It tells the tale of people who at that fateful day were in Haeundae and how their lives are before and after the tidal wave strikes.  In the beginning we see Man-sik (Seol Kyeong-gu) part of a fishing boat where one of its crew died during the December 2004 tsunami.  Fast forward to the present and he’s still blaming himself for it.  He looks after the dead man’s daughter Yeon-hee (Ha Ji-won).

A few days before the tidal wave, Man-sik’s younger brother Hyeong-sik (Lee Min-ki) is a lifeguard who saves Hee-mi (Kang Ye-won).  She’s a college student on vacation in Haeundae with her friends.  Their feelings for each other went from zero to a hundred in a couple of days but it is not without any hitch, which is caused by her rich admirer who owns a yacht.

Kim Hwi (Park Joong-hoon) is the scientist who has been warning the local officials of the impending danger only to be met by deaf ears.  His ex-wife Yoo-jin (Uhm Jung-hwa) is in charge of an expo event in Haeundae.  She’s in town with their daughter Ji-min (Kim Yoo-jeong).

Typical disaster movies are like roller coaster rides where you anticipate the dreaded event to happen.  This wait can be boring at times.  Haeundae managed to entertain the audience right from the beginning by featuring the stories of the three pairs mentioned above, as well as the people around them.

And just when we think that we’re watching a romantic movie, the tidal wave shows up.  The CGI-generated tidal waves and other special effects were a delight.  It can make you forget about logic for the time being.  But once the end credits are rolling, you’ll be asking yourself why the divorced couple died when they were perched on top of a tall building while Man-sik, Yeon-hee and the rest of the supporting casts survived swimming at ground level.

One memorable scene from Haeundae was the one involving Hyeong-sik and Hee-mi.  During the tidal wave, Hee-mi was at sea in the yacht with the rich guy.  They called for help and Hyeong-sik was one of those who responded to the call.  The cable can only hold two people at a time so Hee-mi went up first.  When it was time for the rich guy and Hyeong-sik to go up, cable started to break.  Hyeong-sik sacrificed his life to save someone he despised.

Another thing I like about Haeundae is its humor.  It was like watching a cartoon when Eok-jo was lucky enough to dodge the falling cargoes.  And just when he thought he’s safe, he started to light a cigarette, which accidentally caused a large explosion that brought down the bridge.  What’s funny was that in the end he was given a Courageous Citizen Award.

Like what I’ve said before, Haeundae was more about the people than the tidal wave.  This made it different from the rest.  After Haeundae, next stop is 2012.

Then there’s popstar Ga Young (Eugene) and bum Jung Hwan (Lee Min Ki) love affair. She always led a pampered life and was unprepared for what’s in store for her in a foreign land. Good thing she met a random stranger in the airport and what transpired next might be the stuff most guys dream of.

Then we have Joong Sik (Lee Moon Sik) and Yoon Suk (Lee Il Hwa), a husband and wife on their dream vacation. The man tries his best to give his wife a lasting memory while trying to keep something important, such as his terminal illness, from her.

The movie was filled with memories and scenes but the plot is somewhat weak. I think the writer or the director fell in love with Boracay that he convinced his superiors that a movie set in the Romantic Island is a good idea.

Romantic Island gives the tourism industry of the Philippines a much needed boost by showcasing the beauty, not just of Boracay, but of Intramuros as well. It was shown last Christmas in Korea and when January of 2009 came, my friend saw lots of Koreans in Boracay.

Ga Young (Eugene): Cheer Up Dude!

As a Filipino, there are plenty to cheer about Romantic Island but as a viewer the story lacks cohesiveness and it felt like a slideshow for Wow Philippines.

*Spoiler*
The hitman (who is just a kid), shot the gun precisely as to how his grandpa taught him to. Once the countdown for New Year reached to zero, the kid pointed the gun to the air and shouted Happy New Year to the surprised Joong Sik.