rachel
Singapore
I’ve read elsewhere that the story does resemble that of Forrest Gump, but here I think there is a very different emphasis. Forrest Gump focuses mainly on one man’s journey, while this show also touches on modernity and how it’s perceived by our parents’ generation, and the generation gap between our parents and our current generation.
As a broad sweep through Korean history, definitely a good and well-dramatised one. For non-Koreans it’s definitely quite enlightening since it does feature certain events outside the North-South conflict narrative we usually see in action movies.
But in general, the movie is so moving because of its emphasis on family and one’s duty to family, and that’s why I found it so moving. Bonus fact: watched it in the cinema with my mum and I think it's safe to say there wasn't a dry eye in the cinema hall!
Was surprised to see Kim Yunjin snag such a major Korean role after watching her in Lost. However, Hwang Jung-min’s character definitely takes centre stage in the story. He does such a great job. Oh Dal-soo as usual is fantastic as his comical sidekick.
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Seeing that the issue of plastic surgery is the main focus of this movie, it definitely had a lot of potential to explore Hanna's motivations and the consequences of her decision to go under the knife. But the story plays it very safe. I didn't get a clear stance from the movie about undergoing plastic surgery to beautify oneself and I finished the movie feeling pretty confused about what to think about the lead character's transformation. Even her emotional conflicts about undergoing surgery aren't well-explored, and the story tries to explain away these emotional conflicts by some simple crying scenes that don't have much depth or meaning to them.
I found myself liking the old, fat Hanna than the new, sexy Hanna, and that's probably a credit to Kim Ah Joong in her fat suit.
Joo Jin-mo plays well the role of the suave guy who Hanna has a crush on. Yet, and I'm not sure if this is due to poor writing or poor acting, I never get a clear sense of what he thinks of the old Hanna and the new Hanna. There are hints of his opinion towards plastic surgery, and his perception of the old Hanna, but there's no real exploration of how he feels about her transformation.
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This show has pretty much everything - a compelling romance, exciting mysteries and action scenes. In a way the story felt very similar to I Hear Your Voice, probably because they share the same writer-director team.
I love that the central relationship is strong - Choi In Ha and Choi Dal Po, and there isn't too much unnecessary angst as is too often the case in Korean dramas, and it gave us so many scenes of cuteness.
Well it certainly seems like everything Lee Jong Suk touches on TV turns to gold. While his character in this show really reminds me of his character in I Hear Your Voice, I didn't feel there was any baggage in his portrayal of the character. I was compelled and won over to his side, and rooting for him and his relationships and journalistic career. Can I also say Lee Jong Suk is a damn good crier?
Park Shin Hye finally was given the opportunities to show her abilities in dramatic and comedic acting which seem to have been buried somewhere after You're Beautiful.
I am a fan of Roy Kim and was pleasantly surprised at Tiger JK's inclusion in a drama soundtrack, so I quite enjoyed this soundtrack.
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The most compelling part of this show is what Jo In Sung did with his role. Very emotional and credible performance of a character with a pretty dark past. I do wish the show had a better focus on his character's story because it was really what kept me watching the show in the second half.
There were certain aspects of the story that left me pretty irritated. Perhaps the characters' quirks, frustating behaviour and decisions can be excused by the fact that this drama is celebrating how everyone has their own skeletons and "mental issues". Another thing is that there was so much talk of sex, especially in the first half of the show. I had a "whoa back off a bit" feeling towards that part of the story. Even then, I did appreciate some of the frank talk about sex in this show.
However, I did appreciate how the drama tries to explain mental illnesses to the layman viewer. It's a small but important step towards better treatment and understanding of mental illness.
Kudos to the music team for choosing non-Korean songs for the OST though.
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As for the cast, Ha Ji Won, being the consummate action star and the main star of this movie, does a really good job in the action side of things, and the emotional side of things. Kang Ye Won was OK and played the requisite doofus of the trio. Of the three angels, Ga In's character is the smallest so she had minimal time to show off her acting chops. I've only watched her in Dream High so far. She was OK I guess.
In short, a pretty straightforward female-focused brainless action movie in a sageuk context.
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Song Kang-ho brings 110% to every role he plays. I thoroughly enjoyed his performance, as always. He put in a convincing performance for a character who starts off in the story as a slimy and money-faced lawyer, but grows and evolves to become a man and a lawyer of conviction who is utterly convicted of his beliefs, and who you would be proud to support. Kim Young-ae puts in such a moving performance as Jin-woo's kind-hearted and wise mother. Im Shi-wan is really good as a fresh-faced but principled young man.
