Detective Dee: The Ghosts in Weird Town
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Miss the old Dee Renjie directors
Lord Pei's quirky, weak and childish character depiction do not meld well with Dee Renjie character portrayal of a very focused and serious personality. This entire production is a little disappointing after getting spoiled for years with excellent Dee Renjie stories, wardrobes, casting, and directing.Quite different from typical Dee Renjie works. This is my least favorite Dee Renjie production. The cast chosen is good but the way it was directed isn't fitting with typical Dee Renjie production. Need a different director who is knowledgeable about Dee Renjie characters.
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Combined with the artistic way of filming, the style of acting I am used to seeing in modern theatre plays , and the stage-like one-room set, "Maybe it's Love" is not easy to follow or understand.
I believe that this is one of those short films where the viewer is supposed to understand what is being said implicitely, and that we need knowledge about gay life in general, and gay life in Taiwan specifically, to really get what is not being said.
The repeated mention of "Cat"'s age ("a mature man", "an old fart") might play a major role in it. "Dog", who has a boyfriend but still goes out cruising, maybe even starts affairs with more people than just "Cat". The boyfriend, who seems to be absent for long enough that "Cat" has lived with "Dog" for a while.
In the end, both men seek to escape loneliness. But at what cost?
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This review may contain spoilers
Anatomy of a Romanticized Trauma (Worse in adaptation, but certainly better than the series)
After the series I thought the worst was over. And yet no: Love Syndrome: The Beginning takes the toxicity of Love Syndrome III and turns it into a 90-minute film that is neither a true prequel nor a sequel, but an operation of “alternative reconstruction.” A sort of “what if” disguised as an official movie. A product that, on paper, could have remedied the mistakes of the series. In practice? Not only does it not correct them: it condenses them, amplifies them, and sells them as great cinema.= A film that doesn’t clarify, but complicates
The title suggests a return to the origins, but in reality the film is nothing more than a romanticized re-cut of the same dynamics already seen: Gear/Night on one side and Day/Itt on the other.
And while the first couple has moments of real tension and palpable attraction, the second repeats the same toxic pattern without any filter. It’s as if someone had taken the most violent and problematic scenes from the series, lined them up one after the other, and said: “Here’s the cursed love you’ve all been waiting for.”
SPOILER RED ZONE
Day and Itt: trauma as spectacle
The relationship between the two is not built: it’s thrown at the viewer in crude scenes, without context, without progression. The film doesn’t show why or how the two should love each other: it just insists on Day’s obsession and Itt’s surrender, in a visual loop of violence disguised as passion.
The scene of total control
Day decides for Itt, strips him of autonomy, isolates him. There are no nuances: the message is clear, “you are mine.” And instead of treating this as the lowest point of the relationship, the film decorates it with a romantic aesthetic. Soft lighting, languid close-ups, background music. It’s emotional pornography of dependency.
Gear and Night as a decoy
Their story is more interesting, more sensual, more authentic. But it only serves as a distraction: the counterpoint that makes the brutality of Day/Itt’s relationship even more evident. The viewer is forced to compare, and every time the toxic relationship emerges more sick and more forced.
= Psychology reduced to clichés
Day: still the classic romanticized abuser. The film gives him more aesthetic space (heroic framing, “protective” gestures), but psychologically nothing changes. It’s still control, jealousy, manipulation. Just better packaged.
Itt: doesn’t grow, doesn’t react, doesn’t reclaim his voice. He endures. His surrender is total, and the film sells it as loyalty and patience. It’s the very negation of a character’s autonomy.
Gear and Night: the only glimmer of authenticity, but used as contrast and filler.
= Why it hurts even more
If the series was slow and diluted, the film is a concentrate. In 90 minutes you get no break: you’re bombarded with toxic dynamics without respite, without critical context, without even the pauses that let you reflect. It’s a compression that brings not intensity, but nausea.
And above all, the psychological impact is devastating:
If you’ve experienced abuse, it’s a constant trigger, packaged as a love story.
If you haven’t, you risk normalizing it: you learn that love = jealousy, possession, submission, total surrender.
= Conclusion
Love Syndrome: The Beginning is not a prequel, not a clarification, not a useful addition. It’s the same toxic story from the series, compressed, polished, and served as if it were the “true” heart of the saga.
