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Korean Mad Max
Badland Hunters (or in my language Lovci u pustoši) is a spectacular post apocalyptic action movie. I still haven't seen "Concrete Utopia" nor did i read a Webtoon on which this movie is based of, but that wasn't a problem because this movie works great on its own.The movie starts with a little bit of comedy to attract interest but very quickly continues with brutal and intense action. Fans of action and fighting won't be disappointed. In fact this movie has the best fighting scenes i saw in a while, mostly thanks to, of course, non else then Ma Dong Seok who is playing the main hunter Nam San and reminds me of Mad Max. Actually, while still being quite different, there are many other things here that reminds me of Mad Max movie and I would wish to see more from this world and characters.
The story is also strong and makes us think about the meaning of life in the world without dignity and hope. Goodness and humanity are more important than just surviving.
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Minji is in Love
Ordinary but cute. A very lovely friend of mine is called Min-ji, and after watching this short high school drama comedy, I now know three more people with the same name. When you share a name with someone else, you need something other than your name to distinguish yourself from others. There are nicknames, and there are also different personalities that help people recognize us.Similar to other episodes of the great "Love: Track" series, this one explores the topic of love, but also of one’s identity. Even more than the story of finding and expressing love, what touched me here is the main character’s search for identity. The valuable lesson is that we develop our identity in relationship with others, and it was refreshing to see a positive depiction of high school life (in comparison to the many heavy topics often shown in Korean cinema). Well worth the watch.
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Go is Life, Life is Go
I know the basic rules of game Go, but it was always too intimidating to me to really start playing. Life is similar, there are basic rules of surviving but to win in life, you need to navigate through complex challenges. I believe this is why this movie was so captivating for me. The producers really did a great job depicting how the main characters live with the game. As you play and learn the game, you also learn to live. The characters had to find answers when there are none, fight against themselves and learn to respect the game. I was deeply moved by the inspirational story of this movie.What amazes me also is that this is all true story and as far as I understands it is as true as possibile. Two Go players, a famous Cho Hun-hyun and his student Lee Chang-ho become rivals and the simple but strong drama between them is more gripping than fictional story could ever be. There is a real honesty about this movie that make it a representative for sports drama. The actors also seem to represent authentically the characters and emotions of the real people.
My conclusion: If you watch this movie you will learn a lot about Go, but even more about life.
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Fun but forgettable
Not gonna lie. I had fun watching this movie but ultimately this seems like one of those average Netflix movies. I guess what bothers me the most is that the movie resembles Hollywood action comedies a little too much and I wouldn't want Korean movies going that direction.In terms of comedy and action, the film provides enough material. I didn't find some jokes funny at all, but others made me laugh out loud. Also, the production is at a high level so we have some very good action scenes. The plot is interesting, but forced. Many events happen without any logic, but so that the story can take the desired course. This is an ideal movie for those who want to refresh a boring evening, but it is not a movie that will be on any top lists.
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Exorcism for me and you
I came to this movie after watching the "Exuma" and I can say that between these two movies there are many similarities in both the atmosphere and the structure of the movie. Although this is a short movie, it is divided into chapters whose names are written over the screen in English, Korean and Chinese language. The difference is that here it is about demonic possession, and in "Exhuma" it is about the dead who have not found their peace. Also, similarly, the center of the action is on the characters, so here the deacon who participates in the exorcism is even more important then the act of exorcism itself.I really liked the movie. It is quite intense and scary, but also comforting in a way. I personally participated in two exorcisms, and I never wanted to do them again because, to be honest, I am afraid of darkness and evil. That's why this movie has a good message. We all have bad experiences and dark areas of our life, but if we want to live in the light, we cannot run away from the darkness, we must face it and overcome it. Therefore, we all need some kind of exorcism, some sort of cleansing and liberation.
PS. If you want to know the whole story of this short movie watch "The Priests" (2015).
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So harsh
Drama Special is a great format, sometimes too short, but sometimes just right. This episode is the later, short but impactful. The main lead is a competent good man but his fate seems to turn everything against him and he is falling deeper and deeper. This is the premise and it is best, not to know more but to just relax and watch it. In fact this is not a relaxing story because the story is so real and while watching i couldn't help but sympathize with people whose jobs are so stressful and complicated.If you had time to read this review, please find an hour of your life to watch this drama. It has an important message and is very well made.
