#byung hee bong

[chaejhst]

240625 Seo Hochul's Instagram Post

hochul3304: 광란의 드림즈~

[kdramaspace]

🔁 please consider reblogging to increase our sample size.

feel free to leave suggestions for characters you’d like to see in the tags! as always, if you’d like to submit a potential poll of the week (POTW) question, you may send in your submissions here.

[korelist]

SOUNDTRACK #1 // KDRAMA DİZİ YORUMU

UYARI : Yazılar genel olarak spoiler içerebilir. İçermeyedebilir.

İmdb puanı : 7,8 Benim puanım: 8

Drama: Soundtrack #1

Hangul: 사운드트랙#1

Director: Kim Hee-Won

Writer: Ahn Sae-Bom

Date: 2022

Language: Korean

Country: South Korea

Cast: Park Hyung-Sik, Han So-Hee, Yoon Byung-Hee, Kim Joo-Hun, Lee Jung-Eun, Seo In-Guk

Bölümleri 45dkdan oluşan, 4 bölümlük filmden hallice, dizi demeye dilinizin varmadığı kısacık bir hikaye. Gönlümüzün en yıldızlı dizisi Strong girl Do Bong Soon’un yakışıklı Min Min’i Park Hyung-Sik, biraz kilo alarak karizmatik rolü Happiness’in Mon Mon’una dönüşmüştü. Bu dizi ile Min Mon arasında karşımıza çıkıyor. Açıkçası ben Min Mon halini en çok beğendim.

Dizi bize 20 yıllık bir arkadaşlığı anlatıyormuş gibi görünse de, aşk ve dostluk arasındaki o ince çizgiyi gözümüze sokuyor. Han Sun-Woo(Park Hyung-Sik) çalışkan bir fotoğrafçıdır. Lee Eun-Soo(Han So-Hee) ise şarkı sözü yazarıdır. Sun-Woo’nun bir proje için gurbetten evine dönmesi ile başlayan hikaye, Eun-Soo’nun üzerinde çalıştığı şarkı sözleri konusunda zorlanması ile devam eder. Bir şekilde ona yardımcı olmak için proje bitene kadar birlikte yaşamaya karar veren ikili birçok şeyi sorgulamaya başlar.

Han Sun-Woo’nun yakın arkadaşı Yoon Dong-Hyun rolünde eğlenceli oyuncu Yoon Byung-Hee’i görüyoruz. Eun-Soo’nun söz yazmaya çalıştığı şarkı için besteci Kang Woo-Il rolünde ise Kim Joo-Hun’un bizi karşılıyor. Ve canım Lee Jung-Eun ise Lee Eun-Soo'un annesi olarak giriş yapıyor. Çok severim. Küçük bir not olarak ; Seo In-Guk konuk oyuncu olarak boy gösterdi. Bir ünlüyü canlandıran oyuncunun kendisi olarak görünmesini isterdim. Kendisi de şarkıcıyken konuk oyuncu olarak başka bir şarkıcıyı canlandırması bana gereksiz geldi.

Dizinin en can alıcı kısmı mandalinalardı. Kızın annesi habire bahçesinden mandalina gönderiyordu. Mutfakta kocaman bir kasenin içinde öyle güzel duruyorlardı ki anlatamam. Yediler, yiyemediklerini reçel yaptılar, reçelden kalanları çay yaptılar. Bayıldım. Dizinin sonunda mandalina aşerebilirsiniz.

Son olarak, ismi soundtrack olan bir dizinin hiç mi imza şarkısı olmaz. Müzikler konusunda bu kadar fakir müzik konulu bir dizi yapmaları beni birazcık üzdü. Yine de müzikleri tekrar dinleyip beğendiğim birini aşağı bırakıyorum.

OST:

Davichi - Your tender heaart hurts me

Raven Melus

BAŞKA NELER VAR ?

FOTOĞRAFLAR

[idolskpop]

‘Moving’ Season 2: Will the Hit Disney+ K-Drama Return for More?

‘Moving’ Season 2 is the question on every fan’s mind after the thrilling finale of the hit Disney+ K-drama. Based on the popular webtoon by Kang Full, ‘Moving’ follows the lives of three high school students who inherit superpowers from their parents and get involved in a dangerous conspiracy. The 20-episode series, which aired its last three episodes on September 20, 2023, boasts a star-studded cast, including Han Hyo Joo, Jo In Sung, and Ryu Seung Ryong, as well as impressive visuals and CGI effects. It also became the most expensive K-drama in history, with a budget of over $100 million. But will there be a ‘Moving’ Season 2? And what can we expect from the next chapter of this action-packed story? Here’s everything we know so far.

