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Anthojay
Powerful immersion of lifelike characters
A story about a North Korean defector who escaped from China en route to Europe, his journey comes with a handful of twists, and there are a few fresh takes on this genre. Acting performances are definitely the most powerful aspect of this movie, the level of immersion into the characters is just insane from all the actors. The story is quite fast paced and lots of details going around, plot development is effective in pushing the emotions to a higher ground every time when uncertainty takes forth. The ending could be a little too dramatic, but in a sense that the director may seem to have wanted to paint the characters some hope, given how lifelike they were written, weren't we all just wanted to be hopeful even during the dreadest situation happening in this unforgiving society.Was this review helpful to you?
Seamless movie within movie
A film that focuses on behind the scenes in a classic movie production studio, where the movie director was inspired to shoot a retake for an alternative ending despite multiple challenges and restrictions ahead of it, while a new genre of cult classic was born in the making. The flow of the storyline is actually extremely complicated to execute, yet the script was able to handle the movie within movie seamlessly. A great proof of concept that works well though it may not be a crowd pleaser, luckily it's still pretty entertaining amid the chaos. The final act of that one take sequence is definitely the reason why this movie was selected for Cannes screening of this year, it's simply brilliant.Was this review helpful to you?
Deep rooted evil extremity
Humanity's ugliest and greediest traits are all in here, spanning across the adults and their successor made out from the same mould. The evil extremity in this movie is so deep rooted and unbelievable because of how realistic and crooked it is, completely destroying any bit of morality left in their mind. The evilness that is in the gene, they're born with it and become ultimately twisted. The power, the money, the influences, continues to create rot in our society. Meanwhile the powerless will be dragged and beaten until there's nowhere out from this rotten society, and it is only a glimpse of it.Was this review helpful to you?
Politics within politics
The movie is having such incredible depth in its conspiracy plot is so unbelievable, the politics within politics, to control the seemingly uncontrollable, and all the dirty tactics are all executed in superb clarity. Every little details in the scenes are perfectly designed, along with acting performances that are just top class, so much tension can be felt on the screen. This really tops the best korean movie in the politics genre especially those related to elections, it's so freaking dark and thrilling.Was this review helpful to you?
The whole drama went off topic
A supposedly social commentary drama got swayed away into making cult movie storyline and the decision making of the characters were never realistic to begin with. At first it was fine, modern human behavior was shown in this urban digital society, but when all the killing fest started, the whole drama went into downfall and became an unnecessary convoluted revenge drama that was totally off topic from its initial material. There were some quality scenes at the beginning but that's all about it, it's really confusing why the writers would take this route instead of making it into those tech focused dystopian story.Was this review helpful to you?
Crying for 2 hours straight
The Koreans have proven their ability to produce world class VFX standards and without a doubt they've done it again in this movie, but what surprises even more is how the moon expedition story was written in such a direct yet highly emotional way, the script is almost perfect and acting performance is just unbelievable. The action sequences were designed to move the audience's heart and the director succeeded it by keeping the tension at maximum level throughout the whole movie tragically. My tears keep rolling in my eyes for 2 hours straight while I'm gripping the edge of my seats, as it propels to become one of the best movies I've ever watched in theaters.Was this review helpful to you?
To shaman or not to shaman
It's technically a generation battle of shamanism between an evil mystical being and the Cheon clan, led by the untalented grandson of the chief shaman for revenge, overall it has great visual effects and cinematography. However the direction of the storyline somehow felt lost, it's using a mix of both practical combat and psychic powers for the fights, which gets muddled on whether the movie is trying to be tactical or mystical, because even the resolution part gets the same treatment. Just like its intro part when they're showing how shamanism is a con with staged props to scam money, but then afterwards the whole movie turns out to be a huge shaman battle, it's quite contradicting at some point.Was this review helpful to you?
