Pethushka

I had a lot of great moments with Athena, but unfortunately also a few boring ones. It drags quite a bit in places, the endings of the episodes are not suspenseful enough to make you want to see the next one immediately. Some people praise the fact that there was less romance, I would have liked more of it. Then maybe it would have gotten a stronger story and the action aspect would suddenly have become more meaningful. The cast is fantastic though. I really fell in love with Seung-won Cha here, and I'm convinced of Soo-ae's qualities once again. Woo-seong Jeong shone everywhere else a little more than he does here, but that would be because it wasn't a role "for him". I was also pleased with the rest of the supporting cast. Of these, I must mention So-yeon Kim as our beloved Kim Sun Hwa and Choi Si-won, who moved me more than once. Comparisons to IRIS have been offered, but I can't compare it. The entire time I was watching IRIS I was living it. Athena "just" made my evenings more enjoyable. That makes it sound like I didn't like it, but that's not true at all. IRIS just set the bar awfully high, and for that alone I can't give Athena full marks. I also have to mention the very good music. 4 stars.

This is how I imagine a great romantic comedy these days! It's got a concept, a very likable couple that's nice to look at, and it's funny without being forced. It's got a clear direction from the start, doesn't bore you with the stories of the supporting characters, and doesn't drag anything out unnecessarily. No extra big drama anywhere, you just get exactly what you wanted. A nice surprise, 5 stars.

JSA is a huge movie for me with a heartwarming story. The investigation itself may not be that interesting, but it gives it a beginning, middle, and end. Much more interesting is the gradual unravelling of the past, with the occasional laugh. It was so nice that I almost forgot the tragedy that preceded it. In this case, I’m not holding back at all and just giving it my highest rating.

The leads are very likable, but their story is pretty lame. Yes, there are some nice scenes, set to nice music, but it lacks charm of a romantic or other variety. I kept waiting for something to happen, but nothing great did. It's like a cute song that's nice to listen to but lacks a chorus. Maybe one day I'll feel differently about it. For now, though, it's not a film that particularly enchanted me. 3 stars.

I loved the determination from beginning to end. The main character doesn't say much, but his looks and actions speak volumes. Bin Won was definitely a great choice for the role. This (un)rewarding subject has once again fallen into good hands. 5 stars.

I was beginning to think that I've somehow had too much luck with Korean movies lately. But here's where I've stumbled. I rather liked the beginning, except it then starts going off in all directions and confusion ensues. The second half wasn't very nice to watch. It was boring at times, often disgusting. Somehow I pushed through to the end, but I don't think I'll watch it again. A very weak 3 stars.

These two were simply looking for each other until they found each other. I don't know the last time I had so much fun with a Korean movie. The beginning was cute, I almost burst out laughing at Jung-In's nagging, and the neighbor was a nice plot twist. The plot is slightly predictable, but in this case I didn't mind it at all. Better than I expected... 4.5 stars.

In my opinion, this is one of the best Korean movies. I’m sure this gem will make me cry just as surely as A Moment to Remember makes me collapse in sobs. It starts innocently enough, but the last third is emotionally very challenging. The leads are among my top favorites, so I'm beyond satisfied on that front as well. And the combination of their beautiful smiles with the tears in their eyes... 5 stars.

Perfect, perfect, perfect! Exactly the kind of movie I love. I had no idea how they were going to combine romance with horror, but they managed to make it a great comedy and a light drama at times as well. And so they got a movie out of it I couldn't tear myself away from. And now I'm going to write that timeworn line a few times, Ye-jin Son is an amazing actress! And the boy was a very good choice. I have no issues... 5 stars.

This movie has two huge aces. The first is a great actress, Soo-ae, who was perfect for the role, and the second is a beautiful story. It's natural, believable, and moving without being forced. One of those films that leaves something in you. It's not just the love between a man and a woman that can move deeply. 4.5 stars.