Goto page 1, 2 Next
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| How would you rate Ireland? |
| Life-altering/Must-see |
|
28% |
[ 7 ] |
| See it |
|
40% |
[ 10 ] |
| Probably shouldn't miss it |
|
12% |
[ 3 ] |
| STAY AWAY |
|
20% |
[ 5 ] |
|
| Total Votes : 25 |
|
| Author |
Message |
clouds421 Joined: 16 Mar 2004 Total posts: 319 Gender: Unknown |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
il_mareJoined: 27 Jul 2004 Total posts: 35 Location: Hong Kong Gender: Unknown |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JannahJoined: 13 May 2004 Total posts: 1955 Location: Singapore Age: 23 Gender: Female |
 Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 8:29 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0 |
 |
|
I voted for 'See it'. Although the ending left me baffled, as it wasn't really an "ending" per say, I found Ireland to be one big breath of fresh air after all the melodramatic K-dramas I've watched. I agree that the story didn't really develop at all, but I enjoyed this series all the same, for some reason. Maybe because I watched it without expecting any new plot development with each episode. By the end of the third episode, I sensed that Ireland wasn't meant to be watched like just another K-drama. So I learnt not to anticipate anything from the drama, and that helped as I kept watching. In fact, the further I got into the drama, the more I wanted to watch.
I guess one thing I really liked about Ireland was the engaging dialogue between the characters, like clouds421 mentioned. I enjoyed not knowing what each character was gonna say next. Some of their conversations were quite weird though, and I had to re-watch several scenes to decipher them.
As for the ending, I guess the writer meant for it to be open for comprehension, but I think it left viewers (including me) puzzled instead. I had to watch the last episode twice, and it took me a while to accept the "ending" as it was.
| Spoiler wrote: | | I took it that Joong-ah died giving birth, and to Jae-bok, her memory lived on through her daughter. Maybe the point the writer's trying to bring across in the ending is that loving each other doesn't mean you have to be together physically. |
| il_mare wrote: | | Each character seemed to develop in isolation, and their relationships were not developing at all! |
Actually, I thought the opposite. I felt that the relationships between the four characters were constantly developing, and by the end of the drama, each character had a unique relationship with each of the other three. At the same time, their relationships with one another were affected by each character's relationship with the rest. Essentially, the whole story is all about the relationships amongst these 4 people.
I agree with clouds421 that Kim Min-joon didn't fit the role of Jae-bok well, however I did find him very compatible with Lee Na-young. And I must mention that Lee Na-young plays unorthodox characters very well, judging from other dramas she's been in.
My conclusion is that Ireland is a not a drama for everyone. If you don't mind a lack of story development, bizarre conversations, weird characters & not being able to take things at face value, then watch it. If you do, watch it with an open mind, without expectations. It's almost impossible to compare it with any other drama, really. If you ask me, it's a series I definitely would watch again.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
clouds421Joined: 16 Mar 2004 Total posts: 319 Gender: Unknown |
| Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 7:33 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0 |
|
|
Oh, wouldn't it would be great if there was some place to read writer or director's intentions. But if the majority of the audience doesn't get it, that says something about the work.
Well, I agree with Jannah that the characters seemed to be constantly developing in a drama that's not well-developed (oxymoron?) But I actually thought it was a "conclusive" ending. Usually I go into a drama, trying to see where they're going with it so initially (mostly from the title), I thought it was going to be about identity issues, family, or something like that, but I was completely wrong (that's why I think the title is a misnomer).
Speculations on the ending (maybe far-fetched 'cause there's really lots of possibilities):
| Quote: | What I noticed in the beginning was the use of space in the scenes on the streets. When in a normal shot, we only see the characters, completely centered upon them. But when they switched to a long shot, they only appear to be a small part of a living, peopled world; my attention was diverted to seeing to everything around them. The irony is that the characters feel that they are alone, but they're really not.
