HopeGlory
Near the galaxy
Irene and Seung Ho was a clickbait
I notice there is little reviews for this movie and I got to say that I fully agree with the first detailed review in support of his views. I am writing this review are to further provide my personal perspectives on how this movie experience went down for me without any spoilers just in case anyone is planning to give it a watch.
Story:
To keep it spoiler-free, I will be giving a more general-vague description of what I felt went wrong with the story-line. The first biggest flaw is definitely the character introduction that doesn't provide adequate backstory for the viewers to understand the relationship and motives between the cast. Perhaps the director assumed he placed enough information later on in the movie so that we could start understanding the point of view but it is like trying to force the viewers into this "speculation-mode" without feeling any concreteness as to whether the director intended the motive to work out like that. There was many side characters that was just "barely existing" and falls under this 2 Dimensional category where they seems unique but doesn't actually have any substance at all. I don't feel the weight of their emotions nor place enough importance of getting to know them even though the actors/actress had done an amazing job in other movies/dramas I have seen from them. As an example, Min Sung Wook and Jo Dal Hwan played really confusing characters.
Second flaws is how messy the story is ordered and the lack of natural progression the viewer would expect. An example I would give is the hit and getting hit theory where there is always a reaction to every action. When one scene happens, naturally the next scene should match the previous scene but this movie skip that whole entire "next scene" and showed us the outcome. As if someone was punched in the face and the next thing you know, they are in the hospital without showing anyone fetching the person to the hospital. The story jumps like that and it doesn't help my viewing experience in building up my emotional attachment to any character. It defeats the purpose of watching a story for their journey.
Third flaws is the reasons as to why the relationship began between both Main Leads. Usually physical attraction is the first trait people would notice and the leads do have that. However, beyond physical attraction is the emotional attachment that is formed from the journey experience by both parties. This department is severely lacking and they can almost be considered as separate entity from what I have seen. They are independent but there is nothing truly holding them together. They are goal-driven and that's very much to it.
Acting/Cast:
Let's just say that they weren't able to fully display what Irene could potentially have acted in a range of emotions. I highly agree with the first reviewer on this as I wished they would show more of her desperation in her acting rather than keeping her neutral all the time. Even the Male lead had those moments so I am wondering why they couldn't replicate it with the female lead. Although the male lead "desperation" part has already weaken severely from the flawed story line, I wasn't bought into the story so the actors couldn't show us their potential at all. Sometimes I just feel like everything is too perfect with how Irene and Seung Ho looked, it made the story less realistic and more of a success fantasy story. They have potential but it wasn't used to the fullest.
Music
Nothing stands out here and the ending credit sung by Irene was alright.
Re-watch value
Only chance I would re watch it is for Irene's visual or to see the beautiful shots they had with the landscape. The burger CFs does make me hungry for one. Double Patty time.
Overall, I gave it 5.5 because 5 star drama usually have very big flaws in directing, story writing and acting in terms of my criteria. It is bearable in that I can still finish the whole movie/drama but I can't say I enjoy the finished product. Sure, there is tidbits which I liked and gave it an extra 0.5 but that is as far as I will go. I usually give 5 star to content I finishes since I would have dropped something if it is already below that 5 star range. My recommendation if you do plan to watch it is to treat it simply as a very lighthearted success story of two individual without needing to think too much about the story itself. Just see the visual and potentially you may like it.
Story:
To keep it spoiler-free, I will be giving a more general-vague description of what I felt went wrong with the story-line. The first biggest flaw is definitely the character introduction that doesn't provide adequate backstory for the viewers to understand the relationship and motives between the cast. Perhaps the director assumed he placed enough information later on in the movie so that we could start understanding the point of view but it is like trying to force the viewers into this "speculation-mode" without feeling any concreteness as to whether the director intended the motive to work out like that. There was many side characters that was just "barely existing" and falls under this 2 Dimensional category where they seems unique but doesn't actually have any substance at all. I don't feel the weight of their emotions nor place enough importance of getting to know them even though the actors/actress had done an amazing job in other movies/dramas I have seen from them. As an example, Min Sung Wook and Jo Dal Hwan played really confusing characters.
Second flaws is how messy the story is ordered and the lack of natural progression the viewer would expect. An example I would give is the hit and getting hit theory where there is always a reaction to every action. When one scene happens, naturally the next scene should match the previous scene but this movie skip that whole entire "next scene" and showed us the outcome. As if someone was punched in the face and the next thing you know, they are in the hospital without showing anyone fetching the person to the hospital. The story jumps like that and it doesn't help my viewing experience in building up my emotional attachment to any character. It defeats the purpose of watching a story for their journey.
Third flaws is the reasons as to why the relationship began between both Main Leads. Usually physical attraction is the first trait people would notice and the leads do have that. However, beyond physical attraction is the emotional attachment that is formed from the journey experience by both parties. This department is severely lacking and they can almost be considered as separate entity from what I have seen. They are independent but there is nothing truly holding them together. They are goal-driven and that's very much to it.
Acting/Cast:
Let's just say that they weren't able to fully display what Irene could potentially have acted in a range of emotions. I highly agree with the first reviewer on this as I wished they would show more of her desperation in her acting rather than keeping her neutral all the time. Even the Male lead had those moments so I am wondering why they couldn't replicate it with the female lead. Although the male lead "desperation" part has already weaken severely from the flawed story line, I wasn't bought into the story so the actors couldn't show us their potential at all. Sometimes I just feel like everything is too perfect with how Irene and Seung Ho looked, it made the story less realistic and more of a success fantasy story. They have potential but it wasn't used to the fullest.
Music
Nothing stands out here and the ending credit sung by Irene was alright.
Re-watch value
Only chance I would re watch it is for Irene's visual or to see the beautiful shots they had with the landscape. The burger CFs does make me hungry for one. Double Patty time.
Overall, I gave it 5.5 because 5 star drama usually have very big flaws in directing, story writing and acting in terms of my criteria. It is bearable in that I can still finish the whole movie/drama but I can't say I enjoy the finished product. Sure, there is tidbits which I liked and gave it an extra 0.5 but that is as far as I will go. I usually give 5 star to content I finishes since I would have dropped something if it is already below that 5 star range. My recommendation if you do plan to watch it is to treat it simply as a very lighthearted success story of two individual without needing to think too much about the story itself. Just see the visual and potentially you may like it.
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