“Interior Chinatown” (2024) ~ A Hilarious Hulu Original Series Starrng Jimmy O. Yang

Interior Chinatown is a hilarious Hulu Original series, with 10 episodes, adapted from a 2020 award-winning novel by Charles Yu; released November 19, 2024.

"Feel like I'm a background character in someone else's story." - Willis Wu

This series pokes fun at Hollywood's stereotypes of Asians while making you laugh and also get involved with the main character, Willis Wu, who has always thought that nothing significant or important ever happens in his life. Then a female detective asks for his help in solving a crime and in the process, he learns things about his own family that he never knew.

If you liked Jimmy O. Yang as a stand-up comedian, you'll probably be happy that he got the opportunity to spread his wings. Getting the lead role in “Interior Chinatown” is definitely something significant and important in his life. In an interview with The Wrap, Yang indicated the his character was very much like him in that he had similar experiences early in his career where he felt invisible or not represented. (Interior Chinatown: Jimmy O. Yang Talks Stepping Into Lead Role |The Wrap)

The reviews on this Hulu Original series are mixed. It figures. Asian-Americans rarely speak out about the racism and discrimination they experience. So when a TV show gets released pointing it out and poking fun at the unfairness and inequality, and it's very IN YOUR FACE, that might strike a nerve with some people. Me? I like Jimmy O. Yang and am happy for this major step he has taken with his career. All of the actors in “Interior Chinatown” were an impressive cast.

CAST: Jimmy O. Yang, Ronny Chieng, Chloe Bennet

GENRE: Comedy, Crime, Murder Mystery, Police Procedural

FILMING LOCATIONS: Filmed mainly in Los Angeles, California (on-location shoots and studio spaces, including the Fox Studio Lot and Universal Studios Lot). Certain scenes were in the actual Chinatown neighborhood in Los Angeles.

• Rajasini. “Where Was Hulu’s Interior Chinatown Filmed? All Filming Location Explored.” Sportskeeda, 21 Nov. 2024, https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/shows/where-hulu-s-interior-chinatown-filmed-all-filming-location-explored.

Viewership and Rating:

• IMDb: 7.1 out of 10 stars

Watch “Interior Chinatown” (2024) | Hulu/Disney+

LINKS OF INTEREST:

JimmyO. Yang Shines in Excellent "Interior Chinatown" |TV/Streaming | Roger Ebert

‘Interior Chinatown’ Struggles to Turn an Allegorical Novel Into a Show: TV Review | Variety

TheHollywood Reporter | 'Interior Chinatown': Jimmy O. Yang in CharlesYu's Meta Hulu Mystery

InteriorChinatown review – ambitious, yet tiring, adaptation of CharlesYu’s novel | Television | The Guardian

Hulu's'Interior Chinatown' impresses viewers and critics with bold satire |YAHOO! Entertainment

Review:‘Interior Chinatown’ is too weird and ambitious for its own good| Datebook

(Original Source)

♦

Tomorrow With You ~ Can a Time Traveler Change the Future?

“Tomorrow With You” is a 2017 drama series, with 16 episodes, and can be categorized as Time Travel, Romance, Comedy (Rom-Com) and Fantasy or Supernatural.

• SUMMARY: Suppose you meet someone on one day and that chance meeting saved your life. Then on another day you see your lifeless body being a carried away and the lifeless body of the woman who saved your life is also being carried away. Since you have the ability to time travel, maybe you can go back and sever the relationship you have with her. That should be fix everything. Right? That might work IF ... the ability to travel through time also gives you the ability to change the future. But if it doesn't ...

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♦ Life is Shorter Than You Think

Yoo So-joon is a handsome, young and wealthy CEO. You could say he has it all. What more could he ask for? Love? Well, that's obvious. But what else? How about the ability to travel through time? That wasn't exactly something that Yoo So-joon had on his wish list. But one day while riding the subway train, he felt a terrible pain in his head. The next thing he knew he was in a different time period. As soon as he got off the train he met another time traveler. The time traveler told him he'll have to get used to going back and forth between past, present, and future. But the most important rule is to never be in the same time period with yourself. He can't be with his present self and his future self at the same time. That's bad!

