Nothing new or memorable from this average romantic dramedy. But, it has Shin Min Ah and Zo In Sung in their first leading movie roles, both so young & cute and looking good together - and that counts for something!
A compelling neo-noir story of friendship, loyalty, love, ambition and betrayal, through the rise and fall of a low-level gangster. Dark, violent, full of cruelty, scheming and corruption, with gripping cinematography, fast-paced editing, well-fitting music and a top cast that made the rather predictable plot a great watching experience. Undoubtedly, the best asset of this movie is its anti-hero protagonist, Byung Du, fantastically performed by talented Zo In Sung.
An interesting, unusual coming-of-age and coming-out story about two high school classmates: Jun, a closeted gay and Sae, a closeted fujoshi. Though it had its flaws, such as a lot of stereotyping, a conveniently manga-ish approach of some issues, some far-fetched arcs and solutions and a heavy entertainment orientation, it managed to leave a good impression, mainly due to Kamio Fuju's convincing performance and charms.
A raw, extremely triggering and violent film about a runaway schoolgirl, emotionally and mentally unstable, in her quest for an abortion and the pact she forms with three young misfits she meets during her journey. The tone is intentionally bleak and the approach purposely shocking, with the four young adults depicted as both the victims and the perpetrators, while all the adult characters are always shown trying to exploit the youth. Though her portrait isn't fully developed, her intentions and actions are never fully explained, and her interactions with her 'friends' are lacking depth, Lee Yoo Mi's performance was the best advantage of this messy and depressing movie.
I was expecting more from this movie, with this cast and filmmaker. It's not bad, but not as good as I expected: the plot was intriguing but too convoluted, the characters and subplots were too many to be fully developed but, most of all, the stupidity, selfishness and sexism of the police force were way too much to digest. The best part was the real antihero of the story, the wolfdog.
A short drama about daily trips and encounters, with delicious food, magnificent scenery beautifully shot, relaxing music, interesting conversations and quirky inner thoughts. Lee Na Young was so natural performing this charming and relatable character that fitted her like glove. A feel-good, soothing, emotional and healing experience and a breath of fresh air among the usual complex, angsty and demanding kdramas. Highly recommended!
A great, very amusing first half with refreshingly absurd and infuriating characters and situations presented in a comical way that really worked out well. But, when the second half tried to put logic and redemption in this absurdity and make everyone live happily ever after, the outcome was subpar and disappointing. Kim Byung Chul, with his drama-queen reactions, his unforced comical expressions and shenanigans was undoubtedly the heart and soul of this drama.
An impressive, absorbing début performance from Park Ji Min in a story (loosely based on real events) about the journey and transformation of 25yo Freddie, adopted by French parents as a baby, who visits her birthplace on a whim and decides to find her real parents, her real self and somewhere to really belong. A headstrong, outspoken, edgy and quite unlikable and rather selfish character who seems to like making people around her uncomfortable. A straightforward, intensely personal approach of the explosive emotional impact of a lost in translation reconnection, full of awkwardness, guilt, anger, resentment, regrets and longing, depicting all the barriers of language, race, culture and nationality present. A gripping storytelling, a masterful camerawork and a heady music score in a piercing yet restrained bittersweet story that wouldn’t be so gripping without its fantastic protagonist, Park Ji Min: magnetically wild, electrifying edgy, intoxicatingly seductive and extremely expressive in every persona she transforms to while trying to reinvent herself over the eight years of the film, she really is the core of the film and the heart of the story.
One of the most engagingly jagged, utterly sad & frustratingly uncomfortable titles I've watched this year. Tackling some serious social themes such as poverty, social inequality, mental health, parents grief, morality and empathy, it centers around the meaning of family and bonding. Though there were some issues with the tone and pacing throughout the story progression and the ending could have been much better, the riveting performances from Ra Mi Ran, Kim Seul Gi and, especially, Jung Il Woo with his very challenging character, resulted in an interesting, thought-provoking debut film from a promising screenwriter & director, Lee Sang Moon.
A heartbreaking and deeply touching story of two broken, wounded and lonely souls, from totally different backgrounds, that find love and solace in each other. Dealing with dark, heavy and traumatising issues such as death of a loved one, murder, rape, suicide, execution, it still manages to make us viewers connect with the protagonists and share their pain and their journey to forgiveness, redemption, acceptance and love, thanks to the resourceful directing the well-fitted background music and, most of all, the exceptional performances of Lee Na Young and Kang Dong Won. Watch with caution.
Unique concept of a healing story which deals with serious issues such as depression, social anxiety, insecurities and traumas in a positive and uplifting way, but even if sometimes it's silly and too sugary, it also has some strong heartwarming moments. Yamada Ryosuke's character cuteness is overflowing and his smile is contagious - a perfect stress reliever.
A sageuk drama that, in spite being 15 years old, was way ahead of its time considering gender bending, sexual desire and orientation, homosexuality. Though the story felt repetitive, with endless painting competitions and scheming, the chemistry between the two female leads was the most intriguing and memorable part.
