Ballerina is a perfectly adequate female-led South Korean actioner.

Korean revenge. Another one. I'm this close to making a list!
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Stunts - 79/100 | Some fine stunts in there, but the actual award here would go to the sound editing in this movie, which was really on-point.

Narrative - 71/100 | It's pointless to try and reinvent the wheel in the revenge genre. Martial arts movie lovers want their martial arts movies to end in a fight scene. Revenge movie lovers want their movies to be about revenge and to end in revenge. That's just how it is. In this one, we've got both, but the movie didn't excel at either.

Fight Choreography - 70/100 | The ending fight scene, although a bit brief, was delightfully chaotic. The rest was messy but still managed to be decent. This is an example of how you can still have good (but definitely not great) fight scenes even if they're over-edited. We can follow what's going on through the cuts.

Enjoyment - 70/100 | If my job as a Producer was to hire a director to make a Korean revenge story that's representative of the genre as a whole with decent action and visuals and a story that's engaging enough, I'd hope and hopefully expect to receive about this in terms of end product. And I'd be fine with it and consider it a job well done and money well spent.

So, basically, thumbs up

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Classic for a reason

This is such a massive underhanded criticism of homophobia that uses heteronormativity to make its point, I love it.

Gong Yoo and Yoon Eun-hye. They're so cute! No wonder the former became such a big star in Korea.

The secondary leads are the main reason why I can't give this a perfect score. The character played by Lee Sun-kyun (RIP…) was annoying and the actor didn't do a very good job in my opinion. He was over-acting his scenes and he never came across as believable to me. That was one of his first roles though, as he would go on to have much better roles in the future, namely in Parasite.

However, the others did a good job.

I love it when people mistakenly answer the phone with something other than the phone itself. This time, it's a toy cube. If I remember correctly, the other times I've seen this so far are in Dreaming the Reality (1991) (Sibelle Hu answers a Coca-Cola can) and The Stunt Woman (1996) (Michelle Yeoh answers a brush). These are the only other such instances I can recall right now. Fun gag.

It's strange because, although the writing is a bit forced, contrived and overly dramatic sometimes, I would still praise the writing in this show, mainly because they managed to make realistic, believable characters that feel human and unique. They all have quirks that make them endearing, even if sometimes the story forces them to act in a certain way. It's an odd dichotomy but it is what it is. Imperfect writing can still manage to be absolutely great when it sets its aims high enough.

If you're trying to flee the soap-opera cliché nature of kdrama (especially the OST, this one is refreshingly silent in all the dramatic moments), then this should be your next destination.

I'm not queer and/or LGBTQ+ so it's hard for me to say whether it's good representation.

But it's a killer gender-bender story for sure. Hella hard to beat on that front.

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The leads make this show

More Zombie content, except now it's… also weirdly a love story. Contrary to other Korean Zombie stuff there isn't much action.

And it's just strange. These stories don't usually go like this. Basically, it's a kdrama with a Zombie backdrop. There, let's go with that.

I'm not surprised in the slightest that this was lovely. It was directed by Ahn Gil-ho who was also behind the camera for The Glory, another favorite of mine.

It's a show that keeps you guessing for most of its runtime, lots of twists and unpredictable turns, and although there are a few plot contrivances, and annoying characters, they were never too much for me. I enjoyed how varied and chaotic the characters were, and well, I really liked the leads, who make the show.

Han Hyo-joo in a military uniform… damn girl! What a looker. She's so on point in this. Great leads, in fact. They form a sort of power couple (with Park Hyung-sik playing the other half) and us following their story as they deal with all the bullshit happening around them in the middle of a virus apocalypse is why this show works.

Gonna have to watch Moving now because I need more Han Hyo-joo in my life. She's like a stoic but equally as intense variant of Jun Ji-hyun.

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Different kind of drama - fast and unpredictable

Starts off nauseating for a few minutes but then settles down quite nicely into a comfortable position.

So what does it take to become a celebrity when you've got nothing? Apparently: Instagram, lots of luck, and being hella pretty.