OK! Important safety tip! But guess what happened? Yoo So-joon saw his dead body being carried away on a stretcher. There was also a woman who had died and her name was Song Ma-Rin. Yoo So-joon wondered if it was possible to change the outcome of this tragic event. He time traveled again and it turns out he and Song Ma-Rin were married. In another time period, he and Song Ma-Rin were both on the same train. They got into an argument with each other and got off the train. While they were still arguing, the train blew up! Yoo So-joon had intended to stay on the train that day. If he had, he would have died.

Somehow the timelines of their lives were intertwined. In one period, she saved his life. In another, they both died together.

Song Ma-Rin is unaware that Yoo So-joon has already seen her future. She is barely managing to live in the present because her past keeps getting in the way. Song Ma-Rin used to be a child star but when she grew up she did not pursue an acting career. The problem is reporters keep writing articles about how she has not accomplished anything since her fame as a child actress and this gets in the way of her moving forward. When she met Yoo So-Joon he gave her this advice: "Life is shorter than you think. You shouldn't be hung up on the past.” He could say that, since Yoo So-joon already knew her future.

Yoo So-joon decided to traveled back in time to see if he could break their connection. If he could somehow sever their relationship, they wouldn't be together, they wouldn't fall in love and get married, and they probably would not die in a terrible accident. But does having the ability to time-travel also give you the ability to change your future?

Main Characters:

• Song Ma-Rin (played by Shin Min-A**)

• Yoo So-Joon (played by Lee Je-Hoon, “Chief Inspector 1958”, “Taxi Driver 1 and 2”, “Move to Heaven”, “My Paparotti”, “Time to Hunt”)

** Shin Min-A is a Korean actress who popped up on my radar in “Arang and the Magistrate ”. She stars in several Korean dramas that are still on my watch list: “Diva”, “Chief of Staff 1 and 2”, “Oh My Venus” (award-winning), and “Hometown Cha Cha Cha”. Have you watched any of these?

• Where to Watch: The Roku Channel and Tubi TV

Viewership and Ratings:

• IMDb Rating: 7.4 out of 10 stars

• My Drama List: 8 out of 10 stars

• Dramabeans: 8.3 out of 10 stars

• Letterboxd: 3.6 out of 5 stars

• Google users public rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars

My personal rating is the same as My Drama List.

This Kdrama series had mixed reviews. Some did not give high marks for the acting or the script. Others said it was underrated and thought the chemistry between the couple was great.

I am always interested in how a scriptwriter will spin a time travel fantasy / love story. In “Tomorrow With You”:

• The female lead had a difficult time trying to get away from her past, so that she could live productively in the present.

• The male lead was trying to get away from his grim future that had her in it.

He felt should she could easily fix her problem if she just wasn't hung up on her past. Whereas the best way to fix his problem was to get her out of his life, because she is the problem!

I had to see how this was going to work out.

LINKS OF INTEREST:

Tomorrow With You | Korean Drama Review (“A beautiful, languidly romantic time traveling story,...”)

Twelve (12) of the Best Time Travel K Dramas And Where To Watch Them | TODAY

Lee Je Hoon: An Actor Review | Drama Homebody

Tomorrow With You ~ Can a Time Traveler Change the Future? https://t.co/qMhn9txwm3 #kdramas #Koreandrama #allthingshallyu #entertainment #popcornworthy #fantasy

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) August 10, 2024

WATCH TRAILER:

Ani-Hongo. “TOMORROW, with YOU (2017) - TRAILER.” YouTube Video. YouTube, March 28, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=824cd8uXz8Y.

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Angel's Last Mission: Love (2019); An Award-Winning Korean Drama

"Angel’s Last Mission: Love"

Kim Dan is an angel who knows the rules of the heavenly realm. He must never touch a human. If he does, he'll disappear, as in “cease to exist”. He doesn't want that. He wants to go to heaven. But even though he knew the rules, the female was badly injured and pleading for someone to save her. Lee Seul-hwa was blind but she could hear that someone was there at the accident and they were close enough to help her. She used to be a prima ballerina, but while performing on stage one night there was a terrible accident which resulted in her losing her eyesight. People are afraid to be around her because she is an angry, bitter, cold-hearted former ballet dancer who takes out her frustration on everyone else, as if it's their fault. What is even worse is that the Fantasia Ballet Company that her parents built for her to inherit has almost been stolen from her by greedy relatives.

