Story: As you must have read in the previous reviews Doctor Stranger started of really good and promising. I still remember the first 3 episodes, which in my opinion, were the best in the drama. The idea wasn't something original, but the setting was. I loved how they focused on his life in the North and the hardships he had to go through. Now, many people said that those were the only good episodes in the drama, but for me everything was fine till episode 10. After watching that episode it seemed that everything I knew till then wasn't true, the story was rushed, feelings reviled out of nowhere, it seemed as an entire different show for me. Anyway, I still kept watching because I was eager to find out how it will end. By the last episodes it seemed that they tried to save what could be saved only to blow everything off with the final episode.
Acting/Cast: If there is someone to thank for saving the show it should be the cast, except for one. Their story arcs were interesting to watch and they did a good job with their characters even with the huge burden of such a chaotic storyline.
Park Hoon(Lee Jong Suk) - I really think that Lee Jong Suk gets better and better with every role he plays.He really didn't disappoint me on how he he played Park Hoon. But that doesn't mean that I was totally satisfied on his character. I think that the writers made him too of a "love fool" than it was necessary. As the drama progressed I began to notice that he was more obsessed with Jae Hee(or the idea of her) than actually being in love with her. They made him be someone that doesn't care for anything in the world than her, and that is pretty bad in my opinion. Apart from that I actually love "Doctor Park Hoon" more that "Lover Hoon".
Jae Hee(Jin Se Yeon) - I don't know if it was the actress or the character but I just couldn't make myself like her. As many people said, Jin Se Yeon is still young and has time to learn and develop as an actress, but I really disliked her in every character she played. The pity is that Jae Hee could have been a really interesting and challenging character if played by the right person, but instead she made me frustrated in every episode...this girl has only 2 faces: a forced smile and a blank "what are you talking about, I don't understand" face. I'm really sorry about her fans but she ruined it for me.
Jae Joon(Park Hae Jin) - I've just found myself a new crush with this show and that is actor Park Hae Jin. He is the character I loved the most in the entire drama because he seemed to me the most human and realistic one. A man with desires, ego but at the same time rational thinking that knew when to give up because something more important came in his life. Also I love the bro-romance he shared with Park Hoon.
Soo Hyun(Kang So Ra) - I wasn't a big fan of Kang Sora till this drama, but after watching her here I really came to like her, she came a long way since her Dream High days. Soo Hyun was a really interesting character to watch who changed during the drama. Starting as an insecure doctor that wasn't confident in her skills she ended up being someone trustworthy that gave hope to other people.
Music: The main song "Stranger" by Bobby Kim was really good to hear, but the other weren't mindblowing, at least in my case. But this is really a subjective matter that depends on the listener preferences.
Rewatch Value: I can say for sure that I won't rewatch this, because I wouldn't be able to go through with the story again, it was enough one time.
This to be said I can't say that his is a must-watch but I still encourage you to give it a try if you are curious, it wasn't so bad as many people say if you can "play blind" for a couple of moments, at least in my opinion.
Was this review helpful to you?
Firstly, I had been putting off watching this for some years now. One of the reasons was because I thought it would be too graphic and maybe overly dramatized. I want to assure anyone having this thoughts that this is not the case! The film chooses to focus on the child and family's way of handling what happened without giving too much time on the offender. I think this was a very good idea. Many times, when it comes to movies that deal with sexual assault, rape or anything like this, the focus is put on the criminal, his doing, why and when and not enough on the victim and how her/his life has been influenced. Especially in the case of "child rape" I think it was very important to show how meaningful the family and community is.
Hope deal with a sensitive subject, it will make you angry, sad and frustrated but ironically it will also give you hope - that the future is more important then the past. I recommend this film to everyone without exception as I see it as a must-watch among all the movies in asian cinematography.
Was this review helpful to you?
The show is known for having guests that don't usually appear on tv, from seasoned actors to athletes and models. Basically almost everyone you can think of has been on the show at least once! After watching it though, you will realise that the most charming part are the hosts themselves! It's almost been 10 years for them since they started working together. Their chemistry is the best I can think of. You will be laughing out loud more times then you can think of only because of the dynamics inside the team. The games are ALWAYS fun and inventive and it's amazing how dedicated everyone is, from the main cast to the guests. The most amazing thing is that you can actually see the real personalities of the guests through this show! The nature of the games is so competitive that everyone always tries their hardest putting aside their image.
"Running Man" feels like a family. They actually treat each other as one and is very heartwarming to watch. When you've been watching the show long enough you will see that each of the main cast has e specific role and that nothing would be the same if one of them would be missing. What's best is that you can choose from where you want to watch based on the guests and go from there, because I'm pretty sure you will get hooked regardless!
Was this review helpful to you?
This is so much more then what I was expecting. The story is really beautiful. I felt as if someone was reading it to me by a cozy fire on a winter night. Sung Chil (the ill-tempered man) and Geum Nim (the lovable woman) were just so believable as a couple that have fallen in love at an age when most people give up on those "trivial matters of the heart". I don't think I felt so many butterflies from a movie before. It was a joy watching their relationship develop and their feelings growing. I've been a long time fan of actress Yoon Yeo Jung but I was beyond impressed by Park Geun Hyung. He made me think "This is what a veteran actor looks like. This is how he can transcend his life experiences into art". He shined the brightest in this role. His experience really came through. From facial expressions to his shaking hands, everything was spot on.
Thinking back, I think what I enjoyed the most was how delicate this movie was. It was the life story of a great man. No special effects or unnecessary characters. Everything was kept as simple as possible and for me it couldn't have been better. You go into this movie expecting one thing, and for some time you get that, but in one moment you find yourself watching something completely different but because the transition is so smoothly done you get utterly immersed without a second thought.
This is a hidden gem people. You will feel joy, amazement and sadness, but most of all and warmth and love. It made me want to be in love as well because those 2 people seemed so real,nothing about them screamed scripted. Do yourself a favor and give this one a try, I am almost sure you won't regret it.
Was this review helpful to you?
