Do not watch this movie if you are looking for a light-hearted romance film.
"On Your Wedding Day"From the title alone, I knew what I was getting myself into when I watched this movie. I usually am not a sucker for sad films, especially those involving romance, but in an uneventful weekend I stumbled into this gem and decided to try something new. Since why not? And I didn't regret it!
First things first, the acting. I originally got interested in this movie because of Kim Young-kwang, and he did not disappoint! His acting was super charming, and he did well in bringing out the playful nature of his character. Park Bo-young did great too, as well as the rest of the cast.
I loved the production and feel of this film. The music/OST did not stand out much to me at all, but it was able to do it's job, especially in the emotional scenes.
So, the acting, production, and music discussed, what else can we talk about? Aha, the story. Browsing through this movie's reviews, I commonly see people giving lower ratings because of the ending. While you may be thinking I'll be presenting a full, written-out essay of objections to counter their claims and prove they're wrong.. I agree with their sentiment. Wholeheartedly. You see, I mentioned I knew what I was getting into the moment I read the title of this movie. Yes, I knew, but nothing could have ever prepared me from the tears and sobbing that would follow. To the person reading this, I only have one piece of advice to give you if you ever plan to watch this: *Do not watch this movie if you are looking for a light-hearted romance film.* Because that is not what you will be getting. All factors considered, this is a film shrouded in reality. It is a realistic story, albeit not a realistic *love* story. As cheesy this may sound, in real life, we don't always get happy endings. And that's okay, because that is how life is. Getting past the initial feelings of dismay from not getting the idealistic ending, which most of us have likely hoped for, I quite like and am content with the ending. It has provided a nice sense of closure not only for the viewers but also for the main leads.
I think that this was a wonderful film and experience. It has given me laughs, joy, warmth, and sorrow. I haven't cried over a TV show let alone a movie in a while, so this was a nice surprise. I really recommend you watch this, whether to just pass some time or don't have something to do, since it will definitely leave you thinking and reminiscing for days to come.
As a last sidenote from me.. in most cases I tend to be a realistic person, or at least I thought I was before I watched this movie. I knew what was going to happen next, but my mind, uncharacteristically, kept on hoping that things would not end the way that I knew it would from the start. Weird, maybe I'm more of a hopeless romantic than I thought..
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My life's been a series of impossibles. Impossible is an opinion, not a fact - Hwang Woo Yun
*Spoilers: Ending hinted atI'm rating this so highly because it was amazing not because I would watch it again. Not because I couldn't watch this 100 times and it would be any less amazing. But because it was so good my heart is still aching so badly. Of course it doesn't help that I watched this to get away from my Reply 1988 heartache. It made it worse not better! What luck I have. To make some comparisons - I'm still heartbroken over Reply 1988 (currently in the middle of my second attempt 4 years later, so heartbroken), it's similar-ish but better than 100 Days of Summer.
I started watching this because I love Kim Young Kwang and Park Bo Young but watching their chemistry on screen was even better than I had imagined. Maybe I will watch this movie again one day after all. Their chemistry was so good.
After watching the movie I read some comments to see if I can get over my heartbreak even 1% and I was laughing at all the comparisons to Reply 1988. I was trying to escape Reply 1988 but I just watched an in-depth shortened version. To quote Reply 1988 "Fate doesn't always come to see you. If you at least use that term, it is during very rare coincidences happening in a critical moment - that's how it is fate. Therefore, Fate has another name called Timing. But Fate and Timing does not only come in coincidences. Those abundant choices lead you to desperation creating that moment like a miracle. Unwavering surrender and decisions without hesitation makes the timing."
More in-depth spoilers below:
Watching this I felt like they wanted to turn a typical Hollywood romance film on it's head. Seriously, which Korean plays American football? To name some films they wanted to flip - Sweet Home Alabama, The Wedding Planner, The Wedding Crashers, Made of Honor, Shrek. I had to do some research because I don't remember the ones I'm thinking of.
