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)