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  • Lover's Concerto (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)Lover's Concerto (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)

    Lover's Concerto (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3

    Customer Review Rated Bad 8 - 8.4 out of 10 (20)
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    July 3, 2007 Beautiful movie Customer Review Rated Bad 10 - 10 out of 10
    Kyung-hee (Lee Eun-joo) and Soo-in (Son Ye-jin) are the best of friends. Their personalities are located at the opposite sides of the spectrum - Kyung-hee, the one with a cheery disposition; Soo-in, the reserved and quiet girl. Then they meet Ji-hwan (Cha Tae-hyeon). Ji-hwan falls for Soo-in the instant he sees her. His declaration of his feelings makes the latter uncomfortable, so Ji-hwan 'turns back time' and instead offers friendship. The three then become good friends. The deepening of their relationship creates a tension in their friendship and Ji-hwan awakes one day to find the two girls gone...

    It's Korean melodrama at its best, and it's friendship at its deepest. This movie is perfect in every sense of the word. The innovative plot and startling twist had me blown away. There were numerous flashbacks utilized in this movie and they were skillfully presented. There was no confusion at all and the mood was built up just right for me to be astonished by the twist. Timing is crucial with this kind of turnabout in the story and the people behind the movie did everything superbly.

    The effortless manner in which the actors portrayed their characters gives truth to the saying that there is beauty in simplicity. Since I'm on the subject of Cha Tae-hyeon, I commend him for being magnificent in this movie. He did to this drama what he's done to comedy in the movie My Sassy Girl. Praises, too, to the leading ladies for not being overshadowed by Tae-hyeon's brilliance and rising up to his performance.

    It's a sad movie, alright, but it's definitely beautiful.

    10 kimchi dishes out of 10.

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  • Crazy First Love (Hong Kong Version)Crazy First Love (Hong Kong Version)

    Crazy First Love (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3

    Customer Review Rated Bad 7 - 7.1 out of 10 (7)
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    July 3, 2007 Good story, bad presentation Customer Review Rated Bad 6 - 6 out of 10
    The consequence of having starred in a brilliant movie that earned blockbuster status (read: My Sassy Girl) is that your next movies for review are placed under closer scrutiny. One can't help but compare. Such is the fate of Cha Tae-hyeon.

    So, the movie. Admittedly, it has a good plot and had the makings of a romcom drama that could equal, say, My Sassy Girl. In fact, given the right touches, it could even be more poignant and more funny than My Sassy Girl.

    Here's the story. Tae-il has one ambition in life - to marry his childhood love, Il-mae (Son Ye-jin). Sadly, that is his ONLY ambition. He doesn't care much for school and is constantly on a war path. Il-mae's dad, who happens to be Tae-il's homeroom teacher, believes that there's more to Tae-il than the latter would admit. So he offers a proposition - Il-mae's hand in marriage if Tae-il would raise his rank from No. 300,000 to No. 3,000. Tae-il impressively rises to the challenge. The dad takes it a bit further - finish law school. Tae-il accomplishes this, at Seoul National University, no less. And while Tae-il is busy making himself the impressive son-in-law, he still finds time to protect Il-mae from her countless admirers, and from himself. D-day comes when Tae-il passes his bar exams and the dad finally allows him to marry Il-mae. Problem is, Il-mae is already engaged to a wealthy womanizer. Heartbroken, Tae-il now has a new mission in life - to win his first love back.

    A good storyline, but a mediocre presentation. Once again, the people behind the movie made the common mistake of magnifying everything so the movie will be something it's not. I'm talking particularly of the comedy. It's disappointing really, the way Cha Tae-hyeon portrayed his Tae-il role considering the natural ease with which he portrayed Gyun-woo in My Sassy Girl. There was too much shouting, and granted that they utilized the Busan dialect, did he have to sound so...Japanese? A lot of potentially funny scenes were wasted because they weren't presented right. A pity, considering that there were naturally funny clips far and in between. The drama was somewhat butchered due to the confusing story surrounding Il-mae. It felt like the scriptwriter lost track of his own narrative. I ended up being baffled in a scene that calls for sympathy. Again, a pity, considering that this movie had strong drama potential.

