Reviews

Seoul vibe? or American vibe?

I was recommended this by my dad after watching it on the way back from a business trip and because he thought it was so revolutionary, I also though it would be. This show was so good for him, that he now watches dramas from Korea when back from work.
I thought that the show was good, obviously I quickly noticed the black American influence immediately. As to whether or not this is accurate to reality, I have no clue. I think the overall script and storyline was a bit lacking, especially towards the end. My dad and I both agreed it would have been cool to see them in LA. In my opinion, even just having the characters realize they don't need to leave Korea and that they love their country would have been enough, but we have no idea of knowing if they did well or not. Overall, it was good not great.

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Way to short

As usual, it's so painfully short that it doesn't allow the concept to live up to its full potential. As much as I love the rich kid wanting to be something that their parents don't want them to be, because of how short this was I just wasn't able to be fully interested in it, but nonetheless I still did enjoy it. I really liked the main two's relationship, the kind of forced proximity and the tension between them since the start oh boy. Overall, it's just a short and cute series but there's not really much more to say about it, hopefully it has a thai adaptation at some point because I would love to see more of this story.

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Starting few minutes were good but aftr tht idk wut to say

🚨****SPOILER ALERT****🚨



Ok so i have hersd alot of good reviews bout this movie ppl say to this day they r traumatised or there r so many plot twist there were only 2 and werent tht major i mean whn there was whole suspense abt tht room i was like ok bro is prlly gonna be kept there and tortured or smthng but it was genuinely rlly fun whn tht whole suspemse was going on and whn his brother got kidnapped i was like oh sht and whn he came back home all chill i was like thts not his brother everythng was soo good till he heard his mom sayin all this sht to his brother on the call tht he is able to walk and sht i was like ok uk like prlly the brother will do sm sht to him keep him in tht room since no one goes there but boom the mom was acting weird everyones cover flew open and they werent his famile he was in hypnosis of him being brought back in time to re winess his crime and all wtv ye it was sht tbh i mean i expected like more plot twists to come but no legit the last plot twist was i wldnt call tht a plot twist but wtv tht the ml was a killer the movie wld have still been better if:
1) tht the fake family acc made him refresh or make him forget the night he killed his brothers family the fake brothers but it wasn acc him who killed him but the fake brother himself and make it look like he was the culprit and get him killed or smthng like tht and in the ending the ml recalls tht night but i was too late and dies
2) Tht his brother was abducted and a guy came acting like his brother and thn whn the ml caught him tht he was not acc his brother so he abducts the ml and thn he tortures him in tht no entering oom and thn he makes him forget all those things he witnessed and the only thing he remebers is tht he was tortued but wont remeber where who and why and thn tht guy pretending to be his brother acts as is he found the ml and lives with the family as the brother


Tbh ig i watched alot of mystery thriller movies so i knew wut was gonna hpn but trst me im dum whn it comes to guessing the next scene but whn the mothers cover blew i was able to guess the whole plot but obvsly many ppl might like it and many wont its all on u whether u wanna watch it or not

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Funny, requiring a bit of background study

Let me clarify lol - it doesn't actually require any studying.

The movie is about three friends who all need to get ordained for different reasons, and decide to get ordained at the same temple. They soon find that the temple is haunted, and they may not be able to get ordained because of the strange events that are happening in the temple.

The story relies heavily on mythology and folklore, and though it is explained, the narrative could have benefited from a longer and better explanation. The plot is heavily tied to the explanation, and with a better explanation and execution, the story would have flowed better.

The horror - it wasn't actually scary. I'm not a huge fan of "horror" horror, so I usually choose to watch horror comedies, which tend not to be too scary. Even on that scale, this was relatively low on the fear factor scale.

The comedy was good. It had a mix of absurdist comedy with dark humor, and had some moments that genuinely had me laughing out loud.

Overall, this was a decent movie that could have been executed better. It's definitely not the top - notch level when it comes to horror comedies, but it gets the job done if you're in a pinch.

