Masquerade
(2012/CJ Entertainment Blu-ray)
Picture:
A- Sound: B- Extras: D Film: B+
When
a tyrannical emperor falls ill, he is replaced by a reluctant
look-alike until he recovers. Ha-sun is reluctant to play the part
of the emperor, for fearful that he might share the same fate, but
soon learns 'It's good being the king.' As he become more competent
being the emperor he must learn surviving politics, assassins, and
administrators... because his life depends on his masquerade.
In
Choo
Chang-min's Masquerade
(2012), Ha-sun
is just an entertainer, who just happens to look like the emperor,
but when the emperor is poisoned, the court magistrate uses Ha-sun as
a double to keep the emperor real condition a state secret. As
Ha-sun learns the ropes of being the emperor, he must also tackle the
problems in court and that are brought to court. He soon becomes
kinder and just ruler, and the court is amazed by the emperor's
sudden change and insight. Even the empress finds herself conflicted
between this fake and the real emperor, but those who want the
emperor dead, begin to suspect... and plot a coup d'état.
This
film will remind one of the story of a tyrant and the pauper. The
first half of the film was more comical, as the main character learns
how to act and behave like the king, but then turns serious in the
second half when he starts to realize the responsibility of a king to
his country and to his people... he begins to makes changes to the
government that betters the lives of people, at risk being discovered
as a fraud. And if a fake is better than the real thing, then does
mean a fake should become the real?
There
are no extras, but as expected, this is an upgrade from the DVD
edition I reviewed at this link despite no lossless sound being
included:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/12216/Masquerade+(2012/CJ+Entertainment+DVD)
-
Ricky Chiang