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So many times Lee Seul-hwa had wanted to die. But now that she might actually die, she's begging to live. Her pitiful pleas were too much for Kim Dan and he yielded to temptation. He broke the rules and touched a human to save her life. When Lee Seul-hwa woke up in the hospital she could see! Meanwhile Kim Dan was getting ready to receive his punishment. But wait! He didn't disappear! Why does he still exist? It's true, he does exist, but no longer as an angel. Now he is a human who is being given a chance to re-earn his wings. This will be his last mission. If he fails he can forget about a heavenly reward. What's the mission? LOVE. He must find true love for Lee Seul-hwa. Even though she is no longer blind, she is still disgruntled, angry and a terrifying person to be in the same room with.

Lee Seul-hwa has so many emotional scars. She is afraid to love because all of the people she loved have died. Loving someone is too painful so she avoids becoming vulnerable. Kim Dan starts trying to play matchmaker, but starts to develop genuine feelings for her and unintentionally creates a love triangle. This wasn't supposed to happen. Aren't angels only supposed to love God? Will he be punished for loving Lee Seul-hwa?

Genre: Romance and Fantasy or Supernatural

IMDb Rating: 7.7 out of 10 stars

My Drama List: 8.4 out of 10 stars

Viki viewers rated this series 9.5 out of 10 stars

AWARDS: This delightful Korean drama won several awards at the 2019 KBS Drama Awards ceremony. Shin Hae-Sun won Top Excellence Award, Actress. Kim Myung-Soo won Best New Actor and K-Drama Hallyu Star. Together they won Best Couple Award.

Main Characters:

• Lee Yeon-Seo (played by Shin Hae-Sun, “Welcome to Samdal-ri”, “See You in My 19th Life”, “Mr. Queen”, “Don't Buy the Seller”)

• Kim Dan (played by Kim Myung-Soo, “Dare to Love Me”, “Numbers”, “Royal Secret Agent”)

LINKS OF INTEREST:

4 Heart-Fluttering Fantasy K-Dramas To Enjoy During The Fall | Soompi

9 Entertaining K-Dramas That Involve Multiple Worlds |Soompit

Winners Of 2019 KBS Drama Awards | Soompi

WATCH TRAILER:

Viu Singapore. “Angel’s Last Mission: Love 단, 하나의 사랑 TRAILER | INFINITE’S L, SHIN HYE SUN.” YouTube Video. YouTube, May 23, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TSA7zVmmx0.

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"Angel’s Last Mission: Love" ~ Finding Love for the Unlovable https://t.co/VzPlpPb7an #kdramas #Koreandrama #allthingshallyu #entertainment #popcornworthy #fantasy

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) August 10, 2024

Five (5) Popcorn-Worthy 'BAD' Korean Dramas

Check out this list of Korean dramas with the word “Bad” or “Bad” in the titles, available on popular streaming platforms in the USA.

Pass the popcorn, please!

 ♦ (1) Bad Guys (2014)

Watch Bad Guys (2014) Online for Free | The Roku Channel | Roku

Main Characters:

• Oh Goo-Tak (played by Kim Sang-Joong)

• Park Woong-Cheol (played by Ma Dong-Seok)

• Lee Jung-Moon (played by Park Hae-Jin)

• Jung Tae-Soo (played by Jo Dong-Hyuk)

• Yoo Mi-Young (played by Gang Ye-Won)

Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller, Police Procedural

PLOT: Who better to fight bad guys than bad guys? In the classic American war movie “The Dirty Dozen”, the military decides to send a dozen criminals into enemy territory to fight for their country. They had particular skill sets that were useful and the military just needed to train them to be soldiers. This Korean drama has a similar storyline. A police detective lost his daughter to a murderer. He was suspended from his job for using excessive force to apprehend suspects. But then he was called back to work because one of his superiors also lost his son to a murderer. Violent crimes are on the rise, so the police detective forms a crime team made up of criminals to catch criminals. One is a contract killer and the other is a serial killer. Their work will result in reduced sentences and possibly their freedom. But will this really work?  

