All through the screening, I could hear people around me sniffling and wiping their tears away unabashedly, me included. I didn't figure the Korean blockbuster to be a tearjerker, but it most certainly was. Along with The Gods: The Two Worlds slips in there ever so surreptitiously. Then there is that one category that doesn't have many movies - "movies that can make you reflect upon one's life". I like putting movies into Venn diagrams and I have special categories always swimming in my head like "movies with a great final shot" and "movies that showcase traits I would like in my future partner". The top-notch special effects is another attraction. Jung-woo Ha steals the movie with a great performance but the cast also shines. "Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds", is a delightful fantasy about reincarnation with funny and melodramatic moments. Will Ja-hongĀ“s soul be saved? "Singwa hamgge", a.k.a. Meanwhile the prosecutors find problems in the relationship of Ja-hong and his mother and brother and Haewonmaek and Dukchoon are surprised by the discoveries. However, there are disturbances in the afterlife caused by a Revengeful Spirit and Kangrim goes to the World of the Living to investigate what is happening. Ja-hong, who is considered a model citizen, will reincarnate if his guardians are well-succeeded in their defense. They explain that they will defend him in seven trials with seven gods in seven hells along forty-nine days to disclose how he spent his life. When the fireman Kim Ja-hong (Tae-hyun Cha) dies during a rescue operation in a fire in a building, his guardians Kangrim (Jung-woo Ha), Haewonmaek (Ji-hun Ju) and Dukchoon (Hyang-gi Kim) guide him to the afterlife. He wrecks the most amazing mayhem during the fantastic climax scene and the visuals here are simply awesome! This is a film I'll watch again and again. I really enjoyed the protagonist's brother's back story, who was buried alive (believed to be dead) and then becoming a vengeful spirit. Some scenes were very obvious blue screen imagery, while other scenes were absolutely incredible. The visual effects were interesting, as well. Blasphemy issues will no doubt be raised by some religious people, but I found it all very relevant. I loved the underlying themes and how the protagonist's life unfolded through back flashes. This film will make you dig deep into your inner soul, analyzing your own life in the process. I found the story a bit lame comedy-ish at first, but as the film progressed, it became much deeper to the point where it became very emotional. I loved it, and the Koreans obviously did, as well, as this film is currently the second highest grossing Korean film in history. This is one of those films you're either going to love or hate. Hmmm, this was interesting on an entertainment, psychological and spiritual level.
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