So for them, and me, Windstruck must've been one highly anticipated movie. Not only does it star Jeon Ji-hyun from MSG, but it also returning is MSG director Kwak Jae-yong. Not only that, but in many ways, Windstruck can be considered the spiritual prequel or sequel to MSG, and if you've seen the movie, you'll know what I'm talking about. In fact, I'm told that in Korea the two movies are thought to be in the same series of films, the third of which is going into production this winter and will supposedly re-team Cha Tae-Hyun, Jeon Ji-Hyun, and director Kwak Jae-yong for a third, and final installment of this 'MSG trilogy'. I hope to God that movie fares better than this one.

MSG was a light, fresh comedy that eventually emotionally trapped the audience with its likeable characters and Windstruck tries to do the pretty much the same (with less comedy, more emotional stuff), but unfortunately the movie tries a little too hard. It begins with Gyeon-jin (Jeon), a tough cop no-nonsense cop on top of a skyscraper in Seoul, apparently on the brink of committing suicide. Her reasons and what happened are not told to us at this point, and from here the entire story plays in flashback, and for the most part deals with a romance she finds with Myung-woo (Volcano High's Jang Hyuk), a high school Physics teacher.

The first half of the movie plays like a MSG wannabe. It's not bad, but it's not great either. Both actors are likeable and play their respective parts well, but the situations seem a little overdone (and silly at times) and the overall storyline seems strained.

At about the half point mark, the entire movie takes a huge turn and things quickly go downhill from there. The rest of the movie plays like an overextended music video, with some of the music tracks literally repeating themselves directly after they were played previously, and most of them not fitting in with what's on screen at all. From here, Windstruck is no longer a romantic comedy, but an action film, a horror film, and everything in between. It's like the director didn't know what to do anymore so he tried everything and the results aren't very pretty. One particular sequence of note had me thinking, "Okay, this has got to be a dream sequence." But it isn't, and it's then that you being to realize that this movie is no My Sassy Girl.

I know that I've been pretty negative so far (all of it fair, I believe), but I'd be lying if I said that I didn't enjoy some portions of the film. The little details that are sprinkled throughout the film, for instance a subplot involving Gyeon-jin's sister, help establish some emotional weight and connection. Overall, I felt not enough time was spent on the central relationship and too much on everything else that when the film tried to pull its punches, I wasn't moved in the least.

There is one, final issue of note, which is the final moments of the film. The ending, for those who have seen My Sassy Girl (and liked), is a pleasant surprise. No, it does not redeem the rest of the movie, and no, it really has no affect on the plot and some might view it as 'cheap'. However, for those of you that are still interested in watching this movie, I'd advise you to stop right now, order the VCD (or w/e) and watch the film without reading anything more on the Internet-most reviews and discussion I've read spoil the surprise right away.

In the end, it wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great either. I think the only reason I enjoyed what I did is because of my love for that other movie starring Jeon Ji-Hyun. If you didn't see My Sassy Girl, didn't like it, or aren't some teenager who thought Kung Pow: Enter the First was hilarious (and that Titanic was terribly tragic), I don't really think this movie is for you. Here's to hoping they don't mess up the next movie (or make it a direct sequel-that'd be shit).