MonsterPerfect Good idea lost in the noise

ThedevilChoose When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

BelSports This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Haven Kaycee It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

paulclaassen After tragically losing his sister and father, we follow our hero through the hardships of life. Ironically, it gets very comical during this time. The opening scene was touching, dramatic and heart wrenching, so I expected the film to follow the same pattern. The film felt overlong and even became a bit boring at times, essentially becoming a love story. The film then swiftly turned dramatic and emotional towards the end again, as families became reunited with loved ones, separated by war. Although it won't go down as a favorite, I'm glad I watched it.

denis888 Yes, this is it - a tear-jerking, utterly sentimental, simplified family drama of Korean war and beyond, with all the imaginable clichés and predictable steps added - you want a war - you get it, you want a family torn apart - bingo. You want some factory tragedy and long weeping scenes - voila. You want even some battle scenes and mandatory heroism feats - get'em out now. We saw it all many times before and we know it all does not work. Period. THe only good and as always, even in poorest Korean flicks - breathtakingly beautiful nature. Apart from that, not more to ponder on or worth coming back to.

Kentaro11 The film is the story of a guy born right before Korea war in 1950s and grew up and struggled in the country. The situation around him is harsh and cruel due to the drastically changing world affair. However he lives his life with lots of small but invaluable moments with his beloved family and friends. I was deeply touched by how strongly he is living everyday life. The beauty of connection of family is also impressive and moving.

portafilter I've been reading reviews of this film on Rotten Tomatoes and elsewhere by American critics, and while I agree with some of the criticisms (overly melodramatic, mediocre aging makeup), they all miss the entire point of this movie: it's the story of Korea and the Korean people. Well, at least South Koreans.I have no evidence, but I wouldn't be surprised if the director came up with the penultimate scene, where Deok-soo weeps about how hard his life had been is juxtaposed with his family singing and clapping in the next room, and built a movie around it. That one image captures the heart of the South Korean people: prosperous and cosmopolitan, and also scarred and heartbroken. This is why this movie was so popular in Korea. It's a 2-hour catharsis for Koreans.It's disappointing but perhaps not surprising that so many professional American critics were so lazy in their reviews. I have non-Korean friends who *did* get the film's theme, but apparently it was because their hearts and minds were open to it.