We have waited for The Sound of Magic to be released for so long, but it did not disappointed us at all. It is real acting, real talents shown by all the actors and actress. Ji Chang Wook has put in so much talents to performing this musical, practicing magic for three months before the acting, and the graphics of production are all very well executed. It has set another HIGH standard for Korean drama especially in the musical genre.
Technically crafted
I am very fascinated about how they merge the flying silhouettes of Ah Yi and Lee Eul in their song. There are lots of technical image combinations, how they "move" things to make it look magical in post production. There are so many combined shots together to create one shot. The flying horses in the sky, the dramatic disappearance and reappear of objects with Lee Eul's magical and swiftly moved hands. The drama music also have a taste of Disney classic music dreamy style. Especially the merry go round song, where Lee Eul and Ah Yi fly into the sky with their horses, that scene, reminds me of the classical Aladdin and Jasmine singing in the sky on the carpet.
Smooth transitions
Of course on top of it, I admire the talents of both actor and actresses. Ah Yi sings very well while crying and have emotional expression. Ji Chang Wook smiles so beautiful and sings so well. Real talents. The graphic is also a good representation of the original WEBTOON. I have read the WEBTOON before watching this, and It feels very similar in some ways. Very glad they choose this drama to be performed in a musical form, so it leaves the stage more exaggerated and more "unrealistic" and surreal for the audience to imagine the fantasy, the transition between reality vs dreamy songs. It takes you to the next space of fantasy and then gently brings us back to the brokenness of the world with a lingering feeling of hurt and sadness. Praise to the production and camera team. Very well thought out.
Lee Eul: Celebrating The Counter-cultural way to live
The whole premise of Lee Eul's lifestyle does leave you into feeling the fantasy, helps you think outside of the desperate situations you are in, and helps you to think beyond what dreams means. He chooses to be an escapist in the real world which demanded him something he failed to live up to. And somehow Lee Eul was able to find his own dream, peace, joy (Ji Chang Wook smiles a lot in this role) in his magic. He is the character that others admire and want to be, as he has something the rest of the world doesn't. He does not need to live up to anyone's standard.
The other character of Ill Dueng also parallel portraits the old life of Lee Eul. Why is Ill Deung trying to meet his parents' dreams but not his? Why is his own dream not considered a good dream? Why is he studying so much to do something he didn't enjoy? It was a celebration at the end that he was somehow breakthrough from his own asphalt road.
Love the quote by Lee Eul, "You should do what you want, as much as the things you you don't want." That is a very provoking thought to live. We tried so hard to live up to others' standard and expectations, but often we forget about the joy of life, what we also enjoy for our own. As much as the society praises behaviors of sacrificing for others, I love that SOM celebrates the concept of "taking care of ourselves", "enjoying the things we are pleased", even if it is simple pleasure - like learning magic. It is reminding us, in order to love others, we shall love ourselves first.
Stage and Reality
The ending scene on stage was one of my favorites, it makes you feel like a real musical performed on stage, it reminds the audience, this whole drama is not just a drama on screen, but it could be an on-stage performance. The magician's stage is the stage. We, as audience are watching the whole show as spectators. The way it ended, leave us celebrate every moment in life as if we can live in the fantasy.
Overall, this is not another typical Korean drama of a poor girl meeting some handsome rich guy and has all her problems solved. This is not about that. At the end, Ah-Yi realized the magician did not solve all of the problems she had in life. Yet, she has grown up. She has grown up in a way that breaks her stereotypes of how the society expects ones' life should be like, and she is able to enjoy life while enduring the reality of challenges. Because she believes in herself (not just "magic"). This is a fantasy show that inspires us to live through the tragedy and hardship of life, with a childhood innocent, with a sense of self-love, and with an attitude of playfulness. It brings the audience to fantasize, yet, gives us courage to go back to reality to face real challenges.
It is a worth celebrating master piece of Ji Chang Wook. He has shown us yet another side of him other than actions and simple romance genres, but a complex emotional magician, who is hurt yet, able to have fun in life. We look forward to hear more of his songs and just want to reply it again and again! The most talented, well versed actor and singer of Korea.
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