Slow and Steady

A Dystopia That Captivated 3.8 Million Viewers, The Overwhelming Worldview of 'Concrete Utopia' Concrete Market is a spinoff that continues the worldview of Director Um Tae-hwa's masterpiece Concrete Utopia, which was released in 2023 and received acclaim from both critics and audiences. The original film depicted the psychology of a group of humans facing extreme situations, set in the limited space of the "Hwang-gung Apartments," the only building left standing in Seoul after a devastating earthquake. Beyond the simple fear of disaster, it chillingly and realistically portrayed human selfishness and collective madness revealed under the pretext of survival, succeeding in capturing both box office success (attracting 3.8 million viewers) and critical acclaim. Therefore, public expectations for how this fascinating dystopian worldview would expand were naturally sky-high. Between Survival Instinct and Morality, The Heavy Philosophical Questions Posed by the Origin...

"What in Winter, That Thing in Spring"... The Strange Resonance of the Title The title, What in Winter, That Thing in Spring (literal translation), which drips with the unique sensibility of Japanese dramas, exudes an unusual aura from the start. A typical romance drama would likely use intuitive words like "Love," "Dating," or "Excitement," but this drama hangs up a vague and abstract title borrowing the senses of the seasons. It seems to be trying to talk about an emotion that lingers on the tip of the tongue but is hard to explain in words. The moment you play the drama, you realize that this ambiguity is the identity of this work. Without a flashy opening or stimulating events, a unique atmosphere that seems to exist somewhere between the cold air of winter and the listlessness of spring fills the screen. It is the start of a very unfamiliar drama that brings a wave of curiosity and bewilderment simultaneously, making you wonder, "What o...

"This is a Genre Possible Only in Japan!" The Essence of Absurdist Comedy The single thought lingering in my head throughout the movie was, "Whose head did this concept come from?" The movie Hell's Garden (Jigok-no-hanazono) is a work that encapsulates the unique B-grade sensibility of Japanese culture, also known as the "sick taste" (byeongmat) code. The direction feels like comic book imagination transferred directly to the screen, and the actors' acting—which is funnier because it is so serious—makes the viewer let out a wry smile before eventually getting sucked into that worldview. It confirms once again that this is a distinct domain that Hollywood or Korean cinema wouldn't dare attempt, one that only the Japanese film industry can digest. It is the birth of a truly "mind-boggling" movie with zero realism but a substantial pleasure derived from its brazen setting. Continuing the Lineage of School Violence Films? An Office Versio...

A Pleasant Surprise from Channel A Dramas, Landing High on Netflix Compared to other terrestrial broadcasters or comprehensive programming channels, Channel A produces significantly fewer dramas. Because of this, it is common for even drama fans to miss the fact that a new drama has started on Channel A. However, the atmosphere is different this time. As soon as the new weekend drama The Baby Has Arrived (literal translation) was released on Netflix, it vomited a spirit (showed impressive power) of rising to 5th place in 'Today's Top 10 Series in South Korea.' It is even more surprising because this achievement was made solely through word of mouth and the ripple effect of the OTT platform without much special promotion. I also discovered it by chance while browsing Netflix, and the moment I clicked, I started binge-watching it in one breath due to the unstoppable immersion. It is the protagonist of a pleasant surprise that feels like discovering a hidden gem. Verified Web ...