"He is good for nothing. I've made a mistake."
Birth of Happiness aka A Happy Businesswoman was incredibly close to being a great film for me. 1963 RoK (and most anywhere) wasn’t exactly a feminist utopia and the film's attitudes towards women reflected that. Yet Tosun had a strong desire for independence and used her wits to defy her parents and make money on her own. Of course, a handsome guy showed up and ruined everything, I mean, fell in love with Tosun.Tosun’s father owns a bus and refuses to pay her for work she does for him. Around the same time, Shim Jae Gu comes to town looking for a bus driver job, part or full-time. Tosun’s dad kicks Jae Gu out believing him to be unworthy. Tosun has pity on penniless Jae Gu and buys him cigarettes and loans him enough money for a hotel. When her father finds out, they have a terrible row and Tosun moves out to make a living on her own much to her mother’s chagrin. She and Jae Gu hatch a plan to go into business together if they can earn enough money for a car. A developing love makes their goal more complicated.
First of all, Tosun was an amazing female lead for the most part. She was optimistic, inventive, resourceful, and bounced back when life knocked her down. She could outcon a conman and was always searching for the next best way to realistically make money. Though she was tight with her cash, she also helped people when needed. Jae Gu, on the other hand, was easily discouraged, emotionally weak, and easily duped. When the going got rough, he went drinking, gambling, and seeking intimate entertainment from the local bar hostess. Worst of all, he blamed Tosun for his failures. As so often happens, the heart wants what the heart wants and Tosun loved Jae Gu.
The film also focused on Tosun’s relationship with her mother. Tosun’s mom ran interference for both of her daughters with the dad as he was a difficult and stubborn man to deal with. When Tosun moved out, her mother was devastated. Aside from the loneliness she would face without her daughter, girls could not leave home before marriage or else their “innocence” would be questioned. Tosun refused to let that belief limit her.
I liked Tosun’s drive and cheery disposition though people did not want to get on her bad side. She could defend herself and reputation with words and fists. The romance dragged this film down as I could never see what Tosun saw in Jae Gu. Worth a watch for Tosun or if you are in need of inspiration to try, try again in life.
13 May 2026
B & W note: The film was quite dark in places and smudged looking in a few others. Mildly distracting but I’ve seen much worse.
AKA Tosuni: Birth of Happiness
Was this review helpful to you?
Captivating Chemistry Between Characters
This show was “la crème de la crop”. the dances, the chemistry, the emotions, OH MY GOD. Especially when they both acknowledge themselves in the different style of dance. I really wish there would be a part two because this show is amazing. Do i need to talk about the last dance they had promising to meet each other at the 10Dance competition… Both characters played their role extensively well and I was tagged at the kiss scene and the storyline was so touching and heartbreaking at the same time. Would love to see this as a part 2 hopefullyWas this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A visual masterpiece that will take your breath away.
Shadow is a genre-bending costume drama set in a mythical past in 2nd century China, which was then ruled by three kingdoms in a fragile balance of power. It is an epic heroic tale with spectacular battle scenes and incredibly beautiful cinematography throughout the film.The background story to director Zhang Yimou’s epic masterpiece Shadow is taken from the 2nd century, when China was ruled by three kingdoms in a fragile balance of power that was constantly threatened by war. The story centers around the rulers of the Kingdom of Pei, with a particular focus on its royal commander Yu (Deng Chao). Yimou, who also wrote the screenplay with Li Wei based on Zhu Sujin’s model, imagines that Yu has been so badly injured in battle that he must retreat to a secret space in the palace so as not to show the world any outward signs of weakness, which would make the kingdom vulnerable.
Instead, Yu's double, or shadow Jing (also Deng), takes care of his daily appearances. Only Yu's wife (addressed as Madam throughout the film, played by Sun Li) knows the truth – Not even the king (Ryan Zheng) can tell them apart! But in the opening scene we get the first clues that something is amiss. Yu/Jing is to duel with General Yang (Hu Jun), who controls the city of Jing, against the king's will and thus risking war. The king is furious but forgives him, and asks him to sit down and play the zither with his wife. Jing declines, thus risking the king's wrath again. Why these challenges?
