Alice: Boy from Wonderland (2015)

This movie is psychodelic and makes you insane with trying to guess what is dream and what is reality. It's shown in the form of sweet fairytale with some lite horror trace. During the movie almost nothing happens, just pieces of dreams illogically messed. After finishing the movie you still barely understand what was happening or don't get it at all. You might still be able to figure out the story somehow. And I think that the story is pretty interesting and unusual. It's just the sreenwriting is nonsense.

The cinematography is somehow pretty here: beautiful nature, people, environment, interactions of the main couple.

We the viewers are also not pleased with absence of the useless hysteric characters (the girl's mother and shaman-woman) which are in almost every Korean movie-drama. Just as annoying as always.Good that there are not many of this kinda scenes.

What's for acting, it was okay. Good main cast. Jung So Min is one of my favorite korean actresses. Though her acting is not perfect, but she is very natural and adorable herself. Hong Jong Hyun,- I don't remember his other works, - but here he flattered my heart. Interactions between their characters, Hye Jung and Hwan, are exciting.

Overall I'd say the movie is rather bad. Though it leaves light and warm feeling, there are also too many of annoying flaws. But I'd advice to watch it. For the story, for Hong Jong Hyun and Jung So Min's exciting intteractions, for the beautiful video-shot. I don't advice it to that who is really fed up with nonsense in korean movies scripts.

Yes, I have kinda contradict impression about this movie.

Citeste mai mult

This type of film requires a specific type of mood to properly enjoy. It's not the type to spoon-feed you the hard facts, and - in my personal experience at least - the lack of any good English subtitles will add to the challenge. Yet, for all of that, it's an odd little, flawed, but incredibly memorable gem.

(As this review is rather long, feel free to skip to the last two paragraphs if you're having a tldr moment!)


Story:
WARNING: this is NOT an innocent film. For all its pretty colours and pretty characters, when it gets dark, it gets reeeeaaal dark. Due to spoilers I can't give much else away but just-... this is not a light-hearted story. Be prepared.

That aside you'll likely be confused, a lot, throughout this film: I was. Though the main plot behind it all is actually rather simple, (and unveiled right at the end), the way it's portrayed through a surreal lens made it an intriguing puzzle I found hard to piece together, until it was too late. Several times I thought, "AHA! I know what's going on!" But then there'd always be this one thing, then two, then several which just didn't make sense still. What's real? Was I right? You'll be doing a lot of guessing, I imagine. Even the end of the ending left me with questions.

But exactly because of that I've rated the 'Rewatch Value' rather high. I'll absolutely rewatch this film at some point, now that I know some solid facts. I feel like there's a lot of symbolism and hidden messages that I'll be able to properly appreciate the second time around. And I certainly won't be looking at the characters, and their interactions, in the same light ever again.


Atmosphere:
I don't usually give 'atmosphere' its whole own section but man, is it the main pull of this film! As hard as I had to concentrate and speculate, once I was in I honestly couldn't leave: no matter how awful the subtitles sometimes became. There's a very peculiar and yet captivating beauty to this film, like a surreal and yet dark, twisted fairy-tale. Dreams and nightmares constantly blur lines and even until the end you'll never really know for sure if some things actually happened or not. Prepare to get messed up. (And I say that with entertained but bittersweet love, as I adored it, in its own, quirky little way.)


Acting & Characters:
Oh Hong Jong Hyun! The way he played Hwan, or even just Hwan as a character, is unforgettable. (And so refreshing in comparison to his role in Scarlet Heart Ryeo.) I feel like he really stood out amongst the rest of the cast which, in general, was pretty average. Jung So Min (playing the main female lead, Hye Jung) did her job rather well, but I think I could've felt more for her? While Soo Ryeon's potential feels wasted: there was a lot of intense emotion there that I don't think got enough screen-time.

The other characters...are okay. I still can't decide whether they're entirely necessary however, especially some of their scenes. The actress who was Hye Jung's aunt did a good job in her role though. And it was nice to see a contrast of viewpoints: Hye Jung in the 'dreamworld', and the family in 'real-world', each striving towards the truth.