This kdrama puts forward very actual problems and stakes today in 2023, some even coming up as a complete surprise. This series has great plot twists for sure, hard to predict!

The lead mainly acts with her eyes, it's rather interesting. Definitely a change of pace, as generally kdrama stars are all about outward expressiveness, so might not be everyone's cup of tea on that front since she's more reserved.

Unfortunately as exciting and engaging as this drama is, it still has its share of problems, most notably main story events that just plain make no sense. Some characters are tropes on legs while others… subvert those tropes really well? Just uneven all around.

But I'd be lying if I said this show didn't hold my attention from the first episode to the last. It doesn't devolve into excessive melodrama, it's actually fairly tightly paced and well acted. I could have used a couple more episodes to flesh things out which is something I rarely say with kdrama.

But the writing… damn, so contrived. In all, I'd say it's pretty good, but be ready to nod a few times like "ooooookay…?"

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Classic lovers in opposite camp story done right

imagine wanting to kill yourself in Switzerland but then years later when you actually want to live you're stuck in... North Korea

Lmao

Now, this drama isn't perfect, but this is the couple to end all couples. If you didn't believe in the power of love, this drama will rectify that. Their love was so deep and absolute it transcended enemy country borders and could conquer any adversity, and even... break the fourth wall, as apparently being together on-screen wasn't enough for them! Their chemistry was too good.

And so Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin got married afterwards in real life too. Makes the whole thing even more wholesome and heartwarming.

Life goals.

This is an emotionally stirring drama. Very earnest.

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We lack proper setup for the characters, we're dumped right into the story and it's all over the place. I know it's kind of the point as we are led through past and present in a quest for information, but I found it a bit odd.

The script is needlessly convoluted (but kinda neat sometimes to be honest) and also hella bleak, which makes for a weird experience.

But it managed to win me over with an engaging performance by the lead played by Son Ye-jin, and interesting editing.

I'm kind of expecting more with Korean thrillers to be honest. The directing was… uneven.

More focus on the characters and why I should care, please.

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This is secretly—but actually not so secretly—gay lmao

Easily the most outrageously ridiculous premise for a body swap story I've seen so far, and I've seen quite a few. Guy falls in a hotel pool and wakes up 200 years ago in the body of the Queen of Joseon? Get out of here!

And yet… it's pretty good and funny
There are Some lulls here and there but this is entertaining, even though it's a bit too much sometimes. Starts off really funny but the comedy makes way for a lot more drama in the back half of the show.

The action wasn't very good. Lots of shuffling around with lots of cuts so the fights were a mess. It was hard to tell exactly what was going on. They probably rushed the filming for them.

But Shin Hye-sun is firing on all cylinders here. Great wide-ranging performance. I knew the minute I saw her in a supporting role in The Legend of the Blue Sea that she was way more talented than her role let on, and well I feel validated now!

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Awesome premise, could have been done better

You know, the premise for this drama would make for an absolutely riveting, nerve-wracking, and captivating horror story. The potential is immense!

What would you do if you found out that you were a useless side character in a comic book, and that you're basically destined to die soon and that your actions are determined by the writer? Moreover, whatever you do and tell people when you're in control, they won't remember it in the next scene. Unless they're special like you... which is rare

The grim implications of being forced to play out scenes against your will, while still fully and actually living through those scenes, are kept to mainly surface-level quirks and drama in this story. But in the hands of someone else this could have easily gone… uh, sideways.

Like a character who has to walk toward her own drowning scene, and drown right there, knowing full well what's happening, despite not wanting to. It would be a real horror show!

But since this is a kdrama obviously the romance drama aspects are dialed up to eleven while the rest rests on the sidelines. But I had a good time because of the quality of the premise. The story-within-a-story opens up all kinds of potential plot points although sadly, a lot of genuinely intriguing ones are left unexplored. I also enjoyed the style of the cuts (imitating a story jumping all over the place while you read). They were often unpredictable as sometimes characters are suddenly and abruptly transported to new scenes, even mid-sentence!