As the puzzle pieces slowly but surely fall into place, we understand that the zither game would have exposed him, and eventually the purpose behind the duel challenge is also revealed, which will have enormous consequences and lead to some of the most spectacular battle scenes we have ever seen on film. A side plot that complicates the situation further is the king's offer to marry off his beautiful sister (Guan Xiaotong) to General Yang's son Ping (Wu Lei), and thereby strengthen the influence over the city of Jing that they possess. However, the plan does not go as planned... The result of all the scheming gives exciting twists and turns, but above all visual spectacles that make you lose your breath.
These are well worth waiting for, because before that the story is told through long monologues that can feel a bit patient, even though we can console ourselves with visual pleasure throughout the film. The cinematography is spectacular! A colorless palette of black-gray-white tones is sparingly mixed with warm skin or red blood. Every single frame of film is so incredibly beautifully composed that it could be printed out and become a painting on the wall. The patterns of the clothes that are reminiscent of old Chinese ink drawings, the slow-motion fluttering kimono fabrics and the castle's wall decorations. The constant rain and the yin and yang symbols that almost become their own essence in this epic wuxia work.
The essence of the story, however, is a mythical heroic tale, or a Chinese costume drama if you will, with accompanying elements of melodrama. The tight corsets and fluttering curtains may have been replaced with the secret hiding places of kimono sleeves and shadows dancing on the walls, but these are the same ingredients of grandiose castle environments with secret hatches where forbidden love is spied on.
The magical attraction of the piano as a catalyst for hot passions has been replaced by the zither, and when the couple Yu and Madam play with such obsession that the kimono sleeves fly and the hair stands on end, it almost becomes a little funny, which is probably not the intention. Likewise, where the feminine is supposed to balance the masculine and the rebels move forward with their parasols like mannequins on the catwalk, the scene has a similar effect. In the film's defense, however, it must be admitted that I was probably the only one who laughed, and otherwise I greatly enjoyed the film, which transcends genres and is suitable for anyone who is attracted to the grand. Because I haven't seen anything this spectacular in a long time. Recommended!
Was this review helpful to you?
Love Punch.. What was going on..?
I heard a new BL movie was coming out so I HAD to watch it.First the pacing was really bad. Not even ten minutes into the movie the two main characters already are all buddy buddy? Um hello, am i missing something here because from what i know you guys have never interacted in your lives and all of a sudden you LIVE together already??? (all happen in under 15 minutes btw!!!!)
Second, who was the second guy trying to get with the blonde hair guy. He was the friend of Madoka from school but him having feelings didn't add to the plot at all?? It was just thrown in there for no reason AT ALL. Maybe it was in the book but if it literally has nothing to do with the plot I lowkey dont care because they didn't even end up talking about it after one scene.
The Main Couple
Modaka Kamei (Blonde) and Mitsuru Sato (Black Haired)
Like I said, the beginning was very fast, but it slows down and speeds up at different times. It's revealed that Mitsuru had actually fallen in love with Modaka 2 years before they actually met after his brother had attacked Modaka's brother. It was a surprising connection but I think it half worked. If you're gonna fall in love with someone for two years and have been waiting, shouldn't you show it a litttllleee more emotion.? (maybe a me thing) But they had good heart-trobbing scenes. I didn't like how they kept apologizing for literally breathing air atp, it was a part of the show, yes but they know how to make it really irritating.
In conclusion the movie was very too fast for me and i went in thinking it was enemies to lovers but it was okay, romantic scenes were good but felt pushed onto the characters, chemistry was kinda there? The fighting scenes were pretty cool too!
Not super bad but not super good-- 6/10 overall.
Was this review helpful to you?
