SUPER SIZE ME(2004)

Director : Morgan Spurlock

Casts : Morgan Suprlock

Stars : 4.5/5

You want to lose weight, but you can't drop those big macs and half gallon coke? How many times do you go to McDonalds in a week? Is it over 3? Over 4? That's quite a lot. Actually really alot. If you want to save yourself from raising your heart attack chances 200 percent or more, you should stop. I'll give you a solution. It's really simple. Watch Super Size Me.

I know what you are thinking. The intro may have been too much. However, people should watch this documentary style movie, a movie made possible by a humongous individual sacrifice. Morgan Spurlock, both the director and the only main cast for the documentary risked his health by eating only McDonalds for a entire month. Just by that, I give him a loud applause, because it must have been a pretty damn bad to eat burgers and fries every single day and every single meal. Much more than that, he got much fatter and sicker after his project. He goes through all this to show people. To show how terrible fast food is and how people are getting more into it.

The fact that it is documentary style might arouse some negative feelings already. It is not exactly an action movie or a myster, but it is not so boring. This film may be able to teach you a great lesson more than any other movies can! Viva McDonalds! Long live Big Mac! HAHA :p

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL(1997)

Director : Roberto Benigni
Casts : Roberto Benigni
Nicoletta Braschi
Giorgio Cantarini
Stars : 3.5/5

The title Life is Beautiful may be an irony, since this movie is about a family that gets dragged to a Nazi concentration camp. However, the title contains the struggles of Guido's attempts to keep up his son Gisoue's spirit.

Although I had some trouble understanding the conversations through the Italian accents of the voice casts, it was good enough for me to feel the human characters of each individuals in the movie. Guido, who is always filled with joy and optimism, and the doctor, who is obssessed with reels.

The movie has a very serene sadness. Gisoue's big, innocent eyes when encountering the tank at the end is absolutely heartbreaking. However, I may not be so involved with the movie as much as some other audiences who have more knowledge about the genocide. Additionally, the English accents gave me quite a bit of trouble getting through many conversations. Therefore, I would like to watch this movie again later, after I gain more cultural understanding about the plot. Overall, it is a simple, humanistic movie.

BRUCE ALMIGHTY(2003)

Director : Tom Shadyac
Casts : Jim Carrey
Morgan Freeman
Jennifer Aniston
Steve Carell
Stars : 3/5

Jim Carrey's Bruce Almighty is one of my favorite comedies. It is not too exaggerated to the point where it feels uncomfortable, does not contain too many sexual jokes, and the casts are good.

Summary : The main character Bruce is an ordinary reporter who wants to become a next anchor. However, when his dream is stopped by his rival Evan Baxter, he loses control and makes a huge live television disaster. Therefore, Bruce gets fired and becomes twisted. One day Bruce goes to a place where there might be a job opportunity and meets a man who calls himself God. When Bruce leaves the building, he becomes Bruce Almighty.

The movie shows amusing incidents that Bruce goes through while performing his power as a God. My favorite scene is him playing "Moses of tomato soup". The film is a very funny classic comedy that is easy and light to watch. However, if there is a message that might make the audience think is the fact that God cannot meddle with the free wills of people in the movie. The limitation is also the cause of Bruce's first misery after becoming almighty. Bruce Almighty is a funny, not too flippant movie, making it a decent one to watch.

MEMORIES OF MURDER(2003)

Director : Joon-ho Bong

Casts : Kang-ho Song

Sang-kyung Kim

Stars : 4.2/5

I finally conqured the movie I have always wanted to watch since grde two, but was too afraid to. To begin with, this is a Korean movie that was released five years ago in 2003. It is based on a real story, about a serial homicide that happened from 1980s to 1990s. I don't say that the film is about a serial killer, because he is not really the focus of the movie.

The reason I didn't watch this movie for so long is that I didn't have the courage to face the visualized version of the horrifying story , as the story itself was difficult to deal with as a young girl. Therefore, I have pushed and pushed this good movie for later.

After overcoming the childhood fear, I would say that it was not bad. It is mainly focused on the story telling and the struggles of the two detectives, rather than the grusome murders. In addition, because I am too used to intense scenes, colors, and actions, a movie made five years ago didn't arouse too much fear. However, I enjoyed the film more than any other mystery, detective movies. First is my deep interest in the actual case, and the second is Joon-ho Bong's good conduct of the 1990s country side in Korea. Also, without a doubt, Kang-ho Song's marvellous acting played a priceless contributino.

The last scene of this particular movie is my favorite ending of all the movies I have watched. It is intense without any actions. Expecting you to watch the movie, I am not revealing any more about the film, especially the ending.

POUNDS BEAUTY(2006)

Director : Kim Yong-hwa

Casts : Kim Ah-jung

Ju Jin-mo

Stars : 3/5

Just like anyother romantic comedies, it's an easy, light hearted movie. You can just watch, laugh, and forget. However, this movie has a little bit more than a simple romantic comedy, on the fact that it is focusing on obesity, more specifically, on how people treat fat people especially in an Asian culture.

There is a very shocking line in the movie. It's a statement referring fat women as refund goods, ordinary women as real goods, and pretty,sexy women as master piece. This translation is a bit vauge, but I hope you get the sense of it. It may not be as extreme as to referring women to "things", but it is true that judging people by their looks is dangerously entrenched in Asian culture. Even very normal looking girls try to lose weight. Maybe the pressure of the social norms is the reason why their average weight is so low. As a consequence, many girls experience eating disorders and beome mentally and physically weak. It is extremely important to stick to your belief and decide whats right and wrong.

Back to the movie, the only thought that the movie may be provoking is the issue I mentioned above. I'm pretty sure most of the people don't think about the issue it's presenting. If you are bored of American romantic comedy, it may be worth a shot to try a Korean one if there is subtitle. :0)