Is ‘Moving’ Season 2 Confirmed?

'Moving' Cast: Go Yoon Jung, Ryu Seung Ryong, and More Reign the Popularity List For Drama Actors As of this writing, there is no official confirmation from Disney+ or Kang Full about the renewal of ‘Moving’ for a second season. However, there are some hints and clues that suggest that the beloved webtoon-based K-drama might come back for more. First of all, Kang Full has other works related to ‘Moving’, such as ‘Timing’ and ‘Bridge’, which feature some of the same characters and expand the universe of superpowered people. In fact, in one of the episodes of ‘Moving’, a character from ‘Timing’ made a cameo appearance. He is Kim Young Tak, a student of Choi Il Hwan who has the ability to stop time. Rumors have it that he might join ‘Moving’ Season 2, and that he might be played by actor Yoo Seung Ho. Secondly, the finale of ‘Moving’ left some loose ends and unanswered questions that could set up the plot for a potential sequel. For example, who is Elias, the mysterious man who looks exactly like Frank, the American agent who was killed by Ju Won? Is he Frank’s twin brother, or a clone? And what is his mission in Korea? Moreover, what will happen to the National Intelligence Service (NIS) after the death of its director, Mr. Min? It seems that agent Ma Sang Gu, played by Park Byung Eun, has taken over his position. But can he be trusted? And what about Shin Hye Won, the high-ranking official who turned out to be an old acquaintance of Jang Hee Soo? She seems to have a special power that prevents her from aging. What is her role in the NIS and its plans for the gifted ones? And finally, what will become of our main trio: Kim Doo Shik, Lee Mi Hyun, and Kim Bong Seok? They managed to survive the final battle at Jeongwon High School and reunite with their friends and families. But they are still in danger from those who want to exploit their powers or eliminate them. Will they be able to live normal lives, or will they have to fight again?

When Will ‘Moving’ Season 2 Be Released?

(Photo : Ryu Seung Ryong Instagram) If ‘Moving’ Season 2 gets a green light from Disney+ and Kang Full, it might take some time before it hits our screens. The first season of ‘Moving’ began filming in late August of 2021 and finished in early September of 2023. That means it took almost two years to complete the production of 20 episodes. Considering the amount of work and resources involved in creating such a high-quality show, we can expect a similar timeline for ‘Moving’ Season 2. That means we might not see it until late 2025 or early 2026. Of course, this is just an estimate based on the previous schedule. There might be some delays or changes due to various factors, such as the availability of the cast and crew, the COVID-19 pandemic situation, or other unforeseen circumstances.

What Can We Expect From ‘Moving’ Season 2?

(Photo : Disney Plus Korea) If ‘Moving’ Season 2 becomes a reality, we can expect it to continue the story of Kang Full’s webtoon and explore more aspects of his rich and complex world. We might see more characters from his other works, such as ‘Timing’ and ‘Bridge’, as well as new ones with different powers and backgrounds. We might also learn more about the origin and nature of these powers, and how they are related to politics and science. How did these people get their abilities in the first place? Was it an accident or an experiment? And who is behind it? We might also witness more action scenes and battles between the gifted ones and their enemies, such as the NIS, the CIS (Central Intelligence Service), or other organizations that want to use them or get rid of them. How will they protect themselves and their loved ones from these threats? And last but not least, we might see more development and romance between the main characters, especially Doo Shik and Mi Hyun, who finally confessed their feelings for each other in the finale. Will they be able to stay together, or will they face more obstacles and challenges?

What Do Fans Think About ‘Moving’ Season 2?

