andjel

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.

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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.

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AI Action

Hm, a strange film. It lasts only an hour and nothing gets resolved, so this is actually the first episode of a possible series. What works in the film’s favor are the well-known actors, of whom there are many, but they didn’t really put in much effort here. The first half of the film is just dialogue between the characters, while the second half consists of AI-generated action scenes that look interesting in individual frames but don’t work in a cinematic format. It’s clear that AI has become part of the film industry, and if used in individual shots it can replace CGI and similar needs for enhancing a scene, but it still can’t look as good as a real film. Therefore the action and fantasy shown here come across as a bit ridiculous and, above all, unconvincing. I have seen so much better use of AI on twitter. Still, as they say, it’s worth a try.

This is an attempt at implementing AI in a film. It didn’t really impress me, and the story isn’t well explained either. Nevertheless, I’m curious how it continues, so if there’s a sequel I’ll look for it.

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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.

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Fun but forgettable

Not gonna lie. I had fun watching this movie but ultimately this seems like one of those average Netflix movies. I guess what bothers me the most is that the movie resembles Hollywood action comedies a little too much and I wouldn't want Korean movies going that direction.

In terms of comedy and action, the film provides enough material. I didn't find some jokes funny at all, but others made me laugh out loud. Also, the production is at a high level so we have some very good action scenes. The plot is interesting, but forced. Many events happen without any logic, but so that the story can take the desired course. This is an ideal movie for those who want to refresh a boring evening, but it is not a movie that will be on any top lists.

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Exorcism for me and you

I came to this movie after watching the "Exuma" and I can say that between these two movies there are many similarities in both the atmosphere and the structure of the movie. Although this is a short movie, it is divided into chapters whose names are written over the screen in English, Korean and Chinese language. The difference is that here it is about demonic possession, and in "Exhuma" it is about the dead who have not found their peace. Also, similarly, the center of the action is on the characters, so here the deacon who participates in the exorcism is even more important then the act of exorcism itself.

I really liked the movie. It is quite intense and scary, but also comforting in a way. I personally participated in two exorcisms, and I never wanted to do them again because, to be honest, I am afraid of darkness and evil. That's why this movie has a good message. We all have bad experiences and dark areas of our life, but if we want to live in the light, we cannot run away from the darkness, we must face it and overcome it. Therefore, we all need some kind of exorcism, some sort of cleansing and liberation.

PS. If you want to know the whole story of this short movie watch "The Priests" (2015).

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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.

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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."

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hard life of high school girl

The movie is better then i though. I was expecting a B level movie made just for the message or the practice of some new talents, but i found the message of the movie very compelling and the final production was not bad at all. The actors were decent (even though the extras were funny entering and exiting the scene to try to make it more believable), the story had more dimensions with side characters and there were some very emotional moments, especially the last scene where ... oh, no spoilers.
The movie is a high-school drama and a tragic death mystery. The mystery elements serve the story well, slowly revealing more information and so increasing the interest until the end. I was especially attentive since i saw it without english subtitles and had to concentrate to understand some dialogue but certainly i missed few things due to not being able to understand everything. so if you'll give this movie a try, stick with it until the end.

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Beware how you use a gun

First of all, I had no expectations about the movie and I didn’t know what kind of movie this is before watching it. It turns out to be a psychological thriller drama so if that is what you are ready for, this is a gem. But if you expect some intense action, twists and turns, shocks and thrills, you might be disappointed.

Before watching the movie it came to my mind that Kim Ki-duk was making a movie about a gun, so if anything I was interested in the role of a revolver for this movie. Silently I hoped to see a little bit of Kim Ki-duk genre and I would say that I got it. Director Oh Seung-uk is exploring the human psychology in a unique way by showing us a few distinct characters and their clashing with one another. Revolver is still here to push them a little further than they would normally go. The story is simple but is developing in an intriguing way, actors are superb, the production and visuals truly excellent.

I remember the movie “Shameless” from the same director with a similar casting and a similar tone. And I saw other projects he worked on, but they are too few. I see here that all of them have a score around 7 but for me they are all 9 or 10/10. That means I am a fan.

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Love VS Kids

Just recently, a Korean girl I know told that she has decided not to have children because she doesn’t see the point of bringing a new life into this world. Isn’t that depressing? Well, this movie brightened up my mood because it presents the same issue — a woman who doesn’t want kids but wants to be with the guy she loves, not knowing that he already has a child. This setup creates plenty of comedic moments, but it also serves as positive propaganda for having children. Kids in a relationship may shake the romantic love a little at first, but they elevate the relationship to an even better level and can only deepen the love.

The official title of the movie is a little misleading: Heartman: Rock and Love. Sure, there is one rock song, but the rest of the movie is just a classic romantic comedy. The film has some originality, but if you’ve seen many Korean movies of this type, you’ll notice quite a few elements that feel copy-pasted. The main actors were good, but I expected more from them — their emotions didn’t quite come through. The supporting actors, however, were excellent and really funny.

