I’ve just finished watching ‘The Devil’ but will need to recollect my thoughts before I write a review on it.
So in the meantime, I’ll do a short initial thought about ‘Air City’ as I’ve just watched the 1st episode.
For those sick of romantic comedy, romantic tragedy, romantic mushy love story…this may be your cup of tea as it’s action from the word, ‘Go’. Of course, I’m not saying there’s going to be no love story in this drama…this is Korean drama, you know. But I think the romance factor will not be the major focus.
Starring Choi Ji Woo, Lee Jung Jae, Lee Jin Wook and Moon Jung Hee, the drama, ‘Air City’ as I mentioned in my earlier post was done in celebration of Incheon Airport’s 5th anniversary. The drama is an attempt to show the ‘scenes and people’ behind Incheon Airport- what makes it work, who makes it work, how it works. Actually, it reminds me of the drama, ‘Hotelier’. The daily working routine and environment is the main story line. Of course, in this case, it is even more dramatic….what with gun chase, fake passport, drug traffickers and terrorists all in just the first episode….whew! I needed to catch my breath after watching it. It makes the mergers and acquisition world in ‘Hotelier’ mild.
Without going into too many details at the moment as I’ve yet to watch the other 3 episodes, I would have to say that the first episode has left a good impression on me.
In particular, I’m liking what I see in Choi Ji Woo here- professional and confident (she’s already spoken in Korean, English and Chinese so far though of course not fluently). There is a sense of maturity in her (well, she is 32 this year) and with that maturity- a kind of sexiness. Thumps up so far. I’m crossing my fingers that the writer won’t make her wail like in ‘Winter Sonata’ or ‘Beautiful Days’ or ‘Stairway to Heaven’. That would really spoil it. She is no longer the young Yu Jin in Winter Sonata.
Lee Jung Jae, though not on my list of Ban Chan (so far, I may change my mind by the end of this drama) is one fantastic actor- a real pro and he should be, having been in this line for over 10 years. Manly and cool – especially when he’s holding that gun….hehe! I think he’s a good match for Choi Ji Woo age wise (he’s older than her by 2 years).
Lee Jin Wook is quite a cute guy and I think acting wise, he’s not too bad for someone new. Unfortunately I’ve yet to see any of his earlier works like ‘Smile Again’ or ‘Alone in Love’ (this drama is in the queue). But he is really too young and looks it too to be a Choi Ji Woo’s primary school mate.
So far, I can’t really detect any ‘love’ chemistry between Lee Jin Wook and Choi Ji Woo. Of course, it is a little too early to conclude but I can see the potential sparks between Lee Jun Jae and Choi Ji Woo.
The 2nd lead actress, Moon Jung Hee, has yet to make her appearance in the 1st episode. I think she appears from the 2nd episode onward. I’ll be interested to see how the equation works out with her in the picture later.
The theme song is sung by TVXQ- . Now I can’t say I really like their songs but this song is not too bad. I guess it fits with the drama’s story line and content- fast, urban. With Kangta and Super Junior singing the other songs, I must admit that the feel for the rest of the songs in the OST is somewhat similar. . And no, there aren’t really any slow songs in the OST. Told you this isn’t really a romantic story… hehe!
Here’s a trailer and a fan made MV using the theme song All in Vain by TVXQ.
Ok.. I must admit, there’s a personal reason why I like Air City. I used to work in the airport and watching the drama brings back the memories. Though I hated the long hours, the atmosphere in the airport is really quite different. I get a thrill each time I breeze into the transit area with my working pass through the special door.
This was a cute scene…hehe!
I was debating whether I should start watching Park Shin Yang’s ‘War of Money’ now as well but after the mad, hectic 2 months of watching 5 dramas at the same time, I have serious doubts if I would be able to retain my sanity if I start watching too many at the same time. Besides, I want very much to finish my ‘Freeze’ first. ^^
LOL~ Jiwoo was the first korean actress Ive really liked, of course because of Winter Sonata heehee. Im loving Air City!! the best drama I have since this year since Daljas Spring~ but Ive been hearing Thank you is nice, I should watch it too I guess ^^
Jiwoo and Jaejoong! I cant wait for those two to hook up am really feeling thier chemistry! Aww Jaejoong is on my NamJjang list [best men] heehee. I think he’s a hottie not to mention a great actor too ^^
too bad I dropped Mawang since I missed most of it on KBS W.. will have to buy a dvd I guess 🙁
keke,, I love your posts cant stop talking ^^*
Maweee…Thank You is nice. So is Ma Wang/The Devil (though I gather it wasn’t the most popular drama).
Yes, Air City has been rather good so far and it’s a refreshing change not to see CJW not crying bitterly or sick or looking all helpless. I like her here in this drama.
Yo! Tiff,
WOW! didn’t know you work in airport before!Glad that you like AirCity. I myself like it very much and cos it’s fast paced plot, i was able to ‘tricked’ my hubby to watch it with me the first 2 epi and he got hooked!
I really love CJW in this drama as she plays a career woman with strong personality as compared to all her pervious projects which all my friends were saying they are sick of her roles so far.and Lee Jung Jae is 1 actor whom i really admire his acting rather than his looks until his movie ‘Typoon’ he had a great bod and i couldn;t stop drooling! He and CJW is a perfect match in Aircity.
as for Lee Jin Wook, i also feel that he is too young to be CJW’s classmate. and his acting seems too ‘green’ when he’s beside the 2 main leads. Hope he will have better performance in more epi to come…
So far it’s a nice drama to me and i miss korea so much whenever they showed parts of the airport i been to….
and definitely a nice and refreshing drama to recommend to friends! I just hope that TCS do not follow suit and flim our own airport theme drama which i think local standards is incomparable to Korean standards… ;p
Hi Jessica
I haven’t watched the last few episodes of Air City but it seems there are some criticisms of the drama being a little unrealistic? Can’t comment now but I will tell you want one thing that people at the airport do not do (esp if you are in operations).
We do not wear stilletos (like what CJW does). Being on our feet the whole day..it will kill ou us. hehe!
I’ve only seen Air City’s episode 1 and 2. So far, so good. I love how this drama does not follow the Korean TV series conventions of boy likes girl, girl likes boy; girl is rich, boy is poor (vice-versa); family opposses and then there’s the conflict; childhood love comes back – third party… and the list goes on! In AIR CITY, we can actually see how Koreans are more capable of producing first-class, heart-pounding action series that breaks all rules. I heard some people don’t like it, and that the rating is not that favorable to the many good reviews. Maybe it’s just a matter of getting used to with the Koreans to see such a provocative storyline. And watching Choi Ji-Woo like the sexiest and most confident and secured woman in the world in that series (and she does not actually have a debiliitating disease this time – and no, she won’t die in the end because of an illness) – her fans (that includes me) will just love and admire her more than ever before ♥ kdramas
Hello guest…
Unfortunately, I’ve not had the time to watch beyond ep 2, so I cna’t comment much at the moment.
But I have no doubts about LJJ’s acting. And I believe the chemistry between him and CJW was good too.
It is indeed refreshing to see an unusual storyline though.