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“P.S. I Love You” vs. “The Letter”

I know I cannot be the only person to have noticed the similarities.

When I first started seeing ads for the new Hilary Swank movie P.S. I Love You, I was struck with the storyline and figured it must be another case, as with Il Mare and My Sassy Girl, of Hollywood adapting a popular, well-received Korean film. Because the story of P.S. I Love You — what I can glean from commercials and online searches, that is — seems almost a direct retelling of the 1997 Korean film The Letter, starring one of the top Korean actresses of all time, Choi Jin Shil, and an actor I’ve only JUST realized is Park Shin Yang.

In fact, it was so similar that I was totally sure it was a remake — but looking online reveals no connection. The Hollywood movie is apparently based on a 2004 novel of the same name, written by first-time novelist Cecelia Ahern, according to Wikipedia.

Huh. I suppose it could be a case of two people coming up with the same idea independently, but it’s an awfully big coincidence.

SONG OF THE DAY

Kim Gun Mo – “이별없는 사랑” (A love without farewell). I’ve just rediscovered all my old Kim Gun Mo albums (thanks to holidays spent back at the family home), and remembered why he was one of the few pop singer-songwriters who’s lasted through the ever-changing kpop scene. You can’t really call him “kpop” although he is Korean and writes/sings pop music in the strict sense of the term. [ zShare download ]

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I remember seeing The Letter in a movie theater in L.A. — a rare occurrence, that, since ten years ago Korean films weren’t really a blip on the international cinema scene. But this was Koreatown, and The Letter was enough of a hit in Korea that a theater in L.A. ran the film — with English subtitles! — in a limited run wherein (practically) everyone I knew went to see it.

I wasn’t a big Korean film fan then, and not even really a kdrama fan, although I had seen the lead actress, Choi Jin Shil, in THE original trendy drama, Jealousy, when it kicked off the romantic-comedy drama craze in 1992.

The Letter was billed as a sad movie, which is also something I vigorously avoid, but for some reason it seems more uplifting than tragic. I cried buckets in the movie — I am not exaggerating because I distinctly remember noting this at the time — and started weeping about halfway through the film and DID NOT STOP. But it was the kind of crying you enjoy indulging in, not the sadomasochistic or self-pitying kind. I heard that Choi Jin Shil cried so much while filming the movie that she passed out from dehydration.

Anyway. This is what I remember of the film — I’ve only seen it once, but I have a pretty good memory for useless details and this film sticks in my memory:

THE GENERAL PLOT (Non-spoilery)

Choi Jin Shil and Park Shin Yang are a happily, newly married couple with the whole world in front of them, until they discover that Park Shin Yang is dying of cancer. He passes away early on in the film, and leaves behind his grieving widow, who has to now move on alone. One day she gets a letter — from her husband. She can’t figure out where it came from and it doesn’t SEEM to be a mistake. As in, it’s not a long-lost letter; it’s addressed to her as though he’s speaking to her in the present.

She continues to get letter after letter, which of course is welcome and yet entirely confounding. Are they fake? Is it from a ghost? How is he sending her these messages now? And let’s just say by the end she gains a measure of peace and it’s all heartwarming and uplifting even with all the sad mixed in.

 

 

THE SPOILERY VERSION

Since it’s been such a while since I’ve seen the film, I can only recall certain parts — but they’re such powerful parts. Park Shin Yang is completely touching as the slowly deteriorating husband who clings to his positive side despite the fact that his body is breaking down, and Choi Jin Shil is always wonderful.

No, there’s no supernatural flibberty-gibberty going on, nor is there some freaky time-space warp issue. The truth is quite simple, actually, but what makes the film work isn’t its premise so much as it is watching how these two people act their way through it. Eventually, we find out the source of the letters — and it’s really the plainest, most logical answer: The husband had prepared them prior to his death, without his wife’s knowledge, and gave instructions for them to be sent to her after his passing in order to help ease her grief.

There’s a particularly lovely part, one of those scenes you first see from one side, and then from the other, and it’s when you see the full picture that the emotion hits you full-force. And it’s a doozy. Just thinking of it even now brings tears to my eyes. Early on in the film, Wifey is taking care of her ailing husband, who’s very sick from chemo but not yet at death’s door, when she goes out to run some errands or some such thing. She’s been worn down from taking care of her sick husband, and he’s been irritable lately, so although they love each other, affection hasn’t been their priority in recent days.

So on a whim, she stops by a pay phone to call home, only the answering machine picks up. She leaves her message for her husband to hear later, saying, “I wanted to tell you this now, because I haven’t said it lately. I love you.”

Then, after he dies and sends her letters and she finds out that he’d written the letters prior to his death, she receives a final message from him. The fact that it’s the last letter she’ll be receiving is particularly moving even if not for the message itself, which comes this time in the form of a video. Wifey pops in the tape to see that it’s her husband, sometime during his chemotherapy stages, talking into the camera. But he’s interrupted by a phone call — and since he’s in the middle of recording, he decides not to pick up, and waits for the answering machine to finish its message. And when he hears his wife’s voice, and the message that she leaves, OH GOOD LORDY the expression on Park Shin Yang’s face as he completely breaks down… wow. The movie’s worth it just for that scene, y’all. Now that I’ve spoiled it for you, heh.

END OF SPOILERYNESS

I’ll say right now that I think the Hilary Swank version is gonna suck. I have nothing to base that assertion upon except for the fact that it looks unbearably cheesy, like a Nicholas Sparks novel gone (even more) self-indulgently maudlin.

Even if P.S. I Love You doesn’t bear any official relation to The Letter, it still seems to have produced that weirdness that happened when Il Mare was bastardized into its Hollywoodified Sandra-Keanu version in The Lake House. Il Mare — despite the seeming outrageousness of its premise (two people send each other letters through a maaagical mailbox despite living two years apart) — worked because of the small moments, the thin bond that sprung up between Jeon Ji Hyun’s and Lee Jung Jae’s characters and which slowly, organically, quietly grew into something substantial. That movie lives and breathes in its silences, its long pauses — which is why the glossier, melodramatic-er Lake House does nothing for me. Except perhaps cause my eyeballs to roll upward of their own accord. I can’t help it. It’s snark reflex.

Okay, so it’s probably too early to be consigning P.S. I Love You to the same fate (is it, though?), but who cares, I’ll do it anyway. Even if I’d seen the marketing blitz for P.S. with no knowledge of The Letter, I’d write it off as squishy oversentimentalized sappiness that turns me off despite the fact that I’m the perfect target audience: I have a built-in high-shmaltz tolerance! I love silly teen movies and predictable romantic comedies! But with this kind of movie, I’m sick of the overwrought-ness of it all. Everything just seems too TOO. Too much drama, too much angst, too much wonder, just too much. Hollywood needs to calm the fuck DOWN and let their movies breathe.

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(sigh) Love reading your articles! Particular this one and your poignant depiction of the "bastardization" of beautiful Korean cinema by Hollywood. When I heard my friends talking about "The Lake House", I screamed - watch Il Mare! It's SOOOO much better!
Off to hunt for "The Letter" =)

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I find it surprising that somebody besides 1 or two of my best budz to be sharing my opinion about how hollywood has adopted Il Mare. I have watched the korean film first and have loved the movie. I don't like watching tearjerkers anymore than I do when I was in my teens. I now go for shallow ones - as others may consider, those that make me laugh and feel good in the end. But films like 'Il Mare' I would recommend. I was greatful to the guy who recommended me to watch it and told me its good, when I then focus more on checking out sci-fi and action flicks. Then there was the showing of the lake house which at that time, if I'm not mistaken here in manila, has no big publicity it being a copy of the korean film until several days after it was shown in theaters. Then I ended up comparing and don't get me wrong, am one of those overly gaga with Keanu Reaves, and loved Sandra Bullock in her 'Congeniality' flicks. But 'Lake House' was far from making me cry like Il Mare did. And here you are talking about another film being copied. Tell you what, just with your spoilers, I believe you, and maybe wait when you have your review on the hollywood version as well . I have a graphic idea when you talked about that scene where Park Shin Yang receiving "his wife's" call. Am crying just reading on it. Eversince 'Sassy Girl', I have been lured to watch korean movies. So far, I have very few dissapointments. Am not an authority of course, I only have watched a few films.

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Ever since you posted this, I've been dying to see "The Letter" and have been searching all over for it. My friend recommended the book PS I Love You last week, and that was before I knew anything about "The Letter" or even a movie adaptation of the book. But now I MUST see the Korean movie... and I think I might've found a clubbox that has it. You need a membership to download from the box, and since it's been awhile since it was uploaded, it might be difficult to get the download going. I guess I'll post the link to the person's box. That's allowed, right?

http://clubbox.co.kr/StarRB

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saryKIM, thank you for the link -- I've downloaded it and can't wait to give it a whirl.

