Reviews

This film is dark, in parts.

Not only the theme is dark at times, but the actual cinematography is often done with the lighting behind, so you can't see much definition in the characters' faces. Especially night scenes and indoor scenes were very poorly lit.

I did feel like there wasn't enough interaction, after the two main characters' first meeting, to justify the rich guy's level of obsession, and also that the poor guy's reaction to being sought after was inexplicably aggressive, and rude - for no reason I could fathom. That's down to the script, though.

Otherwise the film was very good. The acting excellent as expected; Kim Nam Gil never fails to deliver. Generally, the plot was interesting, and held my attention.
Overall, I enjoyed the film and, literally, wish I could have seen more of it.

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First half good. Second half meh.

For me this was a tale of two parts. First half of the movie I was genuinely amused. I was giggling really often mostly because I was constantly like omg these boys are being so stupid that it's frickin' hilarious like the whole thing with the bathroom, or the dramatics of just handing over a roll of tape. (I wouldn't count these as spoilers). But then I hit the 2nd half of the movie and it started to drag. I noticed myself getting fidgety, going on my phone. I guess the school festival parts were too long and tempted me to do some skipping. As for the cast, although nobody really stood out, they were all reasonably believable to me as a bunch of high school boys and girls. The only memorable one for me was Yoshitake, but that's because he's the only actor I recognized from elsewhere. At some point during the movie I realized he played Taichi in Chihayafuru live action except with very different hair. Didn't take note of any music so I guess it must've been either sufficient without standing out or it was a movie without much music. I would not rewatch the movie again, but wouldn't mind rewatching clips of some scenes.

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love this movie. (one tiny spoiler)

The thing that made this movie good is the story, characters, food, and the whole vibe of the bakery. The characters are all unique and have their own story which really made me see their pov on things. like when Min Sun Woo confessed to Kim Jin Hyuk in high school, we got to see both of their thoughts/pov and it really cleared some things up for me. The design of the bakery is marvelous and I'm in love with the way it has an antique/fancy restaurant type of style. I love how all the characters care for Jin Hyuk no matter how rude and annoying he is. The food looks absolutely delicious even though I don't like sweets. The story is great, and I like how they added queer representation. Overall, I love this movie and I would give it a 10/10 I know this movie won't appeal to everyone cause some people are looking for a great story instead, but I really recommend watching this! (This is my first review, sorry if it's bad)

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WTF Did I just watch?!

From the poster, I expected some "forbidden love" kind of scenes between Hyoju and Hyeyong but instead what we get is a cold Hyoju and a strangely one sided obsessiveness from Hyeyong that doesn't end up anywhere. I really could not stand Hyeyong as a character - the way she behaved was so STRANGE and awkward and I hated her hairstyle. Her lines were strange, her reaction to basically being sexually assaulted (had upskirt pics taken of her and circulated) was strange and her clinginess towards Hyoju was never properly addressed and made her come across like an idiot instead. The plot creaked by at an excruciatingly slow pace and it was unbearable despite being only 1.5 hr long. I also could not wrap my head around how 2 teachers could be so attracted to a student that does not even ooze an ounce of charisma. Are Korean teachers so sexually pent up they literally cave in at the mere flirtation of a young(er) male? Because this show does nothing to show how Jae Ha even manages to win over both these 2 women's hearts.

Honestly, I dont even know what to say about this movie. It was trying to come across as provocative in the most conservative way possible (not a scene of nudity despite 3 sex scenes) so it was like watching a kid friendly porno. Oh and that "murder" scene was possibly the most PG scene of someone getting seriously burned ever. Plot doesn't make much sense and is too goddamn slow, Hyeyong is so fking annoying, acting is alright but nothing to write home about. Is this worth a watch? Maybe, if you've exhausted all other means of entertainment. Would I recommend this? Absolutely not, and if you're in the "mood" for more "scandalous" type of shows I would suggest watching a western show instead because Korean movies are really too sanitized.