    6 kimchi dishes out of 10.

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  • My Sassy Girl Director's Cut Special Edition (Japan Version)My Sassy Girl Director's Cut Special Edition (Japan Version)

    My Sassy Girl Director's Cut Special Edition (Japan Version) DVD Region 2

    Customer Review Rated Bad 10 - 10 out of 10 (8)
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    2 people found the following helpful

    July 3, 2007 The best movie. Ever. Customer Review Rated Bad 10 - 10 out of 10
    I know, I know...it's a five year-old movie but you have to admit that it still has the appeal it had five years ago. So let's talk about this movie that started all that 'Wanna die?' craze.

    Adopted from the real-life experience of a guy narrated over the Internet, this movie is about his peculiar relationship with a pretty girl who lost her boyfriend and can't seem to move on. Gyun-woo senses the girl's sadness despite her attempt at sassiness, and being the nice guy that he is, he stays by the girl's side, doing whatever she fancies letting him do, making her happy and in effect, healing her sorrow. He knows it's a temporary thing, their relationship. But as time passes, the relationship gets deeper and it's becoming quite difficult for Gyun-woo to let go.

    The girl is grateful for Gyun-woo's company. But she is likewise in an emotional quandary. She knows it's unfair to take advantage of Gyun-woo's good nature, but she needs him to heal. Just when she begins enjoying Gyun-woo's companionship and is slowly letting go of her dead boyfriend's memory, she feels guilt towards Gyun-woo and her dead boyfriend. What's her solution? She asks Gyun-woo to write her a letter, expressing what he really feels for her. This letter, together with her own for Gyun-woo, are placed in a container she calls a time capsule, which both will open two years later. This girl has a fixation for time capsules. I guess when you're hurting from a broken heart, you have your own methods for coping - others go on a shopping or eating binge; she, on time capsules.

    Anyway, two years later. Gyun-woo shows up at their rendezvous point, she doesn't. Does this mean she's hurting still? Or worse, has she completely moved on and in the process has forgotten Gyun-woo too?

    Everything about this movie is insanely wonderful that it remains on top of my all-time favorite Korean movies since I watched it five years ago. It has a topnotch story making it difficult to believe that it's an Internet adaptation. It works either way: a light drama with a touch of comedy, or a light comedy with a touch of drama. What really fascinates me is the peculiar relationship between Gyun-woo and the girl (the movie never mentioned her name) and the manner it was presented resulting in the romance aspect of the movie being subtle. Very nicely done. The narration is witty, funny and downright entertaining that nowhere in the duration of the movie would you feel bored.

    Two thumbs up to the lead actors; if I had more thumbs, I would have gone right ahead and raised them all as well. Special mention to Cha Tae-hyeon. Although not your typical handsome guy, he was so lovable in this movie, naturally funny and quite amusing. No other actor would have been capable of playing Gyun-woo the way he did. It felt like the role was tailor-made for him.

    From the Internet to the big screen, this movie went on to become a Korean phenomenon, overshadowing movies of the same genre. It set the trend for Korean romcom drama, and while there may have been movies with similar themes which have done well artistically and commercially, this movie is in a class of its own.

    10 kimchi dishes out of 10.

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  • Full House (Vol.1-20) (End) (Malaysia Version)Full House (Vol.1-20) (End) (Malaysia Version)

    Full House (Vol.1-20) (End) (Malaysia Version) VCD

    Customer Review Rated Bad 10 - 10 out of 10 (1)
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    June 28, 2007 Full Honors Customer Review Rated Bad 10 - 10 out of 10
    Maybe because you're with someone everyday that what was initially mere tolerance turns to enjoyment and even repressed passion, thus making it difficult for either to let go when the circumstances tell them it's the right thing to do. And just when everybody knows of the falsity of the marriage, both still hold on because in their hearts, they know the marriage had just gotten real...