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A Birth of a Priest
For a long time I was searching for this movie, and finally I saw it and I must give it a 10/10 because I am so happy that it was made. This is not a typically entertainment movie but a historical biographical drama about the "adventures" of Andrew Kim Dae Geon, first Korean Priest.The film is very long, but I watched it over four days with great excitement and interest, and that's why I wasn't bored at any point. I enjoyed every scene. The cinematography of the film is excellent. Every scene is detailed and beautiful as a photography. The actors are also very good. The flow of the plot is a bit fragmented as it covers a lot of topics and events, but that is understandable for this type of film. I think that those who are already familiar with the life of Andrew Kim will enjoy the film more because they will be able to recognize future saints in some of the characters along with the main character who is the trademark name of Korean saints.
Many elements from the film I already knew before, I have been to many places in Korea that are shown here, even on the small boat Rafael on Jeju Island. As a priest, I had a very emotional experience watching the challenges faced by the first Christians, accused of collaborating with foreign enemies and disrespecting the king, and especially the situation with priests who had to be ready for martyrdom and death.
That is the message of this movie. This is not about the birth of one man, but about the birth of a priest, the birth of a new Korea that will be open to the gospel, and a spiritual birth through baptism and martyr's blood, because what is death if not a new birth? Listen to the last words of the main character of this movie, priest Andrew Kim Dae geon: "I have held communication with foreigners only for my religion and my God. It is for Him that I die. My immortal life is now on the point of birth."
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hard life of high school girl
The movie is better then i though. I was expecting a B level movie made just for the message or the practice of some new talents, but i found the message of the movie very compelling and the final production was not bad at all. The actors were decent (even though the extras were funny entering and exiting the scene to try to make it more believable), the story had more dimensions with side characters and there were some very emotional moments, especially the last scene where ... oh, no spoilers.The movie is a high-school drama and a tragic death mystery. The mystery elements serve the story well, slowly revealing more information and so increasing the interest until the end. I was especially attentive since i saw it without english subtitles and had to concentrate to understand some dialogue but certainly i missed few things due to not being able to understand everything. so if you'll give this movie a try, stick with it until the end.
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Beware how you use a gun
First of all, I had no expectations about the movie and I didn’t know what kind of movie this is before watching it. It turns out to be a psychological thriller drama so if that is what you are ready for, this is a gem. But if you expect some intense action, twists and turns, shocks and thrills, you might be disappointed.Before watching the movie it came to my mind that Kim Ki-duk was making a movie about a gun, so if anything I was interested in the role of a revolver for this movie. Silently I hoped to see a little bit of Kim Ki-duk genre and I would say that I got it. Director Oh Seung-uk is exploring the human psychology in a unique way by showing us a few distinct characters and their clashing with one another. Revolver is still here to push them a little further than they would normally go. The story is simple but is developing in an intriguing way, actors are superb, the production and visuals truly excellent.
I remember the movie “Shameless” from the same director with a similar casting and a similar tone. And I saw other projects he worked on, but they are too few. I see here that all of them have a score around 7 but for me they are all 9 or 10/10. That means I am a fan.
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Love VS Kids
Just recently, a Korean girl I know told that she has decided not to have children because she doesn’t see the point of bringing a new life into this world. Isn’t that depressing? Well, this movie brightened up my mood because it presents the same issue — a woman who doesn’t want kids but wants to be with the guy she loves, not knowing that he already has a child. This setup creates plenty of comedic moments, but it also serves as positive propaganda for having children. Kids in a relationship may shake the romantic love a little at first, but they elevate the relationship to an even better level and can only deepen the love.The official title of the movie is a little misleading: Heartman: Rock and Love. Sure, there is one rock song, but the rest of the movie is just a classic romantic comedy. The film has some originality, but if you’ve seen many Korean movies of this type, you’ll notice quite a few elements that feel copy-pasted. The main actors were good, but I expected more from them — their emotions didn’t quite come through. The supporting actors, however, were excellent and really funny.
If anything, please support and watch this movie for its message.
