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Choi-gang lo-maen-seu (2007)
A fun cop movie
Is this movie a blockbuster? No. But it's great for when you want to watch something casual with humor and action. Lee Dong Wook doesn't disappoint; his character is surprisingly afraid of sharp/pointy obects, which gets in the way of his job - he's a cop! He gets "entangled" with a quirky reporter when they are both investigating a drug ring. Hyeon Yeong, the main actress, has an annoying voice but it really matches her quirky personality. These two constantly run into each other and finally have to work together in the investigation, which leads to hilarious scenes. I don't really see romance here; they don't really hook up, and in my opinion, they don't have a lot of sexual chemistry, it's more platonic "I can't believe I have to work with this moron". Which is refreshing, because not every movie has to have a romantic plot. When these two work together everything goes wrong - including throwing molotov cocktails at the gangsters!
Seobok (2021)
How far would you go to live forever?
A human clone with exceptional DNA that can cure every disease, therefore creating immortality. Sounds good until you think about the ethical walls you run into. Raises questions about what it means to be human and the choices we have to make. Questions life, death, and the inevitable greed that humans are subject to.
This sci-fi/action movie is a solid 10 stars. Gong Yoo and Park Bo Gum shine as expected. Doesn't lag or lose steam halfway through; I coudn't even tell it was 2h long. Doesn't waste time with unnecessary exposition but doesn't leave you confused. Throws curveballs at you and makes you question who is right and who is wrong. The action and amazing CGI don't distract you from the movie's central message. It ends on a logical note, leaving you with a lump in your throat.
As I didn't want to include spoilers, this review is different from my usual *the good-the bad-the ugly* format. As always, I'm amazed at Asian actors' ability to convey so much emotion with so little "acting".
Seuwiteuhom (2020)
different take on "monster"
The good: I loved this show and I'm glad there's gonna be seasons 2 + 3! I love dystopia/apocalypse type shows/movies so this is right up my alley. The scary part is that there is nothing external that contaminates you (as far as we know) - everyone has the potential to become a monster, very fitting to reality. We can all choose to be good or bad. Some people could fight the monster and some could not. It's a "monster" show but really it's about humans and how they fight their inner demons (or not). The Imagine Dragons song (Warriors) fits right in (so would Demons btw). Eun Hyeok takes charge right away while the adults just cower and stare. (I mean, in real life, it's common for us to freeze in a dangerous situation, but sheesh, do something!) The women were the strongest characters - the two teenage girls, the firefighter, even ajumma finally killing her abusive husband. The ambiguous good/bad guy conundrum with San Wook and the child molester. And the end when Hyun Su gets in the truck and only realizes it's a trap when it's too late. Nice cliffhanger for the next season, although it was frustrating to see that guy finally "die"... and then shapeshift. Seeing Hyun Su finally let the monster out was cool! Although I don't know how his whatever it is fits his inner demon - he was contemplating living or killing himself, and then he turns into an angel? A demon? With only one (metallic and hot) wing? I liked the fact that monsters turned on each other. Hyun Su having to deal with his monster while trying to decide where his loyalty lies - with humans (who helped him) or with monsters (who would def kill him). He picked the monsters, and I hope he changes his mind in coming seasons. The scenes where his demon appeared with black eyes and that big smile were super creepy! The christian guy with a katana was badass but why did he have to die? I get it - he died a hero (I still hate it). But that whole fight sequence was really good despite the terrible consequence.
The bad: Starts off strong then quickly loses steam. A lot of suspense with monsters that just come out of nowhere but after Giant Protein Man gets destroyed (awesome sequence btw) it's like the monsters just *poof* disappear. Several people get the nosebleeds... and then nothing. Cliché army + cliché gang were boring. The surviving adults finally fight back in the last 2/3 episodes. A lot of things go unexplained: Where are the rest of the people that live in that huge building? Why was there dirt in the basement? When did Bom the Pom disappear? Also -- Eun Hyok never showed any signs of "infection" yet in the last episode he stays behind and only then gets a nosebleed. I think he should have survived, as he would be strong enough to fight the infection. Characters took too long to develop, if at all; mostly the adults were just 2 dimensional, except for the badass amputee guy and the old man. People took on the form of their "inner demon" -- Protein Man was certainly a whey-obsessed exercise freak LOL But how did he get gigantic later? What was the green slimy thing that saved the little boy? Why would someone turn into a spider? Did the mom with the imaginary baby from the first episodes turn into the creepy giant womb? The other monsters were so boring that I can't even remember them.
