Schimo
01-15-13, 10:37 AM
A Moment to Remember (2004)
Romantic dramas are definitely one of the genres with the greatest amount of bad representatives, but from time to time, as with most things, there is an exception.
A Moment to Remember is a multilayered story with stereotypical protagonists, a rich girl, Su-jin, and poor construction worker, Cheol-su, who coincidentally works for her father. However, everything else is far from being stereotyped. The story is in chronological order but it can be divided into several parts.
At the beginning we meet Su-jin at the moment of her's worst emotional state after her lover left her. She first run into Cheol-su in the shop, and shortly afterwards, while visiting building site which her father manages she founds out that Cheol-su works there. Then we get to know like a rather vulgar, but honest and principled construction worker who aspires to become an architect. Coincidentally the duo meets once again slowly begins to develop their more intimate relationship. Despite initial skepticism from Cheol-su they soon start living together and after some time they got married. Here ends the first part of the moive, which is not very different from a bunch of other romantic dramas and begins the second part which is most easily described as an emotional roller coaster.
After brief, seemingly idyllic marriage, Su-Jin learns that she is suffering from Alzheimer's. Introduction to this fact has been long considering that her forgetfulness is mentioned many times before diagnosis. Here begins a part of the film that makes it's story different from the others.
Woo-sung Jung and Son Ye-jin are brilliant in the lead roles. Writing is definitely meritorious for that performance since their characters are deeply developed. John H. Lee, who is slightly less famous Korean new wave filmmaker has done a great job. Objections are going to use of the camera in some scenes and music that is great but sometimes over-used. There is an obvious attempt to give musical background to every strong emotion of the main characters, but some scenes simply need less or no music.
The story is one of those that pins viewer to screen, even if he's the biggest hater of romance movies. It is not original, but it's widely developed and just stays in the memory. The secondary characters are all stereotypical, but blend to the story perfectly, just like comedy sequences.
Koreans just can't made a bad movie. Although they are specialist in crime-thrillers even a romantic drama/comedy (we must mention excellent My Sassy Girl from 2001.) is a genre in which they have top titles. A Moment to Remember is a real tearjerker and must see of the genre.
8,5/10
Romantic dramas are definitely one of the genres with the greatest amount of bad representatives, but from time to time, as with most things, there is an exception.
A Moment to Remember is a multilayered story with stereotypical protagonists, a rich girl, Su-jin, and poor construction worker, Cheol-su, who coincidentally works for her father. However, everything else is far from being stereotyped. The story is in chronological order but it can be divided into several parts.
At the beginning we meet Su-jin at the moment of her's worst emotional state after her lover left her. She first run into Cheol-su in the shop, and shortly afterwards, while visiting building site which her father manages she founds out that Cheol-su works there. Then we get to know like a rather vulgar, but honest and principled construction worker who aspires to become an architect. Coincidentally the duo meets once again slowly begins to develop their more intimate relationship. Despite initial skepticism from Cheol-su they soon start living together and after some time they got married. Here ends the first part of the moive, which is not very different from a bunch of other romantic dramas and begins the second part which is most easily described as an emotional roller coaster.
After brief, seemingly idyllic marriage, Su-Jin learns that she is suffering from Alzheimer's. Introduction to this fact has been long considering that her forgetfulness is mentioned many times before diagnosis. Here begins a part of the film that makes it's story different from the others.
Woo-sung Jung and Son Ye-jin are brilliant in the lead roles. Writing is definitely meritorious for that performance since their characters are deeply developed. John H. Lee, who is slightly less famous Korean new wave filmmaker has done a great job. Objections are going to use of the camera in some scenes and music that is great but sometimes over-used. There is an obvious attempt to give musical background to every strong emotion of the main characters, but some scenes simply need less or no music.
The story is one of those that pins viewer to screen, even if he's the biggest hater of romance movies. It is not original, but it's widely developed and just stays in the memory. The secondary characters are all stereotypical, but blend to the story perfectly, just like comedy sequences.
Koreans just can't made a bad movie. Although they are specialist in crime-thrillers even a romantic drama/comedy (we must mention excellent My Sassy Girl from 2001.) is a genre in which they have top titles. A Moment to Remember is a real tearjerker and must see of the genre.
8,5/10