Korean Movie Night: Train to Busan 부산행 (2016) Korean

Gong Yoo, Ma Dong Seok, Jung Yu Mi, Kim Su An, Kim Eui Sung, Choi Woo Shik, Ahn So Hee

Movie rating: 8/10     Neck score: A

I watched this one a while ago with my older sister and her husband.  He is a filmmaker and a zombie enthusiast, so I had to.  He actually bought it and watched it before I could even set up the movie night.  He loved it, so some of his opinions will be shared here as well.

This is one of the most heart filled zombie movies I have seen (I haven't seen that many, but my brother-in-law has, and he said the same thing).  While being gross and violent as all zombie movies must be, it isn't gratuitous violence, it is more about the story and the horror.  And it's plenty intense, because we have little kids and pregnant ladies in the mix, and you just can't help but be more worried about them.  Plus we have the claustrophobic terror of being in the confined space of the train.

The zombies themselves were very interesting, a good mix of body acting, gross make up, and probably some CGI.  But they were really good.  The contortion plus the movements was different and great.  It made it super weird, creepy, and just cool.

One thing that my brother-in-law really liked was the depth to all the characters.  While we had the classic horror film collection of characters, they each had their own depth and were humanized so that we felt things for all of them, even that rich selfish jerk.  We got to see their growth, such as Gong Yoo's character going from worst dad to best dad, or Choi Woo Shik who was too cool/awkward to admit he likes the girl, to becoming a hero to protect her.  Or "dad of the year" Teddy Bear Ma Dong Seok.  He was the best.  Just the very, very best.

Naturally the whole theme was about being united and helping each other and sacrifice.  The only people who survived were ones protected by sacrifice and love.  I would say it was intense over scary, and full of love and emotions.  It also touched on responsibility, and the bitterness of selfishness.

The campiest part was the deer at the beginning.

237. Goblin: the Great and Lonely God 쓸쓸하고 찬란하神-도깨비 (2016) Korean

Gong Yoo, Kim Go Eun, Lee Dong Wook, Yoo In Na, Yook Sung Jae

Drama Rating: 7/10     Neck Score: A

As always with this writer, this show was as watchable a all get out, but of course wasn't actually a great drama.  It was just a good enough drama.  I usually like her characters, and this was no exception.  The characters were the best part.  Especially the grim reaper and the bromance between the reaper and the dokkaebi.  I have never been obsessed with Lee Dong Wook before.  I've always liked him ok, but I've never like fallen in love with him.  Until now.  He was literally the best.  The worst part of this show was probably how they really didn't give the Reaper and Sunny (Yoo In Ah) enough screen time.  We were always shouting out and chanting for more Reaper and Sunny.  I loved that couple to the point of wishing they would date in real life (or at least being happy if they did) and that is saying something because wishing that sort of thing is rather silly.  I at least want a drama starring those two, because seriously good chemistry and interactions.  Of course Gong Yoo was also good, and sexy.  I didn't hate Kim Go Eun's character like I though I would, but I did wish she wasn't a high school student all the time.  That kept me from loving the main couple.  I liked them, but didn't love them, because icky.  So the real worst part of this show was that it was mopey from like episode 1.  There was so much moping.  It got old really fast, but then they would have wonderful bromance scenes, or Secretary Kim (aka Turtle, aka Jo Woo Jin).  Also the dream team- reaper, dokkaebi, and Duk Hwa.  Really most of the relationships were just great.  So it was super watchable and fun, as long as you could make it through all the pretty moping and pretty (and ugly) crying.  Definitely a win for Lee Dong Wook, the depressive diva reaper, and petty childish dokkaebi Gong Yoo.  They really sold the whole show... especially the reaper.

13. Big 빅 (2012) Korean

Gong Yoo, Lee Min Jung, Suzy

Drama Rating: 5.5/10     Neck Score: A

What else could the neck score be but an A when Gong Yoo plays both the main lead and the other man?  Well, I guess there is also the kid's normal body, but his neck was good too.  This is based off of the Tom Hanks movie Big, about a kid who's suddenly in a man's body.  Gong Yoo playing a kid in a man's body- YES!  Weird plot twists... no, no, no.  It was super good, but got less good the more plot twists got thrown in.  It got outright weird there at the end, which could have been better executed to make it more clear.  It's Hong Sisters as well, but its the least well done one I've seen so far (even with the ones I've seen after this) but it was still good.  Just a bit weird there at the end.  Gong Yoo is hot.  Everything is worth it!

5. Coffee Prince 커피프린스 1호점 (2007) Korean

Yoon Eun Hye, Gong Yoo, Lee Sun Kyun, Chae Jung An

Drama Rating: 6/10     Neck Score: B+

Another, and probably the most classic of all girls dressed as guys drama.  The creepy part is Yoon Eun Hye looks so much like a boy.  Seriously.  She just... yeah.  The think that makes this drama work is the chemistry.  Gong Yoo is a hot, hot man (with a hot, hot neck) and he's got a good "I want you" eye expression.  So we've also got some major gay things, because she seriously looks like a guy.  The other hot neck of this drama is that Japanese boy (Kim Jae Wook), but I don't think there is bad looking guy in the cast.  Even the one they call Gorilla (Lee Eon) is super hot.  Some boring story lines, and weird draggy plot devices, but the chemistry of the main couple probably makes up for a lot of that.