WATCH TRAILER

♦ (2) Bad Guys: Vile City (2017)

(NOTE: This is “Bad Guys 2.)

Available on Apple TV+

Main Characters:

• Woo Je-Moon (played by Park Joong-Hoon)

• Jo Young-Kook (played by Kim Hong-Fa)

• Heo Il-Hoo (played by Joo Jin-Mo)

• Jang Sung-Cheol (played by Yang Ik-June)

• No Jin-Pyeong (played by Kim Moo-Yul)

• Han Gang-Joo (played by Ji Soo)

Genre: Mystery, Action, Crime, Thriller, Police Procedural, Political

PLOT: The bad guys keep fighting the bad guys in this Korean drama series sequel. It has the same theme as Season 1. This time a crusading prosecutor and a detective work together and go after a crime lord. The investigative team includes a serial killer, an assassin and a mobster with a personal vendetta. The crime lord has managed to evade capture because there are those on “the inside” who work for him. Battling organized crime is hard enough but it's extra hard when you have to fight institutional corruption. But no matter, because for the team, it's just another day at work.

WATCH TRAILER

♦ (3) The Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos (2019)

(NOTE: This is a movie. The series “Bad Guys”, released in 2014 is the prequel.)

Available on Apple TV+

Main Characters:

• No Sang-Sik (played by Jo Young-Jin)

• Detective So Oh Goo-Tak (played by Kim Sang-Joong)

• Park Woong-Cheol (played by Ma Dong-Seok)

• Kwak No-Soon (played by Kim A-Joong)

• Ko Yoo-Sung (played by Jang Ki-Yong)

Genre: Crime and Action

PLOT: While prisoners are being transported, the vehicle is attacked by ruthless assassins, in order to free a former Korean gang boss, who works with the yakuza. A crime investigative unit is tasked with capturing the escaped prisoners, especially the former gang boss. The unit includes certain criminals who are promised reduced sentences if they succeed. Some in law enforcement are aligned with the yakuza leader and they interfere with the mission and even betray their fellow officers. But the crime investigation team never wavers. They know what their mission is and they aim to catch the escaped prisoners and put them back behind bars.

WATCH TRALER

♦ (4) Bad and Crazy (2021-2022)

Netflix USA started streaming the series on November 28, 2022.

Main Characters:

• Ryu Soo-Yeol (played by Lee Dong-Wook)

• Alternate Personality named K (played by Wi Ha-Joon)

Genre: Police Procedural, Legal Drama, Medical Drama, Action, Comedy

PLOT: A young man has a split personality. He suffers from multiple personality disorder, also referred to as dissociative identity disorder (DID). It's not that he's “bad” or “crazy”. He just wants career advancement in the law enforcement agency he works for and figures the best way to get a promotion is to overlook or cover up crimes that have been committed. All he has to do is neatly wrap things up, close the cases, and file them away. However, his alternate personality known as “K” pricks his ethical and moral conscience and makes him do the right thing. In other words, his alter ego is a justice-seeking HERO!

WATCH TRAILER

♦ (5) Bad Prosecutor (2022)

Viki viewers rated this series 9.5 out of 10 stars

Main Characters:

• Jin Jung (played by Do Kyung-Soo)

• Shin A-Ra (played by Lee Se-Hee)

• Oh Do-Hwan (played by Ha-Joon)

Genre: Legal Drama, Action

PLOT: A young boy who witnesses many things that were unjust decides that when he grows up he will wield a sword of justice just like the swordfighters in video games. However, as an adult, he realized the fight against injustice was rigged by people with wealth and power, in their favor. The “sword of justice” he planned to use would not be effective in eliminating crime and corruption. He was hired as a prosecutor and assigned to the Central District Prosecutors' Office Criminal Division 3. Some of the prosecutors he worked with were as corrupt as the bad guys on the outside. They abused their positions of public trust and covered up crimes. Going by the book was not only time-consuming, but those standard processes and procedures usually did not work. Because his work methods were different from his fellow prosecutors and he didn't follow the “rules”, the young man was labeled a “bad prosecutor”. Since he knew that some prosecutors had ways to erase dirty deeds, he simply developed ways to work around them so that justice could be served.