A film that offers neither redemption nor reflection, but just another celebration of abuse as passion.
It’s not love. It never will be. It’s acceptance, dependency, annihilation.
The same sick fairytale, but in a useless, toxic “director’s cut” version.
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A fairly satisfying remake of a classic Thai horror.
This is the 6th remake of the classic Thai drama, but the first being produced for the big screen.One of the standout features of this film is its production quality. It's undeniable that it's pretty uncommon to find a horror movie that pays such close attention to detail. The film has pretty good editing too. The transitions from scene to scene are quite seamless and manage to captivate the audience's emotions. So far, Kantana's projects have rarely let me down in terms of production and technical aspects. The costume design and hair and makeup are impressive too. You can see the detail to reflect the era as accurately as possible. And for me, the great production aspect always deserves an extra point. I would rate it lower than 7.5 if it wasn't for the production.
One more great thing about this film is the amazing performances by the three main actors. Their acting prowess truly shines. Nune Woranuch fully showcases her potential as Khun Lantom, creating a unique version of the character. Nune's beauty is ageless—how does she manage to look so stunning even as a ghost? At the same time, Gap Thanawet and Goy Arachaporn really show off their acting abilities, proving they can take on any roles with ease.
However, despite its great production and performances, this remake really struggles with its story and pacing. Turning a full-length series into a 90-minute film could be a challenging task for the scriptwriters, but they did manage to pull it off pretty well. Still, the limited time frame and the rush to build emotions might leave the story feeling a bit lacking. The first half is a slow burn, and the dialogues come off as a bit too careful before they finally gain momentum towards the end. And with only three characters steering the story and the main focus on Chev and Rossukon, it can feel a bit draggy.
In conclusion, the 2025 version is a fairly satisfying remake of a classic Thai horror drama into a big screen. While it may not be perfect, it's still quite well done.
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it's like the type of movie you'd want to live in.
oh how this film spoke to methis was actually one of my favourite asian queer films i've seen. its so beautiful, the cinematography, the setting, the story, the characters - everything. it's like a once in a life experience to get to watch this film for the first time.
of course, the second time was when i truly felt its value - its just that film. you need to watch it more than once and realize what a freaking masterpiece it is (obviously varies from person to person).
the chemistry was insane too, how they compliment each other so well is beyond me. the dark wavy medium length hair contrasting the soft short auburn hair, the darker features with the lighter features and the height of course - undeniably my favourite contrast, very cute.
then theres the charcters, whom i also loved. flawed charcaters, flawless film? i dont know how that happened.
shun's character was so eternally beautiful i dont know how to word it, how strong his love for nagisa was and just how forgiving he was. favourite character for sure.
nagisa is a complicated character. the impulsive, captivatingly dominant type. you only understand once you watch the film-type.
basically perfect, maybe not because what is?
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This review may contain spoilers
First things first, why this movie is here? It doesn't meet the requirement to be here I suppose?The story is quite lightweight, animated movie level. It's about an idol group HUNTR/X who is also a demon hunter part-timer. The idea is excelllent to be honest, but the execution relies too much on the music. Like for every problem, the solution is always music. The animation is excellent, but somehow the motion is a bit not smooth. For the cast I prefer to have the actor/actress who do both the voiceover and singing, though the current option is still excellent. Jinu's voice alters a lot between his normal and singing voice.
I have seen a lot of KDramas, they often disappoint us with lackluster ending. Although this movie isn't even Korean, I don't understand why they replicate this "culture". With such great story idea and decent build up, they bottled it so hard. The ending is quite anticlimatic and lazy. Think about it: after winning such big fight, then it's... the end?? I think they didn't show whether Gwi Ma is defeated or not for potential sequel. However, the way they didn't tell us how can Rumi become half-demon/half-hunter is pretty disappointing. Another thing annoys me a lot is HUNTR/X never complete their main songs on screen.
This movie relies so hard on the soundtracks, either existing or new songs all are lit. They have #1 Billboard 100 song and #1 Billboard 200 album now, INSANE! For the lightweight story and catchy soundtracks, it is very recommended for rewatch, escpecially for younger people.
PS: Since it's a US show, I'll give my rating with US standard instead of "suggested overall".
