andjel

where is the whole movie?

description says that the movie has 10 segments, but it only has 6:
"Tick Tock Tick Tock" - isn't in the movie
"Resident-only Fitness Center" - basic horror stuff 6/10
"Rehabilitation" - nice reveal at the end 9/10
"Delivery Complete" - isn't in the movie
"Ding Dong Challenge" - first short in the movie, a bit confusing 7/10
"Hey, Marmons" - isn't in the movie
"Four-legged Beast" - student becomes brutal very fast 7/10
"Gold Tooth" - isn't in the movie
"Jackpot" - interesting blend of triller and horror 8/10
"Gluttony" - depressing 8/10

Read More

Mature Fiction

If you don't know anything about the movie, you might be entertained. The first half of the movie, despite some nice music and eroticism, for me was quite boring, but in the second half, this mature drama movie turned into a suspenseful triller out of nowhere. I thought I will have to force myself to watch the entire movie but surprisingly it turned out to be a worthwhile watch. The main actors were a little static but solid. The main quality of the movie is the story with mature themes of complicated relationship and some unusual elements.

Without revealing the story, I can mention a theme of reality. This movie is obviously a work of fiction, and it is difficult to accept it as realistic. Nevertheless, the movie makes us think what reality of our lives do we choose to live. There is a reality of our emotions and reality of our reason, the reality of our relationship and the work that we do to contribute to society, the reality of our beliefs, of our history, but there is also a hidden reality of our passions and imagination. Which reality do you choose to live?

Read More

Soldiers Duty

I love Korea and have studied its history, but this film surprised me and revealed an important detail in the puzzle of Korean history on the rise of the expected "Seoul Spring" in the democratization of society. To speak more about the historical events here, would mean revealing the spoilers of the film, but I can say that the feelings that the depicted events evoke, correspond to the "han" sentiment (and fate?!) of Korean people, which unfortunately we see less and less in modern Korean cinema.

As the title of the film suggests (12:12), the film is dedicated to one chaotic day in which a group of military officers connected under the name Hanahoe, attempted a military coup d'état in Seoul. The panic and chaos that followed, primarily in the military ranks, is excellently portrayed in this film thanks to great actors and a dynamic change of shots where, interestingly, we feel the most tension through the many dramatic phone calls. And although at times it is difficult to follow who is saying what to whom, the events of this chaotic night are presented to us viewers in a brutally honest way that can also serve as a warning to new generations. It is a story about the service, duty and responsibility of soldiers, but also of all other people, because we all need to cooperate for the common good. It is scary how people can deny their moral duties and how colleagues can easily turn against each other.

The film is very long, so I will not make this text longer, but I leave this as a recommendation for all serious viewers to put this movie on their "to watch list". It is well worth the time.

Read More

Respect the Dead

The atmosphere of the film is haunting. The only film I could compare this to is "The Wailing". Exuma has elements of belief in Feng shui, Buddhism, Shamanism and even Christianity. And if the viewer believes, they are guaranteed to be terrified watching this. Personally, I was completely engaged with the film, and although I was aware that it was about paranormal stuff, I was convinced that it was real, which made the viewing experience very intense for me.

I was confused by how our main characters, in the first part of the film, routinely and even disrespectfully carry out their work, but when they are faced with the special task of digging up a problematic mysterious dead body in a coffin, they become completely dedicated to their work. As a priest, I also perform funerals daily and sometimes I am not completely concentrated, so this film encourages me to try, as much as possible, to give sincere respect and a dignified tribute to each deceased person and assist their eternal rest.

All in all, the actors did a great job. The sequence of the story changed its course throughout the film, but at the end we still see a meaningful unity that leads us to appreciate the cooperation and connection between the four main protagonists.

After the news of the film's success in Korean cinemas, I had high expectations for this and indeed, Exuma didn't disappoint.

Read More

no last words

4: Clean Island is a 30 minute short movie.
Dear Jinri is a 100 minute long documentary.

4: Clean Island is a symbolic story about the state of k-pop entertainment but also our society in general. It also appears to be a biographical story about the life of dear Sulli. It is very stylistic and artisic, with unusual scenes and sureal story that makes the viewer wonder if he is the consumer who kills off artists...

Dear Jinri is a documentary mostly based on the interview given for Netflix and some images from the life of Sulli/Jinri. Then there are 5 parts that wanted to split the documentary in chapters connected with Dorothy in the land of Oz. I didn't quite get the connection, but it must have something to do with imagination that Sulli had as an artist. Hearing and watching her interview was emotionally very exhausting. It felt like hearing a confession, and still realizing how much is being unsaid. One can only sympathise with the honesty and pray for the soul of dear Jinri. Unfortunately we didn't hear her last words but at least we are left with her innocent smile that encourages us to try to spread hope and support to our friends.

