Wonderland

I had high expectations for this film due to its intriguing storyline and the presence of talented actors. However, it ended up being somewhat of a disappointment. The narrative was quite convoluted, making it difficult to follow unless you had already read the story it was based on. This lack of clarity meant that, without prior knowledge of the plot, viewers might find themselves confused or only understand the unfolding events much later. Despite the promising premise, the execution fell short, leaving many questions unanswered and many scenes feeling disjointed.

What kept me engaged were the performances of the actors, who delivered their roles with commendable skill and depth. Their talent was the saving grace of the film, bringing some life to an otherwise muddled storyline. It's a pity that their efforts were overshadowed by the film's structural issues.

In the end, while the film had its moments, it didn't live up to the high expectations I had. I can only give it a 5 out of 10, primarily because of the actors' performances, whom I truly admire. Their dedication and talent shone through, even if the film itself did not.

I saw it in film festival amongst other indie films. It is quite good.

Enchanting yet flawed film that offers a visually stunning experience while falling short in some narrative aspects.

Themes of courage, friendship, and self-discovery are universally appealing, their execution in the film is somewhat inconsistent. The movie tends to rely heavily on exposition rather than allowing the story to unfold naturally through the characters' actions and interactions. This approach can make the narrative feel disjointed and less engaging.

It is a film that shines brightly in terms of visual artistry but falters in its storytelling and character development. It is a movie that can be enjoyed for its aesthetic beauty and moments of humor, but it may leave some viewers wanting more depth and coherence in its narrative.

Overall it is quite solid.

With the reality and impact of AI on the horizon, the premise of this thought-provoking movie is what if a technology business could create a convincing, life-based avatar of a loved one who's died or is in a vegetative state. The business model requires you to maintain their 'life' by subscription and to pay for things they 'need' or 'want' as you interact with them. This postpones mourning for the living but creates ripples in their lives that leaves the pain of their losses fresh.

It asks what would you pay to have one more conversation with your mother or father, or hide a mother's death from young child, or watch your dead child grow up on your cell phone through an app? What if you cannot afford the service in perpetuity? What if someone lost to you comes back to life a different person than the avatar you've come to love?

Very thought provking premise, the actors were almost less important though Park Bo-Geum is always compelling.

I would strongly suggest that people research the premise of the movie before watching as it takes a long time before the storyline becomes clear. In a world where loved ones who have passed but can be created in an AI universe we see stories of how people connect and how our memories of people are not all they seem. The movie cast includes Tang Wei, Bae Suzy, Park Bo-gum and Gong Yoo who along with the rest of the cast deliver great performances. I am not surprised it failed to be popular in Korean cinemas on release as it was released in the summer when you expect action blockbusters not films leaving viewers to question the depths of human connection. I viewed it on a streaming service, knew the plot and thought it was an interesting watch.

An interesting movie that shows the capabilities of a futuristic AI and how intrincated could be with the people in the mourning of future generations. It never explain the "how" that happened, it only shows the circumstances of each individual who choose to take the services. It is a movie about boundaries, and the limits of what's real and what's not.

At the end is all about what we feel, how we face the reality and how easy or hard could be the company with someone who we love. How we can shape the memories of someone the way we wanted and how those memories of someone we idealized could be different from the real person.