Categories
Foreign Movie Reviews Romance

Cyborg She (僕の彼女はサイボーグ) – How Many Times Can You Alter Your Past?

I really love this Japanese film.  I am so feeling her heart  – an expression I learn from the film to describe a strong affection in a cyborg-human relationship: I feel your heart!  While the Americans are remaking the Korean success “My Sassy Girl”, the director of the aforementioned movie, Kwak Jae-yong, has created “Cyborg She”.

Let’s not look into the technical details of the paradox of time travel.  Besides, that would give out spoiler, which I don’t normally do without warning.  There are enough twists in “Cyborg She” that keep the audience in suspense all the way to the end.  The special effect of the Cyborg looks convincing, so are the scenes from a Japanese small town in the old days as well as ‘that disaster’.  The acting of the main actress Haruka Ayase (綾瀬 はるか) looks convincing too.  She is so pretty.  I read somewhere that she acted in that Japanese movie “Hero”.  She has certainly left a deeper impression this time.  If I may add, the soundtrack is great too.

Arguably one of the more original movies based on the concept of time, “Cyborg She” is my favorite romance story that involves time travel.  Exactly why the director Kwak Jae-yong likes to create female characters that are so overpowering, I have no clue.  But I always enjoy watching or reading stories that involve heroines.

If I must pick something to critic, some scenes appear to be repetitive and a bit too lengthy.  Then again, with such an eye candy, who really cares?

I have been pondering why titled as such.  “I, Robot” came into my mind.  If I think along that line, “Cyborg She” seems fine.  Time to wait for the DVD to be out!  Below is the trailer, with Chinese subtitles.

Categories
Blu-ray / DVD Review

In Love With Korean Movies – My Sassy Girl and Windstruck

Where was I back in 2001 when My Sassy Girl was released? I cannot recall. I kept missing on the opportunity to watch this monster hit six years ago. Whenever I visit Hong Kong, I always try to look this title up with no luck. Just last month, when I placed my order for the album of a Japanese artist YUI at HMV.com.hk, I ordered the DVD version of My Sassy Girl (2001) as well as its, some may say, prequel Windstruck (2004) to save more on shipment charges (shipment cost per item goes down if I order more … buy more to save more does make sense?).

Six years of anticipation for My Sassy Girl was worth it as I enjoyed every moment of this 2 hours movie. Windstruck (another 2 hours long movie) has a higher production quality and if I am going to watch them again, I would watch Windstruck first followed by My Sassy Girl. Not too much because of the sequence but rather I enjoy My Sassy Girl a lot more.

I am actually quite a big fan of the actress Jun Ji-hyun. I did enjoy Daisy (2006) and plan to pick up Il Mare (2000). Il Mare was remade by Warner Brothers starring Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves as The Lake House (2006).