You're Beautiful (2009)

I would like to start this review by saying that I know that this is, for a lot of people, the perfect cliché drama. For me, it is indeed very cliché but I don't think it's anywhere near perfect. I did enjoy it very much but it didn't really blow my mind. I know it's quite old so, for its time, I think it did fairly well. And I've always been curious about it so I'm glad I watched it. I'll now detail my review a little.

Story- Probably the worst part for me. So cliché and not even done well. But I do have to admit it was entertaining. Unfortunately, the ending was not for me. Not because I was upset with who she ended up with but the last scene was quite bad, in my opinion. The plot is extremely unrealistic which makes it boring at times and I did skip some seconds every now and then. But, again, it's quite entertaining and at least it made sense in a way. The dialogue was a hit or miss for me. To sum it up, I've seen worse.

Acting/Cast/Characters- Unlike many people, this was my first impression of every actor in this show. I had heard of them before but it's my first time watching them act. In this, they weren't outstanding, even though they were very likeable. The characters were just... too much? I did like all three guys and Minam wasn't unlikeable but she was pathetic at times, I must say. Jeremy was so so so cute! His bus' scenes were heartbreaking and probably my favorite in the show. Shinwoo was such a gentleman... I do think he pushed Minam a little too hard but after all he had good intentions and I suppose it's really hard to be in a position like his. I would have chosen him! Now, Taekyung... ahhh he's in a whole different world. The other characters were quite good but forgettable. I did like the president though. I don't think the chemistry was that good but it wasn't terrible either. I really like the cast but it could have been better. I'm sure their other dramas are a way better representation of who they are as actors because this one was probably one of the first works for many of them.

Music- My favorite part. 10000%. It felt so nostalgic! The ballads are my favorite.

Rewatch value- Because it didn't really touch my heart, I don't think I will rewatch it anytime soon but I don't completely exclude the possibility! It was entertaining after all.

Even though this wasn't my favorite, I can see why this drama is very important to many people and also its contribution to the drama world. I'm really glad I watched it, even if it took me like... 3 months?? Oh well, I will definitely watch more dramas with this cast!

Watch it if you want to feel nostalgic. ^^

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Toxic Male Gets Ultimate Reward ... for being a bullying.

The amount of demeaning, bullying, and nasty behavior Hwang Tae Kyung gets away is not cute, or funny. He's a really hurtful person. I don't think it makes sense for Mi Nye to fall for the guy who is the most cruel to her. What is this saying about women? "Treat 'em mean, keep 'em keen" ?

In order to have earned her love, he should at least have undergone some MAJOR changes, which he didn't. He barely got over his own ego enough to go after her in the end ... and only because everyone else told him to do it. He learned nothing. She was a sap, from beginning to end.

And when she found out Yoo He Yi was now bullying and threatening her brother, as well, Mi Nye should have finally found her courage and slapped the troublesome snake-lady. But no, she was a sap right to the end.

My third complaint is that they should have cast the brother properly, using an actor, as also slight-framed, for credibility's sake. Using a buff male body, with Shin Hye's head, was stupid, and obviously - could not be mistaken for the same person. It's not believable that the two were not just siblings, but TWINS - who had gone through a horrific ordeal together ... and yet, Mi Nye barely ever mentioned her brother, worried about him, missed him, and barely showed any interest in seeing him again.

The acting was fine - Lee Hong Ki was fantastic (as always).
The music was good.

The script? Very shallow, and disappointing.
Still, it was a good romp, and was worth it just for Lee Hong Ki's character, Manager Ma, and Kang Shin Woo, who (although the character made poor choices), was played well by the actor.

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Cult Classic

I think that is the easiest way to explain this drama concisely. It's a cult classic. If you read some of the critical reviews, I'd tend to agree with them, but the thing is it's what makes it a cult classic in my opinion.
The acting isn't perfect and the dialogue can be weird at times, but that makes it even funnier.
I think if you go in knowing it's not a serious tv show, you will better be able to enjoy it. You can't compare it to highly choreographed big budget tv shows of today because that's not what it is. But if you go in and just accept it for what it is, a lower budget old funny spoof on some cliches, I think it's pretty solid and has pretty good rewatch value

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My man, this show has the cringiest and darn sweetest stuff in it, it's crazy!!

Just watched this through the second time and I'm sure there'll be more.
Main thing of this drama: it's very GOOFY!

Other main thing: THE MAIN GUY!
He is basically holding this whole show together and leading it. He has the most entertaining (and prettiest) face ever. He seems the most confident actor out of the four main ones, and he definitely makes his weirdo/cool character feel alive. The others are pretty much over/underacting like all the time... but you can get used to it, because the main guy has the most screen time THANK GOODNESS! The main girl cries well though, I have to admit.

