Dae Jang Geum vol. 1 [DVD]

Better than described

Korean films of this genre are passionate yet wholesome. Great film for a family but with subjects that at not childish in any manner. Dae Jang Geum struggles agaisnt oppressive circumstances in a heroic manner. Moralistic actions are pan-culturistic for this economically poor girl trying to rise in a world of ridged rules of conduct. This is a powerful work that many can relate to; both men and women in the modern work-place. English speaking viewer should not dub film as it looses a great deal. Sub-titles are well done. Not a "chick-flick", not a empty headed film, it has great depth and cultural referance. Excellent for family that reads and is not educationally challenged.... ;-)

"Dae Jang Geum" is the drama that started it all. The "Korean Wave" (or "Hallyu" as it's known in Korean) is a phenomenon that began around 2000, where consumer demand for Korean culture, food, movies, etc. experienced a huge surge throughout Asia. "Dae Jang Geum" was the import that sparked this wave and for good reason. It's a fascinating drama and look at Korean society and court life during the reign of three kings in the Joseon dynasty (roughly 1450s - 1540s). Filmed for viewers with longer attention spans than the dramas that saturate American television, "Dae Jang Geum" is paced slowly at first, picking up speed towards the middle of the story. By episode 30 you'll be enthralled and unable to tear yourself away. In spite of a few outlandish claims, such as the protagonist "inventing" surgical techniques (surgery was actually introduced to Korea in the 1880s by an American missionary). The storyline is credible and exciting. Court intrigue forms the core of the drama and will have you on the edge of your seat cheering for the main character, a lovely and talented female doctor named Jang-geum. My only gripe is that DJG features a number of factual errors, such as the lead character "inventing" surgery and "discovering" anesthesia. I'm sure other historical inaccuracies might be noted by viewers with a background in Korean history. I was torn between watching this drama and catching up on old episodes of "Lost". Needless to say this drama won, which gives you an idea of how good it is.

I have heard a lot of things about this series and really wanted to see it. it was also very hard to get hat to wait about 3 weeks for amazon to deliver it even though they promissed to do it a lot faster. about the series: it is a nice and interesting topic, however the action moves a bit slow. Still I would recommend it to people who like historical drama.

If you are interested in foreign films, ethnic food, or foreign cultures, this is the DVD set (1-3) for you...based on the true story of a woman, an orphan. who struggles from poverty to become a doctor to the king and other members of the Korean monarchy. Indeed no other woman in the history of Korea had this distinction since normally no otherwoman but a wife or concubine could "touch" the king. How a woman could accomplish such a feat is due due her determination, her kindness, and scientific intelligence. As her rival describes her, even if you succeed in banishing her from the court, she will come back like coarse grass. Mesmerizing in every way: plot, scenery, characterization, historical detail, romance, cliff-hanging endings, herb science, costumes, sets. Too few films "in any language" provide meaningful role models for young women unconnected to violence. I LOVED this series and the principal female character. DAE JANG GEUM is not so much an episodic film as it is an experience. This mini-series became the most popular show in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Korea. As one reviewer put it, once you see a few episodes, you are "addicted" to see this series to conclusion. Purchase the First Set for Christmas or Birthday Gifts and your friends and loved ones will not be disappointed. Five stars? Absolutely.

I am deep into Dai Jang Geum, and enjoying every minute. The historical background is a joy to look at, and the characters are nicely drawn - especially the evil women! I have only one problem with it - the subtitles are done very badly. The version I am looking at is produced for the North American market, with subtitles by YA Entertainment Holdings. Whoever did them seems to have no understanding of English punctuation, or regards it as optional. Obvious mistakes pop up. A crucial examination for the court ladies is persistently translated as "competition," when it is clearly an examination. Mistakes in grammar occur. Characters who refer to each other in the normal Korean manner as their position (e.g., Jang Geum refers to her foster father with a word for an older respected male that essentially translates as "Uncle") are subtitled as saying their names. Do the subtitlers think people watching Korean dramas are unable to accept this? Finally, why are the subtitles in white, when yellow is obviously clearer? In brief, a first class drama marred by third class subtitles. The owners should send their subtitling work to SBS in Australia - they do a good job!

During the era of the Joseon Dynasty, a girl attempts to bring her parents' killers to justice by ascending the ranks of the palace kitchen and destroying their black market. Despite its 54-hour running time, the storyline engages the viewer within the first few hours and tempo is sustained with huge quantities of effective suspense sequences and intriguing political developments within the palace. The political maneuvering is glorious because the antagonists are exceptional at scheming to eliminate the protagonists at all costs. This is the ultimate cat-and-mouse game where attacks and counterattacks are executed on a perpetual basis, but the true novelty here is that the action revolves almost completely around food preparation and medical examination. The supporting characters are memorable and well-developed, and the cultural value of this series is impressive with its detailed showcasing of 16th century cooking, medicine, period clothing, tradition, and the internal organizational structure of the royal palace. My second favorite K-drama, behind "Jumong" (2006).

I started watching this amazing Korean historical drama somewhere in the middle. Unlike American soaps, Korean dramas have a limited number of episodes ("Dae Jang Geum" has 54) and don't drag on for years. It's beautifully filmed with local scenery and period costumes; and did I mention the food "money shots?" Early episodes are filled with close-ups of disembodied hands preparing the most luxurious Korean dishes--if only there were recipes included! "Dae Jang Geum" is based on a real-life (17th-century?) figure, a young woman who grows up in Korea's imperial court as a 'kitchen lady,' an apprentice in the royal kitchen. Through a series of dramatic events--love, murder and intrigue AND cooking--she becomes the first female physician to the royal court. The subtitles, although sometimes strange in their translations, are helpful to provide "footnotes" to non-Koreans about other historical events in their history. I loved the episodes I'd watched so much that I bought all three volumes.