What an odd movie. I guess what you would call Indie or Arthouse type film? Some terrific performances in a difficult movie. This film was nominated for and won a lot of awards, especially for Gong Hyo Jin. For those of us used to seeing her in dramas, this is a huge departure from her "normal' roles and she is deserving of a lot of praise for her performance. She is mad, sad, and bad and you can do little more than watch in astonishment at the craziness. It was sort of funny, in a weird way. But, I have found that Korean/Asian humor is vastly different, and very definitely an acquired taste. I have not gotten the hang of it, maybe, as I found this movie's dark comedy to actually not be all that funny in much of the film...but then suddenly it would be. Perhaps some of the problem is that a lot of what would make this film more enjoyable is missed because of the poor subtitles (on Gooddrama). This is very obviously a dark comedy and, though I don't speak or understand Korean, I've been watching long enough that I can tell when words are missing and entire sentences have been truncated to one or 2 words or completely dropped. Additionally, when I watched, the final segment's subs and speaking voices did not match up. Anyway, if quirky and adult humor are your bag, you may enjoy it. I can't give it much more than a 6...and that is being kind because of the performance difficulty level. There are several very mixed reviews of this movie online that won't ruin watching it. It won or was nominated for a ton of awards too.
On another note, I wonder if this was the inspiration for the fabulous Kdrama Heart to Heart? LOVED that drama. Must watch it again soon!
As to that last ball of yarn and the note...help me out with your opinions. Who is the short muscular girl with…
Thank you! I like this interpretation. Not sure why I didn't get a notification of your reply as I usually do. Just came across this by accident today.
This is my second try at a Chinese drama, Boss & me the first. I am on episode 23 at this writing and probably…
Oh yeah...those 'passionate' kisses of his were so NOT! The one where she was standing in the doorway by the steps and he dives in...he MISSED! It was SO awkward looking and icky. I have not tried another Chinese drama, and probably won't. Sticking with my K's and maybe try a J here and there. Have watched a couple that were interesting, but still don't feel like K does for me!
Good Action Flick. Thin on plot, but fun, I didn't really care. Lots of shooting and fighting and blood and chases. That's about it. I liked it. It's my kind of movie! :)
Call me a cynic, but I found this film over wrought and over done. The cinematography was spectacular and this film is worth watching over and over just for that. But the cram it down your throat story and cheesy dialogue had me rolling my eyes more than once. I am going to blame this on subbing or the fact that this film may not have been intended for a broader and more educated/worldwide audience. The dialogues and monologues had no subtlety what so ever and seemed to be written for the sole purpose of seeing if they could elicit tears from the audience. The awful prison scene at the end seems like it was written as a propaganda vehicle for Chinese prison systems.
With the face of Ken Takakura speaking volumes that any movie watcher could read, the sappy lines were so over the top my teeth hurt just reading them. This is so contradictory to everything that I value in Asian film, with it's superb subtlety and ability of their actors to speak volumes with just the shift of their eyes or the slightest movement of facial muscles, ...ergo my shock and disappointment in this movie. That doesn't mean I didn't shed a few tears here and there, but, overall, my dissatisfaction rests with the fact that I think I would have loved this film a lot if I had turned off the subtitles and just used my imagination and my eyes. Because this film was definitely a feast for the eyes and I don't think I would have lost anything by watching it that way.
