hideone Reviews

Painted Fire (2002)

Here is The Greatest Film ever made about the Life of A Painter

[10/10 · 15 May 2002]

Wow, What a wonderful film-making! Mr. Im has done it, again!

His last work, ChunHayang (2000) was a great film, but this one is even greater. Selected as an official feature film in the Canne Festival for the second time in a two-year row, this 66 years old director is getting better and better at what he is making of with a Korean culture.

Simply, Chihwaseon is about a great Korean painter, '(Ohwon) JANG, Seung-Up' who was considered as a prodigy in the late Nineteenth century. The basic story of this film tells the life of Jang, Seung-up, and the historical background of his time. He was an orphan, but in his teens, he was picked up by a noble man, called, Kim, Byung-Moon. This Mr.Kim becomes a mentor of Jang as well as life-long friendship, and continues to support his great talent that he knew in the first place. With Jang's great effort and natural talent, his fame grows faster and faster as the strength of his country, Korea falls down.

Jang's personality portrayed in the film is very complicated, and one of the best actors in Korea, Choi, Min-sik goes deep inside of Jang's soul. Suffering eyes reveal the struggle of a great artist's life. He is very serious sometimes, but all of sudden, he changes to a wild maniac. He drinks like an alcoholic, and sleeps with courtesans anytime. Even, he said in the movie, "without an alcohol and a woman, I can't draw. (An alcohol and women are my only inspirations)" In the peak of the fame, to develope his own style, he travels all around the country, and never gives up his pride as an artist for the authority or money. I don't want to give out every details, but I think you surely did get some ideas about the film.

The most amazing thing about this film is a cinematography. It is just so breath-taking how they captured every beauty of landscapes. Yes, each scene is like a work of Jang's painting. And the script is perfect, too. It mainly deals a deeper meaning of what makes a true artist. For example, Kim advices to Jang in the movie that 'before one holds a paintbrush, one has to set an aim in life'. This is very moving and inspiring line, and there are many more.

Go See this Film if you are going to be in the Canne Festival.

Chihwasun will be the greatest film ever made that deals with the life of a painter in film history.

My Sassy Girl (2001)

Wacky and comical; A different kind of Romantic Comedy...

[10/10 · 8 November 2001]

Two lead characters are so wacky and comical in every sense. There is no sex involved between two, and a girl controls over a boy. I mean, that beautiful girl actually forces him to do things for her own pleasure. movie is divided by three chapters. The first two chapters are enjoyable, hilarious in some scenes, and most of all,,entertaining all the way. Then, there goes a thirty minute of third chapter which suddenly focuses on a sappy romance and totally ruins everything; it doesnt make any sense, and too pretentious overall. However, you will still like this one, because it is a different kind of romantic story that you have never seen before.

Bungee Jumping of Their Own (2001)

One of the best romantic stories ever made...

[10/10 · 21 October 2001]

This film is simply innovative and beautiful. It leaves you such a warmth in your heart that you will appreciate more as whole. The plot contains full of witty and touching moments; it is a romance/fantasy genre between two soulmates in college with the amusing twist. I don't want to give out much details on the storyline, because they have almost the same effect, yet in a very comical way of what 'Sixth Sense' did in the ending; you dont want to know that Bruce Willis is already dead in the first place. Do you? You will find out when you see the movie. The script is perfect; it's got none of useless parts, and the actors give great lines with it. The cinematography is beautifully shot in clean and soft touches that fits to the theme. Just watch this one; I assure you it is different.

Whispering Corridors (1998)

Worth-seeing for one time, but Yeogo goedam2 is way better

[8/10 · 21 October 2001]

Alright, in fact, Yeogo goedam is fairly a well-made horror teen-flick. It has some scary moment in places, and overall, amusing to watch. When you say this is a copycat of traditional Japanese high school horror, that is certainly not true. Yeogo goedam goes deeper revealing on problems of a high school system in Korea, and presents a lack of respect between relationship of students and faculties. Most students in the movie are depressed and having difficulties of their own; those qualities are what make Yeogo goedam better than most of horror teen-flicks made in other countries. However, watch Yeogo goedam2 if you have a chance, because it is way better than this one.

Memento Mori (1999)

The First Korean Cult Movie

[10/10 · 26 January 2001]

The movie was very impressive, it had some minor flaws, but overall I appreciated devotional efforts by two bright young directors. I really liked raw and realistic dialogs between characters, and the superb art work of that mysterious diary. However, the biggest mistake of this film I found was that it had to follow a big commercial success of Yeogo goedam I, so it turned out as a confusing half-horror or half-romance genre. Actually, this version is totally different from the first one. I don't understand why the film was named after the previous one. I'd rather prefer to see this film as more focused on the romance between two high school girls, because the chemistry of two had a potential to be a sad and heartfelt lovestory. However, this is very well-made one, more like an art film. Nice use of camera work, intense soundtrack, and good performances of young actresses brought a fine result. I have never seen no other Korean films like this in an unique and artistic way.

Love Letter (1995)

Nothing but a cartoon

[1/10 · 21 July 2000]

This movie is a kind of movie that the critic hates but women with a horse dream will love it. Story is so unrealistic, so I thought Japanese cartoon is much better than this. Are the main characters twin? How the heck in the world does it possible to have exact same faced two women?

Childish stuff...but editing was very good...

Nowhere to Hide (1999)

New stylish action film with good performances...

[10/10 · 22 April 2000]

This one is a great action film, much better than most of Hollywood movies. The plot(story) is very realistic unlike other Hollywood action movies, and it also contains a very deep emotional conflict between detective and killer. We both can see human side of detectives and killer,... I love this movie, good artistic work on every scene, and good performances, too. This film has everything containing elements of humor, action, and drama,...