Sunday, January 22, 2012

Review: MBLAQ–“This Is War”



THIS—IS—MBLAQ!! a.k.a. Joon becomes a supernatural assassin.


Did you like the song?
Powerful repetition can go a long way, and this song is proof. The chorus is manly and charismatic while still being melodic and having this sad feeling. I get the same kind of feeling from Infinite’s “BTD (Before the Dawn)” as I get from listening to this song. It’s probably related to the epic electric guitar and epic strings.

MBLAQ It’s War strings

“Jonjengiya, oh!”

What was your favorite part of the song?
I really love the chorus, but my favorite part is right after the music goes dead and then comes back in with the chorus. Powerful stuff.

MBLAQ It’s War This Is War members names concept photo

G.O, Mir, Thunder, Joon, and Seungho. And, yes, Joon is holding a dog on a leash.

Does the English make you want to rip your eardrums out?
I keep wanting to translate the title as a kind of petulant “This means war!” *stomps foot* Other than that, Seungho’s “no way” is sexy and amazing, and “Don’t you cry cry cry, bye bye bye” are fine.

MBLAQ It’s War This Is War members names black and white

Thunder, Seungho, Joon, Mir, and G.O.

Did you like the video?
I was really, really digging this music video from the beginning until about 1:41 when it committed the cardinal sin in my eyes of splitting the song. I was getting into the groove, the song was building momentum, and then suddenly we’re back to melodramatic piano notes, and I felt pretty letdown. I’d have been able to handle it with minor fuming if the plot that they interrupted the song for wasn’t so inane—they show a tender moment between Joon and the actress (whose name I can’t seem to find anywhere) and then they show Joon repeatedly cocking a gun and trying out his bullet-curving powers. Surely they could have just incorporated that stuff into the video with the song playing?

MLBAQ Joon It's War curving bullet

Sure, it’s cool, but it’d be cooler with music.

Also…Kpop, there’s something we need to talk about. Awhile back, I ranted to you about UV’s offensive use of blackface in their “Tralala,” and today we’re facing a similar issue in MBLAQ’s sampling of human rights activist Malcom X’s “By Any Means Necessary” speech. Malcom X’s views of African American self-determination, which contrasted with Martin Luther King, Jr.’s, were (and continue to be) important and controversial. You can watch Malcom X’s full speech at this link, but the main point that gives the speech its title is this:
We declare our right on this earth to be a man, to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary.
And this is the quote MBLAQ uses. Now please don’t get me wrong: I think sampling powerful speeches is an interesting device that can give additional meaning to current works by underscoring the history of topics being discussed. Sampling a speech similar to this one would be very powerful in songs about combating racism or overcoming obstacles or some serious examination of injustice and inequality.

Malcom X By Any Means Necessary Kpop MBLAQ It's War

Malcom X.

However, to hear this speech in a Kpop idol song about being angry because another guy stole your girl—that’s not okay. I understand that they did it to add weight to the music, but trivializing the words of a major historical figure who means so much to many people is not at all the way to go about doing that, MBLAQ. I’m amazed that I have to keep saying this since it seems so obvious to me, but if you want to appeal internationally, you have to at the very least be aware of how your actions will appear to an international audience. (Also see an excellent explanation of this here.)

Was there a storyline? If so, did it make sense?
You guys, part of the reason this has taken me so long to review is that I was so confused. This music video has so many parts that literally make no sense whatsoever.

As far as I can tell, Joon’s character is an obsessive, abusive, possibly sexist control freak assassin with supernatural powers who lives in a junkyard, where he keeps all his expensive assassination gear (I didn’t know junkyards were so secure!). He’s friends with Thunder, who is normal except that he likes to pick through trash.

MBLAQ It's War Thunder trash

This is perfectly normal.


MBLAQ This is War Thunder Joon

Aww, hobo!friends.

One day for some reason Joon is hired to kill a girl. I’m assuming she is the daughter of an important dignitary who screwed over some irate gangsters. Joon has her in his shots, but at the last minute he realizes someone else is about to kill her.

MBLAQ This is War girl

“Boom, headshot!” time?

Assassination rules are clear: if you don’t kill the mark, you don’t get paid. And we know how much Joon needs that money. Do you know how much rent costs in a junkyard?!

MBLAQ This is War Joon

Those trash-compactor bills are piling up…

But instead of just shooting the other (admittedly inept) assassin from his perch, Joon inexplicably goes down to beat the living daylights out of him and then kills him—after the other assassin has shot the girl in the shoulder. Joon then kidnaps the girl and brings her to Thunder to tend to her wounds.