    A really simple plot but interesting nevertheless. What started out as a strong beginning stood at a standstill somewhere in the middle, but thanks to the actors' brilliant performance, the series came through quite magnificently. The advantage of having a simple plot is you get to concentrate on the actors' portrayals of their characters. This may be a gamble if you don't have much faith on your actors. In this series, the cast more than delivered. The acting was flawless.

    Rain's insufferable bossing around complements the feistiness of Song He-kyo's character. It must have been nerve-wracking to be angry, then surprised, then sad, then charming, then obnoxious, then charming again all in one scene but Rain was able to do it with such fluidity you'd think he really had a mercurial personality. He had all the right expressions perfectly delivered at the right time. You get to appreciate the childlike, or childish, quality of his character when juxtaposed with the confidence and frankness of Kim Seong-su's character.

    Speaking of, Kim Seong-su was equally brilliant in this series. His character initially came off as an astute person and he carried that quality all throughout. Seong-su never lost sight of the fact that while Rain's character is rash, his is discerning. His role requires him to be confident and forthright, which he performed with such ease, he looked really cool. Thus, when his professions of love have always been rejected by Ji-eun, his surprised look and disbelieving smile become more effective in manifesting hurt than, say, a tear or two.

    Now, the ladies. I was spared the unrefined antics that has been so typical of leading ladies in romcom movies/series of late. Song He-kyo portrayed her character with intensity minus the crass, it was quite refreshing. She clearly has one of the prettiest faces in the business. I heard that before this series, she has only been doing drama. It's good that she's given projects with diverse themes for her to showcase her acting range.

    The drama bit of the series rests in this one girl, Hye-won. Her scenes may be few, even far and in between, but her character can actually make or break the drama. Thankfully, Han Eun-jeong, the actress who portrayed Hye-won, performed outstandingly, the drama thus held ground.

    I've watched this series several times and not once did it fail to bring a smile. Such is the appeal of this drama, and I consider it a tremendous feat considering that there isn't much going on, story-wise. In fact, the plot seemed a bit stretched that it felt like the people behind the production counted on the popularity and talent of their actors to make this series work for them. Despite the plot not being profound as I wanted it to be, this Korean series is still worth the wee hours that you're up viewing it non-stop.

    10 'aja,aja, fighting!' out of 10
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  • My Girl (Ep.1-23) (End) (Taiwan Version)My Girl (Ep.1-23) (End) (Taiwan Version)

    My Girl (Ep.1-23) (End) (Taiwan Version) DVD Region All

    Customer Review Rated Bad 9 - 9.5 out of 10 (2)
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    June 25, 2007 My Kind Of Series Customer Review Rated Bad 9 - 9 out of 10
    The plot was surprisingly good - the kind in which anything can happen. You can put as many conflicts and twists as your imagination can conceive. You can totally control the outcome of the drama and, if you're feeling a bit playful, throw your viewers a curve ball by coming up with a really tragic ending. The stark contrast between a hilarious beginning and a desolate finale would have this series next to those having thoroughly unpredictable conclusions that you probably wouldn't like yet can't help but admire for their artistry and bravery. Not to worry though...you don't get that kind in this series. I'm just driving home the point that the unraveling of the plot was skillfully done in such a way that the writer can insert as many twists as he wants in an attempt to prolong the drama and still have his viewers seriously hooked. That's how good the plot is. I guess he realizes this too, as seen from the bit when Jo Kye Hyeong and Hwang Bo Ra, who play brother and sister in this series, talk of how Yoo Rin's and Gong Chan's situation is so like the movies and they begin conjuring possible scenarios between the two.

    Now, the actors. I'm only going to talk about the ones that matter, namely, Lee Dong Wook (Seol Gong Chan), Lee Da Hae (Joo Yoo Rin), Lee Joon Ki (Seo Jung Woo) and Park Si Yeon (Kim Seo Hyun). I give props to the production company for casting such good-looking actors in one drama. Acting-wise, a little polish would be nice. But this drama is of that kind wherein the actors' portrayals of their characters are somewhat off in the beginning, but they grow on you. So, in retrospect, it was alright.

