Phantom Detective/탐정 홍길동: 사라진 마을/Tamjeong Honggildong: Sarajin Maeul

Noir like you've never seen it before.

Ok, so I wasn't expecting the movie to start with the "hero" threatening to blow two men's heads off if they didn't cut the fingers off of a third. It's not my usual movie type. But it plays out with a deliciously understated sense of grandiosity, as if saying Yes, We Are Dark And Scary And Oh, So Dangerous, But We're Also Not Taking Ourselves Seriously, So Please Just Come Along For The Ride.
And what a fun ride.

From the main character's sleight of hand and hypnotically smooth voice to the delightful way the youngest granddaughter of his enemy promptly yells at him and destroys all illusion of his abilities, it continues with, to quote a favorite author, the gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad.

Whether he's slamming a chest-lid on top of a body or getting the car door swung into him by the granddaughters he's unable to keep in hand, Lee Je-Hoon plays Hong Gil-Dong with a sense of exasperation at the world in general. From claiming goosebumps at their hand-holding to literally facepalming at their deal-breaking interruptions, his attitude clashing against the two small girls he basically kidnaps is hilarious, yet mixed with pathos as they comment with shock on his many lies, and he insists yet again that he is not a good guy, guilt building in him as the movie progresses.

 

Who is Hong Gil-Dong if not a good guy? A member of a secret and illegal detective agency who has spent his entire life searching for the person who killed his mother and the reason why she was killed. Every other mystery he solves easily, but the one that haunts him is unsolvable...until the day he finally finds a clue as to the location of his mother's killer. To his great disappointment he finds only the killer's two granddaughters, as someone else has made it to the killer first--another secret and illegal organization known as Gwangeunhwe. His promise to find their grandfather for them reeks of ulterior motives, but the children have nowhere else to turn, and so follow him on his search, entirely unaware of his true plan.

What follows is a strangely delightful cross between a babysitting job and revenge mission, as Gil-Dong ends up dragging two small children along into a mess greater than he ever dreamed. The historical implications and connections to a disaster currently in the making narrow around him as he persists in his mission, despite any obstacles thrown into his way by Gwangeunhwe.



The older granddaughter, Dong Yi, does her best to protect her sister and find her grandfather (and pay for their hotel when Gil-Dong runs out of money), while the suspicious, delightful, adorable youngest granddaughter Mal-Soon is a delight to watch, especially each time she clashes with Gil-Dong or calls him out on his lack of morals.

There are a few other intriguing characters...

His adoptive sister {Go Ara}, president of that illegal detective agency.

Kim Byeong-Duk {Park Geun-hyung}, the missing grandfather, killer of Gil-Dong's mother, and possible linchpin in a coming disaster.

Kang Sung-il {Kim Sung-kyun}, Hong Gil-Dong's current nemesis...

There is minimal swearing, and I don't recall any other issues beyond slightly comic-book-style violence (lotssss of shooting and stabbing and getting thrown across rooms, etc) and some creepy nightmares that torment Gil-Dong. The politics did feel a little vague -- whether that was the fault of the movie or the fault of the subtitles I had access to, I'm not entirely sure. The soundtrack was just right...not overbearing, but the kind that you notice fits the story. There was a lot of green-screen, but I liked the effect. XD If you're looking for a twist on the classic detective story and want to try a Korean movie, especially if you enjoy adorable children and over-the-top fight scenes,  Phantom Detective is a great one to try.

WWW ~ June 2016 Edition

June doesn't have many new dramas premiering, but I think July might just be stuffed full.


Korean:
~ Police Unit 38 AKA Task Force
Empress:  YES. I'm not sure I'll appreciate the premise, but Hello, Monster made me interested in seeing a few more of Seo In Guk's dramas, and his character in this looks pretty delightful. If he's anywhere near as snarky as The Mentalist, I'm in. XD
Ambassador:  Probably at some point because interesting plot + Seo In Guk and Sooyoung.
Unni:  Interesting. But...the list of dramas I want to watch and haven’t is so long, I can’t say I am going to add this one...unless it gets really interesting.


~ Baek Hee has Returned
Empress:  ....possibly if I need something short to watch?
Ambassador:  Nah, family melo isn't my usual style, not even for a mini drama.
Unni:  Mini drama, hmmm this might just be interesting enough and short enough to draw my attention.


