Wikipedia

Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds

Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds (Korean: 신과함께: 죄와 벌) is a 2017 South Korean fantasy action film directed by Kim Yong-hwa and based on the webtoon series by Joo Ho-min, Along with the Gods, which was inspired by the Korean Joseon dynasty Buddhist paintings and early Buddhist texts of the Ten Kings of Hell.[5][6][7][8][9] It stars Ha Jung-woo, Cha Tae-hyun, Ju Ji-hoon and Kim Hyang-gi.

Along with the Gods:
The Two Worlds
Hangul
신과함께: 죄와 벌
Hanja
神과함께: 罪와 罰
Literal meaningTogether with God: Sin and Punishment
Revised RomanizationSin-gwahamkke: Joewa Beol
Directed byKim Yong-hwa
Screenplay byKim Yong-hwa
Based onAlong with the Gods
by Joo Ho-min
Produced by
  • Kim Yong-hwa
  • Won Dong-yeon
  • Kim Ho-Sung
Starring
CinematographyKim Byung-seo
Edited by
  • Kim Hye-jin
  • Zino Kim
  • Nam Na-young
Music byBang Jun-seok
Production
companies
  • Realies Pictures
  • Dexter Studios
Distributed byLotte Entertainment
Release date
  • 20 December 2017 (2017-12-20)
Running time
140 minutes[1]
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
Budget₩20 billion
($18.3 million)[2][3]
Box office$109.4 million[4]

The film was shot as one but presented in two parts. The first part, Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds, was released on 20 December 2017.[10][11][12][13][14][15][16] In June 2018, it was announced that another two sequels are scheduled to be filmed in 2019.[17] The sequel, titled Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days, was released on 1 August 2018.[18]

As of May 2019, Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds is the third highest-grossing film in South Korean cinema history.[19][20]

Plot

edit

Firefighter Kim Ja-hong (Cha Tae-hyun) dies in the line of duty and is escorted to the afterlife by three guardians: Hae Won-maek (Ju Ji-hoon), Lee Deok-choon (Kim Hyang-gi) and their leader Gang-rim (Ha Jung-woo). They are to escort and defend Ja-hong in seven trials within 49 days. If he passes, he will be reincarnated and his guardians will be given credit towards their own reincarnation.

In the first court, Hell of Murder, Ja-hong is tried for the death of his colleague, who was trapped beneath rubble during a fire. Just as he is about to be sentenced, it is revealed that his colleague told him to prioritize the civilians. After rescuing 8 others, Ja-hong attempted to go back for his colleague only to be held back as the building collapsed. The judge acquits Ja-hong.

In the second court, Hell of Indolence, Ja-hong's guardians present his selflessness and diligence. Ja-hong blurts out that he only worked for money and is about to be punished when Gang-rim interjects, stating that the money was to support his brother and ailing mother, and thus secures his second acquittal.

On the way to the Hell of Deceit, ghouls attack as the physics of Hell begins to morph. This change indicates that a member of Ja-hong's family had died and become a vengeful spirit. Gang-rim leaves the party to investigate while the remaining group proceeds. Ja-hong is accused of writing fake letters to the family of those who had died, one of whom is Ji-yeon, the daughter of his fallen colleague. Gang-rim supernaturally links with Deok-choon from the living world to defend Ja-hong, stating that he had also written fake letters to his mom to cheer her up, allowing her to focus on her health, and that the letters to Ji-Yeon, despite her actually understanding that her father was dead, helped her cope with her loss. The evidence is thrown out and the charges are dismissed.

Gang-rim determines that it is Ja-hong's brother Soo-hong who has become the vengeful spirit. He finds that Soo-hong has been accidentally killed while on guard duty by his partner Dong-yeon, and his death was covered up by their superior, Lieutenant Park Moo-shin. Gang-rim foils an attempt by Soo-hong to kill Dong-yeon and learns that Soo-hong's grudge was not against Ja-hong, but rather Dong-yeon and Moo-shin. Dong-yeon tips off Soo-hong's mother on the location of his body and attempts suicide. He is saved by Gang-rim on Soo-hong's request after the latter agreed to cooperate.

