Movies for the Memorial Day Weekend Holiday Viewing (2014)

Here in the U.S., we are getting ready (most of us) for a long, hot holiday weekend, Memorial Day. For those on the coast, we know that this mean triple the traffic, accidents, short tempered drivers and just being miserable on the road. But for those lucky, it means some great barbecues and food galore.

So, for those times when you are wondering about what to watch, here are some of the movies that I watched that were released/watched in 2014. I watch a lot of movies and a lot of them haven’t been reviewed here. If I did, I will add the link. The movies are not listed in any particular order. Let’s see how many you’ve watched?

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My Palpitating Life
(My Brilliant Life)

Stars Kang Dong Won and Song Hye Kyo in the leads as a young couple who when they were 17-years-old, learns that they will have a baby. The couple feels uneasy and they wait for the birth of their first child, a beautiful boy. Their baby is named Ah Reum and the couple learns that he has Progeria syndrome, a rare genetic defect that will cause their baby to show advanced aging from an early age. Ah Reum grows up to become a 17-year-old boy who likes reading and writing. He has the mind of a 17-year-old, but he looks like a withering old man. He becomes interested in a girl his age.

Brief Musing: Despite what you would expect to be a sad ending, this was an excellent story! Not only from the leads but Jo Seong Mok as Han Ah Reum was simply amazing! As you can expect, you will have a better appreciation for your life after watching this. Rating: PG

Monster

Stars Lee Min Ki and Kim Go Eun in the lead where Bok Sun lives with her younger sibling and runs a street stand. Bok Sun is considered slow; but when people anger her she goes crazy, literally and is known as the “crazy woman”. One day, cold-blooded killer Tae Soo appears in front of her. To hide his secret, he kills Bok Sun’s younger sibling. Bok Sun then goes after Tae Soo for revenge, and at the same time, Tae Soo goes after Bok Sun.

Brief Musing: Yes, this is not for the faint at heart. This movie is full of violence! At time, the violence is over the top! But, one thing for sure, Min Ki plays an AWESOME sadistic, crazy man! I personally had fun watching it but it is overkill….WAY OVER!! Rating: R (BIG TIME)

Miss Granny

Stars Shim Eun Kyeong and Na Moon Hee as the leads where Oh Mal Soon is a 74-year-old lady who loves to cuss and showing off her son is her only ray of light. One day she finds out her family is sending her to her home. She takes a walk in the night and finds herself attracted to the light of “Youth Photo Studio”. She gets made up for the first time in her life and takes a portrait of herself. On the way out, she is shocked at the way she looks; pearly white skin like Audrey Hepburn and slim body. She has mysteriously transformed from an old granny and became a twenty-year-old pretty young lady once again.

Brief Musing: This is simply a MUST-SEE! Not only is the acting the best, it is very, very funny! Shim Eun Kyeong had the mannerism of an older woman down! She made you believe that she was an older woman transformed! This is a movie that pretty much the entire family can enjoy. Rating: PG Review

Broken (2013)

Stars Jung Jae Young and Lee Sung Min in the leads as Sang-Hyun (Jung Jae Young), lost his wife and lives with his daughter Soo-Jin. One day, Soo-Jin is raped and murdered. Frustrated by the lack of progress in his daughter’s case, Sang-Hyun learns the identity of the two men who killed his daughter and the address of one of those two men. Sang-Hyun then goes to the home of the man and kills him. The father is now a fugitive.

Brief Musing: This is definitely a movie where you sympathized with the killer and it is your sensibilities of what is right vs. wrong that must kick in to remind you that this man is a killer. Yes, this is a movie hard to watch as it does feature violence but it is not over the top. Great acting by both actors as you would expect no less from them. Rating: R Review

Whistle Blower (2014)

Stars Park Hae Il and Yoo Yeon Seok in the leads where a current issue program producer, Min Chul (Park Hae Il) is desperate to get a scoop. One day he gets a source that ‘The Woman Medical’, the biggest sterility clinic in Korea, buys the ovum illegally. With instant feeling of exclusive, Min Chul launches the investigation. Soon he gets surprised to know Dr. Lee, the world’s first stem-cell founder, is involved in the case. With the full support from government Dr. Lee is not only the hope to the world’s incurables, but also the national hero. While hesitating to touch this big figure or not, he gets a call from anonymous who works for Dr. Lee’s lab, and gets to know tremendous truth behind his reputation.

