Post by sageuk on Sept 16, 2012 13:32:44 GMT -5
This thread probably should have been made earlier considering that its over, but lets just say I forgot how to make threads reviews. Don't ask.
With superhero movies being huge hits these days I wonder if those successes are the reason why this one was made? I think we've all seen this story. A masked vigilante fighting against a oppressive regime. But I decided to take a look and I must say, the plot for this is pretty unique compared to other masked fighter shows, at least I think it is mainly for the first six episodes.
The first thing I will say is that the the first six episodes is brilliant. The main protagonist isn't the titular character (yet), but a Korean in the Imperial Police, a fact that earns him the ire of many Koreans. And it is well deserved. He beats them and tortures them, no different from a Japanese officer. He isn't entirely unsympathetic, as he joined the force in order to support his family and escape oppression. He's cocky, ruthless, smooth, angry, just a overall great character. Its a great twist by having a member of the oppressive regime be the protagonist fighting a masked freedom fighter. Comic book writer Brian Azzarello once said that there's too many stories about heroes, and that there should be more about the villains.
That being said, the rest of the series never matched the first six in quality due to Lee Kangto becoming the titular character, thus losing some of the uniqueness, but its still has really good stuff. WHat makes up for it is the dual lives he leads. Imperial Officer by day, masked vigilante by night (or maybe I should have worded that better). Seeing him trying to balance those two opposite lives is fun, and it raises the stakes considering it risks his life
The character Kimura Shunji really deserves mention. Originally a schoolteacher whose brother, a member of the Imperial Police, was killed by Bridal Mask, making him become an officer and pursue Bridal Mask in vengeance. The actor does a great job on portraying a really nice guy into a ruthless man. His crusade for revenge becomes even more tragic not just because of what he becomes, but because his brother really doesn't seem the kind of person you want to avenge.
So did anybody see this? Its on dramafever
With superhero movies being huge hits these days I wonder if those successes are the reason why this one was made? I think we've all seen this story. A masked vigilante fighting against a oppressive regime. But I decided to take a look and I must say, the plot for this is pretty unique compared to other masked fighter shows, at least I think it is mainly for the first six episodes.
The first thing I will say is that the the first six episodes is brilliant. The main protagonist isn't the titular character (yet), but a Korean in the Imperial Police, a fact that earns him the ire of many Koreans. And it is well deserved. He beats them and tortures them, no different from a Japanese officer. He isn't entirely unsympathetic, as he joined the force in order to support his family and escape oppression. He's cocky, ruthless, smooth, angry, just a overall great character. Its a great twist by having a member of the oppressive regime be the protagonist fighting a masked freedom fighter. Comic book writer Brian Azzarello once said that there's too many stories about heroes, and that there should be more about the villains.
That being said, the rest of the series never matched the first six in quality due to Lee Kangto becoming the titular character, thus losing some of the uniqueness, but its still has really good stuff. WHat makes up for it is the dual lives he leads. Imperial Officer by day, masked vigilante by night (or maybe I should have worded that better). Seeing him trying to balance those two opposite lives is fun, and it raises the stakes considering it risks his life
The character Kimura Shunji really deserves mention. Originally a schoolteacher whose brother, a member of the Imperial Police, was killed by Bridal Mask, making him become an officer and pursue Bridal Mask in vengeance. The actor does a great job on portraying a really nice guy into a ruthless man. His crusade for revenge becomes even more tragic not just because of what he becomes, but because his brother really doesn't seem the kind of person you want to avenge.
So did anybody see this? Its on dramafever