(Photo : Disney+, Yoo Seung Ho Instagram) Fans of ‘Moving’ are eagerly waiting for the announcement of ‘Moving’ Season 2, and they have expressed their love and support for the show on social media. Here are some of their comments: I just finished watching Moving and I’m speechless. It was such a masterpiece. The story, the acting, the effects, everything was perfect. I hope there will be a season 2 because I need more of this amazing show. #Moving Moving is hands down the best K-drama I’ve ever seen. It had everything: action, drama, comedy, romance, suspense, and more. The cast was phenomenal and the chemistry was off the charts. I’m so sad it’s over, but I’m also hopeful for a season 2. Please make it happen, Disney+ and Kang Full! #Moving Moving was a roller coaster ride of emotions. It made me laugh, cry, scream, and cheer. It was so well-written and well-directed. The characters were so relatable and lovable. I’m so proud of them for surviving and finding happiness. But I also want to see more of their adventures and struggles in season 2. Please don’t let this be the end! #Moving

Conclusion

(Photo : Disney+) ‘Moving’ Season 2 is not confirmed yet, but there are many reasons to believe that it might happen in the future. The show has a loyal fan base, a talented cast and crew, and a captivating story that can be further explored and expanded. We hope that Disney+ and Kang Full will listen to the fans’ wishes and give us another season of this amazing K-drama. Until then, we can rewatch ‘Moving’ on Disney+ and enjoy its thrilling and touching moments. What do you think about ‘Moving’ Season 2? Do you want it to happen? And what are your expectations and theories for it? Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below. Subscribe to IDOLS KPOP for exclusive updates and captivating content. Read the full article

[olivierdemangeon]

EMERGENCY DECLARATION (2022) ★★★★☆

EMERGENCY DECLARATION (2022) ★★★★☆

[kactors-kpop-kdrama]

[kaori04]

[weeguttersnipe]

These cute scallywags, really.

Tunnel (Korean tv series, 2017)

[passionforfiction]

Oh My Baby

Now, this series was not what I had expected. I had it in my watchlist for a while but I hadn't decided on it until now, mostly because I pictured it as a series where she has artificial insemination, gets pregnant and during the pregnancy she falls in love. Boy, was I wrong!

The title, Oh My Baby, refers to 3 main things: Jang Ha Ri's longing to have a baby, her work at the baby magazine, and later her knew online magazine. This is a very realistic story and what I mean by this is that there is no fairytale ending in this one - however, it doesn't mean that it lacks a happy-ending because it gives us that. . .

I experience many feelings while watching this series. First, I sympathized with Jan Ha Ri's frustration. She wanted to have a baby, but she was single, had endometriosis and in her country single women can't have artificial insemination, because artificial means of pregnancy are only available to married couples. Society pointed fingers at her and attacked her for wanting to be a single parent. People kept telling her that she was being selfish, that children need both parents - but I kept questioning that reasoning. I mean, isn't Jae Young a single parent? He had been married and his wife divorced him and abandoned their child. Marriage doesn't guarantee the presence of both parents in a child's life. Ha Ri had also been abandoned by her father when she was little. People just pushed her into finding a husband as a solution to getting pregnant. Her friends suggested adoption but she also said that the process also had requirements that she didn't fulfill. I was also upset about how parents (fathers and mothers) have to choose between profession and their children. The workplace is not made for parents and one of them ends up sacrificing their professional life for their children and then are penalized when they want to return to the workforce after a couple years of sabbatical. (I've always seen this as upsetting in other dramas with similar situations.)

Then, I became annoyed at her desperation because she starts seeing Eutteum (young coworker), Jae Young (lifelong friend) and Yi Sang (a man she had liked years before) as sperm donors and not as human beings. She starts wondering who would be the best candidate to request a donation. Eutteum is willing to consider it at the beginning. Jae Young considers crossing the friend-line but she doesn't want to because she has fallen for Yi Sang (who had been trying his best to keep away from her because he didn't want a repeat of what had happened with his ex-girlfriend). I was really angry at her because when she finally gets Yi Sang to admit he likes her too, she turns her back on him when she learns he has fertility problems. She had said she loved him, that she saw him as a man, not a sperm donor and she didn't think it twice, she just turned around and walked away. She avoided him for a couple of days - yes, she goes back to him - but that first reaction just made me wonder how genuine had she truly been at the beginning. And it just wasn't fair, the way her family and friends told Yi Sang not to be selfish and let her go just because he couldn't get her pregnant as fast as she wanted. I talked about this issue in Should We Kiss First and I know it's not new at all, but I never feel right about it. Love should not be about perfection, it should be about loving a person with all that comes with it.

In the end, I was happy to see that they resolved their insecurities and were able to accept life together with whatever life throws them.

And here is what makes this story so realistic:

1. The magazine had been in financial difficulty for years and even though the team tried their best to gain advertisements and subscribers, the CEO decided to close the print version and keep the online blog because they were not able to increase revenue. They were all sent to different magazines under the same main company. Ha Ri then decides to make her own online magazine.

