Really, the movie is a miracle ♡
::The Good::First, I loved the color tone of the movie, and how well it portrayed the older feel reflecting the time it’s set in. It gave immense scent of nostalgia. I also absolutely loved how cutesy the film was. There were lots of cute and humorous moments in the first half, and I personally think the title of the film, “Miracle,” is a great title as it fits the spirit of the movie perfectly.
In the beginning, I thought Park Jung Min and Yoona were the two main leads and Lee Sung Min and Lee Soo Kyung were supporting roles, as Park Jung Min and Yoona had much more on-screen time. However, as the film progressed, Lee Sung Min’s and Lee Soo Kyung’s characters had bigger roles and on-screen time, and ultimately all four had roughly the same amount of significance. The four leads had amazing chemistry, and I especially enjoyed the relationship between Park Jung Min and Yoona, and Park Jung Min and Lee Soo Kyung. It was like watching a real-life couple and real-life siblings, respectively.
Getting into each actor, of course, Park Jung Min was amazing as always. He’s such an incredible actor, and he’s able to play such a wide range of characters. He hit it out of the park again with his performance in this.
Moving onto Yoona, Yoona doesn’t age. She’s still just as pretty and gorgeous as when she first debuted with Girls’ Generation 14 years ago. Her acting has gotten a lot better, and I first noticed her improvement in acting in the film , and through that and , we can see just how crucial the role of the character needs to fit with the actor in order to have a good performance.
Moreover, Lee Sung Min didn’t have a big role in the first half, but he really shined in the latter half. It was good to see him on the big screens again, as I feel like we weren’t able to see him in movies too much recently. His most recent work other than this was , which was a Netflix release, and prior to that we weren’t able to see him for two years.
And finally but definitely not the least, Lee Soo Kyung I had the least expectations for, as I hadn’t recalled seeing much of her in other works. Upon seeing her filmography, I noticed she was also in . She left a good impression in that as well, but definitely a much bigger one in this. Her chemistry with Park Jung Min in this was outstanding.
I mentioned a few times that the movie was a very cute one, but don’t let that make you assume the movie is a very light, comedic film. Although it does have a lot of humor, the movie takes you on an emotional roller coaster ride. The film starts off with more of the comedic side that I mentioned, but as it progresses and passes the halfway mark, the movie takes a huge turn and the emotions begin. I won’t say too much in order to avoid spoilers, but yeah, there’s a reason the movie is defined as a “drama” film, and not a “comedy.”
Lastly, the movie had a good story and is generally able to keep you engaged. Although it does get a little loose later on, which I’ll get to in the “bad” parts, the overall narrative was pretty good, in my opinion. There’s an unforeseen event that’s revealed, which I didn’t see coming at all, and that added a big layer on top of the film.
::The Bad::
I don’t have too much bad things to say about , but there’s one big one. This is more of a personal matter and can be based on personal preference, but some may find the emotional scenes to be too forced and/or frequent. One thing that I can’t stand are forced emotions, where you can tell they’re trying to get you to shed a tear. And so, personally I found the emotional scenes to be too forced in this. I mean, it was okay at first, but it became kind of repetitive, or more-so prolonged. If it was one or two big, impactful emotional scenes, then I’d be okay with it, but they just kept attacking you with a sad scene, after a sad scene, after another sad scene. Nevertheless, I will say that there were sniffles throughout the theater, so if you are a fan of more emotional movies, this may very well be down your lane. After all the touching moments, though, I loved how the film ended.
::Verdict::
From the performances by Park Jung Min to Yoona to Lee Soo Kyung to even the minor role of the town’s little girl, the movie was extremely cute and adorable, but also gave a big punch in the emotional department as well. The first half is a lighter and more humorous film, and the latter half is more heavy with emotional scenes. Long story short, this may very well be my favorite K-movie of 2021 that released thus far. Definitely recommend giving this a go.
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Zombie movie with a comedic twist
Is this movie good? The answer is if you are into comedic zombie movies then it's not bad. If you have seen the Hollywood movie "Warm Bodies", it is kind of similar but a bit wilder. If you are here because of the movie poster and think that this is a bad-ass zombie fighter team movie then you would be disappointed. It is fun in it's own way, but it's not truly a scary movie. It's mostly comedy and some romance.Again I am surprised by actress LSK's acting (truthfully, I don't usually watch any dramas or movies for specific actors or actresses, but I watched three of her works successively and I find her very talented.) Other casts also did a pretty good job considering the concept of the movie.
The cinematography was ok and the music was good and well placed.
The movie is a good time killer. The comedy was the best part of the movie. It is pretty good if you are into comedic horror.
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This review may contain spoilers
A timeless movie that will outlive us all!
