Movie ~ The Exorcism of Emily Rose

Image courtesy of Sony Pictures

I got the movie, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, way back in May, 2006 upon the recommendation of a friend, someone who watches two movies almost every work day when he commutes to and from office, so his knowledge is pretty extensive.

Anyway, I got it but I kept it at the bottom of the movie pile, because I read some reviews on the net mentioning that it is a "courtroom drama" while some said it's a horror movie. While I like horror, I don't enjoy courtroom dramas so I kept watching Korean movies, much to my regret hahaha

I finally decided to watch it last night and was thoroughly entertained for the two whole hours. I practically had goosebumps all over me for that length of time too! It was a very eerie movie, very believable.

I can relate very well to Emily Rose's episodes of demonic possession. It's really unfortunate that one person has to suffer so much at the will of demons while many of us go about life happily not knowing the existence of evil spirits.

I personally have met with many such victims through the years; in my quest for answers and personal research and these people definitely are neither epileptic nor psychotic, as perceived by the doctors who attended to Emily Rose.

Science (and medicine) are all based on cold, hard facts; there's no room for aesthetics, but that does not mean that someone who believes in something outside the borders of science is cuckoo in the head. It's only that the supernatural world cannot be seen with the naked eye, but requires the *gift* of a third eye.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose is based on a true story and it is unfortunate that Father Richard Moore was found guilty of criminal negligence. In my humble opinion, his only "crime" was not being powerful enough to overcome the six demonic beings that had taken control of Emily Rose's body.

Just like how one will always remember the touch of an angel, one will never be the same person again after being touched by evilness.

Korean Movie ~ Temptation of Wolves

*Temptation of Wolves*

We all know about the tragic storylines most Korean movies and dramas have but Korean movie, "Temptation of Wolves", is really something of a different realm to me.

Yes, again it's about students and it's supposed to be a triangle love story and it has a tragic end as well.

But this tragic story has a twist that is only revealed at the very end of the movie.

I don't fancy the opening fight scenes at the subway where there was fast paced camera play. If you've read my complains on Mission Impossible 3, you'd know I can't tolerate scenes like that. Prolonged exposure will even cause me to vomit and faint.

Anyway, once we got past that, the movie was quite a good watch, albeit its predictability.

Somehow, I can't recall if the girl chose her boyfriend BEFORE or AFTER knowing that the other guy is "off-limits" ... hhmm shall I watch a second time?

In one scene outside the airport, next to the runway, like typical Korean directors, this one panned the camera on the actress slow-mo and spun around and around 360 degrees dunno how many times, until I almost fainted as well.

I thought it was better if the guy hugged the girl la. Which guy will just stand aside and watch if his girlfriend was crying her eyes out like that?

And at the end of the movie when there was the scene of the tragic twist, there were lots of crying as well. I NEARLY cried too *sigh*

Again, the guy should have hugged the girl tightly lah aiyooo apalah....

This movie just cements the belief I have that life is a cruel twist of fate where we living beings are just actors acting out our respective roles in a script already well written before our birth.

Korean Movies ~ My Sassy Girl, Windstruck and My Girl & I

*My Sassy Girl*
Directed by Kwak Jae-yong
Produced by Shin Chul
Main actor: Cha Tae-hyun
Main actress: Jun Ji-hyun
Released: July 27, 2001 (South Korea)WindStruck

(Let Me Introduce You To My Girlfriend)
Directed by Kwak Jae-yong
Produced by Jeong Hun-tak
Main actress: Jun Ji-hyun
Main actor: Jang Hyeok
Released: June 3, 2004 (South Korea)

*My Girl & I*
Directed by Jeon Yun-su
Produced by Jeon Hoon-tak
Main actor: Cha Tae-hyun
Main actress: Song Hye-kyo
Released: December 23, 2005 (South Korea)

These three movies are so alike so much so that many people thought that they are sequels but they are not, although two of these three movies are based on true life stories. Moreover, the same actors and actresses who appeared in these three movies added to the confusion.

I watched all three movies, but unfortunately in the wrong sequence hahaha

Anyway, I started with WindStruck. It's a movie that's hard to forget and it's one of the few that managed to make me cry. The most touching scene was when the main actor died. That scene was so intense, so sad. And it's eerie too when the spirit made visitations ala Ghost. I recommend this to anyone interested in Korean movies.

Cha Tae-hyun the protagonist in "My Sassy Girl" and "My Girl & I" appeared in WindStruck as well, at the very end of the movie, standing on the platform of a train station, where Jun Ji-hyun thinks she has found a new soul mate.

And then I watched "My Sassy Girl". This is a true movie based on the romance of a couple, where the girlfriend is a little weird because of her past. Sometimes, watching this movie, I went like, "Wah, like this also can ar??"

At least this movie has a happy ending but sometimes in the middle of the movie, one thinks if this relationship could ever survive as the girl keeps pining for the past.

The last movie I watched was "My Girl & I". This movie isn't that memorable to me. It has a sad ending, but didn't make me cry, because the acting was not intense enough. Emotions did not come across too well, that was why it was not so moving for me, although the ending is not something that we wish on anyone.

The cinematography was great but the weird thing about this movie is the protagonist's grandfather is an undertaker and coffin seller, and the wonder is that the main stars had to sleep inside coffins on different occasions. Eeeewww I thought Asians are damn superstitious, or is it just me?

The main actress in "My Girl & I" is Song Hye-kyo, who starred in "All In", which I watched recently. She was a better actress in "My Girl & I" but both performances were equally enjoyable, nevertheless.

At first, I thought I'd review these Korean movies later, but today is just as good a day as any other :p