~ Doctors
Empress:  I keep insisting to myself that I will not watch this one, having been disappointed by every single medical drama I've tried to watch, but I admit the cast of this one is kinda interesting. Still, nope. XD
Ambassador:  At some point, probably, because while the plot doesn't sound terribly interesting, the trailers do look kind of interesting.  And Park Shin Hye, Yoon Kyun Sang and Kim Min Suk.  So, I'll try it at some point, but it's pretty far down on the list.
Unni:  Interesting, but....then again so many more interesting dramas. I’ll probably skip!


~ Wanted
Empress:  Possibly. It will probably go on my list, and then depend on what reviews seem to say about it. XD
Ambassador:  Possibly.  It sounds like it could be fascinating and somewhat psychological.
Unni:  WOW! OUCH! If it’s not too terribly scary I might have a stab at watching this one.


China:
~ Singing All Along
Empress:  Okay, this sounds pretty interesting. I already feel sorry for Guo Sheng Tong, though. I might put this one on my list.... :)
Ambassador:  Let's see.  Plot + THE REAL HISTORY + Ruby Lin and Justin Yuan/Yuan Hong.  YES, I'M ABSOLUTELY WATCHING IT.
Unni:  Wow! Sounds interesting, and lengthy. I am not sure. I haven’t really thought about jumping into Chinese History.


What is on your June watch list?

Cheese In The Trap \ 치즈 인 더 트랩 \ Chijeu In Deo Teuraep

Plot:
...Put simply, this is a story about the trials and tribulations of a college girl. 

The more complicated description is that this is a fascinating story that is unafraid of delving deep into relationships and searching for the truth that so easily distorts between two people trying to get to know each other, and how friendships and family shape one's life (with a few stalkers, severe teachers, and lots of debt thrown into the mix). In a narrower sense, it's the story of a perceptive introvert learning whether or not she can love someone who is possibly sociopathic. Is he or is he not...and which of them will change more as they explore a relationship together?

Characters that most matter:

Hong Seol (Kim Go-Eun)
A girl working her way through college while trying to support her parent's home business and her shiftless father, as well as deal with her very spoiled and lazy younger brother. She's attracted to the super rich, good-looking, smart, and hardworking senior who happens has a massive crush on her...but she also has major trust issues and is legitimately afraid of him. 
I've heard from more than one fellow drama-watcher that this girl is basically me. That was absolutely my feeling also. I've never seen another drama character I so easily understood, and watching her learn and grow in her family, in her classes, in her relationships with her friends, was marvelously enjoyable. Part of this I think is that the drama gives access to her thoughts, allowing the viewer to see the things her family and friends are not aware of, and making it very clear what she's thinking and feeling, regardless of how much she expresses to others. She's got friends who she has a hard time opening up to, but they love her anyway and yell at her when she tries to go it alone, and sometimes she's horrendously socially awkward but she's not an idiot, and smetimes she has weird outfits and sometimes super cute ones, and it's all just beautifully delightful.
She's the classic drama heroine...only with the twist that she does not sacrifice her life to her family without a pang of emotion, she does not instantly fall for the rich chaebol come to save her, and the open view into her mind makes her 3D in a way that is exceeding rare for the plucky Cinderella types most often seen in such dramas.

Yoo Jung (Park Hae-Jin)
He took an entire drama to even partially explain, so one paragraph is not going to do him justice. With the drama from Seol's perspective, the question of who is Jung becomes a very vital one indeed. At first meeting she sees through his perfect facade and instantly dislikes him. At repeated meetings throughout their time at the same school, her opinion is only strengthened. Others adore him; she is appalled by him.
But she lives inside her head, and when he unexpectedly asks her out, she is caught with the question of if he actually has been tormenting her the past year, or if his explanations for what has occurred are true. Her perception versus reality...how close do they match? Should she trust her instincts or allow herself to be swayed by the many advantages that come with his intense interest in her and the fact that no one else shares her views of him? Has she actually been judging him wrongly this entire time?
She's poor; he's rich. He appears to be effortlessly smart; she fights for every perfect grade she gets. She has two very close and good friends; he has two very ex-close friends and a whole crowd of users constantly suffocating him. Yet somehow he tells her that they are alike, and she wants to believe him...sometimes.
Episode by episode you learn more about Jung, whether though Seol seeing more of him, through her meeting of his ex-friends, or through his explanations when she questions him, and each episode shifts your perspective as viewer. One episode he's a complete psychopath and Seol should run if she does not want to end up dead in a ditch somewhere...the next he's an absolute Prince Charming, and Seol will surely not be happy without him. His sense of justice is very black and white...but his skill as master manipulator - if Seol's imaginings are correct - is dangerous. (There stands the very large if.) 