WATCH TRAILER

Five (5) Popcorn-Worthy 'GOOD' Korean Dramas

Check out this list of Korean dramas with the word “Good” in the titles, available on popular streaming platforms in the USA.

Graba bowl of popcorn and enjoy!

♦ (1) Good Doctor (2013)

Viki viewers rated this series 9.6 out of 10 stars

Main Characters:

• Park Shi-On (played by Joo Won)

• Cha Yoon-Seo (played by Moon Chae-Won)

Genre: Medical drama, Romance

PLOT: The chief director of a hospital who knows a young man with special abilities persuades the other hospital directors to place him in the residency training program by putting his own job on the line. It's a tremendous risk, but he is that confident that he can be a good doctor. But if the resident trainee does not perform well, the chief director who recommended him agreed to resign. A top pediatric surgeon will mentor the young savant and he will live in an apartment complex for hospital doctors where he meets other residents he will work with. Against the odds, this young man with savant syndrome and a developmental disability, becomes a pediatric surgeon.  WATCH TRAILER

♦ (2) Good Manager (2017)

Viki viewers rated this series 9.5 out of 10 stars

Main Characters:

• Kim Sung-Ryong (played by Namkoong Min)

• Yoon Ha-Kyung (played by Nam Sang-Mi)

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Idol Drama

PLOT: A young man used to receive awards for being a math genius when he was a little boy. Somehow he took a wrong turn as an adult and ended up managing money for gangsters. Of course, he was skimming some of the money he collected for his gang boss. He had hopes, dreams, and big plans to immigrate to Denmark. Why? Supposedly it was a nice country with very little crime. How ironic. One day his crime boss found out that he had a cash stash and demanded his money back or else! TQ Group is a business that looks legitimate, but under the surface the executives are just as corrupt and dirty as gangsters. The corporation wants to fill their position for the chief of their accounting department and prefers to hire an outsider rather than choose from management or staff already working there. The young man interviews for the job and is hired. His gangster boss decides that instead of getting rid of him, he should have his former employee work at TQ Group. The boss hopes there might be a door of opportunity that will allow him to secretly infiltrate this so-called legitimate business. The young man is also hoping his job will be an opportunity, but for different reasons. Denmark is still his dream destination.  WATCH TRAILER

♦ (3) The Good Thieves (2017)

Viki viewers rated this series 9.3 out of 10 stars

Main Characters:

• Jang Dol-Mok (played by Ji Hyun-Woo)

• Kang So-Joo (played by Seohyun)

• Han Joon-Hee / Jang Min-Jae (played by Kim Ji-Hoon)

• Yoon Hwa-Young (played by Lim Ju-Eun)

Genre: Romance, Family, Crime and Mystery

PLOT: A group of thieves unite to fight corruption. Although they come from different backgrounds and circumstances in life, they have one thing in common: their ancestors were Freedom Fighters. Anyone who knows the history of Korea knows that the Freedom Fighters in Korea were courageous individuals with diverse backgrounds and skills who resisted oppression and fought for independence. They played a key role in shaping Korea's national identity. They certainly didn't risk their lives so that their country could be handed over to lawless and corrupt people. A group of thieves band together to pull off one last heist to expose the dirty secrets and horrible crimes of the rich and powerful. It's for justice and for the future of their own children.  WATCH TRAILER

♦ (4) Good Job (2022)

Viki viewers rated this Original series 9.3 out of 10 stars

Main Characters:

• Eun Seon-Woo (played by Jung Il-Woo)

• Don Se-Ra (played by Kwon Yuri)

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Crime and Mystery

PLOT: A young man who serves as the CEO of Korea's largest company. To those on the outside he's just another another chaebol heir, born into money. However, he secretly runs a detective agency. You could say he says similar abilities to Sherlock Holmes and he chooses to use them solve crime. He crosses paths with a young woman who was born with hyperacuity, and decides that she would be an excellent assistant and help him with conducting investigations. Almost like a Holmes and Watson duo, only a little bit funnier. As they work together solving crimes, their relationship blossoms into romance.  WATCH TRAILER

♦ (5) Good Partner (2024)

Viki viewers rated this series 9.3 out of 10 stars

Main Characters:

• Cha Eun-Kyung (played by Jang Na-Ra)

• Han Yu-Ri (played by Nam Ji-Hyun)

Genre: Legal Drama

PLOT: A rookie attorney thought she was starting her dream job in the corporate department of a prestigious law firm. Instead she was assigned to the divorce team. Her new boss has also been her teacher in law school and they never agreed with each other. Now they are working together? As soon as she starts working on divorce settlements, their differing perspectives clash again. Despite their differences, the rookie attorney realized that she was going to gain a great deal of legal experience and wisdom from her boss. Her boss actually appreciated the different way the rookie attorney approached her cases. She knew that the rookie always wanted to do the best for her client, which is why she hired the rookie to handle her own divorce. Her divorce was going to be very contentious and complicated. The experienced attorney needed someone who would think “outside of the box” and devise a successful legal strategy to severe ties with her adulterous husband and grant her custody of their only child. This was a challenge. Would the rookie attorney be able to come up with an effective legal approach?  WATCH TRAILER

5 Binge-Worthy Korean Dramas Worth Rewatching

Some Korean dramas are soooooo good, you want to watch them again.  Here are my 5 K-Dramas with episodes to rewatch. **Spoiler alert.**

♦ 1) Tomorrow (2022)

This is a supernatural K-drama series about grim reapers who prevent suicides. I loved the episode about the war hero. His life story made me angry at the way his bravery in battle was disregarded. When it was his time to pass into the afterlife, a legion of grim reapers showed up to escort him and they all saluted him. At the end of the scene I was crying my eyes out.

♦ 2) Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung

This a historical period drama about female historians, who took their jobs just as seriously as their male counterparts. They experienced gender discrimination but overcame it. There was one episode worth rewatching. The king wanted to see the admin records kept by the historians, which is against the law. He sent men to their workplace to take the documents by force if necessary. The men sent by the king and the male historians got into a fistfight. When the female historians saw what was happening, they joined in the fight. It was hilarious! But the historians stood their ground. The king ultimately had to back down.

♦ 3) Mr. Sunshine (2018)

This is a Netflix original series and everything about it is SPECTACULAR! There were several episodes that I liked. But the most memorable scene was when the Korean lady who owned the hotel where the Japanese were staying … BLEW IT UP!! With the Japanese inside, of course.

♦ 4) Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth (2016)

The Hwarang are the flower boys of the Silla Kingdom (57 BC–AD 935). Young men chosen from noble families were chosen and trained to be warriors. But they were also trained in the arts, and I might add that they were all “eye candy”. The coolest scene was when the warriors who had been sent as part of a delegation to Baekje to avoid war, had to escape. The Baekje prince wanted war and chased after them with his troops, intending to slaughter them. However, the rest of the Hwarang came to the rescue and the prince had to turn around and go back home. It was so cool!

♦ 5) Dong Yi (2010)

This historical period drama is about the true love story between the king and a lowly water maid. The best episode was when one of the corrupt officials conspired against Dong Yi. He thought that he had the queen in the palm of his hand and could easily manipulate her to do his bidding. But when he showed up at Dong Yi's residence thinking that they would arrest her, they arrested him instead. I was like: “Boo yeah! Take that you dirty rat!”

****

Original Source

K-Drama Movies to Watch Free on Pluto TV (Part 2)

The list below are 5 Korean movies that are streaming free with ads on Pluto TV. The “H” means the film is historical. In the previous list published via PopGeeks, the movie gems were released between 2009 and 2012. The films on the list below were released between 2013 and 2021.

1. Killer Toon (2013)
2. The Sound of a Flower (2015)-H
3. The Swordsman (2020)-H
4. Beasts Clawing at Straws (2020)
5. Escape from Mogadishu (2021)

♦ 1) Killer Toon (2013)

A webtoon artist who becomes entangled in a series of gruesome murders because the real-life crimes resembling her fictional work. As she delves deeper into the mystery, she uncovers dark secrets and a chilling connection between her creations and reality.  This film is categorized as Horror, Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense.

