S Diary

S Diary (S Daeori)

Release Date : 2004
Director : Kwon Jong Gwan
Writer : Kong Jong Gwan

Cast:
Kim Sun Ah - Jini
Goong Yoo - Yoo In
Lee Hyeon Woo - Ku Hyeon
Kim Soo Roo - Jeong Seok



Reviewed By : deeta

**Spoiler Alert

The first thing I notice about this movie is that it has such a good opening. It's all so artistic and definitely wonderful. I really get the feeling that whoever made the movie was very serious about it.

S Diary tells a story of a freshly dumped woman (Kim Sun Ah) who suddenly realizes that all the men she has dated are never interested in sincerely loving her. All her three ex boyfriends (Lee Hyun Woo the priest, Kim Soo Ro the rude playboy, and Gong Yoo the spoiled artist) were sent a bill, asking them to reimburse her monetarily or else.

This movie is every bit of funny as it is sad. At first, Kim Sun Ah was so blinded by her fury and then she is eager to get her revenge. In the end, after she gets all her money, she realizes that however horrible all her relationships have been, the memory of them would always be meaningful.

The storyline is pretty nice. It is able to mix comedy, romance, drama, and does not appear like it lacks one or the others. The plot itself may not spectacularly creative but it manages to develop the plot into such a great movie. From the beginning towards the end, it does not lose focus and last, it ends resolutely and very sweetly.

Kim Sun Ah shines as always. She plays her character with so much heart that the viewers would cry when she cries and be mad when she is. All the three ex-boyfriends act very well too. I have always found Gong Yoo to be so adorable yet sexy. And in this movie, he is once again able to give the viewers those persona. Lee Hyun Woo and Kim Soo Ro play their characters very nicely as well.

This movie is recommended for you to watch when you just want to lay back, enjoy yourself, but still want something of a substance. Watch it, if you haven’t already done so.

A Dirty Carnival

A Dirty Carnival (Biyeolhan Geori)

Release Date: 2006
Director: Ha Yu
Writer: Ha Yu

Cast:
Jo In Sung ... Byung Du
Nam Gung Min ... Min Ho




Reviewed By : Pristina

While brutality, stabbing and blood shed is a dangerous subject in reality, it makes an excellent theme for a movie.

Jo In Seung has certainly transformed himself into an actor that show another side of him that we rarely see him in his previous roles in drama and movies.

Byeong-du, played by actor Jo In-seong is torn between the world of gangster that he constantly needs to strive to withhold his position in the dark and brutal reality of his 'darker side 'of life and also a filial son who needs to support his ailing mum and younger siblings.

The opening scene really caught my attention as Jo In Seung strutted ferociously to the police station to pick up his brother . The fire and anger in his eyes are terrifying and the way he physically abusing his brother is stunning.

The director still allow us to see the more gentle and passionate side of Jo In Seung when he meets his first love and his pouring of his inner feelings and sharing his dark secrets with his good friend Min Ho acted by Nam Gung Min.

The chemistry between Jo In Seung and Nam Gung Min is good and at certain times.Nam Gung Min even steals the limelight from Jo In Seung.

His merciless boss cold bloodly block off Jo In Seung's finacial income, driven to desparation and the strong desire to survive he eliminated his boss and consolidated his postion in the underworld.

However, it never cross his mind that Karma will come around. The last victim to fall down and succumb to the truth of the cruel world of greed, power and survival in the gangster society. The shock and disbelief look in Jo In Seung's eyes at his last few moment is captivating and unforgettable.

In the last scene, president Hwang, MinHo and Jong-su - the temporary "survivors" - drink in celebration with their eyes still full of fear and insecurity.

This movie shows the desire of Jo In Seung to change a new image. This movie is my favourite movie produced in 2006 so far [until I see the war of flowers by Cho Seung Woo....LOL] and certainly one of the better work by Jo In Seung.

Art Of Fighting

Art Of Fighting (Ssaumui Gisul)

Release Date : 2005
Director: Sin Han Sol
Writer: Sin Han Sol

Cast:
Jae Hee ... Song Byoeng Tae
Baek Yun Sik ... Oh Pan Su



Reviewed By : Tomea

Song Byeong-tae is our protagonist, a fearful timid loser who has been bullied his whole life. He meets an unlikely mentor in Pan-su who teaches him not only fighting lessons, but also life lessons. The movie weaves through Byeong-tae's experiences in how he copes with being bullied and finally finding the courage to fight back, as well as showing us the relationship that grows between mentor and student.

++Spoilers: you have been warned!

The premise of the movie is not original. For instance, The Karate Kid has the same ideas, but this, to me, was ultimately more satisfying. It portrayed a lot more emotional depth. My emotions were invested when I watched this movie. I was there when Byeong-tae got kicked in the head or knocked down. I felt his frustration in trying to fight back and I was there rejoicing when he triumphed in the end.

