This review may contain spoilers
I've been anticipating this film since it was first announced because the storyline was so intriguing to me, especially as someone who loves the fantasy genre. Through the premise alone, I already had so many questions, the main one being, 'How did Sungmin become an adult over the course of the last few days?' First, this film is worth watching for the plot alone. The writer is extremely creative and he weaves in the 'fantasy elements' in an eloquent way. As a viewer, it felt realistic, as if it was something that could actually happen, despite the idea of it being so far-fetched. Another thing that is worth mentioning is that he examines the situation from different perspectives - how the average person would view their story (mentions of stockholm syndrome and other psychological analysis) versus how Soorin viewed Sungmin's story. It was extremely thought-provoking. There were comedic scenes, but also heart-wrenching scenes that made me tear up. It was well-paced and kept my attention throughout. I docked half a point for the story because I felt like a scene near the ending wasn't explained very well (it's either a loophole or something I need clarification on). But other than that, I had no qualms with the story.
Moving on to the acting/cast, I will emphasize this over and over again, they could not have chosen better actors for their roles. Kang Dongwon is absolutely impeccable as Sungmin. It's almost as if you are watching the thirteen year old boy Sungmin stuck in a man's body; as evidenced by the way he delivers his lines, the look of naïveté in his eyes, the tears of hurt, and feelings of guilt - in my opinion, no one could have played Sungmin better than him. Shin Eunsoo was the real surprise (as I'm a fan of KDW, so I already knew he would deliver). It's hard to believe this is her first role and she has little to any previous acting experience. She's so talented and her ability to emote is stellar. She has this wonderful ability to express a variety of emotions, and her friendship with Sungmin (the dynamic she had with both young/adult Sungmin) is what made this film so 'real' and beautiful to me (*mini spoiler: their code language was so special). Also, her chemistry with Kang Dongwon is so natural and inherently believable. The rest of the cast fit their roles well, especially Lee Hyoje as young Sungmin and his friends, they were adorable and hilarious at times, but you could also feel how conflicted they were to be in that situation.
The soundtrack fit the atmosphere of the film very well, but there wasn't a particular score that really captured my attention. However, the music did help with the buildup of intensity in certain scenes.
I will definitely rewatch this film, especially since I haven't seen anything else like it. But I also found it quite sad, so I think I'll pick it up again after some time.
Overall, objectively I'd rate it a 9.5/10. In terms of my subjective enjoyment of the film, I'd rate it a 10/10. Just a few additional comments I'd like to include, the cinematography is gorgeous and it really contributes to the mystical and melancholic vibe of the film. There are so many scenes that were filmed beautifully, such as close up shots of their eyes, Soorin's hair, the ocean - it was very artistic and aesthetically pleasing. I also thought the CGI was done well, especially the floating items, the scenes filmed in water, water droplets in the cave. It really felt as if time had stopped. Anyhow, this film is definitely worth the watch. It's hard for me to come up with the right words to describe it, but I guarantee that it's a gem. It left me wondering, if time has stopped for everyone else except for me, what would I do? And how would it affect the way I developed as a person?
Vanishing Time: A Boy Who Returned is a well-delivered, thought-provoking film with its own unique eccentric touch. Director and writer Uhm Taehwa astutely adds a touch of realism to this fantasy film.
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THIS FANTASY CONCEPT IS NOT NEW but the twist and the way it was written is different.
I'm partial to Time-Fantasy dramas/films. But this is the first one I've watched where I felt that Time was the actual Star of the show and not the humans. It was a character without it having to take on human form. and that's really cool.
- The film moves from the normal, innocent childhood adventures of a 13 year old boy and girl and takes you into the nightmare of something fantastic and a little chilling, on so many levels that I'm still taken by the imagination of the writer. ! Not being great with words, if I try to explain more I'll spoil. But the two main characters go through a lot of turmoil because of the stopping of time.
Visually, I found it more profound because everything is pared down. In the beginning the film is stripped of all the white-noisy loudness and all the focus is on the story So, when they threw in the special effects it doubled the impact. During every slow-mo, my mind sped a mile a minute.
KANG DONG WON AT HIS BEST! but still felt like the second lead. Time just over powered him..heheh! I think of all the things I've seen him in. This one for me is the best. He's gotten so handsome with age too!
