Change Your Image
myungjahigh
Reviews
Salinui chueok (2003)
all time best korean film, no doubt
Memories of Murder is, for me, the best korean film ever. I cannot find any more thrilling, meaningful than this yet.
If you know about Korean history a bit, then it would be better to understand this film. The director put a number of symbols in it. The most problematic and criticized issue here is not about who is a real murderer, but about the abused powers which made lots of victims in that time.
The director of Memories of Murder described every single scene and character with so much care and meanings. I could see his efforts to show all dark sides of Korean society in the 80's. He truly has extraordinary insight on Korean society and history.
Korean in the 80's was very chaotic. Govertmental authority was wrongly used for every second. It was the time Korea was dictated by the notorious dictators who had military origins.. A number of people were killed during that time because they protested against the despotic government. (This is usually considered as a big metaphor for consecutive homicides which happened in the movie.) Also, it was the time that cops(helped the government to stop protests) abused innocent people in order to get fabricated confession from them. This is easily found in the movie. These are not the only problems of that time. Journalism distorted truth and made the society more disorderly. All rotten parts of the society made conflicts, mental illness, and murders.
The movie itself contains the Korean history very well. How could it be more clear? Memories of Murder is based on the real case. But the director gets ahead.. He catches all the complicated and delicate social problems in the case of serial murder. So brilliant.
'Memories of Murder'- it is a past tense. However, at the end of the film, the audiences would figure out that the murder is still present progressive. The movie doesn't mention clearly about the real killer. Therefore it is so confusing who is the reason of murders. Policemen? Politicians? Journalism? or Park Hyeon-gyu? Who do you think the real killer is?
Memories of Murder has been more than a movie in Korea. It was one of a culture phenomenon. The characters and what they said in the film hit Korea hugely. When it was released, "Hyangsook was pretty" was the most popularly used sentence. In every term, Memories of Murder is surely a great film.
The Hunger Games (2012)
It was pretty good for me
I've never read the original books before, and I enjoyed this movie. I had not expected that much about the movie... maybe that's why I found it fun during the running time. Still, I am satisfied with the movie and it makes me want to read books. I heard there are some people who argue that The Hunger Games actually stole the idea from Japanese literature and movie called Battle Royale. I am a huge fan of Battle Royale, and I also think the idea of 'killing' game is quite similar. However, it looks hard to say that The Hunger Games copied the idea of Battle Royale. People killing others in order to survive is a common theme in literary or media works, I guess. And The Hunger Games and Battle Royale are entirely different films.
While watching this movie, I thought that the audiences from Panem are similar to people of the real world including myself. They are eager to watch more horrible and provocative things in media. It's getting worse in these days. Also, I felt that the world in the film is not that different from real. District 1, a strong one, already established the structured and well organized system to make its own weapon. In contrary, a weak District 12 cannot help but participate the games for living. And the Panem which takes control over the districts looks just hideous even though it is decorated with colorful stuff. I sympathized with the movie in terms of these points.
Anyhow, I think the movie The Hunger Games is enjoyable enough. It is thrilling, and it's too terrible to imagine... I am waiting for the next series, and I'd like to read the books.
Kick-Ass (2010)
fun movie
Kick-Ass is definitely a funny movie. And somewhat special, when it comes to say about hero movies. This film starts with the simple hypothesis: what if I become a superhero? And Kick-Ass gives the answer for that with hilarious and cool actions. Hero from YouTube generation would be like this.
I didn't try to find any lesson in this movie. I just wanted to watch something that could make me feel good and happy, and I made a right choice. Also, what I like about this movie is that all the scenes and figures are described fantastically. Especially sound effects and sound tracks are awesome! The eminent part of Kick-Ass goes to Hit Girl, I think. She is the best character in this movie, or maybe the best female hero.
Dalpaengee eui byeol (2011)
life on planet
No sight, no sound. I sometimes wonder. What if I cannot see nor hear anything? What would I feel? How would I live?