This movie was a hit in Korea, understandably so. It addresses a pretty recent part of Korean history, it appropriately brings you through the emotional highs and lows, is based on a true story, and has a fantastic cast. Highly recommended.
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From my paltry background in literature, I spotted hints of themes and characters I studied in The Great Gatsby, an American classic. I'm really, really impressed that a Korean drama is ambitious to go this far in exploring relationships and universal themes that have been a mainstay of other artistic forms. Whether our characters meet the same fate as Gatsby in the book is up to you to find out.
The posters make the affair look like a sizzling romance, but this show is actually light on the physical passion, and heavy on the emotional tension and chemistry. Music is a conduit for the characters to express their passions and emotions, which is much more beautiful and satisfying than physical passion.
The directing is very controlled. There are no sudden movements or harshly lighted scenes, and the earthly tones of the show help contribute to the withheld tone of the show.
The classical music is beautiful in execution, and its use in the show. The background stories of composers is masterfully integrated into the stories of the characters and relationships. I"m really impressed by this aspect. In that sense, the music itself is a character in the show, influencing and speaking into the lives of the characters. This, I think, is the best use of music in a show.
Kim Hee Ae is also extremely controlled in her acting, hence showing her skills as an actress. This control should not be interpreted as stiff; it is actually vital to our understanding of her character. Similarly, Yoo Ah In does a brilliant job of playing a character who is young, rash and passionate, yet a man, mature beyond his years and full of empathy. They have great chemistry too.
I don't usually rewatch dramas, but if I ever do, I can picture myself watching this. This drama is so subtle and controlled in its direction and acting that it'd probably be easy to pick up different messages and emotions from each scene.
Deserves the critical reception it gets.
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The show starts off right in the centre of things, which is great and gets you excited about the events that have transpired. A theme I enjoyed from this show is the father-daughter bond which is the beating heart of this story. Yes the romantic relationships were important too, but this familial relationship is the strongest and most compelling for the characters and viewers. Another theme I enjoyed is Taesan's personal journey during his two weeks on the run, his maturation and self-reflection on all the wrongs he's done to the people in his life. It's so damn satisfying to see him making an about-turn in his outlook towards life.
But about halfway through the drama, I started feeling slightly weary, which hinted to me that this wasn't an *excellent* drama. There's just something missing from this show to make it excellent.
On a positive note, Lee Jun Ki did a very good job with this role. He was utterly committed in all aspects - the action scenes, his conversations with In-hye or his daughter Su-jin, and in particular, my favourite, the scenes of self-reflection. Park Ha-sun was good too, particularly in the flashback scenes.
The villains were alright, but I guess one thing that got me frustrated was how the villains could sometimes outsmart the good guys so easily, or even how the villains were so incompetent at being villainous.
On the whole, a very very thrilling ride, packed with action but emotionally compelling and heartwrenching.
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The narrative does keep to its intended track pretty safely - the antagonizing event strikes at a pretty predictable spot in the movie and the characters crack when they're expected to. But as is reflected in the story, the deviant streak that brews under the surface and suddenly erupts still takes you by surprise.
Where this movie excels is the casting - I think the casting reflected the characters and the actors' respective inclinations very well.
A pretty entertaining movie that leaves you with a little something to think about, but it does evaporate pretty quickly.
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Initially I was skeptical of the plot because it sounded a lot like Queen In Hyun's Man. But oh well, since it has two of the biggest stars around, it's probably gonna be good, right? Yup it's pretty good. Cheon Song Yi is such a great character - so confident, such a braggart, but so confident of herself in a good way. Do Min Joon, such a fish out of water in Cheon Song Yi's presence. They were obviously meant to be right from the start. There is plenty of humour not just from the lead couple, also from the side characters.
Admittedly, the attractiveness of Kim Soo Hyun, Jeon Ji Hyun and Park Hae Jin play a huge part in the charm and popularity of their characters. But I stand by my opinion that they executed their parts with finesse and they carried the emotional weight of their characters. Jeon Ji Hyun, in particular, as an actress playing a haughty actress with characteristics that the public probably thinks she has, is hilarious. The character was written brilliantly, but some credit goes to her for playing it 100%. Kim Soo Hyun keeps picking great projects that keep his star going higher and higher.
The ending did leave me feeling unsatisfied, similar to the logical loopholes in Queen In Hyun's Man. But overall, it's a really entertaining show with a good balance of laughs and tears.
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I was expecting a movie that would perhaps be more reflective or insightful about what allowed the researcher to deceive Korea and the rest of the world for so many years, but I guess the focus of the movie was really on the whistleblower himself, and his internal struggles with revealing the truth.
