Reviews written by Adamsw216
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Crazy First Love (US Version)
Crazy First Love (US Version) DVD Region All
(5)Our Price: US$10.99Usually ships within 1 to 2 daysRelated promotions:September 30, 2006 Strange...I found this movie to be very strange. The first half of the movie was compltely ridiculous... not entirely in a bad way, but there was lots of partial nudity and really awkward conversation topics. The comedy was very silly and over-the-top, and the characters relationships were established on the same obscure surface.
But then... the last half of the movie gets really deep into the whole melodrama. It phases out of the comedy [relatively] slowly and gets more and more serious (so its not as shocking as the brick wall that Sex is Zero gave). While the two halfs of the movie work well in their own ways, I find is strange to think that they are still the same movie. It's like, the first half was so crazy that the second half needed to make up for it by developing the characters a lot and attempting to tug at our heartstrings. It's really cliche, but not to the point where I couldn't enjoy it to an extent.
I felt that all the actors did a great job. Cha Tae-Hyun was a little over dramatic, but that's just his character. Son Yae-Jin was very beautiful in this movie even though her character was a little shallow till the last half.
Bottom Line: Ridiculous and touching in a way that makes you wonder why you're feeling anything at all because its so ridiculous. It is an entertaining movie worth seeing once through maybe, but all the lead actors in this movie have made MUCH better films. "Lover's Concerto" comes to mind...
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Jenny, Juno
Jenny, Juno DVD Region 3
(12)Our Price: US$13.99List: US$32.99Save: US$19.00 (58%)Related promotions:4 people found the following helpful
September 26, 2006 Young loveI think that one word can sum up this movie suprisingly well: "cute". This movie is about two young teenagers who have to deal with the very real and serious situation of pregnancy. Their reactions to the situation are quite believeable for kids who are only 15 years old, and they (especially Juno) display quite a bit of responsibility which is practically admirable. The two main actors' on screen chemistry is bubbly and adorable. They are so incredibly cute that you can't help but smile. However, the movie does keep to the light side of things, and the entire movie seems pretty idealistic in terms of how things all work out; someone could easily argue against the realism of the movie. But I think that it works and I believe that the characters are given enough likability to fully justify some almost too-happy scenes (possible spoiler!!!: like the wedding, that was so "spectacular" and optimistic).
Bottom Line: This may not be a great representation of how hard life is and how difficult our decisions are sometimes, but it is a wonderful display of the maturity and love that can teenagers can develop. You really want to believe that Jenny and Juno exist out there somewhere, and that everything will always work out for them in the end.
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ARAHAN
September 22, 2006 Too much chiI went into this movie not expecting much, and I was suprised at the decent amount of action I got out of it. For the most part, the fight scenes were decently choreographed and the special effects were well integrated into the movie. However, I felt that the overall storyline was... well I don't want to call it predictable, but it was definetly not original and at times it was downright cliche. I also didn't find the lead actor very interesting. He seems more like the kind of person who would do well in a supporting role, but in the lead he just sort of came off as relatively bland (but a lot of that blame probably can rest on the script because his acting wasn't that bad). I sort of wish they had more humor added to the movie, I think I laughed like, once. As for the final fight scene, I really thought it dragged on. I kept catching myself looking away.
Bottom Line: This movie has some cookie cutter comedy, special FXed fight scenes, an interesting but cliche storyline, and a pretty straightforward (in an uninteresting way) main character. If you are looking for a movie with some good fight scenes that you won't remember in a week, this is for you.
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Windstruck
Windstruck DVD Region 3
(54)Our Price: US$15.99List: US$29.99Save: US$14.00 (47%)Related promotions:September 16, 2006 Myungwoo/GyeonwooThis movie was quite enjoyable, but you have to go into it with an open mind. Many parts of it are a little unrealistic, and often you wonder how much time has really passed. But I believe that the deepset emotions that pour from this film make up for any of its shortcomings. Some may say that the characters are underdeveloped, and I can't say I disagree entirely. But despite a relative obliviousness to the depth of the character, I certainly felt sympathy and understanding for them.
Jeon Ji-Hyun's acting was SUPERB as usual. Jang Hyuk was charming and amusing as usual. If there is anything you can't complain about, it's the acting.
I felt like the entire movie was as much of a fairy tale as the well-produced story Jeon Ji-Hyun's character told was. You can't think of it as some really relateable love story... it is merely a story about love. Love is all you have to understand (to a certain degree of course) to get this movie.
As for the references to My Sassy Girl, they were quite fun, but they definetly don't match up. But Kwak Jae-Young could easily explain it as if it's like a parallel universe or a time-travel thing that connects the worlds/movies.
I honestly think that this movie could have worked much better as a mini-series. Kwak Jae-Young... make us a spectacular tv show with your wonderful story-writing!
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Il Mare
Il Mare DVD Region 3
(46)Our Price: US$22.99List: US$27.99Save: US$5.00 (18%)Related promotions:August 18, 2006 Love transcending timeHaving never seen the US re-make (The Lake House), I am afraid I can't provide a comparison. But on it's own, I truly enjoyed this movie. Even though the premise is clearly unrealistic (if that bothers you, maybe you should stop taking everything so seriously...), the romance feels real enough to keep your eyes fixed on the characters. My primary concern was that the characters would just leap right into the unrealistic premise without any explanation, but my prayers were answered and this film delivered it well. I really enjoyed how these characters seemed to find eachother at just the right time in their lives... they both really needed eachother. And that is what adds to the tragedy of the ending (yes it does have a relatively sad ending... I mean come on, it's a Korean movie).
