Lumsdal
Good , But It Is Overrated By Some
SpunkySelfTwitter
It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.
Siflutter
It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.
elmerjohn
My first time to make a review here. I just register to rate it 10/10 and invite everyone to watch this movie. I've watched several Korean movies this month land i just love how Koreans make a movie that gives an impact emotionally and how they make a wonderful story, not to mention their superb acting. This move is one of the best, it just stirs your emotion and the movie will linger on your thoughts for some time. Love and sacrifice is what it is. When you love someone, you will go into the depths of sacrifices if needed. Highly recommended. You will not regret watching it!
romeogbrl
After seeing the youth oriented t.v. drama "You're Beautiful", I was quite unprepared by the mature tone of "Always". This is a very engaging Korean melodramatic movie which centers on the characters Chul-Min (So Ji Sub) and Jun Hwa (Hyo Ju Han)and directed by Il Gon Song.As a fan of action movies, I cannot help but compare the characters to a certain Luc Besson film, 1994's "Leon". Chulmin is very similar to Jean Reno's hit-man; both are isolated from society and are either socially inept or total outcasts. While Jun Hwa's blindness is comparable to Natalie Portman's innocence in her portrayal of the 12 year old girl, Matilda. There are even scenes in both movies that convey the same atmosphere or vibe. Leon approaching the exit while stalked by a gun-toting Stansfield played by the brilliant Gary Oldman is comparable to a bloodied Chul-Min lying on the fight room floor. The same melancholic chiming music can be heard in the background as these scenes are transpiring which is remarkable considering the contrasting styles of the respective directors.But unlike Besson's film, "Always", at least has a happy ending for both protagonists.The music score is excellent as well as the cinematography. The cast is also very commendable for their individual performances (including the golden retriever playing "Easy/Zinga").Still, it is not completely without flaws. The film has a middle section that is quite plodding in its pacing when Chul-min and Jun Hwa decide to live together. Fortunately, things once again pick up when a revelation about the cause of Jun Hwa's blindness is revealed.This is a really sad and touching film and the ending will truly move even those with hardened hearts. In a nutshell, this is highly recommended.
Neo Sky
I love the movie. I have seen it several times and still like it.The best in the movie is character structure. The characters are well made. They are believable and make sense during their dramatic decisions in loyalty, fight, love and sacrifice.Here are the characters:The guy has a damaged soul resulted to his seclusion from society, deep guilt and feeling worthless because of his dark past and a special crime; his last one. Here is the point that a blind girl comes into his life accidentally. She has many problems in her work, her financial status and even her day-to-day things; however, she is easygoing, spirited and dealing with problems having a smile on his face. She turned on his dark life by music, laugh, deep passion and care for each other. Here is the point that their path revealed. The guy understand how he was engaged in making her blind above all his crimes. He went into huge sacrifice to pay for her eye operation costs. The operation went successful and she paid him back by her loyalty towards him though they lost each other. Actually the boy left her to avoid disturbing her.The story has extreme points a bit unbelievable to me. Like how the boy was the one who distract her from her driving and caused her blindness and her parents death. None of them knew this before meeting each other. Or how she traced him by chance and good guess. Besides from that, I applaud for the way these two characters are developed in the movie. The orphanage, lonely and guilty boy find passion, forgiveness and comfort in arms of a woman with great issues who care about people, animals and life beauties against her serious issues.The acting works well. I felt tears at the end of the movie, when his voice cracked in his chest since he cannot cry due to huge pain he experienced. However, we feel hopeful that he can overcome his problems by being help by his lovable woman. Isn't it inspiring? :) It really inspires you to feel life. And to believe that such pure loves are possible. And you can make it! It is how the magic of a good drama should work; I think.
Odessa Jones
The Koreans do melodrama better than anyone else on the planet. I wish I had known about Korean movies years ago. (I saw "Always" four years after its release. When will a Korean movie get released in the US?!?)The plot here is reminiscent of "An Affair to Remember," the quintessential Hollywood romance. But the feeling and cinematography are pure twenty-first century. Though it's a 100% melodrama story- line, the style is low-key and on the naturalistic side. It's never overwrought. So Ji-Sub is a favorite of mine from seeing him in K-drama "The Master's Sun." Here he plays a very different kind of man, but with equal skill and charisma. His character barely talks, but still feels three-dimensional. Han Hyo-Joo is excellent and her character is refreshingly outgoing despite her disability.I had to close my eyes for about 5 minutes when things got violent, but that was inevitable given that So Ji-Sub plays a fighter. If I have any complaints, it's that I wanted to know so much more about the characters, and the denouement is on the quick side. I still have questions. But the emotional aspects of the story were handled perfectly. If you haven't started watching the good Korean stuff yet, you should. It's worth the subtitles.
