The Host Movie Review

Title: The Host

AKA: Monster

Genre: Thriller, Suspense

Origin: Korea

Release Date: July 27, 2006

Cast: Song Kang Ho, Byun Hee Bong, Park Hae Il, Bae Doo Na and Go Ah Sung.

Park Gang Doo (Song Kang Ho), a mentally slow man and father of Park Hyun Soo (Go Ah Sung), runs a street vendor with his father Park Hee Bong (Byun Hee Bong), right next to Han River. On the day of his sisters Park Nam Joo’s (Bae Doo Na) archery competition, tourists sight a weird creature near the river. The creature, swimming closer to land, gathers the attention of most people, and soon enough also Gang Doo. While everyone is intrigued, the creature jumps out of the water, and starts grabbing and killing people. In the confusion Hyun Soo runs out, and becomes pulled underwater by the monster.

The victims and survivors of the incident are evacuated, and the Park family, Gang Doo, Hee Bong, Nam Joo and the big brother Park Nam Il (Park Hae Il), gather to mourn Hyun Soo.

While the situation becomes noticed by media, and the government start covering it up, Gang Doo gets a call from Hyun Soo, giving him hope of her having survived, and the family decides to go and find Hyun Soo. The family manages to escape the military holding, but due to the cover-up, the entire family becomes wanted, and now must hide while trying to rescue Hyun Soo…

The summary might seem detailed, but I managed to only cover bit of the beginning.

If you are a variety or drama watcher, you will at some point get to hear about this movie, as it is referenced and mentioned a lot. So, I kind of needed to see what the hype was about.

When I began it, I expected it to be a horror movie, but was pleasantly surprised of the fact that it is a monster movie (like Godzilla or like that). It’s been ages since I’ve watched one, and I really didn’t feel like another ‘The Wailing’. Of course, it has horror elements, where you get freaked out, but it’s more of a rescue mission or/and “clear image of the enemy”-kind of movie. I like the cast, and I like that the movie didn’t succumb the “American/Hollywood”-hype, though I disliked the beginning - where an American is to blame for the creation of the monster (don’t worry the first 10min of the movie shows this, so not really a spoiler).

I don’t want to comment that much, as this is a movie classic, where my opinion can change your judgement. So, I’m leaving it with this: a good movie with deserved reputation, though a few dislikable situations and I have to admit, weird backstory - I felt like the director sometimes took a bit of the intelligence of the audience for granted.

But all in all, enjoyable.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ ½ / 3½ out 5 hearts

Secret Forest Review

Title: Secret Forest

AKA: Forest of Secrets / Stranger

Genre: Drama, Legal, Law, Mystery, Thriller

Episodes: 16

Broadcast period: 2017-Jun to 2017-Jul

Cast: Cho Seung Woo, Bae Doo Na, Yoo Jae Myung and Lee Joon Hyuk.

Hwang Shi Mok (Cho Seung Woo) is prosecutor known for his cold and logical attitude. He is never fazed by anything, and has no greed for power or money. Unbeknown to everyone else, he had a brain surgery as a kid, which changed his emotional status, unable to show emotions and has a lack of them as well. As a grownup he has learned to use this logical mind for justice, as that is one thing he values. Though this value isn't appreciated by everyone.

One day everything is set into turmoil when a "sponsor" for the wealthy and powerful is murdered in his home, and Shi Mok is the first on sight. Trying to preserve the scene, he meets Han Yeo Jin (Bae Doo Na) a police officer as bent on justice as he is, but is more open to working with prosecutors than her co-workers.

After catching the suspect, and putting him behind bars, Yeo Jin finds some evidence that might just put everything back to square one. This also shakes thing up with the higher ups, so the duo starts to do their own investigations, and they find that they are each others’ counterparts, making them perfect partners to take down the corrupt...

This drama has two of my very favorite actors in the lead, which is why even though the storyline didn't speak to me at first, the two made me start it. As the drama progressed, the drama did also, and thankfully it just became better and better. I have to say though that the drama would not be as good if there were other actors in the leads, and to be fair it is very legal/investigatory, so it can be a bit boring for those that aren't into those things. It has quite a lot of talking, and not so much action when comparing, but I personally didn't feel any loss because of it. Another thing I really enjoyed was that there wasn't any love story - at least not a forced one, which makes it much more focused on the story.

