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Post by Knov1 on Oct 9, 2004 9:39:41 GMT -5
I don't really have any final thoughts. I say.. bring on Damo!!
Seriously though, this wasn't a bad drama but it didn't leave a lasting impression either. It's rare that my favorite character is the bad guy/girl but that was the case in this drama. Jung Hye Young was splendid as Mi Ran. Lee Seo Jin is a good actor but I think he's much better as Hwang Bo Yoon in Damo. Also, even though he's a bad actor and even with all those cheesy lines, I still liked Eric better than Lee Eun Joo. I can think of at least 10 actresses, including (the great) Ha Ji Won, who would've been better as Ji Eun. At least you could laugh at Eric's bad acting and his cheesy lines. I will say this though, at least this drama had a "happy" ending. Too many dramas with tragic endings this year. I still think she should've ended with Eric though. Maybe the drama would've been better if it had been shorter. I think 20 episodes would've been good. Oh and last thing, that was a horrible way to cut Bok Ja out of the drama.
What do you guys think?
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Post by toranaga on Oct 9, 2004 11:07:47 GMT -5
I agree with you completely knov1,but I didn't like having to wait until the last scene to find out the fate of ji-eun and se-hoon.
also I thought it pretty funny that ho-jin and yeong-eun ended up together with two kids.I wish they had more scenes together in the final epi.
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Post by xelaevoli on Oct 9, 2004 11:24:32 GMT -5
I agree. It is not one I feel I "have" to buy (like Damo, and others) and add to my collection. I agree. I didn't feel she did enough for the character - not enough life. I just remember Ji-Eun's pokiness in speaking/actions and it frustrated me -- "Spit it out, girl!" ;D Mi-Ran's evilness was not fun to watch (for me). She did a good job being evil, but as a person who doesn't like confrontation, I just didn't like watching her. Eric's acting bugged me as much as his scruffy facial hair did. (If you don't have enough for a good mustache/beard...don't do it!) I think I would have liked him more (scruffy facial hair and all) if his character weren't so wishy-washy. That did it for me, I lost all respect for his character when he'd be "good" and then "bad" and so forth and so on. But with his terrible lines, facial hair I couldn't see past and wishy washy character, he was doomed to be someone I didn't care for. But at least he could say his lines without dragging them out to the point of me wanting to scream. "Just say it!!!" LOL Se-hoon annoyed me like Ji-Eun did with his puppy-dog eyes while looking at Ji-Eun I really got tired of that, especially when nothing was being developed along that line. Yes, entirely too long. That kidnap scene was ridiculous and just wasted time, IMO. If Ji-Eun had said her lines faster, it might have been less than 20 epis and they could have left Bok-ja in. And I HATED the way they cut out MY favorite character - Bok-ja. I *loved* watching the scenes with her and I was like what the .....?? when I realized (much later) she was permanently out of the drama. What a terrible way to end her appearance - not tell anyone she was going. And even the ending, nothing about her. I thought it was a lame ending, but fitting for these characters (Ji-eun and Se-hoon). Droopy, mopey walks along the beach and voila! There is the one we love, only let's not run up to them and express our undying love - let's stare and have a pouty look and THEN slowly walk and stare and ..... well, just get it on already (meaning, TALK!) It's been over a month since this ended for me, but I don't have positive memories from it. I wouldn't watch it if it were rebroadcast. But this, of course, is just my opinion! Whew....it's all out now....It's been bottled up since it ended for me! LOL ;D Melissa
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Post by Lovely on Oct 9, 2004 11:39:15 GMT -5
I really loved watching this drama and I'm so happy that Ji-eun and Se-hoon ended up together in the end...it was bound to happen ;D! When I saw that Jeong-min aka Eric returning to Korea, I thought he was going to come back to get Ji-eun or something, but that didn't happen. I'm sad for Mi-ran though, I wish that she would have ended up with her chauffeur. I wonder what happened to him? It's so funny that Ho-jin ended up marrying Yeong-eun because I thought he was going to be with Bok-ja. The last scene with Se-hoon and Ji-eun kissing standing on the rocks of the sea wa so beautiful! They belong together.
