OneAjhussi
France
This review may contain spoilers
I am a big big fan of the korean movie ''The Classic". This movie made me fall in love with Son Ye Jin and Korean entertainment. So I was very curious to know what this remake is worth.
STORY:
I knew the story already and I thought it would a bit boring. But actually it was not. Because this remake made changes in several parts of the writing. It undermined some elements and emphasized others. Most importantly, it changed the general tone of the drama so the emotions you get from watching it are different from the original movie. The original movie was more a roller-coaster of emotions without caring too much about reality or even credibility sometimes. Everything was made for the viewer to smile, laugh, and cry with a story focusing youth, tragedy and fate in a poetic way with things unsaid and two meanings. This Thai version is also full of emotions but the story is more focused on youth, student's life and love, friendship, in a more realistic depiction of the events.
CAST/CHARACTERS:
Son Yeh Jin and Jo Seung Woo were the perfect couple for The classic. They are very talented actors and they portrayed their character perfectly specially in the dramatic scenes were they had to show their emotions. The main couple here are no less deserving. I thought the main actress delivered a great performance. Son Ye Jin always looked liked Son Ye Jin dressed differently. But in this version, I felt like the physical performance was better. The young actress here as a high school girl looked like one: a bit chubby and clumsy. As a student in 1973 she looked a refined student. As a student in 2004, she looked even more different, modern, skinnier and a bit taller. I could almost say it is the daughter of the actress playing the mother and not the same actress. The only thing I liked less was the scene in the restautant. She had curly hairs which suddenly made her look younger and sophisticated. Which I thought was not a great choice.
The actor playing the male lead in 1968 looked so young and even younger as a soldier. He was like a real schoolboy while Oh Jung Ha looked a goofy young man. He had a good chemistry with the main actress anyway. I thought he was bit lacking at times, in the emotional scenes like in the army truck or in the restaurant. Maybe because of less experience. He was convincing enough thought.
I especially liked the male lead in 2004 of this version. For me he corrected something the korean movie missed. Jo In Sung was not great as Oh Sang Min the guy leading the theater troupe. His acting was lacking and moreover his chemistry with Son Ye Jin was not great. Because of too few scenes and interactions to make their story more believable. In this Thai version, it was superb. The two main lead of 2004 looked very good together and they had an excellent chemistry. Thanks also to the writer who took time to develop original scenes for the both of them. I liked the scene of them under the rain and the one of her running with the umbrella alone but mirroring the run they made together. The two love stories here are more balanced.
The friend of the main lead in 1968 was a good but I felt like he few screen time. He was slightly different from the original movie. A bit less funny and less tragic also. Anyway he looked a real buddy.
The female friend of the main girl in 2004 was more of a friend than in the original movies. The writer took the time to show they are very close and in the end, they saved their friendship despite having chased the same guy. This was something nice to see.
MUSIC :
The OST of the original movie contributes to its tone: classcal music / korean songs / Swing / Rock blues ... this OST is a treasury in itself. Here they used some thai version of the Korean songs and some tunes. There are also Thai songs. Overall it matched well with the movie and helped created its own identity.
REWATCH:
I will gladly rewatch this movie for its modern tone is more accessible compared to the original movie. For the orginal movie, you need to be ready to cry a lot more.
OVERALL ASSESSMENT:
This is a very good remake and it is very entertaning from start to end. For people who have not watched the korean version, I am confident that they will like it a smuch as the ones who liked the korean version when it was released. It has a cute and realistic way of telling two love stories at two periods of time. The actors look young but they were very good in their role. I highly recommend this movie as it is one of the asian movies I really enjoyed this year.
STORY:
I knew the story already and I thought it would a bit boring. But actually it was not. Because this remake made changes in several parts of the writing. It undermined some elements and emphasized others. Most importantly, it changed the general tone of the drama so the emotions you get from watching it are different from the original movie. The original movie was more a roller-coaster of emotions without caring too much about reality or even credibility sometimes. Everything was made for the viewer to smile, laugh, and cry with a story focusing youth, tragedy and fate in a poetic way with things unsaid and two meanings. This Thai version is also full of emotions but the story is more focused on youth, student's life and love, friendship, in a more realistic depiction of the events.
CAST/CHARACTERS:
Son Yeh Jin and Jo Seung Woo were the perfect couple for The classic. They are very talented actors and they portrayed their character perfectly specially in the dramatic scenes were they had to show their emotions. The main couple here are no less deserving. I thought the main actress delivered a great performance. Son Ye Jin always looked liked Son Ye Jin dressed differently. But in this version, I felt like the physical performance was better. The young actress here as a high school girl looked like one: a bit chubby and clumsy. As a student in 1973 she looked a refined student. As a student in 2004, she looked even more different, modern, skinnier and a bit taller. I could almost say it is the daughter of the actress playing the mother and not the same actress. The only thing I liked less was the scene in the restautant. She had curly hairs which suddenly made her look younger and sophisticated. Which I thought was not a great choice.
The actor playing the male lead in 1968 looked so young and even younger as a soldier. He was like a real schoolboy while Oh Jung Ha looked a goofy young man. He had a good chemistry with the main actress anyway. I thought he was bit lacking at times, in the emotional scenes like in the army truck or in the restaurant. Maybe because of less experience. He was convincing enough thought.
I especially liked the male lead in 2004 of this version. For me he corrected something the korean movie missed. Jo In Sung was not great as Oh Sang Min the guy leading the theater troupe. His acting was lacking and moreover his chemistry with Son Ye Jin was not great. Because of too few scenes and interactions to make their story more believable. In this Thai version, it was superb. The two main lead of 2004 looked very good together and they had an excellent chemistry. Thanks also to the writer who took time to develop original scenes for the both of them. I liked the scene of them under the rain and the one of her running with the umbrella alone but mirroring the run they made together. The two love stories here are more balanced.
The friend of the main lead in 1968 was a good but I felt like he few screen time. He was slightly different from the original movie. A bit less funny and less tragic also. Anyway he looked a real buddy.
The female friend of the main girl in 2004 was more of a friend than in the original movies. The writer took the time to show they are very close and in the end, they saved their friendship despite having chased the same guy. This was something nice to see.
MUSIC :
The OST of the original movie contributes to its tone: classcal music / korean songs / Swing / Rock blues ... this OST is a treasury in itself. Here they used some thai version of the Korean songs and some tunes. There are also Thai songs. Overall it matched well with the movie and helped created its own identity.
REWATCH:
I will gladly rewatch this movie for its modern tone is more accessible compared to the original movie. For the orginal movie, you need to be ready to cry a lot more.
OVERALL ASSESSMENT:
This is a very good remake and it is very entertaning from start to end. For people who have not watched the korean version, I am confident that they will like it a smuch as the ones who liked the korean version when it was released. It has a cute and realistic way of telling two love stories at two periods of time. The actors look young but they were very good in their role. I highly recommend this movie as it is one of the asian movies I really enjoyed this year.
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