Korean Films List: 2013

Wednesday 25 December 2013

Love, 100°C

Summary

This is a gay film rated 18+. Duration: 21 minutes
A young deaf boy is in love with a male high school friend. One day at a sauna, he impulsively has sex with another male working at the sauna.

My Comments

I think film is very well done and is one of my favourite gay films. In just 21 minutes, it shows how prejudice can make the male leads life difficult in more ways than one. If you like this film you should check out the gay film Just Friends which was filmed by the same director.

Watch On Youtube

Tuesday 24 December 2013

100 Days With Mr Arrogant

Summary

After accidentally kicking a can into a car and dinting it, high school student Ha-young (Ha Ji-Won) flees the scene after being told she owes the cars owner Hyung-Joon $3000. Once she is found, she is then forced into a 100 day slave contract.

My Comments

Ha Ji Won (Ha-Young) also stars in Sex Is Zero.
I'm not a fan of Ha Ji Won's over the top character in this and was very strange to me since this was my first Korean film. I don't recommend this film as anyones first Korean film for this reason.
I think Koreans standard of beauty has changed a lot *cough* Hyung-Joon but I think he was definitely aged well since 2004 when the film was released.

2004

Now

Thank you insert gods name

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Monday 23 December 2013

A Werewolf Boy

Summary

A mother and daughter move to a large house in the country side because of the daughters illness. There they meet a wild boy (Song Joong-ki) living in the shed who is unable to speak and they take him in. First hesitant and untrusting, the daughter keeps her distance from the boy before he slowly becomes part of their family and she teaches him how to be normal.

My Comments

I adore this film. It's a nice and sweet film and the romance is innocent and uncomplicated.
Song Joong-Ki plays the part of a confused, dog-like young boy well. I like the mixture of different genres of Romance, Drama, Sci-Fi and Action and they compliment each other well.

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Ninja Assassin

Summary

After turning his back on becoming the next successor to his clan, a young assassin Raizo (Rain) receives frequent assassination attempts while on the run. Meanwhile after discovering the existence of assassins, Agent Mika Coretti attempts to further understand them before meeting Raizo.

My Comments

This film is rated 18+ (for strong violence and language)

I know this film isn't Korean but I thought I'd include it since it has Rain and Lee Joon (Mblaq) in it. This is a pretty good martial arts action film and received a 'Badass' awards at the MTV awards 2010. If you're planning on watching this, I'd like to warn you that there is gore so expect to see it unlike me who got a bit of a fright in the openning scene.

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Love Phobia

Summary

On her first day at her new school, Ari is wearing a bright yellow rain coat on a sunny day and she tells everyone they mustn't touch her or they'll be cursed. Unworried, Jo Kang falls in love with her and shortly after they become friends, Ari disappears.

10 years later Seung-Woo recieves a call from Ari and he quickly falls deeper in love with her.

My Comments

Kang Hye-Jung (Ari) is one of my favourite actresses (Welcome to Dongmakgol, Herb, Oldboy) though I'm not a huge fan of her in this. The whole cat and mouse plot is annoying though there is an understandable reason behind it. The only thing I really liked about this film was Cho Seung-Woo (Jo Kang) who plays the part of a man determined with love well.

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Saturday 21 December 2013

Save The Green Planet

Summary

Before the lunar eclipse in 7 days, Byung-Gu must kidnap a man who he believes to be an alien in order to stop aliens invading and destroying the planet.

My Comments

This film was like a messed up version of Criminal Minds where the craziness just keeps on going and the police don't do a lot. I had to turn away from the screen a few times because I couldn't bare to watch -slight gore warning- but I thoroughly enjoying it. I think it's a film you either love or hate.. and I loved it. I use to think Shin Ha-Kyun (Byung-Gu) was a cutie. That was before i watched this film

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Tuesday 17 December 2013

He Was Cool

Summary

Ye-Won is a polite, warm hearted girl. One day, she finds a wicked post on the school website and fiercely replies. The next day she recieves a phone call from the sender of the wicked text who is no other but the most feared school bully Eun-Sung. After avoiding him as much as possible, she recieves a text to meet him after school at the front gates. In an attempt to avoid him again, Ye-Won leaps over the school wall only to fall straight onto him accidently kissing him.