    Lee Da Hae had the energy to get the scene going and for that I admire her. She can shift from comedy to drama with ease. Although there were times when her energy was just too much for me, as mentioned earlier, the antics grow on you and I found it to be quite cute in the long run.

    Lee Dong Wook seemed a bit stiff in the beginning, it felt like his movements were somewhat calculated. In his fear to exaggerate, he ended up holding everything in. It was a little tiring to see him frown all throughout that I was relieved to see that he could smile...and he has quite a nice smile. He sure can portray the arrogance required of the role, and in those few comedic and poignant moments, he shone. Needless to say, after this series, I am now a fan.

    Lee Joon Ki's character, Jung Woo, was too melodramatic in this series for my tastes. So he loves Yoo Rin, but the story came out quite short with these two characters. It didn't look like the two had established a deep relationship to warrant Jung Woo shedding tears for Yoo Rin. Had the story betwen them been shown with depth, I would commend the tears. But as it were, it didn't feel that way, so easy on the drama. The hurt expressions were fine; the tears, a bit inflated.

    I find Park Si Yeon really pretty. I was confused with her facial expressions though. There were scenes wherein she carried the same expression all throughout, it was rather difficult to fathom what she really felt at the moment.

    Admittedly, I enjoyed the drama, from the plot down to the performance. It was deliciously light, even the drama bit wasn't that heavy. It had the makings of a series that you'd want to watch over and over again: pleasant comedy, enjoyable banter, repressed passion, and a healthy serving of drama.

    I would have gone right ahead and gave this series a 10, but I'll leave the last point for improvements. So here's a well-deserved 9 snow globes out of 10.

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  • Almost Love (VCD) (Korea Version)Almost Love (VCD) (Korea Version)

    Almost Love (VCD) (Korea Version) VCD

    Customer Review Rated Bad 7 - 7 out of 10 (1)
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    June 22, 2007 Almost Perfect But Not Quite Customer Review Rated Bad 7 - 7 out of 10
    Ji Hwan and Dal Rae have been friends since childhood. And as is natural for two people who have been friends that long, there's an unexplained closeness and comfortableness between the two. It's the kind of intimacy and coziness that blind them to the truth - that the two of them are in love and must have been since childhood, a truth that is obvious to others except to the people that matter: Ji Hwan and Dal Rae. Their light bickering, which is but normal for friends, suddenly turn into nasty arguments when both decide to date other people. This conflict in their relationship make them evaluate why each is bothered by the other seeing someone else.

    A tragedy strikes and Ji Hwan loses his leg. Distressed by this unfortunate accident, he disappears from home and cuts all communication with everyone he left behind, including Dal Rae. After a year of soul searching, so to speak, he comes home, bearing a screenplay he wrote. This screenplay falls into the hands of Dal Rae. Will this revelation of Ji Hwan's feelings now cost him their friendship?

    This movie reunites Kwon Sang Woo and Kim Ha Neul, stars of my favorite movie, My Tutor Friend. Expectations are high, therefore, that this movie will equal, if not surpass, the former. I was a bit disappointed, though. It's a beautiful story in itself, and I find no fault in the actors, but overall, the movie came out rather short in delivering the goods. There was probably too much, or maybe too little, of everything that I don't quite know what to make of it.

    The dynamic slapstick blended well with the trips down memory lane but it gave way much too early to the melodrama, which, in my honest opinion, need not have been there. Or maybe it should have been.

    I really don't know what to say with this movie except that I feel it should be perfect, but there's a flaw somewhere, somehow.

    7 kimchi dishes out of 10.

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  • My Love Ssagajy: 100 Days with Mr. Arrogant (Taiwan Version)My Love Ssagajy: 100 Days with Mr. Arrogant (Taiwan Version)

    My Love Ssagajy: 100 Days with Mr. Arrogant (Taiwan Version) DVD Region All

    Customer Review Rated Bad 7 - 7.8 out of 10 (5)
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    June 22, 2007 Frustrating Customer Review Rated Bad 4 - 4 out of 10
    There was some really unnecessary nasty nose picking and spit throwing in this movie in an attempt to make it funny, it came off as simply disgusting. In fact, I felt that everything about this movie was a painful struggle to make it into something it's not. OK, it's a romantic comedy, whcih given the plot, should have been cute - a really arrogant University guy makes a sweet and innocent High School girl his slave for a hundred days and sparks start to fly between them. But it felt like the people behind the movie thought that it was too simple a plot to be funny so they had to exaggerate the comedy. Wrong move.