The trio pass through the Hells of Injustice and Betrayal without trial. In the Hell of Violence, Ja-hong is tried for beating Soo-hong when they were younger while the latter was malnourished. As Ja-hong was not forgiven, he is convicted and is about to be punished when Gang-rim instructs Deok-choon to request for a combined trial at the next court, the Hell of Filial Impiety. The request is granted. Ja-hong reveals that, due to poverty, he intended to commit familicide but was discovered by Soo-hong. In a fit, he beat up Soo-hong and fled out of guilt, opting not to be a burden and dedicating his life to supporting them.

Gang-rim and Soo-hong arrive at the army base, only to witness the mother's shabby treatment at the hands of Park. Enraged, Soo-hong transforms back into a vengeful spirit and lashes out at the base by conjuring up a massive tornado, only stopping when he realizes how his actions are affecting Ja-hong in the afterlife.

At the Hell of Filial Impiety, Ja-hong is immediately judged by Yeomra to be guilty. He learns that on the night of his attempted murder-suicide, his mother was actually awake and had decided to allow it, knowing that she was a burden on her family. Soo-hong, with the help of Gang-rim and Won-maek, enters his mother's dream and learns that she had already forgiven Ja-hong for that night. Since sins that have been forgiven in the living world are not allowed to be judged in the afterlife, Ja-hong is allowed to reincarnate.

Afterward, Gang-rim realizes that Yeomra had been meddling with his investigation of Soo-hong. He decides to confront Yeomra directly and chooses Soo-hong as the group's final soul before their own reincarnation.

Cast

edit
 
Director Kim Yong-hwa (left) with the cast of the film.

Main

edit
  • Ha Jung-woo as Gang-rim,[21] a wise and careful Grim Reaper and the leader of Haewonmak and Deok-choon.
  • Cha Tae-hyun as Kim Ja-hong, a firefighter with a heart of gold and kindness.
  • Ju Ji-hoon as Haewonmak,[22] a younger, energetic, and sarcastic Grim Reaper who is proficient with sword fighting. He is represented by the Sun.
  • Kim Hyang-gi as Lee Deok-choon, the youngest of the Grim Reapers who even though weak and less experienced, has powerful psychic powers. She is represented by the Moon.

Supporting

edit

Special appearance

edit

Production

edit
  • Along with the Gods took ₩40 billion (around US$36.6 million) to produce. Both parts of the film were shot simultaneously. Dexter Studios, one of Asia's largest film production and visual effects studios, who was behind director Kim Yong-hwa's previous film Mr. Go (2013), created the visual effects for the film. It was reported that around 300 artists and technicians took part in the film's production.[2]
  • Chinese production company Alpha Pictures invested $2.2 million.[3]
  • Filming began on 26 May 2016 and ended on 22 March 2017.[25]

Release

edit

Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds was released in the Korean cinemas on 20 December 2017. The film was pre-sold to 12 countries and regions including: Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, the U.S and Canada at the Asian Film Market in Busan.[26] Further, the film was pre-sold to another 90 countries at the American Film Market (AFM) in Santa Monica, California, U.S.A, increasing the number of countries released to 103 in total.[27][28]

Reception

edit

Box office

edit

South Korea

edit

Upon its release in the theaters, the film attracted 422,339 viewers on its first day and topped the box office with nearly US$2.9 million gross.[29] By 22 December 2017, the film surpassed the 1 million viewer mark and grossed a total of US$9.3 million.[30]

By 31 December 2017, the film had attracted 8,523,149 viewers with a total earning of US$63.9 million.[31] As of 3 January 2018, the film attracted 10 million viewers in just 15 days.[32]

By 10 February 2018, Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds grossed more than US$105 million and became the second highest-grossing film in South Korea.[33]

Taiwan

edit

Upon its release in the theaters in Taiwan on 22 December 2017, the film grossed NT$5 million.[34] In the first week of its release, the film grossed NT$30 million, topping the weekend box office and became the second highest-grossing Korean film of all time in Taiwan.[35] After a week of its release, the film grossed NT$50 million.[36] On the 10th day of its release, the film grossed NT$100 million.[37][38] On 16 January 2018, the film overtook Train to Busan to become the highest-grossing Korean film in Taiwan, after grossing near to NT$350 million.[39] A month after its release in Taiwan, the film grossed NT$404 million.[40]

