Seobok

Entertaining big-budget sci-fi thriller. I have to say I mostly got what I wanted out of it, and that's a mix of pathos, road film and some action for good measure. It does have its shortcomings that keep it from being great, though.

Imagine having a male Asian version of Eleven from Stranger Things. Then give him a Frankenstein-type backstory and pair him with a skilled secret agent who has his own brand of unsavory past. They're the centerpiece of the film and their gradual bonding is at the heart of the story. This is the kind of thriller that takes cues from modern Hollywood cinema, but keeps that Korean flair in trying to wring out real emotions from its characters while putting them in some tough spots. It even goes overboard in that regard, with some slightly predictable, almost underwhelming scenes in the second half. The film's focus switches from an entertaining, sometimes touching road trip to borderline-corny melodrama with occasional SFX-heavy sequences. Still, even then the film has its moments; there's a particularly effective beach scene that manages to find a sense of melancholy amid all the obvious sugarcoating.

Overall, this is a polished, mostly fun and exciting ride that's worth a watch if you're into Korean genre fare and don't mind formulaic plotting. It won't blow you away, but it's got just enough going for it.

Despite of two of well known South Korea actor and one of my Favorites actor Goong Yoo teamed up with young talented actor Park Bo Gum, this movie kinda wasted their talent, if is not because their acting and lets put other unknown actor in it, this movie sadly will fail horribly, even Goong Yo and Park Bo Gum can't save this movie with their performance, feel like the story don't know where to go, if i can call it as food, i call it as bland taste with great garnish, but you don't want taste it again because that bland taste despite beautiful garnish on top of the food, i almost forget as soon i walk away from cinema, like i watch thousand like this, but nothing new or come of as special from it, eventually there is not enough depth back-story that make me wanna root and feel empathy for main character, everything feel rushed and director doesn't know what their aim for, i feel it kinda try hard to questioning about life and death philosophy, but c'mon, can we doing better than Seo Book look like he just wanna show up his super power and another half between it just some talk about life and death crisis with Ki Heon, i give 2 star for story and add bonuses 3 star because i like Goong Yoo and Park Bo Gum, but now i feel pity for them because they even can't maximize their potential of great performance because bad script and mediocre dialogue inside the movie that make you wondering why you can't even remember just one meaningful dialog from this movie, but yeah, once again this what i call as bland movie, just watch this if sure you never witnessed any other Sci-Fi movie in your lifetime.

The two main characters have good acting skills, but the storyline is boring.

I was looking forward to the movie because of Gong Yoo but I stayed for both him and Park Bo Gum. This is the first time I've seen Park Bo Gum's acting skills and I must say I really liked him and the way he portrays so much with such minimal expressions. The problem here is not the story line, but the way the film has been crafted, it is somehow a bit too rushed, and doesn't build up the way it could have. It needed some more depth and I can't really put my finger on it, but something is missing. I did like the film but I will not be seeing it again but I wish I could give it more stars just for Park Bo Gum, who is definitely the main star for me here. Gong Yoo is a great actor but the film didn't really give him a chance to develop his character or maybe there's just not enough there for him to portray. I wish the film was made better. I want to give it a 6.5.

...but somehow the script is not the best, and i think with the two lead actors they could've done so much more and better (because they are both great), but it stays a bit on the surface over all. Too bad!