A Chinese Odyssey Part 2: Cinderella Movie Review

Title: A Chinese Odyssey Part 2 Cinderella

AKA: A Chinese Odyssey Part 2

Genre: Fantasy, Folklore, Action, Comedy

Origin: Hong Kong (China)

Release date: February 4, 1995

Cast: Stephen Chow, Ng Man Tat, Law Kar Ying, Yammie Lam, Athena Chu and Karen Mok.

After opening the Pandora’s Box and traveling back in time, Joker (Stephen Chow) has lost the Box to Zixia (Athena Chu) an immortal fairy. After becoming her servant, he by accident removes her sword out of its scabbard, and the fairy falls in love with him due to her promise to marry the one that pulls it out. Joker on the other hand refuses to accept his fate to become the Monkey King as he only wants the Box back so he can save Bak Jing Jing (Karen Mok). Him refusing her makes her leave him – with a broken heart.

In the past, he manages to interrupt Guan Yin’s judgment by saving his master (Law Kar Ying), and unfortunately send him through time. Now with no Box he tries to hide from the upcoming storm, and meets the Longevity Monk again – who has been travelling through time. Unfortunately, he has lost Pandora’s Box, and they get caught by the Bull King, also a demon, wanting to become immortal by eating the Monk. Now Joker needs to save himself so he can find the Box, but can he defy his fate of becoming the Monkey King?

This second part is a direct continuance from the first movie. The difference is that it introduces new characters, and focuses a bit more on the overall story rather than the characters. Not that it is a bad thing, but the characters become second to the story, which the first movie didn’t do. Though it felt more like a movie rather than an introduction. So, it progressed as a chronological story.

I did not mention in the other review about the acting as I didn’t know whether their acting was bad or good, due to the comedy and weirdness of the movie. But seeing this one I realized the acting was quite good. Even though the subtitles I had for the movie were horrible, I understood each character because of their movements. They were acting with their entire bodies! This made me enjoy the acting more.

The bad part of this movie which I didn’t notice in the first (I rarely notice things though), was the wires. I noticed the wires used to pull the actors in the air. The ones they use when the actors are supposed to jump really high (superpowers) or fly (again superpowers). It’s only a little part of the movie though, but still it made me facepalm myself.

So all in all: a funny and well-acted movie, with few technical issues.

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

A Chinese Odyssey Part 1: Pandoras Box Movie Review

Title: A Chinese Odyssey Part 1 Pandora’s Box

AKA: A Chinese Odyssey Part 1

Genre: Fantasy, Folklore, Action, Comedy

Origin: Hong Kong (China)

Release date: January 21,1995

Cast: Stephen Chow, Ng Man Tat, Law Kar Ying, Yammie Lam and Karen Mok.

500 years ago, the Monkey King (Stephen Chow) commits a sin by stealing Pandora’s Box. He is punished by the Goddess of Mercy Guan Yi, and is caught to be executed. His master the Longevity Monk (Law Kar Ying), sacrifices himself to save his soul.

500 years later a lowlife outlaw leader called Joker (Stephen Chow) who lives with his group of robbers in a small hideout in the desert. When a young woman (Yammie Lam) arrives at their hideout, the men are shocked to find out that she is capable of martial arts, and she demands to stay at the hideout. Soon her equally strong sister Bak Jing Jing (Karen Mok) arrives, and they realize that they are surrounded by demons. Unaware that the two women are the demons, Joker falls in love with Bak Jing Jing. The two demons want to feast on the flesh of the Longevity Monk, as they become immortal if they do so.

Soon more demons arrive as they all have heard about the soon to come arrival of the Longevity Monk, who has been incarnated and is to meet the Monkey King, somewhere close to the robber’s hideout. Little do they all know, including Joker, that the Joker is the incarnation of the Monkey King and that fate has other plans for him…

As far as folklores go this movie is rather on the creative side. I am not the usual fan of folklore, but I do know my folklore as they do represent the culture of different times in history. The monkey king is one of those stories that go across Asia, where most Asians know the story. I don’t really remember the Monkey King becoming human at all – which I guess this movie tried to do so that there would be less dressing up as a Monkey and/or using the supernatural powers of the monkey king. Aside from the twist in the story, the other confusing thing is that the characters suddenly pop up. I got confused a few times, but then again, the characters are known to the folklore so if you know your creatures/monsters/ghosts, it won’t be that complicated. But if you don’t, you would be shaking your head and massaging your temples.

Besides that, the humor was so bad it was good. I mean I laughed at the ridiculousness and the silliness. I don’t usually enjoy movies like this, but it was okay to watch.

To sum up: a funny movie, with a hint of creativeness to an old folklore.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Train to Busan Movie Review

Title: Train to Busan
AKA: Train for Busan
Genre: Action / Suspense / Thriller / Zombie
Origin: Korea
Release date: July 20, 2016
Cast: Gong Yoo, Jung Yoo Mi, Ma Dong Suk, Choi Woo Sik and Kim Soo Ah.