I was forewarned that some parts of this movie, particularly the fight scenes, were hard to watch, and it was, but nevertheless this movie was a breath of fresh air on an otherwise overblown and saturated action genre.

I love this movie, blood splatters and all. Compared to extreme korean films, like Oldboy, this was tame, yet the film portrays a refreshing angle to the action genre which mostly shows stylistic martial arts and high flying acrobatics. There are scenes in this movie that are cringe inducing and all the more powerful. For example, our hero confronts one of his bullies in an elevator. He has a soda can inside a sock and with his cold anger he unleashes all of his rage and frustration. The camera pans out and we can see our hero's reflection reflected on the elevator's mirrors pummeling and fighting dirty. And fighting dirty is what is central in this film, it shows that in a fight, honor is never shown, so it's either eat or be eaten.

Please Teach Me English

Please Teach Me English (Yeong Eo Wan Jeon Jeong Bok)

Release Date : 2003
Director : Kim Seong Soo
Writer : Choi Hee Dae

Cast :
Jang Hyeok ... Elvis Park Moon Su
Lee Na Young ... Candy Na Young Ju
Angela Kelly ... Catherine Presley



Reviewed By : Ahrel

This is a romantic comedy film started when Jang Hyeok as Elvis Park Moon Su and Lee Na Young as Candy Na Young Ju became classmates while attending a language school that specialize in teaching English. The story line is ordinary wherein a not so good looking girl will meet a good looking boy. I kinda feel bored with the movie because I didnt feel the chemistry with the lead actor and lead actress however I was amazed on how the koreans are really trying their best to learn english and how they proved that they are good. What really annoys me is that why does until the end Candy never change her appearance I was really looking forward to the part wherein she will take a huge step in changing herself. Ohmoo She badly need a make over. I was so touched with the ending cause I think every woman will like to experience the "thing" that Elvis did for Candy. LOLZ Candy have a good taste in picking shoes and in men.

I will rate this movie as 8/10 because I believe that it is still enjoyable and can make you relax after a tiring day. :)

The Coast Guard

The Coast Guard (Hae An Seon)

Release Date: 2002
Director: Kim Ki Duk
Writer: Kim Ki Duk

Cast:
Jang Dong Gun ... Kang Sang Byeong
Park Jee Ah ... Mi Yeong





Reviewed By : Sassy Girl

As reviled as he is revered, writer-director Kim Ki-duk makes films that run the gamut from breathtaking works of art to shameless provocations. Not surprisingly, Kim has been dubbed the “bad boy” of contemporary Korean cinema, but such facile descriptions undermine the breadth of this filmmaker’s considerable talent as well as the challenging ideas and concepts that season his work. As is often the case with controversial artists, both Kim’s critics and champions are right. At his most refined, he has created such lyrical masterpieces as “Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter. . . and Spring,” “Samaritan Girl” (also known as “Samaria”), and “3-Iron.” Yet, in films such as “Bad Guy” and “The Isle” – both of which are best viewed through clenched fingers – Kim has displayed ferocity toward women bordering on misogynistic. More than just disturbing, these films could be branded as morally repellent.

Still, Kim is usually an interesting storyteller, which is what makes “The Coast Guard” such an aberration. It's all the more disappointing since the film might seem to have much to recommend it, including Jang Dong-gun (“Tae Guk Gi,” “Typhoon”) in the title role. And the film’s theme – the toll of military conscription on the fragile psyches of young men – is a ripe topic in Korean cinema from Park Chan-wook’s “JSA” to Yoon Jong-bin’s “The Unforgiven.” It begins promisingly with Jang’s tightly-wound Private Kang eager to prove himself by killing a North Korean spy. One night, Kang sees movement in a restricted area and opens fire, only to discover he has killed, not a spy, but a young man having sex with his girlfriend on the beach. Instead of being punished, Kang receives a commendation, and a week-long leave, much to the chagrin of outraged locals. Predictably, the tragedy has a devastating impact on both Kang and Mee-young (Park Jee-ah), whose boyfriend was killed.

At this point, the film could have become a thoughtful examination into ramifications of a soldier’s overzealous act; instead the narrative thread unravels. Kang falls apart, attacking civilians and other soldiers. (Never the most subtle actor, Jang doesn’t just overact; he becomes a twitchy caricature of mental instability.) And, for reasons best understood by the filmmaker, Mee-young reacts to the calamity by hacking off her hair, urinating in public, and becoming promiscuous with Kang’s fellow’s soldiers.

Anchored more in male fantasies – the sexually-insatiable crazy woman – than logic, this dubious plotline erases any salient point Kim might have made about a society where nearly every young man is trained – and potentially rewarded – for taking a life. Whatever Kim’s intentions, “The Coast Guard” ultimately fails, and not because he swings and misses in connecting with larger themes. Its undoing is a meandering, inco herent story, tactics designed solely to shock and offend, and Kim’s occasional yet always regrettable tendency to present degrading, objectified images of women.