Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017)

The only problem with this movie is it's length. Two hours counting is way too much. Kind of got a bit tiring after a while. The special effects were a problem at the begining, but they got really better after a while. The performances were good as well and the story was touching and emotionaly, especially the brother's story. The guy was a bit too much of a mama's boy, but it wasn't that big of a deal breaker. The action scenes and the costumes, finally were good as well. Lastly, my fav actor, Kyungsoo did well and had good drama scenes. So, 7 out of 10.

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Review (no major spoilers):
The hype is real and well-deserved! This epic adventure is must watch for fantasy fans. The movie explores what happens after the death of a hardworking fireman Kim Ja Hong (Cha Tae Hyun), as he meets three guardians/grim reapers that will guide him through seven trials in hell, as he seeks reincarnation.

What’s wondrous is the two worlds are both equally traversed in the movie, and there are fascinating scenes where we parallel have things happening in the living world that affect hell too. As we travel through mystical hell, the different gods (the cameos are awesome!) judge different aspects of Ja Hong’s humanity, and the mysteries of his life are slowly revealed to us.

I really enjoyed the trio of grim reapers who guided Ja Hong, with Gang Rim (Ha Jung Woo) as the brains, Hae Won Maek (Joo Ji Hoon) as the brawn, and Duk Choon (Kim Hyang Gi) as the heart. The whole cast is so so good! I rarely watch kmovies so it’s a pleasure to discover movie talents like Ha Jung Woo.

Cha Tae Hyun is always solid when he plays the everyman. D.O. never fails to amaze with his performance. Kim Dong Wook (as Su Hong) shone in a multifaceted character. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing more of adorable Kim Hyang Gi in dramas. But Joo Ji Hoon is the most pleasant revelation to me as he carries the movie’s dark humor with his comedic quips and expressions! Someone please cast him in a romcom soon lol.

As k-stories are, underneath all the flair of the CG which is a feast for the eyes, Along with the Gods tackles serious relevant themes that ends with a pinch through the heart as we unveil the unconditional love of a mom for his sons, and the filial love of the sons for their mother, which will make you hug your family closer. There are so many stories not yet explored in this universe like the past of our grim reaper trio. I’m so excited for the reported sequels and spinoffs to come.

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Was it a perfect movie? No. But it was the perfect movie for me. I'm biased here, don't expect any objectivity. I fell in love.

Let's start with my favorite character that bought me completely - Duk Choon. Brave, emphatic, strong, cheerful, driven, just, cute. She was the glue for the group, but also the one that saved the situation more than one time.

I adored how Kim Ja Hong was externally painted as a good man, close to a hero. But internally he was a guilt driven, flawed human being.

The movie explains the main story well, but branches some plot lines, giving the perfect space for the future installments to tackle. After finishing watching I wanted both - to rewatch right away and watch The Last 49 Days.

It's a fun adventure story with some unique characters, great visuals and HUGE HEART. The emotional impact this movie had on me as I was watching it is hard to describe. I stopped counting how many times I cried. I empathize with the message - you don't have to be perfect, you can make mistakes, you can hurt people and still be a good person.

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A masterpiece!

What an awesome film. It touched my heart too.

1. How they split the different part of his life, and in order of importance instead of chronological, that was a brilliant idea. It helped built the foundation of the story, the major message, while at the same time allowed them to insert other lessons along the way.

2. It was also not about the main character, but it also reflected the lesson for the other characters, most especially the senior grim reaper.

3. The CGI is perfect. If the CGI becomes ever more realistic, it would only distract the audience. If it was less, it would make the film cheap. It is important to strike the balance between eye candy and the message of the story. Well done.

4. Choosing to set this story as a film instead of a TV show, or an episodic film, was itself a good decision. Keeping it as a film guaranteed the focus remain true, instead of adding other side stories that can lessen the impact of the story (and even distract the audience).

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Unexpectedly heartwarming with a touch of comedy and a lot of fantasy!

Overall - 9.5/10

It was very adventurous and engaging ride. I enjoyed the movie a lot. It has its tearfully heartwarming and equally heart-wrenching moments, which was paired with suspense and action! The movie is definitely one of my top recommendations for fantasy-action genre movies!