-The acting is the top. Child actor SHIN EUN SOO did a fantastic job, and the chemistry she had with both Lee Hyo Je (little Seong Min) and Kang Dong Won (Adult Seong Min) was great. Her intensity was solid and didn't quit even when her peer & sweetheart changed to an adult actor. She transitioned so well while remaining the same. Sounds confusing but It was amazing to watch. Oh, and not to worry, the ending falls in line with the whole story. You won't be in heaven but you won't be left wallowing in a pit either. You'll end this movie feeling like you just watched a piece of art and a damn fine film.
I gushed and went all biased with this review but that's what happens when a movie hits all my sweet spots. I'll be sure to look out for this writer in the future. I'll also be grabbing a few friends to re-watch and share this one for sure.
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Riveting in terms of story.
Grandiose in terms of cinematography.
Impeccable in terms of acting.
These three powerful features made Vanishing Time an absolute pleasure to watch. It’s in one word an ENIGMATIC JOURNEY.
The story was adapted from a book written by a child psychiatrist. Children are always imaginative and their mind is full of mischief, fantasy and limitless curiosity. The truism of Soo Rin’s story is questionable but even if it is purely based on her imagination, how amazing it is to see that her own world of fantasy is capable of creating such wonder. There was like a whole unknown planet inside her mind. When she interacted with another likeminded child of her age, Seong Min, both their imagination collided to create something magnificent.
Child psychology blended with fantasy is now my new penchant which I discovered after watching this movie. I have seen many fantasy movies but Vanishing time is just unparalleled with others. Getting confounded with the story is quite easy, nevertheless, the well maintained proper balance of quaint romantic emotions among the protagonists never let only the fantasy part fogging our brain. I could easily connect with their emotions. The magnanimity shown by the male protagonist till the end was simply endearing and the lapsed time would never allow their relationship to coincide which left a slight poignant feeling.
On another note, the cinematography of the movie is magical, dreamy and colourful suiting the tone of the movie. Acting was on par especially by the child actors. Always I prefer to see the children more than their adult version and what can I say ‘bout Kang Dong Wan. Any adjective to describe his acting ability would be an understatement. So I should refrain from that. I just want to say he’s a top notch classy actor. He knows what he’s doing and pour out his soul into his performance.
It is a well-directed, well scripted and well-acted movie though a bit equivocal in nature. I have few questions which are left unanswered. So instead of a full 10 I would give 9.
Don’t think twice about whether you should watch this movie or not. Just watch it if you’re a fantasy lover. Guaranteed you’ve never seen anything like this before.
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I definately became attatched to the main characters, It's really hard to describe how I feel about it without giving away the story away.
The music was okay... I mean I don't really concentrate on the music, I'm just trying my hardest that I don't miss anything they say in the subtitles.
I've already rewatched this again and again, so... it's a 10/10 from me!
Overall I really enjoyed this movie, and I would definately reccomend it if anyone has 2 hours to spare!
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this movie is just wonderful. Or should I say, beautiful. Because yes, everything in this movie is beautiful. The acting, the story, the setting (omg this island is so beautiful!!), ...
I was a bit reluctant at first because I knew it would be a total surreal story but since I like Kang dong won I decided to still watch it; and actually, yes it's fantasy but it's a beautiful fantasy. The ending fits well. The fantasy was handed really well and its scene were really beautiful. (Am I repeating myself? Nope. It's beautiful, im telling you! )
Story: like I said, it was perfect. I was afraid that it would get boring (2h+ of movie, come on!) but It wasn't at all. The pace was good and made you feel the emotions really well.
Acting: perfect. Even the little boy were very good at acting. The little girl was especially good too!
Music: it was quite good.none of the soundtrack especially marked me, But it fit really well the movie, adding tension when you need it, etc. Maybe a little more would've been nice!
Rewatch value: I'll probably watch it. No, certainly I will watch it again; but probably after some time.
Anyway, it's one of those long movie that gets you all emotional (or not) with a bit of supernatural. If you're a Kang dong won fan, a supernatural-related things fan or someone who loves that kind of long movie that makes you forget everything else, then watch it!
The only thing I wasn't satisfied with was that it didn't hit me in DA FEELS that much. But that could be only a personal feeling so just judge by yourself :)
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If you like watching cartoon by Ghibli Studio, you might love this movie! You can certainly ask your little sister or brother to watch this movie with you. This movie got the same feeling with any Ghibli movie as it reminisces childhood memories in a deep and romantic look and feels. Before I write more about this movie, I'd love to recommend a similar movie with children as its characters:
Petualangan Sherina (Indonesia), Starry Starry Night (Taiwan), Bridge to Terabithia (US)
For more fantasy movie recommendation, feel free to check my drama list, called Magical, Covered With Fairy Dust
The synopsis doesn't lie, it is like what you've read but better. The plot is enjoyable, I keep on guessing what will happen next yet falling into the happening scene. The story helps you remember the secrets and beliefs you keep to yourself when you were little.