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Social Commentary during Censorship in the Korean Film Industry

As someone who was not familiar with the Korean political situation in the '70s, I went into this viewing with very little context. I appreciated that even though the two main characters were men, there were still moments showing the women's perspective regarding women being "short-changed" during this time.

The film itself is fast-paced and brings laughs through physical humour and funny interactions. Though there is constant "chaotic energy" coming from the characters' adventures and reinforced by the camera movements and music, Ha Gil-jong ensured there was emphasis on the meaningful moments. This contrast strengthened the impact on the viewer, especially for more poignant moments like the "whale hunting" scene.

Overall, I am happy I watched this film as I enjoyed the soundtrack and it inspired me to look further into the film censorships during this time. This is not a movie I would recommend as a "casual watch", however it is a great film for people who wish to have a better understanding of the effects the military dictatorship had on the Korean youth, and society as a whole.

Rating
Overall: 3.5/5
Quality: 4/5
Enjoyability: 3/5

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Hwang Jungmin So Good I Wanna Fight Him (Respectfully)

BROOO THIS FILM?? ABSOLUTELY INSANE. I had to pause → google → play → pause again just to keep up with the historical tea 💅🏼 Like I needed context cause the drama was DRAMA-ING.

The cast? STAR-STUDDED CHUNGMURO ROYALTY. Every actor came to SLAY and not a single soul missed. HWANG JUNGMIN?? Bro was SO deep in his role I was actually mad at him irl 😭 his acting was so good.

The movie is tight, straight to the point, no filler, no time to breathe — just pure tension and chaos from start to finish. It’s so well-structured that you’re not bored for a second, even when it’s all boardrooms and soldiers.

If you’re into Korean politics, modern history, or you just like slow-burn intensity that EXPLODES — this one’s a MUST. Watch it, scream at the screen, then google everything after like I did.

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A 8/10 HORROR. Is it a real Ghost haunting or just a Trauma induced hallucination?

A Good horror movie with a lot of Suspense and Mystery around every character.
Everything and Everyone in this movie are Mysterious or a Secret, haha.

It's a serious psychological horror.
It's more of Mystery that confuses n scares the viewer than the haunting horror part.

***
Plot is Interesting. It's Well Written and Well Executed.
The viewer remains confused with what is really happening with every character in every scene bcz of the mystery around every character (haha)
That suspense is well maintained.

Every moment throughout the movie, is a mystery that creates the confusion of
Which is true & which is not,
Which is a ghost haunting & which is a trauma induced hallucination,
Who is real human & who is a ghost among them and
finally, does the ghost really exist or no.

This Mystery exists around FL, her kid, the secret the old grandparents were talking about, college gal (babysitter) n her boyfriend, the guy with memory loss who gives strange smiles to the FL, the neighbouring lady and her artist husband.

***
Direction, Acting, Cinematography, Story Narration and Story Progression are Good.
Pacing is little slow, could be better.

The Ghost Haunting Scenes of the haunted portrait and the haunted house are Good (Not very Scary).
BGM for the haunting scenes is good.

***
The last 15 mins of the movie reveal the actual truth of the mystery around every character and gives a complete picture of the stories of all characters, resolving every confusion and every mystery.

The ending gives smooth closure to the story.

***
My Rating is 8 / 10.
(If the Pacing is better, could be 8.5 / 10).

Horror genre lovers will definitely love this!

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JU JIHOON I LOVE YOU SM IT HURTS ?? DANGDUT VIBES BUT MAKE IT SEXY??

YA ALLAH JU JIHOON IS SO FINE I’M CRYINGG 😭😭😭
LIKE??? HE’S DUSTY, SWEATY, RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE AND I’M STILL READY TO PROPOSE 😩💍

Okay okay back to the film — Ransomed is about a diplomat on a wild mission to rescue a senior diplomat (classic IR-core 🔥). The plot honestly starts kinda slow like... lots of “hah? heh? hoh?” confusing convos and I was like bro what’s going on. But after the first hour? BAAAAM. ACTION-PACKED. INTENSE. FULL SEND.

