My husband and I went to see this on date night and boy did it suck. I fell asleep and started snoring. It TOTALLY sucked!!!

This is what they advertised:

Thirty years ago, aliens made first contact with Earth. Humans waited for the hostile attack, or the giant advances in technology. Neither came. Instead, the aliens were refugees, the last survivors of their home world. The creatures were set up in a makeshift home in South Africa’s District 9 as the world’s nations argued over what to do with them.

Now, patience over the alien situation has run out. Control over the aliens has been contracted out to Multi-National United (MNU), a private company uninterested in the aliens’ welfare — they will receive tremendous profits if they can make the aliens’ awesome weaponry work. So far, they have failed; activation of the weaponry requires alien DNA.

The tension between the aliens and the humans comes to a head when an MNU field operative, Wikus van der Merwe, contracts a mysterious virus that begins changing his DNA. Wikus quickly becomes the most hunted man in the world, as well as the most valuable — he is the key to unlocking the secrets of alien technology. Ostracized and friendless, there is only one place left for him to hide: District 9.

Also Known As: District Nine

Production Status: In Production/Awaiting Release

Genres: Science Fiction/Fantasy

Running Time: 1 hr. 53 min.

Release Date: August 14th, 2009 (wide)

MPAA Rating: R for bloody violence and pervasive language.

Distributors: Sony Pictures Releasing

Production Co.: WingNut Films

Studios: TriStar Pictures

Financiers: QED International

Filming Locations: South Africa

Produced in: United States

Goo Hye Sun as Geum Jan Di

An ordinary girl whose family operates a laundry shop. Although coming from a poor family background, she possesses an extraordinary determination and is always optimistic, cheerful and full of energy. Once during a delivery of laundry to Shin Hwa College, she met with the legendary F4 and their fairy-tale story begins from there.

Lee Min Ho as Gu Jun Pyo

Lee Min Ho
The leader of F4 and the successor of South Korea’s top corporation Shin Hwa Corporation. Overbearing and cold-blooded on the surface but warm-hearted and passionate deep inside. Although a little male chauvinist, he is willing to do anything for the woman he loves. He will also often display childish acts in front of the woman he loves.

Kim Hyun Joong as Yoon Ji Hoo

Kim Hyun Joong
A member of the F4 who has autism since young, unconcerned to almost everything and likes to hide alone in one corner. However behind his seemingly cold appearance, he has a gentle and delicate heart. Geum Jan Di is also attracted by his angel-like personality. Although he feels a little for Geum Jan Di but he is unable to forget his first love Min Seo Hyun.

Kim Bum as So Ee Jung

Kim Bum
Gifted potter and successor of a noble family. Highly popular among the girls in the college but his heart is starting to feel for Jan Di’s best friend Chu Ga Eul. Yi Jung who is always surrounded by girls from the upper class puts his eyes on this ordinary girl.

Kim Joon as Song Woo Bin

Kim Joon
The most flirtatious of the group, Song Woo Bin is the son of giant corporation in the construction industry. As the successor of a newly-promoted noble family, he is poised to face a political marriage against his will and his flirtatious nature is just a way of self-indulgence.

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The Korean cast of the hit drama “Boys Over Flowers.” From left, Kim Jun, Kim Bum, Lee Min-ho, Ku Hye-sun and Kim Hyun-joong.
/ Courtesy of Group Eight

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

“Boys Over Flowers,” a perfect fairy tale of a television drama, is taking local viewers by storm. Based on the comic series of the same name by Yoko Kamio, it has been made into a live TV series in Japan, Taiwan, and now, Korea. What is it about the local version that has the nation swooning? Four pretty boys dubbed F4, a plain girl, fabulous clothes, houses, cars and a love story may fit for an answer.

“Boys Over Flowers” saw its big screen debut in 1995 and a 51-episode animation series the following year in Japan. In 1997, Japan came out with a full-length animated version for the big screen.

The plot then saw its first television debut in Taiwan in 2001 under the title “Meteor Garden.” The Taiwanese F4 members became a big hit locally and abroad, even creating a band of the same name.

“Boys Over Flowers” finally returned to its original fan base in Japan and was made into a drama starring top stars Jun Matsumoto and Shun Oguri in 2005 and a movie with the same cast last year.

