I think you’ve missed the point about the bias – it isn’t the lack of objectivity that’s the problem, it’s that the British taxpayer is forced to subsidise their own denigration that is grotesque!
Dapple Grey
2 years ago
‘The Koreans went from being a cultural non-entity to persuading people to watch dramas about obscure Joseon dynasties, culminating in hits like zombie-historical epic Kingdom or the science-fiction thriller Squid Game, which was Netflix’s most watched show of all time’
In fairness, Korea has produced excellent films for a long time – they weren’t ‘cultural non-entities’ – but it’s only since streaming services that they’ve had global viewing.
We have given up Western dramas in favour of Korean ones as we think they are much better than anything made in the West. It’s a shame that it’s the violent and disturbing ones such as Squid Game, Parasite and Kingdom etc which Korea is best known for as there are loads of wonderful non violent (or much less violent) which are brilliant.
They are very well written, subtle, well acted, witty and beautifully filmed.
If you enjoy horror I strongly recommend “The Wailing.” It’s a long film that starts in almost humorous vein and gradually becomes much more disturbing, largely through the power of suggestion.
There’s also “Train to Buhan” if you enjoy zombies, and “The Host” if you enjoy monsters. All done with relatively little graphic violence compared to Western style movies.
“I Saw the Devil” is about a real serial killer in Korea about twenty years ago.
“Moon Embracing the Sun” is a historical drama/thriller about a female shaman’s involvement in politics.
Then there’s “Wife of a Spy” which is a Japanese movie about a woman who suspects her husband is a spy during the second world war.
Nature abhors a vacuum and as Western movies become ever more woke and tedious, foreign competitors step in to fill the gap.
Enjoy.
Try Crash Landing on You on Netflix. It’s about a young South Korean woman from a rich dysfunctional family who goes paragliding and is blown in a hurricane into North Korea where she’s rescued by a (handsome) Captain.
Also I think maybe the best of all is called Secret Love Affair about a 40 year old married woman who works for a arts foundation owned by a an awful rich family, and a 20 year old piano prodigy who fall in love. Unfortunately it’s only available on Viki, the Asian streaming service – unless you have a VPN in which case it may be available on other sites.
Mike Michaels
2 years ago
Naked attraction is more than enough reason to pull the plug on a permanent basis.
I couldn’t agree more. That programme is a clear indicator of how confused we have become as a society about sexual morality. We have obsessive and daft ‘Safeguarding’ rules in churches and other institutions alongside this sort of pernicious trash on C4.
Terence Fitch
2 years ago
Why is anyone watching ‘a channel’ anymore?
Ian Stewart
2 years ago
I’ve loved some of the comedy shows that C4 has made or shown from abroad, the most recent being Derry Girls. But there was a lot of dross, and its increasing, so I don’t mind it being privatised.
Susan Lundie
2 years ago
The point is, this channel has chosen to go down the pathway of insulting a large percentage of those it was established to serve (or at least entertain), the alternative Queen’s Christmas message being one example, and a superfluity of puerile Sunday tabloid style programming another. Now I really don’t give a toss what they broadcast, but I do object to being, technically, a part owner of such programming, whether or not they pay their own way. As such I am pleased for them to make their own way without public protection. Good riddance!
And let us then do the same to the BBC on a similar premise, who in fact I do reluctantly pay to support.
I think you’ve missed the point about the bias – it isn’t the lack of objectivity that’s the problem, it’s that the British taxpayer is forced to subsidise their own denigration that is grotesque!
‘The Koreans went from being a cultural non-entity to persuading people to watch dramas about obscure Joseon dynasties, culminating in hits like zombie-historical epic Kingdom or the science-fiction thriller Squid Game, which was Netflix’s most watched show of all time’
In fairness, Korea has produced excellent films for a long time – they weren’t ‘cultural non-entities’ – but it’s only since streaming services that they’ve had global viewing.
We have given up Western dramas in favour of Korean ones as we think they are much better than anything made in the West. It’s a shame that it’s the violent and disturbing ones such as Squid Game, Parasite and Kingdom etc which Korea is best known for as there are loads of wonderful non violent (or much less violent) which are brilliant.
They are very well written, subtle, well acted, witty and beautifully filmed.
Any recommendations please, beyond the headline Korean films and shows?
If you enjoy horror I strongly recommend “The Wailing.” It’s a long film that starts in almost humorous vein and gradually becomes much more disturbing, largely through the power of suggestion.
There’s also “Train to Buhan” if you enjoy zombies, and “The Host” if you enjoy monsters. All done with relatively little graphic violence compared to Western style movies.
“I Saw the Devil” is about a real serial killer in Korea about twenty years ago.
“Moon Embracing the Sun” is a historical drama/thriller about a female shaman’s involvement in politics.
Then there’s “Wife of a Spy” which is a Japanese movie about a woman who suspects her husband is a spy during the second world war.
Nature abhors a vacuum and as Western movies become ever more woke and tedious, foreign competitors step in to fill the gap.
Enjoy.
Moon Embracing the Sun is brilliant and enhanced by Kim Soo Hyun’s gorgeous looks and incredible acting.
Try Crash Landing on You on Netflix. It’s about a young South Korean woman from a rich dysfunctional family who goes paragliding and is blown in a hurricane into North Korea where she’s rescued by a (handsome) Captain.
Also I think maybe the best of all is called Secret Love Affair about a 40 year old married woman who works for a arts foundation owned by a an awful rich family, and a 20 year old piano prodigy who fall in love. Unfortunately it’s only available on Viki, the Asian streaming service – unless you have a VPN in which case it may be available on other sites.
Naked attraction is more than enough reason to pull the plug on a permanent basis.
I couldn’t agree more. That programme is a clear indicator of how confused we have become as a society about sexual morality. We have obsessive and daft ‘Safeguarding’ rules in churches and other institutions alongside this sort of pernicious trash on C4.
Why is anyone watching ‘a channel’ anymore?
I’ve loved some of the comedy shows that C4 has made or shown from abroad, the most recent being Derry Girls. But there was a lot of dross, and its increasing, so I don’t mind it being privatised.
The point is, this channel has chosen to go down the pathway of insulting a large percentage of those it was established to serve (or at least entertain), the alternative Queen’s Christmas message being one example, and a superfluity of puerile Sunday tabloid style programming another. Now I really don’t give a toss what they broadcast, but I do object to being, technically, a part owner of such programming, whether or not they pay their own way. As such I am pleased for them to make their own way without public protection. Good riddance!
And let us then do the same to the BBC on a similar premise, who in fact I do reluctantly pay to support.