At the end, we revisit the familiar scene again, but it's completely isolated this time. A young Joong-ah is embracing Jae-book, while Shi-yeon embraces a young g**k. In Shi-yeon's case, she was the young woman who never had a youth, so g**k is the person who restores it in her. In Joong-ah's case, she experienced too quick of a transition from a idyllic upbringing to devastingly tragedy, so Jae-book is the person who brought that happy, carefree nature out of her again.
That sequence of scenes was as an expressive way to reveal those feelings. This theory could be supported by the interesting use of symbolism--green = Ireland? In the beginning, there's a green scarf meant to tie together; recall that Joong-ah said the scarf was stuffy, uncomfortable in the summer; in the end--there's a green balloon (weightless object) fleely released from young Joong-ah's hand... |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
il_mareJoined: 27 Jul 2004 Total posts: 35 Location: Hong Kong Gender: Unknown |
| Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 2:23 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0 |
|
|
I think the character developed in isolation altho the relationship of the 4 did change in the end. How did they connect? How did they disengage? That part of the emotions was not well delivered. It was like each individual just felt a need to be together and then next thing change partner and gravitate to another without much reason.
And because of the dreamy and somewhat quirky nature, I felt it should have been a book, better read than watched. The emotions may be better conveyed that way versus leaving too many loopholes for the audience to ponder. And which explains why the audience had this sense that there was a lack of story development.
I agree too that KMJ was too cool and too good looking to be Jae-bok. And Lee Na-young was reprising that type of eccentric and quirky role that she is so good at. Hyun Bin looked to much like a kid next to LNY, but a credible effort. But the best performer is definitely the role of SH, another KMJ. Not very pretty but her multi-faceted performance totally embody the role of the foul mouth and vulnerable soft-porn star SH to perfection!
As for the ending, JA, g**k, and SH, were embracing the child in their partners and the child is discolored. Yet for JB, the child he embraced was the only one colored. Does it mean that JA, g**k and SH were comforting the past while as JB was the one embracing the future?
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
clouds421Joined: 16 Mar 2004 Total posts: 319 Gender: Unknown |
| Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2005 7:10 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0 |
|
|
il mare, that's a thought-provoking question. I was so falling asleep in class & suddenly I had a rush of thoughts after reading this, don't think I can write it all at once, may have to come back, lol. It was such a conscious decision by the director, but didn't even hit me.
From the way it ended, I think that intention might be unlikely to me, but hey, it's so open for interpretation. After I thought about it for a little bit, perhaps it just means that that last scene is from Joong-ah's point of view. I say this because young Joong-ah first appears at the beginning of the last episode, but she appears as one of Joong-ah's dream-like sequences.
I think there's more symoblism there with young Joong-ah "setting foot" in the wet cement as Joong-ah had. She's by herself w/ no g**k..
Something I also noticed, but couldn't figure out significance: repetition of hand imagery. The last one before the "story" ends is with Joong-ah & Jae-bok's hands extended--that image is created in a way very similar to the creation of Adam--not quite, but I find how their fingertips are drawn to each other very similar. I think it may be trying to suggest "giving life" to one another.
Then I remembered how they specifically heighened Shi-yeon's reactions to g**k's hands on her--at first it seemed like just a normal excitement, because she was developing a crush on him, but the director repeats the flashbacks showing g**k's holding her hand or comforting her with his hands. Very interesting...
| Quote: | | About the characters, I totally know what you're talking about, but it may be a flaw more-so in the story. Near the ending episodes, g**k had the most character changes I've ever seen--he went from weak child trying to hold onto Joong-ah to borderline abusive, hitting her, to cold indifference... then all of a sudden, he realizes something (which I have no idea how), had this conversations to end all conversations with Joong, then they separated. Ok... but what beats me is he accepts Shi-yeon. I just didn't find it natural for feelings to be so... transitory. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
il_mareJoined: 27 Jul 2004 Total posts: 35 Location: Hong Kong Gender: Unknown |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
supadupahearnJoined: 27 Nov 2004 Total posts: 16 Gender: Unknown |
| Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2005 7:59 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0 |
|
|
| i havent gotten around to see but it seems that it aint really worth watching. any others that u might suggest instead?