Music:
Meh. Though certainly not a hindrance I don't actually remember much of it. There's one song in particular that I grew fond of however. You'll know what I mean when you get there.



Overall, this film messed me up. The impression it left on me for the rest of the night - and still does - is actually rather remarkable and deserves some praise. It's peculiar, convoluted, symbolic, and really twisted. One on end I want to rate it badly: as a story I don't think it succeeded in finding the fine balance between clarity and mystery, and the conclusion isn't exactly a proper conclusion either. While on the other hand, emotionally it stirred me up and the atmosphere is so worth it.

So if you're sick and tired of the average straight road with the predictable bends, and are looking for something different - like I was - this is the film for you.

Citeste mai mult

Well this was certainly interesting. The reveal was a little predictable but the plot still had its twists and turns due to Heo Eun Hee’s style and approach to the film. Some things are purposely messy, I feel. It is said in the film that in a dream, things aren't always clear so I believe that artistic choice was intended here. Alice: The Boy From Wonderland is a film about a woman racked with underlying guilt that she didn't even know she had, on top of the clear mental illness that she's had since early childhood. She goes to this house, meets two people who seem to be familiar with her - one is cheerful and love while the other is not - while her Aunt and a Shaman have their own little journey, which peels back some of the layers and mysteries surrounding it all.

Perhaps the storytelling could've been a tad more poignant and thought provoking, although I do think some of its messages were portrayed well thanks to some rock solid performances from our leading three - Jung So Min (Hye Jung), Hong Jong Hyun (Hwan) and Jung Yeon Joo (Soo Ryun). The plot with the parents is lacking much depth. We don't see much of Hye Jung’s parents and their relationship. We don't see much past the Mum is disabled/Ill and the other likes someone else. Rather hollow storytelling regarding what would be something that's pivotal for the plot. And I'm not really sure that the romance fits well with the conclusion. I'm all for freedom in choices but I don't think it really adds anything. This definitely could've been without seeing them *cough*do it.

Citeste mai mult

I had to take a few days to wrap my head around this movie, and I am still trying to figure everything out. What I do know though is that I loved this movie. It was dark, gory, and had a plot that kept you on your toes trying to figure out what was real and what was a dream.

I didn't so much like the side story with Soo Mi, Hye Jung's aunt, and the female shaman, as I did not get their purpose other than to piece together a story on their end that Hye Jung was trying to figure out on her own. I also didn't like how Hye Jung knew why she was in Wonderland but waited until the very last day to feel motivated enough to go into the 5th room, knowing that she had a key from the very beginning.

It was very simple and I liked how the story gave you all the hints of Hye Jung's missing past, but for some reason, Hye Jung felt like she wanted to be angsty and not question anything that was happening at the inn. But other than my strong dislike for Hye Jung, I felt bad for her and her "curse" due to how her family decided they wanted to deal with the traumatic event that happened when she was younger.

As for the BIG question, everyone is debating about in the comments section about Hye Jung and Hwan's relationship...I have no answer. The thing about this movie was that the writer/director played out scenes, but not completely and fully, where you felt that you were missing some information and it was up to the viewer to connect their own dots. I liked this....but also didn't because I never knew if I was missing important pieces. It did make it a lot more sinister and mysterious and harder to figure out what was real and what was a dream.

My thoughts? I felt like none of it was a dream and it was all real, just scrambled up. But what I do know is that I really enjoyed Hong Jong Hyun playing Hwan. It almost felt like he was a safe zone or an object of comfort in this hellish house....which explains a lot about who he is at the end, which made me love his character so much more. The actress who played Soo Ryun, I applaud you. Amazing acting. Everything one...meh.

Citeste mai mult

The wonderful and at the same time eery concept of this movie is how the children are learning what it means to love another person and what it means to love yourself. How the child watches and adopts adult interactions it sees and how it that can lead to it creating its own skewed logic and ultimately hurting others.

The movie has scenes confusedly cut on purpose, so that the viewer may better relate to the heroine's gradual loss of reality. And yet, as it was already mentioned, the rational signs and clues to the plot are given to us all the time during the film. While I managed to figure out a part of the story unfolding, I found it very pleasing that the end gave us a full explanation for everything that was happening throughout the movie.