Seok Woo (Gong Yoo) is a divorcee, working as a fund manager. After getting divorced, he and his ex-wife share custody of their daughter Soo An (Kim Su An). Being a workaholic, Seok Woo usually leaves Soo An with his mother, and rarely has time for his daughter. When Soo An wants to go to Busan to celebrate her birthday at her mothers, Seok Woo has no other choice but go with her as he is afraid to let her take to train alone. At the same time, Seoul is havocked by mass riots, which the NEWS keep repeating.
After arriving on the KTX a woman collapses in front of the train attendant, who while trying to help her gets attacked by the woman, by getting her throat slit. Soon havoc begins on the train as the train attendant, who was presumed dead, gets up and starts attacking other passengers.
The noise wakes up the dazed off Seok Woo, noticing that Soo An is missing from her seat. While going towards the hall he notices people running and screaming, and soon realizes that people who get attacked and die, wake up as zombies. Now the remaining passengers can’t get out as the train runs on full speed, and are headed towards Busan…

I do apologize of the summary looks bleak at the end, I tried not spoil anything.
How on earth do I even explain this movie? I mean I had my fair share of Zombie movies AND TV Shows, but this one left me shocked and amazed. Though there are several moment I could complain about, I‘ve decided not to, because they don’t really ruin your overall experience of the movie. And honestly, I can pretend to know what I would do in those situations, but I bet I would be the first one to die anyways, so I am not going to act like a know-it-all. All actors involved are just perfect for each given role, though some annoyed me occasionally, I didn’t have time to dwell on it, since the pace is out of this world.
So, I recommend this 100%, as this is one of the best Korean movies ever, AND one of the great zombie movies of all time.

☆☆☆☆☆ / 5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥♥ / 5 out of 5 hearts

Kamji’s Verdict:
Yes! Wow! What?
That’s how this movie left me. I can’t describe what this movie did to me. I’m not a big fan of zombie/ disaster movies, but this was more than that. I understand all the hype there was about it. The story, the acting (ALL of them!) and the details were so on point, I got shivers down my spine several times! Applause to all the zombie actors, damn they left me speechless. Gong Yoo definitely was the right pick, and that little girl playing his daughter needs an award right now!
I sincerely hated some of the characters and loved the others, but that just shows the quality of this drama. I don’t think I need to say more than, go watch it, if you’re one of the few that haven’t yet ;)

☆☆☆☆☆ / 5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥♥ / 5 out of 5 hearts

Library Wars 2 Movie Review

Title: Library Wars: The Last Mission

AKA: Library Wars 2

Genre: Action, Romance, Thriller

Origin: Japanese

Release date: October 10, 2015

Cast: Okada Junichi, Eikura Nana, Tanaka Kei, Fukushi Sota, Matsuzaka Tori and Kuriyama Chiaki.

“Media Betterment announces new controls on media. A bright future for our society a sound upbringing for our children. Eliminate harmful books, media, and thought. Juvenile of fences are down 2.3 percent since the Betterment Act was passed. We must eradicate harmful books and harmful thought. The burning of books is suppression of thought! This country now exists under a reign of terror!” (intro of movie)

The sequel continues after the special. Kasahara Iku (Eikura Nana) has figured out that Dojo Atsushi (Okada Junichi) is the man who saved her favorite book and her first love. Unable to confess her love, she tries not to act different around him; but when one of her coworkers decides to burn some confiscated book she is framed for it, and in order to save Dojos reputation she takes the blame.

On the opposition - the Media Betterment Committee – someone is feeding hate toward the Library Defense Force. While the LDF is out on a mission helping a fellow Library set up a confiscated book drop off, the MBC decides to go all out and remove the task force once and for all…

Compared to the first one I liked this one a bit better, but it was no less to the first one. For some reason when you watch it you don’t think about how absurd the ‘wars’ are, and yet when you have to explain it; you kind of face palm yourself. The movie is so great, and I love that it isn’t a movie about people hating other people, rather it focuses on the issue such a free will and thought. Though there is the usual villain, and the ‘us’ against ‘them’ vibe flowing around. As the climax goes this movie nails it, as even I was pretty shocked when I understood what was happening – so that is quite the achievement.

I absolutely adore the lead couple: the fact that she is taller than him, and that he has to look up to meet her eyes *amazed* And for some reason you don’t really feel the age gap at all… so great acting! To be fair the movie has a lot of thin layer of missing substance, but they actually make up for it by giving the characters such great chemistry and personalities.

So would I recommend this movie? Yes, I would. But I believe people should watch the first one – just to get the entire picture, and be a bit loose on the entire ‘war’ thing.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

The Wailing Movie Review

Title: The Wailing

AKA: Gokseong

Genre: Horror, Thriller

Origin: Korea

Release date: May 12, 2016

Cast: Kwak Do Won, Hwang Jung Min, Kunimura Jun, Chun Woo Hee and Kim Hwan Hee.

Jong Goo (Kwak Do Won) is small time police officer in the rural village Goksung. He lives there with his wife, mother-in-law and daughter Hyo Jin (Kim Hwan Hee). One morning he gets a phone call about a murder that has happened in that same village, and when arriving at the scene, he is met with the horrific sight of an entire family slaughtered. The killer, the father and head of the family, is sitting shaking and covered in burned spots all around his body. Soon another murder of the same type happens in the village, and it is said to be an outbreak of some sort.

