Pandora Movie Review

Title: Pandora

Genre: Disaster, Thriller

Origin: Korea

Release date: December 7, 2016

Cast: Kim Nam Gil, Kim Joo Hyun, Jung Jin Young, Kim Young Ae, Moon Jung Hee and Kim Myung Min.

Kang Jae Hyuk (Kim Nam Gil) lives with his mother, sister-in-law and nephew in a small village in the outskirts of Daegu. The village has nuclear reactor next to the harbor, due to that no fish are in the water, hence no fishermen. The sole live hood of the workers in the village is power plant, which Jae Hyuk does as well and his girlfriend Yeon Joo (Kim Joo Hyun) who works at the power plant information center. He lost his father and older brother because of the plant, so he hates everything about it – including working there.

When an earthquake hits the village, everyone – including the president – is told that the quake didn’t affect the plant. But the reality of the consequence is much more severe and as Pyung Sub (Jung Jin Young) tries to warn everyone, unfortunately he is met by opposition.

Aware of what the nuclear plant is capable of Jae Hyuk wants to get home and save his family, but fate has different plans for him, as he is stuck with his fellow workers…

First of all I need to point out that I am a 'disaster movie'-fan, meaning I enjoy those adrenaline filled "gotta save everyone" thriller movies/dramas. There is just something about them that makes me ignore plot holes – so I sometimes rate them as great, but later realize how weak a plot or storylines they really have. Fortunately this movie had all: amazing storyline, great plot, loads of great screenplay and perfect acting. I don't think I have anything bad to day about this movie honestly. From the beginning to the very end it was perfectly paced and superbly executed. I think that due to the Fukushima incident this hits closer to home than older 'power plant situations' or stories, as they really are quite alike.

So do I recommend it? Yes! (Available on netflix 17^th of March)

☆☆☆☆☆ / 5 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

D-day Review

Title: D-day

Genre: Medical, Political, Disaster

Episodes: 20

Broadcast period: 2015-Sep to 2015-Nov

Cast: Kim Young Kwang, Jung So Min, Ha Suk Jin and Yoon Joo Hee.

This drama is about a natural disaster striking Seoul, and we follow a group of doctors and firefighters as they are trying to help and save the citizens, but also about the social and political consequences arising due to the situation.

Lee Hae Sung (Kim Young Kwang) is an empathetic doctor doing his best for all his patients, but also a very competent one. After he loses his father in a car accident and his mother got into a coma, he accepts the ill treatment from his chief so his mother can stay inside the hospital where he works. The chief of the hospital, Mirae University Hospital, is only concerned about the reputation and economic of the hospital, which is where the two opinions collide.

Jung Ddol Mi (Jung So Min) is 3rd year resident at a university hospital in Busan, but when there was talk about moving a patient to Seoul she offered to go, on her own: wanting to meet her idol Han Woo Jin (Ha Suk Jin), who happens to be a college friend of Hae Sungs, but also someone who agrees with the chief of the hospital.

After saving a patient’s life, ignoring authority Lee Hae Sung is transferred to a smaller hospital, and at the same time, the earth starts to shake. Suddenly a crane falls into a sinkhole, and all hell breaks loose…

Hmm, I am not sure I am doing this drama justice with that type of summary, but it is incredibly hard not to spoil anything.

I personally am a huge fan of disaster stories; both movies and TV shows. Therefore, I was very excited about this when I found out about it. I also like the idea of it being about doctors and firefighters, as we usually don’t have that view – or at least I haven’t seen any with it – that shows us about their struggles and situations.

Kim Young Kwang is a very talented and handsome actor, whom I liked for quite a while now, ever since White Christmas I think, so seeing him in this character was amazing. I was afraid they would make him like this perfect guy/hero who saves the day, so I was more than happy when they showed his human side every so often. Jung So Min is one of those actresses that I can’t stand, not because she’s annoying or ugly, but because I didn’t understand why she would be acting as she is horrible at it. Made me confused about the casting. However, to be fair, the dramas she had acted in where quite bad: that said this actually shows a bit of improvement. Not that she is a favorite actress now, but she is decent and tolerable here.

The only thing that I didn’t enjoy in this drama was amount of politics involved and the feud between the two male actors, and the chief. Then again, it started with a bang; they can’t continue all the way like that.

So do I recommend this drama? Hell yes!

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Kamji’s Verdict 

I am not sure where to start with this drama as this is an amazing drama. Probably one of the best dramas of 2015 if not the best. I could talk about how great this drama is for a long period of time, but I will try to make this review as short as I can. I really enjoyed watching this drama i'm shocked it's not popular, everything about it was fun, exciting and damn it could keep you glued to your laptop. There are some things this show has done very well, and that has largely been in the cinematography and the cast. I really appreciated the way everyone made their roles as believable as possible, and I especially loved the chemistry that came from the different characters. I really loved the relationship between the two main leads, but I wish we had seen more romance between them. In addition, like everyone else who watched this drama, I agree with the overdone enmity between the director and our reckless and skillful doctor. They could have turned it down a bit, I mean it goes on for 20 episodes! Everything else was good. Double recommended!

☆☆☆☆☆ / 5 out of 5 stars


♥♥♥♥½ / 4½ out of 5 hearts

Yeongasi Movie Review

Title: Yeongasi
AKA: Deranged
Genre: Disaster, Thriller, Horror
Origin: Korean
Release date: 5 July 2012
Cast: Kim Myung Min, Moon Jung Hee, Kim Dong Wan and Lee Ha Nui

Jae Hyuk (Kim Myung Min) is a former biochemistry professor, who lost all his life savings, his entire fortune and job, due to an investment on a stock advised by his younger brother Jae Pil (Dong Wan), who is detective. When a dead body in found in a river, the police is convinced it is a suicide, and when the case is given to Jae Pil, he couldn’t care less since he tries with all his might to get some more tips on stocks, so he can help his brother get his money back. Due to the failure Jae Hyuk has become a workaholic: doesn’t have time to spend with his family or just time to do anything at all, and can’t seem to forgive his brother for the mistake.
When numerous dead bodies are found in the rivers all over Korea, the apparent suicide is re-investigated, and its found out that a fatal parasite of a worm form called Yeongasi, which is usually is inside animals, has mutated and has found hosts in human bodies. The symptoms are excessive hunger without gaining weight, and after a while extreme thirst, which makes the victims jump into water and suffer from a heart stroke as the worm exits the hosts body. 
Jae Pil tries to figure out the source if the virus, but when Jae Hyuk realizes that his family has started to show the exact symptoms, he tries with all his knowledge to find the medicine that has seemed to vanish..

Eish, this movie has made me terrified of eating almost anything, like my favorite spaghetti! Like I see worms all over the place, and that is not something that I would like to continue thank you very much. It’s very short for such a disaster movie honestly, since they usually take loads of time, but I feel that from start to end, everything went fast. Not that I didn’t feel Jae Hyuks frustration, that I did, but it just makes me go: why on earth or the American disasters so... impossible to cure? Like in this one we have hope, from the beginning… Of course makes you more interested. But still, growing up watched hopeless stories this just is different.
The acting was great, I was expectant of Dong Wan since I am a fan of Shinhwa and I only watched Cheer Up Mr. Kim, but it wasn’t the most amazing thing, but still okay... Can’t get used to his serious face, used to the smile. Anyways, the movie is great, with some faces Ive never seen, but great!

☆☆☆☆½ / 4½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥ / 4 out of 5 hearts