As much as they poke fun at kdrama clichés, they also equally indulge in them which I found comical. Pacing was also meh as there are some redundant scenes clearly there just to pad the runtime.

The ending was also lacking a bit, we definitely needed more closure.

All in all, had huge potential, but has to settle for "pretty good".

You can add it to the pile of "kdrama with awesome early episodes that can't sustain that level of quality".

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I really liked it overall but the ending felt rushed a bit.

Aside from a major oversight in the fifth episode, this is the best-written kdrama I've watched so far. As in, things make sense, characters don't do stupid, out of character things, and there aren't really annoying tropes overstaying their welcome.

I have to commend this show for relentlessly going for so many "hiding in plain sight" scenes, even when they're not done all that well (look, not just about anyone can do it like Tsui Hark). But I love them so much, any excuse to include them is a good excuse in my book.

Mostly because of this, the first couple of episodes are seriously laugh-out-loud hilarious.

I really liked it overall but the ending felt rushed a bit.

The Netflix subs were wonderful, far better than what I am used to with Korean/Chinese content (Credits to a certain Su-In Choi apparently). It's not easy to contextualize humor in different languages and I was so glad to "get" some jokes that I definitely wouldn't have gotten with lesser quality subtitles (so, around 95% of the subs I get).

And finally, lead actress Kim Se-jeong's performance was easily the highlight of this show. From her mastery of subtle facial cues to inflated emotional deliveries, she was outstanding.

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A story about healing

"Hurt people hurt people"

Quite the insightful observation by the lead. Couldn't have summed up the cycle of violence better.

I wish the FL played more violin overall. The music takes too much of a backseat in the story for something that's so important to her.

This is well written. Character motivations make sense, they don't make dumb decisions, they talk to each other to get through their problems, surprising things happen, music fits, it works. However the plot is a bit stretched out, and some things fall into place too easily.

The side characters became grating to me near the end, especially the nephew who was a bit ridiculous. His constant massive grin became annoying after a while. He's just too much. And he can't say "Don't think, feel!" properly to save his life (his motto, as said by Bruce Lee).

But if you're up for a slowburn heartwarming story then this is one I'd recommend. It's very sweet!

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Watch this if you need a heart massage

This show is a warm embrace. Watching this is like entering a snug sleeping bag. It's just so cozy, and aside from a brief rough patch, the central relationship is so wholesome. Male lead gets some genuinely great character development. It's quite consistent in its quality too.

I like how important the side characters were, and remained. They don't get unceremoniously sidelined in favor of the leads like so many other shows. They stayed very relevant throughout.

I'm a bit baffled seeing that this kdrama was such a massive commercial failure back when it came out. We're talking disastrous ratings here—last in its time slot, not even ranked on Nielsen ratings so low it was—which is strange because on the technical side it's a lot more interesting than most of them. The CGI was surprisingly good too for network TV. I think it has to do with the way it was released. It's a great binge watch but I'm not convinced it's structured in a way that could sustain the attention of people watching on a weekly basis because nothing much happens. It's good fluff, but just fluff ultimately.

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Amazing historical blockbuster with great performances and action

Against all my expectations going in this is easily one of my favorite new watches of the last couple of years. And I'm really picky with my 10 ratings. I love discovering new unexpected personal favorites like this!

Same historical backdrop as the The Handmaiden too… coincidence? I think I like that time period.

Due to the long runtime I came in with a pack of pistachios to eat whenever I figured it'd get boring (read: when Jun Ji-hyun wasn't on screen, or so I naively thought) but then I couldn't find any time to actually crack them open because I got fully invested like 5 minutes in and promptly forgot about them.

So this was pretty popular at the Korean box office, currently resting in the all-time top 10 by admissions as of 2022, and I can see why.

