Really well done. The cinematography, production, direction, acting were just wonderful. The story realistically, sensitively and unflinchingly presented. The lack of 'Drama' in this film made it all the more immersive for the audience. This is one of those films that is more like reading a book and it loses nothing for it. Nam Yeon Woo did a terrific job in the role of a terribly damaged young man who has been sinned against and also sinned too much and has been broken under the weight of both. I will definitely look forward to watching Lee Don Ku's film Entangled. I'm surprised that Nam Yeon Woo has not picked up bigger parts since this. But I see he has, this year, written and directed his first film, Lost to Shame.
Can't find it subbed anywhere. I searched under this name and Conspirators with no luck. It's too old now, no one will pick it up to sub it, it wasn't that popular and no really big names in it. But...if you do see it, even a year or more down the line, let me know!
sadly, a horrendous cliche ridden mess. psycho dad doing sick cruel things while they play chirpy cutesy music in the background, people being evil for no real reason other than to fit the writer's need to manipulate this week's episode and the audience. I wanted to watch this to cheer on Ohn Joo Won, and because I liked Choi Soo Young so much in Spring Day. Nothing new, nothing compelling, nothing fun. I'm out. :( I HATE dropping dramas!
Just beautifully written and acted. A MUST rewatch tho because I am left with a lot of questions about her feelings. Did she really fall for that other guy? This would have benefited greatly from at least 2 hours or 2 episodes to fill in things.
I don't know what you all want from the first half. /(but what does a magpie bridge mean? is it an idiom?…
It's been so long since I watched this movie, I don't remember the context of this comment about magpie bridge. So let me know what you think after reading these:
There's a Chinese fable about a pair of lovers who are separated and become stars. Once a year Niulang and Zhinü — who became the stars Altair and Vega — are permitted to meet across a bridge of magpies.
There is also this fascinating reference from a translation of ancient Chinese Taoist Alchemy that would seem to fit : http://www.goldenelixir.com/jindan/ruyao_jing_3.html "In the human being, the tongue is called Magpie Bridge" Given that this movie about about a bunch of fast talkers, I'd bet it's a reference to how someone is speaking. Now I want to know the full context of the dialogue so I can put it into perspective! :) But I'm not about to watch the whole movie again.
It's frustrating how much I miss as a Westerner unversed in Asian cultural and historical vernacular, customs, humor, and reference. :(
Good script (though it had its faults) and better story. But the overacting of the cartoonish criminals and the missteps in the execution of some fight scenes and technical aspects detracted, especially in the beginning of the film. I see from the director's resume that this is his first film and it shows. NGM's acting and his character were probably the best part of the film. Very multi dimensional and he was definitely the star of this. Nothing about the film is bad, in fact much about it was done very well, especially in the overall concept of the story and the acting of the main characters. And the final scene is very well done. It just seemed somewhat choppy in parts. Still, the time went quickly while watching it. and the moral of the story is definitely hammered home. No amount of 'being good' can outweigh sins of such magnitude and retribution will come. 7.5 but could have been 8.5 without the cartoon characters in this .
Enjoyable take on the Cyrano scenario. I found the ending a little....simplistic? Not sure. It just was too fairytale like for me...not that I was UNhappy with it. It's just that these drama specials tend to go a bit darker and this drama showed all the signs of doing so, but then went for the squeaky clean romantic fairytale ending instead. Again...not a bad thing, but it somehow just didn't jive with the whole tone of the drama up to that point and also didn't match the ominous soundtrack which led me to think things were going to be more complicated. Still an 8 for me. GREAT Cast! LOVED the cameos! So fun!
Kind of a different take on the gangster movie genre. It covers the standard storylines of all the conventional work-a-day gangster life scenarios. They go to work every day, just like dads everywhere do. They just 'do' different things in their work. And, like so many of the Korean family life stories we see, they have pretty much the same disconnect with their families and sorta the same difficulties at work...fighting for promotion, enough money to buy or provide their families all the things they want for them. etc. It's just that, what is life and death for all dads...for gangsters, it's 'really' life and death and that extra burden drives a deeper wedge in an already stressed family life. And adds even more stress to a dad who is trying to be everything for everyone. So similar to ordinary dads in concept. Not so much so in reality. And, just like ordinary dads, this movie shows the price these fathers pay in that oh so foreign and uniquely Korean concept of Goose Fathers. It certainly makes a more unique approach and kept me interested. But, overall, there are no surprises in the movie and the ending is quite predictable. Still. It deserves a better grade than 6.9. It's a strong 7.5 for me.