This is one of the first movies I saw after seeing the bit part actress (in this movie, that is), Moon Geun-young, in "My Little Bride (2004).This, in my opinion, ranks in the Top Ten of Korean love stories, along with Wedding Dress, (2010), More Than Blue (2019) Always (2011),
The combination of casts, director, screenwriter, support cast and crew plus cinematography created a timeless piece of drama with just the right amount of comedy, sadness, et al, to create a tearjerker that will be remembered and watched for ages after the present Korean population and I are dead!
The only sad part is the suicide of one of the two main actresses for this movie, Lee Eun-Ju, some years later...It makes the re-watching of this timeless piece so much more heart-breaking!
P.S. Please bring your girlfriend and you will get brownie points...and ABSOLUTELY DO NOT start watching this movie without at least a full and partial box of Kleenex handy!
NOTE: There are three places that have the FULL MOVIE; the movie was edited by the YouTube uploader, he cut off 10 minutes of the original movie to make it look like the second female lead did not die! Do not watch his version of the movie, please.
RE-WATCH: definitely!
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Writing this review months since my last watch, that's how good it is.
One of those movies that you will rewatch. I seem to remember scenes from this movie from time to time that prompt me to rewatch it (at point of writing I've seen this three times).Not surprisingly, as a movie on the Story of Life, this movie does a good job at purposeful exposition. This value adds to the characters as you understand the choices they make leading up to Chasuke's popularity. You'll come to understand that the writers in the afterlife may not be morally motivated, but simply write in a way which entertains themselves. Essentially, Chasuke descends to earth as he attempts to save Yuri. Over the course of the film, the viewer is also left to mull over the fact if he is simply just another written character or truly someone with full control of his life.
I found the characters simply charismatic and engaging throughout the film, besides the fantastic Matsuyama Kenichi as Chasuke and Ohno Ito as Yuri. Iseya Yusuke's portrayal of Hikomura was superb, as a character clearly given the shorter end of the stick in life. This movie will get one thinking; if everyone was given mercy and grace, would we truly be at peace, or would there simply be more chaos? For that value add, wonderful OST/music and magnificent visuals, this is a must watch.
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This review may contain spoilers
Love does mean saying you are sorry
The synopsis for Romang sounded romantic, bittersweet, and heartwarming. Before I watched this movie I read comment after comment about how it made people ugly cry. This movie made me angrier than it did sad. And I found it more bitter than sweet. More heartbreaking than heartwarming. It might be more apt to say it's about a family that in their response to a tragedy years ago, lost the ability to love and laugh and became locked into a terrible dysfunctional cycle.The father was a taxi driver who was cold, angry, selfish and unapologetic. The mother worked as a hairdresser out of their home, usually on the roof, and either absent-mindedly or passive-aggressively neglected to do the things her husband expected and demanded. Their son who lived with them along with his wife and daughter couldn't hold down a job. The home bristled with resentment and lost dreams.
When the mother was diagnosed with dementia, the little family initially exploded. By the time the movie caught up with the synopsis, I was beyond caring about any of them. Also, at that point, it stretched credulity in the way dementia was portrayed, or at least compared with the experiences in my extended family. The emotional U-turn of the father nearly gave me whiplash.
A seasoned cast gave admirable performances full of emotion and pathos. The OST was beautiful as well. For me, the uneven writing let me down right to the bitter end. I'm all for a good tear jerker or even a melancholy slice of life, somehow this one managed to miss all the right steps for me by abruptly changing mood and not giving good reasons for characters' changing behaviors unrelated to their diseases And contrary to what Ali MacGraw said in Love Story (1970-"Love means never having to say you are sorry"), love does mean saying you're sorry.
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This movie is fast food
The premise of this movie is very simple. East vs. West - whose food can truly be considered best? One of the many East-West dichotomy movies to come out in recent years with the main goal of proving that Eastern culture is just as good or in some aspects superior to Western culture.So let's get the biggest problem with this movie out of the way first: The writing is absolutely atrocious. So much so that I genuinely had to pause the movie more than once to take a second to take in just how badly written those scenes were. Did anyone try to read this script out loud before subjecting the poor cast to this? It reads as if the writers had about two days to put together one of the most generic, over-the-top and cheesy cooking rivalry movies I've ever seen.
The main two actors are really doing their most to turn this into something, anything at all, but not even the admittedly charming rivalry/ friendship between the two main cooks can save this script from its sheer stupidity.
The worst offenders by far are the flashback scenes that get sprinkled in here and there that are also accompanied by some of the most generic violin pieces that give me "googled royalty free sad music" energy.
