Films I would Recommend in a Heartbeat (Part II)
Aya's Weekend Movie Picks
Valentine's passed but that doesn't mean that we can't feel the warmth of love anymore.I suggest you take a blanket and a hot cocoa and enjoy these romantic and heartwarming movies.They each tell a beautiful love story with different aspects. Hope you'll enjoy it.
Country: Japan
Year: 2007
Genre: Life, Romance
Synopsis:
Deeply affected by her mother’s death when she was still a small child, Yukie (Nakatani Miki) muddles through her miserable life seeking out happiness. “Just a bit” she keeps repeating to herself, but even the smallest joys seem to elude our clumsy protagonist. On the advice of her best (and only) friend, Kumamoto, Yukie seeks out happiness by leaving her small town and heading off to bustling Osaka as an awkward teen. We catch up with her years later, discovering that she’s now working at a noodle shop and has conformed to the life of a doting housewife—though she’s not actually married to her gruff boyfriend, Isao (Abe Hiroshi). A hopeless woman and a hopeless man.A woman that loves the man whatever happens, and a man that can't exactly express his feelings and just turns over the table, out of irritation, short temper, and sometimes love.
Ok so maybe you'll find this movie boring or uninteresting...after watching the trailer maybe a little weird as well, but just give it a try. I've found this film amazing and beautiful. In my opinion is the most underrated movie on this site. I confess that I watched it only because of Hiroshi Abe, you can see on one of my articles that I'm a big fan of his, but this movies had such a beautiful story and a well developed one.
Country: South Korea
Year: 2005
Genre: Romance
Synopsis:
Na Young Sae (Park Gun Hyung) is the best ballroom dancer in Korea. His long-term rival Jung Hyun Soo , however, not only pinches his female partner, but is also responsible for a knee injury of Young Sae. Being retired, the former ballroom dancer leads a cheerless life in a run-down apartment, having no aims in life anymore.
One day his manager visits him and tries to stimulate him to start from scratch. He already has chosen a new female partner for him, soon arriving at airport directly from China. Yet, shortly after Young Sae gave his new partner Jang Chae Min (Moon Geun Young) shelter in his home and has entered a bogus marriage with her for her to be able to stay in Korea, there is a big revelation. Jang Chae Min is actually her sister Jang Chae Rin and hasn't even a clue how to dance!
After a long back and forth Na Young Sae takes on the challenge and plans to teach Chae Rin how to dance in only three months.
While Jung Hyun Soo is again plotting a scheme against his rival, there are also two police officers who are upon the married couple's heels and want to reveal the fake marriage. However, Young Sae and Chae Rin are in fact getting closer...
Let me start with admitting that I didn't like Moon Geun Young at all before watching this movie. Most like I didn't like her appearance, but after watching this I remained mesmerized I've found her so beautiful and talented. This movie made it in my top 5 people. I really loved it to death. It was so sweet and charming that I hadn't skipped a second of it. The leads were 9 years apart but it didn't seem like that at all. They had great chemistry and the dancing was beautiful. A really romantic movie...
Country: South Korea & Japan
Year: 2007
Genre: Romance
Synopsis:
Min(Lee Jun Ki) moves to Japan following his professor father. One day at a local shrine, he meets a beautiful, long-haired Japanese girl with innocent eyes. Her name is Nanae(Miyazaki Aoi), and she is an aspiring painter. Min falls for her at first sight. He longs for her but soon learns that Nanae attends the same school to which Min has just transferred. Min befriends Nanae, and despite the cultural and language barriers, they become fast friends, taking in the famous sites of Kyoto. Their feelings for each other grow, and on a visit to a ceramic store, Nanae promises some day to paint Min's portrait on the pottery that is made by him. Min continues to learn the craft from his father, and he comes to realize that he has to put all of his heart, the kind of love he feels for Nanae, into making the pottery for it not to crack. Because of his grandmother's sudden illness, Min has to return to Korea to be with her. He cannot get in touch with Nanae, and he becomes anxious. After his grandmother regains her health, he hurries back to Japan to look for Nanae, but she is nowhere to be found. Have his true feelings for Nanae not reached her? Why has Nanae disappeared without a word?
This is one of the most beautiful love stories I've ever seen. It was so innocent and breathtaking. Lee Jun Ki did a wonderful job, but Miyazaki Aoi was the one that cought all my attention...she was really beautiful in here. I think she deserves the crown for a baby face. Their love story was really out of fairytales and the chemestry was overhelming. It's really a must watch movie for every drama addicts. So don't wait any longer...it doesn't take even 2 hours out of your life.
P.S. All the films have good endings, for those who care, but don't neglect the tissues my friends!!