Must-watch for Blinks. Also recommended for those who aren't really fans
Through the documentary you will learn more about the individual members, their relationship to each other, how hard they worked, and how their debut went and more.I got goosebumps several times during the documentation lmao. Probably because I'm so proud of them and because we saw parts of the concert and heard songs from time to time.
Must Watch! so cute and a bit emotional. Sooo proud!!
Was this review helpful to you?
Great movie!
I really enjoyed this movie. It had a good story and it was very well executed.The visuals were great and there wasn't much music, but the music they used, fitted the movie.
The actors all did a good job. I loved the dynamics between the mains, there was also good chemistry and the kiss was ok.
I recommend watching this movie.
Was this review helpful to you?
ACTION PACK
FIRST TIME SEEING HAEIN IN VILLAIN ROLE AND I LIKE IT.. MORE VILLAIN ROLE TO COME, OR ACTION FILM FOR HIM, TIRED OF SEEING HIM IN MELODRAMA. HE BETTER DO MORE ACTION FILM OR COMEDY FILM IF HE CAN. MORE MOVIES.“I, the Executioner” tells the story of veteran detective Seo Do-cheol (played by HWANG Jung-min) and his team at Major Crimes, relentless in their pursuit of criminals, who join forces with rookie cop Park Sun-woo (played by JUNG Hae-in) to track down a serial killer who has plunged the nation into turmoil.
For audiences familiar with the impact the first installment of the first movie Veteran had in Korea and veteran actor Hwang Jung Min’s status in the Korean film industry, I, the Executioner is a movie Korean film enthusiasts wouldn’t want to miss. That said, the storyline of I, the Executioner has absolutely nothing to do with the first movie so moviegoers can opt to watch the movie without any expectations and knowledge of the first film (but it would be good to learn just the names of the main characters).
Was this review helpful to you?
"I warned that you might regret this"
I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I started Going by the Book. The old synopsis said a traffic cop went undercover in a robbery gang and that was far removed from the story in this film. The actual premise might have been far-fetched but it did provide for both tense moments and hilarious ones.Officer Jung Do Man had been a detective until a failed investigation resulted in his demotion to traffic cop. Upright and by the book he is a thorn in his colleagues’ sides. When the new police chief, Lee Seung Woo arrives, he discovers that there have been a number of unsolved bank robberies. After watching a military exercise, Lee decides to hold a police exercise to strengthen police response time to robberies and coordination with the banks. He secretly chooses Do Man to play the robber, a move the officer warns against. Lee learns the hard way that Jung Do Man takes his job very seriously when the simulation becomes more complicated and more public than Lee had planned.
The film started out slow, and I worried that it was not for me. Once the simulation began, that’s when the fun and tension ramped up. Do Man had done his homework and his way of handling the “hostages” was stressful and funny. Despite not wanting to upset the people in the bank, he was willing to see the simulation through to the end. And return his rented videos on time! Jung Jae Young was suited to a tee as Do Man. He portrayed a good cop who didn’t see the nuance in relationships yet could zero in on illegal patterns. Son Byung Ho brought out Chief Lee’s conflicted emotions as Jung had done exactly what he asked but to a degree he never dreamed.
Going by the Book was an interesting case study in hostage situations even if or perhaps because it was fake. People complained, freaked out, and cooperated. Pride pushed the chief to continue on long after he should have called the simulation off. Thankfully, the humor was not slapstick or bathroom oriented. It evolved organically from the claustrophobic and absurd experiment. I laughed out loud numerous times which is a rarity for me. Silly, serious, ridiculous---yet ended up being quite enjoyable.
12 May 2026
Favorite quote (roughly remembered): “In a fight, which one wins, wushu or boxing?” “The one who has a gun.”
Was this review helpful to you?
Our House
It was a very good movie to be honest. Love the casting, love the acting for every cast members and the story line was a good one. The story behind the ghost is an interesting one and I do understand why she is the way she is rightnow to be honest. Based on how it ended, I hope there is a part 2 for this because I want to see more of it. Very Intriguing!!! Another thing I love about it was the Ghost radio/podcast, the jumpscares, how intense it felt, how anxious I was 🤣 whenever I see her popping up out of no where.Was this review helpful to you?