Jong Goo starts hearing rumors around the village, about the ‘Japanese man’ who happened to come to the village when it all started. After checking out his house, Jong Goo and his partner are shocked to find Hyo Jin’s shoe in the house. And when he questions Hyo Jin, he noticed that the once shy and smiley girl is now swearing and threatening to murder everyone. The scared mother-in-law calls in a shaman to cure the daughter, but the paranoid Jong Goo believes the Japanese man has something to do with it and decides to take care of it…

I have a hard time deciding whether I like this movie or not. It has so much Asia in this that it became another one of those movies which I have no idea what happened. I mean it’s not hard to follow, they do keep you in the loop, but I don’t understand it. You would usually get a sense of what the meaning of a 2+ hours long movie is about, but at the end I felt empty. I wasn’t scared or shocked. I was a bit sad, but I have no idea what the movie theme is. Like if it was a scare movie, it was too well written, and if it was moral-type movie, I didn’t catch it. I don’t understand what I was watching. Maybe I am too thick? Considering people were talking so positively about it, I really don’t understand it.

The movie as a general is well-written, well-dialogued, and really beautifully made. The cast was great, and even the twist was good. Besides that, I have nothing. I really felt like a blob.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Bad Boys J Movie Review

Title: Bad Boys J
Genre: Action, Friendship, Comedy, Romance
Origin: Japan
Release date: November 9, 2013
Theme song: Bad Boys by Sexy Zone
Cast: Nakajima Kento, Iwamoto Hikaru, Nikaido Takashi, Morita Myuto, Hasimoto Ryosuke, Reina Trendl, Shigeoka Daiki, Kakizawa Hayato, Itano Tomomi and Hashimoto Nanami.

This movie continues after the end of the drama.

After Yoji (Iwamoto Hikaru) is hired at a Ramen shop, he is getting less and less time to spend with Gokurakucho, but when an old friend Onozawa (Shigeoka Daiki) of Yoji’s returns from correction facility Yoji starts to act differently. Shortly after he announces that he has to leave Gokurakucho in order to get promoted to full time, which Kiriki (Nakajima Kento) allows, but feels rather suspicious towards Yoji.

At the same time BEAST’s Danno (Nikaido Takashi) is set to beat Kiriki and determind who the strongest in Hokkaido is. On the other hand, the other gangs around are getting beat by a new threat: EDEN.

At first no one is taking them that seriously, until Nights get beaten in matter of minutes…

Sorry for the short review, I was really trying to keep the spoilers to myself.

I think I mentioned this before, but I really do like when they make movie adaptions of Japanese dramas, because of all those restrictions! I mean not that this movie is great, but I liked it a bit more than the drama: even though it’s a bit too much of idol-ish. Though the drama is something I like to re-watch, and this movie is nothing great the humor and scale is quite different. Again, nothing like the other epic Yankee movies (CROWS Zero), but a nice idea for Yankee movies.

So summing up: a good movie to follow the good drama – when I say good I mean okay :)

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Hot Road Movie Review

Title: Hot Road

AKA: Hotto Rodo

Genre: Romance, Teen

Origin: Japan

Release date: August 16, 2014

Cast: Nounen Rena, Tosaka Hiroomi, Kimura Yoshino, Suzuki Ryohei, Taketomi Seika and Ohta Rina.

Miyaichi Kazuki (Nounen Rena) grew up with an absent minded single mother. Her mother hadn’t shown her much affection due to her affair with a married man. Craving for her mother’s attention she shoplifts, but even that doesn’t make her mother give her any minute of responsiveness. In school Kazuki befriends a girl Eri, rumored to be a ‘loose’ girl, which furies Kazuki, as Eri has been nothing but good to her.

One evening Eri takes Kazuki out to meet some bikers, and there she meets Haruyama Hiroshi – who becomes interested in Kazuki. At first Kazuki is reluctant, but soon finds herself drawn to him and his world.

At the same time the bike gang leader is set to be imprisoned, so he decides to give the leader baton to the most promising biker – in this case Haruyama…

Another movie from a Japanese variety, guess the promotion works! Haha…

I don’t know if you can grasp the story, but it really is nice and romantic love story. It has a lot of the ‘growing-up’ theme enrolled around it, but it doesn’t really weigh much the overall story. Somehow the leads have a chemistry, which I have a hard time figuring out. It is not a hot romantic / breath taking romantic chemistry, but rather this calm and yet youthful love. The actors where quite good, but then again I never really judge the Japanese actors – especially the ones I watch for the very first time – in bad or good actors. The adaptation comes from a manga, but I have never really heard of it, so I didn’t really have anything to compare it with.

Nevertheless, I found it interesting and quite adorable, though little bit lacking – just a tiny bit, but that has something to do with the climax, so not telling hehe…

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

MIRACLE: Debikurukun no Koi to Mahou Movie Review

Title: Miracle

AKA: Miracle - Debikurukun no Koi to Mahou / Miracle - Devil Claus' Love and Magic

Genre: Romance

Origin: Japan

Release date: November 22, 2014

Cast: Aiba Masaki, Eikura Nana, Han Hyo Joo and Ikuta Toma.

Hikaru (Aiba Masaki) is an unsuccessful manga artist, who not only is unable to get a breakthrough, but is indecisive in everything he has ever done. His best friend Anna (Eikura Nana), a competent and rather successful sculpturing artist, has always been protective over Hikaru. She knows everything about him, and has had a one-sided love for him which Hikaru hasn’t grasped at all.