Plot/ Storytelling - 9.5/10

Ja-Hong who lives a diligent life as a filial son and a dependable brother, faces an untimely death as a hero who sacrifices his life for a little girl. Ja-Hong who’s called a paragon in the afterlife is accompanied by three guardians through the trials of hell.

Every part was interesting and insightful. The different hells revealed a new aspect of Ja-Hong’s life and with each trial proving his honour more. There were moments of suspense where you’d be on the edge of your seat unsure about Ja-Hong’s fate. Other times you’d shed a tear or two out of fuzziness created by the heartwarming scenes.

The characters felt well developed, each having their own uniqueness and their own part to play in Ja-Hong’s journey. It was interesting to see the humanness of the guardians and how they too had their own motives and selfish desires. The portrayal of reincarnation as something that had to be earned rather than someone’s inherent right, was interesting. The fact that hell’s trials were much similar to ones on earth and that injustice can happen even in the afterlife was fascinating and it added to the tension.

The sub-plot of Soo-Hong’s story was heart-wrenching and enraging but it opened a lot of potential for a second movie. Soo-Hong’s character was also dynamic and had much depth. The action scenes between Soo-Hong and Gang-Lim added more spice and coolness to the movie.

Cast/ Acting - 10/10

You just simply can’t expect Cha Tae-Hyun to play a role without a flair of comedy added. His slight clumsiness and laughable expressions made it even more interesting and enjoyable.

The cast is just saturated with A-Listers. You can really see the eliteness these veteran actors bring. Every character even the minor roles had uniqueness and was interesting.

Music/ Sound - 9/10

I, personally, don’t pay much attention to background music and sound. I’d notice if it was bad but not so much if it went smoothly. I wouldn’t say there was anything particularly catching or phenomenal about the music or sounds. But it didn’t interfere with the story. The sounds and music did well in supporting the scenes and helping to bring forward their expected potential.

Rewatch Value - 9/10

It’s definitely a movie that’ll be as enjoyable the second time watching as it was the first. It’ll be a movie that’ll be revisited many times.

thanks for reading! hehe <3

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Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds is just a fun ride. If you are looking for a good movie to entertain you for 2 hours, CHOOSE THIS ONE. I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. I came into the movie thinking it would be good given all the press and hype that it has gotten. What I didn't expect was how EPIC and large scale it was. I LOVED this movie way more than I expected too.

FIRST OFF, THE CGI IN THIS MOVIE WAS AMAZING! It really just immerses the viewers in the story and the atmosphere of the movie. This movie would have been amazing to see in theaters. The opening scene even grabs you with how fast paced and beautiful it is.

The story was also highly entertaining and was action packed. The action scenes in this movie were beautifully choreographed and there was some funny dialogue thrown it during a fight scene. The story was magical and highly creative. Also the story seemed epic due to the music behind it. The music swelled and announced the action and was emotional during the emotion producing scenes. Some of the things in the story I predicted would happen but I still loved the story even though I knew what was going to happen. ALSO BE WARNED, you WILL cry during this movie. I cried so bad at a very emotional and sweet scene.

The acting overall in this movie was great but I do have to admit it was sometimes over the top and I cringed a bit but only at a few lines and one scene. I also will say some of the choices that the fireman made during the movie had me yelling at the TV because of how stupid he was sometimes but who can blame him with some of the choices, he is going through a lot in the movie. Overall, I think the actors chosen for the various characters showed range and growth. For me, I had only seen the Fireman in comedic roles and this was my first time seeing D.O. act and I was blown away by both of their performances in this movie. I was not expecting how good they were. My favorite Character was the female Deok Choon. Having her along sort of humanized everyone and I couldn't stop myself from smiling everytime she was on the screen.

The ending was so action packed and emotional and had some really good lessons. I will say this movie overall has some good lessons for people and how they should live their lives. The ending made me feel a billion emotions in 5 mins. It is hard to pick a favorite part for me in this movie because of the epicness that it was. It was just so creative but I would have to say the ending is up there because I was emotionally touched by it, I mean I did say I cried. Overall though You are in for a wild ride all the way through the movie between the amazing CGI, storyline, twists and turns and the emotional music and ending, you will never forget this movie and want to watch it over and over again

The only things I will say that I disliked about this movie is I sort of wish this movie wasn't done in 2 parts, let alone had a sequel at all! We all know that second movies might disappoint the viewers because it didn't live up to the first movie and I really hope that is not the case here. This movie does set up for the second movie well but at the same time I felt it was sort of a cop out on how the writers did it. I understand why the writers went the route that they did but going the route they did go, I couldn't help and think that they cheated a bit. I don't want to give anything away so I won't say any more. I am just curious about how the second movie will be received and if it can live up to the first one.

