영영영영화 볼래요

This stop-motion animation tells the story of Coraline, a girl who discovers a new space in her new home and enters another world through a small secret door. There live an 'Other Mother' and 'Other Father' who look exactly like her real parents, but are much more affectionate than her real parents and welcome Coraline by granting all her wishes. However, she soon discovers that a strange and sinister secret is hidden in that world. While it starts with a colorful and fairy-tale-like atmosphere that makes it enjoyable to watch, as the story progresses, the bizarre and dark atmosphere intensifies, making it a surprisingly scary film. I first saw this film when I was in elementary school, and even back then, setting aside the plot, the atmosphere itself felt incredibly frightening. The appearance of the Other Mother and the button eyes, in particular, seemed quite grotesque to my young self, leaving a lasting impression even after watching it.

The movie I'll be introducing today is "Intimate Strangers." Released in 2018, it stars actors Yoo Hae-jin, Jo Jin-woong, Lee Seo-jin, Yum Jung-ah, Kim Ji-soo, Song Ha-yoon, and Yoon Kyung-ho. The story begins when a group of old friends are having dinner, and one person proposes a game: place your phone on the table and share all incoming calls, texts, and notifications. What started as a simple game takes a turn as each person's secrets, hidden within their phones, are gradually revealed, changing the atmosphere. It's a film that amusingly shows how even those we consider close might have secrets they can't tell anyone. I particularly enjoyed watching how their relationships evolved as the movie progressed, making it easy to get immersed. I went in expecting a simple comedy but was surprised to see such realistic portrayals of relationships and human nature. If you had to reveal all your phone contents, would you be able to?

This is a spy film based on the true story of 'Black Venus,' a covert operation by South Korea's Agency for National Security Planning (ANSP) in the mid-1990s. The movie follows ANSP agent Park Seok-young (codename: Black Venus, played by Hwang Jung-min) who infiltrates North Korea's elite by posing as a businessman to uncover the truth behind their nuclear development. Through meticulous planning and acting, he successfully gains the trust of North Korean External Economy Commission Director Ri Myung-un (played by Lee Sung-min) and is on the verge of succeeding in his mission, even meeting the supreme leader Kim Jong-il. However, ahead of the 1997 South Korean presidential election, he witnesses a political conspiracy where the ANSP leadership in the South colludes with North Korean elites to plan the 'Gunpowder Plot' (a request for provocation along the DMZ) to extend the current regime's power. This revelation triggers a change in Black Venus's psychology, leading to the climax. Rather than flashy action scenes, the film is a well-made movie that builds tension through psychological warfare between the main characters. The final scene, where Park Seok-young and Ri Myung-un look at each other after time has passed, and the gifts they gave each other are shown in close-up, was the best scene for evoking emotion.

After watching the remake starring Ji Chang-wook and Son Ye-jin recently, I hadn't seen the original Scandal when it was released back then. I never thought of watching it because I assumed it was an erotic film, but now that a remake is out, it's available to watch again on Wavve. Would the plot be about people who were played by Madam Jo's scheme? It's not vastly different from the drama, but the ending is slightly altered. Historical dramas always have tragic endings, which made me even less inclined to watch. There are some explicit scenes that might make you hesitant, but overall, I think it's a decent film. Perhaps because it's from the early 2000s, it feels even older than other historical dramas. If you've seen the drama, I think it's worth giving this a watch too.

This is the 1999 sci-fi film [Bicentennial Man], directed by Chris Columbus, who also directed Home Alone and the first two Harry Potter films, and starring Robin Williams. It's a touching film that depicts the 200-year journey of 'Andrew,' a robot who gains human emotions due to an accidental mechanical defect, as he strives to be recognized as human. Overall, it's a calm and straightforward film, so it wasn't a commercial success, and as a result, all follow-up plans were canceled. It's not just a simple sci-fi movie but one that deals with philosophical questions, and it might be a decent watch for those who enjoy humanism or emotional dramas.

This is a crime entertainment film depicting a fierce showdown between Detective Seo Do-cheol, a veteran action detective who relentlessly pursues a case once he's on it, and Jo Tae-oh, an arrogant and self-centered third-generation chaebol. While investigating a mysterious case, Seo Do-cheol senses that Jo Tae-oh, the third-generation heir of a powerful conglomerate, is behind it. A breathtaking confrontation unfolds at a fast pace between Jo Tae-oh, who artfully evades the law with money and power, and the action detective who pursues him relentlessly without compromise. It delivers thrilling action, exhilarating humor, and a cathartic sense of justice that opens up your chest. It's a representative Korean crime entertainment film, highly recommended for those seeking a refreshing vicarious satisfaction from their frustrating daily lives.

This movie depicts the arduous daily life of In-hee, a mother who has lived her entire life sacrificing for her family, enduring her stoic and indifferent doctor husband, her busy daughter and son caught up in their own careers and love lives, and even her mother-in-law suffering from dementia who torments her. To her family, her presence was always a given, something naturally there. Then one day, In-hee feels unwell and goes for a medical check-up, receiving an unexpected terminal diagnosis. Upon learning that their mother has little time left, the family finally realizes how carelessly they've treated her and begins to prepare for their final farewell. The biggest reason to recommend this movie is its overwhelming realism and relatability. The family in the movie isn't a special case; it resembles the reality of our own homes. It's a film that made me deeply reflect on how we take for granted the meals mom makes, the house mom cleans, mom's calls to check in, and live our lives indifferently.

This is a Korean military mystery thriller film directed by Kong Soo-chang, released in 2008. A massacre occurs at GP506, a forward outpost within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), where 20 out of 21 soldiers are killed, and one is found in a comatose state. The military leadership, attempting to cover up the incident, dispatches top investigator Sergeant Major Noh Sung-gyu (Cheon Ho-jin) to secretly conclude the investigation within a limited time. While searching the scene, Sergeant Major Noh discovers the sole survivor among the bodies, Lieutenant Yoo Jeong-woo (Jo Hyun-jae), the platoon leader and son of the Army Chief of Staff. However, Lieutenant Yoo refuses to make a statement and exhibits suspicious behavior, leading Sergeant Major Noh to begin tracing the incident back through the past records (diaries and camcorder footage) of the surviving soldiers. The story features a multitude of human characters, including those involved in the massacre at the GP, an even more closed-off space within the already closed-off military, those trying to bury the incident, those trying to uncover it, and those desperately struggling to survive. It's a well-made horror film that doesn't fall short compared to its predecessor.

The disappointment is growing as much as my expectations. Is it horror? I don't know what to call this movie that's bizarre and throws in comedy. If it's going for horror, just go for horror, this bizarre movie.

This is R-Point, director Kong Soo-chang's debut film. In 1972, towards the end of the Vietnam War. Rescue calls are continuously received from platoon members who went missing at 'Romeo Point' six months prior. A search party of 9, led by Captain Choi Tae-in (Gam Woo-sung), is dispatched to confirm their fate. Upon arrival, the team encounters bizarre phenomena centered around a strange mansion. An unknown French ghost, warnings from American soldiers, and a mysterious Vietnamese woman appear, causing the soldiers to suffer from extreme hallucinations and fear without respite. Eventually, consumed by distrust and madness, the soldiers turn on each other, leading to a tragic cycle of death. Only Sergeant Jang (Oh Tae-kyung), who lost his sight and could no longer see ghosts, survives alone and is rescued by a helicopter. This film, with its realistic military portrayal and unique horror, was a well-made movie, easily ranking among the best Korean horror films.