So all in all, a great story and superb acting – but it is based on the legal part, so if that is not your thing, you might not agree with the rating.

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts

God of Study Review

Title: God of Study
AKA: Lord of Studying / Master of Study
Genre: School, Comedy, Romance
Episodes: 16
Broadcast period: 2010-Jan to 2010-Feb
Cast: Kim Soo Ro, Bae Doo Na, Oh Yoon Ah, Yoo Seung Ho, Ji Yeon, Go Ah Sung, Lee Hyun Woo and Lee Chan Ho.

Kang Suk Ho (Kim Soo Ro) is sort a different lawyer: when he has a case, he'll put 100% effort into it, meaning EVERYTHING, which also means if he looses a case, he looses all. As he changes office once again, he gets a case about a school, whom he is familiar with; his high school. The school is known as "the trash school", where students dont do any effort in studies, and the teachers have given up on the students. The case he is given, is about the closing down of the school and changing it to a private school, which means all 'usual' students will be changed to other schools.
Kang Suk Ho decides to take the case, but instead of helping with the change, he wants to change the schools reputation, by making 5 students enter "Chun-Ha-Dae University" - Koreas most prestigious college. Jang Ma Ri (Oh Yoon Ah) has taken on the school after her father, ever since had fallen into a coma, but optimistic she isn't. In the matter of fact, she feels as if she is thrown into something that she hates, taking responsebility, so she is more than willing to do the change to private school, but ends up being persuaded by Suk Ho. Suk Ho's first meeting with the leader, Hwang Baek Hyun (Yoo Seung Ho), happens as Baek Hyun delivers food to Suk Ho's office, where Baek Hyun pulls a prank on Suk Ho. Baek Hyun is living alone with his grandmother, who always dreamed of Baek Hyun being a top student, but it happens that they're loosing their home, which Suk Ho uses as his advantage, and makes him join the special class. Other than Baek Hyun there are 4 other students that join: Gil Pul Ip (Go Ah Sung), childhood friend of Baek Hyun, and has always tried her best at studing. She lives with her mother, who owns a bar, and has an affair with a married man. The reason for her joining is her not wating to become like her mother. Hong Chan Doo (Lee Hyun Woo), childhood friend of both Baek Hyun and Pul Ip, and has always had a secret crush on Pul Ip. He loves dancing and has givin up on all kind of study. His father has always made all his decisions for him and has been very strict with him, whereas his mother is loving and caring and tries to support him, but fails as she cant say anything against her housebend. He joins the class together with Oh Bong Goo, because he wants more. Oh Bong Goo (Lee Chan Ho) is the son of resturant owners, who believe that Bong Goo isnt smart in any way. Bong Goo loves studying on the other hand, and joins because he want to study and do better. Lastly there is Na Hyun Jung (Ji Yeon, T-ara), she is the daughter of busy people, meaning parents that are too busy and simply dont care about her. She has a 'stalker-ish' crush on Baek Hyun, thats mainly the reason for her to join the class.
Han Soo Jung (Bae Doo Na) is a pasionate teacher, who LOVES all her students. She hates Kang Suk Ho, so she makes a deal with him: if 5 stundents vulenteerely join the 'special class', she will become the assistant teacher..

This has become one of my favorite dramas. I remember the japanese series "Dragon Zakura" which was the the storyline behind God of Study, and I loved it. God of Study is mainly the same as Dragon Zakura, but a little different. The korean version has focus on the study and relationship between the characters, whereas the japanese focuses on study and humanity (meaning what does it mean being a fellow human and friend). I love both, but the korean was great. It was fun, sad and interesting, and has less focus on the love story, which I perfer. Usually when watching korean dramas, I get annoyed; firsty, because the lovestories are too nauseating, secondly, the guys always seem to be hurt more than the girls. This drama did the opposite. The supporting girl was sad, not insane! Love it! The actors were fun and perfect for their roles, but my favorite would be Yoo Seung Ho, portraying Hwang Baek Hyun. Ive seriously never seen an actor crying, and still be able to cry cool and look cool aswell.. Hands down for you!
On another note, hot-korean-deliquents fighting and crying, yes please!! hehe.. verdict:

☆☆☆☆½ / 4,5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts