Completed
rei
206 people found this review helpful
Aug 2, 2015
Completed 4
Overall 9.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.5
An oasis in this wasteland, as Lucien Carr may say, and I'm willing to say it twice. I wasn't even going to write a review, since I'm still overwhelmed and my words may lack the power to describe how painfully touching this movie is. But shall we?

What a sweet poster! ... Fooled me. Well, I didn't even watch the trailer. I couldn't anticipate the plot, the atmosphere; nothing. Koreans have this unhealthy habit of using same-gender romance as fanservice, and personally, I'm so sick of it. They bring the sweet part of it and forget how unrealistic that is, especially in Korea, but it's trendy. So, coming from such a harsh society, it's rare to see a realistic and brave movie regarding this matter. Lately, not only in cinematography, but also music, I've noticed more support and attention in this country. Night Flight is nothing about fetishizing homosexuality and avoiding the truth. This movie manages to show a honest reality, with striking scenes and a solid plot.

It explores the relationship between three childhood friends — Yong Joo, Gi Wook and Gi Taek. Yong Joo and Gi Wook own the plot, while Gi Taek holds a meaningful role through the story. The two of them have a complicated relationship, a kind of bitter, one-sided friendship which lacks closeness and words. This already confusing relationship they have takes a new turn when Yong Joo realizes the feelings he has for Gi Wook have been romantic for a very long time. So he walks further. And everything crashes, in a very beautiful, aching way. Don't expect sweetness, there's no such thing. At least, not how it usually looks like. Let go of your affectionate dramaland and learn to see differently. The emotions can be seen only through gestures, the way the look at each other, the way they don't when they can't see each other (but they wonder about the other) and the words they always seem to share without speaking. Both cruel and kind words. Thus, the moments they speak, the dialogue is actually complex, behind its simple words. So, it's intense and much honest. I found they personalities very pure, pained and so lonely, bearing their own heavy stories, but they choose to cope with their feelings in completely opposite ways — Yong Joo is the bright, brave and sincere one, while Gi Wook is quieter, violent and doesn't know how to express himself. I thought for a moment, given their situations, it's more expected for their personalities to have been reversed, but this way it's actually more interesting, I really like that.
The acting, with more interest in the body language rather than words, was intense and surprisingly good. I could feel their pain growing under my skin, and all it took was looking into their eyes and their messy gestures. Some scenes are still haunting me.
Given how quiet and raw the movie feels, when the music starts, it speaks emotions. Not too much, really, just the right amount of sounds to make it more touching, at the right time. Visually, there are many important details; sometimes it's bright, but mostly dark. Some shoots are serene, colorful and truly artistic, matching the emotions (love), while some are simply raw, monotone and cruel, matching the reality (pain). A very creative contrast.
Do I plan on rewatching it? Of course, probably many times. I'm typing and I can feel the urge to go back and watch some parts, but I'll stay away for a while and let it sink in. Not long, though. I can't wait to see if it's going to hurt more or less (most likely, more). Profound movies always touch deeper the second time.

Yes, it's a sad, realistic movie, with sad teenagers in love. Too young to be so damaged, yet very common. And no, the actors don't look like models, their skin isn't godlike. They look human and, also, they fight for being humans, in a world full of emotionless and harmful silhouettes. This movie shouldn't be overlooked or judged before watching. Let go of any previous disappointing experience with gay-themed movies and dwell in Night Flight. It's the kind of movie that should be watched late at night, when the mind is a little tired to analyze, and the feelings are more perceptive. Because it stains, yet it doesn't feel only painful — it's also very sweet. Beautifully tragic.

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Completed
Myd
60 people found this review helpful
Jun 19, 2015
Completed 1
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
Ok ! Well , writing the first review for this movie I feel a bit nervous .. but here we go :
First of all , watching this movie be prepared to see any kind of obscenity and odium could be found in society ! in other words , this is an extremely bitter social melodrama with a very sharp and harsh way of protesting to the current problems of -not only Korean- but also the world's teens and youth !
I've read somewhere that director of this movie , has made it after seeing a CCTV video of a young boy crying before killing himself ! Knowing the fact that this story has a high chance of being a true one , gave me an special unforgettable feeling while watching this movie.
The best thing about the story is that it's not specifically for Gay people or any other special group of human beings , I think It's the story we all can relate !
We all can feel how much we've changed during our puberty and some of us have changed so much that looking back at our childhood , It's very hard for us to recognize if we're the same person or not !
Actors are amazing ! It was really interesting for me to see how this older actors could greatly transfer the feelings of being a teen that you can hardly believe they're in their 20's !
Background music was good and dramatic ...
And the ending ... Wow ! that's when you want to stand up and clap in tears ! (which I did :D)
anyways , this is surly one of the best and moving social movies I've ever seen !
I'm sure it will stuck in my mind for a long long time ... I've already seen it 2 times in one day cause at the first time I was really in a SHOCK seeing that much violence , that I could hadly get the massage of movie !
I'm glad that It was choosen by the international film festivals as well , It's great to see how Korean Cinema Industry is getting more and more known by the world , and I think this movie a MUST SEE for all people !