My Comments

When I first started watching Korean films I wasn't really into the arrogant, badass characters so when I started watching this film I didn't really like it a whole lot. Saying this, it was one of the first five Korean films i'd watched so i wasn't used to common cliques in Korean films yet. 30 films later I decided to re watch it and my verdict was: it was better. I like the character developent of characters such as Ji Eun-sung more now even though I'm still not a huge fan of the film.

Even though it wasn't in my top 30 films, He Was Cool is one of the most popular Korean Romantic Comedys of all time so i still suggest you give it a try.

Watch On Youtube

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Monday 16 December 2013

Attack On The Pin-Up Boys

Summary

Someone's being going around throwing dung at high school students with big egos from each school around the nation. Now it's their schools turn and three students have put their hands up in attempt to be attacked. It's their hope that they too will be hit with dung, become national stars and be seen as the most attractive.

My Comments

Cast: All of Super Junior plus some random members of other bands you'll have to look out for
Thank you *insert gods name*

Plot: what. the. shit. That's what I thought when I first read the plot. Buuttt It's a funny movie and it's a good film for even though who aren't Super Junior fans.

Watch on Youtube

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Sex Is Zero

Summary

This film is rated 18+
Eun-shik is a sex addicted 26 year old law student in his first year in College. He has fallen for a gorgeous student Eun-Hyo but unfortunately she has also fallen for someone, the popular taken playboy Kim Ji-Won. Watch as Eun-Shik and his desperate friends attempt to get laid while Eun-sik tries to have Eun-Hyo return his feelings .

My Comments

When I think of this film, I usually think of it as the Korean version of American Pie.
Because I watched this film when I first started watching Korean films, i didn't find the film very funny because Korean comedy is quite different than Australian. However when i watched this film the other day I enjoyed it a lot more. Expect slightly crude humour.
The female lead Ha Ji Won also stars in 100 Days With Mr Arrogant

Watch On Youtube

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Looking forward to seeing this film? Leave a comment

The Man From Nowhere

Summary

One night at a nightclub, a dancer at the nightclub Hyo-Jeong steals heroin from another night club employee. Living in the same building, Cha Tae-Sik (Won Bin ♥) runs a pawn shop. He has no friends or associates except for a young girl named So-Mi (Hyo-Jeongs daughter). A few days after stealing the heroine, mafia men come looking for So-Mi's mother knowing she stole the drugs. After not being able to find the drugs, So-Mi and Hyo-Jeong are kidnapped and it is up to Tae-Sik to save them.

My Comments

The film is the 25th top grossing Korean Film of all time and an American remake is going to be made soon. This is one of my favourite Korean films and it has a brilliant fight scene though warning: there is gore.

Won Bin is one of my favourite actors though he hasn't been in a lot of films or dramas.

For The Man From Nowhere, Won Bin received awards for:

Daejong Film Awards - "Best Actor", "Popularity Award"

Korean Film Awards - "Best Actor"

Blue Dragon Film Awards - "Most Popular Stars"
KOFRA Film Awards Ceremony - "Best Actor"

This is a good film for those looking for a serious action drama.

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Interested in watching this film?

She's On Duty

Summary

In order to become close to a mob bosses daughter Nam Sang-Mi, Detective Chun Jae-In goes undercover as a high school student. Quickly Jae-In begins having trouble with the classes, school bullies and Sang-Mi ignores her completely. And on top of that, student No-Young (Gong Yoo) enters the picture and Jae-In finds herself falling in love with him.

Will she be able to complete her mission?

My Comments

In Korea the film was overhyped, people were disappointed and it didn't do well at the box office. However I thought this film was excellent with a mix of action, comedy and romance. I'm also a huge fan of Gong Yoo

(FIlms: Finding Mr Destiny, My Tutor Friend, S Diary. Dramas: Big, Coffee Prince)
The only thing I didn't really like about the film was the female lead Kim Sun Ah who annoys me in most films I seen with her in it.

If you're looking for a light hearted romantic comedy, this is a good film choice for you!