What it lacks in distinctive style it compensates for with lots of twists and surprises, varied, dynamic characters, and a compelling story akin to Inglourious Basterds (another one of my favorite movies), making it an instant classic in my book.
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Stunts - 90/100 | The set-piece during the aforementioned "assassination" is delightful, splendid execution and editing. Hollywood proving once again that lots of their ginormous budgets are flushed down the toilet... This movie looks and feels like a historical blockbuster for a mere fraction of the money.

Narrative - 96/100 | Ha Jung-woo shines as the enigmatic killer-for-hire 'Hawaii Pistol' for sure, if he keeps this up he's gonna be my favorite Korean actor soon enough, and Lee Jung-Jae (from Squid Game) also brings his A-game to this.

Fight Choreography | No real fights.

Enjoyment - 98/100 | Of course you have to like war espionage stuff but it's crafted really well with a smart, well-rounded script that has multiple pay-offs and high-impact action beats. The attention to trivial details in this movie is lovely, and makes the world feel much more real.

And then, well, if you've ever wanted to watch Jun Ji-hyun play a hardass sniper infiltrator (who wouldn't?), now's your only chance.

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Apparently I'm on an unplanned Jun Ji-hyun watching streak. Gonna retroactively make it a planned one though, expect a few more logs in the coming day!

It's like Ocean's Eleven cranked up to… well, eleven (...I'll see myself out)

The double-crossing in this movie is something. They live and breathe to one-up each other.

Why is it so Kim Soo-hyun is so expressive here? I dare say he steals the show for a while. What went wrong in the year between this and My Love From Another Star? (He was easily the worst part of that). Who told him that playing an expressionless/emotionless lead was the way to go? His agency? The director? Himself? Not sure. I think it was a terrible idea. However, seeing as he is today's best paid actor in Korea I'm probably wrong. Still think it was a terrible idea lmao

I enjoyed the stacked cast and the way they weaved Hong Kong into the storyline, including the addition of the likes of Simon Yam. The action is filmed well (though the bad guys' clips seemingly have hundreds of bullets in them at a bare minimum), the twists and turns keep on coming, the actors are hella charismatic, the thrills are served one after the other… Entertaining for sure.

But it was missing a little something for me. I guess things fell into place a little bit too much? One convenient occurrence too many I'd say.
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Stunts - 84/100 | Some good stunts sprinkled throughout since we're dealing with heist stuff.

Narrative - 68/100 | Many years ago, being a Westerner, I used to not be able to distinguish between asian languages like Korean, Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese, etc. Not anymore so now it was really fun to see them switching languages between all 4 constantly and being able to follow who could understand who in the story, because that's kind of important in this case.

Fight Choreography | No fights.

Enjoyment - 72/100 | Still fun and exciting. I'd put it about on par with Ocean's Eleven overall, quality-wise. Recommended if you like that kind of movie.

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Disaster of a movie

It's like a shittier version of Underworld: Evolution, and Underworld: Evolution is already incredibly shitty so I'm not sure what that makes this.

How anyone can manage to make even Jun Ji-hyun bland is beyond me, like at this point it takes special skills to achieve this as I thought it to be impossible.

And then you somehow notice that this is a Hong Kong American French Chinese Japanese co-production starring a Korean actress playing a Japanese girl speaking English directed by a French guy and jesus what even happened to this movie
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Stunts - 57/100 | The CGI blood is bordering on parody quality here and frankly they should have embraced it. Go full Sin City on that movie!

Narrative - 34/100 | That Alice actress must have lost a bet or something. The bet: say the most outrageous things possible with a serious face. No one could have acted this role and made it work. No one. Congrats Chris Chow, your writing talents (or more accurately: lack thereof) shall not go unnoticed. Genius-ly bad script.

Fight Choreography - 46/100 | I like the exaggerated style they were going for with the action and understand what they were trying to achieve, but it's an utter failure of execution regardless with the nauseating editing and crappy shot continuity.

Enjoyment - 40/100 | Look, it's got Jun Ji-hyun in a lead role playing a 400 (500?) years old vampire dressed like a schoolgirl slicing monsters left and right with a katana, with horrendous CGI blood splattering everywhere. Just for that alone 4/10 is the floor here.

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