A heartbreaking, eye-opening, thought-provoking and very underrated movie about an elderly prostitute with a heart of gold. Sombre and slow-paced, with many strong, devastating moments realistically presented and lots of marginalized characters, this multilayered story is a piercing social commentary on elderly's welfare system, sexual desires, dignity, solitude and euthanasia. And what can I say about Youn Yuh Jung, her poignant, painfully realistic performance, her razor-sharp tongue and her fascinating persona? An unforgettable experience.
A smooth, cozy, heartwarming story with great character development, cute slow-burn romance and delicious food. I could watch Ichika cook like she did during the ending scenes of each episode for hours!
An intense, violent and emotional story about revenge, rage and utter desperation of a father that lost everything. Though the story was predictable and the pacing not very smooth, the cast, the cinematography and some great filming locations made this mentally exhausting story a memorable watching experience.
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But, it has Shin Min Ah and Zo In Sung in their first leading movie roles, both so young & cute and looking good together - and that counts for something!
Dark, violent, full of cruelty, scheming and corruption, with gripping cinematography, fast-paced editing, well-fitting music and a top cast that made the rather predictable plot a great watching experience.
Undoubtedly, the best asset of this movie is its anti-hero protagonist, Byung Du, fantastically performed by talented Zo In Sung.
Though it had its flaws, such as a lot of stereotyping, a conveniently manga-ish approach of some issues, some far-fetched arcs and solutions and a heavy entertainment orientation, it managed to leave a good impression, mainly due to Kamio Fuju's convincing performance and charms.
The tone is intentionally bleak and the approach purposely shocking, with the four young adults depicted as both the victims and the perpetrators, while all the adult characters are always shown trying to exploit the youth.
Though her portrait isn't fully developed, her intentions and actions are never fully explained, and her interactions with her 'friends' are lacking depth, Lee Yoo Mi's performance was the best advantage of this messy and depressing movie.
It's not bad, but not as good as I expected: the plot was intriguing but too convoluted, the characters and subplots were too many to be fully developed but, most of all, the stupidity, selfishness and sexism of the police force were way too much to digest.
The best part was the real antihero of the story, the wolfdog.
Lee Na Young was so natural performing this charming and relatable character that fitted her like glove.
A feel-good, soothing, emotional and healing experience and a breath of fresh air among the usual complex, angsty and demanding kdramas.
Highly recommended!
But, when the second half tried to put logic and redemption in this absurdity and make everyone live happily ever after, the outcome was subpar and disappointing.
Kim Byung Chul, with his drama-queen reactions, his unforced comical expressions and shenanigans was undoubtedly the heart and soul of this drama.
A headstrong, outspoken, edgy and quite unlikable and rather selfish character who seems to like making people around her uncomfortable.
A straightforward, intensely personal approach of the explosive emotional impact of a lost in translation reconnection, full of awkwardness, guilt, anger, resentment, regrets and longing, depicting all the barriers of language, race, culture and nationality present.
A gripping storytelling, a masterful camerawork and a heady music score in a piercing yet restrained bittersweet story that wouldn’t be so gripping without its fantastic protagonist, Park Ji Min: magnetically wild, electrifying edgy, intoxicatingly seductive and extremely expressive in every persona she transforms to while trying to reinvent herself over the eight years of the film, she really is the core of the film and the heart of the story.
Tackling some serious social themes such as poverty, social inequality, mental health, parents grief, morality and empathy, it centers around the meaning of family and bonding.
Though there were some issues with the tone and pacing throughout the story progression and the ending could have been much better, the riveting performances from Ra Mi Ran, Kim Seul Gi and, especially, Jung Il Woo with his very challenging character, resulted in an interesting, thought-provoking debut film from a promising screenwriter & director, Lee Sang Moon.
Dealing with dark, heavy and traumatising issues such as death of a loved one, murder, rape, suicide, execution, it still manages to make us viewers connect with the protagonists and share their pain and their journey to forgiveness, redemption, acceptance and love, thanks to the resourceful directing the well-fitted background music and, most of all, the exceptional performances of Lee Na Young and Kang Dong Won.
Watch with caution.
Yamada Ryosuke's character cuteness is overflowing and his smile is contagious - a perfect stress reliever.
Though the story felt repetitive, with endless painting competitions and scheming, the chemistry between the two female leads was the most intriguing and memorable part.
Sombre and slow-paced, with many strong, devastating moments realistically presented and lots of marginalized characters, this multilayered story is a piercing social commentary on elderly's welfare system, sexual desires, dignity, solitude and euthanasia.
And what can I say about Youn Yuh Jung, her poignant, painfully realistic performance, her razor-sharp tongue and her fascinating persona? An unforgettable experience.
I could watch Ichika cook like she did during the ending scenes of each episode for hours!
Though the story was predictable and the pacing not very smooth, the cast, the cinematography and some great filming locations made this mentally exhausting story a memorable watching experience.