If anything, please support and watch this movie for its message.

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Hunt

A very intriguing and adrenaline-filled movie that differs quite a bit from director Na Hong-jin's previous films, though it feels similar in pacing and tone to The Chaser.

I also think they got the movie title wrong. This film is not Hope, it's Hunt. I honestly don’t know what the “hope” is supposed to be in this movie. But the title Hunt is extremely fitting because the entire film is one big hunt. Our protagonists are constantly switching roles — sometimes hunters, sometimes prey — and the chase continues from beginning to end, constantly shifting into a higher gear.

In my opinion, this is the film’s greatest strength: the nearly three hours fly by in a fast-paced, ever-intensifying run that builds tension right up to the so-called ending. It’s hard to say much more about the story without spoilers, so I’ll stop here. On the surface it seems simple, yet it’s surprisingly effective, especially if you go into the movie blind like i did.

Although the characters themselves aren’t at the center of the story (they all serve the larger narrative), the actors are charismatic and have interesting personalities. However, in the midst of all the chaos, there are often awkwardly funny scenes. I’m not sure the humor was really necessary here.

The camerawork is excellent and truly artistic, following the action as if the camera itself is participating in the chase. A lot of effort was clearly put into the scenes; they had to prepare an entire city to look the way it does, and you can see the immense work and dedication from everyone involved in the production. Visually and atmospherically, the film fully meets expectations. The epilogue at the end will certainly spark plenty of discussion, which should help this movie be remembered in both Korean and world cinema.

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Breaking Free

The film is categorized as a thriller, but it’s actually a psychological drama, and only perhaps for a moment do we get a sense of tension. The atmosphere is mostly oppressive and uncomfortable, due to the relationships between the characters. At the center of the plot are two sisters, one of whom is a Wrangler—that is, a dog trainer—and she tries to control everything around her: the dogs at the center where she works, her colleagues, her husband, and in a way even her sister. When you tie a dog to a chain or put it in a cage, it will struggle and want to escape. Because it wants freedom. That is also the main theme of this film: how the training that works for dogs is not necessarily good for people.

The actors are somehow static and restrained, so the emotions they are experiencing don’t easily reach the viewer. Production-wise the film is fine, but you can tell it’s not a blockbuster and that they made use of whatever was available. Still, for those who enjoy psychological drama/thriller, this film is worth watching. It requires a little patience, but overall the film has a well-developed structure, striking symbolism with the dogs, and a memorable finale.

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Magic Candies

Strange, both Korea and Japan have done a movie adaptation of the same novel at roughly the same time. From what I can tell, the source material is quite extensive, and each film only adapts selected stories, so there’s plenty of room for variation and additional tales in a potential sequel. This Korean version is divided into three titled chapters and three separate stories about children who visit a magical candy shop that grants their wishes packed in special candies, while in the background two magical women sell those sweets — one good, the other evil. The story is split into chapters, which makes it feel like the first three or four episodes of a planned Korean series of the same title that seems to be abandoned.

From a moral standpoint, I liked that the movie doesn’t simply promote the fulfilment of wishes; instead it teaches children that granting wishes can also have negative consequences, giving the movie an educational role as well. This is primarily a children’s movie, and to me as an adult viewer everything looked artificial, illogical, and above all cartoonish. Some might like the visual style of the movie which is rare for Korean Cinema, and reminds a little bit of Disney Fairytales. Of course in a world of magic anything is possible, but precisely because of that movie lacked some sense of internal logic. The child actors are solid, but I wasn’t satisfied with the adults. So this movie is not for me, but i am still glad to have seen it, if nothing, to add variety to my movie catalogue.

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Crash, Clash, Chaos

A modern art film of the younger generation, made with plenty of symbolism, decadent shots, and eccentric main characters who nevertheless reflect the experiences of some (I hope not many) teenagers. To understand what kind of film this is, it’s enough to say that it opens with an image of larvae turning into cockroaches and emerging from their cocoons.

So, despite its unconventional style and characters, at its core this is a cautionary film that warns about the real problems faced by young people. The mobile phone plays a major role throughout — it’s the tool used to arrange all the schemes, the means of communication, but also of attack. It’s no wonder the film compares phones to knives as weapons.

I won’t reveal anything about the plot because it’s an important part of the viewing experience. I can only say that the film felt comically tragic to me. I had to laugh at some scenes even though everything carries a depressive tone. I hope and pray that the younger generations will overcome their problems, whether with the help of good friends, parents, or mentors. The actors are very good. The music is excellent at times because the funky musical vibe serves as a strong contrast to the story, and stylistically the film offers a unique viewing experience.

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