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
aNToKJoined: 21 Feb 2004 Total posts: 2541 Location: Cali Gender: Unknown |
| Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 5:26 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0 |
|
|
Hmm... interesting comments. Hopped on this one as soon as I finished ROYOW. Only about 20 minutes into it, and so far, all I can think of is, "Damn!!!! Lee Na Young has amazing eyes!!!!!!!"
Hey, I'm only 15 minutes into it! I'm sure I'll have other opinions later....
_________________
I am not obsessed. I am just very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very focussed...
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JannahJoined: 13 May 2004 Total posts: 1955 Location: Singapore Age: 23 Gender: Female |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
clouds421Joined: 16 Mar 2004 Total posts: 319 Gender: Unknown |
| Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 10:35 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0 |
|
|
Maybe this is a little late, but here's the shot:
I actually liked Ireland & found it better than ROYOW--and I never really understood the popularity of Ruler. It's been a while since I've seen it, but generally I found the characters lacking the appeal that Ireland's have. They just go about doing things they want to do without thinking of others. As bad as Jae-bok treats his step-father or intimidates kids into giving him money or basically freeloads off a "semi-porn star," he's likeable--I find it so touching when he tells Gok, that he wants to learn to be like him, a "good" man yet it's so ironic that the woman Gok loves likes him. Alright, I'm going off on a tangent, but what I'm trying to say is that one of the things I've always believed is that although a likeable character doesn't have to be a outright hero, he/she should have some heroic quality/did some heroic deed, and I don't see that in Ruler's characters. Now that should spark some discussion... what do you think? What appeals to you or turns you off in Ireland or even going off in ROYOW--due to the responses I've seen, I feel like I need to re-evaluate it or something, but just haven't found the incentive--that I'll be getting more out of it 2nd time 'round.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
il_mareJoined: 27 Jul 2004 Total posts: 35 Location: Hong Kong Gender: Unknown |
| Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 11:27 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0 |
|
|
| clouds421 wrote: | Maybe this is a little late, but here's the shot:
I actually liked Ireland & found it better than ROYOW--and I never really understood the popularity of Ruler. It's been a while since I've seen it, but generally I found the characters lacking the appeal that Ireland's have. They just go about doing things they want to do without thinking of others. As bad as Jae-bok treats his step-father or intimidates kids into giving him money or basically freeloads off a "semi-porn star," he's likeable--I find it so touching when he tells Gok, that he wants to learn to be like him, a "good" man yet it's so ironic that the woman Gok loves likes him. Alright, I'm going off on a tangent, but what I'm trying to say is that one of the things I've always believed is that although a likeable character doesn't have to be a outright hero, he/she should have some heroic quality/did some heroic deed, and I don't see that in Ruler's characters. Now that should spark some discussion... what do you think? What appeals to you or turns you off in Ireland or even going off in ROYOW--due to the responses I've seen, I feel like I need to re-evaluate it or something, but just haven't found the incentive--that I'll be getting more out of it 2nd time 'round. |
Actually I found BOTH too abstract for my liking. I have similar  in terms of how the leads hook up in BOTH story. I could not understand the attraction JA had for JB, neither can I comprehend Boksu and Kyung's union.
But I beg to differ abt the characters in ROYOW lacking in heroic qualities. Boksu did try to redeem for his sins by admiting to Junior's crime, and the way he tries to protect his pathetic mother from all her loser boyfriends. And Mr Han despite his petty nature helped to get Boksu out of prison. Not heroes! But definintely displayed some heroic qualities.