Very real and raw and bittersweet
Overall I found this drama to be very moving, and tackling subjects that are rarely engaged so directly. And I am not just talking about the CW parts, but the complexity of the underlying emotions and challenges and things you have to live with.If you haven't watched it yet, I do think you may want to know that...
Check the genre tags before assuming anything based on the imagery -- This is not a romance genre drama.
This is not a romance. In either theme or content. The cover may make you think this is a GL, but the story is not about love at all, or at least not about *romance*. This is really a situation where maybe they're romantically connected and maybe they are sismance / friendship connected. Trying to put it in a box is not really useful though, the story is not ABOUT romance, this is really more about HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS.
And it is good. Really good.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This may become your comfort movie
Haru was such a lucky find. I was genuinely surprised to come across this movie because it is quite old and not something you hear people talk about often. Released in 1996, it offers a deeply nostalgic experience, especially for anyone who grew up in the 90s.
The cinematography, pacing, and color palette perfectly capture the atmosphere of films from that era. Watching it brought back so many memories and made me nostalgic.
Plot**
The story follows Haru and Hitoshi, who meet though an online movie forum. They begin exchanging emails and grow close when Haru discovers that Hitoshi is actually a girl. Their correspondence continues for a long time as they share their lives and support each other
What makes this movie truly unique is that around 85% of it consists of email exchanges. You literally read their messages on screen, which gives the movie an almost book-like feeling, like reading through letters. The story is great and could easily become someone's comfort movie.
This film resonated with me deeply because it reminded me of my own experience with online friendships many years ago.
About 25 years ago, I also had an online friend with whom I exchanged emails weekly. We created precious memories together and supported each other throughout our school years. Watching Haru brought back a huge wave of nostalgia and emotions I had almost forgotten.
What makes the movie even more fascinating is remembering the time period in which it was made. In 1996, not everyone had access to computers or the internet, so this type of story must have felt incredibly modern and unusual.
Another aspect I appreciated is that Hitoshi and Haru don’t share everything about their lives; they only reveal certain parts. This limited sharing creates a sense of mutual support that sustains them in things that truly matters to them. For instance, Hitoshi never mentions the guy who was stalking her but does talk about a man who proposed to her. Perhaps, on some level, they both sensed their growing feelings for each other and wanted to gauge each other's reactions.
Overall, Haru is a wonderful film, especially for fans of older movies and slower, emotionally driven storytelling.
I think 90s kids in particular will truly cherish this experience because the raw cinematography and atmosphere feel like a postcard from that era. It captures not only the aesthetic of the 90s, but also the emotional loneliness and warmth of early internet connections in a way that feels timeless.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
a beatifully realistic love ending
this movie has my whole heart i could rewatch it over and over, and my tears will never stop running down..there are some times when people just want to watch something heartwarming but also heartbreaking, and this is the perfect choice..
when you become aware of how life goes, you find out that the same way you found love, you’ll lose it no matter how.. and this is the realistic part about ‘man in love’. i kind of agree with the idea that she had lost him way too early, just when their garden started to bloom.. but this is literally how life works, we live briefly and it’s about time we’ll become bones.. no one is immortal, yet love is eternal..
the ML thought that it was the right choice to leave her suffer from a temporary heartbreak rather than seeing her suffer until the day she follows him to the grave.. and honestly, i would do the same thing..
do i recommend this?
Hell yes
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
a jut at beauty standards
While many people think this movie is a disaster I think it is a beautiful and cruel portrayal of beauty standards.many of the scenes were quite unexpected and i was shocked at the amount of sex scenes there were. i felt the overall shifting between the present (when everything is basically over and its just the investigators) and to the past (where all the events were happening) was quite poorly done.
