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A devastating and beautiful anti-war film about friendship
Ever since I watched Squid Game and Beyond Evil, I've become a big fan of Lee Byung-Hun and Shin Hakyun respectively and I've been digging up their filmographies. Imagine my surprise when I saw that not only they played in the same movie but Song Kang-Ho, another actor whom I came to respect after Parasite, was one of the main leads too. And guess what, the film was directed by none other than Park Chan-Wook!Just to clarify some things: apart from my general knowledge of the conflict between North and South Korea, I am not very educated on this subject. If any parts of my review are worded controversially or do not reflect reality, please inform me.
I went into this movie pretty blindy. The only thing I knew from the blurb was that it was about an on-going investigation about the death of two North Korean soldiers by a South Korean. I initially expected to watch a political crime thriller which would play with my mind, making me guess whether Lee Soo-Hyeok had done the murder or not. But I got much more than that. For this movie was not a simple a political crime thriller. It was about a forbidden friendship and how war ruined it.
What initially started as a mystery thriller, quickly changed into a completely different route. The moment the story focused on the flashbacks, my attention shifted immediately. I applaud this choice for the direction of the film. Jumping from the present to the past and then going back to the present not only made me connect with the characters even more but added more salt to the wound once the final conflict took place.
Four soldiers, two nations. Kyeong-Pil and Woo-Jin from North Korea, Soo-Hyeok and Sung-Shik from South Korea. Four men divided by war. Four men divided by borders, politics or something more simple, like a line. And yet, among these soldiers, a friendship managed to bloom. Despite their differences, they helped each other, laughed with each other, joked with each other - and even saved each other. The middle section of the movie was devoted to them and their bond and I am being very serious when I say that they could have added three more hours about their interactions and meet-ups and I still would want more.
When the story went back in time and I saw how Kyeong-Pil and Woo-Jin had saved the life of Soo-Hyeok, I felt numb because I realised that what I was going to witness would be the downfall of a doomed friendship. It was so bittersweet for me to watch the friendship among these four men unfold before my eyes. Distrust and pity made way for respect, respect made way for trust and trust made way for fondness. It was so bizarre to watch these adults who had been training to kill and serve their country act like younglings and make immature jokes with people whom they considered as enemies until very recently. I laughed and on the inside I cried. At one point, I was delusional enough to hope that the outcome would be different. But alas, that was never the case.
This was the first Park Chan-Wook movie I watched and it was a grand introduction to his filmography. The cinematography and direction of the movie elevated the atmosphere and highlighted the bond between the four men. One of the most painful things in the movie was the amount of parallels and foreshadowings. Soo-Hyeok's quote about bravery that he learned from Kyeong-Pil. Woojin's drawings. Kyeong-Pil's last whistle. Park Chan-Wook pulled at my heartstrings and I was unable to do anything else besides watching the beauty and tragedy unfold before my eyes.
If I had to think of any "faults", I would say that the scenes with the investigation team were my least favourites. They didn't add much and they toned down the emotional atmosphere. There was an important historical piece of information that added more context and depth into the conflict between South and North Korea but it was delivered with poor English and the actor did not put the required amount of emotions in his performance to highlight how significant this information was. Thankfully, the movie didn't have many scenes with the investigation team so my overall experience was not affected.
The last shot is by far one of the most heartbreaking moments I've ever witnessed in a movie. Throughout the last half hour, I had been crying my eyes out but the last shot was my final straw for I became a mess. The ending was powerful, emotional and with it arose a big " what if".
Joint Security Area is a desperate plea for unity between North and South Korea. An emotional anti-war film that everyone should watch. A painful reminder that whole borders and politics can seperate us, people can still find form close bonds with each other, defying those differences. Beauty mingled with tragedy and the result was this palpable political thriller that will continue to haunt me for a very long time. I kid you not when I say that I am a different person after watching this movie. I can't stop thinking about it and every time I bring back in my mind the friendship between the characters, tears gather in my eyes.
"What's important in battle isn't speed. It's carrying yourself with composure and bravery. That's everything"
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Underwhelming thriller mostly saved by Siwan's acting
Very interesting thriller with an interesting, albeit common prose. In our times, when access to someone else's information can be achieved easily, it's terrifying to imagine what would happen if one monitored my whole life through my phone.The first half was very interesting, I was very curious to learn about the stalker's identity and purpose and it was so scary to watch him monitoring Na-mi's steps. But after the first half, the movie became kinda boring to me. Although I still wanted to see how he would be caught and how Na-mi would solve her problem, the plot became predictable and lost its spark. Some of the characters' actions were so silly, it was clear that their purpose was to pace the way for the story's development but couldn't it been done more conveniently? The third act wasn't that dramatic and the ending was kinda anticlimactic.