The awful: The CGI was awful terrible and horrible! The worst I've seen in a long time, especially for a show made in 2020. I've seen worse shows with way better SFX (Hellbound, for example). Some monsters were laughably bad. Protein man was the only good cgi. A lot of action sequences were too fast and/or disjointed to make sense.
Conclusion: definitely for big fans of monster/apocalypse shows. Had me on the edge of my seat the whole time! Despite the bland characters (adults) I was still rooting for each one to survive as the show progressed and I was sad when they didn't. Can't wait for season 2 that is scheduled to drop later this year!
Big (2012)
Fun idea, end makes no sense
The good: 7 stars for Gong Yoo being "silly" and the supporting cast as well. The fact that Yoon Jae and Kyung Joon were twins was cool but awful at the same time because the younger son was only born for "spare parts". The only character who had any development was Kyung Joon, who started out as a brat and then matured quite a bit. He was sweet and did so much for Da Ran but she did nothing for him. Seeing him pout and mope was hilarious. Honestly, I only watched this bc of Gong Yoo. He never disappoints! He carried this show all the way.
The bad: Main actress/character boring, bland, has 0 personality and 2 facial expressions: surprised and confused. I understand her dilemma, of having someone else in your fiance's body. Personally I wouldn't care either way if it's Gong Yoo :) I thought the idea was cool but pitting a teenager against an adult was weird. Could have been someone older so it would be less icky. Because honestly, how could this have ended, with the kid and a 30 yo woman? But I also didn't want her going back to her fiance. They consistently portrayed Yoon Jae as someone who didn't love Da Ran: he never made time for her (despite spending 2 hours at the gym every day to get that slamming body), had an emotional affair with a coworker, was flaky about the wedding and was planning on running off to wherever. They never even kissed! Who gets engaged to someone without even kissing them at the very least? Or telling them you love them? Then they start backtracking to try making him to be a good guy after all just to confuse the already confused Da Ran, who forgets that he doesn't love her. I'm pretty sure he was going to break up with her in person, not tell her that he loved her. Also, do taxis not exist in S Korea? Because the characters just take off running all the time. Is everything within running distance?
The awful: I still don't understand all the drama with the boys' parents and the artist? What was all that back and forth about? Last 3/4 episodes were... ? Kyung Joo's aunt & uncle being greedy was cliché but him being in love with Da Ran's mom was weird and forced. And the two most important scenes weren't even shown: the wedding and the souls transfering back (or not, who knows)!!! WTF was that ending? Did Kyung Joon stay in the adult body after all or was it Da Ran's imagination? Was she seeing an adult body yet he was still 18/19? I also really disliked the coworker being BFFs with YJ's mom. The clingy obsessed teenage girl was annoying AF! Did she not go to school? How did she have money to up and move to S Korea and live there for a year? Who would allow a teenager to do that? And then using Choong Sik and giving him false hope. He deserved better.
Conclusion: watch this for fun but don't expect much of an ending.
Jombitamjeong (2020)
hilarious! worth it if you like zombies
I gave this show 9 stars simply because it had fewer episodes than most kdramas (12 instead of 16). I think they could and should have made more episodes and fleshed out the story a bit more. Other than that I have nothing to complain about. It's hilarious! There's comedy, action, mystery, and camp. The chemistry between the actors/characters was amazing. I love anything zombie but for the most part zombie shows/movies are either way too gory and/or just plain stupid. But not this one! It's great for when you want to watch something casual, relaxing and funny. There's the cute main character, a self aware zombie, a zombie-obsessed filmmaker brother-in-law, adorable kids, and hilarious enemy-sidekicks. Plus now I have a new kcrush, Choi Jin-Huyk :) The ending hinted that there could be a second season but there isn't, which is sad.