2. There is no miracle pregnancy. Ha Ri and Yi Sang are living together (not married yet) and he is going through treatment. It is after the treatment has succeeded that we are hinted that they were able to get pregnant.

3. Eutteum and Hyo Joo don't end up together. - She had misunderstood his actions and thought he liked her. She had then fallen for him after realizing he liked Ha Ri. After she tells him about her feelings, he tells her he doesn't feel that way and after a while they are able to work together comfortably.

This is a series that makes you think about pregnancy, parenthood, relationships and work, which is why I think I liked it.

Poster from AsianWiki - https://asianwiki.com/Oh_My_Baby_(Korean_Drama)

[just-some-other-reviews]

Why hadn’t I have found this drama earlier?! Goodness gracious. I really missed something.

Grandpas Over Flowers - Investigation Team (Flower Grandpa Investigative Team) is comedy with mystery and kind of a sitcom feel. Joon-Hyuk, Won-Bin, Kang-Seok, Jung-Woo and Eun-Ji are police officers that form a special unit in charge of discovering the truth behind the disappearance of multiple people. As they think they free two individuals and finallu found the culpitre, Joon-Hyuk, Won-Bin and Kang-Seok turn into men in their seventies.

As always, I tried to keep my review as short and without spoilers, but there’s a small spoiler at the end. If you don’t want to read it, just skip the sentence.

At first, I thought the plot was really interesting. The concept of the story was quite unique. I loved how the story allowed some older actors to have other roles than simply being a grand-father or father. Also, the whole aspect that it’s a supernatural crime drama who doesn't include supernatural beings (ghosts, vampires, etc.) is quite original. I mean, I have seen quite a few drama of the genre, but this one had something quite different because the supernatural wasn’t without reason or only brought in the story by an individual. Also, it wasn’t treated lightly and only as a background story. I liked how there was a true will of the screenwriter to develop the back story of the sudden change of the boys. I felt as if there was nothing that wasn’t logical. Everything was explained and seemed, at least, a bit logical, even though it’s quite hard to find logic in supernatural drama because there’s a lot of things that can’t be really explained. The base of the drama is crime and it’s probably the best part in it, since the romance added was quite boring, to my eyes. The first episodes are well paced and I felt as if they were truly interesting, but starting from the ninth episode, I felt as if the story was a bit dragged and felt as if they could have easily shorten the story. Also, as the story progressed the clichés become more and more obvious. Seriously, at the end, I could only think that the concept was great and well-thought, but it was clumsily executed through a very cliché progression. Like, through the drama there’s an overuse of the ‘’you thought it would go that way, but nah, just kidding’’ which, after a time, becomes quite annoying. Goldfish, the organization who starts everything, is probably the best example of such handling. When it’s presented, it looks completely bad-ass, but the more the story goes on, the more it becomes abstract and seems to lose its original charm by becoming a huge what the fuck. But the drama is nicely saved by a funny and original (it isn’t exactly what you would expect) ending. Finally, the drama is enjoyable, even though its progression is a bit boring, because it’s quite short.

For what it is of the characters, there’s not much to say about them. They start as really cliché characters and are portrayed as nearly perfect, which is a bit annoying. Their personalities are quite usual. We have the genius, the one who was always second and fight with the genius, the self-absorbed cutie pie, the Casanova and the strange female character with an ability quite weird. Yet, they are pretty cool and likable. Also, they go through true changes in the drama when they are confronted to different situations in which they have no other choice than growing. For what it is of the bad guy, even though he has a reason to do what he does, I thought he was pretty much useless. He doesn’t occupy a big place in the story, since he’s more a background menace and, when he comes in the story, he doesn’t really help the story to progress. His character is quite weird and I found him a bit undeveloped as everything he does seem out of context. What’s good in the story is his side-kick who’s completely awesome. After all, she’s the one who pretty much does everything for him and is really developed, her backstory as well as her personality and motives. (SPOILER) Her redemption also is well-done and well-thought, even if it’s quite typical as a scene.

I’ll conclude here. The plot would deserve a 7.5/10 mostly because of how the progression was handled. The characters would be a 4/5 for their well-thought development. The tearjerker factor would be a 1/5, since I didn’t feel as if there were moments in which I was truly emotional over what happened.

[chaejhst]

240625 Kim Kimoo's Instagram Post

kimkimoo_actor: 스토브리그~~!!  모이면 행복해지는.......2024. 06.