There were many themes that could have been explored more but the movie didn't delve into them. I expected more commentary regarding the loss of human connections and the way people rely on their phones. It was brought up sometimes in a subtle way but it wasn't enough to highlight this message, which the movie intended to. Yes, it's clear how dangerous online activity can be but I wanted something more. Instead of telling and not showing, it was little telling and little showing.
Si-Wan's performance was the best, he was absolutely captivating as Oh Jun-yeong. His body language, the tone of his voice, his gaze, his demeanor. He knew how to embody his character and he made me feel sick yet unable to take my eyes off my screen when he appeared. It was a pity that the movie didn't do more with his character. I know that some villains do bad actions for the sake of it and that I shouldn't expect every villain to have a sob story but I still wanted to see more of him. He felt one-dimensional which is a pity because there were many layers to explore.
The rest of the characters were decent but not spectacular. Na-mi was good, I really liked Chun Woo-Hee's performance, but oh God, some of her decisions just pissed me off so bad. For example, how could she seriously trust a guy she met a few times over her best friend whom she has known for years!?
All in all, Unlocked was a gripping yet lackluster thriller. It hold my attention for the most part but it's not the best out there. I do not regret watching it and if you're new to korean cinema, it could be a decent option.
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Started of strong but fell flat
I am hooked by korean thrillers ever since I watched Beyond Evil and one day, I came across Vigilante. Since I am a huge fan of stories that explore the matter of justice vs self-appointed law enforce, I decided to watch it, especially since I had seen some people calling it underrated.While I overall enjoyed the series, I think that there was room for more developement. I am aware of the fact that it's based on a webtoon and since I haven't read it, I will assume that it was overal a faithful adaptation.
The plot was interesting, I liked the exploration of corruption, abuse of power and the fight for justice. It's just that even though it was quite short, it dragged, especially towards the end. The first episodes were the best imo and I think the series should have focused more in the moral battle of law vs taking the matters in your own hands. I would have loved to see more psychological battles between the characters, especially between Jiyong and Heon. The first episodes focused more on the psychological and ethical aspects while the rest focused more on the action. Which was not bad but it didn't allow the series to go more into depth about its themes. Plus, the fights in the last episodes were kinda funny, the plot armor was going crazy for the main characters. So many thugs and no one could beat them?
The characters were interesting but I believe that some of them could have been explored more. Jiyong was definitely the most fleshed out character and I would have loved to see more of his battle between bad vs evil. Jo heon was fun and cool and I liked his dialogues with Jiyong. However, I felt like I desired more once I finished the series, yes, we got to see him reconsider his own believes which was good but I think he came across as a little bit one dimensional at times and the series relied a lot on the gimmick about his size and power. Still a very cool character though. As for the rest, I really liked Choi Mi Ryeo, she was such a badass and I found her to be quite complex in terms of actions and believes. Gang-ok was actually quite fun, he was such a fanboy for Vigilante and his obsesion with Jiyong was just so hilarious, one sided toxic yaoi at its finest.
The acting was really good, especially Nam Joo-hyuk's and the ending, albeit frustating, was pretty much realistic. Overall, I liked the series, it's just that I think it had potential to become something more. As I mentioned above, if it followed the plot of the webtoon, I will understand the lack of exploration on some of the themes but they could have done something more to fully flesh them out. I also believe but for a series that tackled many interesting topics, it should have been longer, say 10+ episodes.
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Charming, entertaining and yet so heartfelt
Before I'll start with the actual review, I'd like to give some context about me: I've never been a huge fan of romance-focused stories. Romance is not a genre I dislike but I wasn't the biggest fan either. Before I got into kdramas, I was aware of the popularity of their romance stories.I'm gonna be very direct. For years, I had developed a dislike for the tropes and the way they were presented. Slow motion sequences, "under the umbrella" scenes, miscommunication, awkward flirting...Every time I would stumble across clips like these, I would cringe and wonder how could people enjoy that. I couldn't imagine myself indulging in a story with this structure. I thought that the kdrama style wasn't for me and for years, I kept avoiding them.
Well, here I am now, in the year of 2026 to report that I am a changed person.
Spring Fever is the first romcom I've watched. I have watched other romantic stories like Yuri On Ice, Heartstopper, Pride and Prejudice and Emma but none of them had this slapstick, romcom style. It was a spontaneous decision to pick up this drama. I had seen the posters and the teasers and since it seemed lighthearted, I thought that it wouldn't harm me if I gave it a try. I debated about it since it was very out of my league but in the end, I gave in. And oh boy, did it pay off!
