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Rob_L
Reviews
Nae maeumui punggeum (1999)
typical romance, but very nice details
This film's story fits right in with the Koreans' great love of cutsey romance movies--which may turn off a lot of more jaded Western viewers--but its attention to detail is a great strength. All of the scenery and props create a beautiful, believable portrait of Korea in the days shortly after the Korean war. For anyone who's familiar with modern-day Korea, it's a very interesting look back. Also, the original music on the soundtrack is excellent and appropriate throughout the film.
Interview (2000)
experimental but excellent
Though this is often labeled an "experimental" film, it has a lot of soul and a thoughtful eye for beautiful detail in the ordinary. Director Daniel H. Byun examines the complex processes of interviewing people, filmmaking, and falling in love with his skillful blend of real-life interviews with average Koreans and a well-structured fictional plot. A few scenes may be extraneous, and the acting gets a little heavy-handed at times, but overall this film succeeds in creating a very compelling blur of reality and fiction.
Children of the Revolution (1996)
wow...
...this is an extremely well-conceived, well-written, well-acted, and well-made film. The dialogue, in both its everyday scenarios and heated exchanges, is excellent; and the mockumentary style meshes perfectly with the nicely segmented, ever-twisting plot. Then, after making light of some serious history, the ending takes a dark, ironic turn to drive home its message that whatever political system you choose, the worst elements in human nature are here to stay...