Loved this. You would think that a movie that advertises itself as a courtroom drama MIGHT drag a bit here or there. But, I assure you, it does not. I was so tense and excited I found myself standing up and pacing in front of my screen several times. This movie just flew by. It would definitely be an easy rewatch. I highly recommend you watch this. If even half of the events depicted in this are true (I understand some liberties were taken, but it still does contain actual courtroom events), the Judicial system in Korea is serious f-worded (pardon my English). As messed up as things are here in the USA, this was nightmarish. You would swear it had to be an SNL spoof...but, horrifically for this man, it was not. 9/10 for me (I hardly ever give 10's, so this is not a mark down...for me) :)
It was all I could do to finish this. But I am anal and find it difficult, if not impossible, to stop watching a movie once I've started...so finish it i did though it was So slow, it was like watching paint dry. Arthouse..whatever. You have to WANT and LIKE this kind of thing a lot to endure 2 hours of it. But I stuck through the entire movie, for some reason yet unknown to me! And watched as it went from crawling and pointless to dark and hopeless as we SLOWLY moved deeper into the sad, and seemingly hopeless lives of these people. I guess it was trying to show that the lives of these people basically stopped when that horrific explosion happened that virtually ended any hope of a life for them. Existing is all these people seem to be doing...like the movie...just existing, with no seeming point to any of it. I guess if that is what this movie was trying for, then it was a raging success.
There was a lot of story that could have been told, and told better, for me. This didn't have to be a blockbuster, nor a have a happy ending, nor have a worse ending! It just didn't do these people justice...at least it seemed so to me. If you read about this event, it seems to me that there is a lot that should have been told about what happened.
I am struggling with a rating on this one. While it succeeds in what I can tell this director wanted to do, it's not a movie that most people will want to watch nor be happy with the 2 hours they spent watching it. If I could have watched this movie at double speed, I'd rate it an 8. At the snail's pace I endured, I struggle with a 6. Just me. You may find it different for you.
Good, old fashioned, bad boys movie. A bunch of friends grew up and away and there's the one who turns really bad and the rest who are just bad. A lot of fun. Great Great fights. The old fashioned kind with sticks and stones that break the bones, plenty of knives and tons of martial arts. Very well done. Enjoyed all of that immensely. Very fast movie to watch also. No surprises. GREAT cast. And some surprises in the younger versions who have gone on to bigger things. This is lighter fare compared to Good Friends/Confession. But if you like this kind of movie, and have not see Good Friends, I highly recommend it. This one..... only much much darker and far more emotionally draining.
Lots of bad reviews for this movie. I found it very enjoyable and well done. But. I may just have very bad taste! It's not a 10, but a good 8 for me. I don't get the 2 biggest complaints...it's been done before (well, what hasn't really), and it was too convoluted and confusing. I guess if I had not read all the reviews saying that, then maybe I would have been confused too, but, semi spoiler, if you go into this movie knowing that is it convoluted, knowing there will be a big twist at the end, knowing that nothing is as it seems (well duh...that goes without saying since there is that catch in every single movie like this!!!), then you will be more careful as you watch it and realize nothing that is happening is as it seems and you will be prepared, and understand it all so much easier! And it will still be fun! Also, it is difficult that they keep switching back and forth from past to present, but once you catch on to the rhythm of that, you will be okay.
Very quiet, unusual, quirky, and sweet movie. No hysterics, no over the top passionate love, no screaming fights, none of the 'drama' of dramas nowadays. Enjoyed it a lot. Not great. Just a very nice movie to spend time with. Sui Qi is a gorgeous girl. It flew by. I think I will now watch #2! 7.5/10 for me
pretty bloody and gory and violent. Warning..graphic...very. Including some rape scenes. Like one reviewer said, if you've seen Moss and Bedeviled, you won't be overwhelmed by the violence of this one. Another bloody vengeance tale. and another 7.5 for me. Just okay, with the expected ending, which was good enough with enough suspense and enough vengeance to satisfy the blood thirsty watcher. I wanted to see it for Kim Jeong Hoon (John Hoon).