Spring Fever is exactly what its name indicates. It was a very cozy drama and with every single episode, the story kept blooming. Even though I prefer dramas which delve deeper in terms of themes and characterisation, I was very relieved to see that Spring Fever didn't lose its identity throughout its run. It obviously included some emotional heavier scenes of course and it tackled some important issues but not at the expense of its initial style.
The writers did a great job handling the different plot points together. While the main couple, Yoon Bom and Seon Jae Gyu were undoubtedly the heart of the story, it was nice to see them shine on their own or have the opportunity to observe other characters, too. For the most past, the pacing of the drama was very good and it contributed to the overall development of the story and the characters.
The majority of the subplots were entertaining to watch. I became invested in the teachers' drama and the relationship between I Jun and Jae Gyu. I was rooting very hard for Bom to prove her innocence and I was eager to learn more about Jae Gyu's past. The various subplots enhanced the slice-of-life aspect and by making other characters the center of attention, we saw more of their community and emotions as individuals. The romance was always the main point but it was nice to see that there were other significant moments, too.
While the comedy was never absent, I appreciated the more laid-back and emotional moments, especially during the last episodes. Spring Fever tackled some serious themes and it was nice to see that the writers treated them with respect instead of forcing a joke in inappropriate moments. During episode 11, there were some scenes which unexpectedly made me shed some tears and I liked how the writers let their characters be vulnerable when needed instead of minimizing their pain.
One thing I must praise Spring Fever for is the cinematography and editing. There were various breathtaking and relaxing shots from the countryside, the director did a fantastic job capturing the beauty of Sinsu. The color grading was absolutely perfect. The vibrant hues enhanced the positive tone of the story, making the story even more "colorful". Even during the night scenes, the colours were so vivid!
Spring Fever was the perfect type of story to accompany me during my university exams period. After long studying sessions, I was always looking forward to relax and watch the new episodes in peace. I was giggling like a lovesick teenager while watching Bom and Jae Gyu's shenanigans and many scenes made me burst out laughing. The comedic elements were incorporated very well and they didn't feel forced, as I initially feared. There are some scenes which I'm thinking about and still make me laugh.
Bom and Jae Gyu were so interesting as individuals and later as a couple. Their relationship developed organically and their interactions were so fun to watch. Their personalities were so different and yet they complimented each other so much. There were many moments which made me squeal from happiness and throughout the drama, I couldn't get enough of them.
Both Bom and Jae Gyu had to fight their own demons which they tried to hide under their masks. Both of them tried to find shelter by bottling up their feelings. Bom, after experiencing injustice and betrayal from her parents, became colder and less enthusiastic while Jae Gyu, haunted by his past, put up the facade of an energetic citizen, who had nothing to worry about. It was so beautiful to see that the closer they got to each other, the more the walls that they had built around themselves started to shatter.
I'm very thankful that the writers put no unnecessary misunderstandings between Bom and Jae Gyu! Even though there were some minor problems here and there, they always solved them very quickly and once they became an official couple, they communicated with each other and opened up more. Trust and communication are vital for a healthy relationship and Spring Fever made sure to make its message clear. In addition, it was so refreshing to see both Bom and Jae Gyu be there for each other. The first half focused more on Jae Gyu helping Bom around while the latter half showed Bom supporting Jae Gyu more, which was so important for their growth as a couple. They understood each other and they gave each other space when necessary while still being close. I already miss them as I'm typing this!
Both actors did an excellent job bringing their characters to life, not to mention the amazing chemistry they had. Lee Joo Bin was so engaging to watch, I loved the way she used her facial expressions to express Bom's emotions, particularly when she was surprised. She really shined in this role and she highlighted Bom's complexity. The same applies to Ahn Bo Hyun, he nailed both the comedic and emotional aspects of Jae Gyu's character, unveiling his characters' layers. Furthermore, he was effortlessly funny while portraying Jae Gyu's shenanigans and he never came across as cringe.
Although I had an amazing time watching Spring Fever, there were some parts that could have been better in order to improve the story even more. It would have been nice if the psychological aspect of the characters had been written in even more depth throughout the episodes. Not something very bleak but not very superficial either. The last episodes did a great job with this subject, particularly when it came to Jae Gyu's feelings, so I think that this could have happened in the earlier episodes too.
The story as a whole remained charming and very engaging but there were times where I felt my attention wandered. There were some scenes that felt more filler and while they were by no means bad, I think that they could have been reduced in order to highlight other aspects of the plot.