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Post by jenny on Oct 9, 2004 16:19:45 GMT -5
I can't believe Mi-ran died! I don't know why it always surprises me when characters die. But I liked the final epi. Did you hear a high-pitched scream coming from the direction of Schaumburg? That was me, seeing Eric's clean-shaven face. I even forgave his Count Chocula hair-do because he lost the mustache.
It got a little frustrating every time Will and Ji-eun met after the FF and discussed how they'll love eachother in their next life, but I was very happy to see them kiss! My favorite scene was when they had dinner together, and Will was so happy to be eating with JE that he cried. I'm glad this actor will be in Damo, he really grew on me and I'd miss him the most if he weren't in the next drama.
I'm glad Ho-jin married JE's sis, and it was quite satisfying to see JE's mom working and getting bossed around by a younger guy. I never liked her. (That cosmetics store looked a lot like Ji-hae and Jae-min's store in MPC, I thought that was funny!) And where was Bok-ja?! There had to be some sort of behind-the-scenes trouble, they wouldn't have written off a character like that for no reason. That scruffy dude was there, I thought we'd see their wedding.
All in all I was pleased with the finale. If it weren't for Damo I'd be sad to see it end.
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Post by valtoy on Oct 9, 2004 17:53:55 GMT -5
Although it seemed to start slow, the final episode was very satisfying to me. I like how they jumped 3 years into the future to show how each character ended up and I'm glad there was hope for JiEune and Will in the end. Very cute that her mother has a job and her sister married Will's friend. what I am going to miss is the great theme music for each character. Hope there is a soundtrack one of these days. I loved the song played when Eric was driving fast and the creepy, moody music for MiRan. It seemed like each character sort of had their own "theme" music.
Valerie
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Post by FlowerLady on Oct 9, 2004 20:56:46 GMT -5
Hey, Valerie! You're in luck.....the CD for The Phoenix has already been released (we bought it & have been enjoying it very much). Please refer to the thread, "Bought the Soundtrack CD" on this board, which gives the ordering info, etc. Enjoy!
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Post by MisterBill50 on Oct 9, 2004 23:43:45 GMT -5
I thought that episode 26 was well done, and was happy when they jumped ahead three years and got past all of the grief, guilt, and sadness surrounding Mi-ran's suicide. Ji-Eun had more of a bounce in her step again when she got out of her car, and I assume that she is now driving MUCH MORE SAFELY than in episode 1 ! Also, it looked like her newly employed Mom had a new last name if I'm not mistaken? I agree that Eric looked better clean shaven, and agree with Jenny that he had a "Count Chocula" hairstyle! It was nice to see that he know sees Will for the good and kind man that he has been throughout everything. I'm hoping that this will make it to DVD with English subtitles.
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Post by Lucy on Oct 11, 2004 10:45:49 GMT -5
Can anyone explain to me why Ho-jin said to the little weird guy (the one with whom he was formerly fighting over Bok-ja) that he should call his wife (Ho-jin's wife, that is, Ji-eun's sister) "Sister-in-law"? That was in the last episode when they are all in the living room and the little guy is playing with their son and Ji-eun's pregnant sister walks in.
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Post by hachiue on Oct 11, 2004 12:41:18 GMT -5
Can anyone explain to me why Ho-jin said to the little weird guy (the one with whom he was formerly fighting over Bok-ja) that he should call his wife (Ho-jin's wife, that is, Ji-eun's sister) "Sister-in-law"? That was in the last episode when they are all in the living room and the little guy is playing with their son and Ji-eun's pregnant sister walks in. I was wondering that too but then decided that it was just an oddity of translation - like he wasn't showing enough respect. Or they could be bros. Okay, I HATED Jeong-min's new hairdo and loved that he got rid of his moustache. Even though he now looks like a little boy. Also, I like Ji-eun's new look with her snazzy clothes and car, but am wondering WHY exactly the mother is working at a cosmetics store when daughter a is a highly-in-demand brand manager and daughter b is married to a lawyer?? Where is Jeju Island? I caught some Japanese on the sign at the airport (when Eric came in) and was just wondering (a.k.a. too lazy to look it up though I guess I should). Okay, and I don't necessarily think the ending was as positive as everyone else did. Hmm, maybe they're not back together. They kept saying they wouldn't get back together. Also, they've kissed and broken up many times before. True, Mi-ran and Jeong-min are no longer in their way, but I don't know whether Ji-eun would be okay with "upsetting" her mother and dead father (maybe her mom won't mind as long as she can quit working and start shopping). I'm very pissed at them cutting Bok-ja out of the ending. At least let her make a special appearance or chop together some old footage. I thought Will's reminiscing about Mi-ran was so sweet! I know she's evil and they both hated her (think of Ji-eun's line "I had been so busy hating you that I forgot that we were friends). But still, it was nice. I liked this drama very much and am still mad that I missed two episodes a while ago. I would watch it again (perhaps skipping some scenes) but don't feel the need to buy it. Waiting for Damo!!