Though unsuccessful, Hikaru draws ‘Debukuru-kun’; Santa’s evil counterpart, and post flyers all over the town at night. This is his form of stress release, as he is the ‘sorry’-type – apologizing every time something happens.

One night he bumps into Tae Soo Yeon (Han Hyo Joo) whom he falls immediately falls for, and believs he is destined to be with. After explaining the situation and Soo Yeon to Anna, Anna realizes who that woman might be – her project boss. So she promises Hikaru she’ll help him. Will Hikaru meet his destined woman?

Again a movie I picked up from the Japanese variety, though this one has another factor for me watching, and that is mainly because of Aiba Masaki. I think I have almost watched everything available online of Arashi drama/movie and this is no exception. This is the first Aiba romantic drama – in the actual sense of romance being the center of the movie, so I had to watch it.

The overall idea of the movie very Japanese as there has to be a bit of an odd characteristic, in this case the animated Devil Clause who is always in Hikaru’s mind, but that doesn’t weight too much to the movie, not does it annoy you too much. Surprisingly you feel kind of like Devil Clause is Hikaru’s mind, which is also quite interesting. Aiba as Hikaru was okay, I kind of feel all his character’s overlap – they are all quite cowardly to some extent, but I guess that is his image? And Eikura Nana as Anna was quite good at keeping her character real... Maybe she growing on me?

Now to the good part: is the movie recommendable? Well, I half-enjoyed it, as I was half-bored with it. The movie lacks somewhat depth, which is translated in the overall story to be honest. But then again, the acting somewhat has a bit of charm… So I dunno, maybe? Haha..

☆☆½ / 2½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Library Wars Movie Review

Title: Library Wars

Genre: Action, Comedy, Romance

Origin: Japan

Release date: April 27, 2013

Cast: Okada Junichi, Eikura Nana, Tanaka Kei, Fukushi Sota, Kuriyama Chiaki and Suzuki Kazuma.

In 1988 the Media Improvement Act was put in motion by the MBC (Media Betterment Committee). The MIA has the sole purpose in censoring books and other material deemed too violent or too vulgar for the public. Due to the publics aggression and refusal to cooperate, the MBC was granted arms, in order to abide law. This sparked the LDF (Library Defense Force), and was formed in 2004 to oppose censorship: who also was provided arms.

Kasahara Iku (Eikura Nana) is opposed to the censorship, and was once in an iffy situation with the MBC since her favorite book almost got censored. But she was heroically saved by a LDF, whom she is unable to recognize. This event leads her to join the LDF. Here she meets her instructor Dojo Atasushi (Okada Junichi), whom she cannot stand, but little does she know he is the very hero who saved her.

In 2019 after a serial murder is arrested, horror books are found in his home. This becomes a public stunt for the MDC, as they decide to ban all horror books – but the LDF refuse. So the wars of the libraries start…

I heard about this movie from an episode of VS Arashi, and I have always been a fan of Okada Junichi, so this was not a problem to watch. There was one thing though: I didn’t think it said ‘Library’ as in the place where there are books, but I thought ‘Liberary’ as in liberty, or at least there was a miss translation. I was quite surprised it actually was LIBRARY as in the place with books, and that LIBERARY is not a word. So… Yeah, a movie about censorship of books, and actual was, with guns and swat uniforms. Believe it or not the idea is not THAT bad, but seriously… people die… like you know… guns and shooting… FOR BOOKS. I love books and I am against the entire censorship, but dying for books in the 21^st century is barbaric. Like really. How stupid do people need to become in order to have other people die, just because you can’t agree on censorship?!

Anyways… It is really well-made and action packed. The pace and story is great, so is everything about the relationships – a decent movie with all it need. I don’t really like Eikura Nana, but she was bearable here. Okada is awesome as usual, so no complaint from me.

All in all, a great and entertaining movie.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Rurouni Kenshi 2 Kyoto Inferno Movie Review

Title: Rurouni Kenshin - Kyoto inferno

AKA: Rurouni Kenshin  2

Genre: Samurai, Period, Action

Origin: Japan

Release date: August 1, 2014

Cast: Sato Takeru, Takao Emi, Fujiwara Tatsuya and Kamiki Ryunosuke.

In the year Hyogo 1878 (Meiji Era 11), the Japanese law enforcement are trying to catch the ‘new battousai’. Due to Kenshi (Sato Takeru) leaving his samurai ways and lives his life in peace with his friends, the new battousai, Shishio Makoto (Fujiwara Tatsuya) has been creating havoc around Japan. Because of that the home minister, now currently one of the tops of the government, asks for a meeting with Kenshin. When he arrives Kenshin is asked to kill Shishio, as Shishios main goal is to get revenge and destroyed the new government.

At first Kenshin refuses since he enjoys life as it is, but when he is shown what Shishio is doing to the country, he partly feels responsible as Shishio took over his past position. So, by leaving his new life, Kenshin sets out to find Shishio, but finds out that he is much less powerful than Shishio, as he isn’t even able to beat Shishios underling… Will the old Battousai show his past colors?

The more I read my summary the less I like it. Oh well, I hope I don’t ruin it for the ones that want to watch it.

