Reviews for Remembering Korea

The average rating for Remembering Korea based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2008-05-13 00:00:00 Robb Lovre I am a huge, unabashed fan of Ken. I love him. I have loved him for years. And this extremely early biography simply made me love him more. I love him so much that if you ask me the question, "Emma or Ken?" My answer is Ken (though I love Emma too). Beginning took much heat for being precipitous. It came out extremely early in Ken's career, just after his amazing triumph with Henry V, and everyone thought it was dreadfully narcissistic to write an autobiography when he was so damn young. They're probably right. But that arrogance, that self belief, the surprising humility beneath the arrogance, the recognition that it was too much, and the wonderful tale of a young life on the brink of a greatness that would fizzle and remain on the verge for years is just too beautiful to dismiss. A good portion of the book is taken up with his production diary for Henry V (which is excellent, particularly for anyone interested in some day directing films), but the best parts of the book are the truly autobiographical chapters, which offer unforgettable anecdotes about all of Ken's heroes. These sections made me fall deeply in love with a couple of generations of amazing British actors, and I remain fans of them all to this day. Branagh's marathon runs with Brian Blessed, his awe over the Hamlet recall of Derek Jacobi (the man knows the ENTIRE play by heart), his love for Olivier and Gielgud, his crush on Judi Dench, all of it dazzles, and it is obvious that Branagh was -- and if one considers his body of work he must remain -- as big a fan as he is a colleague of these geniuses. And you know what, apart from his appallingly shabby rendition of Frankenstein, I remain a massive fan of Branagh's body of work. I loved him most recently in Valkyrie (regardless of my general disappointment in the film) and Wallander, but I really can't think of anything else I've disliked. I know some find his Hamlet overwrought, but I love huge portions of it and like most of the rest (and casting Heston as the Player King is genius). I loved him as Gilderoy Lockhart. I still adore Dead Again. And I don't care what anyone thinks, I love his casting of Keanu as Denzel's brother in Much Ado About Nothing. You can tell me he sucks. But I'll disagree. You can tell me I am a fool. And I will say you're probably right. But I love Ken. Nothing's going to change that. And I know, at least, that James has my back. Kenneth Branagh is the King. I can't wait for The Mighty Thor!

Review # 2 was written on 2013-09-06 00:00:00 Kevin Barry I've been a Ken fan for a long time. I actually had this book in my bookcase waiting to be read. However, between moving and unpacking and weeding out I'm afraid this book was a casualty. I recently discovered it again at the library and am so glad I finally read it. I am amazed at the ambition of this guy! And his humbleness that went along with it. Sure, it is one thing to pitch an idea and say it is the best thing going and will be wildly successful, but it is another, when rethinking and having second thoughts that perhaps it wasn't such a great endeavor after all. This happens quite a bit with Mr. Branagh's project, however all of them seemed to have come off rather well. I also got alot of the behind the scene stuff with raising money for productions, hiring directors and actors, location shooting, different venues for plays, rehearsing for TV productions and so much more which I found extremely interesting. Highly recommend.