Baek In-Ho (Seo Kang-Joon)
An ex-pianist who was practically adopted by Jung's father to "normalize" his son. Hot-headed and entirely too quick-fisted for someone who was once a piano prodigy, he clicks beautifully with Seol and Seol's entire family and begins working at their failing business in order to pay off a debt. The similarities in their lives make his eventual falling for Seol inevitable, but I honestly enjoyed his more sibling-like interactions with her, and the way her family drew him in as one of their own. 
At times the most clear-sighted person in the story, he definitely has his blind spots. One of those is Jung, who he once considered a friend, back before betrayal, the ruination of all his piano dreams, and a prideful refusal to look at another person's point of view. The other is his sister, with extra shade from a massive helping of guilt regarding their childhood, which she twists to her own advantage whenever necessary.

Baek In-Ha (Lee Sung-Kyun)
In-Ho's sister, a manipulative drama-queen who lives from boyfriend to boyfriend after Jung's father cuts her off. The orphaned children of  Yoo Young-Soo's friend, she actually believed that she was made part of the family when  Yoo Young-Soo brought them into his home. (The utter disbelief when she finally realizes how easily the man is convinced to abandon her, while In-Ho cries Do you finally understand? We were like pets in that house! is one of the few moments I actually had to feel sorry for her.) She is convinced that she and Jung are alike enough that she is the only one to understand him, and in a way she is right. Unfortunately he completely understands her, and cannot stand her. 

Other major characters include Seol's friends, Eun-Taek and Bo-Ra, and the classmates who make her life more difficult, particularly Sang-Cheol, Min-Soo, and Young-Gon, besides her parents, her brother Joon, and of course Jung's father, Yoo Young-Soo.

Cautionary Notes:
There is a very brief scene with a fortune teller in the beginning.
There is a part of a storyline involved an underwear thief, of all things, and a related storyline has to do with a gay couple who live next to Seol. It's kind of just weird, because everybody except Seol treats them horribly, and part of that may be because they're just not very nice people. The entire addition is strangely done. (It fulfills its purpose of showing exactly the kind of person Jung is - or puzzling the viewer further - but it doesn't particularly make sense.)
In-Ha...brings in a lot of negative elements, shall we say. Most of the time she's hilarious, but every once in a while it's a little much.
There is also some danger of/discussion regarding date rape.

Quotes:
As an example of how this drama works...
Seol: Get a hold of yourself, Hong Seol. You can't fall for that smile. This guy is cunning like a snake.
Jung: "By the way...I'm sorry."
Seol: He's cunning..."What?"
Jung: "I've pushed you too hard to eat a meal with me, haven't I? I wanted a chance to talk to you. I thought that you had every right to suspect me of canceling the class."
Seol: Pull yourself together. He's cunning like a snake.
Jung: "Sorry."
Seol: "Don't worry about it." He is cunning. Is he cunning? Maybe not? "It was my fault for wrongly suspecting you. Honestly, I should be the one to pay for all of this."
Jung: "Right? That's how it should be. Then don't be sorry and you can buy dinner next time."
Seol: Huh?
Jung: "Let's have something better than this next time."
Seol: "Okay. I'll pay next time." Just as I thought, he's as cunning as a snake.


More Seol Quotes:
I should not have argued with him. Behind his smile, there was a frightening double side he kept hidden – but I didn’t know about it back then.

"I have sensitive personality, so sometimes I misjudge and misunderstand people but I’m going to  fix it."

“What went wrong if everything wasn’t other people’s fault, but a problem which lies within me?”

“The only thing I can do is… doing what needs to be done right now."

“I thought it was about you, but now I realized – it was me. I didn’t tell you my inner feelings and demanded you to be honest about your feelings, but I won’t do that anymore. So please do the same. Don’t hide your feelings, because I want to see you the way you are.” 


Jung Quotes: 
“Why is it that people always want what belongs to other people? Then they delude themselves thinking other people’s things are theirs, when in the end they lose what’s their own.”

“While you were struggling on your own, growing tired and getting hurt, I didn’t understand why you did it. The problem is mine and I was the one who should have been making the effort.” 


In-Ho Quotes: 
“You should try to win when you get into a fight.”

“You’re not alone. Don’t give up like your life is over.”

“Back then I didn’t know what it was to give up on a dream. What that meant…what it feels like when you think of a dream you’d forgotten.” 

Favorite Scenes:

Some of my favorite scenes were the ones that took well-used drama tropes and turned them on their heads. Difficult to explain if you have not seen the drama, but they consistently had me laughing, hard.

