What a disappointment
I was so excited when I heard and saw that ORV will having a live action, only to be disappointed. If you want us ORV fans to respect the movie, the director should respect the original work first, that's how you earned respect but no, he completely changed the story, he obviously disrespect the original work.. Making Dokja a hero doesn't make sense, making Dokja a bully, changing swords into gun, CGI is bad.I've been reading the manhwa and just starting to read the webnovel so it's a waste when the director didn't follow the original and it's already in the title 'Omniscient READER' it is supposed to be read not to watch and making Dokja have a writing skills isn't a reader anymore.
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labubu live action
this live action is a disgrace to the novel. they didn’t follow the story and improvised way too much. casting actors with massive fanbases just to milk profits, only to end up producing one of the worst live action ever made. don’t waste your time on this trash. read the novel or webtoon instead, that’s where the real story lives.Was this review helpful to you?
They only hung on the fame of the webtoon and the cast
This fucking piece of shit is just a fucking parody of the webtoon and the novel. This is an insult to both the author and the readers who are fans of this work. I hope this movie doesn't do too well at the box office. Honestly, I don't care if the cast's fans call us toxic. I hope that one day they'll feel the great hatred that I feel for this disgusting adaptation.Was this review helpful to you?
A Fresh Fantasy with a Mysterious and Suspenseful Plot
This drama truly provides a different viewing experience. The story opens with an immediately intriguing mystery, then slowly builds into a unique fantasy world. The main characters It has clear development and its interactions with other characters feel natural. The visual effects and cinematography are also neat, not excessive but still pleasing to the eye. It's perfect for those who like fantasy, mystery genre,This drama successfully blends fantasy, mystery, and the characters' emotions seamlessly. From the first episode, the story is immediately captivating and leaves viewers curious about the secrets of this world.that is being built. The main characters have clear motivations, and the relationships between the characters develop naturally. The visual effects are stunning, the action scenes are well executed, and there are no moments that feel boring. Every twist in the story is carefully planned, keeping us guessing what will happen next. Perfect for fans of stories full of strategy and conflict emotional, and a fantasy world rich in detail. After watching, it's hard to stop thinking about the storyline.Was this review helpful to you?
JUST READ THE NOVEL
"Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy" (2025) attempts to bring the beloved web novel to life but ends up as a cinematic misfire. Despite a hefty budget and a star-studded cast, the film struggles to find its own voice, leaning heavily on overused sci-fi tropes and flashy visuals that can't mask its narrative shortcomings.The plot centers on Kim Dok-ja, portrayed by Ahn Hyo-seop, a solitary office worker whose favorite web novel becomes reality. While this premise holds promise, the execution falters. Critics have noted that the film fails to evoke genuine emotion, rendering the characters' struggles unconvincing
Director Kim Byung-woo's vision seems muddled, with the film borrowing elements from "Dune," "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," and "Star Wars," yet failing to establish a unique identity. The result is a disjointed narrative that lacks cohesion and originality.
While the film's visual effects are polished, they can't compensate for the lackluster storytelling. The action sequences, though abundant, feel repetitive and fail to generate excitement. Moreover, the film's attempt to explore themes of fate and free will is undermined by its superficial treatment of these concepts.
In conclusion, "Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy" is a disappointing adaptation that squanders its potential. It may appeal to newcomers unfamiliar with the source material, but longtime fans are likely to find it lacking. For those seeking a compelling sci-fi fantasy experience, this film is best skipped.
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This review may contain spoilers
Attempts to adapt a well-loved web novel into a feature-length film, but the result is a deeply disappointing cinematic experience. From the outset, the movie struggles with incoherent storytelling, rushed pacing, and an overwhelming reliance on exposition rather than meaningful character development. The narrative fails to provide a clear direction, making it difficult for viewers unfamiliar with the source material to understand or emotionally invest in the plot.One of the film’s most glaring weaknesses lies in its screenplay. Instead of immersing the audience in a rich, post-apocalyptic world, the dialogue feels stilted and unnatural. Key emotional moments are undercut by clumsy writing and awkward transitions. Characters are introduced without proper context, and their motivations often feel unearned or superficial.
Visually, the film is inconsistent. While some CGI elements are passable, many of the action sequences appear rushed and poorly choreographed. The use of dim lighting and jarring camera angles detracts from scenes that should have been thrilling or emotionally resonant. Technically, it lacks the polish expected of a major adaptation.
Perhaps most problematic is the film’s tonal imbalance. It swings unevenly between melodrama and action, never settling into a cohesive identity. Moments intended to carry emotional weight are often overshadowed by unnecessary plot twists or excessive narration. This results in a film that feels disjointed and emotionally hollow.
Despite the popularity of the original story, "Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy" ultimately fails to capture the depth and nuance of its source. Rather than elevating the material, it dilutes it into a confusing, over-produced spectacle with little narrative payoff. As an adaptation and as a standalone film, it regrettably falls short and is not recommended for viewers seeking a meaningful or well-crafted experience.
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it feels like a bad parody of orv instead live action
i'm sorry this is the worst live action everwhy they change about the character background? why they change their weapon? why they change their personality? not to mention the cgi was so bad that it wasn't enjoyable to watch this
when watching this movie, i don't recognize who they are, why do you make kim dokja like that? why he hates the ending of the novel he has like for years? the novel that keep him alive? and what do you mean kim dokja kill his friends? our kim dokja? and wdym kim dokja take care of his single mom? and wdym his fav character is heewon? and why did u make him wants to be a hero? he wasn't a hero! he is a reader!
it feels like a bad parody of orv instead live action
i don't know what the director is thinking when making this movie
why couldn't you just make them exactly the same? why you should change their background, personality and even their trauma?
i think the director made this live action to just make us the readers angry and sad. i just hope they won't continue this garbage movie
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A really overall Good movie with passionate acting
It's been already two years ago I watched a movie in Theaters This movie is the first movie I watched after hiatus watching a movie in theaters. Very pleasing experience. I really didn't expected I would be understand it more than When I read the novel which very boring and totally confusing for me. The storeytelling is being presentQuite well by the director. They present it well about the world building which conveyed by the male lead who drive the story . Despite stereotype storyline, I enjoy it alot. Really passionate performances by the actor especially Ahn Hyo Seop. His character drive the story. Without his acting performances and his versatility, this movie won't be as enjoyable and work for me. I really appreciate his performances here which is one of his best. Yet. Imo
I'm glad I don't listen to the haters. This is peak cinema based how much I enjoy the acting. The plot want to showing it too much at times just for 2 hours. The character other than dokja is just not being well present because this is too focus on the mc. For an ensemble cast this huge, it's pretty surprising. But nevertheless, i enjot it alot.
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the first half is yawn fest
I never read the novel so idk about the story. My favorite character are Dokkaebi, Junhyeok, Jihye, Heewon. For the movie, I find Dokja contradicting himself many time; on train he seems to care to save people but then all his thoughts is about "if I want to survive I must make sure the hero don't die". So is he selfish or is he trying to save everyone? In green zone, his 1st thought is to save himself bcos Jihye said so like what...and Jihye, her role is literally being like added just to add a member. The part she killed the human-monster and shattered the green spot are cool but the scenes are def filmed separately despite they're supposed to be together. she appears out of nowhere and suddenly mentioning "master". The master never mention her what even is this? And how did she get the gun and speed? They show how Sangah, Heewon, Hyuseung, Gilyeong got their skills/weapon, but Jihye just appears as is. Then after she shot 1 bullet to fire dragon when everyone else did something too But on 2nd round when everyone fought the dragon she's not seen even for a sec? So is her role not important there? Then in end scene she's there ready for next scenario. It's really an odd character like should I care about her bcs the director don't show much of her but seems like she's importantI kinda not rooting for Dokja at all and hope that blue dokkaebi will eat his ass. Sangah Heewon Hyuseung Gilyeong can survive by themselves. And I think he should be shorter and skinnier if they want to make him look weak and easy bully target bcos he's so well built,no way he's a loser irl even as office boy like be fr. But after they killed the fire dragon, I still want to know what will happen next since Dokja knows stuff others don't so we still need him just bcos of that. They barely show Junhyeok backstory too like it's too simple to narrate a supposed hero when some other's scene being unnecessary
Everyone acting skills are just about the same. The game and coin concept are cool BUT the vfx is really bad. I only stayed til the end bcos I know Jisoo going to show up soon. Idk how many times I yawned during the train and that dinosaur stomach scenes, he took like forever. I'll only rewatch to see Jihye and Dokkaebi he's kinda evil-cute
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An absolute mockery and insult to the original webnovel
If you are interested in such a trope, I’d advise you to actually read the ongoing manwha or webnovel instead, because this movie absolutely butchered it. From completely discarding the initial literature work to subtracting the complexity of the characters, this media could be considered basically trash — or much worse.Starting by the main character, Kim Dokja, originally a morally grey protagonist equipped with a highly abusive past who navigates through the apocalyptic world with carefully thought-out (for years) plans, has been reduced to a mainstream apocalypse survivor who dreams of saving the world through the power of the bonds he’s made along the way. Him, who has proved to be selfish, manipulative but extremely deprecating of his own life many times in the webnovel, has become not only the complete opposite, but his own abuse has been crumpled like paper and thrown in a metaphorical bin! Gone now the unhealthy family bonds and harassment he was forced to face, and now face the one-dimensional ambitious mc who is supposed to have the past of a bully?? Because TWSA’s protagonist Yoo Joonghyuk ‘told’ him to??? What in the deepest pits of hell is this? Not only does it show completely illogical morals from the supposed saviour of this world, but it also becomes a personal insult to the original Kim Dokja, because never in this lifetime would ORV’s protagonist inflict the abuse that has been thrown at him to endure.
