who hates him. He seems to be a god, but being in love makes him look human for the first time. You get to see how weak and lonely he actually is. I love seeing lots of character development, and this is what I like about this drama. So yeah, the meaner the character, the more interesting it gets as I couldn't wait to see how he'd change into a better person (as if I haven't watched to other versions LOL).

Boys Over Flowers is very pleasant to watch. And I'm not just referring to the good-looking boys. The places are very pretty to look at. I enjoy the scenes in Macau the most.

Despite what I have said about Jan Di, her character started to grow on me. As I have wished, Ku Hye Sun's acting got more serious and looks more natural after a few episodes of goofiness. Though Jun Pyo-Jan Di isn't the strongest couple in dramaland, I still think they look cute together. They don't really have to look perfect together since they practically belong in two different worlds. Speaking of looking good together, I love the pair up of So Yi Jung and Chu Ga Eul. Unlike in other versions, their story is much more developed here. I find myself anticipating for them in each episode!

In the first few episodes, I didn't like Yoon Ji Hoo, Jun Pyo's friend and rival. He did a lot of things that I don't understand. I wasn't convinced with his character and I didn't understand him at all. But I admit that I fell in love with his character in Macau! I like the fact that Boys Over Flowers has made Ji Hoo's love for Jan Di much more obvious. I guess his love explains why he did all those stuff in the earlier episodes.

Another thing that is worth mentioning is Jun Pyo's mom Kang Hee Soo (played by Lee Hye Young). I read a lot of people saying how scary she looks. She is. Her glare can really pierce right through you, and it's terrifying. I like how BOF made her much scarier though. I think this is one aspect that is lacking in the other versions. I like how the drama has shown more on the scarred relationship between the Gu children and their mother and how it made her more evil yet more human.

Okay, so this drama may not be everyone's cup of tea. But if you love Cinderalla-like stories, this drama is worth watching. If you're a hardcore fan of Hana Yori Dango and have watched the other adaptations, you shouldn't miss this one too. I'm not sure if this is the best Hana Yori Dango adaptation, but I like it because they have shown so much emotion in it, just like a Korean drama should be. Plus, the boys are really hot.:)

Cheerfulnuts’ Verdict:

9 out of 10 stars