Swallow the Sun (2009– ) User Reviews (3)

Great drama with some action

[Slsr · 9/10 · 11 May 2010]

Swallow the sun (also known as "Taeyangeul Ssamkyeora" and "All in 2" though I don't think it has too much to do with first "all in" but maybe there is something similar besides same director and writer???) is easily one of the best TV-series I've seen so far, though I'm fan of Asian cinema I hadn't seen any Korean drama series (a lot of Japanese though) before this, but after watching this on I might have to look for some more :).

I was pretty much blown away by this series, why? Firstly acting here is superb, Ji Sung (or Ji Seong) in main role plays orphan who wants to make his way up from scum to success and live a better life. I can't understand why isn't he amazingly popular actor already, his acting was really convincing and he is also good looking fellow, which probably ain't bad thing when it comes to becoming popular either. Also gotta mention Sung Yu Ri (or Seong Yoo ri), who also makes marvelous role here as a girl with a dream and is just damn beautiful too. Rest of the cast also does great job, if I'd had to mention someone else besides ones above, it gotta be Jun Kwang Ryul (or Jeon Gwang Ryeol), who makes great role as bitter and heartless old man. As story goes on motives and ambitions of characters change, so it isn't just some simple story about thug who isn't happy with his life and wants money and success.

Secondly plot is really nice and complex and there's some action in it too, it's really not basic romance drama. Thirdly Characters are also likable, drama really kept me interested all ~25 hours and music played in drama are also just brilliant. "TRAX + Air" really has made awesome job with two of their songs that played during series. So why not 10/10 then? I still felt it could have been even better and there is also some better series out there.

Good Acting and Fantastic Music

[nicnik6 · 9/10 · 28 February 2021]

Orphans, mercenaries, gansters, fishermen, casinos, diamonds, and gambling in style, you have them all. Apparently the film was shot on at least three different locations, the Jeju Island, Las Vegas and South Africa, so the dancing fountains of the Bellagio together with Cirque du Soleil, the African jungle, and the winds of the island intertwine throughout the series to create a diverse setting for the action. Yes, there are action scenes, there are flashback scenes, there's lovely scenery in places, and a very sad story whose ending, well... I suppose that you'll have to see. Among all of the above, there's some very good acting, and I am so glad I have discovered actor Jun Kwang-ryul. Ji Sung I already knew. Jun Kwang-ryul plays a very strong character whose fate is unfortunate from the very first episode, but whom we can completely sympathise with. Ji Sung plays the rest and he is who brought me here, so I truly cannot understand why this series was/is not more popular. I suppose the repetitive twists and turns of the plot are something all soap watchers condone, and they should not deter us from learning a well -presented story.

The secret of the title lies in the lyrics of the theme song , Fate, but I don't understand enough Korean yet to clinch it. Apparently it means doing virtually anything, even an impossible feat such as swallowing the sun, in order to prove either your loyalty or your love, or both - which is the case in Swallow the Sun. Speaking of songs, the music licensed here is extraordinary, and I am going to mention Dance Like An African, Everything Must Change- the Todd Gordon version, D'inverno by Luigi Rubino, some incredible pieces by Zdenek Bartak and an OST by TRAX + Air of which Fate, and That Place are my two favourites.

In my opinion, all fans of Ji Sung and all those fond of K drama must see Swallow the Sun.

YOU MUST SWALLOW!

[Park_Min · 5/10 · 1 February 2024]

It started off with a bang and kept its tempo up for another 10 episodes before performing the hardest emergency brake pull ever. At least for that portion, this is what modern day parodies would cite mimicking the exaggerated nature of the melo landscape from late 2000s. Lots of abroad filming with the typical Korean lens of foreign lands, loads of shaky action with tons of cuts for every shot that can rival that one Liam Neeson scene jumping over a fence, plenty of exposed skin akin to the usual Korean broadcast ratings, and all kinds of flashy elements that they could through at us as fast as possible. All of that stopped with the brake slam and the drama turned to the usual slow melo of that time, it was around when they moved the setting back to Korea. Although the earlier parts lacked a real sense of focus and were disjointed as hell but at least they weren't as boring as the 2nd half. On another note, the speedy harsh soundtrack got me exhausted after playing for nth time in every episode. The biggest point of comparison between this drama and "All In (2003)" was its insulting transition and disparity between its 1st and 2nd half.