So it's amazing but the ending is just TOO realistic! Way too realistic! I didn't want it to end in the only other alternative which was way too typical and like literally every Hollywood romance movie (remember the title is On Your Wedding Day) but this ending was even worse because it's although it's good, I'm heartbroken! It was the saddest happy ending ever! Or is it the happiest sad ending? I rarely cry while watching anything, of course it helps that I try and avoid sad shows as much as possible, and while I didn't exactly cry at the end, I genuinely felt and still feel completely heartbroken. I wanted to cry and still want to cry over a happy(?) ending.
The character growth was amazing and realistic, something that needs to be shown but also something I don't want to see (haha). The characters' are so amazing together and it felt like their whole lives revolved around each other but in the end I love the speech and they may be happy with where they are at but I'm not! But it's realistic and I'll just keep telling myself that. Most people feel like their whole lives revolve around each other but we don't NEED to have that other person. We shouldn't live just for the other person but romance fiction gives us that kind of thought, there's so much more to life than romance. I love that the writer wanted to share this realistic story of romance that millions of people have gone through, even multiple times. It doesn't stop me from being heartbroken though.
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One of my favourite movies of all times. The story isn't very unique but I came to love the cinematography and the pace of the story. Both the female lead and the male lead were portrayed very well and realistic.
I honestly can't remember much of the OST but there was one sad song which hit me deep in the feels.
Definitely prepare your tissues if you're going to watch this movie. It's full of romantic and some comedic moments as well but overall it is a beautiful yet such a sad story of two people who keep meeting each other at wrong times of their lives.
Go and give this movie a chance and I guarantee that you won't be disappointed.
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not recommending
Had great expectations after reading a few good reviews and indeed it started off amazing with the high school first meet and relationship progression in the university. But after that it went downhill, the story went all over the place showing the typical cliche Kdrama plot of a breakup for a misunderstanding. And then the story went all over the place and I lost interest waiting for it to finish somehow.I don’t understand why it was titled ON YOUR WEDDING DAY, because nothing special happened. It was like you attended the wedding of your old friend, crush, or classmate after receiving the invitation. Maybe I was expecting some drama or a bit more emotional ride but alas that didn’t happen. Because of the insignificant title of the movie, I would never rewatch this movie.
Kim Young Kwang as a fun-loving and unambitious guy was super good. His actions and expressions were excellent.
Park Bo Young was fine but I didn’t like her much as she didn’t make an impact on me.
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Emotionally Fun Ride
I haven't experienced yet a first love. I only got some knowledge about it from here and there but then this movie made me experienced it.It was actually a realistic movie and if you'll look closely Hwan Seung-Hee was right. Sometimes, just by thinking things, it is already a big factor. The title already hinted that the movie will be a sad one however, I'm grateful for the writers as they showcased the leads being together. It's better than not experiencing being in a relationship with your first love.
That one song they used entitled Smile Again by Rumble Fish was memorable. It has meaningful lyrics and I think it can also mend me in the future. So, kudos to whoever thought of including the song.
This was a well-made movie I highly recommend — especially to those who had their first love.
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How to use your emotions constructively to change yourself and your life as a whole!
Oh boy! where should I start. The movie starts with a new aloof girl in class and foolish ,aimless, happy , tall dude who is curious about her AND ends with a girl who is warm understanding and confident and the guy matures to almost a living Sage!I liked almost everything about this movie to the point that sometimes it gets too real to swallow to the level that if I had seen it 10 - 12 yrs ago I might have had suffered a real breakdown lol! I guess becoming adult changes things. That is why you see so contrasting ratings , anyone below 16 yr will generally give 5/6 rating and anyone above 25yr will give it 8+ rating , that is how it is!
If you haven't watch it yet , I wholeheartedly recommend it , although if you are young & emotional person and you have any exams close by then you should definitely put in on hold, till you have a whole free week to ponder!
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Annoying at some point!
I decided to watch the movie after seeing so much positive reviews. I had so much expectations and also sat with a box of tissues because I thought I would need it. But heck, it was nowhere to my expectations.First things first, the storyline is amazing and something new, but the execution is not well done. It could have been way better if there were'nt unnecessary scenes. The FL's character is so annoying. Throughout the whole movie all they do is to breakup and then hookup.
So the thing is, I could never feel that the FL had same feelings as the ML. Even at some point, I thought she used him because she felt lonely. Once when she had a boyfriend, she didnt give a f about him. But when she realised that the boyfriend is evil, she got back to him. This was PBY's worst acting in my opinion. Her dialogues felt forced and failed to impress me.