Like Seol, tripping over a doorstep into Jung's arms and yes, of course, he catches her. How romantic. Except she just freezes, and while mentally screaming, What am I supposed to do???? Invite him inside for coffee???? It's hilarious. 

Or the typical vehicle-going-to-hit-girl scene - Jung dramatically pulls her out of danger, and she freaks out when he grabs her and shoves him away. This is made doubly hysterical by the fact that her flip-out reaction scares him and he practically jumps a foot in the air and gestures helplessly after the motorbike disappearing down the street. 

And when Jung does the cool-man thing of Oh, you're staying here alone and it's dangerous so I'll stick around to guard you, there is of course an accidental-fall kiss scene...only Seol claps her hand to her mouth so their lips don't touch, distorting yet another classic drama moment.


Another randomly favorite scene is when during one of their arguments she storms, "You don't even know what a coupon is! This is never going to work!" It's a marvelously realistic dealing with the actual problems of a relationship between a rich company heir and working girl on a college scholarship. There are obviously going be miscommunications and things to talk about. (In a far more interesting vein than Jun Pyo kidnapping a girl for a make-over in Boys Over Flowers.)

Overall: 

Like Jung, this drama is very hard to explain. It's the kind of drama where you struggle to describe the how or why of what is so intriguing about what seems like such a simple story...but intriguing it is, to the point that it was quite addicting while it was airing. Looking back, I loved this drama for 2 main reasons: Seol, who was an absolute delight to watch because of how well I got her, and Jung, one of the most fascinatingly twisted heroes I've ever seen. In-ho, as the wounded puppy/broken artist second lead, was just icing on the cake. Even In-ha, she of the loco eyes and very expensive tastes, was...actually enjoyably crazed. Somehow the world of the drama, despite being populated by way too many pretty people, crazy stalkers, and drama coincidences, is one of the most real I've seen in drama-land. The drama pulled from practically every classic drama trope, and then used them inside out to create something very far from the classic drama.

It reminded me a little of Misaeng, which had me cringing every episode because of how excruciatingly true-to-life it was...only this drama was a little fluffier, a little happier. Moments like when Jung lays down in the dark and cracks his head on a table - and Seol smothers herself in her pillow trying to hide her laughter - had me howling. It was so perfectly realistic in those little tiny details that simply make the world of the story.

Even the epic fight three-quarters of the way through, where 2 characters who have been snapping at each since the beginning finally lose it and resort to actual blows...ends up being fought at a playground with a lot of falling over and flailing. It's a vicious fight, but basically exactly what you'd expect from two college boys, neither one of whom has been trained in any form of combat. And when the truck-of-doom showed up, it was also most realistic car accident I've seen in a drama.

The characters are fascinating - all of the main and quite a few of the side characters are excruciatingly well done. (A benefit of being made off a web-toon, I imagine.) They all feel as if there is much more to them, and every episode makes you change your mind about what's really underneath. (Is Seol dating a somewhat mind-blind sweetheart, a clueless robot, or a vicious psychopath? Neither she nor the viewers know, and it's incredibly intriguing.) Add to that clever directing, and the story definitely keeps you guessing in exactly the way it should.

But. There were moments that definitely veered into ridiculous territory. In a normal drama, I wouldn't have blinked, but in a drama that had me cheering because it was so hyperrealistic, they felt jarringly out of place. And, as the drama progressed, much of the intrigue and mystery that had me adoring the beginning seemed to fade. I was not the only viewer to notice this, and unfortunately, this drama may end up being remembered more for the drama that surrounded its production that the actual drama itself. I tried to ignore the rumors and the internet anger that surrounded it, and did not actually find much about the story itself to irritate me. It just...did not live up to the full potential it had.

The ending:  {Herein be Spoilers.}
This was a much-debated portion of the drama. Basically, it could have been far better...but in my opinion, given the last few episodes, the ending we got was really the best one possible. I know too many people with personalities similar to Jung to have been at all pleased with a normal 'happily ever after'. The ending we got was the right one, even though had the last few episodes been different, the ending could have been far stronger. Which would obviously have been far preferable. But, all things being as they were, I actually loved the three years apart bit. He needed that time apart to learn what love meant, and having known people whose minds worked like his did, that acknowledgement that he didn't actually know how to love her was huge, and was what gave me serious hope that they could have a real, workable relationship in the future.

