Korean Movie Night: Punch 완득이 (2011) Korean

Yoo Ah In, Kim Yoon Seok

Movie rating: 8/10     Neck score: A

This was the perfect time to watch this movie, which I had been meaning to watch for a while, because it helped Curdy get passed her Yoo Ah In thing.  She started out watching Six Flying Dragons with me, but it was too much for her, as she was still too new to dramas for a 50 episode sageuk, and she hated Yoo Ah In as Lee Bang Won.  She was starting to like him in Chicago Typewriter, but now fully loves him, because he is adorable in this movie.  She says his hair helped a lot, since it wasn't that CT fade.

Anyway, Punch is a slice of life, coming of age type movie.  It was very understated at times, and just generally as quirky and awkward as a high schooler with a non-traditional family is.  He has a temper, especially when people insult his hunchback father or stuttering uncle, so he punches people.  He has a tsundere teacher who is looking out for him, even though it looks like he is just using him at times.  He has a neighbor who cusses all the time, especially when they're being loud.

It is just a great little film about a boy reaching that turning point of his life and the things that happened to turn his life.  It's pretty funny, but at a pace where if you are not paying attention you might miss something.  Everything just kind of happens, no matter how weird it is if you actually thing about it, so it seems normal, and then it hits you and you laugh hard.  One of my favorite scenes is just solid cussing for like 2-3 minutes over where a car was parked and slashing tires, you know the petty sort of arguments neighbors get into.  It was hilarious.  Awkward high school romance.  The bluntness of teenagers.  Families and their ups and downs.  It was all good.

It also deals with a lot of good topics like the economic state of disabled people, immigration and immigrant workers, multicultural relationships, families, schools and university exams, neighborhoods, lots of things like that.  It did it in a non-preachy way, just a down to earth way that made you actually pay attention.  It really liked it.

225. 49 Days 49일 (2011) Korean

Lee Yo Won, Nam Gyu Ri, Jo Hyun Jae, Jung Il Woo, Bae Soo Bin, Seo Ji Hye

Drama Rating: 6/10     Neck Score: A-

I don't mind tragic endings and crying at an eternally separated OTP, I know Jung Il Woo was going to make me cry from the start, but I don't like being sucker punched in the face by random and unnecessary tragedy, or having a cheap and ridiculous band aid that makes no sense the way that it was randomly thrown in at the end without proper buildup.  Nope, the ending of this show completely ruined it.  Well.... not completely.  I still gave it a 6, which is pretty good for how lame the last episode was.  Why do they always ruin that last episode?  What is worse than the random family crap at the end is how they tried to redeem the bad guys.  Nope, those two were the worst.  I hated them both the whole time because they were vindictive and bat shiz crazy.  They were both just losers who pitied themselves so much that they decided to ruin everyone else's lives, and were both not cool ever.  I hated how much screen they got, and especially at the end.  Lame.  Now, let's talk about what I liked, because I did like most of the show.  Lee Yo Won was amazing.  She played two roles so well, it was beautiful.  You could always clearly tell who she was in an instant, from the way she talked, walked, moved, or even just stood.  She also caught all of the little ticks and mannerisms of Baby's (Nam Gyu Ri) character perfectly, so it was no wonder that Han Kang (Jo Hyun Tae) recognized her.  It wasn't just because it was in the script, it was that good.  I also loved the relationships between all our lead peeps.  Between Ji Hyun (Baby) and the Scheduler (Jung Il Woo), between her and Han Kang, between her and Song Yi Kyung (Lee Yo Won) and also between Han Kang or Jung Il Woo and Song Yi Kyung.  Of course I loved Jung Il Woo as the scheduler.  His parts were always the best parts, because he was less dramatic at first, being a little punk of a scheduler who was constantly being harassed by Baby.  Of course he was also the one who made me cry at the end, but that's because he's good and those parts were beautifully sad (not like the rest of the ending).  I liked the plot, there were lots of good twist and turns through out the story, so right up until the last episode or so this show was great.  Sigh.  I do with that I could have a Jung Il Woo Scheduler ringtone, with his pissy little voice telling me I have a call, or telling people that I can't answer a call.  That would be the best.