The movie 'Planet of Snail' is about lives of deaf blind people. Young- Chan, a deaf blind, refers that he comes from a planet of snail. This could be special, but not different from a planet Earth. When he spends his days on several things, it takes a bit longer than others, but no different. He changes a bulb, takes a class in the university, goes on a picnic, and loves somebody... If one feels bored for watching his unexpectedly normal days, then the film would succeed to transfer to the audience what it wants to say, I think. There is no difference between lives of butterfly and snail, even though snail is slow and it should depend on its tactual sense.
Most of all, however, a huge support for the snail to live on Earth is Young-Chan's wife, Soon-Ho. When Young-Chan was hugging the tree, audiences would feel the atmosphere without sound. On the scene I closed my eyes. I wanted to know what he is feeling. And faint sounds were coming at the very moment. It was Soon-Ho. Right after that, Soon-Ho touched Young-Chan's fingers and all sounds in the world slowly started to be heard. Soon-Ho is ears and eyes for her husband, and she is the one who links him to Earth. They care, love, look after each other and it is the truth. When Young-Chan a little bit angrily said that he married Soon-Ho not because he wanted her helps, but because he loves her, he was very adorable. I could feel that he really loves his wife.
The movie 'Planet of Snail' is also pretty special, because it is made as a barrier-free film. Barrier-free films are made for blind and deaf people to help them watch the movies with subtitles and audio- commentaries. I think it is very inspiring.
Planet of Snail is truly worth to watch. Some people say it is boring, and even myself felt that for some moments. However, that is the charm of it and I am sure you will see.
Intouchables (2011)
incredibly funny and heart warming
In these days, in my country, the movie Intouchables is ranked very high in box office. Usually French films are not that popular or familiar in this country's movie industry. Therefore it is quite surprising to see that people are very eager to see Intouchables, a film from France. At first, it was not famous to people at all because promotions were not big for the movie. However, as time goes by, Intouchables is getting bigger and bigger. Almost every person who watched the movie tells to friends or writes review on the internet that Untouchables is a amazing film. And I think that is a real and successful marketing.
I also watched it today, and I definitely recommend this film just like others did to me. So fun, moving, beautiful. While watching the movie, the audiences including me burst into laughter or tears for every single second. very priceless moment.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
extraordinary
Every single thing has its principle and purpose.
I think The Nightmare before Christmas is profound which discerns this society... not only Halloween and Christmas.
When Santa said Happy Halloween at the end of the movie, I was impressed so much. Everything goes back where it belongs, and that is very relieving and peaceful. Conversely, it is a violence to deprive and invade others. A lot of wars that occurred in the past because there was no respect for other cultures. It still happens even until now. In this movie, the relations between cultures, countries, or ideologies could be parallel to the relation of Halloween and Christmas. The two holidays respect each other, and then perfect peace and stability come.
The characters in The Nightmare before Christmas are equally lovable. very creative and well made. I first watched this about 12 years ago, and watched again in 2006 with 3D. Add, yesterday one more. Each time I felt somewhat differently, and each time I love more.
Rain Man (1988)
very special road movie
I watched this movie in 2012, and it is still definitely great.
Rain Man is a road movie of brothers. I think it is quite special among movies about family. And I suppose this is because I could feel that the brothers actually accept each other as their part of life by sensing very small things. There was no rapid change, but it was true that some connections were between them. Of course it is very hard for them to totally open their minds due to the 20 years and illness, but the road trip could narrow the gap a little bit between Raymond and Charlie.
I like the ending. There is no huge change in there lives, but the brothers actually go through some tiny changes. Way more realistic. Also it was very sad to see that Charlie could not help but let Raymond go back. I could see something unspeakable in his eyes when Charlie said good bye to his brother. Tom Cruise is a excellent actor. And of course, no doubt, Dustin Hoffman is amazingly talented. His performance was astonishing in this movie. And I got to respect him more after knowing that he is the one who changed the ending of the film. I will never forget his role as Raymond.... legendary.
The Man from Earth (2007)
brilliant
this is really one of a kind. it will turn stereotypes about SF. I watched this 4 years ago, but it is still very powerful in my mind.
at first, while watching it, i found it a little bit boring. I expected more spectacle and more technologies added, because i believed that SF films must be made of special effects or monster stuff... but suddenly, I got starting to focus on the film and at the last moment, I was blow away. It tells me that it is not really necessary to put fancy technological things in order to make audiences impressed.
What I like most about the movie is its idea. i think it is well structured and persuasive.. This movie makes it by its wonderfully written scripts. well.. in some ways, it seems to be a bit excessive and absurd, but I still like those things too! very enjoyable.
Drag Me to Hell (2009)
original, fun, and scary
This movie is so rare, unique, it has its own style. I would say that Drag Me to Hell is pretty scary and horrifying enough to watch. There are many stuffs which you can easily find in other scary films, such as curse, screaming, a ghost popping out where you wouldn't expect it to be. The movie seems like it well follows the formulations and laws for its genre. However, it is different and special at the same time. It is very fun and even hilarious. I literally laughed a lot throughout the film, and that's what I liked most about Drag Me to Hell. It constructs the horror things, and it also destroys them repeatedly. I think it's so creative. I've never thought I could laugh while watching horror films before this film. Drag Me to Hell just wins both scary and fun.
new and different style, and you will get unexpected joy from it. this is actually one of my favorite horror films ever!
Up (2009)
absolutely beautiful
Pixa is literally brilliant. Creative ideas, advanced technology, ability to tell the story, all is great. Even before the movie really started, I was already deeply moved by the short story of clouds and storks. Pixa may be one of the best which know about human emotion and feeling for priceless things.
For me, the most amazing moment of Up is in the first 15 minutes. With the old album showing Carl and Ellie's photos, I could see how much they have cared for each other, and how much they have dreamed. This scene is very well created. The colorful and beautiful balloons from Up will not be forgotten for a long time. Up realizes the dream, which anyone probably have had in his or her life, for the person. After watching it, I felt like I traveled somewhere very exotic and fantastic.
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)
enjoyable
Well.. it could be not good, but I enjoyed G.I.Joe. Story was banal, ending scene looks a little bit hurriedly built, but what I liked about this movie is that lots of characters have their own color and specific features. People in G.I.Joe might be too many, but they are well described and all included.
Also, this movie means a lot to me. I was glad that Byung-hun Lee did a good job as Storm Shadow. It is quite hard for korean actors to have a chance to star in Hollywood films, but I really think that Lee did go well with the character. Now I am looking forward to watching the prequel of G.I.Joe. Hope the prequel is better than the previous one.
If you are looking for something fun and good actions, this movie is worth to watch, somehow.
Dogville (2003)
sincere and honest toward mankind
Two years ago, after watching The Idiots of Lars Von Trier, I promised myself that I'm not going to watch his other movies ever again. I could hardly watch The Idiots because of its cruelty which is not simply from blood or slash stuff. I was distressed mentally over the film. However, two years later, I came to watch Dogville, (I broke my promise..) and became to love Lars Von Trier.
Dogville is also very hard and harsh to watch as I imagined. very inhumane.
At the very beginning of the movie, I thought it is silly of the movie due to its background settings. Everything is set up as if I am watching a play. Audiences can see everything obviously through the emptiness. There's no blocked, structured buildings, but only chalk lines explain here is a house. I felt like I am walking through a barren woods where twiggy trees have no leaves. I wondered what could happen at this place in which every single step and breath is shown transparently. The settings even seemed cute to me. However, after Dogville started, I mean, from the start to the end, I became speechless about the genius director and brilliant set which is highly important to carry out the movie's theme. Sound effects or realistic location is unnecessary when it comes to Dogville. What Dogville wants to show is 'human beings' themselves, not other things. It is hard to focus on people in the jungle with abundant leaves and trees. But, it would be much easier among naked trees. I got attracted to the director's brightness and originality even from a set.
Dogville concentrated on human kinds, and reveals them. Grace sneak about Dogville with a secret, and Tom, who calls himself a philosopher but actually got only hypocrisy, decided to make Grace as a good illustration for his theory. From the first, Tom considered her as his 'tool' in order to realize his ideal and empty thought. He only thinks that Grace is a kind of material to make him different from others. Other villagers, at first, did not care much about her. Grace started to help them with thinking that they will open their mind to her someday. And bit by bit, the dwellers got to realize that she is helpful, and they let her live in the village. The people of Dogville did take her not because of humanity nor morality. Every person in the town saw a convenient tool in Grace. When the wanted paper of Grace was attached in Dogville, people found that they got higher positions and more powers than Grace. The village people became to treat her as if she is a slave, and they showed their ugly aspects as it is. Tom kept saying that he will save her from the village, but what he said was nothing but a wordy show. The only person called an intellectual in Dogville couldn't take an action, and he just put Grace into more terrible situations. For Tom, Grace was a practical example that he is actually a hypocrite same as others.
Grace believed that forgiveness and goodness can change the world in a different way, not like a gangsters' society based on power and fights. Still, the harder she tried to help and forgive people, the more they showed their hideous desires and selfishness. She finally realized that it was very arrogant to say that she would be superior to others if she sacrifices. Therefore, she punished Dogville. killed everyone, burned it. She especially killed Tom by herself. He was too arrogant to let him killed by other hands. And, the dog Moses survived, who is the most superior creature in Dogville. (Isn't it very meaningful?)
The movie Dogville describes ugly and passive nature of human so well. Human is not the one who 'thinks' and 'acts' by morality, but his only concern is life covered with desires. The reason why this movie is so persuasive is because the town Dogville could be found in everywhere surrounding us in real. It is easy to observe a number of inhumanity and evil deeds in this world. People do not hesitate to beat others if they have much power. The world is more like a movie than a movie is. Therefore, the empty set of Dogville is getting to be filled with this real society while the movie goes.
I've been thinking why Dogville makes people including me uncomfortable and appalled. And I guess that's because the character Tom is quite similar to them. Seemingly, look moral and good, but inside, ugly and wicked. And all is killed in the film.
It will be interesting to see this movie in terms of religion and Christianity. Is Grace depicted as Jesus here? What about mankind? Is the end of the movie parallel to the Last Judgement?
Anyway, Dogville is an amazing movie for me. I might have to take a look on more works of Lars Von Trier.
Watchmen (2009)
so good
This is a different kind of movie on heroes. Whenever think about heroes and their powers, all I could have in my mind is saving the earth, defeating villains, winning peace and love. But for Watchmen, everything is disrupted and blurred. It's apocalyptic and tragic on the one hand, and very human or even subhuman on the other. Heroes who are supposed to help people are not able to do it due to their individual reasons. The world is getting dark and desperate, and heroes are getting to lose powers.
Watchmen is very huge and enormous, because it deals with many prominent events in human history. It is even philosophical, and makes people think about human beings themselves.
The best character for me is Rorschach. I don't know exactly why, but I am just attracted to him. I guess it is because he is only right one in this movie, although he is considered freak and weirdo all the time. What he says and shows in his journal always impresses me a lot. Rorschach is my all time favorite hero ever. Also, I really like Jackie Earle Haley's performance. He is a great actor. His voice and every step he makes were Rorschach itself.
After watching the movie Watchmen, I read the original graphic novel. I think both movie and novel are great. It could have been so hard to carry the huge graphic novel into the movie genre, but it is nicely done.
Chronicle (2012)
hero, antihero, villain
Chronicle is not a movie focused on heroes or their superpowers. It is not a story of awesome heroes such as Superman, Batman, Ironman. The characters who have powers here never say that they will save the world with the powers.
Andrew, Matt, Steve are very normal high school students. After acquiring superpowers, they just concentrate on trying them to put up some lego blocks, move a car, and so on. How ordinary it is. If I suddenly get superpower, I would take a remote control from little distance and watch TV, instead of swearing I will be a hero. This is what I like about Chronicle. It is certainly different from other superhero movies. I felt something congenial to the characters, which I have never felt when I watched superheroes. Camera effects of the films did make me feel that more. It looks real, so I could focus on it better. I like this kind of fake documentary..
Chronicle does not have very splendid, amazing story in it. However it is still a good movie. it makes people see superheroes in a different way. Even if one got a superpower, not everyone can live as in movies.
This might be a small and short film not like other superhero movies, but very powerful.
X: First Class (2011)
coolest x-men ever
I am a huge fan of X-Men series, and I must say that X-Men: The First Class is my favorite of the all. At first, I didn't expect that much, but I absolutely enjoyed the movie and loved it after all!
New more kinds of X-men and mutants are awesome, and the past of Professor X and Magnito is so interesting. Especially about Magnito, I think this movie is successful to make the character more lovable and attractive. Watching the time Charles and Eric were close friends was very nice. It is described with delicacy and care, so that the movie is somewhat heart warming, and somewhat thrilling. The tragic past of Eric makes me understand why he so hates normal humans and how the figure Magnito was created. He is not an evil nor villain at all, but he should keep fighting. And i think the fact makes X-Men series more profound and cooler.
This movie clears everything up of the previous ones and contains a story about all of them, so it's meaningful for people who love X-Men. Now I am waiting for the next one. X-Men always feels good.
James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender were great actors to play Charles and Eric respectively. Kevin Bacon was the best. he was a real villain in the movie.
Bakjwi (2009)
the scarlet letter
It was interesting to see a new kind of vampire in Thirst. A priest turning into a vampire, this idea is fresh and new.
This movie reminds me of the literature The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Both works have the same links in terms of religion, gender, sin, redemption, etc. As Hester and Dimmesdale were suppressed by the society and religion, Tae-ju and Sang-hyeon were under oppression. In Thirst, the oppression suffocating them revived and became tremendous desires when the couple turned into vampires. The desires gulf almost every people including Tae-ju and Sang-hyeon. A little bit unlike The Scarlet Letter, Thirst shows throughout the process how they sinned and its reason and result.
In The Scarlet Letter, Hester should live along with redemption due to the love with Dimmesdale, a minister. She put a letter A on her clothes as a mark of her sin. However, she made the A with fabulous scarlet color, which stands for her desire. In Thirst Tae-ju displayed her desire by sucking red blood. She lived with the desire pretty much excessively. The reason why Sang-hyeon and Tae-ju became to live like this is, i think, not because of their innate endless desire, but because of the irresistible oppression put on them. Just like human would fly without landing forever if he is released from the physical fetter.
However, the reasons of oppression are different for them. As a priest, Sang-hyeon chose the oppression of his own will in order to be faithful to God. In contrary, Tae-ju had lived under suppression, and she could not had resisted against it. It was not her own will. Furthermore, it is very interesting that it is a priest and a vampire Sang-hyeon who revived, killed, and incriminated Tae-ju. Even after Tae-ju got to get rid of oppression, she had to face another tragedy that she actually has nothing to choose on her own. What is more, she couldn't help but wait for her death sitting next to Sang-hyeon who wait for redemption. Tae-ju couldn't be redeemed, not like Sang-hyeon. In short, she had to live only with another's will from start to end. The situation is repeated in Thirst that Dimmesdale made his destiny by himself with much relief although Hester got ignored and sacrificed in The Scarlet Letter. It might be the reason the death of Taejoo is reliving and pitiful at the same time.
Horrible desires are punished in the film. But the punishment is not applied to Sang-hyeon, because he was redeemed. The one who got it is Tae-ju, and her desire is still in her boot which didn't turn into ashes.
All the actors did great job. Especially, Kim Hae Suk and Shin Ha kyun worked nicely. In the film, Shin didn't take a big part, but his character Kang-woo is very important and he played well. (maybe he is Chillingworth from The Scarlet Letter? they have pretty many similarities) If you like this movie and Shin, i would like to recommend the korean film called "Guns and Talks."
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
good suspense
It has been a quite long time to watch a surprisingly nice and scary thriller film like this. There is no ghost, no ear-splitting sound, but horror comes calmly. Power of story and characters.
The Silence of the Lambs numbed me with its notorious(?) thrilling characters and scenes. Now I understand why this movie is so much famous and loved. It deserves to be called a masterpiece of thriller. I guess it will be fun to catch some homage for The Silence of the Lambs in later films.
Anthony Hopkins was just Dr. Lecter himself. His existence was very irresistible. Buffalo Bill was also great, but it is well described in the film that he is just a cocoon compared to the moth, Dr. Lecter. The actors play their characters wonderfully. The most shocking thing about the film is that Anthony Hopkins was in the film only for 15 minutes, in total. He is brilliant.
I hope I would have a chance to watch more films like this in 2012.
The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)
like it
The basic story line is interesting, and i think this movie is well made. I felt continuously tensed, relieved, tensed, on and on while watching it. The story is good, the conditions inside and outside of a court room are nicely mixed and edited. It somewhat looks like a movie just for fun, but it also shows the audiences about how legal works are supposed to go and about justice. I guess the audiences would feel a kind of catharsis.. there are some actual and unjust cases that criminals escape penalty by abusing the loophole of legal system.
I hope there are more films of this genre, laws, crimes, trials.. even though it does not have lots of action, it is still thrilling and exciting.
I haven't read the original book, but I would like to read someday.
Ang-ma-reul bo-at-da (2010)
too cruel
I understand what the director wants to say in this movie, but the way he used is too brutal in my opinion. While watching the movie, I kept thinking that human beings depicted in I Saw the Devil have nothing but cruelty and blood.
Truth be told, I sometimes think very hideous homicidal maniacs should be treated as they did to others. Just like Code of Hammurabi. But I wonder why I feel uncomfortable with this movie showing this psychotic mad murderer Kyung-chul openly got punished to death. I guess this is because that was too much. The film described it excessively brutal.
Furthermore, there are lots of victims due to Soo-hyeon's revenge. Revenge calls for another revenge. It was a good and fresh ending that Kyung-chul got beheaded. On the other hands, I was sorry for his son. What if the son realized he killed his father? That might be the completion of revenge, but innocent people hurt. I couldn't help but think about who the real devil is.
I understand that kind of brutality is necessary for the movie, but it was too much for me. It just looks like a murder for murder.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)
whole new sherlock
I like it better than the first one. When I saw the first one, i didn't feel familiar with sherlock described in the movie because the character is much focused on his fighting skill and ability, not like original Sherlock in the books. But after it, I guess I got more comfortable with the new created Sherlock's character, because I really enjoyed the second series. And I found new type of Sherlock is also lovable. 'Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows' has its own color and interpretation which is different from the original works.
The main actors did good job. Robert Downey Jr. so goes with Sherlock Holmes who is good at disguising and playing games, and Jude Law is perfect John Watson. Whom I like most is Colonel Sebastian Moran, acted by Paul Anderson. It was so cool to see him shoot, chase, run...
hope there will be more series of this film.
Hugo (2011)
masterpiece
Tribute to Georges Melies, who opened the door to the world of imagination
A few months ago, I mean, before Hugo and The Artist were released, it seemed very common that people just looked for more special effects or more provocative films and the film industry supported it. Meanwhile, The Artist and Hugo were shown to the public. Both the two are very special at this moment, because they are dealing with the film industry of the past which was not like these days at all. no special effect, no spectacle, not even voice nor color. And both of them did splendid jobs at Academy awards.
Hugo, which is made with terrific 3D technology, impresses the audiences as the first movie of human history did. The reason why Hugo is such brilliant is not only because of its technology, but also its imagination and reminisce that it supplies. I think Hugo is dedicated to people who still believe that every imagination and film could be realized... just like the old days of 'A Trip to the Moon.'
Lumière said that there is no future for films, but actually films have developed brightly. I would say that the development was possible because of various imagination and ideas of people. Of course technology and money also have had powers. The question is, will there be future for films anymore? What Lumière mentioned about film and technology was not totally wrong, because it was the era before A Trip to the Moon, the new film era of imagination. It is probably not coincidence that The Artist and Hugo came up at this time. I am sure there will be future for movies if they have own imaginative powers. and if they don't only depend on technology and capital.
Hugo says that every single person, every single thing has its own purpose. And through the movie Hugo, it seems fixed where films must go, and what purposes they are supposed to keep.
The Lion King (1994)
to be, or not to be, that is the question?
When i watched The Lion King for the first time, it was about 15 years ago. I was very young, and the death of Mufasa made me cry. And this year, I went to the cinema to watch The Lion King 3D. I had thought I would not cry this time, but i was wrong. I cried again in the same scene. It is still an awesome animation.
through watching it, i felt this movie is actually based on Hamlet, which is kind of orthodox now. The basic story lines of the two are pretty much similar. Simba and Hamlet went through their fathers' death whose responsibility is on their uncles, and they try to fight against the evil uncles. Dead fathers' shapes make them feel guilty by keeping saying "remember." Still, the two works are different at the same time. Simba overcame all the problems and revenged his father. The Lion King ended happily ever after, unlike Hamlet. The differences are from the existence of Timon and Pumbaa, no doubt. The tragic question "To be, or not to be" gets replaced with "Hakuna Matata," and the fact makes the wholly different endings. The two amazing and priceless friends are truly huge parts of the movie.
This time when i watched it, I felt sorry for Scar a little bit. When i was young, Scar was an absolute villain to me, but i think Scar could be a pathetic thing which desperately desired to be a king. (anyway he definitely did wrong things) maybe I grew too much. Just as Spring comes after Winter, as Simba has his son, i hope the pure days come to me again.
The Swell Season (2011)
good movie
I think this is a good movie. Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova show their feelings and thoughts honestly in this film, and it was interesting. Their personal stories and musics are really well combined. I felt that real life is as hard as described in Once. But both films are beautiful.
The only problem is that it was released with a title "Once Again" in Korea. I don't know why, maybe the distributing agency thought that is a cool name enough to attract many audiences who know about Once. Many people expected the film is the following up, and might feel deceived after watching it. The title "Once Again" is not suitable for the movie at all. If the movie kept its real title, that would have been better. It is very sad that some korean audiences were disappointed by the film because of its korean title. I think the korean agency should feel sorry about their stupid choice. "The Swell Season" itself is good enough.
Once (2007)
made me trip to Ireland
Whenever I watch Once, I'm always moved by the beautiful musics, places, story, and so on. Most of all, the musics and Ireland described in Once are just incredible. I still remember the scenery and people of Once by listening to all musics in it. And this movie is the reason why i decided to go on a trip to Ireland. I visited Dublin and Killiney, and got inspired a lot. dropped by the spot where Glenn played guitar and first met Marketa. There were lots of musicians who are very passionate about musics. The street was full of joy and passion toward arts. The movie just describes the usual and real Ireland as it is. i think this is why Once got loved by a number of people from different countries.
Oh and there is one thing i really want to mention. The Swell Season held a concert in Seoul around in 2009, and i was there. Before the concert starts, there was one korean independent band throwing their own small gig in front of the concert hall. It might be a kind of contribution toward the swell season, cause they played musics from Once. most people did not much care about them. Soon the concert started, and The Swell Season made their stages. After a few musics, they suddenly introduced the korean band to the audience and let them play on the real stage.. The Swell Season might have heard about them right before the concert and have been impressed, i guess. The band played its own song for a number of audiences, and the band looked so happy about it. And Last year, i found one article on a newspaper that the band made the independent film dealing with their amazing story about them having a chance to play on the real stage at The Swell Season concert, and the film was about to release.. I was stunned again with the thought that Once actually have inspired people all over the world. The Swell Season and Once probably got the band an 'once in a life time' experience. I must say that Once is truly beautiful because of that.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
confusing but interesting
While watching the movie, I was so confused to understand how the story goes. Also, as a foreign audience, i had some troubles to remember and tell the characters' last names, first names, secret code names, etc. I had not read the books, and maybe that's the reason why i felt this film is quite hard to follow... my brain went through the tough time.
However, I also think that it is very worth to watch it, because I might have unconsciously felt that movies on spy are supposed to be splendid and full of visually thrilling stuff. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy actually broke the stereotype, and i'm grateful. Besides, in fact there are lots of scenes which make my palms sweaty even though the movies go so calm and silent all the time. This is very interesting and brilliant. I think this movie is one you should watch if interested in spy genres. Though the movie seems to struggle to carry the whole story of books in it, i would like to applaud the director and the writer for their talents in telling the story. Also, all the actors did so great jobs in this film. I loved their works.