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First the good things:
The teenagers' acting was overall good. I liked the background characters, and Nazuna was very well acted. Kuwahara was cute as a button -- but why did he constantly had the same tense posture, regardless of how he felt?
The script told the story in just the right pace and fit its elements together into a whole.
But that "whole" was unfortunately overly sentimental and contrived. The plot was predictable and characterizations superficial. Major events always were very obviously conveniently timed.
Several plotholes were left at the end:
Why is a professional pianist allowed to teach at a Middle School?
Why does nobody know that she is no longer active as a pianist, and not even a search turns up that she withdrew from engagements?
Why is the boy's father suddenly okay with him singing?
As far as I know, the song the choir sings in the contest was the insoiration for the novel this film is based on -- the song is about looking into the future, not giving up despite obstacles in life, etc etc. In my opinion, the problems in the protagonists life didn't fit the song and its intended audience of fifteen year olds. How many teenagers have a dead mother and an absent father? How many have to take care of their autistic older brother? Normal teenagers's problems are very different -- and for them often as insurmountable as those presented in the film.
So, slice-of-life problems would have fit this song better. And the moments when the children were children -- girls complaining about icky boys, boys peeking at girls and crushing on the new beautiful teacher, kids forming and maintaining friendships, a boy secretly being in love with a girl, those were the only moments when the film felt real. But there were precious few of them.
Another interesting avenue to explore would have been the boy and his questions about his own purpose. If you (think you) know why you are on this world, or rather, why your parents had you -- what does it mean for your own sense of self, for your dreams and feelings?
The worst thing is that in the end, it feels as if none of the children's problems are solved -- nor does it feel as if they took a significant step forward in their lives. Only the pianist can leave the island with a lighter heart and look into the future. Were the children's stories just a means to an end?
In some scenes, as well as the island setting, I wondered if maybe this was a callback to the seminal film "Twenty-Four Eyes" -- especially the scene on the grassy hill with the teacher and her students singing felt like it was. But where "Twenty-Four Eyes" made me feel deeply, this film left me mostly cold. Near the end, I even predicted what would happen constantly just a minute before things happened, and then rolled my eyes at it. Only the two minutes of conversation, the one flashback and the song after the competition was somewhat moving -- but then I am weak when people are being kind to each other.
Was it good?
For me, it wasn't. The obstacles were nothing new, and didn't fit the song.
Did I like it?
No. I found it superficial and overly sentimantal, when it didn't need to be. Other viewers loved it and called it "heart-warming".
Would I recommend it?
Not really.
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1"Happiness is always remembered"
Show Me Your Love showed how poor communication and even poorer choices can lead to years of unnecessary unhappiness and resentment.As a child, Nin and his mom move from Hong Kong into her father’s house in Selangor, Malaysia. Sze Nga works long hours at odd jobs trying to pay off debt. One day she leaves for work abroad, giving Nin to her sister, and doesn’t return for 10 years. Upon her return, Nin is readying for university in Hong Kong. This time he is the one who leaves without a goodbye or forwarding address. Years later, married and with a child, Nin is told his aunt has died. His mother who has become a stranger and who is in deteriorating health becomes his unwanted responsibility. Mother and son struggle to bridge the chasm of misunderstandings lying between them.
The strength of this film lies in the performances. Pau Hei Ching was given a role that older actresses salivate over. Sze Nga was a complicated character with a wide range of emotions, all of which Pau covered admirably. Raymond Wong kept Nin’s emotions tucked close to his chest like the perfect hole card while holding a royal flush. All of the supporting characters added to the story without detracting from it. I honestly thought I was going to hate Nin’s wife after her opening scene but she ended up coming through for Nin and her mother-in-law like a real trooper. The biggest faux pas was Sze Nga’s return after 10 years but looking 34 years older as they swapped out the actresses too soon. Michelle Wai should have had those crucial and painful reunion scenes.
*****Depending on your idea of spoilers, this paragraph might hold one. Skip to the next paragraph if you are super sensitive to any plot elements. *****
My problem with this film was the basic premise. Sze Nga left her son to be raised by her sister which crushed him. The film implied there was very little, if any, communication between mother and son through the years, even after she returned. Did they not have mail service where she was working? No postmen in Malaysia or Hong Kong? Nin felt abandoned and deeply hurt and rightly so. It was only at the point of being too late he came to understand her behavior. Her cruel disappearance was all in service of fabricating a false memory of his father—who in reality was a deadbeat dad who had buried his family in debt. Her decision cost her time with her precious son. Losing his beloved mother for the majority of his childhood and adult life hurt Nin far worse than finding out his father was a jerk. Dude never showed up or contacted him once, pretty obvious he was not worth all this effort.