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Post by xelaevoli unlogged on Oct 11, 2004 14:22:16 GMT -5
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Ken
Junior Addict
Posts: 197
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Post by Ken on Oct 11, 2004 17:01:19 GMT -5
Joanie and I wish there'd have been a special with a blooper reel of everyone cracking up as they tried to stand side by side talking without looking at each other! Phoenix was one of the funniest shows we've ever seen. Every episode had at least a couple mind-boggling plot holes that actually made the show kind of endearing. The scene with Eric and the fire extinguishers is still a classic. It would have been nice if Ji-eun and Sehoon would have thought of calling 911 in the last episode instead of driving over and assuming that Miran is dead! We'll miss Ji-eun's slow motion and her absurd talks with See-hoon (we never trusted each other, we weren't willing to sacrifice, the Ji-eun of the past is ..., if we meet in another life, etc.,etc.) The egg-throwing scene was the high point of Phoenix. I'm not sure what that says about it, but we'll miss it anyway!
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Post by Lucy on Oct 12, 2004 11:09:39 GMT -5
Ken, this is so true, though it bothered me more than anything. She always had a million reasons why their relationship would never work out, and they were all so inarguable and un-get-over-able if she really felt them to be true. Certainly Se-hoon never contradicted her. So if those reasons were true, what happened to them in the end? How many times can you say, "We missed our chance, but maybe in the next life," without having the audience believe it, so that they're left scratching their heads when you do get back together in the end, after all?
Sheesh, all that melodrama and widespread ruin for nuttin'.
Lucy
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Post by miriam3 on Oct 12, 2004 11:51:55 GMT -5
Did anyone tape Phoenix ? here in new jersey we get very few dramas would love to borrow it and will pay shipping and mail it right back if anyone has it ?? so thankful for that ..
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Post by TheBo on Oct 12, 2004 12:08:32 GMT -5
I have not yet seen the ending (hoping it taped okay), but I have to say I rather enjoyed this drama after all, in spite of its flaws. It reminded me of some productions of Shakespeare plays--not the material (oy vey!) but the style of acting. There are always actors who think to speak slowly and pause a lot invests every word with deep meaning, but all it usually does is bore the audience and lose its attention.
I liked Will and Eric together, and wish they could have had more interesting stuff to talk about than Ji-eun. I loved Mi-ran, and I think it was a cop-out to kill her off. I liked Bok-ja, but she seemed like a tacked-on character the whole time. She had hardly any scenes with the main characters, unlike Ji-eun's sister, who slipped between the two storylines rather well (same goes for Ho-jin--he was able to play in both stories [comic sub/drama main] believably). Any scene with Ji-eun, I could fast-forward for half of it because nothing was being said. There were too many flashbacks of Ji-eun and Will's early relationship--we got it already. Endless love. Blah blah blah.
Actually, from a mental health point of view, the very best thing Ji-eun's mom could have done was get a job. Maybe that was the reason for it. What happened with Eric's dad after all? I enjoyed his character, and especially his wife. They should have been used more for comic effect.
Actually, I think that's what was wrong with this drama--they concentrated too much on the young people. Korean dramas are always best when they cross the generations; even though the "old ones" were in this drama, they did not have their own stories that concerned only them.
I give it a B-. Way, way way behind Autumn Sonata.
Bo
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