Byul
La La Land
This review may contain spoilers
What could be cooler than the idea of a murderer killing people in one world and dumping their bodies in the other?! This crime thriller with two parallel worlds looked like something I’d absolutely enjoy, and It did satisfy my thrill trash self a good deal! Train is a super intriguing, intense, carefully crafted, and well-executed drama. It successfully avoids straying into side stories and gives all of its writing power to the main mystery aka finding the real serial killer, hence focused and very consistent in its storytelling. All characters and murder cases are connected, with every new ep, writers throw a new thread to catch on, every detail is purposed & noteworthy, nothing sounds irrelevant, nothing to waste screentime on. I’m sure such a thing would be even more rewarding to binge-watchers.
Also in terms of production quality, Train didn’t fail expectations!! That chilling dark vibe OCN always sends is clearly there. Cinematography is neat and somehow depressing, with a warm yellow tone for world A and a blue cold one for world B (each similar to their perspective characters!). Editors really did a brilliant job seamlessly switching from world A to B to the past to flashbacks. Music was also on point. Lyrics “I’m gonna find you”, playing at the end of each episode, make you look forward to the coming one, and another soft melody singing “I want to stay with you” makes emotional scenes a bit more felt.
On the other hand, Train is quite predictable, which is not necessarily a bad thing as I was still eager to watch and see if my theory was right or wrong, and everything was built up well with no apparent holes. But I found it cheap that certain characters had suspicion written all over their faces!! I have to admit, it made the resolution a bit underwhelming. I wished if writers would bring another twist but everything was foreseen at the end.
Another thing that bothered me was how I failed to connect with characters and their emotional scars. Although it could be only me, I think they could have chosen a better cast tbh. Most of the time, It felt like YSY was carrying the whole show on his shoulders. He totally lived his character and showed diverse emotions either playing the workaholic detective who lives to care&protect or the discontented inspector who lives with hate&shame. I rooted for him but it felt hella frustrating that no one was responding!
The FL was rather weak (in terms of performance); she had that one angry/sad expression on her face that I was absolutely numb towards. I’m not trying to undermine the actress’s effort, but in my eyes, they had little to no chemistry and it always felt one-sided. That shouldn’t be much of a problem for a thriller really but It’d have been much better if the story was more seasoned and I could feel the desperation to save someone or catch someone, yet clearly the mystery element was my only driver. That’s in part a problem with writing too; ‘cause most characters lacked personality and development, the main culprit’s character is so cliche, and many were merely running the story, I could see no problem if one of them was replaced :( If there’s anyone I loved, it’d be Jung min (the forensic doctor)& Jinwoo (junior detective).
Regardless, Train was an experience I enjoyed and anticipated every week. I recommend it and I’m pretty sure many will like it :)
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A Soulful Survival Thriller *No Spoilers*
My anticipation for this movie never waned since its filming began, why? 'cause nothing can probably go wrong in a crime thriller featuring four young talented actors, who also came with a "BONUS"! I was highly rewarded when it finally came out, the reason why I decided to delay this review till my excitement dies down, but time made it only grow on me! So I'll mention the elements I loved about this movie, may it help future viewers enjoy it as much as I did.The charm of this movie heavily lies on performance! The young cast portrays a group of boys, who are by no means professional criminals, just some lost youngsters who committed petty crimes trying to find a way to survive in a devastated economic state of a dystopian SK. Lee Je Hoon fits perfectly as (Jun Seok), more or less their gang leader who seems to have the dominant word but is also very protective of his friends. Because he is the mastermind behind their audacious try to rob a gambling den, he got the most mental suffering for involving his friends in an escape-or-die chase, his guilt keeps haunting him in form of nightmares and sometimes vivid daydreaming. Lee Je Hoon could amazingly portray recklessness, care, persistence, panic, regret, and vengeance throughout the movie. It makes me want to mark it as his third-best performance after "The Front Line" and "Bleak Night", the debut gem of same director Yoon Sung Hyun, which also starred Jung Min, whose presence is hard to ignore despite his limited screen time here as (Sang Su). Their reunion was honestly another thing to be excited about!
Besides these two, there is the more pragmatic Ki Woo (Choi Woo Sik), who cares for his family as much as he does for his friends, yet his character felt quite limited to show the actor's real potential. Indeed, Woo Sik chicness was alive (couldn’t take my eyes off him lol). We also have Jang Ho (Ahn Jae Hong) who seems to have the dearest bond with Jun Seok and the one whose actions are greatly driven by his loyalty and devotion to their friendship, his friends are basically his only family. I'm saying this because sometimes their actions are not well-calculated, in other words, seem foolish or stupid, but I couldn't complain as it's all so consistent with their personalities.
