Jero Yun’s 2018 feature Beautiful Days (뷰티풀 데이즈) is a haunting slice-of-life melodrama that features quietly affecting performances from its main cast and an engaging film with a relatively simple and ultimately straightforward story.
I’ve definitely expressed my apathy to Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger many times before. But similar to my pleasant surprise from the Zyuohger returns film, this latest Sentai crossover film, Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger VS Lupinranger VS Patranger manages to almost erase what I disliked about LuPat and instead focus on what worked. And unlike many crossover team-ups, the blending together of the two (or three in this case) teams worked seamlessly and actually added to the overall enjoyment of the movie.
Disney’s 2020 live-action remake of the classic animated film is not a bad movie. However, in trying to distance itself from the original by finding its own, more mature voice, Mulan falls far short of being a truly epic event. The potential is there and the foundation is solid. But by never truly committing and following through on what it wants to be, the film feels undercooked and underdeveloped.
Ra Mi Ran and Lee Sung Kyung kick ass in the hilarious, fun, action-packed film Miss & Mrs. Cops (걸캅스/Girl Cops).
For a simple, thoroughly enjoyable romantic comedy, look no further than the 2016 series Something About 1 Percent (1%의 어떤 것). It isn’t groundbreaking nor does it push the envelope, and that’s perfectly fine. The Ha Seok Jin/Jeon So Min-starrer is a classic Korean romcom. It knows exactly what it is, what it wants to be and excels at it.
There is a lot of wasted potential in the 2019 tvN series Her Private Life (그녀의 사생활). A quirky, refreshing premise and a solid cast get shortchanged by a paint-by-the-numbers romcom plot that doesn’t seem to know where it wants to go or what it really wants to do. It’s a fluffy series that lacks the depth that could have elevated it to something more, even as the foundation was well-established in the beginning.
The tvN drama It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (사이코지만 괜찮아/Psycho But It’s Okay) may appear to be a cliché and predictable romantic dramedy, but beneath the surface it puts a timely and much needed spotlight on mental health.
The 2017 OCN drama Save Me (구해줘) may frustrate and enrage you at the start. But this 2017 OCN drama series quickly evolves into a bizarre, terrifying and twisted psychological thriller.
It is an outright crime that we were robbed of four more episodes of the tvN drama A Piece of Your Mind (반의 반/Half of a Half). This beautifully poetic and character-driven look at healing, strength and courage most definitely had enough material to fulfill the standard 16-episode order. And with a talented cast at its disposal, the biggest disappointment is not only how it was sadly overlooked by audiences, but how it was inexplicably derided as well.
Jang Na Ra and Son Ho Jun lead the beautifully poignant and emotionally resonant 2017 KBS drama Go Back Couple (고백부부). The series is sincere in its reminders about our everyday lives and also gives hope for those who may be facing seemingly insurmountable challenges.