Hong Kong

edit

Prior to the official release of the film, the film grossed HK$2.4 million from preview tickets sales.[41] In the first day of its official release, the film grossed HK$5 million.[42] As of 14 January, the film attracted more than 280,000 viewers and grossed HK$12.5 million.[43][44] As of 16 January, the film grossed more than HK$16 million, surpassing The Battleship Island to become the second highest-grossing Korean film in Hong Kong.[45][46] As of 28 January, the film grossed more than HK$40 million.[47]

Critical response

edit

Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 67% of critics have given the film a positive review based on nine reviews, with an average rating of 6.8/10.[48] James Marsh of the South China Morning Post gave the film three out of five stars, stating that it is "engulfed by melodrama towards the end, but along the way there is fun to be had."[49] Yip Wai Yee of The Straits Times wrote that the film "may be soap-opera melodrama, but at least it is unapologetic about it."[50] In a negative review, Robert Abele of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "Along With the Gods strains to whimsically entertain, but routinely fails its smaller human-sized moments due to convoluted plot twists."[51]

Adaptation

edit

On 28 December 2017, Realies Pictures, the production company of Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds, announced a television adaptation of the film. According to the company, the script will be written in 2018, and the drama would be produced in 2019.[52]

Awards and nominations

edit
Award Category Nominee Results Ref.
9th KOFRA Film Awards Film Person of the Year Kim Yong-hwa Won [53]
12th Asian Film Awards Best Action Film Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds Nominated [54]
Best Production Design Lee Mok-won Nominated
Best Visual Effects Jin Jong-hyun Nominated
54th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Film Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds Nominated [55][56]
Best Director Kim Yong-hwa Won
Technical Award Jin Jong-hyun Won
Best Supporting Actor Kim Dong-wook Nominated
23rd Chunsa Film Art Awards Special Audience Award for Best Film Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds Won [57][58]
Best Supporting Actor Kim Dong-wook Won
Best Supporting Actress Kim Hyang-gi Nominated
Technical Award — Nominated
27th Buil Film Awards Best Director Kim Yong-hwa Nominated [59]
Best Art Direction Lee Mok-won Nominated
2nd The Seoul Awards Best Film Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds Nominated [60]
Best Actor Ha Jung-woo Won
Best Supporting Actor Ju Ji-hoon Won
Best Supporting Actress Ye Soo-jung Won
38th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards Best Technology (Visual Effects) Jin Jong-hyun Won [61]
39th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Film Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds Nominated [62]
Audience Choice Won
Best Director Kim Yong-hwa Nominated
Best Actor Ha Jung-woo Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Kim Dong-wook Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Kim Hyang-gi Won
Best Cinematography and Lightning Kim Byung-seo & Shin Kyung-man Nominated
Best Editing Kim Jin-oh & Kim Hye-jin Nominated
Best Art Direction Lee Mok-won Nominated
Technical Award (Visual Effects) Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds Won
Popular Star Award Kim Hyang-gi Won
Audience Choice Award for Most Popular Film Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds (1st) Won
5th Korean Film Producers Association Awards Technical Award Jin Jong-hyun Won [63]

References

edit
  1. ^ "ALONG WITH THE GODS: THE TWO WORLDS". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved 1 March 2018
  2. ^ a b "[Herald Review] 'Along With Gods' all about spectacular visuals".
  3. ^ a b "1st Part of ALONG WITH THE GODS Confirmed for Summer 2017". www.koreanfilm.or.kr. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  4. ^ "Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017) (Blu-ray + DVD) (US Version)". YesAsia Editorial. Retrieved 16 November 2023. The big-budget blockbuster is based on Joo Ho Min's hugely popular same-titled three-episode web comic, which is inspired by the Joseon dynasty Buddhist painting Ten Kings of Hell
  6. ^ "Seventh of the Ten Kings of Hell". National Museum of Korea. Retrieved 16 November 2023. This is a Buddhist painting depicting the seventh of the ten kings of hell. On the 49th day after death, the soul of the deceased comes before the seventh king and may be reborn, depending on his or her actions in this world. This painting portrays the dead being squeezed into a punishment device designed to inflict great pain.
  7. ^ "The Tenth King of Hell (dated 1798)". Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 16 November 2023. In the Buddhist world, the Ten Kings of Hell serve as judges of the deceased to determine their fate, including the type and severity of punishment(porco dio) and the course of their cycle of rebirth
  8. ^ Wai Yee Chiong, Penley Knipe (18 December 2017). "Reigning over a Hellish Bureaucracy". Harvard Art Museums.
  9. ^ Teiser, Stephen F. (1994). The Scripture on the Ten Kings and the Making of Purgatory in Medieval Chinese Buddhism. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0824815874. Book reviewed by James Robson.
  10. ^ "HA Jung-woo, CHA Tae-hyun Team Up WITH GOD". www.koreanfilm.or.kr. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  11. ^ "Kpop News: Exo's D.O. to cast in the film "With God"". 18 April 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  12. ^ 영화 '신과 함께' 1편, 2017년 여름 개봉한다. www.visualdive.com. Archived from the original on 3 January 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  13. ^ 하정우부터 도경수까지…'신과 함께' 초호화 라인업 확정. TV리포트 (in Korean). 17 April 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  14. ^ "ALONG WITH THE GODS Filming Ends, Release Pushed to December".
  15. ^ 하정우x차태현x주지훈 '신과함께' 12월 20일 개봉확정[공식] (in Korean). Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  16. ^ Kil, Sonia (23 October 2017). "WellGo USA Buys Two-Part Korean Fantasy 'Gods'". variety.com.
  17. ^ 조, 재영 (24 June 2018). '신과함께' 3·4편도 내년말 동시 제작한다. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  18. ^ 하정우X차태현 '신과 함께' 1편 12월, 2편 내년 여름 개봉. Star News (in Korean).
  19. ^ [공식] '신과함께', '국제시장' 꺾었다…역대 韓 영화 2위 (in Korean). Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  20. ^ "'Gods' sequel coming in August".
  21. ^ "´신과함께´ 하정우부터 이정재까지..특급 라인업". Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  22. ^ [단독]주지훈 캐스팅 백지화 '신과함께' 주연 물망. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  23. ^ "SM "엑소 도경수, '신과함께' 출연 확정..원일병 역"". Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  24. ^ 이준혁, 영화 '신과 함께' 합류…엘리트 군인 변신. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  25. ^ "电影与神同行演员阵容曝光 5月开拍定档17年上映_Wed114结婚网". www.wed114.cn. Archived from the original on 3 January 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  26. ^ Rumy Doo (18 October 2017). "WEBTOON-based film 'Along with the Gods' sold to 12 countries". The Korea Herald.
  27. ^ "Fantasy film 'Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds' pre-sold to 103 nations". Yonhap News Agency. 9 November 2017.
  28. ^ "'Two Worlds' to be screened in 103 countries". Korea JoongAng Daily. 10 November 2017.
  29. ^ "Korean Film Council - Daily Box Office". KOBIZ. 13–20 December 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  30. ^ "지옥행 롤러코스터 탄 기분"…'신과 함께-죄와 벌' 개봉 3일만에 100만 돌파. 인사이트 (in Korean). 18 May 2018.