Show Me Your Love pulled all the strings available to manipulate tearful responses from the audience. None of the overtly sentimental tropes worked on me. My heart was broken for Nin who had been a happy child until he lost both parents for all practical purposes. Sze Nga’s actions deprived her of seeing her son marry, hold her newborn grandchild, and revel in her son’s adoration of her. Words matter, words children need to hear-often. The synopsis says that mother and son patched up their differences, a broken heart can be mended but the cracks, especially those created by regret, will always show and be felt. To quote an old saying, "Time wasted, is time lost, never to be regained."
23 August 2025
Trigger: Noble idiocy
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worth the watch
loved the story. it had all the essences of a Jackie Chan movie. Comedy, stunts, suspense etc. this is the first ever Chinese movie that I have watched in the cinemas. Every actor did a great job. the stunts were amazing and the punches were sharp. special mention to our lovely Wen Junhui. he did an amazing job. loved watching this side of his. this proves his versatility. Ci Sha has done a great job as always. loved whole cast. Zhang Zi Feng also deserves a special mention. the way she carried the emotional side of the movie💗💗💗Was this review helpful to you?
Love is Virus
Really liked this movie. It was very engaging and fast-paced. The plot develops quickly, without unnecessary additions, but also without rushing, so I would say that the duration of the movie is perfect. At first, I was expecting a thought-provoking thriller about viruses, so the early comedic tone confused me. But the movie managed to explore a serious topic about a deadly virus in a bright, comedic, and even romantic style. I was also glad that the light tone remained from beginning to end. Surprisingly, this can be considered a light romantic comedy. It really seems that love can be compared to a virus.The actors did a great job. They brought a lot of charisma and, even though the characters were a bit clichéd and one-dimensional, the cast played their roles just right for this movie and for the story. If you are looking for a cinematic masterpiece, this is not it—but for a fun and exciting evening, it’s a perfect watch.
Where can I get infected by the virus of love?
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AMAZING warm inspirational story with AMAZING music and acting - a true kdrama gem
This is of those Korean art storytelling pices that is so typical for why kdramas and kmovies are so famous -bc it is fresh, creative, unique, warm, positive, uplifting, and generally an educational story with meaningful content and powerful messages.
The music is just outsanding, from funk for twists to classical for gloomy scenes and some high school ... kinda rappy music for the positive end.
This is an example of a kdrama masterpice and shows exactly why kdramas won all over the world.
It is humorous, deep, tragic, positive, uplifting, etc, shows a progression of character and improvement in one's life
nasty families, nasty guys, social commentary, etc etc
This is gone off Viki but you can still watch it at without spaces
https://www.asian c tv . co /familyhood-episode-1.html
cdramas never make this.... bc they are never social commentary or willing character growth or humor.....
I guess that's the feel - cdramas have the feel of the "cultural revolution" and kdramas have feel of "kicking out occupators and taking down corrupt president" somehow Korea is a lot more .... righteous.... and generous....
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This review may contain spoilers
Heartwarming and Fun with some surprising emotional depth
9.5/10 is my ratingFor People Thinking About Watching Love 911
If you’re into romance movies with a good mix of funny and heartfelt moments, Love 911 is worth checking out. It’s got a great cast—Han Hyo-joo and Go Soo have awesome chemistry—and it’s not just a fluffy love story. It digs into some real stuff, like dealing with grief and the tough calls that doctors and firefighters have to make. Be warned, though: the female lead, Mi-soo, might annoy you at first because she’s kind of selfish and arrogant, but her growth is so satisfying. The movie’s only about 2 hours long, so it’s a quick watch, and it’s got enough action, humor, and romance to keep you hooked. Just don’t expect every little detail to be tied up neatly at the end.