Then comes Yoo Joonghyuk, the once 2nd MOST IMPORTANT character in the whole webnovel who shares an extremely deep, complex emotional bond with Kim Dokja, who has been turned into your average random sidekick who is somehow very skilled in.. shooting?? Proficient in a sort of weapon that proved itself to be meaninglessly useless in the original work? Which is why they should all be wielding swords, but instead you see all the characters equipped with a variety of guns??? And not only does Yoo Joonghyuk become an easily forgettable character in the shadow of the main character, but his relation to the latter became oversimplified and overlooked?! His complicated personality forced to fit the one-dimensional model of a stoic, repressed and asocial clown; everything that was interesting about him has been thrown in said metaphorical bin, all that just to highlight Kim Dokja even more. Instead of making them complementary with one of the most gut-wrenching relationships I have ever read, Kim Dokja instead takes Yoo Joonghyuk like an all-brawn no-brained idiot and just tells him “Yoo Joonghyuk! I’m literally the prophet!!”. That would have made NO sense in the novel (YJH has a skill detecting lies!!!) but, of course, because this is a half-assed remake, that blatant lie worked.
Then we move on to Yoo Sangah, a character who once embodied a woman’s struggles with misogyny in a society but also has a lot of cultural, historical knowledge along with communicating skills, has become.. a simple soft hearted healer. Dumbing her down to this mainstream trope is not only extremely misleading and misogynistic, but is also ironic, considering this was exactly what she was initially fighting against: the real reason why she was on the subway was modified, for example. She was supposed to be on it because her bike was stolen by Han Myungoh, who, in a twisted way of courtship, intended on forcing her to let him ride her home (in some Mercedes, if my memory is good). Obviously, Sangah refused and went on the subway instead. And, like adding salt to a wound, not only has this part of her lore been removed but also her fierceness that balanced her empathy, her fighting skills (Ariadne’s wires!!), and vast knowledge; all of it thrown, again, in a metaphorical bin to make way for a one-dimensional soft healer.
There is much, much more to criticise about this mess of a cinematic work (example: more misogyny by purposeful omission of Jung Heewon’s SA, removing the horror parts of the webnovel by making the dokkaebi Bihyung like a colourful labubu doll, bad CGI, Lee Gilhyeong becoming a whiny cockroach-manipulating kid, etc.), but I will stop here, and just add these final words: even without knowledge of Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, the movie is just very confusing — due to not explaining key points of the lore (example: constellations, skills), pretty boring and appears to the audience as a tragic replica of a popular trope (apocalypse). As such, I again recommend reading the book instead.. even if you’d be in for a long, melancholic and emotional road.
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mid
After I watched it, I understood why fans of the original are upset. There is so much to the story that it is hard to condense it into a two hour movie and feel satisfied with the result. An anime remake or even a K-drama would have been better than this. I cannot believe the director and production team really put this out and felt proud of their work.Can I even blame Ahn Hyo Seop for his portrayal of Dokja when the director and screenwriter made his character appear like that? If you are a fan of the original, you would feel really frustrated watching it because of the preconceived standards you already had. If you have no prior exposure to the webtoon or novel, then you might enjoy it.
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Just try the novel or manhwa and you'll get why this movie gets only 1 star
If you haven't read the manhwa/novel maybe you'll think its okay? but honestly at least try out the manhwa on webtoon its free and you'll see all the plot points and character development that they cut out. you might be confused when you first read it because it'll seem like a totally different story. It'll show different abilities and characters you were never able to meet, they'll have different motives and approaches than the movie version, and their backstory's will be different. That's why most of the reviews are this low. This adaptation is like if the original story was flipped upside down and put into a blender full of sht. it is so disappointing and deserves to be rated this low because they genuinely had a masterpiece to work with and instead turned around and said "actually idgaf and we're going to do whatever tf we want to these characters" which is so sad because lwk all the characters are so real n maybe sometimes you'll hate them for a little but they have sm development. Aside from the characters, the actual action is also better in the original and they cut out alotttt of what happens which is also really disappointing. If you truly are a fan of this genre but maybe can't bring yourself to read 551 pages tbh i get it, but try the manhwa and give it a while its so peak i swear 🙏Was this review helpful to you?