Agui kkot (2020)
A masterpiece to watch over and over
I can't stop thinking about this show! Nothing is what it seems! The show moves at a fast pace while constantly throwing curveballs at you. Right up until the end you question everything you think you know about the story. The acting was superb! What a cast! I'm definitely gonna watch this show again once my heart has healed and my brain has stopped spinning LOL I was physically tense the whole time! I had to remind myself to breathe. I pretty much had anxiety attacks along with Hyun Su :D
I really like to dive deep into characters' mindsets and psychological states and this show has certainly given me a lot to mull over. So here we go! Spoilers all around, beware!
First of all - Do Hyun Su. I don't think he is a sociopath like he is portrayed. He is considered to be on the antisocial spectrum but I disagree - he believes this because the entire village made him think that. I think that after all those years of being told he's a psycho like his dad he convinced himself that he really had no emotions. He is very emotionally stunted and deeply traumatized but he really is capable of love, he just doesn't know it. The way he treats his daughter is proof he really loves. He also really loves his wife. When he stood outside the dark store to keep her safe in the blackout! OMG The fact that he lied about his identity to his wife is troubling but I understand given the circumstances. I don't understand why he kept Moo Jin captive for the first couple episodes but he never really wanted to kill him. In a real life scenario I would never encourage anyone to give him as many chances as Ji Won did - never insist on loving a man that tells you they don't love you!! But in the show it means that she could see that he really had love inside him and didn't know it. Also, he sacrificed himself to save his sister, and if that isn't love, I don't know what is.
I didn't know what to think of Moo Jin at first because it seems like he's trying to expose Hyun Su? Then he's helping him. And his neverending love for Do Hae Su <3 Also, Eun-ha is freaking adorable! Every time she she said uppa! I cried like a baby.
Baek Hee sung - dude, I get genuinely scared when he gets that demented look in his eyes! And Do Min Seok with his black eyes is pretty much nightmare material right there. Goosebumps every time he is on screen just standing there silently. Crap! The story comes full circle when you realize that the boys "switched" fathers. Do Min Seok "adopts" Hee Sung because his own son is not a psycho like him. And then Hee Sung's father "adopts" Hyun Su to cover up what happened. Corrupt parents everywhere, sheesh. I kind of feel bad for the mom because she stabbed her son bc of what he did but her husband wanted to cover it up. I think her initial coldness/hatred is due to trauma and guilt. The father, though, he just ended up crazy? I wish he had ended up sane and in prison.
I think they forgot to let Hyun Su know that Hee Sung killed/betrayed his father. Right? That girl who was missing (I forgot her name) saw what happened and she never told anyone. It pissed me off that she ended up getting abducted by the bad guys TWICE. But I loved it when she held Hyun Su back from killing Hee Sung.
The human trafficking scenario is super scary and REAL and breaks my heart that this goes on everywhere.
I was SUPER mad in the last 2 episodes because Hyun Su reverts back into his emotionless self and starts to believe again he is that sociopath he was gaslighted into believing. I can understand him, though - he forgot 15 years (bullcrap, because amnesia doesn't work like that - you only temporarilty forget the time around the trauma, in this case, the head wound) of his life, so he "forgot" that he is capable of love. And he didn't want to lead Ji Won on because he wanted to do the right thing. I was ready to break something if they didn't end up together! LOL
Whoooo what a ride. What a ride! This show lives rent free in my head now. I can't wait to watch it again.
Eobiseu (2019)
Starts strong but crashes too soon
At first the concept was cool - you get resurrected into your true soul's form. A serial killer! Mystery! But there are so many plot holes it's absurd. Starting with the opening credits with music that sounds like it's from Harry Potter and then a tacky sci fi shazam! At the end. (The only good thing about the show's music was the song "falling", everything else was awful.) I feel like the writers couldn't pick a genre so they tried to make it everything. Drama, thriller, romance, comedy, sci fi, mystery. WTF.
The bad guys are ALWAYS at the right spot at the right time, and always 10 steps ahead of everyone. Are they omnipresent and omniscient? There's constantly a new side character helping out the main serial killer (doctor). How many people does he have working for him? Why is his son helping him? Why did he kill people and sew them back up? The serial killer (old man) ends up in the hospital in maybe a coma and everybody forgets about him... wtf!! Ji-wook had the judge's real son but then Park Gi-man had him. What?
The "aliens" never show up again. The terrible exposition scenes where the abyss explains itself where laughable. What is the abyss? Where does it come from? Why did Cha Min even get it? And why did the old man also have one?
I was really drawn into the story at first but by episode 7 I just wanted it to be over already. The last 2 episodes were just romantic fluff with nothing relevant happening.
I'm giving it 3 stars only because of some characters: Cha Min's mom and auntie, and detective Park. The main leads had good chemistry but they completely changed with their new appearance. I felt really bad about Hee-Jin's mom, that made me cry. Everything else was insufferable.
Skip this one -- there are plenty other amazing k-dramas that you can spend your precious time on.
Derry Girls (2018)
Funniest show ever
Derry Girls has quickly become one of my favorite shows and I've already seen it 3x. EVERYTHING IS HILARIOUS! Every line is funny, every character is funny! The nun! Aunt Sarah! The grandpa! Cousin Colm! The hot priest! Erin being delusional about her popularity! Seriously, I laughed nonstop until the last episode where I cried from beginning to end because it was the end (and because of the subject matter). I can't even pick a favorite character because it's such a well-written ensemble show. Plus that accent! Och, I want to speak like that now.
The show starts off pretty solid, the actors had a good handle on their characters from the get go, and man, the first episode had me in stitches! I mean, that scene where they are in detention had me crying! XD
The soundtrack is pure 90s bliss and it took me back, having been the same age as the girls at that time. I swear I went to school with a girl who looked and acted just like Michelle! LOL I think Orla might be neurodivergent which makes me love her even more.
The only thing that bugs me (I hate it actually) is that they low-key bully James for being British (historical beef) and they call him a girl or gay throughout. For example, he had to go to an all-girl school bc if he went to a boys' school they would "kill" him for not being masculine enough and British. James was a cute, regular boy who sadly was pretty much abandoned by his mother and nobody was really nice to him. I really wish they had been nicer to him.
I was afraid there wouldn't be a new season what with covid and Clare being in Bridgerton, which is why she's not in the last season too much. But I think they ended the show at the perfect time, before they go off to university and "become adults".
I don't understand the political situation in the last season even after going online to read about it. But that didn't ruin anything for me. It was very emotional, things got serious quick, with each character having their own opinions and having to deal with conflicting emotions about the vote.
All in all, it's a perfect comedy with well-rounded characters. Pure nostalgia for us Gen X.
Qing Ya Ji (2020)
So beautiful it hurts
First let me say I'm not Asian and I don't speak any Asian languages or know anything about Asian culture/myths. So I'm sure I missed a lot of important details because of this and I'm not used to this style of storytelling. But I've developed quite a fondness for Korean dramas recently which have now spoiled me and I can't stand Hollywood blockbusters anymore. LOL
With that being said, the story is a bit confusing at first but soon you get what's happening. The visuals are beautiful, the CGI is perfect, the action scenes are exciting but not overly violent or gory, and there is no nudity or sex. The acting is superb! Being used to over acting from Western actors with plastic faces, bulging muscles and blinding white teeth, this feels otherwordly in the best of ways. The soundtrack really transports you to a different world. The story is unique and I found myself invested in the characters immediately. I would love to see this as a series!
And OMG Asian men with long black hair are my new favorite thing (with all due respect).
Kim's Convenience (2016)
Refreshing wholesome feel-good comedy
I found this gem on Netflix and I'm glad I gave it a go. It's not filmed in front of an audience, so no horrible laugh tracks. It feels authentic! The cast has great chemistry and a good handle on their characters right from episode 1. Mr Kim is hilarious!! He is such a DAD! Amazing actor!
The supporting cast is also great and really diverse, so it feels like real life where people look normal - no overdone hair + makeup + plastic surgeries + blinding white teeth + fancy outfits. I think it's great for the whole family, as there are no swearing, sex or violence.
I like how we can get a glimpse of Korean culture and how the show is respectful towards religion, not playing characters like sterotypes or caricatures.
The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window (2022)
4 stars only because it's kristen bell
Even knowing it's a parody, it falls flat.
It wasn't funny. Not even one chuckle. No chemistry between Kristen and the boring "handsome neighbor".
I binged it in one day... meh.
I did appreciate creepy Cameron as the mailbox guy (he's Ed Kemper from Mindhunter, I wonder if that was intentional?).