Review
Love 911 is a super cute 2012 South Korean romantic comedy, drama romance with some action due to the firefighting and rescue scenes. It's very heartwarming and in around the two hour run time it manages to not only tell a nice romantic story but sneaks in some deep emotions. The story follows Mi-soo (Han Hyo-joo), a doctor who’s kind of a hot mess at the start, and Kang-il (Go Soo), a firefighter who’s dealing with some serious grief. These two are total opposites, and watching them clash and then slowly come together is what makes this movie so fun.
Mi-soo (Han Hyo-joo) did drive me up the wall at first. She’s arrogant, a bit selfish, and honestly kind of rude. I was ready to turn the movie off in the first 20 minutes because I couldn’t stand her attitude. She was all about her career and didn't seem to care much about others, which made her hard to like. But stick with it, because her character growth is amazing! Han Hyo-joo does such a great job showing Mi-soo’s journey from being this self-centered doctor to someone who learns to care deeply and own up to her mistakes. It felt so rewarding to watch her change.
Kang-il (Go Soo), on the other hand, is this tough, quiet firefighter who’s still heartbroken over losing his wife. Go Soo plays him perfectly—grumpy and closed-off but with this soft side that comes out bit by bit. The chemistry between him and Mi-soo is so good, especially when they’re bickering or when Mi-soo’s trying to win him over with her crazy antics. It’s not just fluffy romance, though; the movie dives into some heavy stuff, like the tough choices doctors and rescue workers have to make. There are scenes where you really feel the weight of their jobs—saving lives sometimes means putting yourself or others at risk, and that hit me hard.
The supporting characters are great too. The firefighter team, like Yong-soo (Kim Sung-oh) and Hyun-kyung (Hyun Jyu-ni), add some humor and heart, and the fire station captain (Ma Dong-seok) is awesome as this tough but caring boss. The mix of funny moments, like Mi-soo’s over-the-top attempts to get Kang-il’s attention, and the serious stuff, like dealing with loss, makes the movie feel balanced. The music’s pretty good too, with some bubbly tunes that fit the lighter scenes and some emotional ones that draw you in to experience a little of what they go through.
My only gripe is that I wanted more time with Mi-soo and Kang-il as a couple. Once Kang-il finally lets his guard down, it’s so sweet, but it happens kind of late, and I wished we got a few more scenes of them being happy together. I’m not a fan of movies that drag out happy ending forever, but this one could’ve given us a bit more of their cute moments. Also, some things are left a little unclear at the end, which I’ll get into in the spoiler section. Overall, though, it’s a movie that made me laugh, tear up a bit, and feel all warm and fuzzy. If you love romance with some real emotional depth, you’ll probably enjoy Love 911.
Spoilers
Mi-soo (Han Hyo-joo) starts off in hot water because she misdiagnoses a patient, and the patient’s husband sues the hospital. Her lawyer tells her to get Kang-il (Go Soo) to testify against the husband, who assaulted Kang-il when he was grieving. Mi-soo’s plan is super selfish—she tries to “date” Kang-il just to get him to help her save her medical license. Her antics are wild, like volunteering as a paramedic to get close to him, and it’s hilarious watching her try so hard while Kang-il just shuts her down. But as they work together on dangerous rescue missions, you see them start to connect for real.
What I loved was how Kang-il calls Mi-soo out on her behavior. He points out that she was wrong to judge the husband so harshly, and it takes her a while to get it. Eventually, she genuinely feels sorry and apologizes to the husband, even though it pretty much ends her career as a doctor. That moment was huge for her character—she goes from being all about herself to actually caring about others. Han Hyo-joo nails those scenes where Mi-soo’s tough exterior starts to crack.
Kang-il’s story is heartbreaking. He lost his wife, Ji-young (Oh Yoo-na), and feels guilty because he was saving someone else when she died. The movie doesn’t give us a ton of details about how she died, which bugged me a little. Like, was it an accident? Was it during one of his missions? A bit more backstory would’ve made his pain hit even harder. Still, Go Soo’s acting is so good—you can feel how much Kang-il’s hurting and why he’s so closed off. Mi-soo’s persistence slowly breaks through his walls, and it’s beautiful when he finally admits he loves her, especially in that church scene where she confesses first.