Anyways, an awesome movie, like so amazing: from the acting to the scenography. Like everything is so well-made! And it is amazingly well created! I don’t know if you’ve read the manga, but they are very honest to the story of the manga - I think I mentioned that before? Oh and Sato is sooo cool! And Fujiwara I almost didn’t recognize! Omg, and Kamiki!.... Sorry! Fangirl mode!

This movie has all my favorite things, though I am not a fan of fighting, I was kind of amazed by the fight scenes. SO much that I noticed EVERYTHING, and that is rare for me. You can actually watch the first movie without watching the second and the third, but you’ll miss out! I am telling you!

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Eight Ranger Movie Review

Title: Eight Ranger

Genre: Action, Comedy, Superhero

Origin: Japan

Release date: July 28, 2012

Cast: Kanjani8 (Yokoyama Yu, Shibutani Subaru, Murakami Shingo, Maruyama Ryuhei, Yasuda Shota, Nishikido Ryo and Okura Tadayoshi), Tachi Hiroshi, Becky and Higashiyama Noriyuki.

The year is 2035 and the Japanese population is about 75mio. Due to the low birthrates, the economy decreases and as a result the country is divided in two: the poor and the wealthy. The rich live in the central city protected by the law, whereas the rest is left to fend for themselves. Whether or not you are to live in the upperpart or lower part is determined when the child is 6 years old: they take a test, and if you pass you are allowed to live in the city with your family, if not, you don’t have a choice but to live outside.

Yokomine Makoto (Yokoyama Yu) failed the test as a kid, and now lives outside the central city. Addicted to gambling he is hunted by loan sharks daily. That is until he meets Captain Silver, a superhero who saves people in need. He then decides to go to ‘Academy for superheroes’, in order to become one himself, but also earn money. Here he meets 6 other people whom he is told he is going to be the leader of, and realizes that all 6 have debts, which is the reason for joining the academy: Marunouchi Shogo (Murakami Shingo), who is addicted to online shopping. Yasuhara Shun (Yasuda Shota) who is addicted to the color blue, and spends all his money on blue items. Nishikino Tetsuro (Nishikido Ryo) who was part of a one-wonder band, and lives believing he is famous. Okawa Ryosuke (Okura Tadayoshi) a naïve guy believing everyone, and falls for every scam. Shibusawa Kaoru (Shibutani Subaru) an alcoholic. And Muraoka Suki (Murakami Shingo) who is desperate for a girlfriend, he spends all his money on beauty salons.

As the criminal world begins to steal children off the streets, and the police are unable to do anything, the superheroes of the Academy of Superheroes’ called Eight Rangers are set out to save everyone. But for some reason the group of 8 don’t all seem like superheroes… Can these so called ‘heroes’ save the world?

I’ve recently started to watch Kanjani8 because of the laughs they give me on Japanese variety, even though I have watched Nishikido’s dramas and some of Yokoyama’s, I never really watched them together. J-idols are really good at acting together, expecially of they are in the same group, so I simply had to watch this.

Kanjani8 are known as fools, or ‘funny’ group, and really I didn’t expect any coolness out of this movie, so this was quite what you’d want to watch if you are a fan. It is light-hearted, and a bit silly to be honest, but that doesn’t make it any less good. It has a childish feature, so I guess some of the targeted audience is children.

Besides that I had quite the laughs, like due to the different colors of the actors I already knew, but also the interesting characters I got to know. So, yeah a fun movie.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Fashion King Movie Review

Title: Fashion King
Genre: School, Drama
Origin: South Korea
Release Date: November 6, 2014
Cast: Joo Won, Choi Sulli, Ahn Jae Hyun, Park Se Young, Kim Sung Oh, Lee Il Hwa, Han Hye Jin

Woo Ki Myung (Joo Won), a completely ordinary high school student, has a crush on Hye Jin (Park Se Young), the prettiest, most popular girl in class. So to win her heart, he decides to transform his image and become the coolest, best dressed person in the world. As his mentor Nam Jung (Kim Sung Oh) introduces him to the world of fashion, Woo Myung finds himself entering into a rivalry with Won Ho (Ahn Jae Hyun), the school's toughest fighter. Meanwhile, he doesn't notice Eun Jin (Choi Sulli), who harbors a secret crush on him.

I really liked the plot of this movie, but it didn't quite hit the right spots for me. The main reason why I watched this movie is for the casting mostly. I mean gaah Joo Won?!  As expected from Joo Won he also proves once again how good an actor he is, in a dorky and cute way this time. I'm not sure about Sulli since I haven't really seen her in much, but I thought she did OK. The universe here is fashion, school & rivalry. I must say that the combination of the three of them is rather great. I didn't laugh as much as I expected, but I felt very entertained. I definitely think this movie is worth watching, but comparatively it wasn't as great as other things I have watched.

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

The Flu Movie Review

Title: The Flu
Genre: Human, Action
Origin: South Korea
Release Date: August 14, 2013
Cast: Soo Ae, Jang Hyuk, Park Min Ha, Yoo Hae Jin, Ma Dong Seok, Lee Hee Joon, Cha In Pyo, Lang Sang Yeob

A group of illegal immigrants are smuggled from China to South Korea inside a shipping container, but when it's opened in the affluent Seoul suburb of Bundang by traffickers, it's discovered that all of the immigrants are dead, except for one man, a carrier of a deadly strain of H5N1 (avian influenza, or bird flu). As the man escapes, he quickly spreads the virus to nearby residents. Mir (Park Min-ha), daughter of a single mother Kim In-hae (Soo Ae), meets the man, named Mossai, and gives him some food and tells him to wait as she calls rescue worker and paramedic Kang Ji-goo (Jang Hyuk). However as he arrives, Mossai is nowhere to be found.