• Detective Lee Ki-Cheol (played by Uhm Ki-Joon, “The Escape of the Seven”, “I Am Not a Robot”)
• Webcomic Writer Ji-Yoon (played by Lee Si-Young)

PAYNUX Movie. “Killer Toon 2013 Full Movie Trailer - Murder Tragedy Based on Comic Story.” YouTube Video. YouTube, September 10, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChUrNinYNq8.

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♦ 2) The Sound of a Flower (2015)

This historical period drama is based on a true story, set in 1867 Korea. Jin Chae-seon is a Korean pansori singer. She disguises herself as a man in order to compete in “Naksungyeon”, a national competition of pansori performers. This historical figure is believed to be the first female master of a male-dominated genre. Born in the 1840s, she became a master of performing Simcheongga and Chunhyangga.

• “Pansori is a traditional Korean performance that combines singing, drumming, and body language to tell a story.” Learn more: [Visual History of Korea] ‘Pansori’ -- Musical storytelling across societal barriers | The Korea Herald

• Chae-Sun (played by Bae Suzy, “Doona”)
• Shin Jae-Hyo (played by Ryu Seung-Ryong)

CJEntertainmentUSA. “The Sound of a Flower Official Teaser Trailer W/ English Subtitles [HD].” YouTube Video. YouTube, October 30, 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZL_CP1sw9L4.


♦ 3) The Swordsman (2020)

After a king of Joseon was dethroned, the country's best swordsman who has served him faithfully, vanishes. His wish is to live quietly with his daughter away from the palace intrigue, corruption, and constant conspiracies. But his wish was not granted. There is a conflict between Qing and Ming Dynasty has thrown Joseon into chaos and his daughter is kidnapped. He must pick up his sword once again to go save his daughter.  This film is categorized as Action, and Historical Fiction.

• Tae Yool (played by Jang Hyuk, “My Country: The New Age”)
• Tae Yool’s daughter Tae Ok (played by Kim Hyun-Soo)

Well Go USA Entertainment. “THE SWORDSMAN Official Trailer | Directed by Choi Jae-Hoon | Starring Jang Hyuk and Kim Hyeon-Soo.” YouTube Video. YouTube, December 16, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMuBuL982iQ.

♦ 4) Beasts Clawing at Straws (2020)

A bag of money gets lost and the lives of several characters interconnect and intersect. The more greedy and desperate they become to find the money, the more they are willing to take extreme measures.  This film is categorized as Black Comedy, Crime, Thriller, and Neo-noir.

• Joong-Man (played by Bae Sung-Woo)
• Tae-Young (played by Jung Woo-Sung)
• Yeon-Hee (played by Jeon Do-Yeon, “Crash Course in Romance”)
• Mi-Ran (played by Shin Hyun-Bin)
• Jin-Tae (played by Jung Ga-Ram)

Artsploitation Films. “Beasts Clawing at Straws | Official Trailer.” YouTube Video. YouTube, September 28, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQFyCvDgL7Q.
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♦ 5) Escape from Mogadishu (2021)

Based on true events. South and North Korean diplomats must escape from war-torn Somalia in 1991. The divisions of north versus south and political ideologies don't matter. In the midst of chaos and conflict, it's just humans working together to overcome adversity. Survival is what counts.  This film is categorized as Action and Historical; and has won 20+ awards, including Best Film and Most Popular Film.

• Han Shin-Sung, Ambassador, South Korean Embassy (played by Kim Yun-Seok)
• Kang Dae-Jin, Councilor, North Korean Embassy (played by Zo In-Sung)

Well Go USA Entertainment. “ESCAPE from MOGADISHU Official Trailer | Korean Action War Drama | Directed by Ryoo Seung-Wan.” YouTube Video. YouTube, July 13, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvNFzwKtSy0.
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Watch Free on Pluto TV: 5 Korean Movies Released 2013-2021 | https://t.co/gmI236IWvl https://t.co/hJj0uXHu6E pic.twitter.com/2uEPMglrhe

— Joie de Vivre Magazine (aka My Fox Nooze) (@FoxMarks_ATX) February 23, 2024

K-Drama Movie Gems to Watch Free on Pluto TV (Part 1)

The list below is 5 Korean movies I have already watched or are on my watchlist. The “H” means the film is historical.