Here I have to highlight the gripping chemistry among the 4 friends, and how their mostly unspoken bond and endearing brotherhood is brilliantly expressed. Clearly, the over 2-hour long movie dedicates much of its time to keep you invested in their characters, their fears, and fates.
Most importantly, though, and the thing that really hit me so hard without even realizing it is their constant struggle with the world and facing life challenges with nowhere to escape. It's symbolized through the simple heist premise but director Yoon manages to let the feels of anxious perplexity and uneasiness seep into you. As an emotional viewer, I find this aspect praiseworthy, something that makes this movie deeper than just a typical thriller!
That doesn't mean the movie is lacking in thrill or suspense though! it was a bit slow at first but as soon as the heist begins, it turns to a nerve-wracking, almost a horror-thriller topped with plenty of gun action. Much of the tension is created by the"BONUS" (Park Hae Soo), who played the role of a terrifying ambiguous assassin “Han”. He was tasked to hunt the boys for what they stole, but the hunt will keep haunting them forever, for a twisted reason! Han’s ominous presence sent chills down my spine and I swear you'll get to see the terror in Jun Seok's eyes.
Directing and heavily manipulated lighting are other things to praise! It gave the movie a dark tone and added a new view to tropes like the bar, garage, hospital, abandoned building scenes. As others mentioned, the dystopian theme isn’t at all developed, it seemed to be there to provide reasoning for their awful decisions and bewildered fates, even though it can be easily replaced by a more realistic theme. Despite that, It for sure provided for cool yet grim settings and contributed to the dreading nature of their chase. Finally, the credit song plays to release some of the uneasy feelings about the open ending, hoping and fearing a sequel. (I keep on looping and still can't get over that song (Passing by- Ron))..
For all the things mentioned above, I give "time to hunt" a full 9! It is definitely recommended..may not be one of the best k-thrillers out there cause it felt so experimental, yet it left a big impression. I’d die to see this collaboration again!!
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A Heart-wrenching Thrilling Drama
**Warning: Movie contains animal and child abuse**•Plot: A mother looking for her missing child can easily fall into your "average thriller" trap, yet this movie could leave an impact for its mix of hideous shots and turns, gripping performance, and good directing. It is a sad, dark, and sometimes sickening movie that consistently sheds light on the mentality of a mother with a missing child, the anguish of abandoned children, the selfishness and ignorance of people.
So the movie doesn't start with some cliche sweet moments of the family ahead of the tragedy. It gets you right into the aftermath of their child disappearance and the parents' exhausted tries in search of their lost son, although 6 years had already passed. Frustrating and unfair events kept on building and escalating to effectively make you feel the misery, another thing that honestly made this movie cruel and distressing to watch.
I won't deny that many happenings were predictable, but few bold gasping-worth moments took me by surprise (the main reason I rated this 8.5). At some point, I thought it was going to turn into a revenge story, which is tempting, but thankfully enough didn't happen. The movie instead gave a message that hope is one thing that a mother should never give up on for her child, just as the movie title suggests "Please Find Me".
•Cast: I only saw (Lee Young Ae) before in "lady vengeance", which was enough for me to appreciate her forever! Here, she played the role of a desperate, yet tenacious mother very well. (Yoo Jae Myung) who played an appalling thug cop, was amazingly impressive, unlike most secondary characters he usually takes. And as always, I was glad to see (Park Hae Joon) on the screen, such a talented versatile actor!
•Cinematography and music were well-suited to the mood of the movie, leaving behind some vivid unsettling imagery. However, the movie, in general, isn't extremely violent or gory.
It is hard to express how this movie affected me without spoiling it, so I won't say more. but overall, I loved this movie and its view on the sad painful reality of abandoned/abused children, and would definitely recommend it to you all :)
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The plot represents the relation between humans and robots as in part ominous, in part favorable. And despite that It felt ambiguous (at least for me), It didn't fail to raise my curiosity for what it's actually trying to imply. That's a big point considering that I'm generally not a fan of sci-fi stuff.
Lee Yo Young shows HUGE potential!! She skillfully plays a dual role as a depressed caregiver who is caged by her mother being in a coma for 7 years, and a robot copy that nurses her mother and somehow provides emotional support for her. The robot is not completely emotionless though, she learned how to read her owner's emotions and to react to it. You can see how good the actress is from how elaborate her eye and head movements are. Not to mention how charming she looks as a robot with her calming facial features and radiant greenish eyes. I'm a fan already♡
As always the old lady Ye Soo Jung gives a reliable performance, but the one who really caught my eyes was Yeom Hye Ran, a neighboring caregiver who also owns a robot to take care of her husband, but unfortunately, a malfunctioning one that adds to her misery. In one scene, she put me in a state of panic and desperation as she shows her anguish towards her husband's outraging acts caused by dementia.