I was able to watch this movie while travelling, and only because it was the only movie I had in my tablet. However, oh boy I wished I watched it sooner, it was better than I expected. It totally gave me the chills. Somehow, it kept your attention to the very end and had a good story line. When you’re finished with the movie, it still stays with you on your mind, and you start looking at people coughing and wonder if... Just kidding! The acting was top-notch especially Park Min Ha. She may be a child actress but she brought her character to life, I’m seriously amazed by all the child actors in Korea, some of them are better than the adults. One scene with Park Min Ha crying made me cry so hard (watch the movie to find out) that I had to look away from the screen & took a break for a moment to recompose myself.  If you like medical, disaster and action type movies then you'll probably like this one.

☆☆☆☆☆ / 5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥♥ / 5 out of 5 hearts

Bunji Verdict

This is another movie I had to watch, because of the references made by Korean tv. Though I never really paid much attention to it, I felt it had been out there and around me for quite a long time, but I didn’t want to watch it, as I am not the biggest fan of overhyped movies. That said, I loved this! I was afraid it would be a wannabe Hollywood epidemic movie, but I LOVED that they kept it (for the most part) Korean. I really have no flaw to mention in this movie, except the fact that the last 8 minutes made me cry so much, I was all swollen, but that is because I was unable to look away from Min Ha’s acting… seriously amazing!

I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just end like this: 100% recommendable.

☆☆☆☆☆ / 5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥♥ / 5 out of 5 hearts

Miracle in Cell no 7 Movie Review

Title: Miracle in Cell no 7

AKA: Number 7 Room’s Gift

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Law

Origin: Korea

Release date: January 24, 2013

Cast: Ryu Seung Ryong, Kal So Won, Park Shin Hye, Jung Jin Young, Oh Dal Soo, Park Won Sang, Kim Jung Tae and Jung Man Sik.

Lee Young Goo (Ryu Seung Ryong) is mental retarded man living with his 6 year old daughter Lee Ye Sung (Kal So Won) whom he adores and loves more than anything. They live a quite simple life until Ye Sungs father one day gets arrested for the murder and the rape of a little young girl. Marked from the get-go and unable to explain his story, Young Goo is put in jail, and is a possible candidate for the death sentence. In prison he is immediately hated by the prison ward Jang Min Hwan (Jung Jin Young), who also lost his son by a child molester, and is even beaten for asking to make a call.

After getting put in cell with five other inmates, Young Goo saves the leader of the five from a stab, and gets a wish granted - where he asks for his daughter.

The leader grants him the request, but now Young Goo and daughter Ye Sung refuse to get separated, and the date for Young Goo’s trial is getting closer and closer. Can he be saved?

Firstly I apologize for the short review, and quite boring one - I swear its better!

Okay, so I watched this not knowing anything about it, and rather than saying I was searching for it, I actually kind of stumbled on it. And I have to say, it really is one of the best movies I have watched ever. I cried so hard and for so long, I was a mess when it finished. There was not a single thing I didn’t like about this movie, seriously not a single thing. I mean the acting was superb and so was the cast, so nothing there. Also the screenplay and story were so well written and acted that I was satisfied afterwards. It’s a heartwarming and heart wrenching drama; so a definite recommendable movie!

☆☆☆☆☆ / 5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥♥ / 5 out of 5 hearts

Hot Young Bloods Movie Review

Title: Hot Young Bloods

Genre: Teen, Romance, Comedy, 80’s

Origin: Korea

Release date: 23 January 2014

Cast: Park Bo Young, Lee Jong Suk, Lee Se Young, Kim Young Kwang and Ra Mi Ran.

This movie is about the youths of a small town, in the 80’s.

As the strongest female delinquent in her school Yoong Sook (Park Bo Young) has never had the time to do anything else but fight with rival schools. Forming an alliance with a rival school’s top Gwang Sik (Kim Young Kwang) she doesn’t really bother with anyone or anything else, except Joong Gil (Lee Jong Suk).

Joong Gil is the schools ultimate player whose goal is to sleep with every girl from the same year, crossing each name off after finishing with them. But for some reason Yoong Sook is the only one he doesn’t want to touch.

After a new pretty student So Hee (Lee Se Young) from Seoul arrives, Joong Gil wants to make her his, but Yoong Sook refuses to let him do so. She also wants to date him, asking him out - but Joong Gil cleanly refuses. Their relationship makes Gwang Sik jealous, threatening Joong Gil, and So Hee plays the victim in many situations infuriating Yoong Suk. To make it all worse Joong Gil refuses to believe Yoong Suk.

How will these “hot young bloods” end up?