[namjhyun]

Tunnel Episode 16 (FINAL)

It’s over. I’m keeping this short because I agree with Sun-jae, that’s how farewells should be. Especially when you have been so emotionally invested in a story that was full of twists and turns, and edge of the seat moments.

Mok Jin-woo kept his believes until the very last minute. What a psycho, but it seems true to the character that he didn’t break down -even though he confessed everything- since he honestly thinks he was righting wrongs when he killed all those people through the years.

The episode it was more focused on Kwang-ho’s farewell and whatever he would be able to return to his time. He did and actually managed to catch Mok Jin-woo on that timeline too, so some of his victims were saved. I think this is what happened because I don’t believe he’s the kind of person to feel so carefree when such an important case is still unresolved.

I thought it was a really nice touch that we also got to find out how both Park Kwang-ho’s were connected. It seems adult Kwang-ho was always mean to travel in time and find justice for the victims of Mok Jin-woo.

I also loved to through the show the development of the relationship between all the members of the Violent Crimes Unit 1. Sun-jae started as a loner to become a crucial member and also learnt to rely and trust others. His relationship with Kwang-ho was always tainted with some melancholy due to their sad fate connection but I was happy they actually managed to built a partnership and friendship beyond that. Which is why it makes sense that Kwang-ho would trust his daughter’s safety to present day Sun-jae, and would keep kid Sun-jae around his house. Dad is totally setting the kids up.

The character, in my opinion, with the greatest emotional development was Professor Shin. She started out as a stand off-ish character that could only connect one a rational level with people, never really emotional. She was too closed up for that and ended up developing lasting friendships with the whole team, enough to believe a crazy time-travel story and become a key point into breaking down Mok Jin-woo. Her story was a sad one but ended with on a happy note with her finally having a family in Kwang-ho and Sun-jae.

As for the rest of the team, Min-ha and Tae-hee were an excellent comic relief but they were also efficient and relentless at their job. There’s no way Kwan-ho would have been able to solve this case without their help.

Finally, I think we can all agree Sung-sik was the heart of the show with his undying loyalty to Kwang-ho and leadership through all the crazy time travel shenanigans. If not for Sung-sik’s friendship, I don’t know how things would have worked out for Kwang-ho and it was also our team leader who brought all of them together when it was time to reveal the truth. Sung-sik was strong and caring, and the best of friends. This is a bromance I will miss dearly on my TV.

The show as a whole had a great pace, never too fast nor slow, and you could see through every new reveal and shocking moment the writer had a very clear bigger picture in mind that was pulling at the story. The characters had great development in their relationship with each other and not one but two crazy antagonists that kept on pushing the story forwards. All these reasons make OCN’s Tunnel one of the best dramas of the first half of the year.

[kdram-chjh]

Kdrama: The Tunnel / Tunnel (2017)

Choi Jin Hyuk como Park Kwang Ho Yoon Hyun Min como Kim Sun Jae Jo Hee Bong como Jun Sung Shik Kim Byung Chul como Kwak Tae Hee Kang Ki Young como Song Min Ah

[pearwahsflowers]

Korean dramas

Q1. Your favourite Kdrama ?

This is a bit hard to decide because there are so many different amazing  dramas out there. But since I have to decide, I’ll say Because This Is My First Life, Reply 1997 and most recently Crash Landing On You.

Q2. Your favourite Action/Crime Drama ?

Okay, I’m not a huge fan of crime themed dramas, but The Smile Has Left Your Eyes? A masterpiece.

Q3. Your favourite male lead character ?

Most definetly Park Dong-Hoon in My Mister, and special mention for Ri Jeong Hyeok in Crash Landing On You because I just finished the drama and I fell in looooove with Captain Ri. Oh and Gu Jun Pyo, a classic, but so funny and ultimately you can’t help but get attached to him.

Q4. Your favourite female lead character ?

I think Si Won from Reply 1997 is probably my favorite, and also any characters played by Son Ye Jin.

Q5. Your favourite second lead syndrome ?

Oh my gosh, my heart, Jung Hwan in Reply 1988. ;-; And weirdly enough (because I hated the drama he was in) Choi Young Do.

Q6. Your favourite idol actor?

I loved Park Hyung Sik in SWDBS. But this is the only drama of him that I saw, so I think my answer will be Seo In Guk... The only reason I’m hesitating is because I don’t know if he is considered an Idol. He is a singer, but idk. I love this man sooo much and so far he has never dissapointed me, in acting or in singing. A multi-talented man.