Brief Musing: This is one of those rare movies whereby there really isn’t a “bad guy”. As you watch the movie and see what the real story is behind the lie that literally destroys the man for telling it but at the same time he benefits from it. A very thought-provoking movie with 2 good actors as well as supporting actors! Rating: PG

A Girl At My Door (2014)

Stars Bae Doo Na and Kim Sae Ron in the leads where Young-nam (Bae Doo Na) was a promising graduate of the police academy before she was transferred to the small seaside village, because of her misconduct. On her first day to the village, she encounters with Dohee (Kim Sae Ron) who is the girl living in the town with a somewhat gloomy looking face. As Young-nam tries to get used to her new surroundings, an accident occurs where Dohee’s grandma is killed by falling off the seashore cliff. To protect the girl from her stepfather’s abuse, Young-nam lets Dohee stay at her place but things turn out to be more mysterious as she gets to know her.

Brief Musing: You can’t get anything better in a movie than to have these two amazing actresses working together. Doo Na and Sae Ron were great together. The story is one that will surprise you as things happen that totally aren’t expected. I got into a brief argument on what happened with another viewer because sometimes people have a difference of opinions. I sure would like to know what you think! Rating: R

The Target (2014)

Stars Ryu Seung Ryong and lee Jin Wook in the leads as a man struggles to save his kidnapped wife, who is about to give birth. It is a remake of 2010 French film “Point Blank” directed by Fred Cavayé.

Brief Musing: I admit to being at a disadvantage because I have never seen the original. When I first was going to watch this, I thought it was going to be similar to the U.S movie of the same name but this is way different. Admittedly, this movie was more for Ryu Seung Ryong to shine more so than Lee Jin Wook. Overall, it is a good mystery/suspense movie with very little violence and more about the story. A good watch. Rating: PG-13 Review

A Hard Day (2014)

Stars Lee Sun Gyun and Jo Jin Woong as the leads where Detective Gun Soo (Lee Sun Gyun) is involved in a car accident which he attempts to cover up. He then falls into an unexpected situation with the only witness Chang Min (Jo Jin Woong) threatening him. Chang Min hides his true purpose and identity from Gun Soo.

Brief Musing: This movie was amazing! But then what else would you expect from Lee Sun Gyun! If he has ever done a bad movie, I just haven’t seen it. Nothing happens in this movie that you expect and just when you think you have everything figured out….what an ending! That’s all I’m going to say! Rating: PG-13 (Some violence)

Tazza – Hand of God (2014)

Stars T.O.P and Shin Se Kyung where Ham Dae Gil (T.O.P), a young man with natural born talents in gambling, makes a dazzling debut as a gambler and gets reunited with his first love Heo Mi Na (Shin Se Kyung). However, Dae Gil soon becomes the scapegoat of betrayal and conspiracy and is forced to be in the run. He plans to get revenge and prepares for one big, fated game for Min Na who has been helping him every step of the way.

Brief Musing: T.O.P! Do more movies! I’ve already reviewed this and said how much I really, really liked this movie; even more than the drama (Jang Hyuk) or the original movie (Jo Seung Woo)! Again, this is a MUST-SEE for a really good story! Rating: PG-13/R (hard to say..) Review

The Plan Man (2014)

Stars Jung Jae Young and Han Ji Min as the leads where Jung-seok (Jung Jae Young) is a librarian who goes about his daily life with everything planned down to the second. Having obsessive–compulsive personality disorder, he wakes up, crosses the road, visits the convenience store and goes to bed at the same time every day. Whenever he sees anything out of place, he can’t help himself but to rectify it, a trait that is particularly irksome to his co-workers. Jung-seok develops a crush for a local convenience store’s cashier who demonstrates a similar attention to order and cleanliness. When he finally works up the courage to tell her his feelings, he bumps into So-jung (Han Ji Min) instead, a messy musician and free spirit whose life is lived spontaneously, adventurously and impulsively.

Brief Musing: What do you get when you watch a movie with one of your favorite actors in a comedy for the next time? A really, good movie! Yes, even I wasn’t prepared for how funny Jung Jae Young could be. Han Ji Min is a natural! Definitely a clean fun movie for all! Rating: PG Review

For those that served or even those that supported their family members that served, here’s wishing you a great and celebratory Memorial Day. Don’t forget to honor our service men and women that served as well as gave their lives for this country.
NewKDramaAddict (Belinda)