When Romance Meets Destiny (DVD) (Japan Version) DVD Region 2

After that, Shim Jae Myung welcomed Kim Hyun Seok into the Myung Films family, and he worked on the underrated (if a bit over the top) melodrama If The Sun Rises In The West, the first of many baseball-related films. He helped Park Chan Wook write JSA and was assistant director for Kim Ki Duk's The Isle. Despite his good start as a writer, getting a big project like YMCA Baseball Team was quite surprising for a newcomer - a surprise which turned into excitement the moment he took the megaphone for the film starring Song Kang Ho, Kim Hye Soo and Kim Ju Hyeok. With an outline which would instantly bring to mind nationalism, he managed to focus on the characters and a simple baseball game between two teams, with a few touches of history and the usual priceless performance from Song. Kim Hyun Seok's first foray back into the romcom genre since If The Sun Rises in The West, When Romance Meets Destiny focuses on the characters first, and the events later, like a little gem called Singles.

The major problem of financially successful but rather bland romcoms like The Art of Seduction or Love in Magic was that of throwing two stars in the mix, expecting their screen presence to save the day. In contrast, by making our interest for Gwang Shik and Gwang Tae grow, all the situations they fall into become all the more interesting, and you can deal with the awkward jokes and old-fashioned feeling of the film (which adds to the charm). The film works first because the characters are well developed (the women in the film are no more than a male fantasy, but it doesn't really hurt as the focus is the way men approach relationships). Even better, in this case, someone with a personality like Yoon Kyung fits even more, as Gwang Shik never knows what she's thinking, but also because casting is pretty much perfect. Kim Ju Hyeok is one of the top Korean actors when it comes to playing down-to-earth "guy next door" types, as previously displayed in Singles and Mr. Handy. Bong Tae Gyu, despite looking everything but a player, fits the role like a glove, balancing the spunk of his performance in Tears with a Ryu Seung Beom in Conduct Zero-like aura.

Another highlight of the film is the debut of young Kim Ah Joong, one of the most popular stars on TV thanks to countless variety shows and a few dramas, including The Bizarre Bunch, this year's chart topping daily drama. When Romance Meets Destiny is a film of small pleasures, with an interesting script, an irreverent and smart soundtrack, and nice pacing despite the (intentional) lack of intensity. Director Kim said he was going to stop making films about baseball, lest he be mistaken as an expert in that field only, but I'd say he's hit two homeruns in a row so far. Just like Jang Jin, he's embedded his own style within genre tropes, always creating something that feels fresh despite never straying too far from the norm. That's pretty impressive for such a young director, and promises good thing for the future.

A/V
Of course romcoms are not going to test your surround system (most of them anyway), but the audio here is very good, with clear dialogue and a nice use of the ironic soundtrack by Lee Byung Hoon.

The transfer is wonderful. Great colours, extremely natural skin tones, and no problems whatsoever with the print.

Subtitles
There's a few translation problems, and they could have worked a little harder on the obvious jokes (the OECD one sticks out even if you don't speak Korean). Some timing (translation related, mostly) and grammar/spelling mistakes, but overall very good. Translates all the songs (very basic, but drives home the ball) and, with the exception of a few signs and pop-up screens, all the on-screen text.

Value for Money
It's too bad so many current Korean romcoms in focus on star power instead of interesting characters and stories, which is probably the reason things like Mr. Wacky rarely work. This film had the perfect formula, with interesting characters, good acting and, most importantly, a truly entertaining experience. More than anything, it once again proves Director Kim Hyun Seok is one to look out for, as he still hasn't made a single wrong step, and he always maintains that down-to-earth, low-key atmosphere which feels rather fresh compared to the histrionics shown by films like The Art of Seduction. DVD is another good effort from KD Media, with very solid presentation and interesting extras, capped off by two of the most entertaining commentaries of the year. Even if you don't like the genre, this is highly recommended.

by Twitchfilm.net