Films I would Recommend in a Heartbeat (Part II)
Heartwarming Movies
Summer is here and with it I'm craving for some romance. Because of this I decided to make a list with 6 movies that I enjoyed, and every hopeless romantic will as well, in my opinion. Some of them are happy, others are bittersweet and sad, but nonetheless they are beautiful. I hope you'll love them as much as I did. Happy watching!
1. A Moment to Remember 
Genre: Romance, Melodrama
Main Actors: Jung Woo Sung, Son Ye Jin
Maybe one of the most popular movies in Korea that even made a name for itself overseas. A Moment to Remember is one of my favorite movies. It's a bittersweet love story between a man and a woman. It will bring you tears and joy, but above all it will make you appreciate life and health. What would you do if the dearest person in your life can't remember you? Will you leave her or stay by her side? These are some of the questions you'll ask yourself while watching this movie.Cheol Su (Jung Woo Sung) - a 27 foreman that dreams of becoming an architect. A manly man, who appears rough, but attractive, with an independent nature and confidence. The moment he meets Su Jin, he discovers the beauty in life and how you can put someone else above yourself.
Su Jin (Son Ye Jin) - a chic young woman, with an open mind and a straightforward personality. At the moment she realizes her feelings for Cheol Su she does everything in her power to prove her love without hiding or waiting. That is until she starts losing her memories.
Quote: "If you forget everything, I'll pop up out of nowhere. Like now. And I'll hit on you. You won't be able to turn me down. We'll start anew every day. Like permanent dating. Awesome, isn't it?"- Cheol Su
2. Tada, Kimi Wo Aishiteru - 2006
Genre: Romance, Melodrama, Youth
Main Actors: Tamaki Hiroshi, Miyazaki Aoi
Maybe one of the most innocent love stories out there. In my case I don't watch many Japanese romantic movies, so this is going to be the single one on this list. I'm a little shocked that it isn't more popular among viewers because it was really meaningful and sweet. It will remind you of your first love or of a person that had a crush on you in high schoo, but you never paid attention to her/him. Do we truly value the people around us, or do we take them for granted? It was a question I asked myself at the end of the movie.Makoto (Tamaki Hiroshi) - a shy boy, that is used to being alone and ignored, the only happiness in his life is a camera. He represents a teenager that is doubtful of his talents and ideas, but changes when he meets the strange Shizuru who eventually becomes his friend.
Shizuru (Miyazaki Aoi) - a quirky girl that isn't interested in fashion, celebrities or relationships. Unlike Makoto, she doesn't care what people think of her and is always true to herself. She's innocent to a fault but hides behind her a secret that will affect everyone. Also, she loves Makoto with all her heart without waiting for something in return.
Quote: "She used to lie very often… I want to be fooled by her lies for just a while longer." - Makoto
3. Portrait of a Beauty - 2008
Genre: Romance, Historical, Mature, Tragedy
Main Actors: Kim Nam Gil, Kim Gyu Ri
I'm a huge fan of Kim Nam Gil so of course I had to watch his movie, and it was so worth it. First, I want to point out just how beautiful Kim Gyu Ri was here, just breathtaking! (And this comes from a girl.) This is a tragic story, as a warning. These are complex characters with backgrounds and a future path. It's all based on decisions and if they decide to follow either their heart or head. Is love enough between two people, or do you need something else as well?Kang Mu (Kim Nam Gil) - this character reminded me a lot of Bi Dam. At first he seemed goofy, with an empty head, but after some time you discover there is so much more to him. He is a man that loved blindly. Apart from carnal attraction, he was in love with her soul... even if that transformed him into a demon.
Yun Bok (KIm Gyu Ri) - she lived her life as a man, only to meet him and make her feel like a woman again. She was an artist, something that in those times a woman wasn't allowed to be. Sometimes she seemed as innocent as a child and sometimes I could confuse her for a vixen, in both ways attractive. In the end she was a woman.
Quote: "I've never loved her half-heartedly, never once been untruthful with my heart." - Kang Mu
4. Always - 2011
Genre: Romance, Melodrama, Life
Main Actors: So Ji Sub, Han Hyo Joo
I loved this movie deeply. It was beautiful and moving. It makes you see that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. It's a story that makes you reflect on your inner beauty and proves that the inside is more dashing than the outside. How amazing can it be to fall in love with a person only based on their soul. Knowing that you've never seen them before and never will in the future but still cherishing and appreciating him for who he truly is. Two persons without family find each other. Is it possible for us to recognise someone only with our heart?Cheol Min (So Ji Sub) - a broken man without a pursuit in life. A former boxer now turned guard. He never felt love, until meeting Jeong Hwa. He learned to love her despite her blindness and became a better man. His love for her was so touching that I cried several times. He tried redeeming himself for her and for the chance of her seeing again.
Jeong Hwa (Han Hyo Joo) - a blind woman who tries to see the bright side of her life, always trying to live as a normal person. She is sincere and cheerful to the point that you can almost forget about her disability, exactly the opposite of Cheol Min. She is his ray of sun even if she can't see him. He makes her want to see again.
Quote: "I told you I would see you face only.So why did you make me see myself only?" - Jeong Hwa
5. Pained - 2011
Genre: Romance, Melodrama
Main Actors: Kwon Sang Woo, Jung Ryeo Won
This is one of my favorite movies. I loved it so much that I rewatched it 3 times. A love story between a man that can't feel pain and a woman who is very sensitive to pain due to having hemophilia. In one sentence, two people that should have never met. On the other hand, they both make each other feel complete, receiving the love they've never had. How far can you go for your loved one? Is physical pain worse, or breaking from inside out hurts more?Nam Soon (Kwon Sang Woo) - a man that acts like a punch-bag for a loan shark. Since his parents died in an accident, he realized he couldn't feel physical pain anymore. He lost his desire to live, putting his life in danger every day. Everything changes when he meets Dong Hyeon, a woman who can die from a single scratch.
Dong Hyeon (Jung Ryeo Won) - living alone since her parents died from an illness, buried in debts, Dong Hyeon, fears every day like her last. A woman with an immense desire to be alive. Because of having hemophilia, every scratch or bruise is life threatening. The moment she sees Nam Soon she starts living for and through him.
Quote: "From now on tell me if you wanna cry, I'll cry for you" - Dong Hyeon
6. Love 911 - 2012
Genre: Romance, Drama, Comedy
Main Cast: Go Soo, Han Hyo Joo
A normal love at first look. A firefighter and a doctor meet and in the end fall in love and cure their scars. Everyone can identify with those characters, because they are very human. All of us have our demons and fears, the question stands if we are brave enough to face them without fear. It's a simple and sweet story that will make you appreciate what you have. Should we all live today like it is the last one?Kang Il (Go Soo) - a firefighter that has lost his wife who he still loves deeply. At first he seems like a carefree and easygoing person, but while looking deeper you discover his true being: a man that lives in the past. By meeting Mi Soo, he rediscovers his spark in life and learns how to let go of the past.
Mi Soo (Han Hyo Joo) - a doctor with a boyish and volcanic attitude. Even if she seems like an open book, she is in fact very closed regarding her life. She is afraid to trust anybody and tries to push people away, until she meets Kang Il who is still faithful to his dead wife.
Quote: "If I come looking for you again please hide. Because I have no confidence in myself." - Mi Soo
Well, this is it :D I hope you liked my picks and please do tell your opinions as well!