1. Castaway on the Moon (2009)
2. I Saw the Devil (2010)
3. Swordbrothers: The Showdown (2011)-H
4. Nameless Gangster (2012)
5. Perfect Number (2012)

♦ 1) Castaway on the Moon (2009)

Kim Seung-Keun (played by Jung Jae-Young) goes to a bridge over the Han River because he is contemplating suicide. He jumps but instead of dying he ends up stranded on a deserted island in the middle of Seoul. Looks like it just wasn't his day to die. Once he gets adjusted to his new life, he decides living a solitary life is not so bad, even though he still wrote out a message in the sand “HELP”, just in case.

Kim Jung-Yeon (played by Jung Ryeo-Won) also lives a solitary life and never leaves her apartment. Her hobby is taking photos of the moon. But one night she happened to see “HELP” written in the sand and a figure of a man walking on the shore of the deserted island.

It's a very unusual way for two solitary people to connect.

♦ 2) I Saw the Devil (2010)

This K-drama is a gripping and suspenseful thriller. So-Hyun (played by Lee Byung-Hun, “Concrete Utopia”, “Mr. Sunshine”) is an agent for the NIS (National Intelligence Service). When his fiancée is murdered by a serial killer, he uses his KSAs (knowledge, skills, and abilities) as a secret agent to relentlessly pursue the killer. If he catches the murderer alive, the right thing to do is turn him over to law enforcement for trial and conviction. However, since he is a covert agent he might blur the lines between right and wrong, and misuse his “license to kill”.

♦ 3) Swordbrothers: The Showdown (2011)

This is a Korean historical period drama and the setting is Manchuria, China, 1619. Heon-myung (played by Park Hee-soon, “The Bequeathed”); Do-young (played by Jin Goo, “Shadow Detective”); and Du-soo (played by Ko Chang-seok) are three swordsman from Joseon who are forced to come to China by the Ming Dynasty. They tried to take refuge in a tavern but found themselves cornered by Manchu forces.

Do you love intense sword fighting scenes in historical K-dramas? Then you'll love this movie.

♦ 4) Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time (2012)

Set in the 1980s, this gritty crime drama follows a corrupt customs officer who rises to power in the criminal underworld. Choi Ik-Hyun (played by Choi Min-Sik, “In Our Prime”) is caught accepting bribes. He wasn't the only dirty officer but he is the one who took the blame. One night while still being employed as a customs office he discovers a stash of illegal drugs in a warehouse. Since he had to leave his honest job where he was dishonest, he makes up his mind to become completely dishonest. It turns out he's related to a crime boss, Choi Hyung-Bae (played by Ha Jung-Woo, “Narco Saints”), so they become partners in crime and take over the Busan underworld.

♦ 5) Perfect Number (2012)

This film is a mystery thriller. Suk-Go (played by Ryoo Seung-Bum, “The Berlin File”) is a math genius. That's the highlight of his life. He's good with numbers, but not much else and lives as a recluse. Hwa-Sun (played by Lee Yo-Won, “The Great Queen Seondeok”) is his neighbor. He makes no effort to establish any kind of neighborly bond. She moved there because she was trying to escape her abusive violent boyfriend, only he found her.

Suk-Go hears sounds coming from his neighbor's house which are obviously the noises made when people are having a violent fight. Hwa-Sun manages to kill her ex-boyfriend. Suk-Go knocked on the door to ask if there was a problem and when he entered the house, he saw the dead body.

Hwa-Sun does not try to stop him from calling the police but she asked him if he would listen to her side of the story before making the call. Suk-Go decides to help her cover up what happened.

Hwa-Sun accepts his help but later she starts wondering “what's his angle”? She starts adding things up in her mind. Why did he help her? Does he have dark secrets? Is he a psycho who is worse than her ex-boyfriend? I mean … she didn't even know him and he volunteered to . Things don't seem to quite add up. It's not just math!

This movie is based on the 2005 novel "Yogisha X no Kenshin" ("The Devotion of Suspect X").

Watch Free on Pluto TV: 5 K-Drama Movie Gems | https://t.co/gmI236IWvl https://t.co/vsiZIGKQrr

— Joie de Vivre Magazine (aka My Fox Nooze) (@FoxMarks_ATX) February 23, 2024