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Discussing CJK 中日韓 Dramas Available in California


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SuperRookie Profile
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Re: K-Drama: 광개토대왕 (廣開土太王) (Gwanggaeto, The Great Conqueror)


I'm still a week behind on my DVR viewings for most stuff, but I just finished Episodes 1 and 2 of this series. Overall, it's promising and I like it. So far, it seems like it'll be better than King of Legend and there are numerous things I quite liked in King Gwanggaeto.

I agree it's pretty standard fare so far, nothing really supremely exceptional... yet, at least. Every time I watch a historical, particularly a warrior period drama, I find myself constantly comparing it to the last one's I saw before I took a few years break - the excellent Dae Jo Young and the heavily flawed, but at times, really great, Jumong... so far since starting to watch K-Dramas again, I haven't seen any to start with the bang DJY or Jumong did, and certainly not my all time favorite, Emperor of the Sea.

As of late, I feel like a lot of the dramas are just following the mold, perhaps to meet very tight production schedules or budgetary limits - for example the music in these last historical/warrior dramas I've seen, feel like they're just using the same background music they have on their file/catalog that they just dump to whatever series without making specially created music. I'm spoiled by the amazing themes of EoTS, I suppose.

So far, it's hard to judge where this is going, since we're thrust right into the heat of numerous battles. I liked this aspect, I like battle-centric historicals, but on the flip side, so far the story is sparse and it's unknown where this is going yet.

The production quality seems better than most of late, and better than the last one (King of Legend) - with the overhead camera fly-by, the battle special effects, large scale armies looked good. I especially liked the camera changes to showing the horses stampeding across the leaves on the ground, and the Damdeok duel where it would show special effects with the blades scratching on the armor - it all does add to the excitement of the battles.

I'm very much liking the cast so far. Lee Tae Gon is a perfect fit for the protagonist, he looks the part and has a heroic air to him. There are so many veterans and familiar faces in this! I was especially pleased to see so many actors I remember enjoying from Dae Jo Young in this one!

Not exceptional yet, but I'm totally into this one already. I'll be tuning in until the end of the show. I can't get enough of these historical, period and warrior dramas. emoticon

Last edited by SuperRookie, 8/1/2011, 7:10 pm


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brad6 Profile
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Re: K-Drama: 광개토대왕 (廣開土太王) (Gwanggaeto, The Great Conqueror)


I am also staying with this drama and the beginning scenes are truly full of roaring action. I love Lee Tae Gon and think he is a very fine actor and takes on a role and finds the character every time.
Some of the actors who play in these historicals are so polished and you can really believe they could have lived in those ancient days.

My only hiccup so far is that in the battles and duels, they receive terrible injuries and yet recover so fast, when in real life they would definitely be dead.

Apart from that it is all very believable.
8/2/2011, 10:37 am Link to this post Send Email to brad6   Send PM to brad6
 
pali Profile
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Re: K-Drama: 광개토대왕 (廣開土太王) (Gwanggaeto, The Great Conqueror)


Brad and SuperRookie, If you want to see a wonderful movie with wonderful acting, see Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. I know it is playing in LA and would imagine in other cities in the States. It is based on a book by Lisa See who writes about life in China. She lives in Pacific Palisades, Ca and is from a mixed heritage family from many generations back.
8/3/2011, 2:21 pm Link to this post Send Email to pali   Send PM to pali
 
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Re: K-Drama: 광개토대왕 (廣開土太王) (Gwanggaeto, The Great Conqueror)


With the last name of See and her successful novels, I was not surprised to recently learn that Lisa is the daughter of Carolyn See, the well-known Southern California writer.
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brad6 Profile
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Re: K-Drama: 광개토대왕 (廣開土太王) (Gwanggaeto, The Great Conqueror)


pali,
thank you for the message. However, I can no longer go to the movies. In fact I have not seen a movie in a theatre for probably thirty years..maybe more. I have to watch them on TV or with DVD.
Is this film available on DVD by any chance. Is it Chinese? If so does it have english subs. I don't do well with Mandarin.
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Re: K-Drama: 광개토대왕 (廣開土太王) (Gwanggaeto, The Great Conqueror)


Please post movie suggestions and discussion in the Movies Forum.
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Re: K-Drama: 광개토대왕 (廣開土太王) (Gwanggaeto, The Great Conqueror)


Pali thanks for the suggestions. I'm not familiar with those titles, so I'll check into them.

I'm up to saturday's episode and I'm quite enjoying this series, more than King of Legend. One of my favorite production scenes in the last two weeks was the scene where Damdeok was being chased by the assassin's before he was shot with the arrow. Pretty neat production in this series, continues to be better than a number of Historical Warrior dramas I've seen lately.



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8/26/2011, 10:07 am Link to this post Send Email to SuperRookie   Send PM to SuperRookie Blog
 
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Re: K-Drama: 광개토대왕 (廣開土太王) (Gwanggaeto, The Great Conqueror)


Very much enjoyed the weekend's pair of episodes with Damdeok converting the bandits and slaves towards his side. These scenes remind me quite a bit of the series Dae Jo Young, when the protagonist was imprisoned. It was moving to see Damdeok's leadership qualities and ability to embrace those of lower class standing into the fold, lots of great performances!

The battle scenes and duels continue to be great for a long form drama, not Chuno level magnificence perhaps, but this is shaping up very nicely in this regard. I can't get enough of these action scenes, continuing to be much better than the previous drama, King of Legend in this regard and up to this episode as a whole.

Kim Gyu Chul's performance was especially notable as the Mohe tribe leader (nephew of the Chief). His facial expressions of anger against the Goguryeoans and now rival, former friend, Damdeok was a treat to watch. I could feel his seething anger during their duel and after he was captured! It does not look like he is being swayed by Damdeok's generosity to release him and his tribesmen. Looking forward to see how this develops...

The ending was also exciting with Damdeok finally more aware of the Prime Minister's machinations!

Can't wait for next weekend's pair of episodes.

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Re: K-Drama: 광개토대왕 (廣開土太王) (Gwanggaeto, The Great Conqueror)


Last night's episode put a period for me that Lee Tae Gon is certainly one of the best in the business for his commanding, warrior-like growls. emoticon

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Re: K-Drama: 광개토대왕 (廣開土太王) (Gwanggaeto, The Great Conqueror)


Lee Tae Gon is perfect as a heroic leader in a historical. I was so surprised to see how he fits into this genre, after seeing his previous performances in contemporary K-drama. Actually, he doesn't "fit"—he has taken it over, setting a standard for this type character that won't easily be met by most other actors.

I was reading about him and his girlfriend. Lee Tae Gon was a Physical Education major, so this warrior stuff should be both interesting and a piece of cake for him. His girlfriend's college major was Airline Navigation. And, she was Miss Korea of 1999. (Interesting a combination.) Since water seeks its own level, looks like we have two smart, good-looking cookies here.
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