Another Lee Jin Wook film, finally! He hasn't done too many films in his career but most of the films he has been in as of late have been huge box-office hits in South Korea. Time Renegades didn't stop his streak now, Opening at the top of the box office in its first week. No big surprise there with the unique plot written by Go Jung Woo followed by director Kwak Jae Young who directed hit films like My Sassy Girl and Cyborg She. The films casting recruited well known actress, Lim Soo Jung, rising star, Cho Jung Seok and, of course, heartthrob Lee Jin Wook.
Two men from different time zones must save the women they love before she is murdered. The women lives in both men's time periods and they both look the same but she was said to have died years before in one of the man's time zones. Now, both men work together to save this woman they both love but is time on their side?
This film pulls in and immediately puts itself in drive mode. You're told thats something going on but Time Renegades doesn't show you all the cards in it's hand just yet. Instead you get each card on by one and just when you think its hand it over, its draws another card to play. The two main characters are in different times but strangely connected as well. I won't reveal how they as connect as I try to keep this blog as spoil free as I possibly can. Lets say the film doesn't focus too much on this fact but sets up the story of the two time periods. Both times are their own different worlds that work differently and deal with problems differently. I thought is was so funny seeing how South Korea had been in an old school 80s to 90s age that bustled with creativity and a willingness to change. Then our time zone was the product of that change. During the problem of saying this women who just so happened to be in both times, another conflict also arises to make sure this girl dies. Everyone know that messing with time has its consequences. Events sometimes change like they never happened. By the time you get to the main focus of this film, so many other layers have come into play that its hard to not say,"Wait! There's more?!". Can't say this film was a one trick pony...
Lim Soo Jung is a fantastic pick as leading lady to bring out emotions from both actor that are just right for the feel of things. I've always noticed her ability to charm all those around her. She's not extremely pretty but her persona makes her attractive. They scenes she had with both actors(She played a dual role.) had me in emotional stitches because she crawls into your heart with her relate ability but its not secret her life is in danger. Cho Jung Seok might as well be a dear caught in a upcoming car's headlights. He wasn't ready for all the conflict was coming but he knows that he has a connection with a strange man in a land where a machine called a smartphone exists. I felt bad for him but then I was suddenly rooting for him too. Both him and Lee jin Wook's character are in a race that constantly passes the baton back and forth between both men. When one man had the baton, he carried the weight for both men. This meant finding out all that they could to stop events from occurring. Lee Jin Wook was perfectly in sync with his role as a police officer. Nothing better than a man in law enforcement to be involved. I can't say the plot would have progressed if a cop wasn't there to look into past cases. Unlike Jung Seok's character, He was frantic at times but had more control of what needed to be done. Frantic is definitely the emotion both men shared with each other. I felt a friendship type of chemistry form over time also because one scene gave me goosebumps watching their exchange.
One fraction of the film mostly used one location which was a school. After that you see different parts of the school such as the gym. Then from there, the time zone thats present filmed in Seoul during New Years. I don't wish that on anyone and I pray that it wasn't actually filmed during the New Years celebration. Those crowds don't care about anything but moving and you will find yourself walked all over before you can blink. Other than that some police station shots and some out door scenes. Shots for the scenes with dialogue deals with actor and actress focus. Nothing out of the ordinary but they got the job done.
I'm going to watch Time Renegades a second and third time. Its a film that you will find things that you missed each time you watch it. The ending also makes you put your thinking cap on. I'll even admit that I was stumped by the last scene but put two and two together later on. Highly recommend to anyone who likes time travel mixed with a little mystery and thrills.
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