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Crash, Clash, Chaos
A modern art film of the younger generation, made with plenty of symbolism, decadent shots, and eccentric main characters who nevertheless reflect the experiences of some (I hope not many) teenagers. To understand what kind of film this is, it’s enough to say that it opens with an image of larvae turning into cockroaches and emerging from their cocoons.So, despite its unconventional style and characters, at its core this is a cautionary film that warns about the real problems faced by young people. The mobile phone plays a major role throughout — it’s the tool used to arrange all the schemes, the means of communication, but also of attack. It’s no wonder the film compares phones to knives as weapons.
I won’t reveal anything about the plot because it’s an important part of the viewing experience. I can only say that the film felt comically tragic to me. I had to laugh at some scenes even though everything carries a depressive tone. I hope and pray that the younger generations will overcome their problems, whether with the help of good friends, parents, or mentors. The actors are very good. The music is excellent at times because the funky musical vibe serves as a strong contrast to the story, and stylistically the film offers a unique viewing experience.
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Idiot Girls and School Ghost 2: Teaching Practice
2 people found this review helpful
Power of Teacher
I watched the first "Idiot Girls and School Ghost" and this sequel over two days. The sequel stays faithful to the original, introducing new characters and new ghosts, while keeping the same satirical comedic horror atmosphere and style. Once again, we follow a group of “not-so-smart” students who try to cheat on their exams by challenging the school ghosts. This time, instead of playing hide-and-seek, they face mini-challenges presented like a video game.The sequel doesn’t even try to be scary. The ghost elements are mostly symbolic — they represent a theoretical danger to the students and serve as an allegory for the terrifying teachers who pressure and threaten “poor” students preparing for exams. However, not all teachers are scary; some take their duty to care for and protect students very seriously, and the main character is one of them.
I was a bit disappointed with the ghosts. They were funny, sure, but their performance was pretty weak. I’d even switch the words in the title and call this movie School Girls and Idiot Ghosts. Also, why do the students curse so much? Anyway, this is a fun, light watch when you don’t have anything important to do.
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Alien acting
A veteran Korean actor, Lee Dong-hwi, plays a version of himself with the same name Lee Dong-hwi. Interestingly, I recently watched a similar movie about another actor, Jung Woo, and the acting world. This film is a self-reflective comedy about the life of an actor. It shows the main actor’s vulnerability and honesty.I love Korean movies, but I often struggle with Korean comedies. They usually carry a good message, and this movie is no exception. However, the jokes often didn’t land well for me. I only laughed twice — once at a fart joke and once at a sandwich scene. The rest of the time, it felt overly silly, with too much yelling that was uncomfortably loud on my speakers rather than funny or entertaining. Oh, and I also laughed at the post-credit scene at the end.
The movie uses the analogy of acting as an alien character to represent feeling alien to your own life. It explores what happens when acting becomes your life and your life becomes acting. We all play certain roles in life, and we need the wisdom to stay true to ourselves.
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Let the Children Fight
Physical fighting is common in very young children, but they soon learn how to express their emotions and solve problems with words. It’s usually best to avoid fights, but sometimes fighting it out seems to be the best option, especially for children. In this movie, we follow high schoolers who often use their fists, along with one strange girl who gets involved in the fights and tries to set the record straight. The film contains a bit of drama, comedy and action.The story wasn’t very convincing. The comedy provided a good refreshment every now and then, but the best part of the movie were the action scenes. Although it wasn’t believable to watch a girl fighting boys — especially since we never see her train — the fight scenes had strong energy and felt satisfying.
I actually don’t know what this movie wanted to achieve. If it was meant to give young actors a chance to act, then I understand. But from a story perspective, I don’t see anything particularly memorable. Or maybe I’m already too old for high school movies.
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Kidnapping Issues
This is the kind of claustrophobic thriller that has only a few characters, all confined to a small space for the entire duration of the movie. You know, like Phone Booth, 10 Cloverfield Lane, Devil, ...This movie features just three characters, and 99% of it takes place inside a locked apartment. Adding more characters and different settings could have made the film feel more complete, but keeping it limited actually helps maintain the dramatic atmosphere and keeps the focus on the main plot. I really appreciate that the movie only included what was necessary for the story and didn’t waste time on unnecessary extras. It also keeps the budget under control.
Overall, for what it is, this was a great watch. The plot was quite interesting, and the tension kept building throughout the entire movie. It contains quite a bit of violence, especially toward women, so it might be disturbing for some viewers. If you like thrillers and get the chance, I definitely recommend checking this movie out.
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