Very corny Western cast.
Yesterday, while watching this movie, I made an interesting self-discovery. To be blunt: I prefer Song Joong Ki's acting in movies more than in TV dramas. His acting in TV dramas is below average, and his facial expressions are the same for sadness, anger, happiness or emotion. In the movies, I see it differently; it seems that the director extracts all the artistic quality he has, and I consider that commendable. Anyway, now I have discovered what bothered me about his acting: the pasteurization that Korean TV dramas suffer. Korea is always more concerned with what the public thinks or will think than with the art itself of the product it broadcasts.About the drama, I found the synopsis interesting and the events very well developed and dynamic. However, it is necessary to mention the terrible acting of the Western cast of the film, all acting in a very corny way and causing embarrassment in every speech. I wonder how NETFLIX selected this cast, based on what?
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A tale of resilience and patience
A film about illegal immigration, seeking refuge, and the right to live, ‘My Name is Loh Kiwan’ aims at showing us the grim reality of immigration and life as a nomad. Loh Kiwan, played by Song Joong-ki, is a young North Korean defector who is forced to enter Belgium in a desperate attempt to survive. Enduring harsh conditions as the Belgian government determines his fate, he meets Marie, a drug addict seeking refuge from her troubled reality. Their survival amid the odds serves as the basic premise of the film.The film masterfully juxtaposes the main plotline with a secondary narrative involving Marie’s entanglement with nefarious elements. While this subplot adds depth to her character, it occasionally falters in its execution, with certain aspects feeling less compelling than others. While grappling with technical shortcomings, the film’s central message of hope and resilience shines through, leaving viewers with a profound sense of reflection and empathy for the struggles of refugees. My Name is Loh Kiwan stands as a testament to the power of love to transcend barriers and illuminate the darkest corners of the human experience.
My Rating : 7.5/10
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Great movie ruined by the romance.
The plot was interesting enough on its own that I didn't know it needed this "action" plot type part.I watched it as soon as it was released because I was waiting for it and SJK captivated me from the first scene. The actress is very talented but the romance plot could have delivered the same plot devices the writer needed without the unnecessary drama that waters down the plot and makes it more unrealistic.
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Boring
Fell asleep multiple times while watching it. It took me 5 days to finish this movie cause its boring af. Most 16 episodes drama only took me 2 days to finish but this 2 hours took me 5 days. ZZZzzzzZZzZZzZZZzZZzzzzZZZZzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzEsta resenha foi útil para você?
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A World of Deviant, Horrible People!
The film strives to be inspirational and sentimental, but it comes up short on both. In the beginning, we find ourselves cheering and rooting for Loh Kiwan, hoping that he can find a better life than the one he’s been living in North Korea and China.Loh Kiwan emigrates to Belgium with the hope of starting a new life. He has only the money his mother left him as well as whatever money were obtained by selling her corpse. In Belgium, we find that Kiwan has traded one bad situation for another. He has to wait several months before he can apply for asylum. He’s beaten up by thugs, and he has his wallet stolen by Marie, another North Korean defector who has been living in Belgium with her father. Marie is a rather disgusting woman who smokes, does drugs, and finds herself in the clutches of a ruthless underworld Belgian gang. Of course, it’s hard to sympathize with a woman as immature and cowardly as Marie is. After all, she made her world what it is, while Kiwan is trying to change his.
Kiwan finds himself sleeping in public bathrooms or anywhere he can find shelter against the bitter winter cold. After a time, he finally finds himself a job in a slaughterhouse. Once again, a former North Korean defector vows to help him, only to betray him when he needs her help the most. It seems that Kiwan can’t seem to catch a break anywhere. The Belgian government requires proof that he’s a North Korean defector since many Chinese have used that in order to gain residence in the country.
Meanwhile, Marie is an expert marksman with guns, and she’s used by the Belgian gang boss to earn money and help him pay off his debt. Caught up in the world of drugs and violence, Marie doesn’t see anything changing. A typical rebellious daughter, who doesn’t know the truth about her own mother’s death, uses it as an excuse for her pathetic life.
In the end, we wonder just who is saving whom. We initially believe that Marie will help Kiwan, but in the end, it’s pretty much the reverse as Kiwan finally helps Marie escape the horrible underworld, but at the price of leaving the country.
The story is based upon a book written by Marie about Loh Kiwan. I’d be interested in finding out how much of this film is fact or dramatized. The film could have been so much better. While it’s brutal in its honesty, its attempt to be romantic and sentimental fail. Marie is hardly appealing in any way, shape, or form, and the ultimate hero of the story is Kiwan for finding some way to keep on going, even after the beatings, the betrayals, and being in a country where very little ever goes right for him. Kiwan is clearly made of sterner stuff, and he’s a far stronger person than Marie could ever hope to be. Marie is simply petulant and cowardly.
Peformances were very good in this film. It’s just too bad that it wasn’t nearly as inspirational as it could have been. It certainly doesn’t paint a very good picture of Belgium as a country either. Given his limited funds, Kiwan isn’t able to simply leave and go somewhere else until the end when he finally meets Marie in Madagascar, which is where the film ends. Ironically, it’s also the only scene in the film where there is actual sunlight. It’s almost as if the rest of the world is dark, gray, and bleak. Unfortunately, most of this film is that way too. Overall, the film was a disappointment, which is a shame given the story and performances.
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Unrealistic and underwhelming
Just... a big no. I really liked this actor in the drama "vincenzo" so i was looking forward to his new movie but honestly? That was the most disappointing thing i saw of this actor so far. Not because of his acting, but that he would accept and play such a role in such an unrealistic anx underwhelming story. I just couldnt bring myself to finish it, every minute of it felt like 5 or 10 minutes. Dropped it around half of it. Just a no.I thought this would be an interesting thriller, instead the focus rather became their romance which - is unrealistic as well. It wasn't love at first glance noir did they have good chemistry or enough time to bond. He would risk everything for her, even took/tried a drug asking her how she can consume it when it tastes bad, despite having enough problems of his own. The writers tried to make her an independent woman but failed big time.
The action could have been better as well, not just him getting beaten up by anyone he meets basically.
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