Necessary to mention is how spectacular the director's work is!! Just how some scenes are shot and how cameras are angled is superb. Cinematography along with sound effects speak nothing less, not so fancy but fairly well-made. The whole thing sounded like a high-quality independent film!
I just feel like that this series is gonna be a showcase for acting abilities and directors' talent, which sounds to me like a party to feast on :D so I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of the series.
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Ridiculous but funny
you know when some random ideas pop up in your mind and you decide to make a sci-fi comedy out of it, that's exactly what "the night of the undead" is.A man cheating on his wife is actually an alien who doesn't know where to spend his extra energy on but women. His wife suspected him so she hired a private detective who happens to know a lot about aliens' existence on earth. Two of her friends give a hand with getting rid of him because one might have killed her cheating husband before and the other was just there! Sounds absurd, right?
The writer doesn't invest the least effort to justify anything or to build characters properly. There's even a scene that plays at the end credits, which is supposed to offer a plot twist but is too overused to cause any surprise, again proves that he puts in whatever comes to his mind lol. So the deal is to just dump your brain and watch carefree.
Having said that, the movie wasn't actually that terrible! It's watchable since its main purpose is to crack some laughs. I actually enjoyed some parts & wacky moments, especially in the second half where some suspense and comedy take place. Among characters, I liked "Broccoli" ( the detective) the most; the way he talks and his unlucky existence through the movie is quite hilarious. Honestly, just watching three women fighting together against a half-man/half-alien was satisfying and fun :D
So if you are just looking for something funny to pass time, give this a try!
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This review may contain spoilers
A slow enticing mystery that ends on a disappointing note
If you love slow-moving mystery stories with cinematic visuals, this drama would probably catch your attention. If there is anything that could distinguish this drama from others, it would definitely be the directing style and camera work. The unusual camera angles, the entry to each scene, the dark and sometimes black and white perspective to indoor settings but the colorful charming perspective to outdoors, especially "the garden where secrets lie" were thoughtful and do serve the scenes and the story well. I won't call it beautiful but it is satisfying to watch. It also helps in sending eerie signals here and there, along with the soundtracks, although that mightn't last because of the exceedingly slow build up of events that needed more escalation at times to spice up the mystery (having only 8 episodes could make up for this though).The performance of the three leads counts as well. The silent beauty of Joo Ran (Kim Tae Hee) who sounds like a docile housewife but still gives off a mysterious feeling that keeps her persona in question. The character of Jae Ho (Kim Sung Oh) who keeps you thinking back and forth of whether he is a faithful good or a controlling bad husband. and the sly portrayal of Sang Eun's character who sounds too pitiful but at the same time too spiteful to sympathize with, honestly, Im Ji Yeon was my favorite here although I'm not necessarily a fan. So, characters were quite well-written however not always well-developed (like her neighbor's)
The story itself is not new, it kicks off with a weird stench coming from the garden of a wealthy family's house then it digs into a possible dead body, murders and extortion but it does offer interesting themes like physical and emotional abuse and the hostility between the rich and the poor; some people even mentioned parasite and it really gives off a similar feeling at times.
All those elements kept me invested in the story and waiting for the final reveal which was rather dissatisfying.
*This part contains spoilers*
And here we go to babble about the downside of this drama, so many whys and a seriously questionable behavior of Joo ran in the finale that just wastes the potential of whatever her character was supposed to be!! why did she do what she did??? what were her true intentions? to kill her husband? to get rid of both him and sang eun? did she just change her opinion midway? no plausible answer can get to my mind and no answer comply with the final message or with how she was actually trying to save Sang Eun cause both of them could have easily got killed. I believe the writer could have conveyed the same message with a smarter and cleaner ending. That's all? no. There were some real stupid police moments all along and how come the husband was charged for Yun Boem's murder at the end when there's absolutely no evidence against him? Why is Ju ran even blamed for her sister's murder? I don't get it. I'd have also loved if there was more elaboration on the tension between Jae ho and his father and the context of him getting closer to and marrying Ju ran which would have gave us better understanding to the nature of the relation between them and how they came to that state, and guess what? there was more than enough time to reveal that.
All in all. The drama could be enjoyable for those who don't get easily frustrated by slow-burns. I would recommend it if you want to watch something a bit different in mood than most dramas, but I still can warn you of a bit underwhelming resolve.
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The first half of the movie was okay, just your typical school drama and a bully with father/anger management issues, involving a mentally challenged girl as the driver of the story. The second half turns into senseless revenge, all wrapped with a corny ending trying to display how the mental suffering from bullying can turn you into a monster but ends up showcasing how incapable the writing is. So the end was really a bunch of predicted rubbish.