This is a terrific review of this movie. Spot on. " Far more powerful than the J.S.A-like coda preceding the end credits, this scene is one of the most painfully honest renderings of young Korean men I have seen in a Korean film, whose souls are eaten away by the price they paid for having "adjusted" themselves to become good soldiers and upstanding "real men." The Unforgiven is a must-see for anyone who seeks to gain insight into the inner psychology of Korean men, and a stupendously promising debut for yet another talented Korean filmmaker. "
10/05/17-Sad Sad movie. Very well done. I could only find it on GoodDrama. Hard, really hard to watch since I was pretty sure what I was going to be seeing. Read the wiki article. It does not give away the end, but at least you can sort of gird your loins before watching. And...it is again a reminder of the terrible pain and destruction and damaged lives left behind when someone commits suicide. And, also, again a reminder that the military is not for everyone and bullies flourish in that kind of environment and seem to go unchecked.
10/05/17-Interesting. This movie might also need to bear the Horror category tag, but it doesn't go TOO far into that, though it is certainly central to the story line. And it didn't have any of the cheesy, leap out at you from around corners, huge closeups of scary faces, screaming and horror music garbage either. There is so much else going on that takes up so much more time in the movie that I didn't have a problem with it...horror being my most disliked genre. That tag might have kept me from watching this and that would have been a shame. I loved the fact that this was a woman centric movie. It was a nice change. It certainly was a font of information about the daily work of the maids in the palace, though I'm not so sure the 'ritual' was factual at all! Still, an enjoyable and interesting story overall and I certainly didn't feel like I wasted my time watching it.
OK. Enjoyed it. Didn't read anything about this one for a change, so went in cold. 10-15 minutes or so in you know what is happening so the rest of it is just sorta going along for the ride. It's a pleasant ride tho...I don't feel like I wasted my time. Pretty to look at and fine acting. It's just been done before, so the 'shtick' doesn't work. Think Sixth Sense without any suspense.
I loved this glimpse into life at this period of time in 1979. It is beautifully filmed and carefully produced with terrific sets and cinematography that pulls you right into that era. So many memories are evoked! The ups and downs of teenage life are not so different from today, but when you combine that story with the political system of that country at this most particular time in history, only a year before the Gwangju Uprising, the glimpses this production provides of the conditions kids grew up in really opens your eyes to the growing bitterness that created the rebellion that followed and that changed South Korea forever! These small but important moments were beautifully done and did a terrific job of exposing some of the underlying deep-seated behaviors and prejudices of the older generations that the younger ones rebelled against. A male teacher who not only beats kids with a stick (something we are all too accustomed to seeing), but called his female students pigs and stupid and makes a point of what a waste it is educating females. And who includes in his repertoire of punishments the public snapping of their bras in front of the classroom! It's really horrifying, enraging, and humiliating watching it. But the music is a blast and many of the songs are American of that period so it brought back a lot of memories for me. I would imagine the 50 somethings in Korea also had many emotions that arose while watching this. Excellent show.
omg...THANK YOU . You worked so hard for us and all these changes are terrific. It will take some getting used to, of course, but once we work out the kinks and get adjusted, Im sure everyone will be thrilled with it. LOVE the Directors /Screenwriters addition...and the rewatch addition! Cant wait to find out what all else you have done! Again, Thank you for all the hard work. I've been tracking date done watching, multiple views, and misc info (like date I posted a comment) in the comment box in 'edit' for years now. So those additions are greatly appreciated. My fav will be the director/screenwriter. Once I know there is a director or screenwriter I love, I want to watch all their dramas, so this addition will be very useful for me.
And thank you for the Priority box in the advanced section of 'Edit'. Now we can prioritize our On Hold or Plan To Watch shows! That is huge!
p.s.-please dont be discourage by negative remarks. I'm sure everyone will get used to things and start ups inevitably need fixes. It will all come out fine in the end.
I just finished the director's film Fatal. on Nice. Really well done.
http://www.modernkoreancinema.com/2012/10/biff-2012-fatal-2012.html
There's a Chinese fable about a pair of lovers who are separated and become stars. Once a year Niulang and Zhinü — who became the stars Altair and Vega — are permitted to meet across a bridge of magpies.
There is also this fascinating reference from a translation of ancient Chinese Taoist Alchemy that would seem to fit : http://www.goldenelixir.com/jindan/ruyao_jing_3.html
"In the human being, the tongue is called Magpie Bridge"
Given that this movie about about a bunch of fast talkers, I'd bet it's a reference to how someone is speaking. Now I want to know the full context of the dialogue so I can put it into perspective! :) But I'm not about to watch the whole movie again.
It's frustrating how much I miss as a Westerner unversed in Asian cultural and historical vernacular, customs, humor, and reference. :(
https://vikiinc.wufoo.com/forms/title-request-form/
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScuXiW1XwtSRt0H_ehdDMABJYJNQWA1xj78ni06l4m_OG-ZHg/viewform
or
https://dramafever.typeform.com/to/vocj3m
http://koreanfilm.org/kfilm05.html#unforgiven
And thank you for the Priority box in the advanced section of 'Edit'. Now we can prioritize our On Hold or Plan To Watch shows! That is huge!
p.s.-please dont be discourage by negative remarks. I'm sure everyone will get used to things and start ups inevitably need fixes. It will all come out fine in the end.