Only a few elements were dull (as an example, the way the ghosts were portrayed). However, that shouldn't dissuade anyone from watching this haunting, but beautiful story.

Citeste mai mult

One of a kind.

This movie is really special. I’m a huge fan of ‘Alice in Wonderland' and honestly, that's why I watched this movie. I was thinking it was going to be something like that but it was not at all like ‘Alice in Wonderland.’ However, this movie did not disappoint.

The story is very unique in my opinion. I’ve never seen a movie quite like this. The story at the end was confusing. It felt rushed and not well thought out. Basically saying that they were trying to fit a big and branched-off story in an itty bitty box. I felt like the movie should’ve been longer. If it had, it would’ve been way better. Other than that, the story really grabbed my attention and made me feel as if I had the emotions of the characters. I was rooting for the two main characters until the ending. The ending was quick and brutal. I never expected it, it was a little confusing. However, even after that, the story was still distinctive.

The characters were very well thought out. I enjoyed the characters and I thought the actors really showcased the characters' stories well. Also, the main characters and even the side characters had stories to tell. I felt personally moved by that because not a lot of movies illustrate the side characters' stories. The actors left me in awe because it truly felt like they were the people in the story and not just acting.

The music was okay, I did enjoy listening to it. It felt soft and it definitely fit the movie.

I would watch this again. Does it feel like this is my top priority to watch this again? No. However, it was still an unforgettable movie.

Thank you. :)

Citeste mai mult

A lovely, complicated but not impossible, film

I loved this film. It needs watching a couple of times to really get the plot, as the subs are not great and, as the film is a little complicated already, that doesn't help!
Hye-Joong has no memories before the age of 4 because they've been suppressed. She consequently suffers nightmares that are beginning to affect her actual life and at times (when she has the urge to harm herself) is actually possessed by the spirit of a character that's introduced later.
Soo-ryun was hired as a nanny, because Hye-joong's mother was sick and when she arrives, has with her, her own baby, Hwan. There's no incest as the lead characters are not related (it would have been impossible for her Dad to have fathered Soo-ryun's baby and it be born, in such a short space of time!)
The tragedy, I felt, happened because a character had misunderstood something they witnessed and what they were told about it, in an earlier kitchen scene.
Attention needs to be paid to the scene towards the end of the film, directly after Hye-joong is separated from Hwan, because the things that are shown at the site at which she ends up (baby Hwan's grave), explain how its possible for the film to end the way it does.
The fairytale like qualities of this film and the lead actors, Hong Jong-hyun and Jung So-min, portraying their characters so well, made this a magical, if at times very sad, film. I found the character of her Aunt pretty irritating; she asks a Shaman for help (in fact forces her), but then proceeds to completely ignore her advice at the most crucial times! I liked the Shaman character and thought Lee Seung-yeon portrayed her well.
There is blood and ghosts (I didn't find them scary), but everything fits and doesn't feel like it's been plonked in purely for shock/effect.
This is only my take on the film and I've left a lot out so as not to spoil it completely with this review, but as so many posts have indicated that the film is impossible to follow, the few semi-spoilers I've written will hopefully be enough to help explain the story.
I recommend watching!

Citeste mai mult

This is one of the weirdest love stories I have ever seen…

And this is not a compliment. But I also cannot truly say it’s a bad thing. There is so much wrong with this romance, I could not stop laughing when I finished the movie.

Alice: Boy From Wonderland is quite an experience. First 50 minutes are a true snoozefest. Everything is confusing, but not in a good and interesting way, but more of a “nothing holds my attention”. I became so indifferent to what was happening on screen it was actually hard to follow the plot, because I could not force myself to pay much attention.

Then around half way through stuff starts to happen, and slowly (AND I MEAN SLOWLY) we start to get some puzzle pieces to get the full picture. And then the whole explanation happened and my brain just gave up. Plow wise, I feel like the answer to the majority of the question, but characters’ motivation wise, I am painfully confused.

I’m honestly not sure how I am supposed to feel about romance. The more explanations I’ve got, the more confused I’ve got. Am I supposed to ship it? Can I do it? I finished the movie and went “What now? You cannot leave me with conflicting emotions like that”...

