What a beautiful movie!

Sadly Over-hyped

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

I remember watching "Il Mare" (aka "Siworae") back in the day shortly after it was initially released. And I do remember it as being a very beautiful movie. So I sat down yesterday to watch it again for the third time.And while "Il Mare" does have a very nice and original story, then it was a tad slow paced, which could be somewhat of a challenge for some audience to get through. However, I think that it is alright with a slow paced storyline here, because director Hyun-seung Lee uses the time quite well to tell a very beautiful and touching story.The story told in "Il Mare" is about a lovestory between Kim Eun-ju (played by Ji-hyun Jun) and Han Sung-hyun (played by Jung-jae Lee). They are sending each other letters from a mailbox at an ocean-side house named Il Mare. Kim Eun-ju is living in 1999 and Han Sung-hyun is living in 1997. And even with two years apart, their love grows with each letter.It is indeed a very interesting storyline, and one that has originality and sinks right in, because it is really well-told by the director.And while the cast list in "Il Mare" is relatively small, then there is a bigger pressure on the leading stars to perform well enough to hold up the movie. And I will say that both Jung-jae Lee and Ji-hyun Jun did more than perform adequately. They really carried the movie quite well, both individually and together on the screen."Il Mare" is a beautiful movie to grace the South Korean cinema, and it is a movie that is well-worth watching, regardless of you having a preference for Asian cinema or not.

From reading the plot of this film, I didn't expect to like it. Two people who have never met exchange letters through time via a magical mailbox. However it is one of my favourite films.Il Mare is set in an idyllic location and is beautifully shot and beautifully acted creating an unforgettable romantic atmosphere. The characters convey loneliness more accurately than I have seen in any other film. The time-shift plot is also very engaging and the whole package lasts a perfect 90 minutes. Overall - So good I could leave it playing on loop

This Korean film is a melodrama. It's a sci-fi melodrama. But the sci-fi elements are on the down-low, in fact--the sci-fi elements of the film are so underplayed, you wouldn't think it's a sci-fi film. The sci-fi element? Time travel. Actually, a limited type of time travel that would also be used the same year in the film Frequency and the next year in the Korean film Ditto.So, like most melodramas, this film focuses on the relationship between two lonely people, each with a relationship (one familial and one romantic) that they are having problems with and how these two people form a bond themselves.The time-travel elements are present and are used sparingly, but effectively to drive forward the melodrama. It's actually pretty good with no hugely bizarre continuity errors. Now, the really good stuff about the film: beautiful cinematography, gorgeous sets and location shoots, tempered and well-paced directing and editing and a general "feel" of the the film that sticks. It holds a personality and a charm that's unique to itself.The acting was decent enough that I didn't bust out laughing, although the same cannot be said for the often overdone score. But for a quiet melodrama film with a healthy chunk of time travel thrown in, it's a very good film. The only beef I have with the film is the ending--if the film removed the ending that it had, then perhaps it would make more sense, but the ending throws off the film a little. Nevertheless, the rest of the film is so pleasant to watch that I can still recommend the film. Just don't think too hard about the ending.It's good. 8/10.

i like this movie..it is so sweet, how the relationship can develop even we don't even see the other person face.. the scenery is breathtaking..so beautiful.the house is so nice and very modern. i like the scene where both of them waiting by the mailbox and the girl send the guy her hair band and knowing that the mailbox is their connection. i'm so touched when the guy waiting for the girl to send him letter and wondering why she hasn't send him any yet. i like the fact that the main character is the Ji hyun Jun. I like her movies..windstruck..sassy girl..daisy..mm..her face looks so sweet and she can bring varieties of character..but too bad for this story though..at the end, she didn't have a clue who the guy is, how i wish that at least she has the feeling of she knows the guy, even tho she never set her eyes at him, some sort of deja vu feeling i hope.but..yep..it will linger in your mind for few days after you watched it...nice!!!