As a fan of crime and detective stories, I expected this movie to be either dark or sullen. Since I have not seen the trailer beforehand nor read its synopsis, I was visibly perplexed. But within 6 minutes, a splash of graphic novel and a grinning Gil Dong eventually revealed its offbeat vibe.
The film may evoke a dark and miserable noir-like mood of Sin City but the genre is contrary to its visual aesthetic. It's quite light, warmhearted and "cute" beyond belief. I would have categorized this in the family genre, but the excessive use of guns at the end crosses it out of that list.
Lee Jee Hoon's acting intensity was not as strong as Kim Sung Kyun but if the intention was to keep the protagonist still lovable despite his sad and dark past, I'd say his performance was jjang! And how can I forget the smarty pants Kim Ha Na(Mal Soon), who shook the protagonist solitary milieu? Her little ways to antagonize Hong Gil Dong was finger cringing and amusing.
Overall, this movie is surprisingly worth watching, especially this holiday season. A time when I want to feel all warm, happy and fluffy. *dreamy

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Whenever the words "Love Letter" is mentioned, this film is the first thing that comes to mind. Though it has been more than a decade since I've watched it, the sentimentalist in me instinctively revisits my innocent self.
Orchestrated to be mellow yet breathtaking, it brought to life a charming and beautifully crafted film. Its blend of a dreamy country setting and melancholic classical scores will either weigh you down or make your heart flutter.
A non-linear storyline and physical similarities between two characters may confuse you. But as their incidental conversation through letter continues. The story will gradually make sense and unfold a forgotten past. A sweet and innocent memory triggered by present events.
By then, nostalgia will leave you in a dreamy state. You'll sigh, smile, laugh, lament and shed bittersweet tears.

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There are two different people in this world, one who swings and one who don't."
I may not be the type of person who likes to swing but this movie eventually changed my heart.

The story is simple. Melodrama and over-the-top comedy were thrown out the window. But how it was concocted made this film really refreshing and pleasant to watch. With a pretty setting to boot, these bunch of juvenile girls in uniform took me on a funny, crazy, rollicking ride in their pursuit to becoming a capable and independent youth brass band.

One great fact about this film is that these girls took intensive practice and rehearsal to fill-in their gap as a brass band. So yes, they know how to play those instrument on/off film. Surprisingly, they performed their famous line-up onstage during promotional tours. I guess those months of training and experience eventually formed an amazing chemistry between the band members. It felt so real and genuine which I think is one of the main reason why I came to care and love them more.

One more thing, this movie won't be complete without the jazz and musical scores. Like I said, I wasn't a fan of jazz before. But once I heard them play, I can't stop tapping my foot or dancing to the tune. Even the funny parts were so much fun to imitate. Anyone I know who have seen it came to appreaciate jazz for the first time in their life.

I recommend this film to those who wants to unwind and feel good at the end of the day. Such simple yet sincere film like this are rare to come across. They may be a once in a lifetime brass band but those timeless tune they shared will always stay in my heart. "doo?~dat?~doo?~dat?" That's jazz beat 101 for you.

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Goodbye Summer is a slice-of-life indie film that fell short of the basics of storytelling. It will take some imagination to understand the beginning and end of the main characters' story.

I think this was not intended to make the hearts flutter or feel each character's stages of happiness or grief. Their focus was on the choices that people make. One chooses to conceal his malady while the others chose to excuse oneself from pain and escape from an inevitable loss. Such unfavorable acts will likely raise viewers' eyebrows, feel indifferent or disappointed, or maybe, leave some of us heartbroken. It didn't make me bawl, but I felt a sense of guilt, isolation, and heaviness while watching Hyun Jae hear So Min's confession towards the end.

The story may seem incomplete, but to be honest, the story was like experiencing a typical day. It's simple, just unconventional. I guess I came in without expectation, so I was able to brush off the fallacy before its release. But then again, many indie films will always surprise(disappoint) its viewers with an abstract storyline or what the majority will consider weird or plain stupid.

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