Even though I warmed up to Han Gyul and Se Jin's subplot, I must admit that I wasn't fully invested in it. I totally understand that it's a classic teenage love story but their initial relationship of Han Gyul acting like a lovesick puppy while Se Jin mistreated him wasn't that fun to watch. Se Jin's character had potential for more given the pressure she experienced from her parents to do great at school. I really appreciated her development but her character could have been handled better and her change of attitude could have been more natural.
Overall, Spring Fever was a very charming and cozy series, one I definitely do not regret watching. I'm so happy for this being my introduction to the romcom genre and I feel so proud of myself after expanding my taste. Bom and Jae Gyu will continue to accompany me and I can totally see myself rewatching the drama in the future if I'm in need for something sweet and comforting. I strongly recommend it to people who want a nice romcom. It might not be a masterpiece but it will definitely make you bloom.
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This review may contain spoilers
An underrated mystery series with a dynamic duo
I decided to give Nine Puzzles a try because I was intrigued by the premise. A woman who was the suspect of her uncle's murder wants to solve the case while the detective who suspects her starts working with her. Welcome back Beyond Evil, Black Out and Justice in the Dark. After watching Nine Puzzles, it's safe to say that it is very underrated and deserves more recognition.The drama made me hooked from the get-go. Ena's uncle's murder had taken place under strange circumstances and from the very first episode, I started making a list of the potential suspects. With every episode, the story began to unfold more and more and soon it was made clear that this case was not that simple. Every episode left me with questions that required answers and I was so excited to see what would happen next. I must also give credit to the usage of flashbacks. Instead of relying on telling and now showing, the drama utilized the flashbacks in a clever way and I never felt like they were disturbing the pacing or the actual story.
The pacing of the series was ideal and pretty much consistent. I wouldn't describe it as very slow, nor very fast - more like something in the middle. Most episodes took their time to build the mystery and the prosecution behind the investigations while some others had more fast-paced sequences and moments that flew by pretty quickly. I rarely felt my attention drifting away, my eyes were glued on the screen while trying to put the puzzle pieces (metaphorically and literally) together.
One of my favourite aspects in crime series in showing what is happening behind-the-scenes of a crime investigation. I enjoyed observing the work of the police and Ena and it really helped that the police officers were competent and not just dumsels in distress. Every case required different ways to be solved and each case contributed to the resolution of the whole mystery behind the nine puzzles.
I can't find enough words to express how much I loved the soundrack. The intro gave me chills every time and I loved how they incorporated classical pieces in some scenes. It was as if I was watching a classic crime series and gave a nice old-fashioned vibe, especially during Ena's scenes.
The main leads were by far my most favourite characters. I adored Yoon Ena from the very first episode and she has become one of my most favourite characters already. I understand those who complained about her behavior but I personally never found her annoying. She clearly showed signs of regression which is very common among people who experienced some sort of trauma at a young age, therefore her childish demeanor was understandable. Personally, I tend to become attached to quirky characters quite easily so it's no wonder I'd love someone like Ena. Kim Da Mi did a great job portraying her, her body language, her expressions, she captured Ena's outgoing character perfectly while giving her depth when it was required. I had a blast watching her helping the police to solve the murders and prove them wrong when they would doubt her. She always had the last word and I applaud her for that. Plus, her nails and outfits made her even more iconic.
Ena was much more than just a quirky profiler. On the outside, she appeared care-free, absent-minded, air-headed but that couldn't be further from the truth. It was highlighted quite often in the drama how much guilt she carried for her uncle's death and his murder continued to haunt her even after all of these years. Since she didn't have the chance to live a normal childhood due to the loss of her parents at a young age and the death of her uncle, she wasn't the best at socializing with other people. She treated her colleagues with sweets, presents etc but she still tried to figure out how to form proper human connections. I really liked how hesitant she was to comfort Han Saem after the death of Yang Jung-ho and yet she still did her best. These small glimpses of her behavior showed that deep down, she was a very troubled person who still tried to deal with the loss of her uncle and (later) the revelation about his potential crimes.
Han Saem was also a character whom I looked forward to see. Son Sukku was great in this role, he nailed Han Saem's grumpy character. I liked that even though he wasn't able to tone down his cop persona and his personal "instinct", he was still willing to listen to Ena, despite his initial reaction towards her. His character was handled really well and him and Ena worked perfectly as a duo. Watching them getting closer and help each other was so refreshing, the scenes in his home had a calm and domestic vibe, both of them could let their guard down and the other's presence gave them comfort. When Ena admitted to her therapist that she was able to get some sleep at Hansaem's home because she felt safe, my heart almost melted. Their chemistry (whether you want to interpret it platonically or not doesn't matter) was really good and I'm glad we didn't spend a big amount of episodes with them trying to gain each other's trust.
