Rent a Girlfriend Home for New Year

I just finished watching this series and it was entertaining. At first, I was having second thought if I'll continue to watch this as I'm not familiar with the lead actors. But I found it quite unique romantic-comedy series with a blend of modern and ancient tradition of China. The actors are good in potraying their respective characters. The lead actor Du Chun looks a little geeky with his eyeglasses and acting which made his character believable. So, I checked the internet for his photos and he looks even better without his eyeglasses. But the actress who played as his ex-girlfriend looks a bit old for him. Xue Jia Ning's character as Xiao Xiao was cute and bubbly. She has optimistic view in life though she grew up with her mother only. Unlike Du Chun's character as Yi wei had a big traditional family with a stern father, soft spoken mother, three naggy older sisters, and a warm grandmother who has full authority over them. He also had two brother in-laws and nephews and nieces.

There are some funny moments and memorable dialogues. What's just so funny in this drama was Yi Wei's ex-girlfriend keeps on fainting. Well, I guess it's understandble considering she was sick. As well as Xiao Xiao, when she received a phone call that her mother was arrested. Oh, she fainted several times. The story revolved on a car accident which caused the death of Yi We's brother and his unborn nephew. Yi Wei and his family put the blame on Yi We's ex-girlfriend which I found very ridiculuos and unreasonable. Yi Wei was the one driving the car when his ex-girlfriend called to broke-up with him that caused Yi Wei to lost focus in driving and his brother and pregnant sister in-law are his passengers.

So as Yi Wei's family are pressuring him to bring home a girlfriend, his bestfriend posted an advertisement for a rental girlfriend. This ads have seen by Xiao Xiao's bestfriend and suggested Xiao Xiao to take that job as she was in desperate need of money to repay her mother's creditors. When they met regarding the ads Xiao Xiao and Yi Wei rejected each other because that wasn't their first time to met. They first met when Xiao Xiao mistook Yi Wei as her bestfriend's boyfriend who betrayed her bestfirend and Xiao Xiao who knew Taek Won Do beats up Yi Wei. Circumstance forced Yi Wei to hire Xiao Xiao as his girlfriend. As Xiao Xiao was desperate to find a job they made an agreement that Xiao Xiao will pretend that she's Yi Wei girlfriend for two weeks Chinese New Year celebration.

While she was in the town of Long Men she discovered the difference of growing up and having a large family. Yi Wei's family might be a little annoying but they're very supportive to each other which a family should be. What moved me was when they helped Xiao Xiao with her mother's financial problem even though they already knew that she wasn't Yi Wei's real girlfriend. Actually, it was Yi Wei's grandmother who insisted on helping Xiao Xiao because she already claimed that Xiao Xiao is already part of tehir family because she's the only one who didn't know that Xiao Xiao was a fake girlfriend. Another thing that moved me was when Yi Wei finally admitted to his family that he already loved Xiao Xiao and it's not important at that moment for him to know if Xiao Xiao feels the same way for him. What's important was for him to help Xiao Xiao in her mother's financial problem. Aww...that was really admirable. :)

Du Chun as Sun Yi Wei

Xue Jia Ning as Chu Xiao Xiao

   

Title: Rent a Girlfriend Home for New Year

Genre: Romance, Comedy
Episodes: 24
Casts: Du Chun as Sun Yi Wei
          Xue Jia Ning as Chu Xiao Xiao
          Yuan Zi Fei as Tong Jie
Synopsis: Chi Xiao Xiao is raised by her wealthy single mother. She grew up to become an independent and liberal thinking. She learnt taek won do and have passion in writing articles in a magazine. Unfortunately, her mother's company went bankrupt and her mother was missing. Xiao Xiao was forced to find a job to pay off the creditor who's harrassing her. Her friend then suggested to take the job as a rental girlfriend she has found in the internet.

Sun Yi Wei is a serious and stubborn 30 years old bachelor son of a prestigious ancestral family. His family has been pressuring him to find a girlfriend and bring her home for Chinese New Year. His friend helped him by advertising for a rental girlfriend in the internet.

Xiao Xiao contacted Yi We regarding the rental girlfriend and agreed to meet. Unknowingly, they already met before when Xiao Xiao beats Yi Wei up over a misunderstanding. So, when they meet they immediately rejected each other. Due to the course of events they desperately needed each other. Xiao Xiao needed the money and a story to write in a magazine while Yi Wei was really stressed out by his family who's been pressuring him. So, they decided to make a contract that Xiao Xiao becomes Yi Wei's girlfriend for two weeks Chinese New Year celebration.

Here's a nice music video of "Rent a Girlfriend Home for New Year" entitled "Give Me Your Love" sang by Yuan Zi Fei (Yi Wei's ex-gf) and Leng Zhong (Yi Wei's nephew)...  Enjoy! :D

The New Cast of "Extravagant Challenge"

Cast of Extravagant Challenge

As previously reported, Super Junior members Donghae and Siwon will be staying in Taiwan for two months to film the upcoming idol drama, "Extravagant Challenge". They held a press event to announce the start of their shooting, attracting a hundred screaming fan girls to attend.

Donghae and Siwon showed off their mandarin, which they have been practicing hard on; they complimented their co-stars Bianca Bai and Ivy Chen by calling them cute and beautiful. They even exclaimed in Taiwanese (dialect), "I'm very handsome!", "I can act very well!" causing another wave of ear-deafening screams from the fans.