Calm and soothing cinematic kdrama
The cinematography is really one of the best ever produced for a kdrama, even a simple scene is shot beautifully with amazing perspectives and delicate touches. The storyline setting is also quite refreshing, the buildup it has is insane right from the start till the end, the pacing could be a little on the slower side but still totally serviceable due to its artistic choices of the drama. The acting performance though is just unbelievable, the chemistry between Kim Young Kwang and Lee Sung Kyung is over the roof, their gaze is magnificent and perfect for the roles. For those who want to get into a calm and soothing cinematic kdrama, this will be the best of this year.Was this review helpful to you?
超曬水準
編劇呢次真係超曬水準， 史前未見嘅震撼性，振奮人心嘅深入演技同台詞設計，精心策劃嘅港產片精神終於返嚟啦！故事嘅層次編排做得乾脆利落，冇漏洞亦都唔會好倉促，係一步一步推進劇情，案件仔細度同人物設計接近完美。尤其是喺最後一場嘅結案陳詞係完全爆破性十足，而且因為香港正喺白色恐怖時代，簡直係對個現實世界抗議發聲，睇到我飆曬眼淚，今次掂過碌蔗！Was this review helpful to you?
Very believable mirror scenes
Great proof of concept that works well enough despite its high complexity of plotline. The director had precise accuracy to execute on scenes that may seem impossible to achieve, yet providing a fresh new thrilling material for Korean action cinema. Its powerful soundtrack greatly heightens the suspense, coupled with incredible acting skills from Yoon Kye Sang that's very technical, making scenes look gripping and cinematic that you'll believe it's really happening in the way it's supposed to be.Was this review helpful to you?
The game has just begun
The expectations came very high for this drama, but honestly speaking, the impact is not as powerful as it was designed to be. A school bully revenge arc storyline isn't something new as we've seen plenty of them in kdrama, but to put it into this kind of lifelong grand scheme, it is still a decently respectable plot, and it was mostly lifted by the great acting performance from the actors. The details it has are quite enormous in scale though some of it may happen like magic science but that's forgivable, it's just that it gets extremely soapy towards the end. Definitely have to wait for part 2 to come as things seem pretty exciting at the moment and the game has just begun.Was this review helpful to you?
The world of sleeping
The chilling effect of this movie is very prominent right from the start, setting the threat at the closest person you could ever trust in the most unbelievable way. The acting performances are of course top notch in order to achieve that, even the snoring act was designed precisely to elevate the creepiness of the situation. The storyline buildup was good, the ending though could be better, as the tension control at the end was a little off balance. The way it handles its logical sense was technically ignored as the characters sleep in, and audiences should do the same.Was this review helpful to you?
Artistic cult horror movie
Good setting but the execution at the beginning could be better as it takes a significant amount of time to gain traction, and a few action scenes here and there really didn't look too fine at all honestly. However once the tension takes off in the second half, the storytelling does have a lot to offer especially in the plot twist department, the concept behind it somehow becomes exceptionally huge. It's just that maybe the poor writing took away some of its quality, or else this could very well be one of the most artistic Korean cult horror movie ever.Was this review helpful to you?
Pretentious skin surrounded by modern pressure
Chun Woohee's performance is really captivating especially in this type of psychological thriller genre. She's able to pull in every little attention to details and carry the whole heavy ambience of the movie, just like her previous work in "Vertigo", but this time even a more formidable upgrade with a blend of spicy mystery and horror in it. The cinematic effect of it is extremely eerie and scary, which works quite effectively in some of the best mental scenes ever in a korean movie, because who knows exactly what we are underneath this pretentious skin surrounded by modern pressure.Was this review helpful to you?
Korean martial arts film is rising
Bleeding edge korean action cinema at its finest level of production quality, the sequel is a whole new level of upgrade especially giving korean martial arts film a great boost, hand to hand combat in here is insanely quick and precise, action choreography is packed with high adrenaline and brutality. The cop chase story has great amount of tension yet it won't be too superficial, paired with stylish actions sequence and sensible dark humor, this one's full of thrilling korean goodness. Hope to see more korean martial arts movie soon on the big screen.Was this review helpful to you?