Park Hae Il impressed me with his doggedly determined character. I myself watched it for Yoo Yeon Seok, but I wasn't that impressed by him either, regardless of the fact that he was a secondary character to Park Hae Il's PD character.
On the whole, it is an exciting thriller but I was disappointed by it.
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The story is quite charming on the face of it - who doesn't love an underdog story? The characters also seem fully developed and thought out. However, the show falls short in its execution. I'm not sure what to attribute it to, the acting or the direction. I tend to attribute it to the direction, since the cast does feature some experienced and established actors who do a decent job with their characters. Especially Lee Seon Gyun and Lee Sung Min, who does provide moments of humour.
The use of the era of 1997 is significantly different from how it was used in the Answer Me series - it's now a lookback on childhood as an adult, instead of the process of getting to adulthood. What I did enjoy is how the main romantic relationship isn't expressed through in-your-face grandiose moments, but is written into little moments and it creeps up on you. I did hear good things about the team behind this show - I have not yet watched Pasta but I plan to, one day.
Lee Yeon-hee's acting skills improve vastly in this show as compared to the previous shows I've seen her in. However, she is definitely helped by the fact that she plays a well-formed, nuanced and relatable character, as well as playing opposite Lee Seon Gyun, who oozes charisma and stage presence. In fact, I'm thankful she isn't completely overshadowed by him in their scenes together. What I love about her character is her hardiness, her growth throughout the show and her sincerity which changes everyone around her by the end of the show.
Ms Ma is written well - on the outside she's a cold, professional and firm pageant expert, but on the inside, she is a principled woman. She sincerely cares for the welfare of every girl, and plays fair. Intellectually, I understand this, but emotionally, I initially found myself not compelled or moved by this character. Fortunately, by the end of the show, I fully understood Ms Ma and grew to love her too. The villain Yun was puzzling at times.
The show only really picks up from its "slump" in episode 9 or so. Before that, the company storyline to be on the brink of making progress but never makes any movement, which frustrated me. Thankfully the story does make good progress after episode 9 and it gradually grabbed my heart.
I enjoyed much of the background music, which brought out the bleaker tone of the era.
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About the geopolitical aspect of the story, it is certainly an optimistic and dramatized take on what really goes on at the JSA, a reflection of Korean sentiment at the time of its making. It raises the question of whether the mutual distrust of almost 60 years can be overcome, and this is painfully highlighted in the climax of the movie. The introduction of the background to Lee Young Ae's character felt like a last minute addition to the story and didn't add anything of significance to the story for me, though it may be of significance in the history of the Korean War.
Song Kang Ho gives a very controlled performance, and I've enjoyed many of his subsequent movies. Lee Young Ae plays a non-resident Korean and so uses English heavily during the show, which, being a non-native language, does make her delivery awkward and affects her portrayal during those chunks of dialogue. However, she still does a better job than the English you hear from Korean actors in many contemporary Korean dramas, so it's hard to fault the movie for that. Lee Byung Hun's character's story and the gravitas of his character is certainly handed to him on a silver platter and he does a good job of it.
Overall, a movie worthy of its place in the history of Korean film.
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I've never seen Doojoon acting, and I know it's not his first acting project. I was pleasantly surprised that he did a good job in this show, but was probably helped by the fact that his character did not carry much emotional baggage or gravity.
The progression of the story arcs could have been improved. I mostly enjoyed the development of the love square (?), but the pace was definitely markedly slower compared to other dramas. The suspenseful story arcs were written to keep us on our toes, yet I felt that they fell flat and were resolved without much consequence for the overall story. Jin Yi's suspenseful arc also felt very rushed. The theme I enjoyed most was about single people living alone, but coming together to find family in each other. In this aspect, this drama reminded me of Flower Boy Next Door.
As someone who really enjoys her food, I did enjoy the food porn scenes. It took all my willpower not to stuff myself with food while watching these scenes. It's true that sometimes it felt like the screenplay went overboard with those scenes, but food does play an important part in this movie, sometimes helping to explain the characters' state of minds and the state of their relationships.
On the whole, this is a light and feel-good show with no high drama or angst, yet it kept me invested and gave me many laughs.
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The ensemble cast is pretty delightful, and is well led by Cha Tae Hyun, who does well as always as the deceivingly bumbling but smart protagonist. His character plays off of Oh Ji Ho's straight-laced, principled character, as always. It makes for many humorous hijinks and dramatic tension and conflict. By the end of the show, I came to love every single character.
The ending credits do have some extra material to enjoy, so don't turn it off till it's really over!
An action sageuk that provides the right thrills, spills and laughs. A very enjoyable ride.
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