Seo Bok

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.

As another reviewer stated, it's not bad to watch once. It has some elements that make it engaging, like some very well done CGI (particularly the super-power scenes) and an emotional score. Gong Yoo and Park Bo Gum both nail their roles, but the plot was lacking, and it failed to connect on an emotional level. The premise was interesting, but ultimately I was left feeling like what exactly was the point of the movie. I think the overall message of what it means to be human is decent, but I've seen it done better. I felt this was somewhat of a disappointment, as it had all the right elements but they somehow failed to impress. I think it was a decent watch but I wouldn't recommend it unless you are a huge fan of the lead actors and have nothing else to watch.

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.

Although there are some action scenes and the story is based on human cloning, the film is philosophical.

It has a deep core and asks deep questions.. Why do we fear death? Why we want to live forever?

Is "how long we live" more important than "how we live"?

Are we living well?

Is there a purpose for our life?

The moment our death approaches, will we say that we regret or that we are proud of how we lived?

What would the world look like if humans could choose to live forever?

The film indirectly answers all these questions. And in the end Ki Heon answers the most important question.... Do you know now how the world gonna be if humans could find a way to immortality? And he answers, "Yes, I know." Ki heon represents a normal human who fears death and wishes to live longer and Seobok is immortality sought by everyone.

If you are expecting an action movie, the movie will be disappointing. It is a philosophical movie about human nature, death and life. And how humans might destroy each other if they could control who lives and who dies.

...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!