Overall: 3/5

Well, there's no surprise.
And it is of course helpful In-Ha doing his best to
make this a black-hat drama. XD

This is a drama that started out 5/5 absolutely fascinating me, then dragged in a few annoying elements, and eventually turned into Every Other Drama Out There™. I still recommend it - the first few episodes can't be beat for their perfect characterization and absolutely incredible ability to intrigue and mess with one's drama-expectations. The rest of it wasn't terrible...it's just that after the unbelievably strong start, to have it stutter near the end was disappointing. Still, that beginning makes it worth it. And of course, had the start not been so outstanding, the rest of the drama would have been fine.

And, yes, Seol wears an
occasional black hat as well. :) 

WWW ~ May 2016 Edition

The BHCB picks for what we're watching this May!  (And we're only 12 days late, yaaay.)


Korean Dramas:
~ Lucky Romance 
Empress:  *rolls eyes* *rolls eyes again* 1) not feeling like rom-coms at the moment 2) I resent the cheap nerd who believes in marriage as it's meant to be. :P
Ambassador:  When the synopsis for this first came out, I wasn't interested.  THEN they cast Lee Soo Hyuk as second lead.  I'm ABSOLUTELY watching it now.  Especially since his character will be a tennis player.  Despite the iffy sounding premise, it's a primetime kdrama so it can't be TOO bad, so YES, I'll be watching it... while patiently waiting for Lee Soo Hyuk to be cast in a lead role.  However, depending on how they handle the fortune telling and seduction aspects, I'll drop it, if I can't condone it.
Empress:  Wait, WHAT? C'mon, drama-world...Well, I agree that kdramas can tone down some pretty questionable material...most likely I'll only watch clips, though. Supplied by you. XD
Unni:  WAAAAAAAAAY too much questionable material for me. Okay Secret Garden with the body swapping was interesting but...seductions and fortune tellers no thank you!


~ Beast’s Beauty/The Beauty of the Beast
Empress:  My list is too long to be tempted by this. XD I, on the other hand........ :D
Ambassador:  The name is enough to pique my interest; I love Beauty and the Beast stories.  This doesn't appear from the synopsis to be a classic B&B type plot, but it does sound pretty good.  Plus, I've heard good things about Nam Goong Min's acting from the Empress.  
Unni:  Hmmm...this one looks like something I might watch. I’ll probably wait to see some reactions and clips before I commit.


~ Another Oh Hae Young
Empress:  Curious about the seeing the future part...maybe. If it gets good reviews I might check it out. :D
Ambassador:  Rom-com isn't my favorite genre but this one sounds like it will be a lot of fun.  It’ll be interesting to see Seo Hyun Jin and Jeon Hye Bin face off against each other- I've liked what I've seen of both of their acting in other dramas.  Also KIM MI KYUNG IS IN IT.  And Lee Jae Yoon.  Lots of great reasons to check it out besides the quirky synopsis. :D
Unni:  This could be so cute and comical! I’ll probably wait to see how it’s going before jumping on board.


~ Dear My Friends
Empress:  Nope. I saw trailers and was not interested.
Ambassador:  Not really interested.  Not even for Lee Kwang Soo.
Unni:  This sounds sweet! But not enough to make time to make it work.


~ Mirror of the Witch
Empress:  It sounds a little bit like Rapunzel...and what I've seen looks visually gorgeous, but I'm unlikely to watch it until I know more about the role of magic in the story. Then we'll see.... :D
Ambassador:  YES, I'M WATCHING THIS.  I've been wanting Yoon Shi Yoon to do a sageuk since I first saw him in Flower Boy Next Door and the fact that it's fantasy is the icing on the cake.  This will be his first starring role since his return from the military and I've been anticipating it since the news first broke.
Unni:  Okay! This seems just a little to dark for me and a little too much magic for my personal taste.


Chinese Dramas:
~ Little Husband
Empress:  *wrinkles nose* Mostly likely not. :)
Ambassador:  Nah.  Not my type.
Unni:  Nope! Poor Guy!


~ Precious Youth
Empress:  That sounds long. XD Probably not.
Ambassador:  Not really my type either, and I have too many other dramas to even think about trying this one right now, though Liu Shishi and Zheng Kai make it tempting.
Unni:  Sounds way too long for my interest level.


~ First Love
Empress:  LOL nope. XD
Ambassador:  Sounds like a soap opera.  Not interested, even for Hawick Lau.
Empress:  :P Same. Even with an intelligble synopsis.
Unni:  Not interested.


~ To Be a Better Man
Empress:  Most interesting so far, but still no.
Ambassador:  Sounds interesting but not enough to make me add it to my list.
Unni:  Interesting...but not list worthy.