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Don't fall for star studded cast

It is a huge let down with amazing actors like Ji Chang wook, Kim Sang ho, Lee Hani and Oh Jung se. The makers didn't use them efficiently, especially Lee Hani's character. They gave space for 2nd part with escape of Lee Hani, if they ever make it, better come up with convincing story.
Story: it has one of the best opening scenes. Start is great with mother bonding, injustice and prison scenes make viewer's blood boil. So naturally expectations keep growing. Then you find problem in everything that happens because story went bleak and too convenient for protagonist. Then comes not so surprising reveal of mastermind who is wise but don't stand a chance against our team. My major complain is the very team, no one is memorable, didn't develop bond with team members or audience, who are they, what do they do, how do they live, why are they helping at the risk of their lives... can't convince myself that 2 hr long movie isn't enough to explain everything.
Oh Jung se's role could have been best in his career if they didn't make a joke out of it. That ending is plain dumb. Action sequences and car chases are well shot, cinematography is also good.

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Dysfunctional family to touch. True to life. Rough. Surprisingly on a positive note though

"Boomerang Family" refers to the term 'boomerang kids': adults who for pragmatic reasons move back in with their parents - mostly for financial reasons, because of unemployment or because of divorce. The protagonists of this KMovie are the mother, her three adult children and her granddaughter. Together they form the boomerang family.

In South Korea, family is the greatest good. Family is omnipresent and gets involved everywhere. This does not mean, however, that family is therefore only associated with happiness, love and warmth. On the contrary. There's a lot of pain associated with it. Much is and remains unsaid. Punches are often included as well.

That's what "Boomerang Family" is about - the dysfunctional aspects of a simple family. Strife and rivalry and fights. Envy and inferiority. Pride. Yet also moments of happiness. Eventually not being seen. Yet, being seen, too. Unspoken truths that will sooner or later be told anyway. Very private, often rough, unsightly, even downright repulsive manners in everyday interactions in the smallest of spaces, which we actually (if at all) only share in the closest, most intimate circle. E.g. in family, that takes you as you are. (Inevitably.) (Out of habit.) (Because one is just so familiar due to the proximity in time and space that one has shared.) (Out of love?)

The bottom line in "Boomerang Family" is love, which, in its most screwed up way, slumbers and lurks somewhere behind the curtain of mostly ugly, all too familiar patterns of everyday, long-established, well-established manners. Strangely enough, it is simply there.

In the world of the protagonists that curtain is rather shabby. Life is simple. The language rough. Proximity is created through shouting, scrambles and fights. Community can be experienced through shared meals, though. Those meals structure family life and become a connecting, binding medium. The common meal is the place of communication and encounter under largely regulated, peaceful conditions. Everything before and after, however, can quickly (almost certainly) get out of hand.

A special aspect for South Korean conditions, where the direct bloodline is still enormously important: Over time, it becomes clear that the protagonist family is actually a rather progressive variant of a patchwork family. Because of that fact, at first glance all seems to be in question. Nevertheless, this realization cannot erase the lived experience as a "family". The simple, unnamed, tangible, rustic, crude 'love' between siblings that is celebrated with this movie, is not in the genes, but has grown out of shared experiences. In this message lies the magic of this otherwise rather brittle, sometimes dark story. Eventually the heaviness is balanced here and there with a breeze of quite idiosyncratic humor.

Everyone in the family has their own stories and small, medium or big tragedies that bring them back together under one roof. A dysfunctional family to touch, true to life, authentic, in all obscenity. As a spectator, you are brought up close, sometimes closer than you might like. Heaviness and pessimism may want to impose themselves in the course of events, but they ultimately fail to determine the emotional space. You wouldn´t believe it, but the story ends on a consistently positive note.