Q7. Your favourite idol actress ?

Eunji and IU.

Q8. Your favourite Song from a Kdrama OST ?

I think this is the most complicated question aaaahh! I’m such a big fan of OST For the sake of nostalgia, Boys Over Flowers and Secret Garden, definetly. But, honestly, historical dramas have the most amazing soundtrack imo. So much emotions and intensivity! As of recent dramas I really like the Reply series OST.

Q9. Your Top 5 OST singers?

4men/Shin Young Jae, Eunji, Junsu, Crush and Yoon Mirae.

Q10. Your favourite line from male/female lead character ?

“I live because I wake up in the morning. I don’t have a reason to live. If living like this is embarrassing then, I’m very embarrassed right now. But still... I want to live because I’m alive.’’ Oh Soo, That Winter The Wind Blows

Q11. Your favourite story ?

The Smile Has Left Your Eyes. I was intrigued from beginning to end!

Q12. Your favourite “I Love You” ?

"Sarangha-o” Ri Jeong Hyeok. I melted with this line, him talking in the Northen dialect is something elseee

Q13. Your favourite kiss ?

This scene from Because This Is My Fist Life.

Q14. Your favourite ending ?

Strong Woman Do Bong Soon’s ending was perfect! I loved it, and Gu Family Book’s ending was also one of the best I’ve watched. 

Q15. A KDrama you started but couldn’t finish ?

To be honest I’m picky when it comes to drama, so if I actually decide to watch a drama, I uSuAllY finish it. But I didn’t finish Shut Up! Flower Boy Band. I just couldn’t get over Byung Hee’s death (oops spoiler), and then there was his best friend developping feelings for the girl he liked... I saw where this was going and I could’t stand it. And to be honest I only started this drama for Lee Min Ki, so...

Q16. A KDrama you watched more than once ?

One? Rewatching dramas is something I do often lol. I watched To The Beautiful You a couple of times, Marry Me Mary too, Reply 1997 a lot! Dalja’s Spring, Discovery Of Love, etc. 

Q17. The worst KDrama that you’ve watched until the end ?

The Heirs. I hated the two lead characters. Also the kissing scenes were a disaster. Also Monstar, even though the music was okay. 

Q18. Best Couple ?

So hard to choose! There is so many cute couples to mention, Ahn Minhyuk & Do Bongsoon in SWDBS, Deok Sun & Taek in Reply 1988, Jeong Yeok & Se Ri in CLOY, so manyyyy

Q19. Have you been watching dramas for very long?

For about 7-8 years I think..? I’m not sure for how long exactly, but it’s been a while.

Q20. First KDrama ?

My first drama was To The Beautiful You, starring the beautiful Sulli (may she rest in peace) and SHINee’s Minho. I watched it because I was (still am) a shawol (SHINee’s fandom name for those who don’t know) and at that time I knew nothing about korean dramas. But one of the boys was starring in something, so of course I had to watch it. And the journey begannnn.

Q21. Your most recently finished drama ?

Crash Landing On You

Q22. A Drama That Is Popular That You Dislike  ?

The Heirs and My Love From The Stars

Q23. A Kdrama which made you so happy ?

She Was Pretty made me so happy because I had watched Park Seo Joon and Hwang Jung Eum play together in Kill Me Heal Me before, and I was so excited to see them as leads in the drama!

Q24. A Kdrama which made you so sad ?

That Winter The Wind Blows, a very beautiful drama but heart breaking. My Mister also made me cry so much.

Q25. What Kdramas are you watching at the moment?

Itaewon Class

Q26. Lastly, have you or do you plan to introduce your friends to them?

I have tried in the past to introduced my two high school best friends to korean dramas but it didn’t really work out ah ah but they both watched a drama or two.

[365days365movies]

Science Fiction May: The Host (Review)

Not as good as Snowpiercer, buuuuut...

I liked this movie! It was a good sci-fi horror that fit some commentary in there, while also managing to be a gripping drama and a good look as the dynamics of a dysfunctional family in times of crisis. Plus, that ending was intriguingly sad and happy simultaneously.

In any case, I really enjoyed this one! It was a good time to be had by me, at least. And normally, I’d have more to say before jumping into the review in and of itself, but...eh, not really this time. Real talk, it’s a good movie, but I’ve not much commentary on the nature of monster movies that I haven’t already mentioned in the Recap (which is here, by the way). So, honestly...let’s do the Review, huh? I’ve got some more to say in there, I promise.

