mark_ogea Reviews

Someone Special (2004)

Dark Horse leaves everybody feeling like a victim

[6/10 · 20 July 2014]

I really wanted to like this movie. There are a lot of things, at first, to bring a smile to your face, from the movie-in-movie spoof to the lovable stalker turns girlfriend side plot. I was also completely overjoyed by the fact that the director used dry, almost English humor (as opposed to the slapstick of 'Sex is Zero' or cutesy of 'Peppermint Candy') to bring the story and the characters together.

Unfortunately, watching the second half of this movie is a serious labor of love. The Lead actor is at best wooden, with one ex-girlfriend serving as his emotional anchor. No spoilers - his new squeeze, a waitress at a fancy coffee shop/bar seems to insinuate herself into his life because of self pity? Gimme a beak...

Since Bae Doon-na made Hollywood, everybody wants to capture her charm and natural naivete to sell badly written movies. Disney, back off and let Korean cinema do what it does better than Hollywood - sell movies with real heart and soul. While this movie started strong, it eventually sold out and became the poster child for what NOT to do. I'll give the director another shot, but ultimately this is a 6...

Coquille (1998)

soppy romance where nothing happens...

[27 December 2012]

This movie was lame. I usually love Japanese movies, the way the characters take over and give even a bad movie wings. Coquille starts at a middle-school reunion where some middle-aged Japanese people say nothing of interest. Through flashbacks we learn that one of the women had a crush on one of the men. Back to present day, and the not-then lovers start an affair. (Why? Because they can, I guess, the script leaves gaps you could drive a garbage truck through...)

This movie has no positives whatsoever: lousy writing, forgettable characters, washed-out made-for-TV cinematography. You know you're watching a dud when the characters in the flashbacks out-act the stars. Do yourself a favor and avoid this one like the plague...