Things that I liked:
- Both the actors were able to convey there feelings not only towards each other, but to the viewers as well(especially towards me lol)
- The music used for this movie was perfect and added into the emotions produced by the actors/actresses
Things that i hated:
- Some of the parts in this love story was predictable(You know whats going to happen next T.T)
Still, this movie fails to amaze me in the way the actors were able to convey there feelings. I thought that this movie was great and I would definitely recommend this to anyone that's a fan of Korean/Japanese Romance Films ^.^
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Although Lee Jun Ki and Aoi Miyazaki (a favorite korean actor and japanese actress of mine) were the main characters it still didn't make into my MUST watch and recommended movies.
The story was more in the line of innocent love, or love at first sight and has many sweet moments. A girl would love to be treated like how Jun Ki treated Aoi here. It was just so sweet... but then again the character build up was slow (although amazingly it doesn't have TOO many draggy moments as i have expected it to be) and the whole story lacked a bit more heart clenching moments as it should have.
The music was well done as both Japanese and Korean musicians incorporated their scores through out the film, it had a great outcome. It's one of the things that perked me up in this movie. Then add the cinematography in it, the movie simple became more than bearable. The colorful views and touches in clothes, back drops and even the things that they hold... it was pure pleasure to watch. Seeing Korea and Japan in one movie is simply adorable.
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The ONLY aspect of this movie I liked is Lee Jun Ki and his acting as the male lead 'Kim Min'. He did some good acting there as a Korean guy isolated in Japan, coping with the language barrier. But I didn't like Aoi Miyazaki as the female lead 'Sasaki Nanae'. She looked like a kid there, and she and Lee Jun Ki didn't look much good together. I won't say her acting was anything great either. She pulled it off somehow.
I don't remember the music though I watched it just today afternoon. I think the soundtracks were just fine and suited with the scenes in which they were played. Nothing special or worth listening to by downloading the OST. At least I won't.
If you are looking for a TYPICAL love story, you may watch this movie. But if you are looking for something unique, I don't think you'll enjoy it much.
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This review may contain spoilers
A Jewel of a movie that should stand the test of TIME!
I saw this movie shortly after starting to watch Asian movies; unfortunately, even though the other movies I watched [after my introduction with My Little Bride (2004)] were quality films worth watching, they all ended tragically and I was about to quit watching ANY Asian movies at this point!Fortunately, I came across this little jewel of a film, and it restored my faith in Shakespeare having moved from the West to the East after WW II.
I loved the music, especially since I didn't pay that much attention to music at the time; I find out later that it was a combination of Japanese and Korean music incorporated in the film!
The cinematography was excellent, with scenes from many parks, shrines and such incorporated into the movie (places where a young man would naturally take his lovely girl on a date) to the extent of making the entire movie pleasing to the eyes between the close-up action, which those scenes were good as well.
Kim Min (Lee Joon Gi) leaves his grandmother in Korea and joins his pottery-teaching father (Jo Sun Mook) in Kyoto, where he continues his mandatory elementary education. His father teaches pottery but Kim Min wants nothing to do with handling 'poop' as he calls the clay, or learning Japanese and spends his time bicycling around town.
However, a stop at a temple causes him to change his mind about wanting to learning Japanese, as he sees a lovely girl Sasaki Nanae (Miyazaki Aoi) at a temple, in temple dress.
His attitude toward clay and pottery also changes as he finds out that this lovely girl spends time in pottery shops, admiring the work of potters. He quickly asks his father to teach him how to make porcelain out of the 'poop'. His still young, rash personality and lack of patience at this point with the clay leads to his slow learning of pottery-making but he finally starts to learn self-discipline and finally makes Nanae a small piece of porcelain, with a promise for a larger one to follow.
(It is a MIRACLE how females can cause boys to 'grow up' in life and change their attitude about things!)
The film also had some funny moments such as when Min's father senses that he had a crush on a Japanese girl and buys him a Japanese language book; actually, in most scenes with his movie father, they seemed to get along quite well in their relationship.
Also funny was the beginning relationship between Min and a bicycle-riding monk (Matsuo Satoru), whose later help aided Min in finding his lost girl.
The main cast did an excellent job overcoming the language barrier, teaching each other the words for common objects and were able to convince me that they were actually a couple in love throughout the movie, and the main reason I almost quit watching it due to the fact I thought it was going to turn out to be another sad Asian ending.
The support cast also did a great job, from a Korean girl in his class to a adversary turned friend (Shioya Shun); all of them helped support the story around the two main leads, making it seem more real.
My main dislike of the movie was Nanae's mother and her problem; but again, something had to happen to cause the couple's separation.
Another dislike was that the relationship was rushed some; a mere 15 to 20 minutes more would have made the movie better, in my opinion...but it still was a good movie!
The difference between a good movie and a GREAT movie is a director/cast/editor being able to make an audience member 'forget' that they are watching a movie, and by the time I came to Nanae leaving Min I had actually forgotten that this was just a movie!
I started believing "They are not going to get together again", as they kept missing each other by minutes; however, Min's grandmother saved the day by returning what she thought was a present for her, given to Min by Nanae the last time he saw her.
You can watch the movie, available for free online, if you want any more details.
Also, if you guys are in the 'doghouse' for forgetting your girlfriend's birthday, wife's anniversary, etc., watch this with her and show her that you are worth keeping around still; she will likely keep you for it!
RE-WATCH VALUE: Definitely!
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