Having been dignosed with HFMD, I've spent the last few days at home, and am on Medical Leave until this coming Wednesday. It's given me a lot of pain, and it's been rather torturous, but it also allowed me to finish watching a Korean Drama, IRIS and also, a Nicholas Sparks' book-became-movie entitled "Dear John".
IRIS is an action drama that revolves around Kim Hyun Jun (played by Lee Byung Hyun), and his career as a Special Operations Military Personnel, and due to his outstanding performance, was selected to enter a top-secret National Organisation known simply as National Security Service (NSS). In the process, he meets Choi Seung Hee (played by Kim Tae Hee), and the two begin a blossoming romance.
A mission in Hungary starts the beginning of a period of difficulties, trials, and betrayal, leaving Hyun Jun and Seung Hee separated, and thinking that the other is dead. Hyun Jun is betrayed by Sang Woo, his long time buddy who entered NSS with him, and yet, is saved by this unknown person who Hyun Jun only knows as "Voice". As Hyun Jun regains his confidence and health, he starts to plot and launch an attack back on the people who betrayed him, and who allegedly determined his destiny for him. In the process, he wins over Kim Seon Hwa and Park Cheol Yong, agents from North Korea, and they uncover the existence of a society known simply as IRIS. In a change of events, Hyun Jun has to fight for something much greater than his own revenge, but uncovers along the way many secrets about his past, and even, rekindling his romance with Seung Hee.
I guess this drama is really nice and touching. I love the romance between Seung Hee and Hyun Jun, and also the build up of the story. But what disappoints me is the ending, which is all too sudden for me.. I shan't spoil it for people, but it is a relatively good drama that I'd recommend us to watch if we have the chance. =)
"Dear John" was a bit of an expectant film for me, given that I've read the book before, and I was quite immersed in the bittersweet and somewhat, nostalgic story of John Tyree and Savannah Curtis.
Basically, John Tyree is a Sergeant in the Special Forces of the United States Marines, I think, and while he's on vacation back home, he meets Savannah Curtis, a university student who's studying special education, by jumping off a jetty to save her purse. Sparks fly, and the next two weeks unravels into a romance that is honest, sincere and true. However, John returns for his tour of duty, and thus begins the most romantic thing ever: long letters to each other.
It's amazing how many letters they kept up... but when John nears the end of his year of duty, and heads home for a short weekend, Savannah is ecstatic, only to find that what what was supposedly only a few months, had to be a few years. John re-upped his tour of duty, and was duly sent to Afghanistan for the next 2 years of duty. In doing so, John left behind his autistic father, who has a passion for coin collecting ever since John stumbled upon a Jefferson Mule, and Savannah.
Time flew. But sometime in the span of his duty, Savannah stops writing. 2 months later, John receives a letter from her, only to realise that she had found someone else, and was getting engaged. Heartbroken and devastated, John burns the letters that he had received from her, and in an ensuing patrol, was shot. Upon his recovery, John signed an extended tour of duty, making it his career, and thus, began his solitary journey as a military sergeant. He was sent back to America for a period of time though, when he found out that his father suffered a stroke. He manages to reveal his true emotions to his father in a letter, and shortly after, his father passed away.
John goes to meet Savannah, and realises who her husband is. Upon discovering the lymphoma that her husband had, John meet up with an old friend, and stays for dinner with Savannah. In a heated exchange, John realises the pain Savannah went through, and how much she still really loves him, but being the man that John was, John left shortly after a moment of sharing about the places he had been.
While back in Afghanistan, he receives a letter suddenly, and realises that Savannah wrote to him. The letter, sweet and short, leads to a very different ending from the story.. and one that I think I like more. =)
There are a few things that I like about this movie.. the first is how letters are the main form of communication of love, of emotions, of happenings, of change... seeing how this movie brings back the romantic and authentic meaning of hand written letters makes me smile.
I like the mutual exchange of farewells! It's always "I'll see you soon then." Which to both of them is an indication that it's a matter of time before they'll see each other again. Which is why when John leaves Savannah's house after his dad died, and Savannah said "I'll see you soon then.", she almost pleaded with John to reply the same words to her. John, knowing the indication of these words, simply said "Goodnight." It's amazing isn't it? The pragmatics of it all. What was once commonplace, when broken, can mean so much.
Lastly.. I like the simple nature, and the raw emotions between them. I guess I can relate to them, because after all, my only serious relationship ended while I was serving my time in the army. This movie does change my impression of Amanda Seyfried though. =)
So thus ends my movie and drama post. =P