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I laughed and I cried buckets. What a fantastic, fantastic movie. The action was great, the CGI top notch and the story... wow, so touching and with so many twists and turns. Loved it.

Also, Hae Won Maek must be Joo Ji Hoon's funniest part yet, hands down. His endless complains and acerbic mutterings were a hoot!

Who really stole the show, despite having "only" a supporting part, was Kim Dong Wook as Kim Soo Hong. The scene where Soo Hong talked to his mom and explained to her all that happened, Kim Dong Wook was absolutely marvelous in it. It was his performance that moved me to tears.

I truly, honestly loved this movie. It's available on Netflix.

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Trial By Afterlife °7.2° °good°

It opens at the close, for our ML, a fireman who dies while heroically saving a girl's life. The next thing he knows, he's walking toward the Gate of the Afterlife, where he can be reincarnated after completing seven trials: betrayal, violence, filial piety, murder, indolence, deceit, and injustice.

AwtG2W, a 2017 239-minute release that is rated 86 on AWiki, is about these trials in conjunction with static from the living world as his family's drama continues to play out. It's a review of the hard decisions he had to make in his life, and it's quite moving, in spots. Along with his two grim reapers guides he barely escapes a couple of the trials. Quick thinking, and a look at things from another angle keep him from sinking to the bottom. (‘All you cared about was money? You are guilty!’ ‘Wait, he only cared about money because he had to provide for his mother and brother!’ ‘Not guilty, then.’)

The acting is seamless. Cha Tae-Hyun (Narco-Saints, Assassination,1987: When the Day Comes) is the lead, Kim Ja-Hong. Cha Tae Hyun (Team Bulldog: Off-duty Investigation, Moving) plays Kim Ja Hong. The somber Ju Ji Hoon (Kingdom-8.3, Blood Free-8.5, Team Bulldog: Off-duty Investigation) is Hae Won Maek. Kim Hyang Gi (Innocent Witness, Salon De Nabi) is Duk Choon. The Screenwriter & Director is Kim Yong Hwa (200 Pounds Beauty-6.5, The Moon).

The special effects are excellent (they are almost overdone) and the sets are beautiful. The Gate of the Afterlife scene is jammed with extras, creating a sprawling feel. The chase scenes are mad-good. There are no flaws. Despite its strengths, AwtG2W does not take our spirits and emotions along for the full ride. I liked this film quite a bit, but I didn't /love/ it. It's a fantasy thriller - a big budget one, and it's visually spectacular. At the same time, it is a simple tale of afterlife excitement with the message to not give up. Per Wiki, it is based on the webtoon series by Joo Ho-min & inspired by Joseon dynasty Buddhist paintings and early Buddhist texts of the Ten Kings of Hell.

Maybe it won't put your emotions through a trial, but it isn't dumbed-down in the least, either. “A sin that has been forgiven in the real world will not be judged in the afterlife,” one judge says. Would that were true. Work on forgiveness. I find that I cannot forgive without divine assistance, but the release of anger and hatred does enhance peace. It is something we can all work on to make the world less of a hell. AwtG2W has the right combination of fun, excitement, and depth to make it a good weekend watch for a family with teens&older as it reinforces the best ideals. None of us wants to be found guilty of betrayal, violence, filial impiety, murder, indolence, deceit, and injustice, afterall, do we?



〰 QUOTE 〰

Can we think about it while we run?

〰 IMHO 〰

RATINGS
Directing 7
Writing 6.5
Acting 7.7
Art 8.4
Sound & music 6
Ending 8 and it continues….

