After seeing the youth oriented t.v. drama "You're Beautiful", I was quite unprepared by the mature tone of "Always". This is a very engaging Korean melodramatic movie which centers on the characters Chul-Min (So Ji Sub) and Jun Hwa (Hyo Ju Han)and directed by Il Gon Song.As a fan of action movies, I cannot help but compare the characters to a certain Luc Besson film, 1994's "Leon". Chulmin is very similar to Jean Reno's hit-man; both are isolated from society and are either socially inept or total outcasts. While Jun Hwa's blindness is comparable to Natalie Portman's innocence in her portrayal of the 12 year old girl, Matilda. There are even scenes in both movies that convey the same atmosphere or vibe. Leon approaching the exit while stalked by a gun-toting Stansfield played by the brilliant Gary Oldman is comparable to a bloodied Chul-Min lying on the fight room floor. The same melancholic chiming music can be heard in the background as these scenes are transpiring which is remarkable considering the contrasting styles of the respective directors.But unlike Besson's film, "Always", at least has a happy ending for both protagonists.The music score is excellent as well as the cinematography. The cast is also very commendable for their individual performances (including the golden retriever playing "Easy/Zinga").Still, it is not completely without flaws. The film has a middle section that is quite plodding in its pacing when Chul-min and Jun Hwa decide to live together. Fortunately, things once again pick up when a revelation about the cause of Jun Hwa's blindness is revealed.This is a really sad and touching film and the ending will truly move even those with hardened hearts. In a nutshell, this is highly recommended.

The Koreans do melodrama better than anyone else on the planet. I wish I had known about Korean movies years ago. (I saw "Always" four years after its release. When will a Korean movie get released in the US?!?)The plot here is reminiscent of "An Affair to Remember," the quintessential Hollywood romance. But the feeling and cinematography are pure twenty-first century. Though it's a 100% melodrama story- line, the style is low-key and on the naturalistic side. It's never overwrought. So Ji-Sub is a favorite of mine from seeing him in K-drama "The Master's Sun." Here he plays a very different kind of man, but with equal skill and charisma. His character barely talks, but still feels three-dimensional. Han Hyo-Joo is excellent and her character is refreshingly outgoing despite her disability.I had to close my eyes for about 5 minutes when things got violent, but that was inevitable given that So Ji-Sub plays a fighter. If I have any complaints, it's that I wanted to know so much more about the characters, and the denouement is on the quick side. I still have questions. But the emotional aspects of the story were handled perfectly. If you haven't started watching the good Korean stuff yet, you should. It's worth the subtitles.

To see a rating of 7, I was compelled to write my review. This is so far the best Korean movie I have seen. I have seen loads of other movies but I'm sure its one of the best. A simple and heart touching story of what true love is all about.This movie is worth watching. I just wish I could watch it over and over again.Simply awesome, no words to describe. Just go for it.I have never reviewed before. This movie has something very unique that made me review it.Can a movie as good as this be made again? :'( I'm not so sure :'(I give it a 10/10

How many of you will see this? I am someone who now realizes that Korean movies are now worth paying attention to. On one level this movie is pure melodrama. But when you think about it, melodrama goes back to the beginning of film. And the plot of this movie, comes directly from Charley Chaplin's "City Lights". So the story works here precisely because this kind of film has disappeared from mainstream movies. I hope you remember how Steven Spielberg broke through by harnessing the power of the cinema to make us feel. I have no idea who this director is. But what I do know is that he is a master of a very old kind of storytelling and he is hip enough to kick the whole story up to modern times in a scene so violent, well, we won't go into it...but hide you eyes if you have to. The lead actors, indeed, all the actors, are so good that they make you feel things despite a language none of us hear very often. And they are not over doing it, in a story that could have been destroyed by their lack of subtlety. Seeing this movie with a crowd of young Asian Americans at their festival in San Francisco was a special treat. Do not miss this, it is one of the best films of the year for those of us who love pure cinema. Hats off to a culture and cinema production style that could allow this to be made. You will not see anything like this again anytime soon.