Wonderland (2024)

Interesting short stories only told at surface level, and a lack of understanding in AI

Okay, this movie is... weird. It feels like an incomplete draft with missing scenes, actually it's almost like they had shot a short series and edited the key scenes into a movie. There is not enough context and world building which makes it confusing. I get that the science fiction aspect of this movie is not its focus, but it really needed an extra 15-20 minutes at the start to properly explain how exactly this Wonderland service works. Like how are the AI characters programmed and what are they programmed with? There are so many ambiguities but they'll be spoilers. It's almost like the movie itself doesn't know the answers. I can't tell if the director is inexperienced in the sci-fi genre or they cut out those scenes because the basic foundation to make a coherent story wasn't there. At one point towards the end it was straight up a fantasy movie and not science fiction anymore lmao.

But then, I actually like the subject matter, the actors and parts of the movie especially in the first half. Most of the scenarios were actually interesting and complex -- but they weren't fleshed out at all. Which brings me to the point that this movie just has too many characters. Basically every story was only on surface level, some were just left hanging or abandoned. Suzy and Park Bogum's arc especially suffered from this, it needed way more screentime to be properly developed. I hate to say this but some of their parts felt half-baked and wasted their onscreen chemistry. Tang Wei on the other hand had the most complete arc and probably the most touching one.

It's a shame because I think if they expanded the material and went more in-depth for each arc, or removed all the arcs other than Suzy/PBG and Tang Wei's, it would have been way better. But alas the potential was wasted. Nonetheless, I think at the very least this movie can spark some interesting post-watch discussions.

Lire davantage

Great acting, great plots, but should have been a series

I actually really liked this movie. A lot of people did not enjoy it because they found it confusing or peiced together weird, which I will say is true to an extent. I really liked all of the plot lines and how they connected, but it left me wanting more from each one. We got a snippet of each plotline basically. I definitely think it should have been a series rather than a movie, that way they could flesh everything out better, and make it a bit more cohesive. Overall I think it is well worth the watch, and will probably watch it again when it releases on Netflix with the official subtitles.

Lire davantage

Years wasted on this movie for this disappointing result

It’s an alright but confusing movie. If only they properly explained about wonderland services and their characters, it would be easier to understand what’s going in on the plot.
It’s hard to know which characters are real or virtual in some scenes like with Gong Yoo. I thought he was virtual, but then he was real, and then back to being virtual? It was difficult to tell who was real or not.
Tang Wei arc is beautifully well-written; however, Suzy & Bogum arc is good but ends abruptly, leaving questions about what happened to their relationship. The same goes for other arcs; most of them are undeveloped and have plot holes.
Suzy and Bogum kind of carried this movie because their chemistry caught everyone's attention. The movie is a huge letdown, but their acting and the cast saved it. Honestly what a waste of years on this project for it to end up like this.

Lire davantage

Should focus on 1 story

The concept is interesting and the actors are all great, but this movie should have 1 story. The issue with Wonderland is trying to present too many stories instead of focusing on one.
I particularly only cared about the couple story. The idea of Tae Joo waking up and Jeongin having to deal with the not so perfect reality while not wanting to let go of Wonderland Tae Joo was the best part of the movie. Two hours developing that story would make the movie so much better. But I would understand the movie also focusing only on the mom/daughter/grandmother story. That version could also feature a bit of the Wonderland employees, maybe just not trying to pull their family into the story too.
The other small Wonderland plots only waste time and don’t give us anything special.

Lire davantage

Facilitating reunions with lost loved ones.

"Wonderland" boasts a fascinating premise: a virtual world facilitating reunions with lost loved ones.

It's the first film I've seen by director Kim Tae-Yong, whose filmography leans towards lower-rated projects.

While the concept is undeniably intriguing, the execution falters. The screenplay feels messy, and the direction lacks polish. This is especially disappointing considering the talented cast, including Bae Suzy and Park Bo-gum. Their performances elevate the material, but they can't quite salvage the film's shortcomings.

Here's the verdict:
"Wonderland" is a mixed bag. The strong central idea is overshadowed by messy pacing and direction. However, the stellar cast delivers, making it a watchable experience for those curious about the sci-fi romance angle. 

Recommendation:
Yes I recommend it with 7/10 rating.

Lire davantage

Lackluster at best

What could have been a great movie ended up being disappointing.

The premise was good, the trailer looked okay and seeing the cast made me feel hyped for the movie.
Acting was well done by the cast and the music was good as well. That is where the amazing points end for me.

The idea of AI as a replacement for people we have lost or cannot meet seems to hit close to home. Especially if you think about all the AI-advancements that have been made as lof late. The fact that this raises many ethical questions is also very true. At first, it seemed like the movie would touch on those ethical questions, but sadly it didn't.

At some points it even seemed like the movie was trying to make us feel 'sorry' for the AI. Completely disregarding that it is AI, not a real person.

I don't know how to explain properly, but it felt like the movie briefly touched on something that could have been good, but was afraid to properly touch those subjects. It left us with a beautiful lackluster surface level movie, without diving deep into anything at all.

Perhaps if this had been a 12 or 16 episodes series, they would have been able to write a more in-depth script.

I would say you can watch it if you are a fan of the cast, but don't expect anything great. Even if you would put this at the back while doing something else, you wouldn't miss much.

Lire davantage

آیا باید غم رو بپذیریم یا خودمونو گول بزنیم

به خاطر کامنتای منفی که خونده بودم هربار تماشای این فیلم رو به تعویق مینداختم اما بالاخره دلو زدم به دریا و خب اگه هم بد میبود فقط قرار بود ۲ساعت از وقتمو بگیره.
ولی نه تنها اصلااااا بد نبود بلکه خیلی خیلی زیاد از دیدنش لذت برم و روزها ذهنمو مشغول خودش کرد.
میدونید چیه، گاهی وقتا، خصوصا تو این ژانر، یه اثر پیچیده میبینیم و بیشتر از خودش، از تلاش مغزمون واسه فهمیدنش لذت میبریم. و در مقابل چنین فیلمی ریلیز میشه که به سادگی یه برش از زندگی در یک دنیای الترناتیو که شاید هم اینده‌ی نزدیک خودمون باشه رو نشون میده و انقدر ملموسه واسمون که میگیم عیح، هیچ چیز خاصی نبود. حوصلمون سررفت. بی معنی بود، عجیب بود، کم بود…

کاملا حق میدم به سلایق متفاوت. خود من اسلایس عاو لایف پسندم.
ولی چیزی که راجع به این فیلم میخوام بگم اینه که تو مدت زمان ۲ساعت ما رو با داستان چندتا ادم که درگیر این فناوری شدن اشنا کرد، گوشه‌ای از زندگیشونو نشونمون داد، با یسری مفاهیم اشنامون کرد، یه‌چیزایی رو بهمون گوشزد کرد و بقیه‌شو سپرد به خودمون.
دنبال منطق و چرایی و چگونگی تو فیلمای فانتزی سای-فای گشتن اشتباهه.
تو این ژانر شما باید پیام داستان رو بگیرید.

اگه علاقه به لقمه‌های حاضر و اماده و پایان‌های “نقطه سرخط” دارید نبینید.
اگه سیر تفکر و تخیلتون تازه از پایان فیلم و سریال شروع میشه، این فیلم برای شماست.

• راجع به جزئیات داستان و برداشتی که خودم داشتم هم اینا رو میگم.
کاملا اسپویله، اگه ندیدید نخونید:

Spoiler

تو رابطه‌ی ته‌جو و جونگ‌این توجه کنید که ته‌جو نمرده بود و شخصیت ساختگیش تصورات جونگ‌این ازش بود نه خود واقعیش.(چون نشون داد افراد خودشون قبل مرگ اقدام‌میکنن و با تصورات و خواسته‌های خودشون دنیای بعد از مرگشونو میسازن. ولی در رابطه با ته‌جو همش خواسته‌های جونگ‌این بود چون قطعا ته‌جو طی یه حادثه‌ی ناگهانی به کما رفته بود)
اینکه هربار جونگ‌این اصرار داشت ته‌جو عوض شده در واقع به خاطر این بود که خودش عوض شده بود. جونگ‌این به اون ته‌جو بی نقص ایده‌آل خودش عادت کرده بود و نمیتونست اشتباهات ادم معمولی زندگیشو بپذیره ولی در نهایت فهمید اشتباه میکنه. گیجی کاراکتر ته‌جو هم به خاطر کما بود که هنوز درحال بهبود بود.
کاراکتر گونگ یو(اسمش رو یادم نمیاد)، وقتی آیدیش رو داد به بای‌لی، نشون داد نوشته روانشناس. به نظر من (تو یه تئوری) بخشی از سیستم بود. چون به قطعیت به این موضوع اشاره شد که اگه کسی بفهمه که مُرده ارور میده دنیاش. اتفاقی که در ادامه برای بای‌لی افتاد.

در رابطه با بای‌لی، ناخودآگاهش همیشه دنبال پیدا کردن “درخت زندگی” بود. دقت کنید که اینجا عشق مادرانه و از خود گذشتگی مطلق و خواست درونیش برای پیدا کردن مفهوم زندگی باعث شد منطق سیستم رو پشت سر بزاره و در واقع به روحی تبدیل بشه که از مرزهای این سیستم عبور کنه. و فکر میکنم شاید شخصیت گونگ‌یو هم همچین سرگذشتی داشته (تئوری دوم) چون صاحب واندرلند گویا یبار دیگه تجربه‌ی بازکردن سیستمش رو داشت.

در نهایت شما با این سوال اساسی روبه‌رو میشید که آیا تصاویر فرد فوت‌شده تو دنیای ساختگیش واقعا روح و خودآگاه اون شخصه یا تصویری که اطافیانش ازش به یاد دارن؟ فیلم تصمیم‌گیری رو به عهده‌ی ما گذاشته
فقط یادتون بیاد وقتی سیستم ارور داده بود، هری به هیون‌سو گفت هروقت کاراکتری رو حذف و دوباره ساخته تو کسری از ثانیه جعلی‌بودنش مشخص شده.
چی‌میشه اگه تو این پروسه‌ی پاک کردنداده، مرگ روح رخ بده…؟!

Lire davantage

too much going on for it just to be a film

i'm going to keep it sweet and short and say that this film had a mini series potential. there were a lot of things that i wish we would've seen. i feel like we got a half-baked conclusion for all the main story lines. yes, wonderland helped all of them to move on, but i really need them to find their true happiness outside of AI bubble. even the main couple's (TY and JI) story feels incomplete.
overall the concept of portraying AI as an device to deal with grieving/ reconnecting was interesting. writers would've gone more in dept with the wonderland, if it was a series. they could only portray the positive side of AI in the film , but i was curious about the negative side. fake remains fake in the end.
here is the list of scenes i wish that we would've seen
- how did wonderland's developers come up with an idea?
- did TY and JI ended up together?
- how is BL's family dealing with her death?
- HM's funeral (this grandma was the most precious character in the whole film)
one thing that bothered me personally was the amount of cameos. it was hard to focus on the film since it's filled with a lot of well known actors

Lire davantage