The ending is super cute but left me with some questions. Mi-soo joins the fire station as a new recruit, which is adorable, but it’s not clear if she’s permanently switching to being a firefighter or paramedic or if she’s still a volunteer. Also, Kang-il keeps throwing himself into dangerous situations, like when he risks his life to save a worker in a collapsed building. After he and Mi-soo get together, I was hoping we’d see him ease up on the reckless stuff now that he has someone to live for, but the movie doesn’t really say if he changes. That felt like a loose end. Oh, and Mi-soo’s brain tumor thing? It comes up but doesn’t go anywhere major, which was a bit weird.
Still, the final scene where Kang-il wakes up in the ambulance, rushes to find Mi-soo, and they kiss in the middle of the street in Gangnam? So sweet! I just wished we got a little more of them as a couple before it wrapped up. Despite those loose ends, the romance and the way they help each other heal made me love this movie.
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A gripping gangster noir
Ever since I finished Squid Game, I've been planning to dig into Lee Jung Jae's filmography. New World was a film that I found very intriguing, with a plot that shared some similarities with The Merciless, one of my favourite Korean movies, so I went into it without a second thought.In this movie, we have an undercover cop, Lee Ja Sung, who had been selected as a mole by Kang Hyung-Chul, the captain of National Police Agency. For a decade, Lee Ja Sung had been working with Jung Chung, the second-in-command of the crime organization "Goldmoon". Jung-Chung is very trustful of Lee Ja Sung and the two men have developed a close relationship throughout the years. After the death of the first crime boss for " Goldmoon", Jung-Chung and his rival, Lee Joong-Goo, fight for the position. Captain Kang enacts the operation "New World" in order to stop Jung Chung and Goldmoon and Lee Ja Sung, who's still working for him, finds himself be torn between his job as a police officer and his relationship with Jung Chung.
The first half was intriguing and it put me right into the world of police and crime. Even though there were some things I didn't understand at first concerning the hierarchy among the crime leaders and the operation, the more I watched, the more I understood. The film focuses to establish the politics of the gangster world while highlighting the ethical dilemma of Ja Sung.
The cinematography and production design were memorable and deserve every praise. I liked the usage of close-ups during some of the dialogues, they enhanced the characters' emotion and the tension between them. The moody colours and blue hues added to the grim atmosphere and the rain scenes contributed to the dramatic feeling, without becoming cliche.
The acting was amazing, all actors did a phenomenal job. Lee Jung Jae was excellent as Lee Ja-Sung. He encapsulated the character's inner turmoil perfectly. He literally spoke with his eyes and facial expressions and even when he didn't utter a single word, I could tell what he was thinking. Ja-Sung was exhausted due to having his loyalties constantly be divided and throughout the whole movie, it was clear that he had to choose a side. Jung Jae portrayed Ja-Sung's frustration so convincingly to the point I could put myself in his shoes. He switched from a collected and down-to-earth gangster to a desperate police officer who just wants to put an end to his mission effortlessly and his moral journey had me hooked.
Jung-min was captivating as Jung-Chung, he owned the role of a gangster boss and I even found myself rooting for him. He was carefree, boisterous, calculating and he clearly cared about Ja Sung. Even though he didn't get to have too many dramatic scenes, Jung-min absolutely delivered when it was required. From the tone of his voice to his body language, he expressed Jung Chung's fondness of Ja Sung, leaving no room for question regarding his trust for him.
This was my first time watching Choi Min-sik in any form of media and it certainly won't be my last. He was very good as Kang Hyung-Chul. His character was very morally grey and he portrayed his complexity accurately. Hyung-Chul's intentions were good but his actions were very questionable and by the end of the film, I secretly hoped that his attempt to take down Jung-Chung wouldn't succeed. Yeah, wrong move from me to not support the seemingly good guys, what can I say, I might be a gangster at heart. The thing is, Captain Kang himself acknowledged how questionable his plan was. He was aware of the fact that "New World" endangered the police officers who worked for him and he knew that he had to play dirty in order to put an end to Goldmoon. As it was stated in the film, sacrifices must be made to win the war. But to what extent?
I wish I could find the right words to properly describe the beauty of the soundtrack. Even if you're not planning to watch the movie, do yourself a favor and just go and listen to it. Soothing, moving, with melancholic undertones, the soundtrack made me immerse myself in the characters' emotions. I got lost in the sad piano compositions, trying to guess how I would act if I were in Ja-Sung's position. Would I do my duty as a servant of the law or would I protect the man whom I called brother? The music conveys the hopeless tone of the film and the moral conflict of Ja-Sung and no viewer should feel indifferent about it, no matter if they liked the movie or not.