The cinematography, colour and actual camera shots were very pleasing to the eye. the sets were elaborate and reflected lilico's character, red and yet messy like her state of mind. While some say the butterflies were just tacky and misplaced, I think it accurately reflects lilico's state of mind, as this is her movie after all. Her deteriorating sanity and pent up jealousy causes her to rage on others wildly, and yet we see some glimpse of her in a rational state. Meeting her sister, realizing the surgery is ruining her body allows us to feel sorry for her, yet detest her foul actions. Sawajiri's acting is extremely realistic and I suspect is due to her own personal experience drugs and the entertainment/modelling industry. she was often high on filming sets and this movie directly addressed the emotions she might have felt being thrown into this toxic environment from such a young age.
an unsettling aspect of the movie is how lilico's assistant and her boyfriend seem to obey her every move. some may say this is unrealistic but i believe it is just a representation of how one can be blinded from beauty, especially mentally. the assistant constantly says 'your beautiful' and feels pleasure from getting compliments from lilico, and this transforms into infatuation that eventually muddles her sanity to comply with her every move. This seemed to me as an hyperbole for how many girls will do anything just for beauty that is not even attainable, at the cost of themselves.
Changing oneself for the sake of beauty is a major idea in this movie, as she is completely modified except for her 'eyeballs nails and pussy'. Yet when the Kozue comes in, this beauty standard is shifted towards her. Lilico only thought she was beautiful because people liked her. when she lost the attention, she spiralled out of control and lost her 'power' over everyone. but in reality did her looks change? she was still the same person. this movie just starkly emphasises the impossibility of being forever 'beautiful' by societal standards, and how your own self opinion is the most important.
While this movie came out in 2013, I think it was definitely ahead of its time concering plastic surgery. one day people will wish to change themselves so deeply they lose sense of themselves, yet the cold world keeps turning and no one cares.
Overall there was a lot to think about after watching this movie. I would recommend this, but watch out for some nasty scenes that might take u by surprise.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A masterpiece of dignity and realism
I finally sat down to watch 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴’𝘀 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻, and it left me completely floored. The film succeeds by taking a fragment of history and unfurling it with a calm, intimate breath. There are no provocative depictions or sensationalist distortions here; instead, the director relies on pure storytelling power to keep you pinned to your seat. It’s a testament to the production’s skill that they could create such a gripping experience through a lens that feels both grounded and deeply human. While some have pointed out flaws in the direction and pacing, I found that the performances were so immersive that those concerns never became a barrier for me. It is a rare gem that manages to be deeply moving without being manipulative.The heart of this movie belongs to 𝗬𝗼𝗼 𝗛𝗮𝗶𝗷𝗶𝗻 and 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗝𝗶𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗻. 𝗬𝗼𝗼 𝗛𝗮𝗶𝗷𝗶𝗻 starts with his signature comedic charm, but as the tragedy unfolds, his acting becomes almost cruelly good. He doesn't "perform" so much as he simply is the character. Unlike some actors who seem to shout, "𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘐'𝘮 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨!" through their over-the-top intensity, 𝗬𝗼𝗼 𝗛𝗮𝗶𝗷𝗶𝗻 carries the film’s weight with a quiet, documentary-like realism. He makes you laugh and cry in equal measure, leading the narrative without ever needing to show off.
However, the true revelation of the film is undoubtedly 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗝𝗶𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗻. I’ve been following his work since 2020, and his ability to convey raw emotion has always left me speechless, but this role is on another level. It is rare to see an actor so young command such genuine "Royal Dignity." While many can portray sorrow or warmth, capturing the undeniable presence of a King is a massive challenge. Even in scenes without a single word of dialogue, his eyes fill the screen and tell the entire story. Whether he was in a high-stakes moment hunting a tiger or laughing heartily with the villagers, his performance was breathtakingly regal.