That chasing scene?? I was screaming, shaking, crying. My anxiety said hello. The tension? 100/10.

Also, the dynamic duo of Ha Jungwoo and Ju Jihoon? ELITE. Literally they carried the entire movie on their backs and made it look effortless.

Ha Jungwoo’s acting is top-tier as always — man really said “I’m a whole character arc.”
BUT JU JIHOON??? YA ALLAH. TAKBIR. GANTENGNYA BIKIN IMAN GOYAH 😭✨

If you’re into international relations, diplomacy, politics with ✨chaotic thriller energy✨, this one’s a must-watch. IR students, gather your class and stream this ASAP.

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"You can't break the mirror because you don't like what you see"

Sorrow Even Up in Heaven was based on the diary of a real 11-year-old boy whose family suffered from extreme poverty. The Diary of Yunbogi was also made into a short Japanese film by director Oshima Nagisa. Yun Bok’s story reflected the lives of many vulnerable children at the time who had no adult to rely on and had to fend for themselves in a daily fight for survival.

Yun Bok attempts to attend fourth grade in elementary school when he can though he often shows up late or not at all. His mother abandoned the family and his father is a sickly gambler who assigns Yun Bok the job of primary provider for their family of five. Sister Sun helps Yun Bok sell gum on the street and in the night clubs. Younger brother Yun Sik is forced to beg for food. Fortune smiles on the children when a teacher takes an interest in Yun Bok. After reading Yun Bok’s school diaries detailing his heartbreaking struggles, Mr. Kim becomes determined to have them published.

South Korea had been hit doubly hard, first with Japan’s occupation and exploitation and then the following war that divided their country. While parts of the economy were beginning to move forward with people who had disposable income, there was also a segment of society fighting to score one meager meal a day. Through no fault of his own the survival of Yun Bok’s family rested on his tiny, narrow shoulders. He tried to stay positive and refused to resort to stealing. That didn’t mean people never took advantage of or abused him. Despite setbacks his focus remained on protecting and feeding his siblings.

SEUiH added characters who were extraordinarily selfless and kind and others completely lacking in humanity. The black and white nature of supporting characters overly simplified a complex world. The film excelled when it remembered that Yun Bok carried not only the family but the story. He was a child who missed and resented his mother, loved and despised his father. He couldn’t understand why people who had more than they could eat refused to share with those who had nothing. Even after his book was published which assured the family of food each day, the film made a point of stating that for the many other Yun Boks in Korea, there was no happy ending, no gifted source of income from heaven, only sorrow. Rather there was bone gnawing hunger that too often was ignored. Yun Bok’s story in his diary and subsequent films made from the source material reminds us that the lives behind the masks of poverty are precious and every bit as important and significant as the wealthiest man. The film never shied away from the greed and desperation of people. However, just like Yun Bok’s perseverance and resolve to take care of his family, the film never gave up on him or society as a whole.

22 June 2025
Epilogue note: From what little I could find on the real Lee Yun Bok, the money he made from his diary allowed him to finish school. He was able to go on and work in business and as a salesman. There was a possibility the family knew where Sun was working. The Diary of Yunbogi was the first Korean book published in Japan after the normalization of relations between the two countries. Disappointingly, Yun Bok did not receive royalties from the publications in Japan or their adaptations of it. Lee Yun Bok died in 1990.

Sorrow Even Up in Heaven won the Blue Dragon Award for Best Film in 1965.

The film was considered lost until a copy with Mandarin subtitles was found in Taiwan. The damaged film was restored by the Korean Film Archive though the subtitles remain.

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Cried basically the second half without a stop

What a beautiful movie. I'm writing this review as my tears dry on my cheeks. I felt like this movie especially resonated if you are Southeast Asian. It felt so realistic, the homes so lived in, as if we really were seeing a part of these people's lives and not a film set. The story is heart-wrenching, at some point I'm not even sure anymore why I'm crying, but the tears kept coming. I wasn't sure if I was crying out of sadness or happiness.

The movie shows how, sometimes, it's in the quiet and non obvious ways that we love.
The acting was great, I was really surprised to find out the actress that played the grandma had her acting debut with this movie! Wow.
The music fit so beautifully, it was such a great movie.

I just rated the rewatch value low because this is the kind of movie that will tear you up completely, but you can't really handle watching it more times.

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2035: The Green What?!

The official title of this movie is 2035: The Green Light (2035 더 그린라이트). The film is a hybrid of a “fake documentary” and a sci-fi thriller, set in the year 2035, ten years after the hypothetical unification of Korea. The plot revolves around NXN journalists who are filming a documentary about the mysterious green light that appeared in 2025, and we see everything through their camera.

But I must say, I didn’t really like the movie. The first part was okay and somewhat funny, but the second part was very confusing and exhausting to watch. The two reporters just can’t stop talking—even in situations where their lives might be in danger and they should remain silent, they keep making unnecessary noise. Also, the theme of a unified Korea wasn’t explored at all, so in a sense it felt like a wasted premise. The film also fails to present anything convincingly futuristic from the year 2035; instead, the scenery looks like it’s from 2015.

Anyway, this is a somewhat unique film, and I’m glad I saw it—but I don’t think I’ll be returning to it again.

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A 8.5 / 10 Horror! Ghost Hauntings & Murders, really by Ghost or by Human?

A Very Good horror movie with lots of Twists and Turns.
A Good Mix of Horror + Murder Mystery.

The Story is slowly built and draws the attention of the viewer n keeps interested with its gripping manner of how the horror n mystery unfold, as the story progresses.

***
There is a Mystery around the death of the ghost gal (character Annie) and a Secret hidden within the friends group.

Throughout the movie, every moment, the viewer suspects whether they are just Ghost Murders, Haunting each one of the friends group or
Murders done by any Human in the name of the Ghost, Hunting down each one of them.
This Mystery and Suspense are well maintained.
I even suspected one character (Nana), haha.
So there is a turn in the story from horror to murder mystery n back to horror, in a loop, all the time.

The Plot Twist in the end, about the actual truth of the murders happening in the present day and the actual story that had happened in the past, is a Surprise, Different and Good.
The actual secret revealed in the end, regarding the death of the gal (Annie), is a Surprise and Sad.

***
Direction, Acting, Cinematography, Story Narration and Story Progression are Good.

BGM for Ghost hauntings n Mystery suspense scenes are different and good.
All haunting scenes are interesting and good enough to scare the viewer (Not Very Scary)

Story transition from present to past n past to their childhood and back to present, is smooth.

Plot is Interesting and it is well written n well executed.

All the actors performed well.
All the actresses are pretty :)

The ending is apt to the story.
The climax scene -- FL's evil smirk is ghastly (confirms the presence of the ghost? )

In the end credits scene, it's a creative thought of showing a group picture of all six friends (without the ghost gal), each one of them, blacked in the photo, in the order of their death.

***
My Rating is 8.5 / 10.
Horror genre lovers will definitely love this.

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With You Always

That weirdly conveyed more emotions in eight minutes than I have seen full length series do..

The story is pretty straightforward, it switches narrative between the present and the past and finally back to the present, all in a span of eight minutes. We see the wedding of the leads, Siam and Nawanruk, and a majority of the film is just their first dance. They talk to each other about their love for each other, their marriage and what it means for them going forward while they dance, and the film aptly concludes on what happened after.

It was all quite emotional, I'm not going to spoil anything, but it was emotional. The acting, the way it was filmed, the music, all complemented that feeling of despair and sadness the movie itself portrayed very well, and by the end, I was actually moved to tears.

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