Great Cast Boring Story
I tuned in because I recognized so many of the faces. I've seen them in other work and I know their individual caliber as actors. I think this film was based on a true story, however, the story is boring. I'm not making light of the real struggles of South Korean firefighters once upon a time. The screenwriter could have done more, whether it was to spark an adrenaline response or pluck out a sympathetic one. I was bored. There was no focus in the cast. Even though it was an ensemble, there was no focus to center the story around, so there were all of these dangling strings. I won't rewatch this film, but I'll stop short of recommending or not recommending others to watch the film. I was bored and found the film forgettable.Was this review helpful to you?
Chinese Hallmark?
Kind of like a Chinese version of a Hallmark movie. Cute, simplen sweet.Was this review helpful to you?
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Just go with it!
This was very telanovelaish. Not a bad thing if that's what you are into. I think the movie would have been much better without the overacting and histrionics from the ML/Villain. However, Vilma Santos was great as Eve the grieving mother out for revenge for the brutal rape and murder of her daughter and her fiancé.I LOL at the end where Eva was killing the ML. It was just too comical for words but I was here for it. I am always down for bad guys getting theirs in the end and this one delivered the goods!
6/8/25
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If life gives obstacles, there must be a reason
Yet another powerful performance from Peng Peng and the whole cast, he is the most hilarious actor when it comes to series, at this point I think screenwriters write keeping him in mind.However, his true undeniable strength lies in movies, each of which is a treasure. Viva la vida (I prefer - Let's wake up the sun), while being incredibly tough, as it depicts mundane life of terminally ill people, brings strong and believable acting, symbolism and hope.
Such dramas are important I think, they give some necessary stimulus for self reflection and reassessment of our own realities. Luu Tu and Ling Min have more reasons to stay alive, than some healthy adults without any purpose and interests in life. Don't wait till it too late! Still, there are more movies with Peng Peng, I just need to recover from this one.
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Almost blew me away!
This was a tense and fast-paced ride where train conductor Takaichi, the passengers and railway staff must work together to prevent the catastrophe.The tension truly kicks in once the passengers find out what is happening. The way panic spreads felt way too believable. It also says a lot about how quickly things can turn ugly in a crisis. People start pointing fingers, paranoia sets in and suddenly it's a full-on witch hunt.
The way politics is shown during the crisis is... painfully realistic. Instead of stepping up, it feels like some people in power are more focused on saving face or pushing their own agendas. You really get that sense of decisions being delayed, emotions being brushed off and the situation being treated more like a PR problem than an actual emergency. It's a frustrating reminder of how, in real life too, how politics can sometimes end up milking a situation instead of solving it.
Visually, the production is top-notch considering Netflix backed it. The cinematography with those wide-angle shots of the train and its surroundings is simply stunning. Everything from the train interiors to the city backdrops was shot beautifully. You can tell a lot of effort went into making it visually engaging.
Acting was easily one of the strongest parts. Everyone brought their A-game and I genuinely couldn’t spot a weak link. If anything, the performances made up for where the story felt a bit thin. Especially when the motive behind the bombing felt a bit weak and under-explained. It didn’t ruin the film for me, but it did soften the impact a bit.
Overall, if you are in the mood for a high-stakes thriller with solid tension and top-tier acting, this one is definitely worth checking out!
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Mixture of emotions
they made me smile laugh cry everything in the end.I loved the progress of the plot with their relationship and how the father expressed his love for his son.
the last few mins they made me cry a lot , such an amazing plot
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Life’s journey from birth to death.
**Worth watching? 💯 If you are a fan of slice-of-life films, then this is a double must-watch for you.**Surprisingly, there's only one review of this masterpiece. I don’t often write reviews, which might explain my inexperienced writing. However, I’m here to share my thoughts.
This movie is a profound life experience. It begins with a wedding and ends with death, symbolizing the journey from the start of life to its inevitable end. It captures the journey from childhood innocence to youthful naivety and ultimately to the regrets of adulthood. This movie connected the unconnected individual in one knot. Highlights the various stages of life, each with its own existential crises, struggles, and perspectives from different characters. The film powerfully articulates the sense of isolation or disconnection that can linger, even in the company of many. The film teaches acceptance and helps us confront our own truths that we often ignore or fear to acknowledge.
From a storytelling viewpoint, as well as an aesthetic one, this film is a visual treat. The cinematography and camera work are exceptionally well-crafted.
