Cast: Song Seung-Heon, Lim Ji-Yeon

Language: Korean (English/Chinese subtitles)

I've to admit it is Song Seung-Heon who attracted me to this movie. After all I'd watched several Korean dramas starring him and most of his roles are unforgettable. Well it didn't hurt that he has a fit body and a good-looking face too. 

Onto the topic, Obsessed is a story of a decorated war hero, Colonel Kim Jin-pyong, who falls in love with a young woman and would risk everything for love, in which ended up in tragedy eventually.

Colonel Kim seems to have everything; from his prestigious rank right to having a beautiful wife, but apparently he isn't that at bliss considering he suffers from post-traumatic disorder after the Vietnam War and his affection towards his ambitious wife has faded.

On an occasion he happens to meet Ga-heun, a wife of his subordinate. Ga-heun is unlike any other officers wives, and Colonel Kim is quickly attracted to her. However, it is through one life-threatening incident that allows Colonel Kim to save Ga-heun, thus creating a chance for them to get to know more about each other. Since both of them are married, their exchanges are usually discreet. And in no time they are so smitten (obsessed?) with each other that they have a forbidden affair. 

Before meeting Colonel Kim, Ga-heun's marriage is no bliss either as her relationship with her husband feels more like a brother and sister rather than lovers. After all, she was adopted by his family when she was younger after she had lost her family. Colonel Kim is the first man whom she has fallen in love with, but despite the fact that she loves him she felt she couldn't abandon everything and left with him. Colonel Kim, on the other hand, confessed that he couldn't live without her. 

What happened next wasn't something I had expected, and all I can say is regret, and more regret. With the attraction and love they had for each other, I felt it a regret that they didn't meet earlier; and then I also felt regret that what happened to the secondary characters weren't explained clearly (i.e. Colonel Kim's wife and Ga-heun's husband). Overall the film was shot quite beautifully (the lovemaking scenes are tastefully done too). And finally, the only thing that left me unsatisfied is the ending; it left me feeling hollow because of Ga-heun's choice. For a quiet and demure woman, she seems firm in some aspect and not caring what other women thought of her. 

Colonel Kim, on the other hand, seems weak as compared to Ga-heun when it comes to love, but then that is the attractive side of him. A devoted man is what most women want in a relationship isn't it? But then again from another angle, love and devotion can also consume and destroy a person. . . And I think, in my opinion, is the core of this story. 

All in all, I enjoyed the movie. If only it has a happier ending. . . 

Finally, I want to applaud the translator, Sora Kim-Russell, for the translation of this work. Although I couldn't compare the translation to the original work, I want to say it read smoothly and that at times I even forgot I was reading a translation version. 

Please Look After Mom, which is the author's previous book, would be onto my to-read list. 

Note: The Chinese translation of "I'll Be Right There" is ＂我们不要忘记今天＂〜 申京淑. 

Help for the Haunted is a story about an unusual family and secrets; as well as a girl's journey to finding the truth surrounding her family. 

Sylvie Mason knew her family is unlike the others; after all her parents are known to help "haunted souls" to find peace. As much as the Mason family is unusual in some ways, they tried to lead life as normal as everyone is. Sylvie seems to be the perfect daughter in her parents' eyes, while Rose, the eldest daughter is the opposite. She couldn't be bothered with what their parents do, and she doesn't believe in them anyway. 

One snowy night, the Masons received a phone call which altered all their lives.  The parents are expecting to meet up with Rose, who ran away from home as an act of rebellion, but instead they ended up being murdered in an old church, the place which Rose had suggested to meet initially. 

Sylvie was in their car sleeping then, but the gunshots shattered her dreams and led her to the church, searching for her parents. The murderer was eventually put behind bars, but still Sylvie was left with a dozen of questions not answered. 

Rose became her legal guardian, but Sylvie's relationship with her remains cool, after what happened. And Sylvie needed to find Uncle Howie, who was her father's elder brother and she thought he might be able to give her some answers, even though he and her father were estranged. 

As Sylvie delved deeper into the mystery of her parents' death, she learnt more about her family's past and that certain things are not what they seemed to be. 

When I first started this book, I expected a story about ghosts and spirits, after all the title gave me that idea. However, as I find myself engrossed in Sylvie's lonely world I realised that this is more than a ghost story. This is a coming-of-age story written from Sylvie's perspective as she bravely seeks the truth, paranormal or not. 

Author John Searles is a great storyteller as he cleverly crafted the plot line with tension and a tinge of creepiness. The characterisations are equally stunning, as I found myself engrossed in the relationships between Sylvie, Rose and the various characters who revolved around them. I think these relationships are a mystery itself. The conclusion to this book is both beautiful and poignant, which I'm sure will evoke various emotions in a reader. Highly recommended. 

Since a boy, Lee Jang Woo (starring So Ji Sub) and his father worked as servants in a family. Jang Woo and Soo Yeon (starring Kim Ha Neul), the eldest daughter of the family, are childhood sweethearts. Soo Yeon's ambition is to be a doctor, but life becomes tough for them and Jang Woo decides to join the army in order to earn money to pay for her tuition. 

During the time when Jang Woo is out fighting, Soo Yeon spends her time studying and in the end fulfills her wish of becoming a doctor and treats injured soldiers. She is still awaiting for Jang Woo's return, until one day she receives news that he had died in combat. 

Soo Yeon eventually moves on with her life and knew an army officer, Shin Tae Ho (starring Yoon Kye Sang) through her work. Tae Ho falls in love with her on first sight, but deep down Soo Yeon still couldn't forget Jang Woo and is still hoping that he'd be back safe and sound. 

Tae Ho wants to marry Soo Yeon, and at that point Soo Yeon realises that Jang Woo wouldn't be back and she agrees to his proposal. Alas, on the eve of their wedding, Jang Woo returns home. He claimed that the news of his death had been a mistake. Soo Yeon is now torn between two men. 

However, her worries are nothing as compared to the war that befalls their country. The following morning, North Korea invades South Korea, marking the beginning of the Korean War. Both men, Jang Woo and Tae Ho are sent to the battlefield, without getting an answer from Soo Yeon whom she'd choose. 

Jang Woo and Tae Ho become rivalries, but both of them knew that if they bring their personal feelings to the battlefields, they'd get themselves killed. Gradually under those tough circumstances, they'd learned to work as a team and watch out for one another. But as we all know, war changes everything and fate does play a part when one's life is concerned. 

Road No. 1 is one unforgettable war dramas to me, alongside with movies Saving Private Ryan, Pearl Harbor and Atonement. I don't specially seek out books and movies on wars, but their stories are usually knowledgeable and inspiring in some ways. Movies, on the other end, have made the images more vivid and thus most often stayed in one's mind long after a book is closed. 

Like many war stories, Road No. 1 is emotional and pull on your heartstrings. Wars are cruel, for sure, and they make it even harder to watch especially when one has to leave for battle while others scramble for their lives. In this case, Jang Woo and Tae Ho have to fight against their enemies, while deep down they are also fighting against each other over a woman they love. When one finally admits defeat, it is war that claims the winner. Not wanting to disclose spoilers, I just want to say the ending had me in tears. 

Actors So Ji Sub and Yoon Kye Sang have both brought their roles to life through their excellent acting skills. I've to say So Ji Sub left a deep impression on me due to his manly physique and not to mention the role he portrayed. He is never conceited and always spare a thought for his peers in the role he portrayed; he is most often calm under critical situations and most of all, he has a kind heart. I've to say I rooted for him all the way through the drama; and although my heart goes out to Soo Yeon too, it was always Jang Woo who caught my attention and had me hoping that he would win all the battles.

If you are a fan of historical and a good romance story, this drama is for you. 

Can men and women be friends? Is it possible to love more than one person at the same time? 

Covet is a story which questions you on the above issues and at its core a story about marriage and friendship.

Claire Canton, a woman in her thirties, is a stay-at-home mom with two kids. She works as a freelance graphic designer and she should be a very happy woman as she seems to have the best of both worlds. 

However, she isn't as her husband Chris was troubled by unemployment. The previous job he worked in a software company laid off some staff and he was one of them. Finding a job becomes a challenge due to the economy and not to mention that many companies are trying to cut down on costs, even if it means asking a staff to do two persons' jobs. Chris becomes depressed as the days go by without him with a job; he becomes a loving father and husband to a lone ranger who locks himself in his room and getting bitter not only to himself and to the world. 

Claire is no doubt worried and concerned over Chris and their financial state they are in, but she couldn't seem to get her words through Chris, as he has shut everything out of him. Finally, he found a job but it requires lots of travelling. Both Chris and Claire know this would take away many of their family time but they also know they have to adjust to it no matter they like it or not. 

