My reviews

3 message(s)
Page	Message	Date
To Sir, With Love	Korean horror movies are taking break from haunting-spirit-possessed-unanimated-object or long-haired-ghost. Instead, in To Sir, With Love (TSWL), director I'm Dae-wuong is revisited the 80's slasher intact with the very formula. Throw in some contemporary Korean thrill and drama, TSWL is surely to entertain and trust me, this nothing to do with Sidney Poitier's classic. The story revolves around some twenty something people, groups for a reunion with their former teacher in a small countryside cottage. Most of the student obviously has a serious grudge against their teacher who's now is wheel-chair bound. As the event continues, the grudge slowly unfolded, even the teacher seems doesn't remember. When the night comes, someone wearing a paper cut rabbit mask start making bloody carnage, one by one, in a grisly body count. Anyway, you know the drill! If you watch a lot of horror movies, you will easily constructing the plot and even though there are hint of Jason Voorhees-like tale, where the teacher keeps his deformed child in the basement, you still able to figure out the killer is and it's including the twist the end. Therein lies the problem with TSWL. The genuine story does never exist while some genuine scares are building well enough. Yes, the positive aspects are TSWL succeed in build the tension with some interesting set-ups. The gore it self is nicely done. Somehow we expect it just could be much better. The last Korean slasher I watched is 'Bloody Beach', which is fairly good. But it years ago. Now, comes the match, TSWL. Despite the flaws, TSWL is definitely worth to watch, especially if you fans of Korean Horror. After some tired Sadako's clone invading the Korean cinema-scene, it's time for something new.	2006-10-06 23:12:22
Arang	Based on Korean folk tales, Arang is the latest variation in the tradition of long-haired-ghost that long plaguing Korean movies. Add some detective routine, Arang try it best being different, alas still fence in the very same old formula. A veteran female detective with troubled past, So-young (Song Yoon-ah, Face), is investigating a series of homicide case. Assisted by a rookie cop, Hyun-gi (Lee Dong-wook), they try their best to reveal the killer. Soon they found that every victim is received email from the same sender before they died. They track the email from a website called 'Min-jung's Salt Storehouse'. As the plot progress and some appearing of a Kayako clone, the truth comes as over-the-top as a sappy Korean melodrama. Yes, the director Ahn Sang-hoon, try to differ his works from the others Korean Horror with an attempt with a-whodunit-mystery. But, he seems neglecting to throw out the elements that now being the very lame formula for Asian horror. So, even the investigation routine somewhat interesting, the keep appearing of the ghost is irritating. He should try with more original effort or stick to the tale instead, rather than make Arang into another trashy horror movie. I would not say Arang doesn't entertaining, because it does. But, it's not enough to be a fine watch, because it somewhat fail for satisfying either horror or thriller. If only it restraint to one objective and had more proper set-up and decent ending, I believe Arang will delivers.	2006-10-06 23:00:31
A.P.T	Ahn Byeong-ki, the person who's brought us Nightmare, Phone and Bunshinsaba, is back in 2006 with A.P.T. Based on a comic by Gangfull, Mr. Ahn's A.P.T. is still rely on his previous effort and trick. Sejin (Ko So-young) is a new tenant in an old apartment in a Seoul suburb. She befriend with a wheel-chair bound girl, Yu-yeon (Jang Hee-jin), an orphan who's take care by neighborhood volunteers. Sejin has a unique hobby, observing the apartment units on the other side. One day, she notice something, these apartments are turn off their light at the very same time, exactly on 9:56 PM. Next thing happen is someone is found dead. This thing keeps happening and Sejin start to suspect something weird is occurring. And then she' decide to start an investigation. It seems Mr. Ahn still believe with the power of the long-haired-ghost, while nowadays it's kind of tired. We need a breath of new tale into the horror genre, especially the Asian Horror. But by watching this movie, I think Mr. Ahn is not that kind of innovative person. The movie is also full with routines that this genre be familiar with. Nothing new here. The good point is A.P.T. is more enjoyable than Bunshinsaba or even Phone. But due the release time, it's not appealing anymore. It says that Ko So-young is a 4 year absent before return to movie scene with A.P.T. Alas, she more like a clone of Ha Ji-won (Nightmare, Phone) rather than a solid performance, while the débutant Jang Hee-jin, who's stunningly beautiful, is also act well. So if you still fond by this kind of movie, A.P.T. could still amuse. But if you need something new or different, you better skip this.	2006-10-02 05:58:44