Review: Princess Hours (Goong)
As you all know by now, I really love watching Korean soap operas (or popularly known as K-dramas). And rarely do I really like one that I go gaga over it. Full House, Sassy Girl Chun-Hyang and My Lovely Kim Sam Soon to name a few. Lately, a friend of mine recommended a new K-drama called Princess Hours. It's korean title is Goong, meaning Palace. Goong, like some of the later K-dramas, was based on a manghwa (Korean comic books) of the same title. The story revolves around an ordinary girl, Shin Chae-Gyeung, who found out that her grandfather and the emperor of Korea made a pact and that she would have to marry the crown Prince, Lee Shin-Goon. Her grandfather apparently saved the emperor's life during the Japanese occupation. The Prince, Lee Shin, has a girl friend who he had proposed to. But due to his girlfriend's high ambitions of becoming a ballet dancer and not wanting to be tied down in the Palace, turned down his proposal. His girlfriend lately realized her mistake when Prince Shin and Chae-Gyeung were married (talk about stupid) so she did everything she can to take away the Prince from Chae-Gyeung. Anyway, here's where it gets complicated. Prince Shin was not exactly the crown prince before. After a sudden death of the Emperor, the successor became the second heir or the Emperor's brother. According to Palace laws, only the Queen Mother, the Emperor and the Emperor's immediate family are to live inside the palace grounds. The other members of the Royal Family are to live outside the palace grounds. The late Emperor had a wife and son (the supposed real heir to the throne) Lee Yul, who were put into exile in Britain. After learning that the current Emperor has an ailment and Prince Shin is showing some signs of rebellion, Prince Lee Yul and his mother returned to Korea hoping that he can get back what was rightfully his, namely the throne, and depending on how you'll look at it, his supposed wife, Shin Chae-Gyeung. Well, the story of Goong is so deep. It's not your typical love triangle k-drama. Goong also has a beautiful soundtrack which I really love. The instrumentals and the songs is perfect for the series.
You might think that there's an exsisting monarchy in Korea. The Korean monarchy disappeared apparently during the japanese occupation. Goong is mainly a "what if" kind of story. What if there is a constitutional monarchy in Korea where the royal family is just a status symbol instead of a ruling power. They made reference to the British monarchy as a symbol for the people. Also they made reference to the British royal scandal between Prince Charles, Lady Diana and Camilla Parker Bowles. And the most funny part about the series, they made Prince William visit Korea. Well, it's not really Prince William, but their Prince William in the series did and is a good friend of Prince Yul.
This K-drama targets the teenage population by casting young singer/actress Yoon Eun-hye for the lead role as Shin Chae-Gyeung and model/actor Joo Ji-Hoon as Prince Lee Shin. With it's typical teenage love story, Goong attracts the younger viewers. But as the story progresses, the story becomes deeper and darker so if you'll notice, the latter episodes turned from PG-12 to PG-15. Anyway, I hope you get a copy of Goong (Princess Hours) and I also hope that you'll enjoy watching as much as I do.
You might think that there's an exsisting monarchy in Korea. The Korean monarchy disappeared apparently during the japanese occupation. Goong is mainly a "what if" kind of story. What if there is a constitutional monarchy in Korea where the royal family is just a status symbol instead of a ruling power. They made reference to the British monarchy as a symbol for the people. Also they made reference to the British royal scandal between Prince Charles, Lady Diana and Camilla Parker Bowles. And the most funny part about the series, they made Prince William visit Korea. Well, it's not really Prince William, but their Prince William in the series did and is a good friend of Prince Yul.
This K-drama targets the teenage population by casting young singer/actress Yoon Eun-hye for the lead role as Shin Chae-Gyeung and model/actor Joo Ji-Hoon as Prince Lee Shin. With it's typical teenage love story, Goong attracts the younger viewers. But as the story progresses, the story becomes deeper and darker so if you'll notice, the latter episodes turned from PG-12 to PG-15. Anyway, I hope you get a copy of Goong (Princess Hours) and I also hope that you'll enjoy watching as much as I do.
Bounce!
posted by INGGO! @ 4/23/2006 04:39:00 PM
21 Comments:
sounds interesting, bro. kaso, marami na rin akong pinapanood na series sa ngayon e. i don't think i have time for soaps, even english ones. i'm up to my neck in sci-fi and reality tv shows. ;)
hi.... do u noe when will goong be coming out in S'pore??? i noe it is showing in around oct on channel U. But i want to noe abt e CD. Pls e-mail me at annaa293@hotmail.com if u noe...
Thanks!
uh.. I don't know. I'm not Singaporean. But thanks for dropping by, though. ^_^
Hi there - good review ... I'm from Los Angeles and I've watched this several times already and though it's not very funny, it is cute and quite entertaining. This is definitely a must-see series.
Thanks and yes. definitely a must see series. I also heard that Entertainment magazine gave high praises for the series. Production wise, compared to other Korean soap operas, this one is very particular to detail. ^_^
Hello there. I'm from Sydney. Nice review :)
I personally think Goong is a great series...it'd definitely different to Full House, My Girl & Stairway to Heaven to name the few. It actually has references. xD.
AND YES! THE SOUNDTRACK IS AWESOME!!!!! :D
Bye.
hi... ur skills for writin' movie/drame reviews are excellent. d show seems nice tink im going to watch it... i heard that it is a little similiar to full house
thanks. ^_^
well, most k-dramas are alike (in story anyway), so it's no wonder that you might go, "this looks familiar" if you watch another k-drama. anyway, full house is a good show on its own. and i don't think it's not that similar to Princess Hours/Goong for alot of different reasons. ^_^;;
great review! i watched the drama on dvd already....didnt realy liked the ending....i want Chae-gyung to be with Lee Yul! Lee Yul is so much better than the crown prince...
thanks. actually, I'm with you on that. I do like Lee Yul better than Lee Shin. He really doesn't deserve Chae-Gyeung. ^_^
Hi.. I'm from S'pore too. And if I'm not wrong the CD has already come out in the CD store in IMM. I know this won't be very helpful, but I forgot the name. :P But it's on the first floor, near Burger King. :D
are you talking about the Soundtrack? it's nice that you can buy it there in Singapore at local stores. I have to get mine through YesAsia.com. T_T
That's a good synopsis of the show.
I'm from the US, and my friend introduced me to this while she was in Taiwan. Um, I'm totally hooked, and I definitely can't wait one month for the DVD, and I'm dying because they won't ship to the US. WHAT THE HECK? I watched the entire season on YouTube, and that was hard enough. Arghhhhh. Frustration.
yeah. I heard that it's really hard to order this series to the US. Maybe they're planning something big for this. Just my 2 cents. ^_^
And YouTube, I guess, is the way to go so you can watch and catch up your favorite K-dramas. ^_^
i already watched GOONG. wah.. it's really great. i mean it. wah. i love princess hours.. it's the best. i love prince Xin. his character is really just my type. also, the funny moments are really really funny.. and of course, it's so romantic. darn. how i wish it can also come true to my reality.. hehe
where can i find the ost of goong?? hmm.. ur from philippines, ryt? same here. im glad there's someone who fell in love with the movie as well as i did. actually, i juz finished watching it. it's a must see series indeed. im looking forward to hear from you soon. take care..
A fellow pinoy! Mabuhay! You can order The Princess Hours OST at YesAsia.com. Or, if you want, go to this link (which you can find lots of k-drama soundtracks) :
http://www.soompi.com/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=2111&view=findpost&p=522040
Enjoy! ^_^
I soo love goong princess hours and i also love the song perhaps love even though i can't understand the song but i got the lyrics to that song and i sing along to the parts that i know!
i also hum along to the tune because it is soo good!lols
:) have fun in your life ok!
goodbye!!xox
i love Princess Hours a.k.a Goong
it's so good!
the love team is really good too!
luv it :)
Who knows where to download XRumer 5.0 Palladium?
Help, please. All recommend this program to effectively advertise on the Internet, this is the best program!
Hi, I chanced upon your journal while looking for reviews of the drama Goong which I just watched. I love it and can't get enough of it I kept rewatching. I am in California and I bought the dvd with one additional dvd of special features at www.hanbooks.com
It is a wonderful sweet and truly entertaining drama. I also bought the OST which I keep on playing over and over again. Call me ladyinred. Thanks.
Post a Comment
<< Home