Chris works hard in his new job, taking little notice of his family. The travelling has made it worse and it takes not much time before Claire feels their marriage is on red alert. She feels alone and with no one to turn to, until one day she is pulled over by police officer, Daniel Rush, over her faulty taillight. One thing leads to another and before she knows it she finds herself seeing more of Daniel. 

Daniel knew she is married but yet he couldn't let his mind off of Claire. One reason being that she reminds him of his ex-wife; but the most of all is he feels happy with her and he knows she feels the same way too. Claire, on the other hand, knows they shouldn't be spending too much time together despite they don't have any physical connection. It doesn't feel right, to be emotionally close to a man who isn't your husband but yet she is hoping she could remain in that state if possible. 

Alongside Claire's issues is her friendship with her neighbours and how they have their own family woes too. All in all, I find Covet to be a satisfying read; one which covers a common issue what a couple might face under circumstances when one party neglects the other. And, is it even possible for a man and woman to be platonic friends? I think this book has covered these subjects well and offer some insights about keeping a relationship. Narrated by three different perspectives (Claire, Chris and Daniel), this also allows readers to get to know their thoughts on a more personal level. 

It's been a while since I'd watched a romantic comedy. What I like about rom com is they are sweet, entertaining and they allow my mind to wander away from realism, even if it is only for a short while.

Part thriller and part love story, After Her touched me in so many ways. Written in first person from Rachel Torricelli's POV, this story is basically about her relationship with her younger sister, Patty, and their detective father who is put in charge of finding the "Sunset Strangler", who had murdered so many young women on the mountain behind their home. Detective Anthony Torricelli, their handsome, charismatic father is known to have a way with dealing with criminals and getting them to confess, but this case leaves him wondering if he is way behind his prime. 

Rachel and Patty adore their father, despite he had left home when Rachel is eight, leaving their mother depressed and in a state of financial deprivation. Their father still stay in touch with them occasionally, but with the Sunset Strangler case still remains unsolved, the chance of seeing their father is getting lesser and lesser. 

Rachel and Patty are both smart children, but they don't have many friends in school. Thus, this makes them even closer and they will confide in each other, even if it is a small thing. One would think that they have a lot in common, but in fact Rachel is a girl who has lots of creative imaginations while Patty is the more active and daring one. She is not afraid of speaking her mind and she also has a soft spot for dogs. Now with their father leading the murder case and has appeared on television for countless times, Rachel suddenly finds herself popular in school. Slowly, she finds herself drifting away from Patty and while Patty feels the difference in her older sister, she didn't blame her though she misses her company. It is at this time that Patty focuses her attention on basketball and she has became so good with it that she began to play for their school. 

While Rachel enjoys the popularity in school, she is troubled to find her father getting skinnier and skinnier as the case drags on and more young women are murdered. With her imagination and her "vision" which enables her to foresee stuff (though most of them are not always clear and straightforward), she decides on a plan which involving setting herself up as a bait for the killer. In the end, her act has labelled her as being untrustworthiness in other people's eyes and worst of all, it jeopardised her father's career. 

Thirty years later, Rachel reflects on that past which still gnaws at her conscience, as that case remains unsolved. With a wrong man behind bars and the killer still at large, Rachel begins to construct a plan to lure the Sunset Strangler and vindicate her father. But this time around, her status is different considering she is now a famous author and she believes her new book would bring the killer to her, since what she has written is so close to what happened so many years ago.  

After Her is what I'd say a wonderful family reminiscence and a detective story. Split into two parts - the first part in the eyes of thirteen-year-old Rachel and the second of an adult Rachel, After Her is more of an emotional driven and coming-of-age story than a mystery. That said, I didn't mean that the mystery part isn't covered. It does (which I was glad), though the author focus more on the sisters' bonding and their relationship with their father. I was extremely touched reading about the relationship between the two sisters, in particular with Patty because of her fierce loyalty towards Rachel, despite anything. I also find it sweet reading the relationship between father and daughters; what they did together always brought a smile to my face (for one, he likes making spiders out of their hairs), well except the part about what Rachel did to lure the killer which I think was foolish and not to mention dangerous. 

I think the ending was quite nicely done, though it left me with a bittersweet feeling, but a good ending nonetheless.