For a film that centered around the crime world, New World didn't rely on action in order to create climactic and intense scenes. The exploration of politics, the dialogues and the interesting characters were enough to "make up" for the lack of fighting scenes one would expect from a movie like this. Yet violence still made a prominent presence. After all, the underworld is dangerous and dark. There were the usual clash scenes among the gangster groups and some more bloody sequences but overall, the creative team relied more on the psychological aspects in order to create emotions.
New World is certainly a well-made movie, one that deserves its praises. But while I really enjoyed it, some of its flaws outweighed the positive elements and as a result, I didn't forge strong feelings for the film as a whole. While the first part did a good job at introducing the characters and establishing their dynamics and the setting, I found the second half lackluster in terms of pacing and engagement. I do not want to delve into spoilers so I'll settle by saying that there were parts that didn't hold my attention and after a particular death, the third act felt slower.
I mentioned above that the film did not involve many action scenes and to be frank, judging from the few fighting sequences we got, it was for the best. They were too messy and poorly choreographed, especially the elevator scene which had me almost roll my eyes. I know that these are petty comments and obviously I did not judge the quality of the film from these few scenes but as someone who enjoys action scenes, I prefer my fight scenes to make sense and be made with more attention.
One of the most lackluster aspects and the one that left me kinda underwhelmed was the exploration of the relationship between Ja-Sung and Jung-Chung. Although the actors made it clear how close they were and the film tried to highlight it, I must say that even when I was finished with the movie, I had a slight feeling of indifference. I was aware of the emotional bonds that tied them together but at the same time, I wasn't that connected. Obviously I understood the depth of their friendship and how much trust Jung-Chung put in Ja-Sung but I really wish we had gotten more scenes between them to properly establish their bond. I think that we got to see more of Jung-Chung caring for Ja-Sung while Ja-Sung was a little bit sidelined. The post credit scene between them felt (to me) like a poor attempt to give insight into their shared past and closeness that the rest of the film robbed us from. It would have been for the best if they had more scenes together or if the creators had included more flashbacks to empathize their history.
Watching New World made me appreciate The Merciless even more in terms of how it handled the relationship between Jae-Ho and Hyun-Soo. Granted, the films were different in terms of plot. While New World centered around the orchestration of the operation and the events that led to it, The Merciless highlights the history between Jae-Ho and Hyun-Soo, from the moment they met to the end. But I think that New World could have still given more depth into Ja-Sung and Jung-Chung's friendship, especially considering that it lasted for almost a decade and played a crucial part in the operation.
With all things considered, New World was a gripping movie, one that I'm very glad for having watched. The plot might not be groundbreaking but the writing, the cinematography, the score and the acting define it as a magnetic, bold gangster drama. It's the type of movie I might find myself revisiting in the future and, who knows? Maybe a rewatch will make me appreciate it even more than I did now.
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Hand to hand combat
Violent, but the hand to hand combat is impressive. Gun violence too - yikes. Story moves at a quick pace. “Visuals” are great. That’s the code word for good-looking leads. Acting is believable and you feel for the dilemma of the ML. I didn’t binge watch this movie because of the violence, but that’s best anyway.Was this review helpful to you?
Fun to Watch and Even More Fun to Listen To
This is the perfect gateway introduction to K-pop/K-dramas for the uninitiated. I'm not a devotee of animation, but I had a watching party for KPDH, and the viewers were enthusiastic, especially about the OST.As an avid K-drama fan, I laughed when "Love, Maybe" played when Jinu met Rumi, knowing that Jinu was voiced by Ahn Hyo Seop, who played the ML in Business Proposal, where the song featured heavily. What a lovely Easter egg for fans!
I awarded an extra star for the soundtrack. "Free" has beautiful lyrics; "Takedown" and "How It's Done" are great for working out; and "Golden" is powerful. "Soda Pop" may be pure sugar, but if I'm dragging on my daily walk, I play it and get instant energy.
I'm looking forward to a sequel, as the story felt rushed and unfinished at the end.
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