Sorry for the weird review, but while I was writing I noticed that I had no idea what the ‘starts of conflict’ is, as it really just goes in one pace... I think. It’s quite confusing to be honest - real situation/real happening kind of movies Is really not my thing. I like when there is a real situation that’s not it, it’s more.. Like an everyday thing that I don’t like? I can’t really explain it. The movie has good acting, but the story really doesn’t have a high light, or climax call it whatever you want. It is sweet, even adorable, but kind of… I don’t know, watching 2 hours of not knowing what to hope for, is really like watching someone’s life for 2 hours.  Not bad, just not great. Jong Suk and Bo Young make a good couple, with okay chemistry. Kind of blame the script for being halfhearted though.

To sum up: good, but not all that great.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Kamji's Verdict

I watched this right after the subs were available, I couldn’t wait to see it because of Lee Jong Suk and Park Bo Young (I watched her in Wolf boy, and she was amaa’hahazing!). It was an excellent performance from both the youth and adult actors, so nothing to criticize there. But the storyline were quite typical for a movie about youth.
Honestly speaking, I actually preferred the later part of the movie to the earlier campy bits. It’s similar to how I felt about Fugitive: Plan B. With Plan B, I didn’t care so much for the camp that was rampant in its first half either, but once we got to the heart of things and people in its second half, I liked it a lot better.
The love story were cheesy, but that’s okay haha that I enjoy :b I loved the little romance there were between the teachers too. Again it’s an enjoyable movie, but not one of the best. 

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Friend 2 Movie Review

Title: Friend 2

AKA: Friend the Legacy / Chingoo 2

Genre: Crime, Gangster, Drama

Origin: Korea

Release date: 14 November 2013

Cast: Yu Oh Seong, Kim Woo Bin, Joo Jin Mo and Jang Young Nam.

After spending 17 years in prison for a murder he didn’t order Lee Joon Suk (Yu Oh Seong) is weeks away from his release. Few days before the actual release, a high school friend of Joon Suks visits him in jail asking him to watch out for her son, who had an incident with Joon Suks gang. The son, Choi Seung Hoon (Kim Woo Bin), is a hot blooded and short tempered twenty-something year-old, who learned that life on the streets is not fixed with words, and is in prison for assault. After spending some time together, Joon Suk starts to like him, and even tell him that when he leaves the joint, he’ll help him.

Although Joon Suk is released, he is surprised to see that the Vice-president Eun Gi (Jung Ho Bi) has risen in power and tries to overtake the gang. So Joon Suk decides with Seung Hoons help, to take back Busans streets, and pay back for the betrayal. But due to secrets hidden, a rift between Seung Hoon and Joon Suk occurs, and that effects more than just the gang…

This movie is the sequel to the first movie - which was incredibly popular. So yeah is very hard to compare, but I think it is very good as a sequel. Though it is much more bloody, violent and grotesque, I kind of found it a bit more realistic than the first one. The first movie is just sad, and the ending shocked me so much that I got chills. This one though, I laughed because of the absurdity, not because it’s ridiculous, but seriously absurd. Like crazy violent people, like freakish violent - and nonstop. It was much criticized, but it was okay if you ask me. Still has the depressing feeling, only the difference that it isn’t two best friends - but something else.

Kim Woo Bin is amazing in this, so much that I was completely at a loss for words when I saw him: he really seemed like a full on actor.

Okay, so do I recommend it? Well it kind of reminds me of Friend and it still has great actors. So yeah: good.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Mourning Grave Movie Review

Title: Mourning Grave
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Origin: South Korea
Release Date: 03 July 2014
Cast: Kang Ha Neul, Kim So-Eun, Kim Jung Tae, Han Hye-Rin, Park Doo Sik, Kwak Jung Wook, Joo Min Ha, Joo Da Young

A story about a high school kid, In-Soo (Kang Ha Neul) who isolated himself from everyone because of his special gift, which makes him special from everyone else. He comes from a family filled with successful exorcists, the reason behind that is that they can see ghosts, but they are not the nice ghosts. One In-soo moves to a rural area outside Seoul with his also-seeing-ghost uncle, there he befriend a special girl. Soon after abnormal activities happens at his school…


I am not a fan of horror, no, I like horror, but I can’t watch them without getting scared of everything. So I try to stay away from them. Until I accidently discovered this movie, at first I didn’t want to watch it, but the story and star-filled cast was really tempting. So here I am, a Saturday night and scarred as hell. Okay, about the movie; it was very good aka very scary! They did a good job with the ghost makeup, but also the editing, the way they made the ghost pop out of nowhere really made a big impact. The actors were good too, Kang Ha neul and Kim so-eun were so cute together, I hope they will be casted together in a drama one day. The story were also very interesting, I was really surprised at the sudden twist in the middle, didn’t see that coming at all, in my opinion that is the most important of a movie; the story. I’m going to look for more Kang Ha Neul movies now :b

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Commitment Movie Review

Title: Commitment

AKA: Alumnus / The Graduate

Genre: Action, Spy, Thriller

Origin: Korea

Release date: November 6, 2013

Cast: Choi Seung Hyun (TOP), Han Ye Ri, Kim Yoo Jung, Yoon Je Moon and Jo Sung Ha.

Living in North Korea as a wealthy son Ri Myung Hoon (TOP) had the dream of becoming a pianist, and hasn’t had a single harsh day of his life. Everything changes when his father is labeled a traitor after a spy mission in South Korean, and killed over there. Both he and his sister are put in labor camps, until his father’s boss Moon Sang Chul (Jo Sung Ha) pulls him out and sends him to special training.

