Pethushka

A well-filmed drama about life after a breakup that nicely captures the way it can go. I quite enjoyed exploring the differences in how I would have reacted and the similarity to how an erstwhile significant other had reacted when we went through our breakup, and I didn't really understand him at the time. Well acted, a good atmosphere; in short, I was impressed.

I thought Mission Possible, from Merry Christmas studios, was going to be a blast. And it was, in the good sense. I enjoyed the (lack of) skills of the main character, plus it was highly watchable. Nothing challenging, yet suspenseful and action packed. Definitely one of Yeong-kwang Kim’s better roles.

A film about women and their strength, undying love, reconciliation, bitterness, and struggles to overcome the desire to influence the lives of others. About how the worst mom is also the best mom and the worst dad is the best dad. Right off the bat, I was entranced by the Taiwan I know and love. And how the oldest of the women, who for me was the main hero, took me by the hand and led me through it. She commanded my respect while reassuring me with her experience and confidence. Grace Chen, I bow to you.

If there's one thing I'm not a fan of, it's drugs. But the documentary about Shiny Flakes completely blew me away because of the extraordinary portrayal and the participation of the "hard luck child" himself. In no way do I consider him a hero or role model of any kind, and though he clearly sees himself as a successful businessman, he's ultimately still just a navel-gazing, overconfident criminal. But it's an incredible story, and this documentary told it brilliantly.

How nice to see a film for the first time in a while where I just slap it with five stars with no BUTs. We know from previous experience that when a bunch of Italians get together around a table, some interesting experiments can happen. Maybe this one could never work in the real world, but that makes it all the more refreshing. It messed with my head very nicely, and it wasn't because I couldn't figure out which of the possibilities we were in – surprisingly, I had no problems with that. What was interesting was that whoever the person or persons in question was with greatly influenced my perspective on the character and my sympathy for them. Some relationships make us better, others drag us down. I guess there's something to that, isn't there?

Honestly, if I'd known what genres we’d be dealing with beforehand (Ji-sub So truly spends a substantial part of the series playing with kids, and he's perfect at it!!!), I definitely wouldn't have held off on watching it like I did. The first two-thirds were absolutely five-star. While it was clear to me that building the action would inevitably come at the expense of the comedy, I still enjoyed the civilian part the most. Whether it was the neighborhood gang scenes, which were so refreshing for the genre, or the main character as a "babysitter," I couldn't tear myself away. Those who pictured Terius as a tough guy who fights or shoots most of the time will end up being pleased too, though perhaps not to the extent they expected. Oh, and the main heroine is fantastic, not some weeping damsel. A very, very light-hearted spy series that has almost nothing to do with reality, but still entertains. 4.5 stars

I've always been fascinated by how well Koreans film recollections of a first love. With innocence, yet in a terribly fateful and unique way. And I actually really like the idea of the film and the roles the main characters play in the present day. The ending was gentle, even though I was expecting something different. My considerable fondness for Jeju and this cast won't let me go any lower with the rating. And I won't go higher because, while I was cuddled nicely, there was no big bang.

This was, in a word, INSANE. A seventeen-hour guide to facing adversity. I feel like I've witnessed just about every form of manipulation, abuse, possessiveness, trying to buy or cry for someone's affection, and other psycho terrifying portrayals. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating. I didn't see it that way the whole time, but it was still exhausting and I don't have much sympathy for the actions of those involved. Except for Eric. He wasn't any less insane, but I have no objectivity when it comes to him. For me, it was basically a one-man show. I wouldn't watch it if it weren't for him.

I was very skeptical of the series because the last time I saw Seong-kyeong Lee was in a role where I found her almost unbearable (Cheese in the Trap). So when she came at me here with her goofy walk, squeamishness, and overall demeanor that drove me out of my mind, I had to take a break from her for a few weeks. Then when I came back to the series, her counterpart, Joo-hyeok Nam, started to take center stage for me. And the more he fell in love with her, the more I liked her. I have to admit, the progression of her character was incredible and she's come a really long way. With this Seong-kyeong has convinced me of her range and I look forward to coming across a role where she suits me from start to finish. I do have one minor reservation about the series. Although I really liked the script, there were too many health issues and subplots for me (but so be it, the sports setting). In the end, though, I got a nice, warm feeling from the series, and when I replay key moments, I'm moved. It had depth, one of the most beautiful getting-to-know you sequences, and it was nice to take a break from Korean perfection for a while. A stronger 4 stars.

In the end, it was surprisingly good. And that's mainly because the filmmakers did a great job lightening up something that is perhaps one of the most difficult subjects to put on film. The development of the parents' behavior is admittedly pretty unrealistic, but so be it, they were a lot of fun afterwards. But the main plus of the film definitely remains the main couple, they had great chemistry. What’s more, Sinje Irslinger is an interesting, fresh (at least for me) actress who feels like someone completely different in almost every scene.