    It was pitiful to see Ha Ji Won trying so hard to be comical, I wanted to cry. Although this is the first movie of hers that I've seen, I know there's a funny side to her so they should have just let it come out from her naturally. There really was no need to squeeze it out of her.

    Kim Jae Won was cool as Mr. Arrogant but it was a shame that his candid acting was swallowed up by the exagerratedness of everything around him.

    And what's with the ending? It just got me thoroughly confused? Was it necessary to put that particular finale?

    There's an iota of frustration here because I felt that this movie had some potential to be the light romantic comedy that it should have been.

    4 kimchi dishes out of 10, thanks to the flashback scenes towards the end that kind of redeemed the movie but then they had to put that ridiculous ending.
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    June 22, 2007 Reaches for the stars Customer Review Rated Bad 9 - 9 out of 10
    This Korean drama tickles and wrenches the heart all at once, so you're brought into an emotional roller coaster ride, with huge dives and wild turns, a gradual stop and a smooth and relaxing journey afterwards.

    The plot would initially come off as simple, ordinary even, that it can be summarized in three sentences - guy loses girlfriend; guy falls in love again with someone who looks like former girlfriend; latter girlfriend turns out to be former girlfriend's younger sister. The beauty of this plot, however, lies in the emotions that can be evoked from it. Realistic doubts and proprietary issues are tackled. Even the disbelief that could be raised by such a plot was addressed in the drama - people have a hard time accepting what isn't norm. Therein lies the drama's effectiveness. It creates an emotional and moral turmoil that by the time the guy admits to loving the girl for who she is, you're drawn - hook, line and sinker.

    Now, the lead actors. This is Kim Rae Won at his absolute best. He depicted his character with just the right touch that nothing was underplayed nor overplayed. The shouting that's so typical of him even came out as cute rather than annoying. He brings to his character a level of maturity and childlike quality, which you can see in a person in love, that I find so endearing. He convincingly portrays the guy with conflicting emotions that he does not need words to express what he feels - just look at that face and those eyes.

    Jeong Ryeo Won is not afraid to goof around and there lies her advantage. She appears so frsh and innocent on screen that I'll forgive her ridiculous pigtails. And it's amazing how the tears come so easily with her. A little refinement in somewhat exaggerated motions and she'll be fine.

    This is not a heavy, complicated drama but there are moments when your heart's tugged a little that the few comedic scenes among friends and colleagues are a welcome respite.

    Check out the scene at Jeju Island when KRW's character asked for Hye Su's (his former girlfriend) blessing on their (Seung Hui and Bok Shil) relationship - bittersweet; my most favorite scene in the drama.

    9 Big Dippers out of 10.
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  • Guns & Talks (HK Version)Guns & Talks (HK Version)

    Guns & Talks (HK Version) VCD

    Customer Review Rated Bad 7 - 7.4 out of 10 (5)
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    June 7, 2007 Criminally entertaining Customer Review Rated Bad 7 - 7 out of 10
    This movie allows us a glimpse into the lives of assassins. In my honest opinion, they don't seem like hard core killers but they DO kill people for a fee. Described as the quartet of male assassins, the group aim to please their clients to the point of going after a police car carrying the person they're supposed to kill. That's how dedicated our boys are to their craft. Anyway, a detective becomes suspicious and begins conducting a surveillance into the group's activities. This does not do well for our unlikely heroes who are to stage their biggest assignment yet - the girl of their dreams hires them to kill her boyfriend and it has to be done during a Hamlet play, in front of thousands of people. With the cops on to them, will our assassins be able to pull this one off?

    Surprisingly, I found myself thoroughly entertained by the movie. It wasn't at all boring despite the fact that there were more 'talks' than 'guns'. The actors were quite funny wuthout trying hard to be so. Although there were unbelievable scenes far and in between, you just have to suspend your disbelief and enjoy the movie for what it is - a funny one.