Read More

More CCTV?

From beginning to end, the film maintains a high level of tension and suspension. It often happens that a movie has a great start, but it gets diluted in the second or third part and then I can't wait for the movie to end. But the director managed to introduce new interesting elements throughout the film so that the whole film has something special to offer. The beginning is interesting because we get to know the main character and his unusual hobby of following other people's lives. The plot is interesting because through a sudden event, it gradually reveals hidden details from the life of the protagonists, and the conclusion of the film leaves us something to think about the personality of the main character and thus completes the whole story. The actors all did a great job here.

The film also has a social message about CCTV surveillance, which is useful when you need to find a criminal, but too many cameras also provide opportunities for greater manipulation. In today's world, virtual life on SNS (social networks) can be very brutal and has a huge impact on people's real lives.

Read More

Mantis is the best?

So this is the second movie in the Korean Hitman universe (aka the Korean John Wick), following Kill Boksoon (2023), which was actually much better than this one. I did appreciate the cameos from that film appearing here, but not much else.

Here we have a new highly skilled killer, Mantis, but the story never lets him shine. The opening fight scene was quite good, but everything afterward felt rushed and sloppy, leading up to a weird final battle that perfectly sums up the mess this movie is. The film has great production value, a lot of famous actors, and good fight choreography—but no real sense of direction. The most frustrating part for me was the comedy: the actors often behaved and talked like childish brats, and I found myself thinking, does this movie think we’re stupid? Most of the film is just talking, and I could almost bet the dialogue was written by AI.

Well, yes, maybe this movie will find some fans among modern audiences, but to me it was disappointing.

Read More

Buried Choices

Let me say first: this movie had me morally split during its runtime, but the ending was so satisfactory that I have to give it a perfect score of 10. Director Park Chan-wook shows that he is a master of the art, with great cinematography and an unusual, unique approach to storytelling. Some people call this a comedy, but for me it was not comical. It was soul-crushing in the way it showed the spiral of choices that lead one man and one family through life’s challenges.

From the technical side, the movie is very enjoyable, with a few hard-to-watch moments, but if you know the director, this is nothing. The best part for me was the music and the symbolism of the plants that beautifully grow from the secrets buried underneath. The actors also deserve all the praise.

What makes this movie perfect for me is that it has many layers and a rich complexity that provokes the viewer to think about it. It speaks about our capitalistic society and serves as a mirror to reflect on our own choices and everything we have buried in the fight for survival/success. I needed a few hours to settle my thoughts before writing this review. The movie poses two big moral questions: the illusion of inevitability that masks our choices, and the justification for sin. (Actually, there is no sin if there is no God, so in a world without moral authority everything becomes permitted and justified.) I won’t go deeper here so as not to spoil the movie, but I will surely have a lot of conversations about it.

PS. Do trees have a choice?

Read More

Confusing stuff

The movie "Pilot" reminded me of Korean movies from the 2000s that, through comedy, dealt with various sociological topics, i.e., they used different cultural themes to promote social values (Scandal Makers, Punch, A Man Who Was Superman, Quick, 200 Pounds Beauty, Penny Pinchers, The Quiz Show Scandal, Save the Green Planet, Highway Star, Mr. Housewife … well, I could count the movies for days). The point is that this movie stylistically fits into the Korean cinema how I remember it.

Unfortunately, this movie disappointed me in many segments. I expected more piloting from a movie with such a title. Also, it doesn't work as a comedy. Personally, I only laughed twice, and both times because of the mother's phone, when she calls and when she answers the phone, but never because of the main theme of a man pretending to be a woman. Perhaps I'm old-fashioned here, but those scenes mostly felt distasteful and unconvincing to me. I was especially disappointed that a child was brought into that theme. However, the movie's resolution does show a good message and gives some thought about the sociological reasons why someone pretends to be something they are not. The movie tries to stay in the middle, but in doing so, it satisfies neither the traditional audience (me) nor, I assume, the modern (progressive woke) audience. Still, I commend the movie for opening up this topic and offering us something for discussion.

Read More

What is real on the Internet

With the rise of AI, the Internet is becoming more and more an artificial space distant from reality, yet the Internet shapes our reality in a way we are not even aware of. This movie gives a lot to think about on this topic. The truth we live is not a real truth but a story created by media, trolls, big corporations, hidden powers, … you name it.

