Posts by author:

Saharial

Where the Truth Lies: the Case of Itaewon Homicide

Post image for Where the Truth Lies: the Case of Itaewon Homicide

by Saharial on 7 March, 2010

in Film reviews and comment

Saharial reviews one of 2009’s murder-mysteries:
The Case of Itaewon Homicide
Director: Hong Ki-seon
Writer: Lee Maeng-yu
Release Date: September 10, 2009
Cast: Jang Geun-suk, Jeong  Jin-yeong, Shin Seung-hwan, Oh Kwang-rok, Ko Chang-Seok

Synopsis
Based on real events that have been ‘dramatised and changed for dramatic purposes’ the story tells of an incident in 1997 when a student was found murdered in [...]

{ 0 comments }

South Korea 2 – 0 Ivory Coast: the photos

4 March 2010 Pictures
Thumbnail image for South Korea 2 – 0 Ivory Coast: the photos

Saharial took some great action shots at the international friendly at Loftus Road yesterday. Shame there weren’t more spectators there to see the action:

Read the full article →

Album Review: Kyu Won – 두 번의 겨울이 만든 이야기 – 1st jib

15 February 2010 CD reviews
Thumbnail image for Album Review: Kyu Won – 두 번의 겨울이 만든 이야기 – 1st jib

Saharial reviews Kyu Won’s first album, released by Open Music on January 7th 2010
I bought this album simply on a whim. Maybe it was the cute artwork or perhaps it was the lure of an artist that wrote, sang and performed all his own work that was the lure. At least, that’s what I think [...]

Read the full article →

Saharial reviews Stranger than Paradise

8 February 2010 TV drama
Thumbnail image for Saharial reviews Stranger than Paradise

Story:
No Yoon Jae (Lee Sung-Jae) was adopted as a child and taken to Canada and now, at age 33 has been looking for his parents for some time. A successful lawyer with a love for coffee and his girlfriend he travels to Korea to meet once more with disappointment. Kang Son Ho (Uhm Tae Woong) [...]

Read the full article →

Saharial reviews Beethoven Virus

20 January 2010 Film reviews and comment
Thumbnail image for Saharial reviews Beethoven Virus

Story:
Ru Mi, a violinist for 17 years has had little or no luck playing in orchestras, they all seem to disband or fall apart. Now working as a copywriter, she comes up with an idea to make Sukwon, where she lives, a capital for classical music. Her luck has not changed though and the initial [...]

Read the full article →

Antique: A delicious slice of feel-good cinema

11 January 2010 Film reviews and comment
Thumbnail image for Antique: A delicious slice of feel-good cinema

Saharial samples the delights of Antique, described as “entertaining and fabulously fruity” by one reviewer

Story
Based closely on the 2002 Yaoi manga Antique Bakery (西洋 骨董 洋菓子店, Seiyō Kottō Yōgashiten, “Western Antique Cake-Shop”) by Fumi Yoshinaga, the Korean adaptation broke through the million mark of legitimate viewers three weeks after opening. It was invited to the [...]

Read the full article →

LKL Critics’ Choice 2009: Saharial

19 December 2009 2009 year-end posts
Thumbnail image for LKL Critics’ Choice 2009: Saharial

This year can definitely be marked down as one for the less inspiring years for discovering new musical talent. Korea is packed full of vocally gifted teens all eager to make the break into stardom and this year saw various girl and boy bands pop up from nowhere as companies vied for more of the [...]

Read the full article →

Saharial reviews Thirst

12 October 2009 Autumn K-film 2009
Thumbnail image for Saharial reviews Thirst

5th October 2009
Curzon Cinema, Soho, London
Being a big fan of Park Chan-wook’s Vengeance Trilogy, I was definitely excited and keen to see Thirst (박쥐; Bakjwi) his newest release that won the Jury prize at Cannes this year. The story is of Sang-hyun (Song Kang-ho), a priest who willingly undergoes a medical experiment to help [...]

Read the full article →

Park Chan-wook: uncut (almost)

11 October 2009 Autumn K-film 2009
Thumbnail image for Park Chan-wook: uncut (almost)

Saharial provides a warts and all direct transcript of the Park Chan-wook Q&A at the Curzon Soho preview of Thirst. At least, up until the point when an officious usherette told her to switch her recorder off…
The Q&A was only a half hour long, a real shame, and the staff at the Curzon were quick [...]

Read the full article →

Stairway to Heaven: over-rated?

5 September 2009 Choi Ji-woo
Thumbnail image for Stairway to Heaven: over-rated?

Saharial’s first Korea TV drama review – and she has her doubts about one of the most popular ones.
I am a busy gal and simply do NOT have time to waste on a drama that doesn’t push all the right buttons for me. I have been lucky though, that in all this time there have [...]

Read the full article →

Saharial’s guide to Korean TV Drama

4 August 2009 TV drama
Thumbnail image for Saharial’s guide to Korean TV Drama

There are currently 20 dramas airing on Korean TV, all vying for recognition, ratings and cult status. Some are filmed in advance, some are still being filmed even as they are starting to be aired, all having press conferences, on-set interviews, and mass produced replicas of special items from the story, not to mention the [...]

Read the full article →

Natural City: are stunning visuals enough?

18 July 2009 Film reviews and comment
Thumbnail image for Natural City: are stunning visuals enough?

Saharial reviews Natural City, a film which has had a mixed reaction from critics.
Set in the distant future after a great war has ravaged the city, R (Yu Ji-Tae) attempts to find a cure for his dying lover, Ria (Seo Rin), a dancer cyborg who is close to expiration. R however is also a decidedly [...]

Read the full article →

Tomi Kita – In Dreamz

4 June 2009 CD reviews
Thumbnail image for Tomi Kita – In Dreamz

Review by Saharial
Tomi Kita: In Dreamz
Pony Canyon Records, 2008

Having seen them perform at ‘The Peel’ and the Dano festival last year I succumbed to the temptation of buying the one album available at Yesasia.com. ‘In Dreamz’, released in February 2008, is Tomi Kita’s third album and consists of 14 tracks all composed and written by [...]

Read the full article →

Map the Soul – a revolution for the music industry

27 May 2009 Epik High
Thumbnail image for Map the Soul – a revolution for the music industry

Saharial shows her appreciation for the way in which hip-hop group Epik High’s new album is marketed: international fans are included, and even welcomed.

Read the full article →

Kim Kwang Seok – a folk singer still much loved today

12 January 2009 CD reviews
Thumbnail image for Kim Kwang Seok – a folk singer still much loved today

LKL’s K-pop correspondent enthuses about a popular singer from the 1980s and 1990s

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries