1The first thing I have to point out that this drama might not suit everybody's taste. It's TOO real, the bloodshed scenes, the battle scenes and the love scenes. If you can't get too real, don't start it.
Minors, skip this film.
So it's Goryeo –back before they tied their hair up, to our great advantage- and the king (Joo Jin Mo) is under the threat of losing his authority as an active king since Yuan –the empire in control- wants an heir to the throne. The king can't have an heir due to the fact that he's homosexual. (Again, if you cannot accept or respect homosexuality, don't start this). The king's lover and the one who's captured his heart for a long time is the Chief of the king's guards; Hong Lim (Zo In Sung).
Yeah I know!! When these are the two leads!!
With his country and throne on the line, the king resorts to one last option. He decides to make someone impregnate his wife (Song Ji Hyo). Only trusting in his loyal lover and friend, he gives Hong Lim the task. As Hong Lim and the queen make love trying to conceive, a new world opens up to them, and the tragedy starts.
Faced by betrayal, loneliness, abandoment, the king seeks revenge against everyone; first of all, against the one who meant the world to him, Hong Lim.
The story is too real it got me totally absorbed in the suffering of everyone. I couldn't not sympathise with everyone. The absurdity of life is inscribed on every scene. The sense of loss and how it empties us of our souls is engraved on the characters' forheads.
Regardless of the nudity and the sexually explicit scenes, the film is worth watching. It's too painfully awe-aspiring.
The cast did a great job here and I applaud every single person.
Well, I know that Song Joong Ki and No Min Woo are in the cast. Well they are there, almost with no dialgoue or screen time but it was so fun trying to spot them out of the other guards.
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The acting was absolutely superb in every sense of the word. I was completely and undeniably convinced they were who they said they were, and it's safe to say that it's rare for me to feel that way.
My only complaint is that I could've lived without the more inappropriate scenes...I felt they carried on for far too long when other more important things could've been happening.
Overall, this is definitely a movie worth seeing.
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The film features a number of graphic sex scenes, both heterosexual and homosexual, and a great deal of nudity. As such it is a very adult film in every sense of the word, and is really only for open minded viewers, though these scenes are never gratuitous, playing a vital role in the story.The sex scenes are beautifully shot and artistic, with the three leads all giving committed and brave performances, especially Jo In Sung, who is excellent as the increasingly tormented Hong Rim in a very difficult role.
Although the film is long, coming in at nearly two and a half hours, it is well paced and could easily have been longer. The film is also a bloody, visceral affair, with scenes of battles, violent swordplay and shocking torture, which further adds to the tension and helps to keep things entertaining.
However, it is the characters and their emotional journeys that really drive the film and make Frozen Flower so memorable. Deserving to be known for more than just its sexual content, it sees Yoo Ha continuing his impeccable run of form and delivering one the most challenging and engaging films of recent years.
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Now when the film is over, I am thinking, so what? What was the meaning of the film? What did the creators want to tell the audience through the movie? (I won't spoil your pleasure by telling the ending). And don't think I am saying this as a negative thing, though I really can't hide the empty feeling in me now... really empty, which, I didn't think I would have after this reach and beautiful movie. But I really do, I think the ending is not worth of the 2:20 minutes of this story that tells about friendship, love, passion, loyalty, pain, respect... and all the beautiful and highest things that should have brought the movie to SOME ending...
The cast is just... PERFECT! Wow, Song Ji-Hyo (a big Running Man fan talking here)... just WOW! So feminine and strong, her queen, GREAT!
Jo In-Sung... his general... when he had tears in his eyes, my heart was breaking with his... and I can't help but mention his face when he was kissing the queen... I was holding my breath to hear his... just... froze me... Saw him first yesterday, while watching The Classic... he is definitely growing on me...
This movie is definitely worth watching, though not everyone will and can watch it. The story is great, though, repeating myself, leaving an empty feeling about its ending... I'm shutting up, just watch it yourself!
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Sex is not filmed in a gratuitous way. Some people were surprised by the sex in this film, but it plays an enormous role in the story. Consider: the stability of the kingdom right now depends on the production of an heir. Internal rebellions and attempts to assassinate the king, even ministers petition that he abdicate, are causing chaos. Everyone knows that the king is interested in men, not women. They know the head of his personal guard is the one warming his bed at night, and this is why there is no heir.
The Queen's most important duty is producing an heir. She can't do that because the king cannot fill his end of the bargain. But to protect his image, she blames herself publicly so he does not lose face. She must endure so much humiliation because of him.
Then, to add insult to injury, he sends his favorite lover to bed her! Why he thought this was a good idea, is anyone's guess. Still, the Queen for the first time experienced physical passion and the Guard, well, he realizes that maybe he has been ill used by the king. After all, he has groomed him since he was quite young, and maybe he is only sharing the king's bed because he feels he must, out of obligation. Out of respect and a different kind of love...but he has never questioned it until now....It's also kind of twisted how the king could even ask him to do this....he just wants the child she has to look like him which is kind of romantic but so...selfish.
What I liked:
How each time he came to her bed, he essentially worshiped her body. I don't know if he insta-fell in love with her or if he just didn't want her to feel uncomfortable, but he tried to make her feel good and focused on her needs which was really nice considering she didn't want to be there and neither did he (I guess that changed...)
Also....the feeling of watching him fall in love with her and thinking THIS IS NOT GOING TO END WELL....but not caring....So sad...It isn't like he can break up with the king and be with her...and how he tries to steal glimpses of her....*sigh*
What I Loved:
When the Queen took the initiative! She was taking back control of her body! Especially in a time when women had zero control in those matters!
What I found to be REALLY Strange:
The emperor sat outside and listened to them have sex. Why would you subject yourself to that?
Overall Opinion:
The acting was great. It's hard to make a film with this much sex not seem like it is being exploitative. It was filmed very beautifully. The emotions were captured well. It was very well done. The only other film that I have seen with this amount of sex in it that was also able to film sex without it being exploitative was Monster's Ball (an American Film) obviously a very different film but still very good.
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This is a movie only for adult viewers with open thinking. Most of the film revolves around homosexuality and includes several graphical sex scenes and nudity. So I would advise every one to carefully consider about its aspects before deciding to watch this. Some of the stuff may offend you. It was very surprising to watch at times, because I didn't imagine that Korean movies could include so many tabooed issues in the same film.
Apart from that, the movie had spectacular direction. Its settings and filming locations were exquisite. The action was also quite good. The romance part was quite touching and the cast put on some great performances. There was just one particular part throughout the whole film that creeped me out in such a way that I had to take a moment to collect myself before continuing to watch it. However, lots of aspects of this movie are realistic and not unheard of. It also touches upon a variety of emotions throughout the duration of 2 hours and 15 minutes.
But due to the immensely disappointing last half, I am going to say the whole experience of the film got ruined. I am struggling to remember the parts I enjoyed while writing this because otherwise the whole film got damaged. Watch this movie at your expense. It hardly serves as entertainment.
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This is not for those who are intimidated-shy with well-done nude love scenes and these actors did a very convincing job in all aspects - not too many and not too explicit, remember this is about making babies & lusty love for this triangle. This movie reminded me of a chess piece roles... Pawn helps/loved King; King loves Pawn; Pawn services Queen; King alone & in love; Queen loves Pawn; Pawn is always sacrificed. Would I watch again? Probably not, too many more to discover.
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Despite the porn-esk scenes, I actually enjoyed it. I have my own thoughts about certain characters & lots of ppl will prolly disagree w/ me, but I am going to share anyway. I may confuse some & a light may go off over their head for others.
So, I totally thought that the King (Joo Jin Mo) was a child-molester. He sounds like a predator of the classic kind. He gathered up a group of little boys & picked the 1 that he liked the most. He then treated him to lots of goodies, but made sure that he understood who was in charge. He tried to make it out like it was a "love" type of relationship as they got older. BUT, the way I see it; he totally had Hong Rim traumatized & too scared to try to leave. He even showed his strength by making sure Hong Rim knew he could never beat him in a fight. It is a classic fear technique. I thought Hong Rim showed Stockholm syndrome (a psychological phenomenon in which hostages express empathy, sympathy and have positive feelings towards their captors, sometimes to the point of defending them). I totally thought Stockholm's when he showed his concern for the King after he got hurt & when he told the Queen he was afraid. This is the relationship I saw that was confirmed by the jealousy of the king along w/ the perfect ending statement from Hong Rim.
To me this drama was a wonderful expression of psychological disorders. I enjoyed interpreting the behavior of all parties involved. I thought the actors expression of their characters were realistic and believable. I also thought that the ending confirmed all my deductions of each characters psychological state that was expressed through their behavior.
Not every1 is going to enjoy this drama like I did. Or at least not in the same way I did. It may make you feel uncomfortable, b/c it is very graphic during the sex scenes (my face totally turned red). Once u get past all that the story becomes a very, very tragic love story.
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The acting is flawless, great job, every single character was well played and which I bet it wasn't easy to play.
The music is outstanding traditional Korean music that helped no only to understand the scene but also to understand the characters feelings.
If you're over 18 (just saying), should watch it, and see there is more deep than just just sex.
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The pace of the story flowed really nicely for me. It didn't jump right into the main plot. It gives you a little while to get used to the characters and sort of get a feel for how they are with each other, which makes it a lot more enjoyable to watch in the end.
I think my only complaint (or at least the only one I can think of right now) would be the sex. There was a lot more than I was originally expecting. The first hour or so is like watching softcore porn. I'm so glad I was watching it by myself, because that would've been incredibly awkward if anybody else had been around.
Acting/Cast: I really liked this cast. A lot. Their chemistry together was amazing.
I'd seen Joo Jin Mo in a couple of things before watching this, and I liked him in those. I absolutely loved him in his role as the king in this though. He's what really made this movie for me. He had me smiling whenever he was happy about something, and when someone would hurt him, it would just break my heart because he looked absolutely crushed. This movie really shot him up on my list of actors to watch.
It's the first time I'd watched Zo In Sung and the second time for Song Ji Hyo, and I was definitely impressed. Zo In Sung looked so torn between his loyalties and his feelings that you just wanted to reach out and hug him at times.
Shim Ji Ho's part was definitely not as big as some of the other actors, but I'd be lying if I said he wasn't one of my favorite characters.
Music: I don't remember much of the music. I did enjoy the music that I do remember though.
Rewatch Value: It's over two hours long and, like I said, a bit on the pornographic side for the first hour or so. I'd need to be in the mood for a Joo Jin Mo movie if I ever wanted to watch this again.
Overall: Overall, it wasn't too bad. There was a bit at the end that they could've done without, and there was a bit of stuff in the middle I didn't really think was necessary, but I don't feel like it took away from the film.
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ultimate love triangle: check
intense love story: check
explicit love scenes: check
historical setting with more blood and gore than usual: check
For those not willing to bear with the last two....I suggest its not for you, but for those that can overlook the bottom two and are looking for something different but intense, definitely one to watch or you may like all of the above. You won't really know until you watch it. :)
Acting- Superb acting from some of the best actors out of korea! This alone got me curious and I definitely have no regrets.
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