andjel

Who are you mister?

Fist of all, this movie was right for my taste. It doesn't have the suspenseful plots and twists or the multi-layered story like other great Korean thrillers, but that's not necessary. Sometimes it's best to be simple and straightforward, and this movie is like that. Clear, short, atmospheric, with great characters and an enigmatic protagonist who doesn't communicate much with words but with his attitude and actions. In another film, we would have learned more about the context of the story and about the motivations of the characters, but here it is not necessary. That is exactly what heightens the interest of the viewer, who can conclude for himself who and what kind of people the characters he is watching are.

Probably not all viewers will be able to immerse themselves in the film, but it kept me riveted and interested from beginning to end. The production and cinematography was great. From the characters, I liked the girl Inbi the most (young actress 류지안), she played her role very well, without much words.

And I'm very pleased with how it all ended, a bit absurd, but satisfying.

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Be yourself

This historical cooking drama is very good to watch but loses its balance from scene to scene trying to add so many things. While it is a enjoyable to watch, it has many details that bothered me so it is hard for me to recommend it. I really liked the meals (i always love seeing Korean cousin on screen), and then the dramatic tension in the family and also the question about balancing between expectations and requirements from a society that put a person into a box. So the message (Be yourself) is quite good - one should find his own path and fight for his freedom. I didn't like that the two male leads behave as children or maybe even like they are in love, also i was bothered by themes that weren't properly resolved and by the many scenes presented in a pathetic way trying to artificially stir emotion.

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Basketball VS Football

I might be biased because basketball is my sport, but this drama was just right on every level. The desire of the main protagonist to play basketball when everyone is interested in football is a good allegory of the unique talents that every child brings and the difficulty to adjust to the group. Young actors were great. The story is simple yet very authentic and therefore emotional. It helps us grownups to understand children and their emotions which can be very complicated.

This drama manages to touch on many themes in only one hour of duration (sport, school, children, friendship, romance, family, …) and that makes it a great choice to watch. I still didn’t watch the entire “KBS Drama Special 2023” but for now this is my favorite of the season.

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Sport for Love

There is love for sport and there is sport for love. While watching this drama I remembered a meme with a picture of boys playing basketball. One boy is looking the girls at the stands and says: As I get older, I am less interested in Sport. At the same time a girl from the stands, while looking attracted to boys, says: As I get older, I am more interested in Sport.

So this drama is presenting itself as a sport romance comedy, about a female football (or soccer) player who can even compete against men, but we don’t get to see to much of football because there is a love story here also. As much as I appreciate the story in both dimensions, the connection between women gets the most screen time so that the drama actually doesn’t have a clear focus. Finally, the best part of this drama is Lee Yeon as Ko Do Hyun. She was very believable as a football player unlike other actresses.

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pleasing fantasy

Dr. Cheon is a likeable guy and the movie rightfully carries his name in the title. He also has his sidekicks, a small group of distinct characters. Unfortunately they weren't used much in the story. They are here mostly for show, but I can imagine them having more responsibilities in a sequel if they decide to make it.

I like this type of movies so the plot holes didn't bother me too much. There is adventure and fantasy, and a little bit of spirituality, and also action. Would like to see more movies like this from Korea. The atmosphere is great, especially in the first part where the comedy and a small bits of horror work well. At the end it becomes more and more generic but still very enjoyable and exciting. The runtime is good, not every movie needs to be 2-ghour long. All in all, not a masterpiece but a great relaxing evening movie.

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I wanted to do good

Oh my, this was a long movie that makes me want to light up a candle and pray for the protagonists - man and woman living together. One of them actually does light a candle while working, maybe even praying, and the other said something that describes the movie for me. He said: I wanted to do good.

The society has an institution of marriage for a reason, for protection and support (the common good) of both husband and wife, and their children. The couple in this movie are just living together, they are friends, partners and lovers, they live in a consensual union where everything is good until it isn't. Paradoxically, the problems seem to start when the woman Jay gets pregnant . Would marriage make it easier for them? I argue that it would. I would say that this movie is an honest depictions of psychological and practical challenges of unexpected pregnancy not only for woman but also for man. The story takes an unexpected turn and the end is both negative and positive. Even if i would want to spoil the movie, i wouldn't be able to decide if the ending is good or bad. It is, just like in real life, the reality of so many relationships. Don't watch this movie for entertainment, watch it if you want to study relationships.

