Absolute Boyfriend

Japanese live action drama adaptation of the popular manga, Absolute Boyfriend (Zettai Kareshi).

Series Title: Absolute Boyfriend (aka Zettai Kareshi)

Genre: Romance/Comedy

Episodes: 11

Fuji TV

Aired: 04/15/2008 - 06/24/2008

Rating: warm-hot

Synopsis: Robot maker, Kronos Heaven, finally develops Night Series 01 (later named Night Tenjo played by Hayami Mokomichi), the perfect male humanoid programmed to be devoted and completely loyal to his lover. After confessing to a fellow coworker and being cruelly rejected, Izawa Riko is approached by Namakiri Gaku, a scientist and creator of 01. He offers the depressed Riko to take part in a 5-day free trial. At first, Riko only sees Night as a household appliance. But when she finds out how deep Night's devotion to herself is, Riko finds herself falling in love with him. Joining the love triangle is Asamoto Soshi (Mizushima Hiro), a distinguished young executive at her company who has feelings for her.

The show takes a wild turn away from the manga, and for good reason. The manga, which I've read about three or four chapters of, has these characters in high school. High school lover/boyfriends. It makes me giggle. Anyways, the show tries to place the similar plot lines and twists in an older age group, which in my opinion is a wise choice. Riko works for a pastry company that distributes its creations to high class department stores and other retail venues; and in the television series, Soshi is at first captured by Riko's cream puffs (in contrast to being her long time childhood friend as in the manga).

**Just a note, Hayami and Mizushima also played roles on other shows I enjoyed like Gokusen 2 and Hanazakari no Kimitachi e (Hana Kimi) respectively. Aww, it's Hikaru and Minami! I've totally got a soft spot for these two young actors.**

The development between Night and Riko is entertaining to watch since for the most part (a good 8 episodes, at least) we see Riko caught between exasperation and reluctant affection for Night. It's clear from the start that she sympathizes with him but the love relationship doesn't develop until much later. The relationship between Riko and Soshi, is also entertaining since it borders on a professional and personal boundary--is it right for her to like him since he's her boss? Then, the affection Soshi feels for Riko is much more evident in his sacrifices for her.

Overall, I enjoyed the series. It was entertaining and interesting while keeping to the major plot twists of the manga. The ending, episode 11, was extremely well done. I cried. Many times. Bravo.

Rating: warm-hot

Foreign Dramas...

**Excuse the extremely late posting of this review. I've been distracted and trying to figure out my life in the past six months--and I've yet to come to any conclusions. Sorry!**

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I've posted before about the foreign dramas I've watched and discovered on mysoju.com, so here's some more.

TV Title: Coffee Prince
Country/Language: Korean
Broadcasted: 2007-Jul-02 to 2007-Aug-27
Genre: comdey/romance
Episodes: 17 total + "special" with behind the scenes
Rating: HOT

Summary: Go Eun Chan's (Yoon Eun Hye) life is not easy; she works several jobs to support her family and has even given up her feminine image. Choi Han Kyul (Gong Yoo) is the heir of a big food company, who only wants to have fun. His grandmother wants him to settle down and arranges dates for him to pick a potential wife. After Eun Chan bumps into Han Kyul and was mistaken for a boy, Han Kyul decided to hire Eun Chan to be his gay lover in order to avoid the arranged dates. Desperately in need of money, Eun Chan had no choice but to accept. Han Kyul's grandmother also makes Han Kyul in charge of a filthy coffee shop in danger of being bankrupt hoping that the responsibility will turn him around. Eun Chan begs to work at the coffee shop, and not long after, feelings start to spark, except, how would Han Kyul accept his "homosexuality"?

The series follows the relationship of Eun Chan and Han Kyul with all its misunderstandings and endearing moments. Eun Chan, played by Yoon Eun Hye, is a perfectly cast character--her unconvential looks allows her to create a boyish heroine. Han Kyul, played by Gong Yoo, is extremely cocky and arrogant at the beginning of the series and his charming nature is evident right away. Through the series, the development and layers of the protagonists and the secondary characters/other set of the main cast (Choi Han Sung--played by Lee Sun Gyun and Han Yoo Joo--played by Chae Jung Ahn) demonstrates an unbelievable and captivating story of love, friends, and life. As a television show, yes, it has a good amount of drama, but it does not breach the overwhelming boundaries that some productions do. It is somehow grounded in the no-nonense heroine and the innocent love between the characters. Tugging heartstrings and uplifting the spirit, The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince is a wonderful Korean drama that shows the amazing skills of its actors/actresses, writers, and the rest of the cast--the way they deliver what an audience wants to see.

Overall: HOT

movie

Movie: Shanghai Kiss
Starring: Ken Leung, Hayden Panettiere, Kelly Hu
Genre: drama
Released 2007
Rating: warm

Synopsis: "Liam Liu (Leung) is a 28-year-old Chinese-American actor struggling in Hollywood. Adelaide (Panettiere) is a 16-year-old free-spirited genius still in high school. But when a grandmother who Liam's never known leaves him a family home he's never seen, he takes a first-time trip to Shanghai that will change both their lives forever. If life is all about possibilites, can passion survive a cultural divide and a huge age gap? Kelly Hu (The Scorpion King) and Joel David Moore (Dodgeball) co-star in this smart and sexy comedy about discovering who you are, finding where you belong, and sacrificing everything just to get the girl."

Though advertised like a romance movie, this film is more about discovering your heritage and coming to realize the ago old conflict of being between two cultures: not quite a full-fledged American and yet very removed from his Chinese ancestry. Unable to come to terms with either, Liam travels to Shanghai and falls for a Chinese girl--something that was inconceivable in the States. Learning about his family and about his displacement, Liam realizes how to finally be comfortable with who he is and follows his heart.

