The genre shift was jarring, but it made me feel all the emotions.
Dong Gu is a North Korean spy who has been dispatched to South Korea, living a small-town life as an idiot country bumpkin, along with his other two comrades who live as an aspiring singer and a high school student. One day after years have passed with no order from the North, a sudden power shift in the North turned their mundane lives upside down."Secretly, Greatly" is a mixed bag. It starts out ridiculously foolish and funny... It's not until the midway point, that it turns into a spy action movie with an intense twist, none of those joyfulness was meant to last. Although this tone shift was jarring, it made me feel all the emotions, all the way to the end. The comedic and fight scenes were impactful and well-choreographed. Some of the jokes were so embarrassing that I feel bad for the actors, and there were times when I thought the stabbing/shooting went over-the-top. For the most part, though, it was entertaining. There were also some touching moments between Dong Gu and the villagers. The ending was really dramatic and memorable.
I never imagine Kim Soo Hyun could pull-off such gritty action sequences but wow, I was blown away! He was awesome fighting in his army uniform, and shirtless too! His acting ranges really the highlight of this movie. If you want to be gripped by his performance, I would recommend it.
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I loved the action, from beginning till end I was in the movie. And I really enjoyed the funny parts! It had me lauging out loud. And the funny parts are acceptable and it is not to much.
The best thing in this movie for me where te fighting scenes! I even felt my own adrenaline rushing in those scenes!
Also this movie is serious and has a story to tell so it isn't just fun and games!
This is a action packed movie, with hilarious (acceptable) parts, a good story and in the end you'll get rammed up some feels! I would recomment anyone to watch this, this ain't a waste of time! I enjoyed this movie and rewatch this anytime!
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The first half of the film is comedic, with the lead character acting foolish and funny. Kim Soo-hyun has a natural gift for slapstick, and director Jang Shul-soo and his co-writers make great use of it: Not only will Kim gamely throw himself down a set of stairs, but he'll shift his body language and motion from capable super-spy to doofus and back again. And for as mean-spirited as the gags where folks torment Dong-gu might be, the voice-overs of how he could snap these brats like twigs or how this would never happen in the North are great responses, with two years of pent-up frustration hitting the ears even when just reading subtitles. Park Ki-woong and Lee Hyun-woo are nearly as much fun as the laid-back guy discovering that the army doesn't really teach you how to rock and the grimly lethal kid. The ensemble around them gets both laughs and affection, especially Park Hye-sook as the outwardly cranky convenience store owner who took Dong-gu in when she saw him on the street.
The second half of the film turns into a adrenaline fuelled action film, with much brutal fist fights and valiant defiance of orders. It is presented so well, that it keeps people captivated with the three men's psychological struggle and physical struggle. They manage to take down tens of tough guys in fist fights normally is unrealistic and even annoyingly silly, but in "Secretly, Greatly" their seemingly omnipotent fists provide something for viewers to marvel at. Maybe it is because they are not just fighting for the sake of fighting, but fighting for survival, both physically and ideologically against a tyrannical regime.
The interspersed subplot about the idiot's longing for his mother is very touching. In the three men's native country, people are brainwashed to believe that the party is way more important than their blood family. Hence there is a constant deep seated struggle; and their longings could never be fulfilled. The plot is profoundly powerful towards the end of the film, when everything culminates to an emotional and action climax.
The humor in the dialogue is sometimes unexpected, which is another plus. The parkour-style action scenes are short but thrilling, and the fight choreography are exciting to watch. Stories involving the different characters are told within the main story, creating subplots which are heartwarming and interesting for the most part. When the final order comes, the internal and external conflicts over it drive the 2nd half of the movie. And I loved and hated the ending for being so good and being so good it hurt that it didn't end any other way.
Admittedly, one of the exciting things about Korean films is that genre lines are often in different places and they can surprise in ways that Western films often don't. "Secretly, Greatly" is a great gem that deserves to be seen. I enjoyed watching it tremendously!
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I liked the first hour of the movie, couldn't really get its funny part but it was decent, then comes the twist followed by the ending, that just left me wondering: "what's the point???" really, what's the point??
was there a point that I had missed? that made everyone cry at the end??
The only point I'd seen is: North Korea is Baaaaaad, South Korea is GOOOOOOOOD, and I hate this... honestly!!
The cast, the actors, were really great, all of them,,, I feel sorry for a movie that had so much potentials...