The acting was good on the other hand, but couldn't save the movie for me. Won Geun played the harrassed victim pretty well. Yi Kyung was average (not the psycho you're anticipating). So If you want to watch this for your favorite actors, go ahead and try. If not, I won't recommend it.
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Don't expect much comedy or action, however, don't underestimate the fun from watching the great cast. Loved Jung min, as always, his acting flows naturally and never fails to impress me. Ma Dong Seok comes in a new look and it's hilarious XD Hae in is still a cute puppy, and I was so glad at the honorable cameo appearance of Park Hae Joon!!
The movie might have ended abruptly but I'm glad everything was kept simple. Overall, it's worth watching!
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This review may contain spoilers
Just a SUPER TOXIC love story.
#Spoiler#The moment Shiro decided to cut his hands, I realized there couldn't be a happy ending. Destroying yourself for someone you love isn't love, and both leads literally did nothing else but destroy themselves afterwards. Maria thought she could sacrifice herself to save him, she didn't value herself or her life, she just miraculously endured mistreatment and humiliation, she even had a miscarriage, but was still very tolerant and forgiving of Shiro. I tried to ignore it since she eventually chose to part from him and marry Kamiya (not the love of her life, yes but at least someone who will respect and value her), but WTF did she suddenly decide to jump off the helicopter?? that was the most stupid decision ever, and I guess her punishment was to stay stuck with Shiro forever. I absolutely feel sorry ONLY for Kamiya!!
After having high hopes for this drama, I think the plot is just a bummer! Sure, I'm all for dark and melodramatic romance and heartbreaking endings, and I know that was the era of exaggerated tragedy, but in the end, I couldn't sympathize with the characters or feel the romance anymore. I wish the writer would have at least handled the ending better. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the mood, the actors, and their performances, especially Maria. I was honestly surprised at how raw and natural their acting seemed compared to contemporary J-drama. I also appreciate that many side stories and characters were equally, if not more, interesting, like that of Nana and Jun. I'd still recommend it if you're into watching classic melodrama.
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Unoriginal but fairly entertaining
An unusual friendship evolves while a lowlife gangster tries to fulfill his court-ordered community service for a top tier rich lawyer who is also a terminal patient, the plot felt very familiar and I could find zero novelty in how the story or characters were delivered. Still, the movie is quite fun and sufficiently works as a popcorn movie.In my opinion, the director could really save himself by choosing a veteran cast to bring deadly typical characters to life. Playing an old-fashioned thug, whose overconfidence doesn’t match his gaudy style, treating his car better than his brother, speaking bluntly to everyone in Busan dialect, and fooling around with his boss’s money, this character is made for Choi Jin Woong, he is funny and entertaining!
Meanwhile (Sol Kyung gu) delivers his character in a more moderate sense. He infuses charisma, even to a remorseful wheelchair-bound dying man, and his honest performance prevents the cheese from overflowing in sentimental scenes. Both leads’ acting makes you sympathize with their characters even though their situations are highly unrelatable.
Add to that two powerful supporting actors; “Heo Joon ho” as the scary boss (who could be scarier), and “Jin Sun Gyu” as the loyal friend, with moments of gang brotherhood, I mean who doesn’t love those!!! There’s a scene by the end with the two friends in the car where Jinwoong pretends to be dead after being badly beaten, although cheap, I found it hilarious xD
The quality production and main-stream standard cinematography help, so overall it’s good enough to pass time, can be more rewarding if you love the cast. Honestly without them, I’m not sure if l'd have finished this movie.
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A feel-good disaster movie
Yes you read it right, although it is hard to combine delight with disasters that mostly contains tragedy, death, and sorrow, Exit managed to give that adrenaline rush while keeping an overall enthusiastic tone.Honestly, I didn't expect much of this movie, especially that I am not a fan of rock climbing, and only thought of it as a typical Action/Comedy to pass the time, but luckily, It kept me on the edge of my seat and pleased me in so many ways.
First, It was satisfying to see a slacker who was ridiculed by everyone in his family turning into a hero, not in a fancy way, but in a very diligent manner that showed his heartwarming care for his family and his silly side of showing off in front of his crush. I was even more relieved that their efforts to survive (jong suk and Yoona) were mutual instead of one-sided. That's where their chemistry shines, not their romance, through their hectic thriving to stay alive. Even when the viewer wants to lose hope, they keep on trying using the least available tools to go on. This hopeful encouraging take kept the movie exciting to watch! Throughout all of that, you'll find some hilarious moments, even in their most desperate situations. I kept bursting into laughter whenever they started crying and throwing fits like babies, which was silly and cute and again kept the thrill delightful :D
Another thing to mention is the use of simple technology to help their escape all along, and how applying that can be helpful in similar real-life situations. Also, the end song (Superhero by Lee Seung Hwan), from which you can learn an SOS call, was fireeeeeee!
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