LEVELS
Warmth 5
Action/ Excitement 7.8
Laughs 2
Tears 6
Fright 4
Tension/Anxiety 3
Gore 2
Thought provocation 4
Snores 0

Re-watch? Down the road… maybe


Age 14+ Language: scattered R-rated - $h!+ × 3, B@$+@rd, F? × 2, Pr!(k, Pu$$y

In order of ~lite&trite~ to ~heavy&serious~ you may also like:

Modern Day:
Mad For Each Other 7.8 ~silly fun;
My Secret Romance 7 (if you ff thru overdone flashbacks);
A Witch's Love 7.8;
Love to Hate You 8.9;
Her Private Life 8;
Touch your heart 8.2;
Romance is a bonus book 7.9;
Boys Over Flowers 8 ~ melodrama to the max;
Crash Landing On You 9.1;
Oh My Ghost 10;
It's Okay Not To Be Okay 9;
Love Struck in the City 7.3;
Hospital Playlist 9;
My Mister 9.5;
More Than Friends 8;
I'll See You When the Weather is Fine 9;
Something in the Rain 9

Historical/Period:
My Only Love Song 8.7 ~ excellent comedy;
Live Up To Your Name 7.6;
Mr. Queen 8.5;
My Sassy Girl / Yeopgijeogin Geunyeo 8.5;
Saimdang 8.5;
The King's Affection 8.3;
Mr. Sunshine 9

Try a Chinese historical fantasy romcom: The Romance of Tiger and Rose 9.8

Action/Sci-fi/fantasy:
K2 8;
Private Lives 8.1;
Sisyphus 8;
Tunnel 8.1;
Signal 8.6;
Black 9;
Squid Game 8.4;
Kingdom 8.3;
Sweet Home 8.4

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man in the mirror

overall this film is very enjoyable, and one of the better Korean films I've watched over the past 3 years. I felt I enjoyed at least half of the amount of special effects in the film. I especially enjoyed Ha Jung-woo's performance, and most of the other actors' performances are enjoyable, too.

the film begs for the audience's empathy, emotion, and attention as we, the audience, immerse ourselves with the characters, and the development of the stories.

it took me probably somewhere from the 2nd to the 4th part of the hell journey before I began to appreciate the film. there are weaker moments through the film, and at times they felt dragging or boring, but I can understand that it was not an easy film to make and story to weave. I think there are some nice moral and philosophical values in the film, too. and surprisingly, I would love to re-watch the film again some day. and that is saying a lot, because I re-watch only rarely.

i don't feel the story or theme in this film is original. in part i am slightly reminded by Dante's Inferno, and in part by numerous other older films that dwell on life after death and trials/tribulations. however, the retelling of such themes and the unique presentation in this film is partially what made it kind of unique.

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Your life choices determine your future

A movie with so many things: drama, mystery, cool action, and mythological fantasy. It also has some comedy which I truly appreciate because it makes the movie easier to watch.

The philosophy behind it is so meaningful. You can learn to be a better human by watching it. The whole universe was created with good craftsmanship. The visuals are fantastic!

I loved watching the grim reapers helping the "paragon" find his way through the afterlife and also helping him evolve even after his death. The accent is put on the life of a family after one of the brothers dies and even if he has a noble soul, he still have to pass through 7 trials corresponding to human sins. He had a complicated life just like any of us, and that's why this story is also relatable.

I also loved the relationship between Won Maek and Duk Choon, cause they reminded me of a big brother-little sister relationship. Even if Duk Choon is the youngest, I find her character to be a wise one. The actors did an amazing job portraying the dark, yet guiding aura of the grim reapers.

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Unexpectedly Entertaining

When giving series/movie a first watch, I don't really dive into who the actors/actresses are. So seeing Cha Tae Hyun as a main was a nice surprise. He has the perfect expressions for comedy-dramas, my favorite blend of genres.

The movie doesn't have the most complex or intricate plot but it has enough of an unpredictable essence that will keep you on your toes. Why was it unexpectedly entertaining? Because I do have a slight bias toward movies that lean too far into animated work as they tend to be poorly implemented and have even poorer dialogues. If you can stomach a few less than average actions scenes, this one was actually done pretty well. And although Cha Tae Hyun's story is a pretty basic tearjerker, it is one of those that will still jerk those tears. So if you looking for an easy watch with likeable characters that will also have you laughing out loud, definitely recommend. I'm looking forward to watching the sequel.

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