It was just okay. Beautiful camera work, terrific actions scenes, plenty of fighting, shooting, blood, violence and mayhem. All done excellently...for those of us who like that kind of thing. The story was good also. But, something was missing. Not sure why I did not connect with this film. The back stories of our tormented characters were there, the brothers having to turn against one another was there...and maybe that was it. It was all there, just like it has been in lots of other movies we've seen. I wanted to like it more than I did I guess. 7.5...maybe an 8
Yes Uhm Tae Woong is my favorite too! Equator Man was great for it's cast young and old. But you MUST watch Handphone...edge of your seat, sweating anxiety for all of its brilliant 137 minutes. A psychological thriller that has you questioning...just who is the bad guy??? He was adorably lovable in Can We Love? And conflicted, confused, and real in Valid Love. He's played some really dark characters in his movies. But I wish I could find some of his really old ones where he appears to have played some off the wall oddballs.
Excellent review. Thanks. I have backed out of it 2/3 through to spend some time researching the history of that era. I think it will help me understand more what is going on. I'm completely ignorant of it and all the names being thrown about are very confusing....can't figure out who is with who and why....so I'm researching articles and reviews too. Then will start it over. Love Yoo Ha's movies and this cast so I must give this movie a chance. Your review helped me decide to stick with it. I really want to see LMH transform himself into the 'real' actor I know is inside him waiting to burst out and KRW is one of my MOST favorite actors bar none...still have not recovered from Punch...a defining moment in his career for certain. Thanks again for giving me a much needed boost to go back and try again. Hearing way too many negatives and I'm afraid this was too much info too fast, especially for us international fans who have a much smaller frame of reference for the goings on in this. And the difficulty with the name recognition on Asian names...no Al Capone's or Bugsy Siegel's!!!! :)
Like the story but had to drop it I've found some scenes unnecessary.
If you actually want to delete it, click on the blue "edit" for that movie or drama. When the box pops up look down at the bottom next to the blue UPDATE button. There is delete?!!!!! :) I missed that forever too and my dropped box was getting too big. SOOO happy when I found it so I could clean up my list!
Good anti death penalty film told from the perspective of the executioners and the mental toll it takes on them. The performances far outclassed the material in this movie though. The script was not bad, it's just that the actors were far better. No Maundy Thursday. Still, thought provoking in it's own way. There are no easy answers to the ongoing debate of the death penalty, but I find it abhorrent that we expect one human being to kill another and have them live with that fact. I don't see how it cannot affect them in terrible ways unless they are no better than the people who perpetrated the crimes in the first place. So the burden that puts on another human being, to perform these killings, is pretty horrific. I cannot imagine, even when sanctioned by the government, and even knowing that the person you are killing is an evil monster, what damage that must do to a person when having to intentionally kill another human being. I suppose there are those who can do such a thing without thought, but....how? As with so many Korean films, the purpose and message behind the film is sometimes more important than the film itself. There are many thought provoking questions that come to mind when the question of the death penalty is involved.
On another note, I wonder if this was the inspiration for the fabulous Kdrama Heart to Heart? LOVED that drama. Must watch it again soon!
With the face of Ken Takakura speaking volumes that any movie watcher could read, the sappy lines were so over the top my teeth hurt just reading them. This is so contradictory to everything that I value in Asian film, with it's superb subtlety and ability of their actors to speak volumes with just the shift of their eyes or the slightest movement of facial muscles, ...ergo my shock and disappointment in this movie. That doesn't mean I didn't shed a few tears here and there, but, overall, my dissatisfaction rests with the fact that I think I would have loved this film a lot if I had turned off the subtitles and just used my imagination and my eyes. Because this film was definitely a feast for the eyes and I don't think I would have lost anything by watching it that way.
There was a lot of story that could have been told, and told better, for me. This didn't have to be a blockbuster, nor a have a happy ending, nor have a worse ending! It just didn't do these people justice...at least it seemed so to me. If you read about this event, it seems to me that there is a lot that should have been told about what happened.
I am struggling with a rating on this one. While it succeeds in what I can tell this director wanted to do, it's not a movie that most people will want to watch nor be happy with the 2 hours they spent watching it. If I could have watched this movie at double speed, I'd rate it an 8. At the snail's pace I endured, I struggle with a 6. Just me. You may find it different for you.
Excellent performances.
Another great article full of familiar faces.