And yes, she tries to be in disguise as a guy and looks nothing like a guy, yes, yes, the usual, it's okay, let's pretend is works... maybe one day they'll cast a guyish looking girl for a role like this...

So I don't know who wrote the first few episodes, but it feels like they might have changed the guy as the show went forward THANK GOODNESS! Survive the first few episodes please, it's worth it! It has the most disgusting humor and lame slapstick, horrible camera angles like a really cheap comedy. But it gets so much better not much later, I swear they must have changed someone on the crew. But even later the story is pretty much nothing or just drama, it just exists to create situations where the romance can thrive or bump into obstacles honestly.

Misunderstandings, drama, lies, villains: CHECK... Sadly it has too much of these, but someone might enjoy them, I don't that much, but I can get through them. There were some frustrating ones though by the end.

So why the extremely biased high score when I keep saying a bunch of flaws... well my friend, because the romance IS WORTH IT! (if you like the main guy, that is) It's the sweetest stuff, definitely up in my alley of the hate to love category. Also more eyeliner guys to the world please!!!

Also I don't really like the too romantic pop music in k-dramas but here the songs they sang were pretty good and catchy I think.

I laughed a lot, shed a tear here and there, cringed a lot, and fricking exploded from the cuteness! If you can see beyond the frequent poor acting skills and occasional lame humor, you can actually find a unique treasure, I think.

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Amazing ?

"You're Beautiful" is a delightful Korean drama series that was first aired in 2009. The story revolves around a young girl named Go Mi-nyeo, who impersonates her twin brother Go Mi-nam in order to fulfill his dream of becoming a famous singer. The drama is filled with humor, romance, and heartwarming moments that will leave viewers entertained and emotionally invested in the characters.

One of the strengths of "You're Beautiful" is its cast, which includes some of the most talented actors in the Korean entertainment industry. Park Shin-hye plays the role of Go Mi-nyeo/Go Mi-nam and delivers a remarkable performance as she portrays both the feminine and masculine sides of the character. Jang Geun-suk plays the role of Hwang Tae-kyung, the lead vocalist of the popular boy band A.N.Jell, who initially dislikes Go Mi-nam but eventually develops feelings for her. Other members of the band, played by Lee Hong-gi and Jung Yong-hwa, also deliver strong performances and add depth to the story.

The plot of "You're Beautiful" is engaging and keeps viewers hooked from the very beginning. The drama explores themes of identity, family, friendship, and love, and does so in a way that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. The drama also features a fantastic soundtrack, with many of the songs performed by the cast themselves, which adds to the overall experience.

One criticism of the drama could be that it is somewhat predictable and follows some of the typical tropes of Korean dramas, such as the love triangle and the mistaken identity plot. However, the strong performances of the cast and the charming storyline more than make up for any cliches.

Overall, "You're Beautiful" is a must-watch for fans of Korean dramas, or for anyone who enjoys a heartwarming and entertaining story. It is a classic in the genre and is sure to leave viewers feeling happy and satisfied.

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I'd already watched this drama earlier but I started watching it again on a whim yesterday and couldn't stop watching even though I already knew the story. I realized all over again how much I loved it. I've never actually re-watched a drama before, just thought I could and would. That says a lot about how much I liked it.

The story in itself is nothing noteworthy. It's a simple plot-line that branches out into a couple of other directions interrelating subplots. What made it special were the characters. Though a little unrealistic and impractical, they were really endearing. You grow to love them and go from twist to twist hanging onto them for support. This is the reason Korean shows had me hooked onto them in the first place, their ability to make me a part of themselves. Being able to emotionally connect with the characters in a show that you KNOW isn't real doesn't come easy for a realist like me, that's what makes it all the more special.

And what made the characters all the more amazing? The actors. Jang Geun Suk is a show stealer through and through. If at all possible, I loved him all the more after watching the show again. There's something innately charismatic about this guy. He can be cute and grumpy in one second and serious and heartbroken in the next with the transitions being so smooth. Lee Hong Ki and Jung Yong Hwa did pretty well too. Park Shin Hye was.. good in some places but sometimes she felt off. She fit the role but I couldn't really connect that well with her acting, nothing personal, I haven't seen her in any other work.

What can I say about the music? It's a sensation as far as Drama OST goes. I was listening to a couple of the songs and that's what made me watch the show again. That's the kind of music this show has. I didn't really cry throughout the show even when I saw it the first time (there are more funny scenes than sad ones) but both the times I've seen it, I always cry in the finale when Tae Kyung sings "What Can I Do", first off the song is really beautiful and JGS sings it quite nicely. The songs fit the scenes, don't feel off anywhere, nothing is overdone. The music stays with you even after the show is long done.

I don't really need to give a verdict after all that I've said, watching it for the second time even though I have loads of other dramas lined up, says more than enough. If you haven't already watched this, you're missing out on one of the gems of Korean Dramas.

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