Okey, so about this movie. It starts like I would expect with the victim of the false narrative searching for justice and finding an ally in the media to help him. But then it all turns around and becomes a story of deceiving tactics where no one is spared, not even we as viewers. At the end I felt like the victim of internet fraud but thankfully without real-life consequence. I think I received a valuable lesson about truth online. This movie is a fiction but it has a real message. So what is the lesson: Truth is hard to find. Watch the movie for yourself and try to find it!

Read More

Marital Duty

There is a saying that a Devil does anything he can to lead a couple into bed before marriage and outside of bed after marriage. That is because sex is a supreme part of marital duty that brings joy, connection, passion, blessing and possibly even children. If a married couple avoid intimacy their marriage will surely suffer in some ways. So I am very happy that this drama comedy speaks about that issue. Therefore i am gladly giving it a high score. The drama was comical and also educational about the roles and duties of public officials in Old Korea. I believe that watching this short drama might help many couples solve their issues and misunderstandings and spark a little bit of romance.

Some may say that this is just a traditional story or marriage propaganda but the message is relevant and authentic. Marriage is a real deal. A lasting marriage is where you find true love.

Read More

Korean Mad Max

Badland Hunters (or in my language Lovci u pustoši) is a spectacular post apocalyptic action movie. I still haven't seen "Concrete Utopia" nor did i read a Webtoon on which this movie is based of, but that wasn't a problem because this movie works great on its own.

The movie starts with a little bit of comedy to attract interest but very quickly continues with brutal and intense action. Fans of action and fighting won't be disappointed. In fact this movie has the best fighting scenes i saw in a while, mostly thanks to, of course, non else then Ma Dong Seok who is playing the main hunter Nam San and reminds me of Mad Max. Actually, while still being quite different, there are many other things here that reminds me of Mad Max movie and I would wish to see more from this world and characters.

The story is also strong and makes us think about the meaning of life in the world without dignity and hope. Goodness and humanity are more important than just surviving.

Read More

Go is Life, Life is Go

I know the basic rules of game Go, but it was always too intimidating to me to really start playing. Life is similar, there are basic rules of surviving but to win in life, you need to navigate through complex challenges. I believe this is why this movie was so captivating for me. The producers really did a great job depicting how the main characters live with the game. As you play and learn the game, you also learn to live. The characters had to find answers when there are none, fight against themselves and learn to respect the game. I was deeply moved by the inspirational story of this movie.

What amazes me also is that this is all true story and as far as I understands it is as true as possibile. Two Go players, a famous Cho Hun-hyun and his student Lee Chang-ho become rivals and the simple but strong drama between them is more gripping than fictional story could ever be. There is a real honesty about this movie that make it a representative for sports drama. The actors also seem to represent authentically the characters and emotions of the real people.

My conclusion: If you watch this movie you will learn a lot about Go, but even more about life.

Read More

So harsh

Drama Special is a great format, sometimes too short, but sometimes just right. This episode is the later, short but impactful. The main lead is a competent good man but his fate seems to turn everything against him and he is falling deeper and deeper. This is the premise and it is best, not to know more but to just relax and watch it. In fact this is not a relaxing story because the story is so real and while watching i couldn't help but sympathize with people whose jobs are so stressful and complicated.

If you had time to read this review, please find an hour of your life to watch this drama. It has an important message and is very well made.

Read More

A Birth of a Priest

For a long time I was searching for this movie, and finally I saw it and I must give it a 10/10 because I am so happy that it was made. This is not a typically entertainment movie but a historical biographical drama about the "adventures" of Andrew Kim Dae Geon, first Korean Priest.

The film is very long, but I watched it over four days with great excitement and interest, and that's why I wasn't bored at any point. I enjoyed every scene. The cinematography of the film is excellent. Every scene is detailed and beautiful as a photography. The actors are also very good. The flow of the plot is a bit fragmented as it covers a lot of topics and events, but that is understandable for this type of film. I think that those who are already familiar with the life of Andrew Kim will enjoy the film more because they will be able to recognize future saints in some of the characters along with the main character who is the trademark name of Korean saints.

Many elements from the film I already knew before, I have been to many places in Korea that are shown here, even on the small boat Rafael on Jeju Island. As a priest, I had a very emotional experience watching the challenges faced by the first Christians, accused of collaborating with foreign enemies and disrespecting the king, and especially the situation with priests who had to be ready for martyrdom and death.

That is the message of this movie. This is not about the birth of one man, but about the birth of a priest, the birth of a new Korea that will be open to the gospel, and a spiritual birth through baptism and martyr's blood, because what is death if not a new birth? Listen to the last words of the main character of this movie, priest Andrew Kim Dae geon: "I have held communication with foreigners only for my religion and my God. It is for Him that I die. My immortal life is now on the point of birth."

Read More