Review

Cast and Acting: 9/10

Gotta say, the family here is pretty likeable, each in their particular way. At the very least, the dysfunction family dynamic is very well captured, from Byun Hee-bong’s loving and forgiving patriarch, to Song Kang-ho's lazy-but-loving dad. Park Hae-il plays a great disaffected college graduate, and Bae Doo-na plays a good reserved and calculating sister. And amongst all of that, Go Ah-sung is fantastic, especially for a child actor, as the pre-teen daughter trying to survive. To be honest, all of them are pretty goddamn strong performances. So, uh...why the 8? Yeah, basically every other performance is a little over-performative. Maybe that’s just Bong’s direction or aesthetic, but it’s not terribly subtle. The American characters are the worst on this front, as they’re portrayed a little over-the-top all throughout. And, to be fair, that might be the point.

Plot and Writing: 8/10

It’s good...and also mostly pretty cliché. Not a death-knell, and not a knock against Bong Joon-ho, Ha Won-jun, or Baek Chul-hyun by any means! But this is a pretty standard story about a monster vs. man. Throwing in the virus subplot was interesting...although I question how necessary it was. If there was more tangible consequence for the American role in the creation of the monster, that’d be one thing, but...instead, the American officials just come off as really, really, REALLY FUCKING STUPID. Seriously, it’s an odd choice. But maybe that’s me being picky.

Direction and Cinematography: 9/10

No real issues here! This direction is pretty solid, unsurprisingly. Bong Joon-ho does an excellent job here, as does Kim Hyung-koo with the tense cinematography. Maybe not perfect, but it’s definitely still fantastic. ‘Nuff said.

Production and Art Design: 9/10

If I had any specific complaints, it’s probably the look and design of the Gwoemul, or the monster. And it’s...fine. It’s fine. It really is. But I also can’t claim that it completely hold up. I realize that the creators don’t have the resources of ILM or Weta, but...wait...wait, Weta Digital was involved? Like...THE WETA was involved? These guys?

...Huh. I mean...that’s really cool, but I can’t say that it shows. And OK, maybe the comparison to Rise of the Planet of the Apes is unfair because that came out far later, but...I mean, Gollum there came out before! I think the real issue is that Andy Serkis didn’t play the monster. Classic mistake there, you guys.

Music and Editing: 8/10

Not gonna lie...I don’t really remember the music. I remember thinking it was good, but I don’t remember the music (by Lee Byung-woo). Like I said it was good, if not terrifically memorable. Kim Sun-min's editing is similar: good if not wholly memorable. And again, I think there are issues in how the film is put together, but I don’t really blame Kim for that. And the sound editing in this movie was QUITE solid. Somehow, I remember that much.

86% it is!

I’m a big fan of these “science-gone-wrong” films, although this is more about willful negligence than anything else, huh? Not quite the purposeful creation by an idealistic creator, and more of a “FUCK YOU OSHA” sort of mistake, with consequences. Always read the MSDA, kids. Could save your life (by not creating a monstrous fish-mutant that kills you and your family).

Now, from here, if you’ve been watching the blog, you know that the next movie was another film about scientific achievements turned against their creators. Violent delights and violent ends indeed.

May 5, 2021: Westworld (1973), dir. Some Dude

[popculturebrain]

Here are the nominees for the 92nd Academy Awards

Best Picture:

“Ford v Ferrari” “The Irishman” “Jojo Rabbit” “Joker” “Little Women” “Marriage Story” “1917” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” “Parasite”

Lead Actor:

Antonio Banderas “Pain and Glory” Leonardo DiCaprio “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” Adam Driver “Marriage Story” Joaquin Phoenix “Joker” Jonathan Pryce “The Two Popes”

Lead Actress:

Cynthia Erivo “Harriet” Scarlett Johansson “Marriage Story” Saoirse Ronan “Little Women” Charlize Theron “Bombshell” Renee Zellweger “Judy”

Supporting Actor:

Tom Hanks, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” Anthony Hopkins, “The Two Popes” Al Pacino, “The Irishman” Joe Pesci, “The Irishman” Brad Pitt, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

Supporting Actress:

