Korean Movie Night: Life Risking Romance 목숨 건 연애 (2016) Korean

Ha Ji Won, Chun Jung Myung, Chen Bolin

Movie rating: 5/10      Neck score: A

CAMPY!!! We were looking for a comedy, but we might have picked the campiest one of our selection. Not that the others might not have been any good either. But in my experience, Korean movies in the romantic comedy genre tend to be on the campy side. Anyway, it was also really fun and a bit of a troll. It was about a mystery writer in a slump (Ha Ji Won) whose imagination keeps her creating situations where she's making false calls to 911, etc. She's constantly bailed out by her best friend who is a cop (Chun Jung Myung). But that same imagination also connects her to the mysterious and handsome man who just moved in upstairs (Chen Bolin).

Maybe another reason we thought the show was extra campy was because it was probably 75% in English, because Chen Bolin was playing a Chinese American FBI analyst. Not that he and Ha Ji Won weren't doing a very good job acting in English, but it was still not natural sounding, since it they were speaking slowly and annunciating everything to make sure they pronounced everything correctly and clearly, etc. Also, the English dialog was weird sounding because it wasn't written by a native speaker either, just to add to the campiness.

But since this is a rom-com mystery thriller, it definitely had its share of twists, but rather than being unpredictable, they trolled us all the time, so that we weren't sure who the murderer was, because they kept trolling us by making it "possible" to be anyone, even if it wasn't logically possible. There was also the trolling of us not knowing what was her imagination vs reality, because she was constantly daydreaming and letting her imagination run wild.

But for all that, it was still really funny, especially with a bulk of the comedic relief being handled by Oh Jung Sae and Kim Won Hae, who are pretty genius in that department. In fact, I absolutely loved Oh Jung Sae's character so much, he might have saved the show completely for me. I loved him and his little ponytails. So, no regrets, but yes, it was bad. The last impressions as it ended were: what the heck 😂. But really, I think that's what they were going for, so.... good job?

19. Secret Garden 시크릿 가든 (2010) Korean

Hyun Bin, Ha Ji Won, Yoon Sang Hyun, Kim Sa Rang

Drama Rating: 7/10     Neck Score: A

I know I probably had heard about the body switching plot before I watched it, but that was so long before I watched it that I totes forgot and so when they finally switched bodies (like episode 5 or 6) I was like: What?  But it's so good.  I've seriously watched this one so many times and each time it just keeps getting better.  I don't bother skipping anything when I rewatch it, which is how I usually rewatch shows unless I am showing them to people.  Even though it has almost every plot device ever, from evil moms to butt headed chaebols becoming sweet loves to amnesia/coma type deals, they make it work so well.  It's well written, well balanced, full of characters we love despite the flaws, and one of the best OSTs ever.  I might own that.  I'm only sad I didn't watch this sooner, I could have rewatched it a couple more times already.
Also, after you have watched this fully, you need to watch the Big Bang Parody of it... Smell!

12. King 2 Hearts 더킹 투하츠 (2012) Korean

Lee Seung Gi, Ha Ji Won, Jo Jung Suk, Yoon Je Moon

Drama Rating: 9/10     Neck Score: A (B+)

The necks are good... but too many stiff collars so... yeah.  Well made, perfect blend of political drama, action, humor, plot twists, and creepiness.  Yoon Je Moon is so, so good at being creepy.  I almost couldn't watch some scenes.  Also, one of the best kisses ever.  We've got a North Korean soldier girl and a South Korean prince (if there were still princes in South Korea) who have to work together, first as team mates, then dating, then actually falling in love, then saving their two nations.  A lot happens, but this was so well done that even when you don't want to watch parts, and put off finishing because you know the inevitable will happen, it's still so good that you have to watch it.  Also, super nice OST.  Best acting job Seung Gi has done.  Ha Ji Won is good as always.  Fell in love with Jo Jung Suk.