My Name

Netflix once again delivers a candidate for series of the year from South Korea. It is brutal! Jin-min Kim, a completely unknown director, took lesser known actors and made a series that feels like the biggest South Korean blockbuster in the last 10 years crammed into a 7 hour long ride with all the popular themes and props that go with it. The only known star here is Hee-soon Park, who plays a model gangster (I've seen about 15 movies with him, but I'll never forget him after this role), and the young and adorable Han So-hee, who has talent to spare. My Name is a bit of a The Man from Nowhere crossed with The Villainess and New World; no I won't mention here like others that boring conversational drama without action Infernal Affairs, this is five levels above. The story focuses on a girl whose father is murdered and taken in by a powerful mob boss, who raises her, trains her and helps her find the killer, but finds out he's probably a cop, so the girl joins the police to catch the killer. It sounds simple and straightforward but it's really intelligently constructed, it manages to surprise and shock several times throughout, and it doesn't really deal with the characters with white gloves, anyone can die at any time. The visuals are of a high standard, the characters are very charismatic and likeable, the music is the best I've ever heard from South Korea (the soundtrack has been playing for half an hour after the series has finished and whenever, I got emotional). I roared through a quarter of the series, what an emotional charge! It's very suspenseful, atmospheric, the twist is properly surprising, and in particular, the action and the violence – they don't skimp on that. I like that the Koreans, unlike the Americans, don't use guns much, they solve everything with knives, so it's about cutting and chopping for seven hours of intense action that almost made me bleed myself. Gorgeous cinematography, top choreography, with a finale like from The Raid. I have no words, I enjoyed every single element here. Complex and mature filmmaking and a proper manly ride. A heavy full package that eats Midnight Mass for breakfast and shoots all those intellectuals from the dramatists circle in the head instantly. Story 5/5, Action 5/5, Humour 1/5, Violence 4/5, Fun 5/5 Music 5/5, Visuals 5/5, Atmosphere 5/5, Suspense 4/5, Emotion 5/5, Actors 5/5. 10/10. (20.10.2021)

I went into this Korean series without any high expectations and was pleasantly surprised. The creators blend drama with a solid action thriller vibe, creating an intriguing atmosphere. One moment, you're engrossed in the investigation and the infiltration of a police department, and the next, blades are flying past your ears, and you're ducking to avoid getting splattered with blood. The story, while not overly complex or completely original, was engaging enough to keep me entertained throughout. The only slight disappointment came at the end. / Lesson learned: The truth can be a slippery little thing. (23.06.2024)

EDIT: after my 2nd viewing: I have to admit that I have to rate it higher. You need to experience this. It's one of the best cinematic works from Netflix creations. Maybe even the absolute best. From the actors, perfectly executed and meticulously thought-out plot, celestial music to the perfectly shot action... This will squeeze everything out of you. Absolutely. The Koreans outdid themselves. For me, 9.5/10. ORIGINAL REVIEW: In 2021, the Koreans truly outperformed all the series competition on Netflix (we’ll see how The Witcher and Narcos affect that). Squid Game already became an international hit (and rightfully so!). And the project My Name also succeeded in my eyes. Revenge themes have been feeling increasingly overplayed in recent years, but My Name tried to surprise in this regard. I definitely agree with those few comments that compare this cinematic event to the best of films like Infernal Affairs/The Departed. The plot itself might seem very simple at first glance, but at its core, it’s a viewing experience meticulously crafted down to the last detail. The characters grow on you, and the soundtrack embeds itself so deeply in your brain that it will resonate in your head for hours after watching. And regarding the action sequences, especially the fights, I have no complaints about the choreography (extra points for that Korean brutality :D). If it had a better start, I would have given it a perfect score, as the final catharsis is flawless. It gets a very strong four stars. 8.5/10. (23.10.2023)