This review may contain spoilers
A Trainwreck of Catastrophe
Finally, after months without reviews, I’m back again and here I am, fretting over the so-called brand-new sci-fi movie "Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy". For your information, it is adapted from Singnsong’s much-loved sci-fi fantasy thriller novel under the same name. Prior to jumping into this movie, I’d had a peek of the first 20 chapters of the webtoon. I may not be an avid webtoon reader, but I still have some affinity to it (my favorite is Singnsong’s other work, which is "The World after the Fall"). There had been quite a few weeks after its release that I began to watch it. Normally, given the venomous-dripped reviews and its wacky rating, I should’ve avoided it at all costs. However, some part of me still wondered why these people were making a fuss over a failed adaptation (for Omniscient Reader: Viewpoint's lovers, it must have been a hard time for you all). So, without any hesitation, I plunged myself into the movie and I got to understand why this movie was called a chaos.
The movie follows the journey of an ordinary office worker Kim Dok-ja who’s living his mundane life with the aid of his favorite web-novel “Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World”, of which he has been ogling for 10 years (I’ve forgotten the exact time). One day, the story recently concludes its run and Dok-ja finds the epilogue quite a lackluster, so he inadvertently castigates the author (this is a contradiction against the OG source already where he actually praises the author) and triggers the system which transports him to the novel’s world. Alongside his new companion, Yoo Jung-hyeok, Yoo Sang-ah, Lee Hyeon-seong, Jeong Hui-won, Lee Ji-hye, and Lee Gil-yeong, he must navigate through this complicated world that he himself only knows and survive the ordeals and trials based on what the author has created before.
Based on my observation, the plot itself offers an intriguing premise with a blend of sci-fi and fantasy thriller, which has always been my favorite. Nonetheless, “Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy” doesn’t really work on me as much as other shows do. Glaring plot holes and unnecessary modifications can be found everywhere right from the get go (the castigation of the author, I mean). Another thing that I notice is how they change Sang-ah’s ability into healing, when she isn’t a healer herself. How he survives inside the sea monster’s tummy is still a mystery to me. Why do they have guns and sniper rifles as weapons too? And I believe Dok-ja isn’t a prophet – in fact, he has a reading skill that can make him see through other people’s abilities. Knowing what will happen in the future just because you understand and memorize the plotlines doesn’t make you a prophet, you know. Too much asking, I suppose. Let’s move on to another point.
Incongruous and grotesque CGI only worsens the situation and I can’t help but keep rolling my eyes over and over again. The monsters’ CGI is tacky and distortedly ugly, as if they were made out of 10-year-old kid’s plastic toys or even cardboards. Meanwhile, the scene where the gold coins churn out of the monster’s body after it is killed, is infuriatingly absurd as though this movie were some kind of RPG game such as Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail, and many more. By the way, against all of the people, I actually love the dokkaebi – it’s super-duper cute and speaks like a little toddler that I badly want to hug it (I’m fanatic over the word “dokkaebi” due to ALL(H)OURS’ song, SHOCK).
I can’t fathom why the hell they want to adapt this fantastic novel into a roller coaster of wreckage. I do feel sorry for Singnsong, you know. After all, they deserve better treatment. As for the actors, I have nothing to say except you’ve done a great work despite the not-so-supportive circumstances and I hope that you’ll be able to gain a foothold in other dramas or movies. But still, your efforts have paid off and I’m glad your acting is the last saving grace of this movie.
All in all, you really need to decide whether to watch it or skip it. I’m not forcing you if you’re skeptical, nor I’ll say it’s an awful movie as well because I still want to respect the actors’ hard work for bringing us the adaptation of "Omniscient Reader: Viewpoint" in a decent way. And my one last message to the director and screenwriter: Please, NEVER adapt "The World after the Fall" if you don’t want another hot mess to reignite again (because it’s my all-time favorite webtoon and no one can turn into a cataclysm unless you’re truly experienced). Time to end my review here. See y’all – good luck and happy watching!!!
The movie follows the journey of an ordinary office worker Kim Dok-ja who’s living his mundane life with the aid of his favorite web-novel “Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World”, of which he has been ogling for 10 years (I’ve forgotten the exact time). One day, the story recently concludes its run and Dok-ja finds the epilogue quite a lackluster, so he inadvertently castigates the author (this is a contradiction against the OG source already where he actually praises the author) and triggers the system which transports him to the novel’s world. Alongside his new companion, Yoo Jung-hyeok, Yoo Sang-ah, Lee Hyeon-seong, Jeong Hui-won, Lee Ji-hye, and Lee Gil-yeong, he must navigate through this complicated world that he himself only knows and survive the ordeals and trials based on what the author has created before.
Based on my observation, the plot itself offers an intriguing premise with a blend of sci-fi and fantasy thriller, which has always been my favorite. Nonetheless, “Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy” doesn’t really work on me as much as other shows do. Glaring plot holes and unnecessary modifications can be found everywhere right from the get go (the castigation of the author, I mean). Another thing that I notice is how they change Sang-ah’s ability into healing, when she isn’t a healer herself. How he survives inside the sea monster’s tummy is still a mystery to me. Why do they have guns and sniper rifles as weapons too? And I believe Dok-ja isn’t a prophet – in fact, he has a reading skill that can make him see through other people’s abilities. Knowing what will happen in the future just because you understand and memorize the plotlines doesn’t make you a prophet, you know. Too much asking, I suppose. Let’s move on to another point.
Incongruous and grotesque CGI only worsens the situation and I can’t help but keep rolling my eyes over and over again. The monsters’ CGI is tacky and distortedly ugly, as if they were made out of 10-year-old kid’s plastic toys or even cardboards. Meanwhile, the scene where the gold coins churn out of the monster’s body after it is killed, is infuriatingly absurd as though this movie were some kind of RPG game such as Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail, and many more. By the way, against all of the people, I actually love the dokkaebi – it’s super-duper cute and speaks like a little toddler that I badly want to hug it (I’m fanatic over the word “dokkaebi” due to ALL(H)OURS’ song, SHOCK).
I can’t fathom why the hell they want to adapt this fantastic novel into a roller coaster of wreckage. I do feel sorry for Singnsong, you know. After all, they deserve better treatment. As for the actors, I have nothing to say except you’ve done a great work despite the not-so-supportive circumstances and I hope that you’ll be able to gain a foothold in other dramas or movies. But still, your efforts have paid off and I’m glad your acting is the last saving grace of this movie.
All in all, you really need to decide whether to watch it or skip it. I’m not forcing you if you’re skeptical, nor I’ll say it’s an awful movie as well because I still want to respect the actors’ hard work for bringing us the adaptation of "Omniscient Reader: Viewpoint" in a decent way. And my one last message to the director and screenwriter: Please, NEVER adapt "The World after the Fall" if you don’t want another hot mess to reignite again (because it’s my all-time favorite webtoon and no one can turn into a cataclysm unless you’re truly experienced). Time to end my review here. See y’all – good luck and happy watching!!!
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