It also had some weird genre mix ups. Especially with the presentation of the female shaman. I was supposed to both treat her seriously, as she knew the key to fixing the mystery and the nightmares, but also she had quite a few comedic moments that did not fit the mood of the movie at all.

Performance wise - decent. Honestly speaking, probably the weakest performance I have seen from Jung So Min. Hong Jong Hyun is not exactly known to be a good actor so that sums up his performance.

Production wise, at times it felt like it was made out of stock content, edited on a free software. Especially during the opening scene.

Overall… Once you start it, you have to finish it. I don’t know if it’s worth the watch, but that ending and explanation of the plot needs to be seen and experienced in its whole confusing glory.

Citeste mai mult

Eerie, dreamlike and thought-provoking.

At first this movie disconcerts, as it depicts the blurred reality of the heroine: dreams and awake moments flowing together, laced with nightmares and buried memories. The events follow a dreamer's logic: out of sequence situations, surroundings changing suddenly, people appearing and vanishing from one place to another, bits repeating, strange and surreal conversations... once it is understood, however, one appreciates how deftly this is conveyed, alternating between troubling imagery and touching instants. Wonderland, indeed.

Dark truths lies in the heroine's subconscious and cause her nightmares; yet, strikingly, the story never stoops to voyeurism. Elsewhere, it would be a straightforward and sordid affair, laid out for cheap shock value - here, it is handled with empathy and delicacy. Instead of revelling in its most controversial elements, the movie employs them as vehicles for further characterisation. From a disturbing tragedy, it achieves actual beauty.

The last point I would laud most; and I will strive to remember how moved, how inspired I was left by the end, both as the audience and a potential creator, for it is far from easy to elevate a story like so.

A few flaws have to be mentioned, though.

In order to replicate the heroine's dreamlike state, the movie sacrifices her agency and emotivity in a way that slightly hampers our connection to her. It also has her - and the handful of secondary characters, such as her aunt - meander a little too much, especially in the lengthy introduction before she finally arrives to Wonderland. I believe giving her a clearer goal, as well as stronger emotions, wouldn't have detracted too much from the narrative and could have lent a needed punch to some scenes.

Moreover, I found the secondary characters clumsily grafted to plot: the aunt is moving in her worry, yet ultimately superfluous to the heroine's journey. Similarly, the individuals involved in the backstory appear so late, they aren't as fleshed out as they could - and should - be. An unifying thread misses still: those characters, as well as the ones featuring in the introduction, fail in neatly wrapping together all of the movie's layers.

These aspects prevent it from being a complete success in my eyes, but not from being a very interesting discovery.

Citeste mai mult

So I've seen this movie once and yet it still lingers in my mind. The comparisons between the movie and Alice go along way. I really like Jung So Min, like I'm pretty sure it was her who captured me into the K-Drama world, so obviously it's her works that I comeback too- even Mischievous Kiss.  This movie blurs the lines between dreams and reality, which can make the story confusing, but if you pay attention, truly, it is easy to follow. The scene changes abruptly can get a bit disorienting but I'll say, just don't think to much about it.I watched it the first time, only knowing that Jung So Min was the lead, so do be aware that this is a psychological thriller that does have blood and ghost, and can possibly trigger.
Jung So Min and Hong Jong Hyun have really good chemistry and it's cute how awkward he is because it just shows he's good at adapting to his character. I like how they made him evolve and how you learn more as you pay attention not necessarily through being told.
For how creepy this movie can get, it also if a heartwarming story of first love, family and then its a bit sad because it's also about the misery that family and love can bring about.

Citeste mai mult

I do not know how I watched this and fully sat through the emotionally confusing train it was. I just...I do not really have much words. I honestly watched this for Jung So Min because I am a huge fan. I did not know what I was getting myself into when I watched it. What is more surprising, is that I did not hate it or anything...I just feel all weird inside. Take this movie as a concept movie instead of a movie movie with a beginning, middle and end. WHATEVER YOU DO. DO NOT COME INTO THIS THINKING OF ANY KIND OF ROMANCE. DO NOT EVEN ANTICIPATE IT BY EVEN AN INCH.

Citeste mai mult