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Completed
hajima_chogiwa
15 people found this review helpful
Jun 24, 2018
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10
I was looking through a recommended list of BL dramas and this one was highly rated by the person who made the list. I decided to give it try only going off of the cute little image as the shows cover. I thought this was honestly going to be a very joyful movie but I was wrong. Night Flight ended up being incredibly serious, eye-opening, and amazing for a number of reasons.
First off, it´s topics. This movie has such an aspect that it pulls off by making dark issues very present but not drilling it home into the viewer's mind of how serious those topics are. For example, the teachers in the movie strictly say that the only thing that matters is getting into college. The main characters aren´t very affected or shook from these statements and the characters don't go on the say something like ¨School systems are shit.¨ The movie lets you think for yourself about its issues without the characters letting you what to think about whatever.
Secondly, the acting and cast. The acting for this was a sheer masterpiece. All of the very intense chases down sense, the fights, and the bullying are all so well done. The actors did such a nice job making the fights look realistic and emotional.
The third reason is the music. There wasn´t much music to really talk about but I found the lack of music to be kind of nice. I really let you hear the tones and feelings in the dialogue whereas it is covered up by music in other dramas. But the few scenes that did have it made it better.
One final reason that this movie is such a work of art is that of its realness. In most BL dramas, things turn out happy for the main character and their love interest. But before people in the real world can form a relationship with someone of the same sex, they have to find out the answer to the question, are they not straight? Almost all the dramas I have seen overlook this question or say that if it wasn´t this person they wouldn´t like the same sex. But this drama shows you that sometimes, things don´t work out like that. Sometimes you are going to be hated on for your sexuality. Sometimes you are going to confess to your crush and they will flat out laugh in your face because they aren´t gay and could never love one of the same sex. This movie shows you what real-world rejection and bullying looks like and it is the main reason I loved this as much as I did.
I highly recommend this to anyone who wants some realness in their life. But if you are a person who likes cuteness and softness in your dramas, I don't think this one is for you.

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Completed
Lorrapatricia
12 people found this review helpful
Aug 30, 2016
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 3.5
8.5/10
A very well done BL drama. Don't be fooled by the poster. This one pulls no punches. Literally.

WHAT I LIKED:
SEXUAL ORIENTATION TAKES A BACK SEAT TO ACTING and is not the first thing I noticed off the bat.. You don't have to be LGBT to watch this Movie. All you need to be is an understanding Human Being and you'll appreciate what this Film sets out to relay.

It's very WELL THOUGHT OUT.
It COMPROMISES NOTHING while remaining TASTEFUL.
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Completed
jihoonthusiastt
11 people found this review helpful
Mar 26, 2018
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This film was so absolutely beautiful. It perfectly depicts the struggles and hardships gay people in Korea go through every day due to Korean society struggling to accept the LGBT community. The film was absolutely beautiful and the cinematography was absolutely stunning. It's definitely a tear-jerker. Both of these actors played their roles so well and are very good at acting. I loved every second of this movie and would like to watch it over a million times if I could. This will forever remain my favorite Korean movie. Absolutely well done.
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Completed
Pincolino
12 people found this review helpful
Aug 9, 2017
Completed 4
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.0
Oh boy! That movie did things to me ...!
First of all, the music is phenomenal! I downloaded the soundtrack. It was so beautiful and made me almost cry. Well, at the end I cried anyways.
Yong Ju is a very optimistic, always friendly and smiling person who comes across as very strong. Gi Woong is more the gloomy type who is not honest with himself and very insecure. The relationship is not easy and Yong Ju has to endure a lot. It's not a fluffy love story, but you can feel the connection between those two. Seeing Yong Ju break at the end was one of the most shocking things I have ever seen in any kind of movie. It touched me deep in my heart ... incredible. While writing this review I feel like crying again.
It's such an outstanding work. Not perfect, I'll admit that. But it's so good in many aspects and such a great piece of art. Go watch it!
Btw, the movie has a happy ending. Don't be afraid!

