Cathardincu Surprisingly incoherent and boring

Nonureva Really Surprised!

Sameer Callahan It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Abegail Noëlle While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

Katie Jurek Great Korean movie, fantastic writing, loved the actors, and it truly was good at being emotional!

Asri Dini Honestly, despite my love for korean movie / series, I'm not a fan a sageuk genre. They tend to bore me to tears because sometimes I have no idea their background and I don't know South Korean history. It might be this movie will have a first draw to people like me who doesn't like sageuk genre at all and start to appreciate the genre. If there is one thing this genre brought me to tears, It's the circumstance surrounding the citizen and how they crave about how a great KING will lead them. Lee Byung Hun really nail it as a KING and the pretending one. Which led you to think even if have already A King, Do you really thing your subordinate think you as one? There is abit naivety behind it, but it's very entertaining movie and worth a try to bring you joy for the first time on sageuk genre.

aldri-feb 'Masquerade' is kind of movie that is hardly to find weakness from it. It is so beautiful and entertaining from the beginning through the end. The first half of the movie is about how Ha-seon adapts in palace environment which is interesting to see and sometimes really funny, and the last 45 minutes of the movie is just so tense. This is an example movie that is handled by professional cast and crew members. Chang-min as director built a dazzling and powerful movie, the cinematography is beautiful captured and solid frame by frame, the make-up and costume design are also did their responsibility well. Cast member also had done an incredible part especially Byung-hun as King Gwang-hae and Ha-seon. His name has already known internationally as a tough fighter in 'G.I. Joe series' and will be in 'Red 2' too but you wouldn't find him acts like in this kind of movie, it's totally worth to see. Byung-hun acts really convincingly as two different character here, a serious charismatic king and a naughty lazy comedian. Without the right guy who plays exceptionally in the main role, this movie wouldn't be that great. Overall, 'Masquerade' is a serious making movie with great storyline and strong performances although the ending is not so extraordinary. No wonder 'Masquerade' is appreciated and so successful in South Korea which it well deserved.

Denise Tan 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.