But with all that being said, despite the massive script problems and the lacklustre everything else, this movie is extremely entertaining. I wasn't bored once while watching it. The movie gets you to genuinely root for the protagonist, admittedly by using cheap and lazy bad guy stereotypes instead of genuine character development, but it does its job.
The cinematography is also at some points genuinely beautiful. I'm pretty sure half the movie's budget was used up only on the orgasmic food porn scenes that make up about half the movie. They're gorgeous to look at.
This and the charming performance of the main actors make rescue this movie from being simply shit and catapult it into "terrible but I can't stop watching" territory. So basically, this is the McDonald's Combo Meal of movies.
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The ancient tongues have claimed that silence is just another form of violence. This must have been true with this film. The Wayward Cloud is almost free with dialogues in which most of it only comes from the occasional Chinese musicals and background or surrounding noises. The two main characters haven't really spoken words to each other. Though, despite the quietness of their words or famished communication, their innermost selves are violent with hunger and desire. They quench their thirst for water with (kinky) watermelons, just like how society quenches their thirst for connection and intimacy with pornography.
I guess, one of the biggest lies the society has succumbed to was believing that pleasure completely equates to joy or happiness. But how can you find an eternity in the temporary? Thus, instead of dwelling in total paradise, it's just the zone of a wayward cloud: glimpses of occasional pleasures that come and go without one's integral control and sometimes even against their expected outcomes.
Do they desire each other or do they only desire something that will fill the lonely gaps in their souls? She realized she really never knew him at all. He could never realize whether he wanted her or not. He refused her advances because he cannot differentiate love and lust anymore. The only time he truly expressed his complete and questionable desire for her was during the filming of his work at that ending scene. His work has clouded his discernment for what is truly personal to him. Just like a cycle from condensation to precipitation to evaporation back to condensation and so on, their life has become the stability of a dull and bleak, yet, directionless routine instead of the stability of continuous elevation going far beyond the clouds.
The film was also, in a way, absurd. In spite of its apt and dismal void, I could not help but to express laughter almost at the entirety of the film. I guess, The Wayward Cloud is truly an absurd comedy as emphasized greatly by the characters' disposition at that final shot: their dazed confusion, the meaninglessness of it all, and their wrath for their own void and ignorance.
P. S. The film somewhat reminded me of Wong Kar-wai's Chungking Express. In spite of its occasional comedy, we cannot be oblivious to its yearning pineapples, the quirky girl and sad boi/f-boi desiring attention and connection, the apartments longing for their own warmer home. But, at least, the busy streets of Chungking Express give you permission to dream (♪♪♪Ca-li-for-nia Drea-min'♪♪♪).
P. P. S. This is my first Tsai Ming-liang film and I just learned that this shouldn't be the right order. Though, I don't think it would really matter that much.
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A very beautiful one of a kind movie
It is one of those unique movies which are hard to come by but leaves you wanting more when you finish. It is a very very very beautiful movie, both cinematically and emotion wise. The movie gives off a earthly feeling with it's 1980s setting in a village. Coupled with the beautiful sceneries with the amazing lighting I was literally mesmerized. If you like unique movies full of emotions, then this is a great movie to watch.I don't want to praise the movie so much that it gets the expectations too high. But for my sake, I want to praise the movie some more .
This drama has a nice plot to it. And the execution of the plot was so good that it left me speechless for a moment. Don't get me wrong, the plot isn't too deep or that amazing, but the way they progresses the plot and the way it makes the viewer change their view on the whole movie is the amazing part.
After watching so many movies and dramas, these days I don't really find any new characters that I truly find memorable. But I think I will remember Bo-Kyung. I hope when you - the reader - watch the drama, find Bo-Kyung as beautiful as I find her. The actress Lee Soo Kyung seemed natural in this character and made the movie so much more better. I love it.
There was some romance to it as all k-movies have, but it wasn't overbearing and had a fresh feel to it.
If you are contemplating whether to watch this movie or not then you should give it a try. I found it very beautiful, maybe you will too.
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An Okay Watch
Off the bat, I felt that Okami (the Delinquent) and Kota (the Policeman) had more chemistry than the main duo, Kako (JK) and Kota.I agree with earlier published reviews that the element of disbelief does make this movie outlandish to the point of disinterest and banality. Outlandish movies, no matter how wild, will have their in world logic. Sadly doesn't apply in "P to JK". This movie felt like a prequel and sequel conflated together. The main pair settling their mutual attraction could have been better fleshed out rather than skimped on for an extra story or background exposition. It would have made for a solid movie about "P to JK", rather than "P to JK to tomodachi".
The dilution is at the expense of the wonderful cast such as Kamenashi Kazuya (Kota), Tsuchiya Tao (Kako) who are sought after and known for their series and movies. Overall not outstanding, but not too bad to the extent of the cast, the acting and the visual of the movie. The plot? You're better off watching something else.
