Expected more

As Good As It Gets

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

Reviewer slant: I'm a table tennis tournament player of many years.I liked the story, I thought it was well told and well executed. I thought Joona Bae's performance was outstanding. Even if you are not into table tennis, I think it's a film worth watching.Hightly recommended.

The first 35 minutes is your typical "sports story" .. one actor is obviously a gifted comedian like Doris Day (tad campy type of thing) but just when I was about to think it was the light and fluffy drama, if sudden changed. Not to spoil it .. but he story, you can tell it jumped into the relaying an important happening .. and the acting was no longer your typical type .. but full of sincere emotion and the viewer just gets drawn in.The action is shot amazingly well and is really exciting to watch with some terrific shots and visuals. What a wonderful and important story. The cast is just amazing with the ending: well certainly a Kleenex warning is warranted.Absolutely recommended, make it to the 38 minute mark and you are in for a spectacular treat of a movie and history retelling.

Now the plot and direction of this movie is pretty darn generic when it comes to sports/drama movies. But it's still a entertaining and tear jerking movie. Even if this movie goes in a very predictable direction, it just wasn't boring and is fun to watch most of the way through. The generic story of team members not getting along but putting there difference aside, become friends or at least respect each other and put there efforts to try and defeat there opponents team has been done many times. But it's the bond between the characters and because all the characters become so darn likable and cool by the end I ended up enjoying this generic flick. Now this is based on a true story but has kinda irrelevant subplots in it but it didn't get to the point where it got annoying or anything like that. Ha Ji-Won and Bae Doo-Na's characters are based on actual athletes and they make a dynamic team. They are both so cool and likable in this movie even if Ha Ji-Won's character in this can be a bit of a goody two shoes. The side characters was likable and was enjoyable to see on screen, especially Choi Yoon-Young. I don't know how much of this movie is CGI and real ping pong players taking the place of the actresses when it comes to the ping pong scenes. But everything was believable and I bought into these actresses really being professional ping pong players and it was just hot to see them play. Overall this is a exciting and entertaining sports/drama that is worth a watch despite the plot lacking invigorating elements.7.2/10

North-south topic is the favorite genre of korean movie because its usually will become a box-office movie such as JSA, Secret Reunion and The Front Line. Although I'm not korean but I can felt what every korean feel about their country, yeah they are still sibling and nothing can separate a family bond. That's fact.Too focus for the ping pong game and less intention for the story development, character's background and many unneeded action. Maybe its not what I expected but the story get its gear bit by bit until honestly my tear explode.It is a light movie actually.If you love sport movie, this is exactly what you want, you can see every detail of play, so breathtaking till you cannot take off your eyes from the ball. Real exciting! This movie have a big meaning for korean and it did well as it can to satisfy all Korea. Recommended! Very worth watching and sweet!