Siwon will be playing a super star in the drama, which is very similar to his previous role in the Korean drama "Oh! My Lady". But he commented that his role will be more serious this time, so everyone should be able to tell the difference. Donghae on the other hand will be trying out in acting as a bad guy. He's not afraid of the viewers hating him, "(Because) it means that everyone acknowledges my acting!"

The fans' main concern was whether there would be kissing scenes for the leads. Producer Doze Niu told the media that after announcing their cast, SJ fans flooded his blog; some expressed their anticipation, while others said they don't want to see it, but the majority of the people did want to see some kissing scenes. Thus, Producer Niu said, "I think I'll arrange a kissing scene between Donghae and Siwon!" *Donghae immediately pointed at producer Niu and shouted in Mandarin, "That's ridiculous!" causing the fans and the media to fall in laughter.

*NOWnews reported that it was Siwon who shouted the phrase, Nexttv video clip confirmed it was indeed Donghae.

Source: NOWnews
Written by: fufu on 3/31/2011 @ CpopAccess.com



Ivy Chen as Kyoko Mogami

Choi Siwon as Ren Tsuruga

 

Donghae as Sho Fuwa

Bianca Bai as Moko Kotonami

  

Wu Chun dropped out of the Taiwanese adaptation of "Absolute Boyfriend"

Wu Chun states reasons for dropping out of drama, surprising and angering people
Written by: Zahra on 3/26/2011 @ CpopAccess.com
Source & Credit Link: CpopAccess

As most know the Taiwanese rendition of "Absolute Boyfriend" was originally suppose to star Wu Chun and Goo Hye Sun. While Goo Hye Sun is still attached, Chun has dropped out and the drama is once again in limbo and are still searching for their male lead. One speculation is that Chun is clearing out his schedule for his big break into the movie industry. According to Chun's manager, he had dropped out not because he" "doesn't want to act. It's because the script isn't good yet We have no clue when they will start filming and there is no set broadcast date. We are dropping out right now because we are worried that the schedule will not fit well (with Chun's movie)."

Though nothing is completely set in stone yet, there have been reports that GTV has been keyed up over the fact that he will drop out and rumors say that they might be looking towards the law. Since GTV has been cultivating Chun all this time, many have been surprised by what is happening on both sides. When the producer was asked about this situation, he showed a bit of anger saying, "Why doesn't he want to act? There are many reasons, but using the script is not right. Everyone has already said they would act already, and if he was dissatisfied with the script, then we can change it so that he is satisfied with it."

Source: UDN

Paradise Ranch

What I love most in watching Korean drama is their family relationships. Most of the Korean dramas I've seen expressed the importance of family in our lives and for having a close-knit family ties. This drama is one of those though it's main story is about a young couple who got married and got divorced.

Paradise drama is a bright romantic drama which leave me satisfied after finishing the full 16 episodes. There are scenes that moved me and made me teary-eyed but it's not a heavy drama that will make you cry bucket of tears. I admired the families of both main characters. They really love their children that it hurts them more when their children got divorced and seen how miserable they are after the break-up. So, I can't blame them for opposing in Han Dong Joo and Lee Da Ji's reconciliation. The good thing is these kids now an adult have learned their lessons. After six years of seperation Han Dong Joo and Lee Da Ji found out that they still love each other and want to remarry but at this time they consider and waited for their families approval first. :) This drama conveyed a good lessons to the viewer.

Title: Paradise Ranch/Paradise Farm (2011)
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Episodes: 16
Cast: Shim Changmin as Han Dong Joo
         Lee Yeon Hee as Lee Da Ji
         Yoo Ha Na as Park Jin Young
         Joo Sang Wook as Seo Yoon Ho
Synopsis: Han Dong Joo (Shim Chang Min) and Lee Da Ji (Lee Yeon Hee) were desperately in love got married at an early age after they have convinced their parents. But after six months, they divorced.

Six years later, Lee Da Ji lives and rans their family ranch in Jeju Island with her father and younger sister and works as a veterinarian. While Han Dong Joo works in their family's company. Lee Da Ji went to Australia for a horse auction. There she meets Seo Yoon Hoo (Joo Sang Wook) and helped her in purchasing a horse. Accidentally, she meet Han Dong Joo there to also buy a horse. 

Back in Jeju Island, Lee Da Ji found out that their family ranch has been sold. Han Dong Joo then was sent to Jeju Island as a company director in charge in building a resort there. He then discovers that Lee Da Ji's family ranch was also part of the company lot where the resort will be built. See Yoon Hoo was also in Jeju Island for his work as an investor of the resort. Park Jin Young also came to Jeju Island to work as an interior designer.

Lee Yeon Hee as Lee Da Ji

Shing Changmin as Han Dong Joo

Yoo Ha Na as Park Jin Young

Joo Sng Wook as Seo Yoon Ho

Some cute screencaps...

They look cute together...

photos credit: Asian Fanatics

Jang Geun Seuk and Jo In Sung brothers?!

When I’ve seen the trailer of "You’re Beautiful" I excitedly exclaimed…"hey, it’s the guy from the movie Love of South and North and The Classic!" I really thought it was Jo In Sung but it was Jang Geun Seuk. Oh, is that so? I even asked, maybe JGS is JIS younger brother? Hehehe… :D I was amazed with the resemblance. Nevertheless, they’re both pretty guys. But JIS is older than JGS. And I still watched "You’re Beautiful" even if it’s not JIS. :) Check out these photos, tell me if you agree or disagree?