Change Your Image
tchrjudith
Reviews
Wang-ui namja (2005)
A Great Film Full of Subtleties
I can't believe that this film was low-budget. The cinematography was breathtaking, the costumes were colorful and vibrant (and depicted what each character should be wearing), the acting was superb for the main and minor characters, the skits were hilarious, the dialogue based on the subtitle was poetic and must be more poetic in Korean, and the entire feel of the movie was outstanding. It did not rely on star power or glitzy special effects or well choreographed action sequences. It used an interesting plot, well- rounded characterization even for some of the minor characters, and of course themes and actions that were better left unsaid or implied.
I never liked the in your face style of movie making that many Western directors seem to take to make their point (which some Asian directors seem to follow). For example, I am uncomfortable with homosexual themes and yet the depiction of homosexuality in this film was subtle and it was not the only theme explored in this movie. There didn't have to be sexual scenes to make me think that there must be something between the two jesters. The beauty of this kind of subtlety, though, was the fact that some viewers just thought of the relationship as brotherly or platonic in nature. And because it was so subtle, it could be interpreted as such. Even the deaths of the jesters were subtly portrayed and did not become explicit. I got teary-eyed even though in the end, there were no tears and the characters were shown as happy being together.
And there were humorous parts that came off naturally. The skits were of course funny by themselves, though they were bawdy. But the dialogue among the jesters made me laugh despite the fact they were just talking about what was happening to them in the course of events like not wanting to act the parts of certain characters or why they had to do certain things or why awful things happen after each skit.
The melancholy scenes also tugged at the heart and even though the king was such a tyrant, one couldn't help pity him at some parts.
This will become a classic because of its universal themes and great film making. I have to admit that I am homophobic but the love portrayed between the two jesters (and to me it was not brotherly love) in this film was more romantic than other couples depicted on film with a lot of explicit sex scenes, whether they are homosexuals or otherwise. I wish modern films would use more implied scenarios (off cam situations) instead of using a lot of graphic sex and violence to sell their films. Viewers who have brains won't have an issue understanding the implications unless they love sex and gore.
BRAVO!!!!!
Taeyangeui huye (2016)
It was so-so to me
I don't know why this became such a mega-hit, even bigger than You Who Came from the Stars. For me, the story did not really keep me engaged. I only watched it to see why people loved it so much. Yes, the cinematography was superb. The leads were also great and personally, I like both of them and have seen their other dramas before. At least, the woman is not the usual Cinderella character and the man is not Prince Charming CEO type. However, the story of these two leads did not capture my interest. At least with You Who Came from the Stars, the story between the lead characters and the crime/thriller subplot were gripping enough to make me continue watching, though I did not like the way they ended the drama. I was not personally invested in DOTS despite the good lead actors. I know that many loved their looks and chemistry but for me it will take more than looks and chemistry to keep me interested. Even with YWCFS, I couldn't care less about the chemistry between the two leads but the alien concept and the crime/thriller aspect of the drama made a bit more interested. The story between the two leads in DOTS could have been better. For example, the soldier had to kill someone close to the doctor because he or she was a spy but the doctor needed to save that person because not only was that person dear to her but she had to save lives as a doctor---well, something like that to make the dilemma more interesting and gripping.
Finding Dory (2016)
Can't match up to Finding Nemo
I have always liked watching children's film, animated or live- action since most of the time they are fun or well-written or both. I have no problems suspending disbelief when it comes to movies since I know that cinema is a different art form and it can be just pure entertainment and escapist fun (that has to use some unbelievable action sequences or scenes). A good film, for me, does not need to please the critics all the time or be too realistic and philosophical. I can enjoy almost all movies as long they are not pretentious and just want to tell a good story, whether in a profound way or in an entertaining way.
However, I had to suspend my disbelief too many times while watching Finding Dory and the story is not compelling enough for me. I also find Dory so annoying here though I liked the octopus very much.
Maybe I expected too much since I enjoyed Finding Nemo even though I also had to suspend my disbelief when watching it, but the suspension of disbelief did not make me question the plot too much. I also thought that Finding Dory would be a good sequel since I enjoyed the sequels of famous animated films like Toy Story 2, Ice Age 2, Kung Fu Panda 2. Well I thought wrong!!!!
Neoreul Saranghan Shigan (2015)
Wasted the talent of Ha Jiwon
This is quite a disappointment for me since Ha Jiwon is such a talented actress. I blame the script that no talented actor can save. There was no real tension and the flashbacks were just there to make the structure of the plot avoid taking a linear progression. For me, a linear storytelling technique is acceptable as long as the story is captivating. Scriptwriters need not do the non-linear technique all the time just to appeal to the modern-day sophisticated viewers. A story has to be compelling to hold the audience, whether it is told in a linear style or a non-linear style. I feel sorry for Ha Jiwon for starring in this boring series. Such a departure from her Empress Ki series.
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
A New Hopelessness
Minor Spoilers! I am a Star Wars fan and was a member of the Star Wars fan club that was based in the US. I was 11 when I saw Episode IV-A New Hope and loved the OT because the first trilogy gave me memorable characters and scenarios that the prequels did not. Just hearing the score and the themes for each scene like Darth Vader marching in, Leia and Han Solo's romantic moments, epic battles in space and down below gave me thrills. What made me watch Episode 7 was the fact that I would be seeing the old characters and I thought they would be depicted in ways that would make their send-offs as memorable as when they were still the main leads in late 70s to early 80s. Unfortunately, this film never took what motivates a character to behave a certain way seriously so there were a lot of senseless behavior and unexplained scenes. It was okay to kill off Han Solo but they could have made his death more heroic as befitting the epic tradition of Star Wars. Rey, though a natural, should not be portrayed as someone who could easily harness the force without training. Sadly, I agree with those who hated this film. It is more a remake or a reboot than a sequel. My classic OT is a hard act to follow after all. This new film lost the heroism and soul of the OT because it seems the generation today prefers mindless action scenes reminiscent of The Man of Steel and The Amazing Spiderman. I don't think remakes or reboots today can capture the essence of the original stories I grew up with so I should not be fooled again and again, grrrrrrr......