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I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Too much of everything

A Masterpiece!

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

I first thought this was going to be another fictitious movie with a lot of shock value. Instead it turned out to be a very endearing and heartfelt movie, but honor and integrity. It touches on the warm and beautiful side of the human heart. This film just kept on building and building and got better and better. Sure, Lee Byung-hun is a deceiver when it comes to girls and doesn't have integrity when it comes to marriage. But he is a actor playing a character. It even has those cute moments driven by integrity, compassion and love which I thoroughly enjoyed. As the story kept building I got more interested. While so many Korean films focus on the bleak side of things, it's nice to see a fictitious and yet realistic movie that focuses on the good of humanity. If that makes any sense. This movie is actually a Korean take on the "The Prince and the Pauper" story. Except "I Am a King" is a more close take on that story. However I liked this film a lot more than "I Am a King". Most of the movie takes place in a palace and there is little to no action scenes. However because the director did such a good job of transcending from dark to bright it meshes together well enough that the a lot of action isn't necessary. It might actually have taken away from this movie. A movie like this shows that it's not by birth that paves the way to greatness as a human being but what you do.8.7/10

This is my first review. I've been a member since nearly 3 years and never has any movie compelled me to write something about it. I'm personally a huge fan of Byung-hun Lee's work. He's such a talented artist. I'm glad he's finally getting some good work in Hollywood. Masquerade is a movie that's not for everyone. But once you watch it with your heart, you'll fall in love with it. The movie has some quite funny parts too. This movie is truly inspiring to any aspiring filmmaker . The acting is amazing. The story is brilliant. The direction is flawless. There were many scene which made me quite emotional. I just can't help it without praising Byung-hun Lee's acting abilities. The music, the acting, the direction, the story and especially the cinematography fits in perfectly in the movie like a fully completed puzzle board and boy what a beautiful puzzle board it is. I believe Hollywood should take notes watching this flick. I don't speak Korean. I don't even understand it. I watched this movie by using subtitles. Still, i din't need to understand the language to feel their emotions. I'm surprised this film wasn't nominated for the Oscars in the foreign film category. The director Chang-min Choo deserves a lot of praise for his work on this movie. This is the kind of movie everyone should watch at-least once before they die.

I am not a fan of costume drama/movie and have limited knowledge of the truth historical events which the story is based upon. I even have doubt of watching this movie at the first place. But the slogan drew me in, 'The Kingdom in the hands of a layman for 15 days".The front part for about 30 minutes is kind of pale. But I am happy that I got through that. Because what follows is the one of the most intriguing and interesting plot I had watch for a long time.It is simple plot. A king is afraid of an assassination plan (later got drugged) and proceed to hide himself and put a fake on the throne for 15 days. The story follow Ha-seon, a layman impersonate as the fake king puppet during his 15 days reign of Joseon Kingdom and the relationship with his servants and the queen.Lee Byung Hun is terrific as King Gwanghae and Ha-seon. The transition through and forth is clearly display. The affection towards his maid, Sawal, the Queen and the royal chief secretary is so well acted.This movie give people something to think about. A king and a layman is not much different. A king is made to rule the country but he is not necessary the best man for the job. In the other way round, a layman with little literature education who had experience the poverty and difficulties as a citizen should not have the ability to rule a kingdom. BUT, HE DOES WITH HIS OWN WAYS AND MADE CHANGES THAT TURN THE KINGDOM INTO A BETTER PLACE.

***Spoilers below*** I will be very surprised Lee Byung-Hun does not get the best actor prize in Korea this year. The transition from the real king to the impostor/actor was absolutely amazing (to say the least) making it easy to know which was which; very important in my ability to follow the story as it unfolded. The only confusion I felt was which high government official was which - all the way through the movie, the only way to figure out who was whom was if they "stepped out" when the king called on them; they all had the same clothing, hat, beard, mannerism (I do realize that this is how it was back then but still I kept asking myself, "now, who the heck is this nut?")Overall, it was a wonderful movie with high production value that I thoroughly enjoyed. It could have used better editing about 15 minutes from the end of the movie tho - it dragged a bit where the lighting was way off - the reason for a 9 out of 10.Cinematography was phenomenal!