The Message
Directed by Chen Kuo-fu, starring Li Bing-bing, Zhou Xun, Zhang Han-yu, and Huang Xiao-ming.
With great acting, a compelling tale, and excellent production values, The Message should have been a really good film. Unfortunately, Director Chen's attempts to infuse the film with stylish elements proves more silly than innovative, and undermines the tension. The Message ends up an interesting, though underwhelming, tale of espionage.
Guns & Talks
Directed by Jang Jin, starring Shin Hyun-jun, Won Bin, Shin Ha-kyun, Jung Jae-young, Jung Jin-young, and Kong Hyo-jin.
It's more talks than guns, and the talks tend to drag a bit as a group of hitmen wax philosophically. An entertaining time-killer.
Ditto
Directed by Kim Jong-kwon, written by Jang Jin and Kim Jong-kwon, starring Kim Ha-neul, Yoo Ji-tae, Ha Ji-won, and Park Yong-woo.
Two love-lorn college students from different times find each other via a malfunctioning ham radio. A engaging film that I enjoyed until the last twenty minutes, when the dvd stopped working properly. Sadly, I didn't receive any messages from a love-lorn woman via the malfunctioning disc. Look for further thoughts from me on Ditto after I watch my newly purchased dvd of it.
Check back soon for my thoughts on The Day A Pig Fell Into the Well, The Housemaid, Blazing Saddles, Bandhobi, and I Wish I Had A Wife.
16 January, 2010
10 January, 2010
Happiness; In '010
Filmically, I began '010 with one of my favorite films, Hur Jin-ho's Happiness.
Happiness
Directed by Hur Jin-ho, starring Hwang Jung-min, Im Soo-jung, and Kong Hyo-jin.
Being my favorite Hur Jin-ho film, starring one of my favorite actors (Hwang Jung-min), and one of my favorite actresses (Kong Hyo-jin), Happiness is a film I've seen a few times. Back in June of '09, I wrote:
"Happiness is a lovely film about two terminally ill people that meet in a sanatorium, and their struggle to live and love. While the description may sound sappy, the film isn't. With Hur's direction and Hwang and Im's acting, Happiness is one of the finest films I've seen. The mixture of humor, romance, and drama is top notch, and leaves one clamoring for more."
For some reason (I'm pretty sure alcohol is to blame), I failed to mention the wonderful acting from Kong Hyo-jin in the above post from June, 2009. I'd like to rectify that with the following statement: Kong Hyo-jin's acting in Hur Jin-ho's Happiness is wonderful.
I suppose I could provide more information about the film, (perhaps, one day, I will) but for now, I think the above re-post of the paragraph from last June will suffice.
Check back soon for my thoughts on The Message, Guns & Talks, Ditto, The Day A Pig Fell Into the Well, The Housemaid, Blazing Saddles, Bandhobi, Like You Know It All, I Wish I Had A Wife, A Million, Possessed, Rebellion, Poker King, The Hurt Locker, and a few others. 2010 is going to be a busy year.
Happiness
Directed by Hur Jin-ho, starring Hwang Jung-min, Im Soo-jung, and Kong Hyo-jin.
Being my favorite Hur Jin-ho film, starring one of my favorite actors (Hwang Jung-min), and one of my favorite actresses (Kong Hyo-jin), Happiness is a film I've seen a few times. Back in June of '09, I wrote:
"Happiness is a lovely film about two terminally ill people that meet in a sanatorium, and their struggle to live and love. While the description may sound sappy, the film isn't. With Hur's direction and Hwang and Im's acting, Happiness is one of the finest films I've seen. The mixture of humor, romance, and drama is top notch, and leaves one clamoring for more."
For some reason (I'm pretty sure alcohol is to blame), I failed to mention the wonderful acting from Kong Hyo-jin in the above post from June, 2009. I'd like to rectify that with the following statement: Kong Hyo-jin's acting in Hur Jin-ho's Happiness is wonderful.
I suppose I could provide more information about the film, (perhaps, one day, I will) but for now, I think the above re-post of the paragraph from last June will suffice.
Check back soon for my thoughts on The Message, Guns & Talks, Ditto, The Day A Pig Fell Into the Well, The Housemaid, Blazing Saddles, Bandhobi, Like You Know It All, I Wish I Had A Wife, A Million, Possessed, Rebellion, Poker King, The Hurt Locker, and a few others. 2010 is going to be a busy year.
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