NoFace92

Um, Shin Hye Sun is almost a decade younger than him... Do you want someone even younger? 🤨

The synopsis hardly makes any sense, but I get the impression that the story is on the emotional and mature side? I hope that means the portrayal of DID will be realistic and sensitive, and not played up for comedy or be heavily dramatised.

I know that what happens in the movie is partially based on reality (I've studied artificial intelligence), but I gave it a low rating because I just don't think it's well-executed at all. I do agree that this movie touches on some ethical issues of this technology, but it only did so at surface level. It didn't even address its premise properly, much less actually discuss or delve into these issues. At times, I even felt that it romanticised the AI.

The ML is a pretty unconventional lead to follow because he’s not a stereotypical pervert/stalker. On the outside, he’s a perfectly normal, even likeable person (apart from laughing on the bus out of nowhere lol). But he’s a voyeur who finds pleasure in knowing people’s ‘true faces’ and what their personal lives, because it makes him feel superior. I think this is somewhat of a “God complex”, he wants to see the world from a God’s perspective. I think that’s why he raised ants — just to watch them, not to form an emotional bond with them because they don’t have that capacity. Since the story is told from his perspective at the start, it’s easy to be swayed by his logic. He was basically saying ‘I could be doing bad stuff in their homes but I don’t’. As if spying, sneaking into people’s homes and taking their stuff is totally fine? Dude has zero self-awareness. He cleans and fixes stuff for them to rationalise his actions. But does that excuse his behaviour? No, it doesn’t. Actually the plot could have been very s3xually provocative but I can tell the movie refrained from doing so (maybe because the director is a female? Anyway I liked that choice).

Plot wise, I did suspect that the FL wasn’t dead but it caught me off guard that she was actually batshit crazy, maybe because SHS has a very “good-girl” looking face lol. Her narrative tells us that she’s totally self-deluded, which is similar but different to the ML. The parts with animal cruelty did make me start questioning what similar Tiktokers are actually doing behind the scenes… There are several parts that don’t totally make sense though. The FL’s plan was way too risky and realistically, probably wouldn’t have worked. The starting point itself was a huge gamble. What would she do if the ML did call the police? Also, SHS is tall but you’re telling me a slim woman like her can use her body weight to hang that dude? Get out of here lmao! But most of these plot holes only occurred to me after I finished the movie so I guess they don’t hinder the watching experience.

I almost thought they were going to redeem the ML, so I loved that the female detective called out his ass at the end. I think that was also calling out the audiences who sympathised with him. Just because you were unlucky to become a victim of someone worse than you doesn’t erase your crimes. He deserves the societal judgement that awaits him.

Not bad, I liked it! It was very fast-paced, it hooked me and kept my attention till the end. I could predict parts of the plot but it still caught me off guard at some points. It managed to mix some societal problems and psychological perspective in a somewhat exaggerated story. But there are some plot holes/illogical parts so some suspension of disbelief is needed. 8.5/10

Long elaboration with spoilers below:

HiTV app, though I heard it's no longer working/available for some people. It will be on other 'dark' places soon enough lol. Pretty sure it's also supposed to be released on Netflix eventually.

If you're talking about the ending, I can't even tell if Tang Wei recognised him there. And are they trying to say that she's now in an endless loop after her service was terminated? The whole last 30 minutes didn't make much sense to me.

Okay, this movie is... weird. It feels like an incomplete draft with missing scenes, actually it's almost like they had shot a short series and edited the key scenes into a movie. There is not enough context and world building which makes it confusing. I get that the science fiction aspect of this movie is not its focus, but it really needed an extra 15-20 minutes at the start to properly explain how exactly this Wonderland service works. Like how are the AI characters programmed and what are they programmed with? There are so many ambiguities but they'll be spoilers. It's almost like the movie itself doesn't know. I can't tell if the director is inexperienced in the sci-fi genre or they cut out those scenes because the basic foundation to make a coherent story wasn't there. At one point towards the end it was straight up a fantasy movie and not science fiction anymore lmao.

But then, I actually like the subject matter, the actors and parts of the movie especially in the first half. Most of the scenarios were actually interesting and complex -- but they weren't fleshed out at all. Which brings me to the point that this movie just has too many characters. Basically every story was only on surface level, some were just left hanging or abandoned. Suzy and Park Bogum's arc especially suffered from this, it needed way more screentime to be properly developed. I hate to say this but some of their parts felt half-baked and wasted their onscreen chemistry. Tang Wei on the other hand had the most complete arc and probably the most touching one.

It's a shame because I think if they expanded this into a series and went more in-depth for each arc, or removed all the arcs other than Suzy/PBG and Tang Wei's, it would have been way better. But alas the potential was wasted. Nonetheless, I think at the very least this movie can spark some interesting post-watch discussions. 6.5/10

The full movie is out on HiTV but only the chinese subs are properly translated for now. Will be watching it in a bit.
Edit: English subs are out as well

I have never been a fan of her, but if actors' criminal records hardly even affected their careers (including Squid Game's lead and a supporting actor with a sexual assault record that still appears in like every show!), she should be able to make a comeback too. I do think it will be virtually impossible for her career to reach the same heights as before. But for starters, I hope her new agency makes sure she doesn't get further typecast in the psycho/sociopath roles. That's a recipe for failure.

