The King (2017)

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Movie: The King (더 킹)
Release Date: January 18, 2017
Runtime: 134 min.
Genre: Crime / Drama
Distributor: Next Entertainment World

Main Cast:
Jo In Sung – Park Tae Soo
Jung Woo Sung – Han Kang Sik
Bae Sung Woo – Yang Dong Chul
Ryu Jun Yeol – Choi Doo Il
Kim Eui Sung – Kim Eung Soo
Kim A Joong – Lim Sang Hee
Kim So Jin – Ahn Hee Yeon

Review:
This movie is mostly from the side of our lead, Park Taesu, who narrates his childhood until becoming a criminal prosecutor, and getting into Han Kang Sik’s world. The story is predictable but I loved how entertaining the story was. A lot of the shots are also very slick and vibrant that kept me interested to find out what will happen to Taesu. This is a long movie but I didnt feel bored at all. Or maybe Jo Insung is just so darn good looking.

Felt sad about his friendship with Choi Du il. Why Ryu Junyeol always takes the role of a tragic character and does it so well? I also liked how they were able to weave real life events into the story. Jung Woo Sung is so handsome and looks so untouchable in this movie. And Jo In Sung nailed his character, even when he was acting as a high schooler, looking so timid in front of Kangsik or when he finally stood up against Kangsik. I’d like to believe that he won the elections 😏.

Rating: 8.5/10

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Unexpected Business Season 2 (2022)

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TV Show: Unexpected Business Season 2 (어쩌다 사장 시즌2)
Episodes: 13
Aired: Feb 17, 2022 – May 19, 2022
Aired On: Thursday
Original Network: tvN
Duration: 1 hr. 40 min.

Review:
Yay!! Another great season with old and new guests helping Tae Hyun and Insung manage this huge supermarket. Definitely a big step up from the cute and cozy convenience store from season 1.

They were busier this time so most scenes were them trying to serve the customers, although we still get to meet and hear the stories of the villagers. There were also more part timers per episode so less heart to heart conversations during dinner time.

First 5 episodes were centered on Insung’s friends – Kwangsoo, Woobin and Juhwan.

I’m sad the Hyunhee and Eunhyung only spent half day because they had to cut the day short. They were so funny!!

The next group of part timers were also great – Seunghwan, Kyungho, Hojun, Byungeun and Seolhyun. They elevated the dinner service with their own cooking, which gave Insung free time to chat with the guests. I love how they all came to support Taehyun and Insung.

They saved the best for last as Chairwoman Hyesoo, Gyunghye joined the two, and we even got a surprise visit from Hyojoo!! They were so nice and down to earth. Plus Kyungmin is back for his dinner live show.

Curious that majority of the guests are more from Insung’s friends/cast mates from his recent projects and just a few from Taehyun’s side. I want to see Kim Jong Kook or Jang Hyuk help them!

Wishing for season 3 please!! Maybe try a new business like a coffee shop, food truck or something totally different!!

In case you want to read my review of Season 1: Unexpected Business (2021)

Rating: 9/10

Escape from Mogadishu (2021)

Movie: Escape from Mogadishu (모가디슈)
Release Date: July 28, 2021
Runtime: 121 min.
Distributor: Lotte Cultureworks

Main Cast:
Kim Yun Seok – Han Shin Sung
Jo In Sung – Kang Dae Jin
Heo Jun Ho – Rim Yong Soo
Koo Gyo Hwan – Tae Joon Ki
Jeong Man Sik – Gong Soo Cheol
Kim So Jin – Kim Myung Hee
Kim Jae Hwa – Jo Soo Jin
Park Kyung Hye – Park Ji Eun

Review:
This movie is based on a true story when South and North Korea were fighting about UN membership. War broke out in Somalia and the two had to set aside their differences to escape from the war zone.

Loved the very slick Hollywood feel of this movie. The final car chase scene was nailbiting, even though I knew they were going to make it, I was sweating bullets watching the cars try to get past the Somalian police and rebels to get to the embassy.

What I felt this movie lacked was a resolution. For someone who didnt know the history, I wanted to know what happened after. Did SK get their UN membership or not? I think they forgot the plot in the end.

Rating: 8.5/10

The Great Battle (2018)

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Movie: The Great Battle (안시성)
Release Date: September 19, 2018
Runtime: 135 min.
Distributor: Next Entertainment World
Country: South Korea

Cast
Jo In Sung – Yang Manchu
Nam Joo Hyuk – Samul
Park Sung Woong – Taizhong
Bae Sung Woo – Choo Soo Ji
Um Tae Goo – Paso
Seol Hyun – Bekha
Park Byung Eun – Poong
Oh Dae Hwan – Hwalbo
Jung Eun Chae – Shi Mi
Sung Dong Il – Woo Dae

Review
As the movie name suggests, this 2 hour movie is about the 2 month battle between the 5,000 army of Commander Yang in Ansi vs the 200,000 army of Chinese emperor Taizhong.

Not sure how accurate the war strategy depicted in the movie, but while watching with my friend, we were thinking, if we were Yang, how can we defeat a strong army with few troops and limited resources? The answer is a lot of strategy, courage, and faith. We did think they could have done more to defeat the Chinese army, like using fire and pushing the ladder much earlier but i guess they delayed these for a more epic scenes.

This movie boasts of an ensemble cast so they tried to have some story for each one, like Samul’s trust in Yang, the rivalry between the Hwalbo and Poong, the tragic love story between Paso and Bekha, and love between Woo Dae and his mom. Jumong’s bow added a mythical touch to the story (like King Arthur and his sword or Thor and his hammer).

Rating: 8.5/10