Melania Cruz
Manila
“Winner!”
Synopsis: A story about cash-strapped contestants competing in children’s games with only 2 outcomes - either $38M in cash or death in a flash.
If you’re browsing audience reviews to decide whether or not to watch this Netflix exclusive then my quick answer is, “Yes, go for it!” If you want to know the reasons why then read on:
1. Ranked # 1 in the list of Netflix’s most popular shows in 90 countries.
2. Insane plot initially conceptualized in 2008 but rejected several times for more than a decade eventually turning into a worldwide phenomenon, is enough to stir up anybody’s curiosity.
3. Brilliant multitasker Hwang Dong Hyuk was both the writer and director so nothing was “lost in translation”, enabling the storyline to be directly translated into actions and emotions just as it had been intended by the original storyteller.
4. Superb acting all around, from the lead characters to the supporting cast, even the cameo roles. It did not matter whether they are seasoned actors or rookies, superstars or not so well-known. Their acting talents were all at par. Their competencies were same level. And just how impressive were they? Well for one, Ho Yeon Jung, a first-time actress with a following of 400K on Instagram pre-Squid Game era is currently the most followed Korean actress with 23.7M followers, and counting! If her acting was lackluster or lame then these 23 million new fans of hers wouldn’t have clicked “Follow” on social media. *Note: There is an exception to this praiseworthy acting group which is explained below.
5. Captivating set design and enthralling art direction with minimal use of CGI for a more realistic and riveting effect.
6. Gruesome, grotesque and gory scenes are not really my thing but somehow the treatment of these scenes was done in a creatively tricky and insidious way so they did not make me shut my eyes in fear nor give me nightmares at night.
7. Bizarre oxymoron with the most extreme contradictions. How can seemingly harmless children’s games be played with blatantly harmful results? How can an innocent looking doll cause carnage or a whimsical playground transform into a bloodbath? Quite disturbing, nonetheless, impactful.
8. Genius musical score using familiar classical music to tone down the shock factor. Instead of hearing suspenseful tones as a warning that something dreadful is about to happen you hear soothingly nostalgic melodies such as “Fly Me To The Moon”. Weird, but somehow it worked brilliantly.
9. Not annoyingly commercialized with no glaring product placements nor subliminal endorsements. Even the actors’ length of screen time was not exploitative. Those in the superstar level like Gong Yoo and Lee Byung Hun had minimum exposure, while neophytes Ho Yeon Jung and Anupam Tripathi were highly visible. The creators did not have to heavily rely on A-listers to gain widespread popularity.
10. In spite it being a purely Korean presentation there were ironically no communication and cultural barriers which brought about its global appeal. It vividly showcased how human frailties and imperfections bear no nationality.
Now for the constructive criticisms:
1. Illogical instances when the players were demanding the guards to implement fairness and show compassion such as allowing them to use the toilet during bedtime or stopping contestants embroiled in a fist fight. How can they expect civility and morality in a place where wanton killings were casually occurring on a daily basis?
2. VIPs’ contrived dialogues; the fake and forced delivery of their lines made me cringe and wonder if the reason why they were wearing elaborate masks was to hide their identities with all that shameful acting. The otherwise meticulous Korean director should have hired English speaking advisers who could have provided him with feedback as to how unnatural the foreign actors sounded.
3. Unrealistic ending where the protagonist suddenly became pious and honorable after a lifetime of wayward and contemptible behavior. After all the trouble (and near-death experiences) he went through, he decides not to savor his reward. Spending $10 out of a $38M jackpot did not make absolute sense!
Final verdict: 10 positives versus 3 negatives is still a WIN.
If you’re browsing audience reviews to decide whether or not to watch this Netflix exclusive then my quick answer is, “Yes, go for it!” If you want to know the reasons why then read on:
1. Ranked # 1 in the list of Netflix’s most popular shows in 90 countries.
2. Insane plot initially conceptualized in 2008 but rejected several times for more than a decade eventually turning into a worldwide phenomenon, is enough to stir up anybody’s curiosity.
3. Brilliant multitasker Hwang Dong Hyuk was both the writer and director so nothing was “lost in translation”, enabling the storyline to be directly translated into actions and emotions just as it had been intended by the original storyteller.
4. Superb acting all around, from the lead characters to the supporting cast, even the cameo roles. It did not matter whether they are seasoned actors or rookies, superstars or not so well-known. Their acting talents were all at par. Their competencies were same level. And just how impressive were they? Well for one, Ho Yeon Jung, a first-time actress with a following of 400K on Instagram pre-Squid Game era is currently the most followed Korean actress with 23.7M followers, and counting! If her acting was lackluster or lame then these 23 million new fans of hers wouldn’t have clicked “Follow” on social media. *Note: There is an exception to this praiseworthy acting group which is explained below.
5. Captivating set design and enthralling art direction with minimal use of CGI for a more realistic and riveting effect.
6. Gruesome, grotesque and gory scenes are not really my thing but somehow the treatment of these scenes was done in a creatively tricky and insidious way so they did not make me shut my eyes in fear nor give me nightmares at night.
7. Bizarre oxymoron with the most extreme contradictions. How can seemingly harmless children’s games be played with blatantly harmful results? How can an innocent looking doll cause carnage or a whimsical playground transform into a bloodbath? Quite disturbing, nonetheless, impactful.
8. Genius musical score using familiar classical music to tone down the shock factor. Instead of hearing suspenseful tones as a warning that something dreadful is about to happen you hear soothingly nostalgic melodies such as “Fly Me To The Moon”. Weird, but somehow it worked brilliantly.
9. Not annoyingly commercialized with no glaring product placements nor subliminal endorsements. Even the actors’ length of screen time was not exploitative. Those in the superstar level like Gong Yoo and Lee Byung Hun had minimum exposure, while neophytes Ho Yeon Jung and Anupam Tripathi were highly visible. The creators did not have to heavily rely on A-listers to gain widespread popularity.
10. In spite it being a purely Korean presentation there were ironically no communication and cultural barriers which brought about its global appeal. It vividly showcased how human frailties and imperfections bear no nationality.
Now for the constructive criticisms:
1. Illogical instances when the players were demanding the guards to implement fairness and show compassion such as allowing them to use the toilet during bedtime or stopping contestants embroiled in a fist fight. How can they expect civility and morality in a place where wanton killings were casually occurring on a daily basis?
2. VIPs’ contrived dialogues; the fake and forced delivery of their lines made me cringe and wonder if the reason why they were wearing elaborate masks was to hide their identities with all that shameful acting. The otherwise meticulous Korean director should have hired English speaking advisers who could have provided him with feedback as to how unnatural the foreign actors sounded.
3. Unrealistic ending where the protagonist suddenly became pious and honorable after a lifetime of wayward and contemptible behavior. After all the trouble (and near-death experiences) he went through, he decides not to savor his reward. Spending $10 out of a $38M jackpot did not make absolute sense!
Final verdict: 10 positives versus 3 negatives is still a WIN.
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