For years, I’ve wondered why Korean filmmakers—as talented and imaginative as they are—couldn’t/wouldn’t make an animated film based on its rich cultural history or mythology like the wonderful Coco or The Book of Life. There are literally hundreds, or even thousands of stories that you can tell, with some embellishments of course.
I'm glad you wrote about this... I, too, was hesitant to watch the movie based on its title. However, after reading a few positive reviews and hearing my children's obsession with the soundtrack, my interest was peaked. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and was quite impressed with all the cultural nuggets sprinkled throughout. I even had a few lol moments. I'm glad you pointed out the Gyeongbokgung painting and its reference as a backdrop during a concert, I completely missed that. I'll have to watch it again with the kids.
I think you and I had exactly same reaction to it. Let's just say that "pleasantly surprised" is a good way to describe it. I also had a few LOL moments and one of the really, really good details they had that made me chuckle was the girls' 잠옷. That killed me--me living with my wife and 3 young daughters who wore almost exactly the same things as they were growing up... So precious...
There're supposedly more subtle (and obscure) things hidden throughout the movie. I'll have to go back and watch it again to try and find those things.
Thank you for the wonderful cultural notes, here. My favorite K-Dramas are the historical (I know, huge surprise. Not.) and knowing the "origin stories" are a part of this production is the big selling point for me. :)
That's what I'm here for. To provide perspective for the Kdramas and movies, haha... Seriously though, the movies and dramas become so much better when you understand the background.
I discovered your blog some months ago, and always look forward to it. After reading this, I will definitely have to watch the movie. Having watched (and re-watched) well over 300 K-dramas since the beginning of the Covid era, I prefer the subtitles to English, due to the emotions that are conveyed with the “real” speech. So I wasn’t planning to watch this! But based on your review and a few others, I will likely enjoy it. Thank you for always having interesting stuff to say!
Oh wow... Thank you so much for those comments!! It is this type of kind words that keeps me going.
300+ K-dramas in 5 years sounds unfathomable to me. Out of curiosity, what was your favorite one(s)? You must have learned a lot of Korean during that time...
LOL! It sounds unfathomable to me, as well, but it’s true. I am retired, old, and fairly unhealthy, so spending a lot of hours like this has been possible, and enjoyable. Before the K-dramas caught me, I would watch a couple of (mostly American, and a wide variety) movies every night. The first K-drama I watched was “100 Days My Prince”, and it was so very different in so many ways that I was hooked. These days, I almost never watch anything but! You would think I might have learned a lot of Korean, but, while I do recognize some words and phrases, I would be lost in an actual conversation. I have considered doing some online courses, but have yet to get serious about learning (can’t I just take a pill?). It’s hard to say which are my favorites. It depends on my mood, I guess. I have seen “100 Days” several times, as well as “The King, Eternal Monarch”, “Rookie Historian”, “Bride of Habaek”, “A Korean Odyssey”, “Vagabond”, “My Holo Love”, “Mystic Pop-up Bar”, “Hotel Del Luna”, “Melting Me Softly”, “Crash Landing on You”, “Legend of the Blue Sea”, “Shopping King Louis”, “Healer” - the favorites list is too long!! Basically, anything that isn’t too skanky, too violent, too bloody, too mean. I like mythology, fantasy, history, connections, action, love stories, mysteries, science fiction, comedy, and even dumb and ridiculous as long as they are reasonably clean, gratifying stories.
It is thanks to this addiction that I became interested in Korea in general. I was amazed to learn that Korea had the first metal movable type, and that there are more Dolmens there than anywhere else on the globe. I look up all sorts of things I see in the dramas, which can lead to a whole day of “down the rabbit hole” research about history, mythology, wildlife, customs, foods, etc. I have even researched ancient breeds of Korean dogs, the Wolf they likely descend from (Canis lupus Chaco), and their connection to other ancient breeds like the Dingo. I’ll stop here before it becomes a book! Anyway, thanks again for your blog.
Whenever my readers reply or comment to my blog with references to Kdramas, I'm almost always lost because I haven't watched or even heard of most of them. I had to look up most of the dramas that you've listed - haha.
Habaek is an interesting one from the mythology perspective and someone whom I wanted to look into a little closer and write about.