You're My Pet 너는 펫 (2011) Korean

Kim Ha Neul, Jang Geun Suk

Movie rating: 5/10     Neck score: A

What the... hahaha, this movie.  It was hilariously stupid, but I loved it and watched it twice (within one week no less.  I think I was sad that week so I needed something completely stupid to cheer me up).  This successful business lady is trying to not feel lonely, so she decides maybe to get a dog, but when her little brother asks her to let his dancer friend stay at her place for a while, she ends up letting him stay on as her "pet."  It gets really weird as she even treats him as a dog, buying him a collar and such.  He gets into it as well, and they both draw up a contract as to the rules of pet and master.  But then when she starts dating her old college crush, her "pet" starts to get jealous.  But she also gets weird problems when she doesn't know whether she sees him as a dog or a man... it's just over-the-top silliness, but I loved it.  It was the right kind of silly for that time, I guess.

156. Drunken to Love You (aka Love You) 醉後決定愛上你 (2011) Taiwanese

Joseph Chang, Rainie Yang, Kingone Wang, Tiffany Hsu, Alien Huang, Tom Price

Drama Rating: 6.5/10     Neck Score: A

Probably the world's cutest OTP.  That's the only thing that makes this drama work.  You just fall in love with the main couple.  As for everyone else in the drama, they're actually not that bad, for 2nd male leads, 2nd 2nd male leads and crazy bitcas.  Kingone was a nice guy who messed up, Alien was a turd (and I love him unreasonably as an actor), but also an ok nice guy, and the bitca just didn't know how to give up because of her obsessive personality, but was still a nice person consistently, even though she made a lot of stupid decisions.  The biggest problem I had with it, is that I have Fall In Love With Me Syndrome, meaning that I don't trust Taiwanese dramas any more so at the first sign of crappy drama in the previews, and I panic and imagine the worst, making it hard to watch the next episode, but in this show's case, it was never that bad, and they were actually just tricking you into thinking it would be.  This is sort of a second in the series to Fated to Love You, and like it's predecessor, it is a roller coaster of draggy tiny drama.  The main couple can't be happy for more than two seconds because some random tiny drama happens.  It's frustrating as crap, but at least it never ACTUALLY gets Fall in Love With Me bad.  What makes it different from Fated is that Jie Xiu was a whole lot more mature than Cun Xi, who was a total butt.  In fact he was more like Lee Gun.  He was dedicated to making her happy from pretty much day one, and didn't take forever trying to figure out what he wanted and being hung up on "Anna."  I loved how quickly he got rid of that poster of Ai Wei.  Of course his being awesome and falling in love with Xiao Ru that quickly (but how could he not when she was that cool?) just made it harder to wait 18/30 episodes for them to get together because of all the stupid crap that went down.  But at least there was some cute in every episode to make up for the little bit of crap in nearly every episode.  Also, they have to make the ending cheesy and inappropriate. I'll take it, if it means that it is finally ending and I can get my happy ending for my dream OTP.

146. Baby Faced Beauty 동안미녀 (2011) Korean

Choi Daniel, Jang Na Ra, Ryu Jin, Kim Min Seo

Drama Rating: 4/10     Neck Score: A

Why did I do that to myself?  There was so much to hate in this show, which is why we called it Baby Faced Bitcas.  No, I know why.  Lizabreff's mom kept gushing over Choi Daniel and telling me to watch it.  Well, she was right about that.  He is arguably one of the best and cutest male leads ever.  I am way in love with him.  In fact every one of the 4s in the 4/10 is him.  So is all of the A in the neck score.  If I could rate the show based just on Choi Daniel, it would probably be 12/10, I loved him so much, but he can only be on screen so often, and pretty much everything else was hateful.  Well, I liked Jang Na Ra's character okay, but she had so much crap happen to her that it was so painful to watch. But she did manage to make the typical melo situations a bit better with how practical she was, like when she had to break up with him to protect him (I swear that happens in every show) she doesn't go the "I hate you" or "I lied" route- the worst that she says is that he's an immature baby, which is only slightly true- so even though it's crappy melodrama, it's not as bad as it could have been.  But she also did a ton of super stupid things, so she will have to be on the hateful list at least sometimes for some stupid things, like even considering breaking up with Choi Daniel, dumb girl.  But seriously, I absolutely hated everyone else in the show, especially the other dude, Mr. Ji (Ryu Jin).  Every time he was on screen I felt urges to punch him in the face and shouted, multiple times, angry things such as a desire to kick him in the balls.  He will be an added addendum to my list of Second Male Leads Who Make Me Want to Punch Them In The Face.  Even the people who were supposed to be good, such as friends and family, were awful and made me so angry.  They were so stupid and selfish.  Yeah, that epilogue part and the end where they all had happy endings, I didn't like it because none of them deserved it, that's how much I hated them all.  Too much hate for me, I'm so glad it's over.  If it hadn't been for Choi Daniel, I would never and could never have made it through.  He's worth it... but that was a lot of crap I endured for him.