All cast worked really well. It doesn't look like acting at all. I feel empathize with all the character, moreover the main characters. They are both charming in their own way, so pure and innocent.
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The acting was incredible and it never felt awkward. The main male lead, the older one, just continues to prove to us that he's extremely talented. The main female lead was just as extraordinary, and I'm pretty sure it was her first acting job, which I have a hard time believing because she was just THAT good.
The music didn't stand out too much, but it was the lack of music in some scenes that left me in awe. The cinematography, by the way, is beautiful and it drew me in completely.
I'm waiting for the perfect opportunity to re-watch this but for now, I'll just continue recommending this to literally everyone. It is an amazing work of art if you actually take the time to think about the story and the affect it has on the characters' lives. This isn't just some cool movie that you should check out. It's a deep story that gets you thinking: would you do what the man did? (You'll know what I'm talking about if you've seen the movie!)
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Although the plot had some pretty childish aspects, in my opinion it still ended up being seriously interesting and original. The visual effects were stunning and so was the filming site. The child actors were amazing - just as always in Asian movies. And loved I Kang Dong Won beforehand or not, after this movie I would anyway.
Although the story was overall very beautiful and enjoyable, especially closer to the end it seemed to me that there were some errors with the story itself. Also I'm not sure if the ending was the best possible, although it could had also been way worse. The music was okey, but didn't really catch my attention.
Would I recommend this movie - I would, as long as you're open to something different!
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This review may contain spoilers
It's a perfect mix of fantasy and reality.
The execution of the first half of the movie might seem boring to other people for some reason since it just shows a weird kid and a bunch of bullies in a typical elementary school. But when Su-rin meets Sung-min. Su-rin is now involved with whatever Sungmin is gonna do. Surin's world starts to revolve around Sungmin's character.The shots are really really aesthetic AF praise to the 'Director of Photography' I really loved how the transition of the shots are just so aesthetic. 'Praise to everyone who worked on this movie'
In the second half of the movie is when the conflict starts to rise that makes the audience feel the tension and makes the 'What if?' question pop up on your mind. And you're gonna thank me for warning you that THIS IS A MAJOR TEAR JERKING MOVIE. I promise you, I knew that this was a tear jerking movie because, one, for a fact that I read comments first before watching and that I also told myself that i wont cry because I already knew that this was a sad movie. BUT I STILL CRIED so yeah..
Anyway, moving on to the actors. The child-actors are really good at portraying heavy-emotional roles and I praise them for that. Especially the main child actress, her character is so heavy-emotional-apathetic(at the start of the movie), I'm just guessing if she's going to be nominated for a some kind of an awarding ceremony she'd totally be the best rookie actress.
And dude, The old Sungmin(Kang Dongwon), as expected from Dongwon. HE just fits the role. No matter how crazy or how weird his character may be, he just pulls it off no matter what.
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This review may contain spoilers
YOU WILL BE AT THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT
I want to start by saying that this film was beautifully done. I was engrossed with the story from the moment it started and the actors did an amazing job portraying kids trapped in an adult body. Kang Dong Won (the actor, who played the 30-year-old orphan) managed to portray so many emotions: fear, confusion, guilt, depression, and acceptance. As the movie progressed, you find out how the "missing kids" have lived the whole time while they were "missing" while also watching how the families are looking for the same children. The movie projects two different times but focuses on the present and how Seong Min (orphan) and Soo Rin try to explain the disappearance of the other children and how she was the only one found in the mountains, where she and the other kids decided to play. It also showed how adults sometimes create a more "plausible" story rather than believing what a child says, even if it is the truth -- this is demonstrated when the officer goes to Soo Rin and tells her to lie to the public because even if he did believe what he saw/experience, it is not something that would be easily understood. In the end, Seong Min was willing to admit to the plausible story created in order to protect Soo Rin, the only friend he had and who believed him about what happened. SooRin of course did not allow it but he found the form to save her and continue to live the life he had, while SooRin continued to tell the truth despite others believing she was part of a bigger ploy.Was this review helpful to you?
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