Action on Action

TW: This movie contails full on nudity, violence and gory.

First off, a huge round of applause to all of the actors and actresses! This movie, from beginning to end, was jammed packed with action scenes- literally action on action. Joo Won carried his action scenes terrifically. 👏 Happy to see JW back on the screen!

💭 What I enjoyed 💭

1. [ The cinematography ] - I appreciate the switch from 1st person to 3rd person perspective from time to time. It invites the audience (you) to be a part of the movie with the characters. It gives off this feeling like you're playing a video game. The movements of the camera will have you drifting in and out of an "interactive" video game to movie style.

2. [ The action scenes ] There are a lot of action scenes! I never once felt bored. The enemy emerges from any and every direction, LOL. I like that the director did not shy away from bloodsheds! There is a big considerable amount of gore.

3. [ The portrayal of virus is different ] Yes, the plotline is centered around this virus called "DMZ virus". However, it's not your typical bitting-eating-flesh mutants. Politics and distrust between NK and SK is in the plotline too.

4. I like the added mystery concept of: "What is real and what isn't?" shown between Carter's memory and what is told by others about his true identity.

💭 What I think can be improved on 💭

1. [ Acrobatics ] - In some action scenes, the camera could've just stayed still and have the entire scene pan out wide & we all would've been perfectly fine with it. Instead, the camera twirled in circles, constant up in the sky then back down on earth, then zig-zag from one car/motorcycle to the next.... beware if you have motion sickness. There were too many unnecessary acrobatic camer movements.
I wholeheartedly think the camera crew deserves a raise- they most definitely broke their back doing all of the extra camera movements.

2. [ The ending ] I personally felt like the ending ended abruptly.

3. [ Too many side characters ] Anytime any new side characters get introduced to us, it feels like there's going to be more to the story... but nothing happens. Although I appreciate the appearances of the stunt doubles & extras (such as Mike Colter), they did NOT add any depth to the storyline. Could've replaced those with scenes that would deepen the storyline & characters arc. This was a missed opportunity IMO.

4. [ Virus ] Aside from knowing the name and *possibly* where the virus started from.... we don't really know much about the virus? Wish they could've elaborated more on the global and health crisis.

• My overall thought: Lots of action and style... with no substance. If you're a big fan of action and thriller movies, I do think you should give this a watch! This movie definitely live up to those two genres. And those two genres only.

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No, no, no and quadruple no.

I'll start by saying this: the description of this drama is what convinced me to start episode one. And truly, the first two episodes were very enjoyable!

[ Why I held onto the drama ]:
1. I enjoyed watching the acting from the child actress, the mom, cunning Attire Expert lady, to the fostered father. These characters truly made the drama more enjoyable for me! Yubin (you might also know him as Weining from Untamed) was also a nice surprise to the drama.
2. I know I said this in the beginning of my review, but I'll say it again: the plot. I was really hoping for a strong female lead to take down the the evil characters and get revenge for her mother's death. It's also not so often where you'll find a plot about clothes, anyways.

[What made me decided to drop this entire drama at episode 10]:
1. Okay, so this is entirely my own opinion. The entire drama went DOWNHILL COMPLETELY after the 3rd episode. I don't know what the writers were thinking because the female lead grew up to be so inconsiderate of others, slow, and has no type of awareness of the danger she put herself and others in. She goes & roams the entire city and does the OPPOSITE of what HER MOM advised her NOT to do!
The female lead's stupidity and stiff acting is what ruined it all for me. No, you cannot use your big googly eyes to escape from every single trouble. Can the writers please bless her character with some braincells?! Heck, I even started ROOTING for the evil and cunning Attire Expert lady in the drama because her acting was at least way MORE enjoyable.

I've never been so ANNOYED at a female lead. I did tried to hold onto the drama, and I made it to episode 10. The last straw for me was when the female lead never seemed to remember to look for her mom's items that she left?! Once she grew up, everything her mom left her and said to her seemed to no longer matter.

Watch four episodes and see for yourself.

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