Two years later Myung Hoon, now Kang Dae Ho, a North Korean defector, is adopted by a South Korean couple who in matter of the fact are North Korean spies. While joining school he meets a bullied girl Hye In (Han Ye Ri) who has the same name as his sister, whom he befriends.

When a series of North Korean spies get murdered Myung Hoon has to find the murderer and kill him, in order to get home to his sister. But when the government starts to change in North Korea, Myung Hoon soon becomes too big of a liability…

Uhm, okay? I am confused. Or not? To be honest I was kind of expectant, maybe too much, but this was just another spy movie with a somewhat understandable plot, and too much action. Okay, with too much I mean more “pow pow” less “blah blah”. This makes Korean movies seem lacking and uninteresting.

TOP does a great job, and the cast is good at making him fit (even though he looks amazing and like an idol), and it somehow becomes a decent movie.

I don’t want to spoil anything, but I really wouldn’t expect anything if you want to watch it. It’s really bad compared to “71: Into the fire”.  All in all, another spy movie…

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Kamji's Verdict

So, what I don’t get is why the hottie from Big Bang, TOP, decides to accept this role as the North Korean agent. It seems like North Korean agents penetrate the Republic of Korea as casually as they might walk down to the local pub, and South Korean agents are horrendously slow to catch on or arrive on the scene. Nevertheless, the action and stunts are expertly handled, those scenes I was very contempt with.
I just think I’ve got enough of those spy/agents movies, so I really just watched this because of TOP, and just to ross it over my list. I don’t really recommend it, but go for it if you have time.

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥ / 2 out of 5 hearts

HERO Movie Review

Title: Hero

Genre: Legal, Crime

Broadcast date: September 8, 2007

Origin:  Japan

Cast: Kimura Takuya, Matsu Takako, Abe Hiroshi, Lee Byung Hun, Otsuka Nene, Katsumura Masanou, Kohinata Fumiyo, Yashima Norito and Ayase Haruka.

After the entire incident with the Kimura family on Yamaguchi Island, Kuryu Kohei (Kimura Takuya) returns to the Josai branch in Tokyo, and teams up with his former colleagues and former paralegal Amamiya Maiko (Matsu Takako) who is not forgiving Kohei for not keeping his promises to her.

When homicide case lands on Kuryus desk after another prosecutor has personal business to take care of, Kuryu is shocked when the accused pleads not guilty after having plead guilty before. That being a common thing for prosecutors they decides to not think too much of it, but soon they find out that there is so much more going on behind the homicide. And for some reason the secretary of a former minister is helping the accused…

Compared to the drama and the special the movie has a bigger focus on actual court room situations, which happens after indication of suspects. And to be honest it kind of gives a better idea of how capacious a prosecutor’s work actually is. Also compared to the other cases this one is kind of a bigger scale type of case, and involves all the prosecutors, which yeah we do see in the drama and special, but here it really goes all the way, and I like that the original cast is in it. Besides that I would’ve liked them to make it a bit faster, it really goes on a slow pace. Of course there are tense moments but there are way too many of those quiet and dull moments they could have cut out or replaced.

But all in all a good movie that you could watch with ease…

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

Friend Movie Review

Title: Friend

AKA: Chingoo

Genre: Crime, Drama, Friendship

Origin: Korea

Release date: 31 March 2001

Cast: Yu Oh Seong, Jang Dong Gun, Seo Tae Hwa and Jung Woon Taek.

The story follows 4 childhood friends who reunite after being separated in middle school. Joon Suk (Yu Oh Seong) is the son of a mobster, the strongest and the leader of the 4 man gang. Dong Soo (Jang Dong Gun) is the son of a mortician, and also the second strongest. The two are generally bad in school and usually get beef because of their backgrounds by the teachers. Sang Taek (Seo Tae Hwa) is a middle class person, but is really clever and does very good in school. And lastly the groups goof Jung Ho (Jung Woon Taek) who usually gets the group free stuff since his mother goes abroad a lot.

The story takes a turn when the boys fall for the same girl from a band, and Dong Soo starts to feel inferior to Joon Suk. This doesn’t split the group but when Sang Taek gets beat up by some high shoolers from another school because of that very girl, the boys defend him against almost the entire hord of the high school. After being expelled from the school Dong Soo decides to join a gang, which is the rival gang of Joon Suks father’s gang. After the death of Joon Suks father, Joon Suk takes the spot as the mobster boss, putting the two friends against each other…

My number one reason for watching this is because of the huge amount of reference in Korean variety and Korean TV. This is one of the most famous Korean movies and is one of those with high commercial success, not that I always agree with the Korean audience. To put bluntly the movie is weird, not bad and not boring, but you somehow have this terrible gut feeling the entire way through, either feeling bad or confused about the results. It is one of those kinds of movies that speaks of the Korean culture, with that I mean the ACTUAL culture and not the romantic Korean drama version. The movie is not bad, especially if you like those down to earth yet realistic movies (realistic is the best word for this movie).

I like that the theme ‘Friendship’ really is thorough, even though there is a lot of gangs and fighting involved, not to mention mobsters. The general thing is about these 4 and their friendship through the movie, also of course how they grow apart but still have the lingering feelings of their time together.

To sum up: a real gem and the acting is really good.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts