So, I begin my review with
the oldest sageuk drama I know I've watched: Dae Jang Geum. This drama was so
popular that it became the forefront of Hallyu wave. Well, I wouldn't blame it.
How can anyone resist the drama brought by the life struggle of Seo Janggeum to
finally became Joseon's first female royal physician? Even my parents couldn't
watch it without tears after some heartbreaking scene.
Link : http://www.koreandrama.org/wp-content/uploads/2006/06/daejanggeum2.jpg
Although so, it even started
when Janggeum had no intention of being a physician. All she ever wanted was to
prove her mother's innocence by becoming the top sanggung (palace matron) of
the royal kitchen. But fate wanted her otherwise. After being framed with her
esteemed teacher and her mother's friend, Han Sanggung, by their rival, Choi
Sanggung (hateful but slightly 'conflictuous' sanggung, that woman) on the
charge of attempting murder by food poisoning upon the king, she swore to
return to the palace and to prove both her mother and her teacher's innocence. And
so, figuring out that becoming a physician is the only way, she struggled
through books of medicine with a rather harsh tutelage from a renowned Jeju female
physician. The hardwork finally paid off with her being the brightest student
in the royal academy. After being admitted to the royal hospital, she would
still face lots of obstacles on her way, given by the trembled Matron Choi, until
her patience ran out when she was abandoned at a village with outbreak. But
then, she regained her confidence and returned to the palace once again. After
taking a big leap and challenging the ancient laws of Joseon, she was made the
king's personal doctor with title Dae Jang Geum.
That's what I would say of
'the short version' of the story, for those of you who don't remember or
interested in this before. Anyway, I would put this serial into word as 'pretty
good'. Why, you ask? Because I thought that it's not easy to make an
inspirational movie. You must always be careful with every scene and you must
mind the viewers' feelings when we make it. Also, seeing how things were in the
past, watching the life of surviving, plus a woman as the main character, who
wouldn't fall for that?
I didn't actually mean that
last sentence negatively. Wouldn't we fall for that in the present too? Girls
nowadays won't easily roll up their sleeves and get down on their knees. They
would rather sit back, beautify themselves, and do nothing. But Janggeum? I'd
dare say she wouldn't mind to even jump to the mud if she knew it was necessary.
Okay, now, judging the appearance.
From the whole picture, it looks good, the props they used are also nice, it
really pops to our eyes when we watch it. The clothes, I would put it as
'simple good', since the attires are not much but it really looks good. The
acts they put are also good, they don't sound cheesy. The special effects they
used are quite nice, for that time, although there aren't many of them, since
it's not exactly an action movie.
So, a good overall
appearance, and a good, selling plot. Where's the poop? Well, what I regret,
most of all, is the duration per episode. Can you imagine how heartbreak people
must have suffered when the story finally reached the climax, but suddenly, it
was cut with credit? We won't have any of those problems now, since Dae Jang
Geum is available on DVDs, but still, when I, who watched it in God's speed to
catch just the essence of it felt tired just to know the next thing you do
after forwarding to a new episode, is forwarding to another one.
What else? I think, the movie
lacks an emphasis backsound. You might notice that other than emotional scenes,
the other scenes don't really have a backsound. Which is why I think the movie
felt kinda quiet. It's a pity, since I think such backsounds are like spices in
food. When you apply it correctly, it values could change significantly. But I
don't really blame them on that one. I would really blame the time for that.
And so does the visual smoothness the movie had. They aren't quite friendly in
our eyes. I think, with the right amount of magic this movie will just make do.
So, the big question: is it
worth to watch? In my opinion, yes. With the progress of technology and
science, we would rarely see any working hard now. Working hard isn't always a
tiring thing. Working hard trains our body and mind, and with that we could
survive for the next day. I would say, even if the laziest person on earth
watch this movie, although that person doesn't really change his/her ways of
living, that person would still had a change of heart.
I will never be perfect in my
every posts. If you have critics, just comment right under the posts.
