What makes it different from others?

Well Deserved Praise

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

I'm not a big fan of TV dramas due to their length and generally sub-par acting. However, watching Korean TV series has changed my perspective forever.This is my second IMDb comment since I started using IMDb many years ago. I am compelled to write about this series because it deserves to be noted, along side with another Korean TV series "Dae Jang Geum" (AKA A Jewel In The Palace) if you have not already seen it.If you have been an avid Korean romance TV drama fan before watching this series, you will probably find this one too clichéd and has taken (politely speaking) the "best ingredients" of other romantic-themed TV dramas.However, if you are new to Korean romance TV dramas (dare I say anyone who has watched less than 5 Korean TV drama series prior to this?), then this will probably woo you as it did me, and forever change your view of Korean romantic TV dramas, for the same reason above: when you see other similar dramas after this, you will find bits and pieces of the others that remind you of this one. But -- most importantly -- this one has managed to weave it together better than all the others of the same genre to date. Is it any surprise that the writers and producers have benefited from previous similar productions? Would it be better off if this show was never produced?This brings me to the next point: I ask that anyone casting their vote to bear in mind that just because elements of this show came from others before it should not be the main reason for down-casting it. Should we down grade an ice skater's superior performance just because he/she has used similar steps as others before them? I think the difference is mainly in execution. This one is beautifully executed with some of the most memorable sound tracks for a romance-based TV series ever -- look up the song title "Bo Go Ship Da" on "www.YouTube.com" for a taste of what may have already become a classic -- seems that every Korean I meet knows this song. The only other Korean TV romance drama series that has this memorable a sound track would be "Winter Sonata," but this show still manages to out-do it with it's own classic.I have heard many times from other people that watched this series BEFORE some of the other series telling me that "nothing compares" to this one -- that they are spoiled by this show. I concur. If you watch this series, it may just have the same effect on you. Luckily, even though I watched "Dae Jang Geum" after this, DJG was not similarly themed that I was not "disappointed" at DJG in any way.Does this mean this show is PERFECT? No -- hence the 9 out of 10. The acting by the stepmother and her daughter were over the top at times, and it did get a bit slower near the end where the emotions ran very high, but I strongly disagree with those that said the "ending" was bad because it is "sad." I think the way it ended was beautifully done that though it was sad it wasn't poorly framed nor felt unpolished like some other dramas where the ending leaves you wondering if the writer fell asleep.So be forewarned -- watch this show and it just may change your expectation for other romantic TV series that follow forever, not to mention needing a box of tissue handy for each episode.If you want to learn more about the show (and therein possible spoilers), visit "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stairway_to_Heaven_(TV_series)" by cutting and pasting the address into your browser.Side comment: This series has been watched at least three times in our household. Each time my wife commented that Yuri would have been a better choice as the tragic heroine. Personally, I feel Yuri is prettier than Jeong-Seo. While this may just be a coincidence, did any one notice that Jeong-Seo and Song-joo have complimentary initials (JS vs. SJ)?? :)P.S. Please let me know if my comment is helpful to you so I know how to improve it for the future. Thanks!P.P.S. By the way, the someone needs to add "Stairway to Heaven" as the AKA title in the listing. I tried many times to bring this show up in IMDb and have been unsuccessful since I have never known this show's English title as anything else.

Well, this Korean drama for me is one of the best Korean dramas that I ever saw. Well, yeah it is true that it has a very sad ending but still it is the number one Korean drama shown in my country. Actually, it touched a million lives because of it's story. The actors and actresses here are very good, most especially Kwon Sang Woo, the lead male star. I also like Choi Ji-Woo she is actually one of Korea's finest star. The story itself tells a very unique story which make the viewers interested, but what makes this drama interesting is a very good lesson to tell us...Once you love a person you need to sacrifice something... your Love...your love for yourself

Sorry to all Choi Ji-woo fans but I just don't see why you guys like her so much. The only thing she can do is cry. She can't do anything else.In "Stairway to Heaven" she plays the "good girl" (again for tenth time) who gets into a car accident (again). Kwon Sang-woo and Shin Hyun-joon did a good job though. Even Lee Hwi-hyang as the evil step-mother. This drama would've been better if the casting directors had picked a better actress.As for the young actors, I'd have to say that Park Ji-mi did the best job as Han Yuri. For a young girl, her acting was very good compared to Park Shin-hye (young Choi Ji-woo). To me, she's the best actress in the whole series and Kwon Sang-woo is the best actor in this.The storyline was also a cliché used many times. Poor girl likes good guy. Poor girl's mom dies of cancer. Poor girl's father marries mean lady with mean step-sister and nice step-brother. Step-brother falls for poor girl. Mean step-sister falls for good guy. Poor girl gets amnesia.Haven't we seen enough of this. Can the producers come up with something better?! (2 out of 10)

When 'Stairways to Heaven' was first aired in Korea,it broke TV ratings records,not only that,when aired in the region,it received great viewer ship too.Though I would not say that its plot is original,yet it is much captivating and moving compared to other drama of the same kind-'Winter Sonata' and 'An Autumn's Tale'.It is a drama full of ups and downs,portraying four young adult's struggle in face of love.Four different adults,having their different perspective towards love and how they present their love.A purist,a sentimentalist,a selfless admirer and an opportunist.The drama slowly reveals their characteristic and what fate holds for them.The best actor in the show would be Kwon Sang Woo.When interviewed,one of the 'Stairways to Heaven'staff said,"Because Sangwoo cried so sadly, all the staff cried too." Indeed,his acting skills received much praises.Therefore,don't miss this drama,for its a once in the life time show.