The KMovie is a film adaptation of a novel. It could also be a theatrical performance. It touches, repels, shamelessly places the ugly next to moments of happiness. Who actually is to judge life? What is good? What is beautiful? What is valuable? What is happiness? Ultimately, all protagonists feel (not only, but ALSO) valuable and happy in their affiliation. So what are the criteria for evaluating the quality of life? "Boomerang Familie" chooses a very idiosyncratic, but ultimately soothing perspective - beyond lifestyle, image, aesthetics or monetary wealth.

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A ROM COM for people who don't like ROM COMS

Hiya,

This page has a description of this film that is appallingly bad. It's actually rather simple and should go something like this --

"Heartbroken Girl enlists her babe friends to convert her to a hottie to win her best male friend's love."

This story has all the ROM COM tropes -- but the magic here is the twist that Zhou Xun adds by simply being... Zhou Xun. I genuinely believe she is the century's answer to Bette Davis. Which is the highest compliment I can pay an actress. It means she is an icon. That can play any role well or better. And anything she touches usually shines.

Feminists may initially resent the tone this film takes with 'being a hottie to land the man'. I get it. The movie appears to suggest that if you're not a whiny little 14 year old slut -- men can't even see you. But don't abandon it. The message evolves.

This will never be thought of as one of Zhou Xun's best films. But it's a really well written, shot, directed acted film -- and therefore should be.

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Iconic monster movie, hijacked by teen horror film.

Gamera vs Teen Mass Murderer. Just like watching angsty high school mean kids bully a giant turtle, because who cares if someone else dies during revenge. And besides, no one died really on the path to stupidity, did they. it was all the monster's fault, my feelings needed those deaths for validation.

That lack of empathy, and humanity in teen horror movies - Is the power that drives the violence in them forward, and so does it here. Whether, you use a monster, or make yourself into one. All those people died horribly, because the world owes a teenager something. But, this wasn't suppose to be a teen slasher film.

I can compare it to watching an arc in an anime, that you know doesn't belong. Then you find out it was written by producers, because the manga is on going, and they've run out of issues. So, they made something up. Gamera is suppose to be fun, and with humanity. This, had neither.

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This movie adaptation is a little different from the original book "The youthful you who was so beautiful". The movie left out many details. But, considering it's a movie adaptation, it's quite understandable, as there is a time limit for it. The story is still well presented. It fullfil its purpose.

The acting is top-notch. The actors did a great job, specially the two main leads Jackson Yee and Zhou Dong Yu. I loved the cinematography.

I highly recommend people to read the book this movie is adapted from "The youthful you who was so beautiful" by Jiu Yue Xi.

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Don't come for the romance

Lee Jong Suk plays a young many with an attitude that seems he doesn't even care about swimming. Pressure can take enjoyment out of anything. Seo In Guk is a young man that has basically nothing and needs to work for everything he gets. The movie does a good job with the bromance, showing how they become better once they become friends.

Kwan Yu Ri - I felt that her part was poorly written and not very well acted, if I'm honest. I couldn't see how either of them could fall in love with her and she just seemed too shallow.

We get to see Lee Jong Suk's charm, which is always a bonus.
Seo In Guk with physical comedy and over-the-top use of his face and his hands, just wonderful. He does goofy well (as further evidenced by Shopping King Louie and King of High School).

I enjoyed the swimming scenes, as well as the rare opportunity for an overbearing parent to turn around.

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enjoyed the movie version more than the series

Overall: A slower paced/subtle romance dealing with a realistic problem. I would suggest watching this instead of the series. Watched on Youtube.

Content warnings: none I can think of

What I Liked
- a more realistic reason for the drama
- supportive siblings
- focused on 1 couple
- countryside setting
- the music
- Mean's cameo (he is also the director)

Room For Improvement
- the poor communication still bothers me but they were in high school and Phob was in a stressful situation
- cutting the 350 minutes of run time to 150 minutes of run time was a vast improvement for the very slow pacing, although I still watched it at a faster speed
- they did cut down on the number of flashbacks and flash forwards which was good but still too many flashbacks
- lack of doctor/patient confidentiality
- the ending: still think we could have used a certain something to end the series

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