Joint Security Area

I have watched “Join Security Area” this weekend, the film of critically acclaimed Korean director Chan-wook Park. It is very different from his later created famous Vengeance trilogy (“Sympathy for Mister Vengeance“, “Oldboy” and “Lady vengeance”) but at the same time you can clearly feel the same theme of exploring ultimate results of human emotions there. “Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance” was probably THE most shocking film I have ever seen and “Oldboy” is only second because I went to watch it already prepared. JSA is not a shocker, nor it is full of violence, it starts and moves almost quietly, almost like a theatrical play, but it gathers momentum as it goes, on emotional and visual level.

StoryThe border between North Korea/South Korea: In the remote North Korean military post two North Korean Soldiers are killed and one injured by a South Korean soldier. Two sides have two completely different stories to tell and it doesn’t take long for every word to be questioned. Sounds like a whodunit? And it starts like one indeed, but it ends up being a Shakespearean-like tragedy. Chan-wook Park is an Asian master of Shakespearean tragedy, I think. :D Film has male friendship that is larger then life, a nation that is divided and in a war with itself, spilled blood and angst.

On a personal level I felt very touched by the story of divided Korean nation as being told in the film. I know this is something that I knew from the time I was a child – there is North Korea and South Korea. But what it is for Korean people? I never thought about this seriously before.

The verdict? I liked it very much indeed and would recommend this film wholeheartedly.

Actors Two main leads, Lee Byung Hun and Song Kang Ho make this movie to be what it is. I have seen and noticed Song Kang Ho before, but Lee Byung Hun is a new name for me (And I liked him enough to start looking for his pictures/films/dramas obsessively). I would love any recommendations!!!

( Small pictorial evidence of Lee Byung Hun’s great qualities )

( This film with Lee Byung Hun I really want to see, A Bittersweet Life, also starring Shin Min Ah (from A Love to Kill) )

PSCross-posted in korean_cinema, Here

Big Hana Yori Dango 2 squee

EEEEEEEEE! I just have watched episode 1!! It is so so great! I don’t have anything very profound to say apart from that this is like "Meteor Garden" coming back to me and I adore Tsukushi (who is so bright and pretty) ,Tsukasa (who is so angsty) and Hanazawa Rui (who is so mysterious). Yep, meganbmoore!!! Oguri Shun is so great even with the crasy hairstyle!! (Have I said "great" three times in one sentence already??)

( Can I ask a couple of things??? (Cut for spoilers) )

And even more squee for crazy fashions and hair which amuse me greatly and add to the viewing pleasure. Seriously! All the fur!!! But nothing of course can compare with Hanazawa Rui’s shoes. They are so crazy that as a shoe-addict I am I HAD to include a picture in this post. :D

( A picture of Hanazawa Rui’s shoes )

PS Crossposted in dorama_chat, Here

PS 2 I have also watched "The Snow Queen" episode 12 and 13 and it is the love of my life (in the terms of doramas). I will post about it separately.