21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mr. 300 Roses, where are you?, June 26, 2006
This review is from: Hotelier (DVD)
Contains Spoilers
The only Korean movie I had seen so far was "A Tale of Two Sisters" and I just loved that film. The acting in Hotelier was good as a whole and the story was quick and well paced. The guessing game of who Suh Jin-young would end up with, the General Manager Han Tae-jun or Frank "Dong-hyuk" Shin, aka "300 Roses" kept me in suspense until the last few minutes of the story. As for how he got the nickname three hundred roses, is a treat to see.
The story is about the people who work at the Seoul Hotel and those who try to take over. The hotel is in financial trouble having over extended their budget in constructing a new wing. When the hotel president dies of a heart attack, he leaves a note asking that a former manager, Han Tae-jun, who resigned three years earlier due to a scandal be reinstated and promoted to the head/general manager position. The late president's wife, who is temporarily taking over control sends Manager Suh Jin-young to Las Vegas to try and bring Han Tae-jun back. But it's not that easy since Han doesn't want to go back, having his pride and reputation damaged by the scandal.
A depressed Suh Jin-young, eats out one night and ends up complaining to the restaurant manager about the terrible service and horrible food she is served. Sitting at another table, Frank "Dong-hyuk" Shin, a Mergers and Aquisitions expert over hears and seeing the lovely Jin-young, his interest is caught. Thus, one of the two love triangles is created as the characters head to Korea and the Seoul hotel. So who will Suh Jin-young choose, the very kind, old boyfriend, Han Tae-jun, who left her three years ago and who doesn't seem to object to her suggestion they can just be friends or will she pick Korean-American Frank "Dong-hyuk" Shin, the Harvard educated, ruthless M&A expert who has been hired by the Seoul hotel's enemy, Chairman Kim Bok-man, to help him in the takeover.
While Han Tae-jun goes out of his way to help people, Frank "Dong-hyuk" Shin appears cold and business like. Add to this triangle is Kim Yun-Hee, the enemy's daughter who falls for General Manager Han after he twice saves her. It gets pretty sticky working at that hotel after a while as the two men compete over the hotel and the woman they both love. Supporting characters add to the appeal of this series. From, jealous Assistant General Manager Oh, to head of Housekeeping (or as they call it, mouthkeeping) Manager Lee who sulks as she envies the love triangle Jin-young has gotten herself into. We also have the loyal Head Chef Noh and his second in command, Assistant chef Kap-su as well as Frank's partner and attorney, Leo Park. The late president's irresponsible son Choi Young-jae adds more to the romantic entanglement as he falls for the beautiful Chairman Kim's daughter, Yun-Hee
One draw back was in the incredible coincidences that occur in this story. Just too many to be believable. The American actors were pretty bad too. I think one played two roles. Still I would recommend this very much. Another point concerns the DVDs, I purchased a 11 Disc set. The twenty episodes are on the first ten and the last contains bonus material. In the subtitle/language option, there was an error. if you want the English subtitle, you actually have to choose the Korean one. I finally discovered this after pressing to choose the English subtitle around fifty times before discovering it was mislabeled. What a headache that was!
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hotelier, August 10, 2006
This review is from: Hotelier (DVD)
Since purchasing this movie, I have become a "Bae Yong Joon Fan". This movie has a good story line, many solid supporting actors and kept my interest to the very end. This movie was excellent, very well produced and I have enjoyed viewing it more than once. I hope there will be many more Bae Yong Joon movies available. Thank You for the great entertainment.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic, January 26, 2009
This review is from: Hotelier (DVD)
Am a greenhorn to Korean DVDs and Hotelier was my first order. I am so happy and satisfied that I will surely order more in the future especially projects of the actors Bae Yong Joon, Kwon Sang Woo, and the lead actor of JUMONG (his name escapes me now. Difficult to remember as I am non-Korean. I just wish there will be more available DVDs.
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