Problem with Ireland is that I did not even understand the entire story to even link it up coherently. So can't even compare both. At least I understand ROYOW, whether I like it is a completely different story. Oh BTW, I read an interesting interpretation on the ending in soompi.
| Quote: | credit tapioca@soompi.com
Those kids that appear at the end were just metaphors of where they came from and the soulmates in their life. None of the kids are real they just represent the 4 main characters innocence - I guess. The ending implies that Joungah and Jae Bok are not together though it is partially open to the imagination. The narration said little Joungah is finally walk around this earth - shows that Joungah has finally become sane (can stand alone), focusing on the birth of her child. Jae Bok is now a decent human being - no longer the bum - studying to maybe become a doctor. Kang Kook confesses he likes ShiYeon so there together.
I wish the story was different starting from where Jae Bok had his car accident in episode 12 - after that I thought it was starting to get tiresome. I hated the scene that Joongah said she realized she only liked one man (meaning not Kang Kook) to Kang Kook's face. After that I really depised her character and so I wasn't happy - not a feel good ending. I like Kim Min Jung as an actress but I hated her character. Shiyeon was so whiny than I didn't think she deserved Kang Kook. I think it would've been better if they didn't have Kang Kook actually tell her he liked her because then the ending would be less finalizes and open to the imagination.
Clarification:
I'm pretty sure the scarf's meaning didn't reference Song of Solomon but instead that Korean folktale of the Woodcutter. Where, a lonely woodcutter happens to stumble upon heavenly maidens bathing and steals one of their wings so she can't fly back to Heaven. He marries her and though he was warned not to show her the wings before they have 4 children, after 3 only children he feels guilty and shows her the wings. She does not hesistant to fly away - with a child in each arm and one between her legs. And the woodcutter is left all alone once again. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JannahJoined: 13 May 2004 Total posts: 1955 Location: Singapore Age: 23 Gender: Female |
| Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 12:04 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0 |
|
|
I watched Ireland before watching ROYOW, and I think it's quite difficult to compare the two even though the scriptwriter was the same person. Each one appealed to me in different ways. I liked ROYOW's characters for their realistic imperfection & the fact that I could see bits of myself in each one of them. Ireland's characters were as imperfect, but I liked them mainly because they were so unorthodox. I've never met characters like those in Ireland before, and they really fascinated me. And while Ireland is a drama I can watch several times & come away with something new every time, ROYOW is one which I can watch at a comfortable pace over a few weeks, episode by episode, but one I won't likely watch again. If I were to simply consider ROYOW & Ireland as two drama series, I'd say I prefer Ireland, just because it's so one-of-a-kind & has this strange, fascinating appeal about it. I found ROYOW rather forgettable even though I did relate to the characters.
| clouds421 wrote: | | As bad as Jae-bok treats his step-father or intimidates kids into giving him money or basically freeloads off a "semi-porn star," he's likeable--I find it so touching when he tells Gok, that he wants to learn to be like him, a "good" man yet it's so ironic that the woman Gok loves likes him. |
I totally agree with that. Early in the drama, I didn't particularly like Jae-bok & Shi-yeon, but at the end I emphatised with them the most. g**k & Joong-ah were hot-and-cold characters; I couldn't really figure them out.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
clouds421Joined: 16 Mar 2004 Total posts: 319 Gender: Unknown |
| Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 7:02 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0 |
|
|
Fair enough comments on ROYOW. Tapioca's interpretation is really interesting. What do you say to something like that? I buy it & that reference to the folktale--I'm fascinated. Should visit soomi more often, but hard to navigate when the threads race by you & you can't use the search function 
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kimmie_ai_ni4Joined: 21 Apr 2005 Total posts: 234 Location: chicago ILL Age: 20 Gender: Female |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum
|
|
|
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group • Forum skin developed by Volize
|
| |
|
|
and shi yeon's character /scene's better dan jae bok and joon ah's .... jae bok and joon ahs character der really pisses me off.....but i luv da way hyun bin