Bottom Line: The bond the two forlorn characters form through the means of a "magic" mailbox will stick in your mind. And while some bits of foreshadowing are a little too obvious, the performance of the actors and the innate romance make this a movie worth seeing (and probably worth owning).
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Daisy: Director's Cut Limited Edition DTS
Daisy: Director's Cut Limited Edition DTS DVD Region 3
(18)Our Price: US$27.99List: US$41.99Save: US$14.00 (33%)Related promotions:August 10, 2006 We'll start again...This movie was absolutly beautiful. The camera shots were well executed and the European countryside was wonderfully captured. I absolutly adored Jeon Ji-Hyun in this movie. She was so forlorn that every single smile she gave just made me want to hold onto it forever. It was weird hearing her speak English and as a matter of fact, she was pretty good. And amazingly enough, the english speaking actors were kept at just the right level of near non-existance. The love-triangle story is by no means new, but the execution and the way you can justify/relate to each characters actions makes the movie as good as it is. Like, even though one character is an assasin, you can easily come to grips with his love for the main character and why he feels that way... it is even clearer the second time you watch it.
Bottom line: Absolutly beautiful movie with an equally beautiful soundtrack, the wonderful acting and suprisingly close-to-home (or possibly humble) feel of the story will make you want to watch it over and over.
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Welcome to Dongmakgol Limited Edition
Welcome to Dongmakgol Limited Edition DVD Region 3
(2)Our Price: US$23.99List: US$45.99Save: US$22.00 (48%)Related promotions:August 9, 2006 Well done!I finally got around to seeing this movie, and I went in without any real expectations (good or bad) and overall, I enjoyed it. The production values were great! Lots of good special effect jobs and plenty of beautiful scenery/scenes... I didn't even care that lots of it was compltely unrealistic. The action was suspensful, but at times it might seem a bit long depending on what mood you are in, but I think that the movie flows well enough that you aren't worried about other events that could be happening and all you want to do is focus on whats on the screen. I only have a few complaints... one, of course, being the low quality of the english-speaking characters. I didn't mind Smith so much (minus a few VERY poorly pulled off lines) as I was bothered by the incredibly cheezy military banter. Another very minor comparison I must make is that I thought that JSA did a better job at developing the relationship between the two different sides, but you still might shed a tear near the end.
Bottom line: A well directed action/comedy/drama with some good acting (and some bad acting), beautiful scenery, and well included special effects. It's a movie that will remind you how innocent life can be and how cold the world can seem.
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Now and Forever
Now and Forever DVD Region 3
(3)Our Price: US$14.99List: US$24.99Save: US$10.00 (40%)Related promotions:August 5, 2006 RentableAfter reading the synopsis of the story, I thought it would be very touching. However, I found the movie to be very disjointed and underdeveloped. The main characters relationship lacks a certain personal nuance, I mean, the director does a good job making their individual moments together very beautiful, but they are never tied together in a way that makes you feel like it is just a wonderful relationship. Instead you just have a series of beautiful moments that don't really mean much. Actually, I enjoyed Min-Su's friends character developement more. Hye-won and her best friends relationship was even more developed than the two main characters and the best friend had less screen time. Most of the best parts of the movie are at the end, but I do not think that they made up for all that lacked in the beginning and middle. At only 1 hour and 40 minutes long, I think they had plenty of room to improve the development of the characters. But there were a few touching/sad moments, I must admit. However, as a whole, the movie was too predictable, even if you are the kind of person who lets the movie guide you.
Bottom Line: An mediocre (and sometmes funny) romantic drama that tends to live from scene to scene rather than as a whole movie. The acting is not bad, and the story basis is good, but the main twists and lack of character developement leave you dissapointed in what could have been a spectacular movie.
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My Sassy Girl a.k.a. Yupki Girl
My Sassy Girl a.k.a. Yupki Girl DVD Region All
(19)Our Price: US$18.99List: US$29.99Save: US$11.00 (37%)Related promotions:1 people found the following helpful
August 1, 2006 Lives up to the hypeAlthough this movie definetly has a certain level of stereotypical melodrama that Korean movies are known for, I believe that it is quite palpable. This has to be one of my favorite Korean movies. It takes you on a wonderous ride through absolutly hilarious scenarios involving a guy who is involved with a girl he doesn't really understand, and isn't sure if she really understands herself. I don't want to give too much away, but I will say that the ending puts everything into perspective and it is wonderfully pulled off. I was not only satisfied with the ending, but I was tempted to stand up and clap (and I was just in my room). Jeon Ji-Hyun's character is confusing, scary, and absolutly beautiful in this movie. The balance and transition between the comedy and the romance is well executed and gives you time to adjust your emotions (unlike Sex Is Zero... but I guess I shouldn't compare those two).
Bottom line: Hilarious and moving, these endearing characters and their story will be one to remember. A great movie.
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