Kathy Bates, “Richard Jewell” Laura Dern, “Marriage Story” Scarlett Johansson, “Jojo Rabbit” Florence Pugh, “Little Women” Margot Robbie, “Bombshell”

Director:

Martin Scorsese, “The Irishman” Todd Phillips, “Joker” Sam Mendes, “1917” Quentin Tarantino, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” Bong Joon Ho, “Parasite”

Animated Feature:

“How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” Dean DeBlois “I Lost My Body” Jeremy Clapin “Klaus” Sergio Pablos “Missing Link” Chris Butler “Toy Story 4”  Josh Cooley

Animated Short:

“Dcera,” Daria Kashcheeva “Hair Love,” Matthew A. Cherry “Kitbull,” Rosana Sullivan “Memorable,” Bruno Collet “Sister,” Siqi Song

Adapted Screenplay:

“The Irishman,” Steven Zaillian “Jojo Rabbit,” Taika Waititi “Joker,” Todd Phillips, Scott Silver “Little Women,” Greta Gerwig “The Two Popes,” Anthony McCarten

Original Screenplay:

“Knives Out,” Rian Johnson “Marriage Story,” Noah Baumbach “1917,” Sam Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Quentin Tarantino “Parasite,” Bong Joon-ho, Jin Won Han

Cinematography:

“The Irishman,” Rodrigo Prieto “Joker,” Lawrence Sher “The Lighthouse,” Jarin Blaschke “1917,” Roger Deakins “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Robert Richardson

Best Documentary Feature:

“American Factory,” Julia Rieichert, Steven Bognar “The Cave,” Feras Fayyad “The Edge of Democracy,” Petra Costa “For Sama,” Waad Al-Kateab, Edward Watts “Honeyland,” Tamara Kotevska, Ljubo Stefanov

Best Documentary Short Subject:

“In the Absence,” Yi Seung-Jun and Gary Byung-Seok Kam “Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone,” Carol Dysinger “Life Overtakes Me,” Kristine Samuelson and John Haptas “St. Louis Superman,” Smriti Mundhra and Sami Khan “Walk Run Cha-Cha,” Laura Nix

Best Live Action Short Film:

“Brotherhood,” Meryam Joobeur “Nefta Football Club,” Yves Piat “The Neighbors’ Window,” Marshall Curry “Saria,” Bryan Buckley “A Sister,” Delphine Girard

Best International Feature Film:

“Corpus Christi,” Jan Komasa “Honeyland,” Tamara Kotevska, Ljubo Stefanov “Les Miserables,” Ladj Ly “Pain and Glory,” Pedro Almodovar “Parasite,” Bong Joon Ho

Film Editing:

“Ford v Ferrari,” Michael McCusker, Andrew Buckland “The Irishman,” Thelma Schoonmaker “Jojo Rabbit,” Tom Eagles “Joker,” Jeff Groth “Parasite,” Jinmo Yang

Sound Editing:

“Ford v Ferrari,” Don Sylvester “Joker,” Alan Robert Murray “1917,” Oliver Tarney, Rachel Tate “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Wylie Stateman “Star Wars: The Rise of SkyWalker,” Matthew Wood, David Acord

Sound Mixing:

“Ad Astra” “Ford v Ferrari” “Joker” “1917” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

Production Design:

“The Irishman,” Bob Shaw and Regina Graves “Jojo Rabbit,” Ra Vincent and Nora Sopkova “1917,” Dennis Gassner and Lee Sandales “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Barbara Ling and Nancy Haigh “Parasite,” Lee Ha-Jun and Cho Won Woo, Han Ga Ram, and Cho Hee

Original Score:

“Joker,” Hildur Guðnadóttir “Little Women,” Alexandre Desplat “Marriage Story,” Randy Newman “1917,” Thomas Newman “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” John Williams*“The King,” Nicholas Britell

Original Song:

“I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away,” “Toy Story 4” “I’m Gonna Love Me Again,” “Rocketman” “I’m Standing With You,” “Breakthrough” “Into the Unknown,” “Frozen 2” “Stand Up,” “Harriet”

Makeup and Hair:

“Bombshell” “Joker” “Judy” “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” “1917”

Costume Design:

”The Irishman,” Sandy Powell, Christopher Peterson “Jojo Rabbit,” Mayes C. Rubeo “Joker,” Mark Bridges “Little Women,” Jacqueline Durran “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Arianne Phillips

Visual Effects:

“Avengers Endgame” “The Irishman” “1917” “The Lion King” “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”