Kmovie Review : Haru - An Extraordinary Day in Korea (2010)

Tourism marketing is getting more and more inventive as time goes on. Forget those 2 minute TV ads starring sun tanned models, with odd slogans 'Where the bloody hell are you'. Tourism campaigns are getting more creative, slicker and BIGGER - think Tourism Australia inviting Oprah and her audience for 'The Ultimate Outback Adventure'. That campaign was mammoth - generating huge buzz world wide. I wonder how Tourism Australia plans to top that one.

Korea 'thought outside of the box' and took a unique approach to promoting tourism - by making a Movie. Well a short movie to be exact, the film is 30 minutes. Who should star in this tourism film? The next generation of Hallyu stars, including Kim Bum, U-Kiss, Big Bang, Han Chae Young.

It is an interesting concept for tourism. Hallyu stars - 'Korean wave' are highly popular worldwide, it is ideal for them to star in this film to promote Korean tourism.

The film starts off with a huge bang, literally - a man is running away from missiles shot out of a plan... Not what you would expect for a tourism film. It left me completely puzzled.

The film then bounces around to different scenes with different actors. We see Kim Bum on the train flirting with a girl; Han Chae Young as a secret agent; Big Bang on a playground. It feels like someone randomly put a romcom, an action and a drama movie in to a blender and ended up with a big old mess.

It's all over the place, it felt like a tourism advert that was 28 minutes too long. It did not showcase Korea. The whole time we see the actors smile and smile somem more. The whole time during the movie I was thinking, what am I watching? There'z no storyline, so it's not a film. They aren't promoting anything, it's not an ad. I have no idea what it is.

The film seems to be aimed for young teen girls, they will sure enjoy staring at their idols in this film. All the actors look good in this film.

I was underwhelmed watching this film, the film didn't meet its aim in promoting Korea tourism.

Movie Review - Love for Life 2011

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Love for Life 2011 Cmovie review by CherriiPOP



This is an emotional drama starring Ziyi Zhang and Aaron Kwok. This film is a love story between 2 people with HIV. They try to value to the very little time they have left together.

It explores some really tough issues in society. A very deep film.

KMovie Review - Man From Nowhere (2010), Starring Won Bin

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KMovie Review - The Man from nowhere 2010 by CherriiPOP



Korea is making a HUGE mark in the film industry, producing many brilliant, original and exciting films. The first film i’m going to review is - ‘The man from nowhere’ starring Korean heartthrob Won Bin. This movie was Korea’s highest grossing film last year. It has won numerous awards including: Best Actor, Best Movie at the Korean Film Awards, Grand Bell Awards to name a few.

It was about time that I check out this movie. Won Bin plays a Cha Tae-sik, a mysterious pawn shop owner disconnected from the world. So-mee a young school girl sees Cha Tae-sik as her only friend. She likes to talk to him a lot, even though he is a man with few words. She hides out at his place when her mum’s boyfriend is around. On the surface Cha Tae-sik appears to be a cold person, So-mee brings out a softer side in him and makes him care again.

So-mee’s mother steals drugs from the mob and stashes it in a camera bag and pawned it at Cha Tae-sik’s pawn shop. The mob got very angry and kidnaps So-Mee and her mother. Soon they go after Tae-sik for the drugs. Tae-sik hands over the drugs in exchange for So-Mee and her mother. The mob has other plans for Tae-sik. Tae-Sik complies and finds out that the mob set him up. Now the mob and the cops are after him. We soon learn about Tae-Sik’s shady and deadly past. All hell breaks loose in his quest to save So-Mee and her mother from the mob.

I found myself glued to the screen while watching it! I was on the edge of my seat hoping that Tae-sik would find and save So-mee. There are a few disturbing scenes because the mob are in the organ harvesting trade - it’s not too graphic but it is still disturbing. I have to say this is an incredibly violent film. I think it is the most violent film I have.

Won Bin really impressed me in this film, especially in the fight scenes. The fight scenes were so rough, so realistic. It looked like they were getting badly hurt.

In moments when his character was feeling vulnerable, you really feel for him. It’s really easy for you to feel disconnected from a character that is so dark and has little to say, but Won Bin made his character likable for the audience. The dynamic between Won Bin and the young actress that played So-Mee, Kim Sae-ron, was really moving. They are 2 lost and lonely people that needed someone to care about them. So-mee saw Tae-sik has her father.

This is Won Bin's best performance to date. After starring in the Korean Hit Drama Series 'Autumn Love story', Won bin was cast in many leading men roles in romantic dramas and movies. Whilst his stardom was sky high, he had to take a break from his career to complete his compulsory military service.

When he was discharged in 2006, Won Bin wanted to depart from his heart throb image by taking on more challenging roles. He has been more selective of the roles he plays: since 2006 he has just starred in 2 movies: Mother (2009), Man From Nowhere (2010).

It was really interesting to watch Won Bin play such an intense, dark and complex person. He really owned this role. He has definitely shed the romantic comedy leading man label.

I was fascinated to find out that his role was originally written as a 60 year old man. After Won Bin read the script, he fought hard for the part. The script was re-adjusted to fit his age and physical ability.

I highly recommend this film to all action fans. And, I can’t wait to see what Won Bin does next. 5/5 stars