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Completed
Parn442
9 people found this review helpful
May 27, 2020
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10
I loved how realistic this was and it wasn't just fanservice or unrealistically sweet. It captures the aspects of LGBT+ life in Korean society and it is if not more, as dark as it is portrayed to be. It's heartbreaking and painful. I just hope I live enough to be able to see positive changes in the situation. Not just Korea, of course, I'm talking about the acceptance and understanding of the world on a greater level, for the society to be a larger place.
The actors captured every aspect of the story and kept me on the edge every second through the movie. Props to the actors for portraying these emotions and making others feel them too. Also, I would like to point out how good and picturesque the scenery was at times and those were the sweet and warm parts.

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Completed
kaishally BTS army
8 people found this review helpful
Jun 15, 2018
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10
what a tragic and eye opening film, im going to watch it again and again. this movie made me be really concerned about lgbt rights.
man i want to kill those bullies, keep forgetting they're actors..I can feel their emotions through the brilliant acting
of these wonderful people.... and also
I learned and realized a lot while watching this...
Let's just be mindful about the people around us **
Some of us might look happy and all..
but we all have something that we are going through
and not being an asshole to someone helps a lot.
how society and our own people betray us and undignitified our own identities for which we own free to choose ....its almost relaity becoz our society till noow doesnt accpet lgbt peoples .as if they r devils done sinful acts

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Completed
edmoon
6 people found this review helpful
Jan 3, 2019
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
I don't usually write reviews. I just read some of the people's reviews. But after watching this on the second time I personally made one just to express my feeling toward this movie.

The movie was PERFECT. (Considering that I already watched almost all BL of different countries) this was a new taste. The plot was lit. Soundtrack was also good. After watching this you would come to realize that actions really speaks louder than words. You can tell based on thier movements that they really love each other but they are scared enough to express it to avoid being judged by people. The kind of story kinda looks like Brokeback mountain wherein they don't vocally express each other's feelings, you can see thier love through caring on each other which is a way better kind of love.

P.S : I've seen a lot of tragic/sad ending and this one is not even a sad one but I literally cried for like 3 hours straight after rewatching this movie and realizing many things.

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Completed
Megan
5 people found this review helpful
Jun 3, 2019
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
Where is Kwak Shi Yang's award!? Talk about a career making performance.

In general this movie was beautiful. Cinematography was breathtaking. The acting was superb. The music was on point. The story was thoughtout and well rounded. Less of a love story between two people than I thought it would be but honestly I don't even care because the story was so good and the characters so gripping, all I wanted was just to see where they would lead. I have no complaints. Just a stunning movie that deserved all the awards! I'm still crying over the ending.
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Completed
vantegguk
3 people found this review helpful
Nov 7, 2023
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 5.5
Rewatch Value 4.5

So realistic

This is my first time writing a review so I wanna say about the story is, this is so realistic and this movie shows the reality of the world. Also how the people accept when they found out that someone who is gay.
Also the ending is somehow similar to weak hero class not the same thing but it's giving that vibe.
For me this is a must watch movie.
This is not a about sweet love between two people but this is about how society accept them and treat them.
Although I've watched many kind of realistic movies far from the fantasy this movie gave me another kind of experience. hatred, anger, passion, care this one is mixed with these kind of emotions.
Anyways for me it's worth watching this.

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Completed
4sian_Lov3r
3 people found this review helpful
Jan 22, 2019
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

A GUT PUNCH YOU WILL LOVE!

I don't usually write reviews and I won't go into details for this movie either but just let me tell you this film is BEAUTIFUL.

It hits and shatters your heart with its crude reality, a reality unfortunately so many gay teens have to face in a country that barely acknowledges let alone accepts homosexuality. The actors' performance is beyond excellence, you can litterally "feel" all their raw emotions so get your tissues ready! There's a lot of violence happening so someome may find it uncomfortable to watch this film, however I feel like it's kind of necessary to really explain what kind of hell the main characters go through.

What I loved the most is how one the two main characters is able to slowly but surely pierce through the "wall" the other had built up to protect himself, making it collapse eventually to finally touch his heart...

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Night Flight (2014) poster

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