Reviews

This series exceeded my expectations. I have to admit I started watching with very low expectations-- I wasn't sure how what the series would be like based on the premise. I initially thought watching people getting saved from mountains would be boring. But the series is more than that! It's actually a lot like a cop drama but instead of cops, these are park rangers and instead of the 'crime' taking place in the city or country-side locations, it occurs up in the mountain.

This was my first foray into kdramas filmed primarily in korean national parks. The scenery/cinematography was beautiful. I loved the main leads (really the reason why I decided to give the show a go) and the supporting actors were just as good. I've never been disappointed by any movies/shows starring Sung Dong-Il.

Show is full of action in every episode. I disagreed with other posters who felt the pacing was slow-- each episode felt purposeful in laying out the background of the overarching story behind the crimes. I cried buckets of tears watching this show. Definitely a show I can rewatch over and over. Two thumbs up!

I could barely get through the movie by the lead actress' acting was so bad. Seriously, couldn't they find someone w better acting skills? The storyline is interesting and the film would have been better delivered w a stronger actress in the lead who could portrayed the role of a someone fighting her inner demons and delusions.

It's been a long time since I've watched a film that deeply affected me in a disturbing way. This movie is a love story between a husband and wife driven apart because of the circumstances beyond their control. It also touches on families torn apart because of the policies in place during Mao's communist rule. While the movie focused on one family, it's easy to envision similar hardships befallen on other families during that time.

The movie focuses on the family dynamic as a result of the fallout of Mao's policies. What made this movie was Gong Li's superb performance. It's been a while since I've seen her act in movies and I was awe struck by her acting in this film. Her portrayal of a woman who forever waits for her beloved husband's return moved me to tears.

The dialogue is minimal in this movies. Instead, the actors convey the sense of loneliness and love between the two people with body language. Gong Li executes this exceedingly well. So much so that I couldn't stop thinking of her character's forlong looks days after watching the movie!

Other reviewers have criticized the director for taking just the last few chapters of the book to turn into a movie. However, I think his focus for this movie was on the fallout rising from Mao's policies, hence only the passing allusion to the Cultural Revolution and the title 'Coming Home'.

I personally thought this movie was Gong Li and Zhang Yimou combo's finest collaboration (just barely edging out To Live).