  31. ^ "Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017)".
  32. ^ '신과함께'...국내 극장가 20번째 1000만 영화로 우뚝. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 3 January 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  33. ^ "KOBIZ - Korean Film Biz Zone : BoxOffice Since 2004". www.koreanfilm.or.kr. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  34. ^ 自由娛樂 (24 December 2017). "《與神同行》在台首映捲款500萬 奪同檔票房季軍 - 自由娛樂". ent.ltn.com.tw. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  35. ^ 自由娛樂 (26 December 2017). "核彈級催淚片《與神同行》 台3天賣3千萬 韓6天破8億 - 自由娛樂". ent.ltn.com.tw. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  36. ^ 自由娛樂 (30 December 2017). "孔劉差點《與神同行》 夯片全台熱賣破5千萬 - 自由娛樂". ent.ltn.com.tw. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  37. ^ 自由娛樂 (2 January 2018). "《與神同行》全台票房1.5億 推4DX版體驗20種感官效果 - 自由娛樂". ent.ltn.com.tw. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  38. ^ 全國電影票房2017年1225-1231統計資訊, 2018.1.4
  39. ^ "《與神同行》超越《屍速》 登基台影史最賣韓片 | 蘋果日報". 蘋果日報 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  40. ^ 聯合新聞網. "「與神同行」冠軍終於讓人 「移動迷宮3」攻下冠軍 | 電影 | 噓！星聞". 噓！星聞 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 25 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  41. ^ "《與神同行》打入韓票房十大馬東錫下集擔正 鬥陰間使者". Apple Daily 蘋果日報. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  42. ^ "【韓流】《與神同行》繼續穩坐港票房冠軍 韓國觀影人次超《逆權司機》". Apple Daily 蘋果日報. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  43. ^ "【韓流】單日吸28萬觀眾入場 《與神同行》急升至韓歷代票房第6位". Apple Daily 蘋果日報. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  44. ^ 施玲玲 (13 January 2018). "《與神同行》香港開畫超《逆權司機》稱冠 車太鉉夏天訪港謝票？". 香港01. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  45. ^ "【韓流】《與神同行》大收旺場 車太鉉 河正宇有望拉隊襲港謝票？". Apple Daily 蘋果日報. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  46. ^ "【韓流】《與神同行》港票房破《野蠻女友》 車太鉉：都唔知應唔應該開心". Apple Daily 蘋果日報. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  47. ^ "【韓流】《與神同行》港票房破4千萬 河正宇《1987》破700萬人次". Apple Daily 蘋果日報. Archived from the original on 3 August 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  48. ^ "Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  49. ^ Marsh, James (6 January 2018). "Film review – Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds is a fun fantasy drama with spectacular effects and an all-star Korean cast". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  50. ^ Wai Yee, Yip (11 January 2018). "Korean fantasy drama Along With The Gods is a thrilling tear-jerker". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  51. ^ Abele, Robert (21 December 2017). "One world is more than enough in Korean fantasy 'Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 15 January 2018.
  52. ^ "ALONG WITH THE GODS to be Adapted Into a Drama". www.koreanfilm.or.kr. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  53. ^ "'1987' bags best film at KOFRA awards". IBTimes. 31 January 2018.
  54. ^ "Asian Film Awards 2018 nominations". South China Morning Post. 11 January 2018.
  55. ^ "'1987' shines at Baeksang awards : The annual ceremony honors the best works in local film and television". Korea JoongAng Daily. 5 May 2018.
  56. ^ 제54회 백상예술대상, TV·영화 각 부문별 수상 후보자 공개. JTBC (in Korean). 6 April 2018.
  57. ^ "[23rd 춘사영화제 종합]'남한산성' 최우수감독상 수상…최희서 11관왕 달성". Herald Corporation (in Korean). 18 May 2018.
  58. ^ 제23회 춘사영화제 5월18일 개최..홍상수·김민희 참석하나. Newsen (in Korean). 3 May 2018.
  59. ^ "[23회 부산국제영화제] 부일영화상". Busan Ilbo (in Korean). 20 September 2018.
  60. ^ '제2회 더 서울어워즈' 10월27일 개최, 드라마-영화 각 부문별 후보공개. iMBC (in Korean). 28 September 2018.
  61. ^ [공식]이성민·한지민 '영평상' 남녀주연상…'1987' 작품상. Sports Chosun (in Korean). 22 October 2018.
  62. ^ 청룡영화상 후보 발표, '1987' 최다·'공작'도 9개부문 후보. Newsen (in Korean). 1 November 2018.
  63. ^ 주지훈·한지민, 한국영화제작가협회상 남녀주연상 영광. Newsen (in Korean). 11 December 2018.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wiki.x.io/w/index.php?title=Along_with_the_Gods:_The_Two_Worlds&oldid=1257276788"