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Addictive Watch
Layered story of the regrets and lessons learnt when one errs early on in life. Briefly the movie follows two story lines of reconciliation and remorse.Superb performance and method acting by Nagayama and Ikuta Toma, it truly does feel like you're watching a documentary with this cast and their raw, honest emotions. For a movie that takes the time to depict each character's journey, it's sequenced well as you anticipate the next scene and you're kept at the edge of your seat.
Although it can get a little convoluted, it's not to the point of confusion and encourages deeper focus and rewatch by the viewer. Furthermore, the movie covers heavy themes that can only be told over the course of several scenes, so re-watching is a guarantee for My Friend "A"!
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Fun and pretty to watch
Another potentially great movie dragged down by a annoyingly written lead... If it was not for that this would definitely have gotten a 9.5. The story is nothing new really but it is well executed, fun to watch and keeps the viewers guessing right till the end.Lee Jong Suks character is lovable, well written fun, gorgeous from start to finish so I have no complaints what so ever about him while Seo In Guks character is portrayed as an annoying gluttonous airhead a role he does well and is not his fault but does drag down the score. However he does go thru some development and becomes a cute lovable puppy by the end of the drama.
Best part of this drama is the suspense, the friendship, the countless scenes of swimming men... and well Seo In Guk and Lee Jong Suk do make a great looking team (if I am to be superficial).
The side characters all play their roles well, and there are many familiar faces making you go oh there is that guy... Including a very young Nam Da Reum doing what he does best (playing a younger version of someone).
All in all definitely worth watching.
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simple and warm movie kind of feeling
The plot wasn't anything heavy or hard to understand it was really straightforward and simple, which i like. I personally didn't expect the plot twist, so it was interesting to watch. The love story of rahee and joonkyung was cute and pure although i wished they showed more about them. This movie doesn't have huge progress like character development or something, all the characters are kind hearted and is willing to help everyone and i think that's one of the charms of this movie too. Maybe some would call this boring? but i really enjoyed it. Oh, and on the acting part, the actors did a great job! especially Park Jungmin on his emotional scene it was brought out so well. I also really like how this movie was about people living in the countryside where neighbours would rush out to help their fellow neighbours when in needed of help, i found it really wholesome. Overall i'd say this is a great movie, if i was bored and feel like watching a movie, this would be one of my top choices.Was this review helpful to you?
Body over talent!?
We can say that the objective of the movie was like a 5 stars (although some stuffs on the moovie were like "I wish she don't loved him that much"...)This movie is kinda old but explains so well the life that we live now . People using like a fake porfil or filters to not show their faces when they are not just a face or much more than a body.
In a overall I reallly liked this movie.
I really wish the world to change. And is sad that doesn´t exists more movies about issues like this one.
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Annoying male lead otherwise great
This movie is really cute, it has a lot of good lines, a pretty good message and amazing acting from a very young Park Bo Young.The kid is just adorable but the male lead was a self centered annoying #"#"¤"¤"4 that got on my nerves more than necessary for the story to be good.
But oh what an adorable kid as a lead and kids in the kindergarten, spreading sunshine and smiles on the screen...
Park Bo Young shows great range here, she is a cool, outspoken, funny and delivers everything one could ask for, considering she was only 18 when this was released that is pretty cool, talking about pretty sensitive subjects as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
All in all a decent watch, and do stay for the credits, to see a nice finishing touch... and just so you know: "Single mothers have dreams too"
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Feels like an oldie but a goodie...
This movie has this whole rebel without a cause feel to it (not that I have actually seen that) but there is this whole old movie feel to this, by old I mean like 70s and not the 80s it is supposed to represent with disco, bell pants and perms to die for (without the perms). It takes a while to get used to the dialect in this movie but the dialog is fun the acting great and the plot pretty humorous yet maybe a bit slow.Lee Jong Suk plays this so called playboy, ok he is kind of e jerk at first but it is all explained and he does develop a whole lot so I forgive him... He also has this whole gender reverse theme to him being a bit of a whose compared to Park Bo Young's role who is this fierce gang leader who can kill you with a look as well as her fists,.. Bad to the bone throughout the whole movie on the outside, yet is a fluffy marshmallow when it comes to the man she loves... just kidding she is pretty fierce thru and thru and only has a few moments of sensitivity but not enough to e a marshmallow, and yes she rocks this role.
While some parts may be a bit draggy, the ending made up for it, so all in all an enjoyable watch for those who can enjoy some nostalgic moments... like seeing a walkman and a swiss army knife and such songs as Nothing's gonna stop us now...
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