I won't reveal the big ending, but I definitely enjoyed his story about self discovery rather than the odd romantic story line. The 12 year age gap is odd to watch when the heroine is so young. Having been in a similar elationship, it's no where as easy as they depict...also, at least I was in my twenties when that happened.

I rate it a warm because Liam was able to finally turn himself around; unfortunately their relationship was like a car wreck because you can't help but watch it's so gross.

The Last Twighlight by Marjorie M. Liu

Title: The Last Twighlight

Author: Marjorie M. Liu

Publisher: Dorchester

Genre: paranormal romance

Rating: HOT

As the newest release in the Dirk and Steele series, Marjorie M. Liu has only gotten better and better with each novel. Last Twighlight is no exception to the extraordinary series; dark and powerful, the story revolves around CDC doctor, Regina Kinn (Rikki) and Dirk and Steele agent Amiri. Introduced to Amiri in the second Dirk and Steele series, in Elena and Artur's story, his role as the hero is beautiful to watch. The relationship between the two is well written and the characters are placed in non-stop action.

The best part of this novel, I loved the glimpse of Eddie. As a secondary and reoccuring character, Liu really was able to delve out his personality and give the reader a deeper look in such few pages. Same goes for Rictor.

I really can't pin-point what made this story so good or so captivating, but maybe it's Liu's talent to consistently produce such amazing work. Overall rating: hot.

Evermore by Lynn Viehl

Title: Evermore
Author: Lynn Viehl
Publisher: Penguin Group
Released: January 2, 2008
Genre: paranormal romance
Rating: hot

Lynn Viehl strikes gold once more. As an experienced writer in several genres, Viehl has the unique ability to create characters that pull you in and make you want more. Evermore is the fifth book in her Darkyn series and tells the story of Jayr, the only female seneschal, and Byrne, a Kyn lord of the Realm. Filled with butt-kicking action scenes, a ever-present longing on both sides that reminds me of a lot of manga story-lines, and love scenes that steam up the pages.

Jayr was only seventeen when she was turned Kyn when she had saved Byrne from death. Byrne, a fierce warrior as a human who could be overcome with battle rage, struggles with controlling his inner "demon"--especially when combined with the predatorial nature of the kyn. He has ruled over the Realm for six hundred years. Though both secretly love and long for one another, they maintain a superior and subordinate relationship for their entire time together. It is only when Byrne feels that he is loosing his inner conflict that jump starts both characters' transformations.

Viehl succeeds in conveying Jayr's feelings of inferiority of womanhood, since she has literally been stunted in pre-adolescence. She not only explains the reason of her stunted physical maturation but also offers a pretty viable solution to Jayr's subsequent growth into a woman's body. In addition, the background story of the two main characters and their ever-entwining fates reveal the depth of their yearnings and quiet hopes. Byrne, though depicted as a rough and savage man, manages to also come across as sensitive. It's rare to find a hero that can portray both without being perceived as a type character. Though Viehl, in my opinion, succeeds much better in Jayr's character development, Byrne is defintiely a protagonist who touches something in the reader. The two of them together is a wonderful story. This is by far, my favorite Darkyn book as of yet. Viehl's secondary characters also provoke the reader to want their stories as well. Viehl has considered that book seven, Robin of Lockley's book Stay the Night will the be last; though I understand her position and feelings regarding the marketability of the series I sincerely hope that she does not finish it so soon.

Overall rating: hot

Obsessions and a Review

I fall into obsessions so easily. In middle/high school I was infatuated with the tv show Roswell on the WB (it later moved to UPN); if I find an actor I like, I try and watch all the movies he's been in; and now...I've become obsessed with manga. Not a lot of manga, but just one: Hanazakari no Kimitachi e (Hana-Kimi for short) by Hisaya Nakajo. It has twenty-three volumes and I've bought up until number 9. At $10 a pop, I'm the ultimate sucker! (Granted, I'm an avid coupon user, but it's still a significant amount of money for a poor college student, don't you think?)

Anyways, it's a good obsession.

On another note, my sister is getting married and I set up a site for her and her future husband here.
BTW: I want a Wacom tablet. A nice large 12" x 18" one, with a Blick's animator's desk! Oh, the joy ;)


Title: Lady of Light and Shadows AND Lord of the Fading Lands

Author: CL Wilson

Publisher: Dorchester Publishing

Released: October 2007

Genre: paranormal romance

Rating: hot

Previously reviewed by the Smart Bitches, I agree with their comments on the book. In an interview with one of the bitches, Candy--I think, Wilson discussed her process of writing for the books. Without a deadline, she was able to write to her hearts content...so much so that the entire story would span about three or four books! The books center around Elysetta and Rain--one a woodcarver's daughter of mysterious origins and unimaginable power and the other, an immortal Tairen Soul who had onced scorched the world with his rage.

The story can move a bit slow, but overall, we're treated to a nice realistic progression of the relationship between two strangers. The bad guys are the traditional and predictable bad guys and there are MANY of them. There's sorrow, there's love, there's eventually sex! In all, a good story about overcoming the odds, growing into your own skin and not being ashamed of it, love in all its glory, and hopefully defeating the evil doers.

rating: HOT

Late Night Musings...

There are times when I finish a period of extreme work...or perhaps just a period of constant, but easy to do work. Either way, when I get my break, I wonder about what I'll do with all my free time. Usually this results in contemplating projects I want to pursue: painting a large canvas, experimenting with spray cans, or maybe murals? In any case, I usually want to try and find the "magic" in what we can see everyday. What can I give to create something new? Something that makes you look at it and think beautiful.

Beautiful about something so simple and ordinary. How can I achieve that? This is my goal as an artist, and though I haven't achieved it, yet, I'll keep at it.