The ML did a good job and his character was consistent througout the movie. From the very beginning, he was sure that he loved only and only one girl. No one could change his mind, not even the circumstances. The actor also did a good job in potraying the character.
The breakup was so unnecessary. It was just a matter of stressed talking and misunderstandings, which could be SORTED OUT easily. The FL was too quick to judge, especially when the ML had went through so much just to be with her.
Overall, the plot they chose was really good, but the direction was too bad. Scenes were too fast paced and there were unnecessary forced humor scenes. It could have been a great movie if they path they were going was okay.
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loved in so many ways
this drama was amazing. my favorite part was definitely how it took place from when they met to to her wedding day. it really showed the emotional roller coaster of their relationship. I felt they made the right decision in the end. it didn’t feel like one of those romances where everything had to work out in the end. and even though the mc’s didn’t end up with eachother, I felt that made it more heartwarming. maybe they could be friends or something in the future? so yes. i am in fact in love with this movie.Was this review helpful to you?
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A Movie that teaches all about youth, first love, heart break & life...Watch it
I absolutely love watching youth movies/drams cause they teach you so much about life and to have realistic expectations from it. This did just that.The story was amazing and I really loved the cast. The acting, characters, plot were all outstanding. I really loved the friendship between the Male lead and the support characters, its something we all dream about, about our friends being with us till the end of it no matter what.
The ending honestly killed me and though I expected it to end this way I still had tears in my eyes by the end of it. Lets just say I'm a sucker for happy endings and against knowing better hoped for it till the end credits started.
I totally enjoyed this movie and would definitely recommend it.
Hoping this review was helpful
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When a Movie Works, it Works
[Written/Watched 28 Aug, 2019 for Letterboxd. Expanded 1/21/2021]There was a part of me that was apprehensive about "On Your Wedding Day". Romances in K-Dramas, for the most part, tend to sour on me. I end up not liking how the dynamic is set up between the romantic pair. To some degree the story becomes about why the male protagonist deserves the heroine (and sometimes, why he's the only chance she has left at love), so I expected this film to follow that pattern to a fault.
But the film surprised me. "On Your Wedding Day" is bold enough to reject the idea that Hwang Woo-yeon (Kim Young-kwang) is somehow entitled to Hwan Seung-hee (Park Bo-young) because he pursues her aggressively, and doesn't give up until she decides to date him.
They start a romantic relationship on a high, fluffy and montage-y. He commits to doing things in her name he would've otherwise never done without her as a motivator. They come out of the end of the relationship that crumbles in a moment of despair, friends after time apart. They respect each other's choices, still trust each other enough to confide in each other.
They're not fated to be together because he saved her from a building sign that almost her killed her. There's no big scene where Woo-yeon crashes the wedding and asks Hwan Seung-hee not to marry her intended because he's the better choice.
The movie ends on a bittersweet note (as far as he is concerned), but Hwan Seung-hee steps forward toward the future she worked for and the meaning behind the film's name becomes extremely poignant. I loved the heck out of this film.
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why can't love ever be easy
This was a wonderful series. Even though it had a sad ending but it was still was very good. It shows the hardships of love, how a relationship is so hard to get into but so easy to fall apart. It killed me everytime the two leads aren't together. I was like small needle piercing my heart. This shows how the chemistry was so damn good. The actor did very well with their characters. I loved it so much. It was funny, sweet, romantic and sad all at the same time. I also loved at the end when the ML apologize to her, that he realized that she was the one that made him the man that he is today. I love how he bid her farewell even though it was killing him inside. A really bitter sweet movie.Was this review helpful to you?
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Nostalgic drama
Wow. This was a sad one.It is about first love and how the wrong timing can mess everything up.
The two main characters were perfect for each other but they never met at the right time. So their love was not meant to be, but that is often times how it works with firsts loves, which then become a fond memory that taught us a lesson.
The movie is very good, very cute, and nostalgic. Give it a try, but keep in mind there are no happy endings here for this couple. It is just the story of their first love and a fond memory to remember as they move on with their lives and the ones that were actually meant to be their partners.
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