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Secretly Average
I didn't get it, it was just a heartbreak over no apparent reason. Nothing worked for me, except for some sweet moments between Kim Soo Hyun , and Park Hye Sook characters, his interaction with the two small kids, and with his two fellow soldiers, Lee Hyun Woo, and Park Ki Woong. And while these would seem like a lot, but the sweet moments were few. Other than that watching this movie broke my heart, and this was not over a good drama. I only watched the entire movie hoping things will turn bright, but it was only my wishful thinking.Was this review helpful to you?
KSH's both handsome playing "fool" and a tough warrior. He was handsome all throughout. Ughh I just love him
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This review may contain spoilers
This is the best movie that I have ever seen. The storyline is new to me and the ending is sad. I even cry for the ending. I feel a little disappointed because of the ending, I hope they live. Even though you watch this movie again and again, you will cry ,trust me. Especially Kim Soo Hyun, I like his acting very much since I watched this movie. He can act the character good, out of my expectations. Before you start the movie ,please don't forget to prepare some tissues or towel because I bet you will cry for this movie! Was this review helpful to you?
Am not going to go over what this film is about as that has been covered in full quite adequately.
What I do want to say is this - in some entitled first world countries there are certain privileges and freedoms some of us take for granted, a number of us want want want or need need need and unfortunately we get so caught up in our own selves most of the time, that we don't always pay attention to what is happening in less fortunate countries or countries that are totally divided - like South Korea and North Korea.
This film may be fictional and not so new anymore, but it is likely based on elements of truth when it comes to what might happen when someone betrays their country.
As far as I'm concerned everyone should have the freedom of choice and not be made to pay the consequences for wanting something different especially if it is the opposite of oppression or not conforming to one way of thinking that is narrow.
Life is meant to be lived and it should be lived to the fullest yet some are denied this basic human right just for being born on the wrong side of the border and in a totally restrictive country.
"Secretly, Greatly" will likely be in my top 10 Korean movies for life!. AAA+++
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This film starts out a little weird but doesn't take long to get into high gear and the minute Hyun Woo appears things are already starting to heat up. We see these three North Korean spies living their boring lives in South Korea.
Kim Soo Hyun has been playing the role of a "pabo" (fool) and tries hard every day so his cover isn't blown but he's already been there for two years without receiving a mission. It makes him feel dejected but when his fellow spy Park Ki Woong enters the same neighborhood they start being friends again.
Ki Woong is under the guise of a musician who has to enter an idol rock contest and even though he tries hard to be in his guard and act tough and rude to everyone, it's apparent there's more to his character and also that he does love music and really wants to win the competition.
While these two are still just figuring things out another spy enters the picture. Lee Hyun Woo, the kid Soo Hyun saved a long time ago, has also been trained as a spy now and is way more intense and brings so much dark humor to the scene! I love how they kept having to mention "don't kill him ok" because clearly that's how he's been raised. It's like they say once their unit was trained like that, for them to become animals.
So, yes , there is a lot of dark humor, and EPIC dialog, and EPIC cinematography, and EPIC soundtrack so whatever happens feels so REAL that's the only way to explain it. Expect a lot of blood, gritty scenes, and darkness. That last fight seriously I have no words to describe it. It's so so BEAUTIFUL just, it will mess with your head.
The dynamic between the three main leads where Hyun Woo idolizes Soo Hyun and how Ki Woong and Soo Hyun pretty much act like parents to the trigger happy much younger Hyun Woo, sigh I just fell in love with them so bad.
The way they fight their own selves, having conflicting feelings about honor, loyalty to the country, and their innocent love for each other, it will make you insanely happy and also make you cry.
Seriously all the actors did their job phenomenally. The writing it's heartbreaking and sincere. Kudos to the creators for making such an amazing film.
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Kim Soo Hyun is magnetic
Likes:1) First and foremost, Kim Soo Hyun. It's like he's got a tractor beam engaged any time he is on screen. My focus was solely on him. To become enmeshed in a country and environment that are not your own, for years at a time, to completely blend in, I could feel his loneliness. And yes, he will always be associated with green track suits! His cameo in Crash Landing on You was hysterical. Hopefully it brought new people to watch this movie after seeing it.
2) I felt that the storyline was original and well-executed.
Dislikes:
1) The ending. Granted, I think it ended the way it had to, but it left me with a blanket of sadness, and I really don't like to be sad!
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