    7 kimchi dishes out of 10.
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  • My Tutor Friend (Hong Kong Version)My Tutor Friend (Hong Kong Version)

    My Tutor Friend (Hong Kong Version) VCD

    Customer Review Rated Bad 8 - 9 out of 10 (20)
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    June 4, 2007 Delightfully sweet Customer Review Rated Bad 10 - 10 out of 10
    Kwon Sang Woo plays Kim Ji Hoon, a transfer student from America who loves to brawl but hates to study. At twenty one, he's still in high school and doesn't seem to be bothered by this. His dad hasn't given up on him though, so he hires a tutor, Choi Su Wan, a junior majoring in English. Ji Hoon makes life miserable for his tutor so the latter will quit. He finds out that Su Wan is not one to give up easily. The two battle head-on wiht neither wanting to be the first to raise the white flag. They tolerated each other's company until Ji Hoon finds himself enjoying Su Wan's company and the latter finds herself thinking about the former. can Su Wan go beyond the level of tutor and be the girlfriend of this guy, a 21-year old high school student?

    I'm making a list of my favorite Korean movies and My Tutor Friend flew right on top of that list. I would say this is Korean romantic comedy at its best. The story between Ji Hoon and Su Wan unfolds perfectly: there was no rush in letting the two fall in love in the middle of the movie, which move would be a downright killjoy; neither was too much time wasted in developing a romance between the two, which move would be a downright bore.

    You're captivated by the antics of the quirky characters but you never will lose sight of the fact that this movie is a love story between the tutor and her student. I was skeptical about the gang bit and I thought the movie could do away with it, but in retrospect, I thought it blended well with the movie. Besides, the fight scenes were quite good, with a few awesome stunts, though I've seen better.

    Anyway, the lead actors. Kwon Sang Woo was close to superb in this movie. The sarcasm and devil-may-care attitude were magnificently delivered that by the time the guy showed his sensitive side, I was blown away. Do I hear sighs in the background? Not to be outdone is Kim Ha Neul who performed equally well. Her character required her to be sassy and demure all at once, a feat she pulled off splendidly.

    10 kimchi dishes out of 10.
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  • Water Boys 2005 Summer (Japan Version)Water Boys 2005 Summer (Japan Version)

    Water Boys 2005 Summer (Japan Version) DVD Region 2

    Customer Review Rated Bad 9 - 9 out of 10 (1)
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    June 2, 2007 Inspiringly fun Customer Review Rated Bad 9 - 9 out of 10
    This Japanese movie talks about five high school students who find themselves the remaining and reluctant members of the Tadano High swim team when their pretty swimming mentor is bent on teaching the team synchronized swimming. There's nothing wrong with synchronized swimming, except for the fact that Tadano High is an all-boys high school. Luck isn't on the side of our heroes when their swim coach bails out on them a few weeks before the school festival where the swim team is supposed to perform. Left with no mentor or prayer, the team backs out from the festival, enduring the taunts of their schoolmates for being a bunch of losers.

    The turning point arrives when Suzuki, the team's leader, watches a dolphin show and is inspired by the animals' graceful movements. He seeks the help of the dolphin trainer and the latter agrees in exchange of the team helping in the sea park's cleaning. Who would have thought that all those cleaning would help them be better swimmers, synchronized at that.

    A media outfit picks on the story, and soon the news that a group of boys from Tadano High are doing a synchronized swimming routine spread like fire. In an instant, our heroes are seen in a new light: no longer losers but cute, awesome high school kids. Soon, every student from Tadano High wants to join the swim team: not just join the team but PARTICIPATE in synchronized swimming.

    The movie was a delight to watch for several reasons. First, you have a simple story told in such a way that the interest of the viewers are held, from the beginning to the end. And that's quite a feat for a movie because usually, some parts of the movie bore the viewers. Not this movie. Never a dull moment. Second, the crude performance of the actors wasn't irritating. In fact, it was even endearing. The acting came off as an anime imitation but the kids did just fine. Third, it's obviously a feel-good movie with a feel-good theme: a bunch of losers suddenly turn to heroes. What is nice about the movie is that it wasn't sappy. The transformation of the character from being unwanted to becoming celebrities was smoothly done without so much hype as is usual with this kind of theme.