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You're welcome. My download is very slow, and I can't keep my laptop on the whole day, so I'm still in the process of downloading it. But it's close to being finished, and I can't wait to watch it. I think maybe I'll read PS I love you or watch the movie later, when I have free time, and then I'll compare it to "The Letter" and complain about the similarities and rant about how the Korean movie is much better. xD

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How funny!

My bf was convinced that it was another Asian movie remake also, so he, like you went searching for information about it. I made fun of him at the time for jumping to conclusions, but I guess he was pretty close after all. I will show him your entry so he can feel good about himself. hehe

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omg! javabeans! that movie, the letter, has been in my mind forever since i saw it. i don't remember where or when or how i saw that movie but i loved it and only recently have been trying to recall the title. thanks for finally revealing what i've been looking for!

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Have you noticed that the seemingly Hollywood remakes of Korean movies are starred by Gianna Jun? Take note for example Il Mare and My Sassy Girl. :D oh how wonderful are korean movies. :D ooooh. i just have to watch The Letter. :) Thanks javabeans. :)

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anyone know where i can catch a copy of the letter?

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saryKIM and javabeans: I've found the link but am unable to dl it. By membership, do you mean to StarRB's clubbox? How do you do that? Does anyone else have a box that it can be uploaded to?

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I think the StarRBG's clubbox no longer exists. Anyone else had any luck finding the Letter? I REALLY want to watch it now..what with all the controversy....

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Correction...it does exist...I just typed the url wrongly...(sheepish grin)....Runs off to download The Letter....

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omg, so I'm not the only person who thinks that these "similarities" between P.S. I Love You" and "The Letters" are suspicious. When I first heard that Ahern's popular book "P.S. I love you" was turned into a movie, I was like, "what the hell, isn't that just a remake of 'The Letters'?" I watched The Letters and it was super sad 'cause I remember crying like almost non stop. And to hear that Ahern's "P.S. I love you" is so similar to The letters sent me this feeling that she's 'plagerizing' the korean movie. I even remember looking for her book to see a sign that she at least put credits for the korean movie "The Letters" and when I saw no sign of it, the only thing that came to my mind was, "you've got to be kidding me."

I still get this feeling that Ahern watched the movie The Letters and wrote her book based on it and isn't telling shit...or I might've just overthink some details. I for sure and NOT going to watch that movie 'cause no matter what, "The Letters" is always better than any other sappy tearjerker movie. It's probably the #1 tearjerker movie on my list. Lol.

seriously though, american directors need to let their movies breathe. too many remakes of asian movies.

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saw the The Letter, years ago...after i saw ps' trailer, it immediately reminded me of The Letter. who can't forget that video recording scene. oh my, me and my sis were really crying that time. you guys definitely check this movie out..

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Just FYI, "P.S. I Love you" wasn't the only remake of "The Letter". In Thailand there was a remake of the same story, it was called "The Letter" too. Here's the non-officail web page of the Thai version http://www.pantip.com/cafe/chalermthai/newmovie/letter/letter.html.

I've just got back to my appartment, after seeing "P.S. I Love you" in the theaters, I just had to find out the source of the story. After seeing both versions, I truely believed that all of these three movies had to come from the same novel, or the same plot. But instead of comparing them, I tried to find the beauty in them. All versions have there own beauty.

The Korean and Thai version are very similar (you can say that the Thai version was a Grade-A copy). The reason of this similarity would be with the not so difference in the cultures, and the directory admitted that is was a copy. And both versions, Thai and Koean, are focused on how to tell how much thye loved each other. But what "P.S. I love you" is trying to show is, how much Gerrys loved and cared about Holly.

What I'm just trying to say is, to me, it wouldn't be so had to make a movie to make you cry. But the best part is, how the novel tries to tell you how much Gerrys loved and cared about Holly. At his last hours of his life, or since the first second he layed eyes on her, she was the most important think in his life. Even when he was alive, he tried is best to make her happy. Always doing his best to make her find her self and follow her dreams, blah blah blah. He wasn't one of the selfish guy, like most people. He did every thing for her. And made sure she could move on with her life with out him.

If you open your heart and focus on the phrase where Holly says "Gerrys isn't here any more" (or something like that, close to the ending), you'll hear a deep deep meaning behind the lines.

I'm not a good or great critic, I just try to find the beauty in things with out comparing with others.

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Thanks Dramabeans for introducing the movie The Letter. I like Park Shin Yang after watching Lovers in Paris. Thanks saryKIM for the clubbox link, currently downloading :) Is there any English sub for the movie, I wonder? Thanks!

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Hi all
managed to find a recent upload of the The Letter at Idol Unlimited Community. But no Sub provide.. :( not sure whether is it okay post the link...

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hey i want to watch the letter..is there a website i can watch it on? if so email me [email protected]

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The closest thing I could find is this DVD of The Letter available from Yesasia:
http://us.yesasia.com/en/PrdDept.aspx/section-videos/code-k/version-all/aid-34553/did-295/pid-1010667599/
Unfortunately, it's got no English subs (just Japanese). But as it's a new release (out in April), perhaps this bodes well for a future English-language DVD release...?

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Whoa, didn't know abt this similarity issue till I got here (a few months too late). Haven't watched either movie but your description of The Letter makes me wanna go look for the dvd. Wonder if they'd have it considering how old it looks. XD

I guess by the time I read this, everyone's watched PS I love You. So how was it??

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I've been searching for this movie for a reeeeeally long time. Having arrived here again after following a link from My Last Scandal on the first page, I was motivated to try once more and finally found something. For those who read Chinese subs (or those who just want to view it without downloading), I'd like to share this link: http://www.56.com/w55/play_album-aid-2993025_vid-MjY1NTk0NzM.html
I hope it's ok to post that. If not, please remove it.

^_^ Enjoy.

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Have you seen the Thai remake of "The Letter" with Ann Thongprasom? I've seen that back in 2004 and cry terribly. Thank for mentioning the original. I'll check it out.

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The Letter is the most touching movie i ever seen, I watch its in television via cable Arirang,I must says is very touching movie Park Shin Yang have very good acting and Choi Jin Chil she very impressive actress,The most memorable for me is when Choi watch the recorded video tape of his husband ,tear to my eyes come,Finally I found this website reviews of The Letter movie.Thanks

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jadeac

Thanks for the link to letter. You've brighten up my day.

Bty does any one know where I could buy or watch the following drama by Park shin Yang because I want to collect all of his movies and drama.

Movie - Yuri
Drama - Apple Blossom’s Fragrance (1996 / MBC)
Drama - If You Are In Love (1996 / MBC)
Drama - Try to Snatch My Heart (1998 / SBS

Thanks

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I watched P.S I Love You and it made me realize how strong love is... that it's no joke to love and be loved... Haven't watched "The Letter" but I'm looking forward to seeing it... Do you know any site where I can watch it? Thanks.... :)

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I don't know about copying... I mean there was also the whole Juno (2007) and Jenny, Juno thing, where everyone thought that Diablo Cody copied the 2005 Korean movie, but it turned out that Cody had never even heard of the movie. I can't see how it would be uncommon for striking similarities. It isn't as if these ideas have never been seen before. There's nothing new under the sun. Everything that will be already has been. So even if it seems unlikely, it might still be true that Cecilia Aherns didn't copy another movie. And even if she did, who cares? P.S. I Love You sucked anyways. The movie was just like the book, only worse.

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I just watched PS I Love You a few weeks ago and was brought to tears... never know that it's a copycat. .. I actually knew of the novel by Cecilia Aherns before the movie, I have seen it many times at bookstores before PS I Love You was produced.
After reading your description of the Letter, I AM convinced that there's no way that the novel was not "inspired" by the Letter...

I think in the case of Jenny Juno vs Juno it's a little different.. they're both about teen pregnancy.. but the storyline is not the same... so it's believable that it's just a coincidence...

I don't buy that PS I Love You is not related to the Letter..... i feel like i must make spread this word now..

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veri veri good

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Sara,

Is there any way you can sub the movie for us non-Korean, non-Chinese, non-Japanese KDrama fans? Pretty please...

Without sounding patronizing or rude, would a gift card at Starbucks help?

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thanks a lot.

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hi where can i watch this movie? can't find it in mysoju, crunchyroll or vitamovie. can you please send me where can i watch it!!!! really wanna watch this. thanks a lot and Merry Christmas!!!!!

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It was completely random, but I remembered seeing a movie that had the similar concept as "PS I Love You" and guess what-- It was "The Letter" that I had seen. I had forgotten about this movie and honestly, it just popped up in my head. It was as if I could replay parts of the movie in my head! Anyway, I came online and googled "Korean PS I Love You" and came upon this site. Thanks for posting this because I would really want to watch it again to compare to PS I Love You. And it DEFINITELY IS a remake-- so weird that it was 'based on a book' and not "The Letter".

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I wanted to see the movie after a cousin told me it was a heartwarming one. But now, I think I have to see The Letter first coz it seems more realistic than P.S. i Luv u! Thnx.

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I'm not a suspiciously minded person but Ahern studied film for her degree.

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Ok, I watched P.S. I Love You. I personally thought it was good but now that I know that there's a Korean movie that came BEFORE that book I feel like I've just had a taste of something fake, and I want the real thing, you know?

I also couldn't seem to like the lead character (Holly) all that much, just because of how Hilary Swank played her. She seemed too awkward.

I really want to watch The Letter now :)

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I was so glad to see this! I thought it was just me. I saw PS I Love You when it came out on DVD and was quite disappointed in it. It had a lot of play when it came out and I really felt it didn't live up to the press it received.

Later, I finally got around to watching Lovers In Paris and loved Park Shin Yang so decided to find more things he was in to watch. Yesasia had a sale, so I bought The Letter, thinking, I really like the two leads, I am sure I will enjoy the movie.

I had the same reaction as dramabeans ... cried buckets, loved it and was uplifted by it rather than saddened. The whole time though, I was thinking ... I have seen something like this before ... but PS I Love You was so forgettable for me, that it didn't hit me till a few days later.

Since I knew the Korean film had come long before PS I Love You, I was sure it was another Hollywood ripoff, like The Lake House - but did my research and saw it supposedly wasn't - still suspicious though. The details are just too much the same. I have a hard time believing coincidences like that! But, maybe it is.

Either way, the Korean version is WAY better than the American version.

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My korean friend showed me this movie because I wanted to watch a good tear-jerker and the first thing that came out of my mouth when he showed me it was "Wtf did the author just go and jack it of this? It's way too similar!" anyways I'm happy to say this left me a weeping wreck at the end much to the miscomfort to my friend haha he cried too but I was getting the couch all wet with tears and such haha but on the other hand P.S. I Love You made me want to fall asleep I didn't cry once not even when he died and I'm a big cry baby. Major disappointment but luckily I got introduced to the Letter :)

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Does anybody know where I can watch "The Letter" with english subs? It sounds like a great movie and I love tear-jerkers :D

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Woah, I consider PS I Love You as one of the best romantic American movies I've seen lately and I didn't know it might have also been a remake of a Korean movie. So was it since you posted this on 2007 did you get any more info if it was a remake? From your synopsis, they are very very similar.

I thought Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler had so much chemistry in the movie and loved watching their interactions in every moment of the film.

Has anyone found "Letter" movie for download with English subs?

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I know this is late reply, but for anyone who's looking for The Letter with English sub, you can go to AM-Addiction, registration is for free and its direct link. I downloaded the movie and its it good quality. Just click on the a-z index and you'd see it there.

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got curious reading this article again and found copies of both movies so I got to sit down and watch, I actually liked them, it's just that I was drawn more when I was watching The Letter because on how the lead characters were portrayed since I got irked a litlle on Hilary Swank's character in PS I Love You

you can download The Letter @ http://www.am-addiction.com/

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Yes, my initial thought when I saw previews of "P.S. I Love You" was that it was a remake of the Korean movie "The Letter". I remember seeing "The Letter" many moons ago and fell in love with the simple yet complex lives of these 2 characters.

I also watched some of the special features of "P.S. I Love You" and it was originally a book (published in 2004) that was adapted into a movie.

Makes me wonder...

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Just realised that Park Shin Yang exists 2 weeks ago while on holiday in Perth and brought "Painter in the Wind" along! MGY was wonderful in the show and the pair was not awkward even with the huge age gap. There is a "je ne sais quoi" about him that i cannot pin point and that is not even his best performance from what i have read so far.

I am slowly catching up with some of his older films/dramas (until his ban is lifted - hopefully). Will definitely watch The Letter. Thanks for your recommendation, dramabeans!

The "PS I LOVE YOU" movie was horrid which is unusual given that Hilary Swank is such a fine actress.

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either something's wrong with am-addiction or i just don't know how to use it. i love this movie and really want it!

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got it to work. thanks koalabear!

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I was watching PS I Love you and could not believe what I was seeing. I had seen a film years ago with the same storyline.How come nobody went after Ceila?

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That writer should be clubbed!!! what the heck man! ditto copy and no special credit mention to "the letter"?! americans are so in for hanging ppl for plagiarizing, now how about they doing the same and that too in such a disgusting manner?!!!

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