Review: Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds

Adapting any serialised material into a cinematic experience is always a tricky concept. In ALONG WITH THE GODS: THE TWO WORLDS (신과 함께), director Kim Yong-Hwa’s first adaptation of Joo Ho-min’s web comic, raises the source material to a monumentally epic level. Continually escalating the special effects and the scale, it comes as no surprise that this is the second most viewed film ever in its native Korea.*

The film version of Joo Ho-min’s story is based just as much in Buddhist scripture as it is on the web comic. Instead of an ordinary businessman who has accomplished very little in his life, we are introduced to fireman Ja-hong (Cha Tae-hyun) at the moment of his dramatic death. Having saved a girl by leaping from a burning building, he is seen as a Paragan as he’s escorted into the afterlife by reaper Gang-rim (Ha Jung-woo). This shift in focus from the comic is a little bit problematic, as it sets up the narrative as something of a moral drama rather than a parodical comedy in the style of The Good Place. It’s a surprising move given that the charismatic Cha Tae-hyun (My Sassy Girl, Because I Love You) is know for his comedy chops. 

Structured as a series of trials facing 7 gods in 49 days, there is a vague sense of washing, rinsing, and repetition to proceedings. Ja-hong approaches a god. His life is laid bare. He looks set for punishment. His defenders (Ju Ji-hoon and Kim Hyang-gi) find him redemption. Continue. Repeat with flourish. Breaking this up is Gang-rim’s pursuit of the vengeful spirit ofJa-Hong’s brother Soo-Hong (Kim Dong-Wook) in the living world, whose existence is stopping Ja-hong from achieving reincarnation. This structural approach seems to have been based on the decision to split the release into two films, with the second part coming later in 2018.

Let’s not mince words here: ALONG WITH THE GODS: THE TWO WORLDS comes with a fair helping of melodramatic cheese. For many viewers, this will serve as a barrier to buying into the world. However, it’s the earth-shattering special effects that make this stand out from the crowd. Using the full might of Dexter Studios, the effects house that Kim Yong-Hwa created for his 2013 baseball gorilla film Mr. Go, almost every scene is on a grand scale.

The rest of the cast is super fun as well. Ju Ji-Hoon’s deadpan delivery is in stark contrast with the suspension of belief required to fully accept this premise. At only 17, Kim Hyang-gi (Snowy Road, The Queen’s Classroom) is already a veteran in the industry, and she’s perfect as the wide-eye optimist that counterbalances Ju Ji-Hoon and Ha Jung-woo’s male sparring.

For Korean audiences, Kim Yong-Hwa has delivered something that’s every bit as grand as something out of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Following that tradition, you should absolutely stick around through the end credits for a delightful cameo that promises even more fun in Part Two. It’s not entirely clear why this was divided into two pieces

2017 | South Korea | DIRECTOR: Kim Yong-Hwa | WRITERS: Kim Yong-Hwa (based on the webcomic by Joo Ho-min) | CAST: Ha Jung-woo, Cha Tae-hyun, Ju Ji-hoon, Kim Hyang-gi | DISTRIBUTOR: Magnum Films/ChopFlix (AUS) | RUNNING TIME: 139 minutes | RELEASE DATE: 11 February 2018 (AUS)

_{*At the time of writing, it follows Kim Han-min’s The Admiral: Roaring Currents}