~ Les Interpretes
Empress:  I kinda like the title. But nah.
Ambassador:  Yes, I want to see this one.  There has been quite a bit of buzz about it and Yang Mi usually plays fun characters.
Unni:  This one sounds like it could be really interesting.


~ Chinese Paladin 5
Empress:  It takes a lot to make me interested in Chinese dramas. And this sounds like the type of storyline I disagree with on a basic theological level. XD My list is way too long...
Ambassador:  I started Chinese Paladin 3 but haven't finished it yet.  I'm putting this on my 'to try some day' list because I do want to see it, but don't have time for it now.
Unni:  Someday I want to try a Paladin...but I have yet to make time for one, and with all of the fairy stuff. I am just not sure.


Japanese Dramas:
Because Japanese drama airs by seasons and the spring season started in April and runs until June (I think), there are no new Japanese dramas on which to report.

Empress:  In other words, I MIGHT CATCH UP ON SOME OF THE OTHER DRAMAS I'M SO BEHIND ON. :D YAY.
Ambassador:  SAME HEEEERE.  Waaaaay too many dramas and NEVER ENOUGH TIME.



What May dramas will you be watching?

The Magician \ Joseon Magician \ 조선마술사 \ Joseonmasoolsa

To put it most concisely....The Phantom of the Opera meets The Prestige meets The Titanic meets The Fall in Joseon-era Korea. Wow.

child Bo-Eum

This is the story of two slave children, Hwan-Hee {Yoo Seung-Ho} and Bo-Eum {Jo Yoon-Hee} who escape their {abusive in all possible ways} master in a bloody betrayal that ends in one assistant dead and their master in furious enemy hands.

Hwan-Hee on stage

As adults, one of the two is a master magician*, drowning self-hatred and the horror of his past in alcohol, drugs, and any pretty assistant he can get to follow him backstage. The other's horror is even more never-ending: she has claimed safety from the owner of their new magic show, and in exchange has become a palm reader and a gisaeng...and she spends her free time obsessively going after the thoughtless, pretty girls who attract her fellow escapee, leaving him demanding in angered frustration and the viewer wondering in shocked horror if she kills each and every one.

first meeting

Then Hwan-Hee meets a new girl. Sold by her parents, bound to obey for the safety of her brothers, Cheong-Myung {Go Ara} is as much a slave as he ever was, though she is a princess on her way to wed an emperor. Watched only by a sympathetic guard, she begins sneaking out at night to meet him, delighting in the one person who treats her "as a commoner" - as a person. 

You already know it's going nowhere good...and then their old master appears, here to steal the emperor's future bride and the ancient sword being sent as a gift. Or rather, he'll do that while accomplishing his main goal, which is revenge on the two who scarred his face and quite clearly left him for dead. 

I've seen it described as enchanting, and it is. Enchanting and poignant and lovely and painful all at once.

"You're like a family," Cheong-Myung says wistfully, after a night in the town's underbelly where she meets the stage hands and fellow performers.

"Are we?" Hwan-Hee asks, and the question is just as wistful.

The subject matter is {obviously...} very dark...yet all that I stated above is whispers and implications. Rather than the overwhelming darkness that could have been shown, you see light and color and glorious beauty that overlays the entire movie with a magical glow. It's a story of young love shadowed by the past and the future. 

Until you reach the end, when the young magician returns to meet the revenge that awaits him head-on, only to be drawn into a magical house of horrors, where lamp tricks and mirrors play with his mind, and every swirling curtain moves to show him another dying friend...And you realize exactly how young he is, as time turns back and he becomes again the helpless child, kneeling before his master and begging for the pain to stop. 

But he has grown in all those years away, and even as his master systematically tears him apart, he works his own kind of magic to restore justice once again.

Exactly what that means, and whether the ending is magic or wistfulness, I will leave you to discover when you watch it yourself.

*{For the curious, there is no actual magic involved on the part of the good guys. Besides a tortured loathing for the blue eye that marks him a freak, part of the scathing self-hatred mentioned above has to do with the fact that Hwan-Hee has no way to help the sick, starving peasants who frantically beg him to save them with his magic.}

ReQuip: Mrs. Cop 2 Episodes 9-10

Half-way through, Sassy Cop: 0, Sassy Villain: 1.

(ie where they've been since episode 2. Not that I mind all the intense stare-offs, but some forward plot progression might be good right about now. Until then, however, I will continue to ReQuip Kim Bum's face.)

~9~

~10~

~