Sisyphus’ Sigma: A Look into Mental Illness
The Divine Move
Country: South Korea Year: 2014 Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
Almost like everybody else, I started this because of the unearthly cast, and I don't regret it; a perfect film in all aspects. The poster alludes to a fighting film; some gangster-like work, but this is not what the film about. Bear with me.
Tae Seok (Jung Woo Sung) is a scholar and a genius baduk (Go) player. Through helping his older brother in a game; he gets entangled with an underworld baduk gang, led by the bloodthirsty merciless Killer (Lee Bum Soo). To avenge himself and his brother, he forms a group of the victims of that gang in a game of life or death.
Well, I have never been interested in games at all. Yes, I've always had a fancy for chess, and it's on 100-year plan but I've never sat down and tried learning a game. My attraction to baduk started some time ago while watching Misaeng, but not to the extent that I felt like leaving everything and learning the game. That's exactly how I felt watching The Divine Move. My body started itching, and I felt uneasy; looking around me trying to get my heart composed. It's like my whole existence got mesmerised by the board and the stones. The baduk player, and while thinking of his next move, keeps moving two stones between his thumb and his index; I caught myself doing that while watching the movie. I know!! I need therapy.
Beyond the simplicity of the call of playing games for the sake of games or for the fun of it, the film flings open the gates to the dark reality. It lays bare the dreams and lives wasted on the board. It shows how a game can kill as well as save people. The film basically summarises life in the game of baduk. It's a fight; but there are no winners. Everybody loses at the end. People will fight and kill for life, but life will survive; and alone.
The production is superb. The fighting scenes are breathtaking. Get ready for hot and topless Jung Woo Sung and Choi Jin Hyuk. Speaking of who; it is really exceptional to watch the mentor and the disciple acting against each other with such intimate abhorrence. 2014 again has brought us a great production.
Attack the Gas Station! 2
Country: South Korea Year: 2010 Genre: Action, Comedy
I still don't know why this was on my list, but I'm glad it was.
If you're looking for a moral, or expecting some embedded messages then this is not exactly the film for you. The film carries one message; no message.
A gas station keeps getting robbed by a gang of bikers. The owner hires four good fighters to help him stop the bikers once and for all. One night carries the events of a lifetime for the owner and the friends.
The film is a hilarious portrayal of the absurdity of life; life as an insane chain of coincidences. It is about living life for the fun of it and gritting your teeth and moving on when things do not work out.
The film is helluva fun one. You won't feel time pass. It's a great film to kick out your weekend after a manic week.
Grand Prix
Country: South Korea Year: 2010 Genre: Romance, Sports
I guess I added this to the list after I watched My Princess and fell head over heels in love with Kim Tae Hee. Thanks to her I got to watch a wonderful film in all aspects.
Do you like horses? Well I do. Though I might not care about horse racing, it's always been a dream to learn how to ride a horse. Reading many classics can explain some.
As the title alludes; the film is about the world of horses and horse racing. Beyond the bewitching beauty of horses lies a complicated world. Behind the surface there are many stories of pain, grudges, scars, traumas and surrender. Still, the mesmerising beauty of that world keeps attracting people in, creating for them memories to make up for the pain.
The male lead Woo Seok (Yang Dong Geun) is so irresistibly hot I didn't know what to do. Yes I loved him very well in The Three Musketeers, but I saw a total different side of him here.
P.S, Song Jae Rim in a supporting role with long hair! Goddamn it!!