I really hope his redemption will be satisfactory. So far he has been either absent or an alcoholic mess throughout her entire childhood, and for the times he tried to be there for her? He rushed to the toilet after getting her call only when the FL dragged him there. He suspected of her being bullied only after the FL noticed it. He made breakfast (or just milk?) for her only after the FL left the house. It was almost laughable when he asked his daughter why she never told him anything. It is an understandable response to his PTSD. But he has barely even acknowledged or reflected upon his negligence, let alone redeem himself as a father. It needs to start very soon.

This show is kinda growing on me. It's like a chill watch to go with your afternoon tea. Despite the fact that I think the ML is a ridiculously negligent father (your daughter prefers spending time with a scammer than you, for god's sake!) and am not sold on the romance, I'm somehow still okay with it. Maybe it's because I loveee savage cute little Yi Na and I'm staying for her, haha.

I have 2 episodes left but I don't think I can continue because this is just incredibly superficial and borderline pretentious, like the show thinks it's way deeper than it actually is. It started off with an interesting premise and was quite entertaining, but it quickly gets repetitive and pointless. They try to mock and critique so many societal issues but only do it on surface level everytime, and really, these issues have been touched on by so many other shows/movies in more meaningful ways. Not to mention the plethora of plot holes! Past episode 4, it just feels like they are winging it and the excessive violence is almost a chore to watch. Even the "dark humour" is mostly childish and lame. I'm really disappointed because I heard the source material was actually good? Or am I the problem here??

Something about the background music was bothering me throughout the 1st ep. It felt out of place many times. I'm curious to see what happens next, but the characters don't seem very layered or likeable as of now. It might be intentional of course. Though I have to say the little girl is adorable haha.

Now that more context has been given in the leads' relationship, along with some sweet details, the issue of me not really seeing the chemistry at the start is pretty much gone. That being said, the show so far is still a mixed bag for me. I still don't know if I want to root for them. The miscarriage plot that seems to be the turning point in their relationship is extremely frustrating, though idk if that will be fleshed out later. If that is how they handled an obstacle (instant separation and both unwilling to talk to each other about it), I'm not sure if they are all that fit to be together. I personally think it's a deal breaker if that were a real life situation. They reallyyy need to learn how to communicate and stop hiding their feelings in the most crucial moments. I'm pretty sure the ending of ep 6 is going to lead to all their progress going down the drain.

I still find certain scenes repetitive (mostly those related to the FL's trauma). Also, everyone on FL's side of the family is still unlikeable and almost a chore to watch, and now they're coming off as dumb and like ten steps behind the villain(s). Even the aunt frankly feels a little too over the top. The ML's family/neighbours are much better though their scenes feel more like filler. I do think the recent episodes improved from the first few though.

It's a strange thing. It's there, but I don't feel it. Take for instance the scene where she says under her breath that HW had never peeled prawns for her before. I would feel disappointed or even disgusted that someone treated me well because I was about to die. But it felt like she was just mildly irritated. Or when she saw his Geegle search for treatment methods on his iPad, and the scene after. I didn't sense any emotions that should arise in such situations. Perhaps it's just her character that's too cold and emotionless.

I actually quite liked the first episode, and the gender reversal (man taking the woman's usual role) was quite refreshing. But the second one felt disjointed, strangely awkward in places and stuffed with cliches. There are so many things going on but I'm not sure if I'm interested in the supporting characters. The chaebol family especially are coming across as one-dimensional antagonists.

I didn't expect the FL to actually have a terminal illness, and I can already tell it's just a plot device. Her having a traumatic experience that explains her behaviour is a very overused trope, but there are already so many cliches that I don't mind as long as they're executed well. But the presentation of her trauma was questionable at best. Like I get the point, do I really have to watch two repeated scenes of her being transported to some iceland in such a short time frame? Then the ending with him guarding her from a very fake CGI boar just threw me off. It's one of those cringey knight in shining armor scenes that can be endured if you're immersed enough the story. But it's just the second episode and it felt out of place. Did I mention a love rival in the preview when she's literally dying in a few months..? I don't know. It's really odd that a second episode can leave me with such mixed feelings when I actually enjoyed the premiere.

I'm going to get hate for this but I don't see any chemistry so far. Yes, they've drifted apart but there needs to be some tension, some complexities that define the relationship between two past lovers. I don't see it so I don't find myself curious about how they drifted apart. I don't feel any underlying emotions in their scenes. Even during their arguments, or when they're pushing each other away, there's no sense of irritation, resentment, disappointment or anything. They just looked like colleagues who can't get along. Of course it's just been 2 episodes and it could change, so I hope it improves.

Frankly her crying is so infectious that I no longer feel anything when watching crying scenes in other recent shows. Same for the senior actress playing her mother.

Not sexual at all 😂😂😂 Yeah yeah it's a family centric show but those were very tame kisses. I guess I'll take those over deep kisses with the leads looking reluctant or awkward af though. And I'd like to think they're saving the best kiss for the last episode.