Regarding their characters, I like how they complimented each other, despite their differences. Ena is more outgoing and she is close to her team while treating police officers with coffees, hats etc. Hansaem is more professional and closeted but as he spend more time with Ena, he started to warm up more to her and other people. Hansaem is a fan of classic crime novels written by Agatha Cristie and Edgar Alan Poe while Ena didn't view them with much respect and she didn't rely on them to explain the cases like Hansaem. Their viewpoints and characters were different but they were willing to listen to each other, especially Hansaem who stopped having prejudices against Ena.
The rest of the characters were equally engaging and intriguing. I liked how the drama gave one hint or two about who could be the real culprit and I admit that my list of suspects didn't seem to be narrowed down that quickly. I wish I was more aware of the amount of cameos by popular actors in Nine Puzzles because based on the reactions I've seen, many avid kdrama watchers were surprised to see so many veterans make an appearance on the series. Although I must admit I didn't expect to see Park Mi-hyun (Squid Game, Black Out) and Jeong Man-Sik (Through The Darkness), these are two actors whom I was familiar with yet didn't expect to see in this drama.
Another character who caught my interest was Ena's therapist, Lee Seung-Joo. I know Park Gyu-young from Squid Game and I knew beforehand that she was an actress in this series too, alongside Roh Jae-won. Her character was suspicious to me but the reveal of her being the serial killer was still so interesting to see. I was genuinely impressed by Park Gyu-Young's acting. Going from a calm and professional therapist to a wronged woman who sought revenge in the amount of a few episodes seemed so natural thanks to her performance. Seung-Joo was not just a sadistic killer. She didn't kill for her own pleasure. She killed because she wanted justice for her mother's death and the corruption that was done by her "victims". She didn't want to continue living a normal life once she learned the truth and even though she knew that she could have avoided this path, she went on to kill.
Even though the mystery aspect is the core of the series, Nine Puzzles tackled other topics regarding trust, human connections, trauma and corruption. Learning about the real events that occurred behind One City's development and watching the victims work together in order to demolish Shindonga market made my blood boil from anger. All of these people were willing to go to great lengths just to increase their power, without feeling any remorse. Taking that into consideration really made me question Seung-Joo's actions and motives.
The drama put great emphasis on the importance of trust between people. Ena constantly asked Hansaem to trust her. She was a person who didn't seem to trust that easily and yet once she learned the truth, her world crumbled because she regarded Seung-Joo as someone who was close to her. Hansaem's trust in his chief and the rest of the members of the police was also questioned multiple times and of course we see how he learned to trust Ena.
That being said, as much as I liked this drama and as much as I loved the characters, there are some parts that prevented me from connecting more with it. As others have pointed out, it would have been nice to see how each murder took place. Yes, someone could argue that through Ena's reimaginations of the crimes we can get a sense of how the murder happened but I still wanted to see it from the killer's point of view. What were her thoughts? How did she escape each time without leaving a single trace? How was she able to constantly monitor Ena's steps? And as of Seung-Joo, couldn't a 7 years old remember the name of her mother or the name of her restaurant in order to tell it to the police? How did she end up on the orphanage and why didn't her mother look for her? I think that the story has some plot-holes here and there and although they do not ruin the series, the writers could have thought more to avoid them.
I also think that the structure of the episodes became too formulaic and predictable. A murder occurred, puzzle gets sent, Ena put the pieces together, case solved for now, moving on. While the murders themselves were different, the way they were presented was kinda monotonous. Thankfully that quickly changed but I still think the structure could have been a little bit better for some episodes.
All in all, I'm so happy for watching Nine Puzzles! I genuinely did not expect to like it as much as I did! I'll make sure to check out other projects with Kim Da Mi and Son Sokku. I would definitely recommend this one for crime enjoyers. It's not groundbreaking but it was pleasant to watch!
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The characterisation is one of the best aspects and ultimately, the one that sold the series for me. I became attached to many people of Manyang (Jaeyi, Namsabae, Jiwa and Park Jeongje own my heart) but the ones whom I loved the most were Dongsik and Joowon. What more can I say about them? Their dynamic was one of the main reasons why (if not THE reason why) I loved this series. They didn't start in the best terms and yet as the story went on, they started to respect each other more and care about the other. Joowon's development was so well-written and I loved seeing him bickering with Dongsik. AND THEIR CHEMISTRY WAS SO STRONG, OH MY GOD, THEY REALLY MADE ME GIGGLE LIKE A TEENAGER (I mean, I am 18 years old BUT STILL).
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