Upon rewatching, the meal scenes hit the hardest. There is something profoundly moving about how the people of 𝗚𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗹 became a family to the orphaned 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗷𝗼𝗻𝗴. Seeing them finally eat white rice—the very rice that 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗷𝗼𝗻𝗴 himself shared with them—is enough to make anyone tear up. Alongside 𝗝𝗲𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗼, who portrayed a character that was both a friend and a mother figure, the cast created a bond that made the inevitable conclusion even more painful to witness.
The casting across the board was remarkably immersive. The villagers looked and acted so authentically that it felt like the director could have told them to "𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘰𝘯 𝘋𝘺𝘯𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘺" once the cameras stopped rolling. This level of detail is what sets the film apart. Even when certain character arcs felt a bit abrupt—like the shift in the "Bosu Owner" after the tiger encounter—the surrounding performances, particularly that of his son 𝗧𝗮𝗲𝘀𝗮𝗻, kept the emotional stakes high. Even 𝗟𝗲𝗲 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗵𝘆𝘂𝗸, tackling the difficult role of a warrior, showed impressive growth, reminding us that portraying a seasoned martial artist is a hurdle all its own.
The ending of the film left me in a state of shock. I initially assumed the details of 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗷𝗼𝗻𝗴'𝘀 death were fictionalized for dramatic effect—believing such things couldn't possibly be true—but the final historical citations revealed the staggering reality. It was a somber reminder of how easily purity is exploited by the political maneuvering of men like 𝗛𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝘆𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗵𝗼𝗲. Yet, seeing that a flicker of human mercy remained in those final moments provided a small, bittersweet comfort.
They truly lived their roles. Even knowing the historical ending, the journey there felt fresh and heartbreaking. Because there are so few films dedicated to 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗷𝗼𝗻𝗴'𝘀 story, this movie holds significant meaning regardless of its technical critiques.
Ultimately, this film feels like a perfect synergy between the cast and the emotional weight of history. Reaching a record 16 million viewers suggests that the audience is moving toward "serotonin-rich" stories that offer healing and reflection. If you are doubting whether to watch this movie because of the ratings, please give it a try. Turn it on, sit back, and live in the story with these incredible actors. You might just find yourself as captivated as I was. It was the perfect, soul-stirring way to conclude my week. 🫶✨
Was this review helpful to you?
Trust but verify
Dark Figure of Crime was based on the true story of a serial killer in the RoK who played a dangerous game of “where are the bodies?” with a narcotics detective. The killer was aware of how to manipulate the judicial system which made the detective’s job all the more challenging.Detective Kim Hyung Min receives a tip from an informants to meet up with a source who knows where a body has been buried. The source, Kang Tae Oh, is arrested for the murder of his girlfriend before Kim can follow-up on the tip. Kang contacts Kim from prison and promises tantalizing information about other people he has killed. He’s willing to parse out information for contraband and commissary money. Kang is hardly forthcoming with explicit information putting Kim’s job and reputation in jeopardy.
This film paced itself with the speed of a police investigation. The cops were not inept, though the original officers hardly dug very deeply into the missing persons reports they processed. Kim Yoon Seok perfectly encapsulated a dogged detective who was more concerned for the victims and their families than he was about promotions. Good thing, because at every turn someone in the department attempted to discourage Kim from researching the cold cases. His best ally was Detective Jo played by the reliable Jin Sun Kyu. Jo believed in what they were doing even though their cases began to drag him down professionally. Ju Ji Hoon gnawed through the furniture to capture Kang’s malevolent behavior giving much needed energy to the film.
While I enjoyed the thorough nature of the investigation, the ongoing minutiae wasn’t exactly riveting viewing. My biggest problem was that I found the characters, despite their determination, to be coldly detached from the events around them which lessened my connection to their struggles and triumphs. One particularly frustrating hole in the real-life judicial system was filled a year after this film came out. Murder no longer had a statute of limitations meaning criminals like Kang could be held responsible for the full measure of their crimes regardless of how much time had passed. If you enjoy police procedurals, this might be one to try as it had strong acting and followed the relentless work of a detective who refused to give up.
11 May 2026
Was this review helpful to you?