The Korean version, which airs Monday and Tuesday at 10 p.m., is believed to have brought the cast from the comic book right to the small screen, from hairstyles to school uniforms.

It stars Lee Min-ho as Goo Jun-pyo ― originally Tsukasa Domyoji ― and fellow actors Kim Hyun-joong, Kim Bum, Kim Jun and heroine Ku Hye-sun.

As every version is based on the same plot, the storyline is similar: a girl-next-door gets herself tangled up in a relationship with a rich and stubborn boy, and her life takes a turn as she gets involved with him and his friends, or F4.

There are nuanced difference, however, in appearances, small details in the story and budget.

The Korean F4s have the comic-book, pretty-boy good looks and were chosen by drama producers through auditions.

“I had to change a few details in the storyline because of the cultural differences between Japan and Korea, but I tried to bring as much originality as possible. One important feature was the characters. We tried to cast actors that looked almost exactly like the characters in the comic book,” Jun Ki-sang, the producer of the drama, said during a press conference last December.

Lee, who had to show off curly hair as the main character, went through four perms to get the right look, while Kim Hyun-joong was chosen not only because of his overall image, but also his height, which matched original character Rui’s.

Their similarity impressed even cartoonist Kamio, according to drama production company Group Eight. Kamio visited the Korean drama’s cast before the first airing and showed his support, signing autographs and even drawing a sketch of the characters for the cast.

In terms of budget, the Japanese and Korean versions top the Taiwanese one, with airplanes, helicopters, a trip to New Caledonia and the luxurious wardrobes.

For fans who have enjoyed the cartoon, watching the new drama is more fun, as they aree able to compare it with the other versions.

“To be honest, the storyline is cheesy, perhaps mainly because it’s based on a comic book, but it’s still fun to watch. Other shows have heavier storylines with complicated relationships and business and marriage problems, and I think this is why women are attracted to the simple and pretty drama,” Kim So-yeon, 20, told The Korea Times.

Some critical fans, however, appreciate the drama but still hope it takes things to the next level.

“The Japanese (drama) was more like the comic book and I can see that the Korean version has tried to be also. I enjoy watching it, but I still think that Ku is not fit for the role. The (heroine) is not supposed to be pretty, but Ku is very pretty! And the computer graphics need to be toned down for a more realistic approach. As for the Taiwanese drama, I think it was a bit difficult to relate to because of the cultural differences,” Lee Hee-young, 24 and another fan, said.

With news that the Korean “Flowers” will start airing in Japan this coming July and a new Chinese version is starting production, expectations are high that the F4 boom will continue here and abroad.

sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr

People do not know about the hardships/tears and filial piety of Kim Hyun Joong who acted as Ji Hoo in the Korean version of Hana Yori Dango. When interviewed on 19th Feb, his mother said -” Hyun Joong is a very sentimental child.”

She continued “A few days ago, when I reached home, I saw some cosmetics on the table. I asked my son what is this all about. He told me in all sincereity – I bought it for you, mother. Please use it. Don’t feel that you can’t bear to use it. Please don’t go to the market to work anymore too.”

Reportedly during the Asian Financial crisis, Hyun Joong’s parents started selling clothes in the marketplace. Hyun Joong also quit his High School then to work for a living as well as to prepare to be a singer.

She reminisced “I did oppose to him being an artiste as he’s such an intelligent child. Nevertheless I came to believe in his determination. I feel proud for my son.”

Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace, Saint Francis Prayer

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

I was baptized Baptist at the age of 9 in Alabama. My grandfather was the Pastor and performed the baptism at Easter 1979. I grew up in the church and was very active throughout my young life. After I joined the military, years and years ago, I was drawn to Catholicism. The Baptist church that I grew up in had transformed into something I wasn’t comfortable with. The connection I felt to it had severed.

Catholic Mass made so much sense to me and I loved the organization and sense of tradition. So…I went through RCIA, or the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, is the process where adults complete the steps necessary to become members of the Catholic Church. It is a time of questions, learning, and decision making. It is also a time for the whole church community to encourage the candidates or catechumens along their journey.

Thr RCIA process was enlightening and wonderful and eased the transition for me. My sponsors were wonderful and taught me so much.

I am happy to be a child of God and to be Catholic.