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Frog-like laugh

Your husband / wife should not only make you happy, but also make you angry. Going together through laughing and yelling, through romance and fighting make for the best partnership and this movie shows it. This romantic comedy is fully with unique characters that provide many unexpected funny moments and it made me laugh a lot. The actors all did a great job, but i especially liked the absurd frog-like laughing from the male actor Kang Ha Neul. As with others movies of the same genre, the comedy serves to highlight the message of love that survives all the challenges. here it is presented through a reset of relationship which was used well for both the comedy and romance.

Note that there are post-ending gags, and an credits scene and also a post-credit scene. Everything in the movie is made for the enjoyment and i did have a fun Sunday night with it. Hope you will too!

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What is Korea?

Can I use spoilers for a review of a true story? I will try not to because I saw the movie in complete ignorance and i was 100% engaged in the story thankful that i didn't know what will happen next. That made the viewing of the movie much better. After watching the movie i checked some facts and it turns out that the movie is very faithful to the true events.

This is a sports drama at its best. There are many inspirational stories but this is one of the best I saw. It shows a sporting spirit and also a Korean spirit, so in t he end, this is very patriotic movie. At the time when Korea was not even recognized in the world, a few individuals were fighting for Korean pride with sport. That shows that sport is not only a virtue in itself but it is also a means to connect people and a great ambassador in the world.
PS. I am also from a small country but every time i visited Korea people connected me with the famous athletes from my country. Well i should learn more about Korean athletes also. So thank you movie for teaching me a valuable lesson and showing me once again what is Korea.

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Humans 3

Yes, Season 1 could have been enough, but as we watched Seasons 2 and 3, the theme became increasingly extreme. I didn’t like Season 3 until the final episode, which truly hit me emotionally. There was a twist no one in the show saw coming, and at last, we get a conclusion to the Korean Squid Games.

There are some inconsistencies in certain scene, and oh, those unbearable VIPs, but also a few mostly useless side stories, so at one point I thought the story was going nowhere. Yet, the director managed to put the mosaic together in the end.

The highlight of the show is its moral theme: the worth of life, and the corruption of human nature in the face of desperation, greed, and violence. Season 1 exposed how crushing debt and hopelessness can push ordinary people to lose their morality. Season 2 raised the intensity and explored how trauma and greed further corrupt humanity, as people risk everything for material gain. The final season is the darkest, showing that by the end, there are no good or bad guys—only people pushed to their absolute breaking point.

And that is the final question we are all invited to ask ourselves: Humans are... ?
If you're reading this review before watching the show, try answering that question now—and then again afterward. See how your answer changes.

P.S. By the way, remember: Hodie mihi, cras tibi! — or in my own translation from Latin: what happened to the people in the show today might happen to people in real life tomorrow.

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People are better than this

Let me start by saying that this is a horror movie without you realizing that it is a horror. It looks realistic and familiar with characters you meet in your daily life but with a twist that somehow always take the turn for the worst. So i understand the title "New normal" because this are the normal people in "new" shocking situations. The movie represents the new normal as if this is the new reality we live in but I strongly believe that humans in real world are much better then those in this movie.

Now what i liked and what i didn't like. I liked the actors, the music, the atmosphere, the production and the pace of the story. Everything was nicely done. I am not a fan of short stories because they mostly end up superficial, shallow and over simplistic, but in this movie they were purposely connected by presenting a nihilistic society.

And that is what i didn't like. My heart is not agreeing with the message of this movie. I believe in Jesus who died on the cross out of love to save the world which is opposite to the one small but important detail in the movie (a minor spoiler ahead!!!), and that is a fluorescent lamp in the shape of a cross with an inscription “F*** the World” that one of the main protagonists has on the wall. The movie suggest that you should trust the people and that the world is damned but i believe in good people and in salvation.

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Difficulty level. 10

I like that this movie reminds viewers of the biblical story of Noah and the Flood, in which life on Earth was saved in the ark. God promised never to send the Great Flood again, but here we are—and this time there is no Noah, no Ark, no animals, and no God. The fate of earthly life lies on the shoulders of a troubled mother with a special mission.

Her endeavor reminded me of video games, where there are different difficulty levels depending on how hard it is to win. The movie raises the bar to the maximum—level 10. I would certainly give up halfway through.

The first part of the movie serves as a reference point and carries a strong sense of suspense and urgency. The second part has a completely different feel, with more confusion and exhaustion than enjoyment, but it ultimately leads to a satisfying ending that offers a lot to think about and discuss. The movie is quite relevant to our time, even though it is still science fiction.

There were some inconsistent details that bothered me, such as fish suddenly appearing and fire appearing and disappearing between shots. Still, these flaws are redeemed by strong human moments, and overall this is a memorable movie that I can recommend to everyone.

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Family Action

This is a prime example of "Netflix and chill"—a mindless action comedy that isn't made to win awards but to entertain viewers. I am actually surprised to see that the quality of Korean movies on Netflix is steadily increasing. This movie is filled with many talented actors who light up the screen with their charisma and personality every time they appear. The director made a real effort to give everyone a chance to shine in their role. For me personally, the highlight was a gangster Rambo—I just laughed every time he was on screen.

The comedy mostly consists of silly gags. I could predict many of the jokes before they even happened, but they were still funny. I also liked the final action scene. Usually, the finale is just a generic shootout where the good guys are the last ones standing, but here it was made memorable with plenty of comedy. My only complaint is too many F bombs.

So, being a forgettable action comedy is actually a good thing in this case, because I'll be able to forget the movie and then enjoy it again on a repeat viewing.

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The Korean Murphy's Law

In many Korean movies and dramas you just know that the writers want to add suspense by including the worst possible scenarios. If a character can save himself by going right, he will go left. If there is a chance to make the plot more complicated it will be. I felt that way watching this drama. The premise and the plot twists are great but I felt that it could have all been resolved sooner. The show could have ended after 2 episodes, then after 6, than after 7 and half, than after 8, but it kept going until, luckily, it managed to find its resolve and conclusion. I don't want to give anything aways but I can say the ending is a bit generic. Fortunately there is also a short epilogue that i liked.

On the other side i still enjoyed all 10 hours of this drama, especially in moral and psychological themes of the characters and how the situations lead and change them. It was truly a bloody lucky interesting exciting ride that no one would want to experience in reality.

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Over the River

A day before watching this movie, I read a book about our last king, who was sent into exile after World War I. One of the reasons was that he refused to sign a contract with the Masons. He sacrificed his position of power to stand up for what he believed was right. Naturally, watching this film about a king in exile, I found many parallels and deeply appreciated its themes. The king here is a young boy sent to live in a house on the other side of the river, separated from his people. The movie uses the river as a powerful symbol, but I won’t spoil it here because it is connected with the finale of the movie.

The film also promotes themes of overcoming selfish intentions, loyalty, friendship, community, breaking the boundaries of class — all of which I found meaningful and well-executed.

Unfortunately, the movie didn’t really move me emotionally. For me, it felt too uneven, constantly shifting between comedy and drama. It also relied heavily on cinematic tropes (for example, rain suddenly starting and stopping at the perfect dramatic moment for visual impact). Many scenes felt overly staged, which prevented me from fully immersing myself. Aside from the king’s warden (Yoo Hae-jin) and the king himself, the other characters were mostly caricatures in the background. Strangely, the moment that had the strongest emotional impact on me was the historical records shown at the end of the movie.

Although I respect and like this film, I can’t help but feel it could have been much better.

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Carrying the casket

Touching and meaningful. In the Love Track series, the main plot is love with the addition of certain original elements, but in this episode, the romantic relationship of the main character is actually an addition to the real story — saying goodbye to a dear person who has passed away. The whole story unfolds during the funeral ceremony, so this drama is also educational in showing how Korean funerals are held. I have actually been to one funeral in a Korean church, and I helped carry the casket from the church to the car, so this particular drama was very meaningful to me.

The final images of this drama are also very touching, in a good way. We all have to say goodbye to someone we loved (or rather, not loved, but still love, because death cannot kill love), but we say that goodbye with respect for the life that was lived and with hope for the life that is still to come. There was no priest at this funeral, but there is hope, and I recommend watching this if you have the chance.

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