    9 sushi dishes out of 10.

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  • ...ing...ing

    ...ing VCD

    Customer Review Rated Bad 9 - 9 out of 10 (10)
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    June 1, 2007 Too many would have beens Customer Review Rated Bad 6 - 6 out of 10
    From the onset, the viewer is given a taste of how close the mother and daughter are, and this is an important foundation of the movie because of a twist towards the end.

    Im SooJeung plays Kang MinAh, a reclusive young lady who knows she's sick but doesn't know EXACTLY how sick because that fact is hidden by her mother, whose only wish is to have MinAh's remaining years lived in happiness. Enter Lee YoungJae, played by Kim RaeWon, a photography student. He befriends MinAh, who is reluctant at first but gives in when YoungJae proves to be relentless in his pursuit of friendship.

    And so the story progresses with YoungJae and MinAh dating. I didn't see any solid scene where I can conclude that the guys are falling in love, except maybe the hospital scene when YoungJae placed on MinAh's deformed hand a ring - and that signalled YoungJae being IN love already. And even that was weak because there weren't previous scenes to back it up. Sure, MinAh was probably attracted to YoungJae, her lines say as much; and YoungJae was extraordinarily sweet and nice to MinAh, but by the time MinAh succumbs to her illness, you're left hanging.

    Now on to that twist I was talking about earlier. I'm not about to spoil the ending for those who weren't able to watch the movie yet, but I'll give my two cent's worth without spoilers. Here goes: the twist kind of muddled the plot a bit, and I found myself replaying scenes in my head as to when YoungJae and the mom could have possibly met. I was left to speculate. I also found myself reasoning with myself that maybe the reason why the scenes between Youngjae and MinAh aren't that solid to establish a romantic set-up is because there would be a twist towards the end. I got more confused rather than being enlightened though.

    I think it would have been better if they showed the meeting between YoungJae and the mom earlier in the movie. the twist would no longer be a surprise as discerning viewers would already know what will happen, but heck, it would have been a million times better and more poignant. Think 10 Things I Hate About You and ...ING's plot would have been illuminating.

    6 kimchi dishes out of 10.

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  • My Little Bride (Hong Kong Version)My Little Bride (Hong Kong Version)

    My Little Bride (Hong Kong Version) VCD

    Customer Review Rated Bad 8 - 8.4 out of 10 (9)
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    1 people found the following helpful

    June 1, 2007 Enjoyably light Customer Review Rated Bad 8 - 8 out of 10
    Setting off on the premise that a 15-year old IS allowed to get married so long as the parents consent, I now therefore proceed with my review of My Little Bride, and put all talks of legality to rest.

    The movie is basically about the love, or hate, story between a 15-year old high school girl who's forced to marry her childhood friend six years her senior to fulfill her sick grandpa's wishes. The fun starts here, both for the actors and the viewers. One gets the feeling that the characters are merely playing house. And that feeling is fuelled by the fact that the actors show a natural closeness. Either that, or they're just really good actors, being able to perfectly deliver just the right amount of fun and closeness on screen.

    Less we forget that the movie belongs to the romcom genre, the romance aspect of the story was not at all underplayed. There were hints of attraction between the characters, which were piled up just right to give an effective heart-tickling ending.

    The simplicity of the movie's conflict is its biggest advantage. What do you do with a 15-year old bride who, well, thinks and acts like a 15-year old? None of those heart-wrenching dramas (thank goodness) which would probably destroy the whole movie; instead, the movie presents a reasonable and realistic conflict that will give you an 'aww,shucks' feeling in the end.

    I think it would have been better if the movie was a narrative, made in such a way as to show the husband's point of view - kind of giving justice to the title MY Little Bride. But narration or no narration, the movie delivered.

    8 kimchi dishes out of 10.
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