119. Queen of Reversals 역전의 여왕 (2010-2011) Korean

Kim Nam Joo, Jung Joon Ho, Park Shi Hoo, Chae Jung An

Drama Rating: 3/10     Neck Score: D

This should be called Queen of Turtlenecks.  Ugh.  I think absolutely everyone in the entire show wore a turtleneck at least once.  Sadly the main men wore them all the time.  Especially Park Shi Hoo.  I'm sorry dude, I love you but... no.  No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!  Jung Joon Ho pulled them off way better than Park Shi Hoo and he's an ahjussi.  I basically just didn't really like this show anyways and so the overuse of turtlenecks made me really not like it.  It was the premise that I didn't like.  From the moment she married that Bong Junsu dude this show was doomed for me.  It's basically about a family getting split apart because that couple wasn't good for each other, and that's just not my cup of tea.  I don't care how passionate her new romance was, I hated it all.  Especially when there was also a kid involved.  Just not my favorite premise and then there were all those turtlenecks... at least there was Little Guy and the brother from Cunning Single Lady to make it watchable.  And Manager Mok.  I liked him at least. And that hot cop guy- rawr… hated that bitca… this could go on for forever… I loved seeing the bitca boss cry at the end… etc. It’s a love/hate type show, but mostly was just meh.

101. The Reason I Can't Find My Love 私が恋愛できない理由 (2011) Japanese

Nose Karina, Yoshitaka Yoriko, Oshima Yuko, Inamori Izumi, Tanaka Kei 

Drama Rating: 4/10     Neck Score: B

I loved this show right up until the ending and then they ruined it, so I hated it.  It's supposed to be realistic and a that's life type of drama, but bad writing is bad writing.  It's a drama about three girls who decide to live together for various reasons, including the fact that it's cheaper, not lonely, and more fun.  They are all having different problems with love.  One is a tomboy who can't get over her best friend (who she only dated for 2 weeks).  One is a player who works at a club to pay the bills while she desperately tries to get her dream job.  One is a "sticky note" type girl who is so reserved and traditional that she is considered "too heavy" to date.  They also have to make a big deal out of her being a virgin.  The tomboy tries to make it work with her bestie, who then tells her he's getting married, the player falls for a married man (the tomboy's boss) and the sticky note girl looses her virginity but finds out it's not worth it when her boyfriend can't trust enough.  The worst part is there really isn't enough character growth to justify the fact that they all pretty much end up right where they started.  It's supposed to be girl power and not a romance, but there was too much romance that suddenly became anti-climatic at the end that it was dumb.  Fine, just kill our happiness to make your point.  That was lame.  The dudes in it are ok looking, with some good necks an some less good necks, but since they aren't the focus, it becomes irrelevant too.

80. Inborn Pair 真愛找麻煩 (2011-2012) Taiwanese

Chris Wang, Annie Chen, Xie Kun Da, Puff Guo, Chris Wu

Drama Rating: 6/10     Neck Score: A

Another one of those super long (like 84 episode) dramas that make me wonder why I started them but really love in spite of that.  Annie Chen is still studying to pass the bar exam (she has the worst luck) and Chris Wang is the CEO of a zoo resort.  The have a chance encounter that makes him thing she's a home wrecker and she thinks he's a cheater.  Then they run into each other at the temple, where they get the fame fortune.  Then the grandmother (my favorite Taiwanese baby hungry grandmother- the same one as in Love Around) finds out that she is the girl that she promised would marry her grandson because Annie's grandfather saved her family's life when both Chris and Annie were in the womb.  The grandma then does everything she can to force that promise's fulfillment, even pretending she has cancer.  So the couple, even though they started out hating each other, decides to have a secret contract marriage to make the grandmother happy.  Then lots of crap happens.  Annie has a short temper, Chris has a girl who is totes in love with him and not willing to let him go, Annie's first love shows back up, and there is pressure to have a baby, etc.  They are also both really stupid and won't admit they like each other when they clearly do.  Also, there is the other sibling drama.  The older sister is so dumb and controlling that she basically sets herself up to be cheated on by being too willful.  The younger brother is a horrible ladies man, but he meets his match when the girl he picked on in kindergarten comes back for revenge.  So in spite of all the craziness, and long running series, it is actually pretty enjoyable.  I hated the other girl, and his mom, and the cheating husband crap, but the main couple (Annie and Chris) and little brother couple (Kun Da and Puff Guo) are super compelling and I loved it.  I've loved Puff since Just You, and this is further proof that she is a great actress, because her character is so different in this one.  She is a calm, well mannered, yet revenge seeking/man training girl with a cool gangster background.  Yes.  Even though this show was silly, I still liked it.

79. The Greatest Love 최고의 사랑 (2011) Korean

Cha Seung Won, Gong Hyo Jin, Yoon Kye Sang, Yoo In Ah

Drama Rating: 8/10     Neck Score: A

At last I found the show that I really was needing while watching shows such as Prime Minister and I and I Need Romance.  Funny, uplifting, romance, etc.  This is probably the best Hong Sister's drama and my favorite one (along with Master's Sun).  However, as awesome as it is, you really need to be well versed in Korean pop culture to appreciate it.  Literally, I tried to show it to a friend who was just starting to watch dramas (I think this would have only been her second) and lizabreff and I were cackling while it all went over my friend's head.  So we decided to hold off on that one for her and made her watch Secret Garden first.  This show is so funny though.  Cha Seung Won is a genius.  Doko Jin is so hilariously perfect.  Also he looked so good with that facial hair, then when he shaved it he still looked so good!  I was like, how is this possible?!?!  The way it makes fun of the Korean entertainment industry is so perfect.  Gong Hyo Jin is an unlikeable star who fell from grace during the scandal that broke up her girl band.  Doko Jin is the industry's top actor.  Then their paths cross and it's so funny.  I guarantee you'll also get the OST stuck in your head.  It's such an iconic OST that it is used for shows like Running Man when people get crushes.  Classic, awesome show.  Also, unlike many of the Hong Sister's dramas, this one never fell apart or got super silly, but stayed golden the whole time.  Also, best cameo of all Hong Sister's dramas- Lee Seung Gi, which just makes You're All Surrounded (Starring Lee Seung Gi and Cha Seung Won) so much better because you know they already love each other.

78. I Need Romance 로맨스가 필요해 (2011) Korean

Jo Yeo Jong, Kim Jung Hoon, Choi Yeo Jin, Choi Song Hyun, Choi Jin Hyuk

Drama Rating: 5/10     Neck Score: A

I needed this at the time I watched it.  Something super trashy romantic.  It's a good thing I watched it before Goong because Yul!!!!!!!!  I didn't already hate Yul so I was able to be ok with him as the lead dude.  However, this show is hard to like anyone in it.  It's a relationship mess for everyone really.  Three 30 year old girls getting into messy relationships.  The main girl is annoying, and after much analysis I realized that she was the one who created her own problems.  She thought her relationship was stagnant, which means it might have been, but because of her actions on that course she suspected her boyfriend was cheating and ultimately it happened, maybe partially because of her behavior, I'm not sure, but she was definitely the queen of over analyzation.  Seriously girl, chill.  So even when Choi Jin Hyuk was being like the perfect rich dude, I was super not wanting her to be with him, maybe for his sake.  I dunno.  It's a pretty sexy time  orientated show.  I mean there is sexy time in the first 5 minutes of the first episode.  Then it's a bunch of crappy relationship mess.  Still, sometimes you just need that sort of crap... maybe... probably not... anyways, it's not the worst thing out there.  I might have trouble with it now... now that I hate Yul (Kim Jung Hoon).  Yul (hissing with hate).

72. Scent of a Woman 여인의 향기 (2011) Korean

Kim Sun Ah, Lee Dong Wook, Uhm Ki Joon, Seo Hyo Rim

Drama Rating: 7/10     Neck Score: A

I never thought I would love watching a show about cancer so much.  I watched this one with lizabreff (who loves Lee Dong Wook) and we had the best time of it.  I still occasionally break out into a chorus of "You are sooooo beautiful!" which was the awesome Junsu OST (yay JYJ!).  Junsu didn't just do the OST for this show, he had a cameo appearance too, which showed me to be much for of a fangirl for Junsu than I thought (I still love you Jaejoong!)  As silly as the plot is with a girl realizing she has terminal cancer and deciding to live her life instead of wasting it at the sucky job she has and so suddenly has a rich chaebol dude fall in love with her is, it was so much fun to watch.  Both men (named "Sad Puppy" and "Grumpy Cat" by us) were very loveable.  There really wasn't that huge love triangle type deal, because Grumpy Cat (Uhm Ki Joon) was just a friend who wanted the best for her, even if he unknowingly made Sad Puppy(Lee Dong Wook) jealous and thus take more action.  Even though the plot is sad, with her basically dying through the whole show, it was still hopeful and funny enough to make up for it.  However, this might just be the whole experience of watching with friends that made me like it more.  It's pretty silly really, and the other girl is a bitca who pulls lots of nasty tricks.  However, the chemistry between the main couple is off the charts, and that sexy tango scene... wow.  Sad Puppy makes it sexy (even when Grumpy Cat is a better dancer).  So even if the premise or actual show is still, grab a friend and watch it anyways, because it is compelling enough to keep you watching despite all else.

64. Switch Girl 1&2 スイッチガール！！ (2011 & 2012) Japanese

Nishiuchi Mariya, Kiriyama Renn, Sakata Rikako, Jinnai Sho

Drama Rating: 2/10     Neck Score: A

I know there are two seasons here, and I watched them at two separate times... but they were close together, and the show is show short that I can just talk about it together.  I'm embarrassed to say I watched this, a bit, since it's a pretty gross show.  I don't just mean with the nasty fart humor etc when she is in her "off" mode, but in the fact that the whole show basically revolves around sex.  Seriously.  Especially the 2nd season.  Seriously the main plot arc was her wanting to have sex with him, since they were together, but then every bad guy wanted to rape them all, etc.  It was crazy.  So, a lot of sex humor, especially in the 2nd season, and also a lot of nasty humor, which I'm fine with, but this was excessive.  I mean really excessive.  But props to the show, it's pretty much exactly like the manga.  Exactly.  Also the dudes in it are pretty hot, but still.  It gives off a bit of nasty feel to it theme-wise.  It's all about sex.

57. Heartstrings 넌 내게 반했어 (2011) Korean

Park Shin Hye, Jung Yong Hwa, Song Chang Eui, So Yi Hyun, Kang Min Hyuk, Woori

Drama Rating: 3.5/10     Neck Score: A

This one actually ruined Jung Yong Hwa for me.  I liked him in You Are Beautiful, but this one was so lame.  Boo.  What happened to that chemistry?  How come now that you are actually opposite to Park Shin Hye there is suddenly no chemistry?  It was written very badly.  He obsessed for the teacher for so long and then all the sudden he was over it and chasing the girl.  Nope, that doesn't happen.  Also her character was so awkward and his was so buttheaded that there was no chance for any chemistry to be shown.  The plot was dumb, like most plots centered around a musical are, and really not compelling.  But there were some good points.  CNBLUE basically doing the OST for it (also an OST by Lee Hong Ki- yes!) and Kang Min Hyuk.  He was soooooo adorable in this.  Playing the drummer in Yong Hwa's band (when he is the actual drummer in CNBLUE).  He was the only thing that kept me going in this because Park Shin Hye's acting is awkward in this... too awkward- was it the director? writing? and is a weak singer at best, and Yong Hwa's character was written so badly.  Basically this one was dumb, but Min Hyuk was cute.  Then, because he wormed his way into my heart, I had to go and watch The Heirs later.... Kang Min Hyuk!!!!!!! What did you do to me!?!?!?!?!

50. The Princess's Man 공주의 남자 (2011) Korean

Park Shi Hoo, Moon Chae Won, Song Jong Ho, Hong Soo Hyun

Drama Rating: 8/10     Neck Score: A

Best cinematography, best soundtrack, this is the best sageuk I have ever seen!  It's pretty much Romeo and Juliet meets Richard III because it's got the two lovers caught up in the political rivalry of the parents, but the rivalry includes evil uncles killing their nephews and brothers to take the crown.  It is based off the fact that the usurper king Sejo had a mysterious daughter mentioned in only one of the records but none of the others.  Using this they wrote a complex story of love, betrayal and revenge into the classic history of a struggle over the crown.  So much blood.  Literally half the episodes all of the characters are covered in blood.  Also Park Shi Hoo is hot.  He is one of the few that really works the Joseon get up.  As in seriously working it.  He looks sexy in those pastels and net hats.  Then when he goes all revengy bad-a on us, he has the warrior outfits with the long hair and head bands.  Rawr!  Moon Chae Won is my favorite actress ever... probably.  I admit that I didn't like her character in Shining Inheritance, but that's the beauty of her talent.  I swear she is a different character in every show and she rocks all of them.  I really loved her in this one, and then by the time Innocent Man and Good Doctor came around, that was just the confirming proof that this girl is awesome.  This is a very emotional roller coaster type show.  So much death that it's very heavy and you need to keep the watching pace slow, but at the same time it's so exciting you want to keep watching.  But it is so good.  Very fitting for my 50th drama.  It's just well made and classy.  I did have problems with the other dude.  He's dumb.  Also, it made me project his dumbness on his character in Answer me 1997, which I happened to be watching at the same time.  Oops.

45. What's Up? 왓츠 업 (2011) Korean

Lim Ju Hwan, Daesung, Lim Ju Eun, Oh Man Seok, Kim Mi Kyung,  Jang Hee Jin, Kim Ji Won, Jo Jung Suk, Lee Soo Hyuk

Drama Rating: 5/10     Neck Score: A

I should actually finish this one before I write a review.  It's not like I didn't like it... I just didn't love it and got distracted by something else, and then forgot about it.  I do want to finish it though... because Daesung and Lee Soo Hyuk... also Jo Jung Suk.  They were the reasons I started (well Lee Soo Hyuk was a bonus since I only knew him from the 2ne1 music video "It Hurts")  I remember thinking the main dude was annoying through...  That might have been a problem.  I have like 6 episodes left I think, so we'll see how this gets updated.... Ok, I finally finished it, and it wasn't so bad.  I actually don't know why I stopped watching, besides getting distracted with other shows.  In all honesty it's really hard to care about shows that center around musicals (just look at my reaction to Heartstrings).  They just don't do it for me.  I just don't care.  So this one... not that compelling to me.  The only things that were compelling to me were the men that I loved (Daesung, Jo Jung Suk, and Lee Soo Hyuk).  I loved the music in it, which is something.  Every time that Daesung or Jung Suk's voice came on I got happier about watching it.  That one girl was annoying, the one that Lim Ju Hwan liked, because she was such a naive and incompetent little kid, but she became less important.  I though Ju Hwan was annoying at first when he was being an angry young man, but he got over it and became likeable.  I didn't think that Daesung was in it enough.  The ending was really open, which was what they were going for, so no worries.  I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either.  The singing and stuff was well done because it was rarely an actual performance and it usually was integrated into the story well to make it more emotional.  For a musical show it was actually quite good, I guess.

40. Me too, Flower 나도 꽃 (2011) Korean

Yoon Si Yoon, Lee Ji Ah, Jo Min Gi, Han Go Eun

Drama Rating: 4/10     Neck Score: A

Another makjang fest endured because of Yoon Si Yoon.  This one is super messed up though.  There is like a combination of an evil mom stereotype with the evil bitca stereotype.  Seriously?  She's too old to have him for herself, but he'd better not be with that girl he loves and be with someone she picks out for him.  Also there is some trapped by guilt issues as he was responsible for her husband's death.... yeah.  So cop lady runs into parking valet who is secretly a bag designer/CEO of a fashion company and then the sparks fly and drama happens.  It's got some pretty steamy kissing scenes and nice chemistry between the leads.  Also, there is a cute side romance between the two most unlikely peeps.  Also we have Lee Gi Kwang from Beast playing both the young new cop kid and the super star "Pink Chicken," which is like the best part ever. Gi Kwang and Si Yoon were both in High Kick Through the Roof together, playing best friends high school students, so it's kind of fun to see him suddenly playing the younger brother type deal in this one.  Weird drama and crap, but still not the worst show in the world.

34. City Hunter 시티헌터 (2011) Korean

Lee Min Ho, Park Min Young, Kim Sang Joong, Chun Ho Jin

Drama Rating: 9/10      Neck Score: A

It was just stubbornness that kept me from watching this show earlier, since it kept getting recommended to me, but it's seriously really, really good, so I recommend that you don't need to do that, but watch this one right away.  It's a really good blend between action/revenge thriller, comedy, and romance- with emphasis on the action and revenge of course.  I still think this is Lee Min Ho's best role ever.  He plays the boy forced into revenge and seriousness when he just wants to love and have fun so very well.  Also, I love Kim Sang Joong.  He is so bad-a.  He's cool.  There are lots of good plot twists, lots of good action, good comedic timing, and even a creepy hot hit man that you shouldn't be attracted to, but kinda are.  Also the imagery is really good.  One note.  Please watch this one before you watch Shining Inheritance (if you have any plans to watch Shining Inheritance) so that you wont hate his mom in this one, as you will hate her in Shining Inheritance.

27. Flower Boy Ramen Shop 꽃미남 라면가게 (2011) Korean

Jung Il Woo, Lee Chung Ah, Lee Ki Woo

Drama Rating: 8/10      Neck Score: A+

The first in a series of Flower Boy shows that all have the same basic standard.  Four extremely hot flower boys surrounding one normal girl, for whatever reason.  This one is still the best of all of them, but the others are good too.  Also, this one is the best if you happen to be a noona (which I am), since this is a noona romance.  I tried to get my little sister to watch it and she just couldn't get into it in the same way.  Eun Bi (Lee Chung Ah) is trying to be a teacher, but she runs into Cha Chi Soo (Jung Il Woo) who is a high school student, and she ends up having to take over her father's ramen shop along with Pillar (Lee Ki Woo) who was trained by her father and given the shop and her (so that he calls her his wife) and three hot high school boys who respectively call her noona, teacher, and honey.  So well written, so funny, so delightful.

25. Vampire Prosecutor 뱀파이어 검사 (2011) Korean

Yeon Jeong Hun, Lee Won Jong, Lee Young Ah, Jang Hyun Sung

Drama Rating: 7/10      Neck Score: A

I don't normally like vampire anything.  I feel they are an overused not so cool monster option.  But I actually liked this.  I'll admit I watched this initially for Yeon Jeong Hun, but from the first moment I liked what they did.  It's like the Korean Law & Order only the prosecutor is a vampire who uses his skills to solve the crimes.  He can like "read blood" to recreate the scene, and if he drinks a bit of the victim's blood he can see their last few moments to get clues as to who their killer is.  Then it's more of a serial with new cases each episode, but also an over arching storyline of him trying to find the vampire who killed his little sister and made him a vampire too.  Another good point is the girl.  Lee Young Ah plays an awesome bad-a prosecutor chick who might have roots in the mafia.  She's never the damsel in distress, and if she is, she puts up a really good fight and never looks like a sissy.  Yes, this is making vampires sexy, which is my least favorite thing... but he was sexy before he was a vampire and it's not about that, it's about solving crime, which is awesome.

21. Muscle Girl! マッスルガール! (2011) Japanese

Ichikawa Yui, Lee Hong Ki

Drama Rating: 3/10     Neck Score: B-

Lee Hong Ki is like the only man in it.  There are just a bunch of women wrestlers so Hong Ki's neck = A the lack of other necks brings the score down.  I watched it because I wanted to see a drama where Hong Ki was the lead, since he was my favorite from You're Beautiful, but this was just silliness.  It's about Girl's Pro Wrestling in Japan, and there is like zero romance type deal in it.  I seriously don't get why they felt the need to even put Lee Hong Ki in it.  He was a runaway Kpop star who was looking for his mom the whole time.  He was so obsessed with that, that he didn't notice that the lead girl had the hots for him, so that never happened.  Also, the drama surrounding the wrestling school was super lame.  It was only 10 episodes, but none of the drama was very compelling, except maybe wanting Hong Ki to find is mom, but even that was not so huge.  Oh well.  Hong Ki made some cute faces, as he was squashed while being a ref for the girls.