It is awesome that you've found something in Korea that you like. It is erudite readers such as yourself who keeps me on my toes -- about the accuracy of what I end up writing. Again, thank you for your comments and I'll keep the story(ies) coming.
I'm glad you wrote about this... I, too, was hesitant to watch the movie based on its title. However, after reading a few positive reviews and hearing my children's obsession with the soundtrack, my interest was peaked. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and was quite impressed with all the cultural nuggets sprinkled throughout. I even had a few lol moments. I'm glad you pointed out the Gyeongbokgung painting and its reference as a backdrop during a concert, I completely missed that. I'll have to watch it again with the kids.
I think you and I had exactly same reaction to it. Let's just say that "pleasantly surprised" is a good way to describe it. I also had a few LOL moments and one of the really, really good details they had that made me chuckle was the girls' 잠옷. That killed me--me living with my wife and 3 young daughters who wore almost exactly the same things as they were growing up... So precious...
There're supposedly more subtle (and obscure) things hidden throughout the movie. I'll have to go back and watch it again to try and find those things.
Thank you for the wonderful cultural notes, here. My favorite K-Dramas are the historical (I know, huge surprise. Not.) and knowing the "origin stories" are a part of this production is the big selling point for me. :)
That's what I'm here for. To provide perspective for the Kdramas and movies, haha... Seriously though, the movies and dramas become so much better when you understand the background.
I discovered your blog some months ago, and always look forward to it. After reading this, I will definitely have to watch the movie. Having watched (and re-watched) well over 300 K-dramas since the beginning of the Covid era, I prefer the subtitles to English, due to the emotions that are conveyed with the “real” speech. So I wasn’t planning to watch this! But based on your review and a few others, I will likely enjoy it. Thank you for always having interesting stuff to say!
Oh wow... Thank you so much for those comments!! It is this type of kind words that keeps me going.
300+ K-dramas in 5 years sounds unfathomable to me. Out of curiosity, what was your favorite one(s)? You must have learned a lot of Korean during that time...
LOL! It sounds unfathomable to me, as well, but it’s true. I am retired, old, and fairly unhealthy, so spending a lot of hours like this has been possible, and enjoyable. Before the K-dramas caught me, I would watch a couple of (mostly American, and a wide variety) movies every night. The first K-drama I watched was “100 Days My Prince”, and it was so very different in so many ways that I was hooked. These days, I almost never watch anything but! You would think I might have learned a lot of Korean, but, while I do recognize some words and phrases, I would be lost in an actual conversation. I have considered doing some online courses, but have yet to get serious about learning (can’t I just take a pill?). It’s hard to say which are my favorites. It depends on my mood, I guess. I have seen “100 Days” several times, as well as “The King, Eternal Monarch”, “Rookie Historian”, “Bride of Habaek”, “A Korean Odyssey”, “Vagabond”, “My Holo Love”, “Mystic Pop-up Bar”, “Hotel Del Luna”, “Melting Me Softly”, “Crash Landing on You”, “Legend of the Blue Sea”, “Shopping King Louis”, “Healer” - the favorites list is too long!! Basically, anything that isn’t too skanky, too violent, too bloody, too mean. I like mythology, fantasy, history, connections, action, love stories, mysteries, science fiction, comedy, and even dumb and ridiculous as long as they are reasonably clean, gratifying stories.
It is thanks to this addiction that I became interested in Korea in general. I was amazed to learn that Korea had the first metal movable type, and that there are more Dolmens there than anywhere else on the globe. I look up all sorts of things I see in the dramas, which can lead to a whole day of “down the rabbit hole” research about history, mythology, wildlife, customs, foods, etc. I have even researched ancient breeds of Korean dogs, the Wolf they likely descend from (Canis lupus Chaco), and their connection to other ancient breeds like the Dingo. I’ll stop here before it becomes a book! Anyway, thanks again for your blog.
Whenever my readers reply or comment to my blog with references to Kdramas, I'm almost always lost because I haven't watched or even heard of most of them. I had to look up most of the dramas that you've listed - haha.
Habaek is an interesting one from the mythology perspective and someone whom I wanted to look into a little closer and write about.
It is awesome that you've found something in Korea that you like. It is erudite readers such as yourself who keeps me on my toes -- about the accuracy of what I end up writing. Again, thank you for your comments and I'll keep the story(ies) coming.