Let’s end this review with one of my fav quote sections from the movie :
- "𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙢𝙞𝙭𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙖𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨. 𝙈𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙤 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩'𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙮 𝙬𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢. 𝙈𝙮 𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙮𝙨 - '𝙬𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙨'"
- "𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘦?"
- "𝙄𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙪𝙨 𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙙𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚”
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I don't write reviews very often, but I feel like this movie deserves one. Yes it is a normal romance, very predictable from beginning to end, HOWEVER, I don't think I have seen anything like this before.
Somehow it is an original story, something that we don't often see in romance doramas.
I feel like the movie transmits the character's feelings and growth in a very natural way. Nothing feels forced, nothing feels rushed.
If someone is looking for a movie that will give you butterflies, I hope that this review can help to give it a try.
PD: I gave it a 7 on the rewatch value because it overwhelmed me with feelings, I will not rewatch it any time soon, but probably in the future on a day when I am emotionally underwhelmed, I will come for this again. This is how strong it is.
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"I've lived my entire life looking up"
The Starting Point is a Korean snowy crime drama directed by Lee Man Hee. Crime, murder, prostitution, and dancing by a campfire, this film covered all the noir bases. Lol. If you watch any Korean dramas or films you know better than to be suckered into those happy moments for too long.Seok Gu (though never actually called by name in the film) breaks into a building to steal files from a safe. Hunted by a determined security man, the two fight to the death with Seok losing the briefcase of files. Boss Choi is none too happy and feels that somehow Seok is a threat to the gang’s Seven Year Secret. Choi sends Seok off to Mt Sorak with a prostitute named Seon (whose name is never mentioned in the film) to act as newlyweds. The newlyweds are in a group with other singles and couples, one of whom is a shady gynecologist who treats prostitutes and recognizes Seon.
We never know why Seok thinks he’s been sent to the mountain. Seon was supposed to be sexually available to Seok, but was their a more sinister order at play? We also never learn what the Seven Year Secret plan is. An assassin was sent to the mountain to partake in the fireside festivities as well. And later more bad guys showed up. It seemed like there could have been a much simpler, less convoluted plan to kill Seok. Watching the characters climb, scramble, and fall off the mountain did make use of the gorgeous scenery even if it was shot in black and white. The middle section of the film gave the two main characters a chance to fall in love as they participated in the lodge activities and for some humor to be injected, but as a whole it left that section flabby compared to the thrilling opening and ending segments.
The opening espionage scene was exciting and disconcertingly quiet. Ten minutes passed before a brief word was spoken. The final act with chases up and down the snowy mountain had to have been rigorous and exhausting for the actors. Shin Sung Il and Moon Hee had strong chemistry as two withdrawn people who trusted no one and with good reason. They were also stunningly beautiful to gaze upon. Seon talked Seok into making the difficult climb to the mountaintop. Her whole life she had been looked down upon, just once she wanted to be able to look down instead of up.
Despite concerns I had with the script, The Starting Point was entertaining and only a couple of steps from being very good. If nothing else it was quite aesthetically pleasing and benefited from being restored in 2023. Seon wanted someone to see her and get to know her, “He didn’t hate me,” was as close as she got to true love. In a life filled with pain and shame, maybe it was enough.
7 June 2025
Note: YouTube issues all sorts of warnings about age appropriateness and not for all audiences. There was no nudity. No sexual scenes. No gratuitous violence or gore. There was a notice about the birth control pill being available. People did seem to be concerned about a population boom, but other than that, I’m not sure what the warning was for. The women all clutched their pearls upon finding out Seon was a prostitute, so maybe whoever posted the film was concerned about a prostitute being a main character. I honestly I have no idea what the problem was.
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For fans of action thrillers, Thai cinema and stories that expose the dark layers of a big city, this film is a good choice. Prepare yourself for an intense and relentless journey through an urban hell where danger is always lurking.
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For fans of darker, more thoughtful crime dramas that explore the complexities of morality and the harsh realities of life on the margins of society, “Outside” is a solid choice. It’s a reminder that even for those who seek a second chance, the road to redemption can be brutal and fraught with obstacles.
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While it may have some dramatic elements that lean toward melodrama (common in productions based on real events), the execution is so engaging and the performances so sincere that these moments are easily overshadowed by the raw emotion of the story. It is a film that captivates the audience from start to finish, leaving the viewer with a sense of admiration for human resilience and capacity in times of extreme adversity. Recommended for fans of disaster films, dramas based on true events, and anyone who enjoys stories of heroism.
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