MBLAQ This is War Thunder

Thunder…what are you doing with those tweezers? :/

As she heals, Stockholm Syndrome sets in, the girl falls for Thunder, and then Joon goes batshit…for no apparent reason.

MBLAQ This is War Joon Thunder girl confrontation

Oops, we accidentally upset the crazy homeless guy.

He drags the girl out into the junkyard, again without apparent provocation, and then when she makes it clear she wants to stay with Thunder, Joon beats Thunder up and then uses his powers to freakin’ shoot himself.

MBLAQ This is War Joon bullet shoots himself

Can you say “melodramatic drama queen”?

And then it’s made out to be some kind of noble sacrifice. He probably just wants to take her outside to ransom her. Then he pulls out…what are those, plane tickets? WTF?

MBLAQ This is War Joon plane tickets

This would all probably be much easier to understand if I could read Korean.

And, um, Seungho? What’s going on with the crying here? It’s just weird because nobody else is doing it.

MBLAQ This is War Seungho

Oh, nobody told you that the “Cry” shoot was over?

Was the dance cool and distinctive?
MBLAQ just can’t stay off their knees in dance moves, can they? ;D The dance is made up of several interesting moves with lots of space between them, which gives power to the individual moves but doesn’t help much with the flow. Overall, I didn’t find it particularly distinctive, perhaps because we didn’t get to see a ton of it due to the storyline.

MBLAQ It’s War sexy dance moves

Thunder, Seungho, G.O, Mir, and Joon.

But, MBLAQ, was it a bit awkward filming this when one of the moves is Joon getting shot and collapsing, complete with some nasty blood splatter, in front of G.O during the dance? :/

MBLAQ It’s War Joon bullet shot dance

Move along, move along, nothing to see here, just Joon getting shot…

I guess he heals quickly, though, because he’s back on his feet in the next scene.

Do the members look good?
I’m beginning to think that this is something of an analytically pointless question. It’s exceedingly rare that Kpop singers don’t look good. But I’m selfishly keeping it because it keeps the questions at 10 and allows me to fangirl. :D

So I suppose this is an excuse to post a sexy picture of Mir…*shifty eyes* I really have no excuse. I love my maknaes.

MBLAQ It’s War Mir sexy

Whee!

The other guys all have appropriately strange (but still masculine) haircuts, with Seungho’s racing stripes (I think that’s what you call them) being the second-most dramatic after Mir, in my opinion.

MBLAQ It’s War Seungho Changmin TVXQ same room

Changmin called. He wants you to keep your head down until he gets his room back.

Which member stood out the most?
I think that this is obviously Joon just because it’s business as usual for MBLAQ so he’s given the most screentime.* He also looks ridiculously angsty and sexy carrying a gun. Kind of reminds me of BEAST’s Junhyung: regardless of their actual off-screen personalities, in music videos they are usually given the “secretly tormented macho guy” roles.

MBLAQ It’s War Joon gun sexy

It’s because they look amazing doing those roles, but hopefully they will be given the chance to branch out in the future.

*Edit: You know, the more I think about it, I’m not actually sure that Joon does get more screentime than Thunder. Thunder is onscreen rather a lot.

MBLAQ This is War review Thunder

I could be anal retentive enough to time it out, but I think instead I’ll just say that it seems like Joon has the most screentime because he makes it memorable, makes it his own. Joon has a very much mutual love affair with the camera. To me, Thunder is cute but his parts are a little dull to watch, whereas Joon, melodramatic or not, is always arresting. Sure, a large part of it is just the parts they’ve been given, but I have to attribute some of this to sheer natural charisma.

MBLAQ Joon hot

Do you like it enough to buy the song?
Hmm. Although I like the chorus, I don’t think so. I want fewer strings and more accordion, please, MBLAQ.

Any ending thoughts?
Wouldn’t it be nice if a Kpop music video with assassins had a plotline that actually made sense?

Boyfriend’s one-liner:
“This video should have a spoiler warning for the movie Wanted.” (I have not yet seen that despite my love for James McAvoy, so I will have to take his word on it.)

Thanks to everybody who requested this MV. I received more requests for this than I have before for any music video! I guess MBLAQ must be gaining in popularity.

Life is still rather crazy, but I will update as often as I can. *hugs*

31 comments:

  1. My first thought when I saw the teaser and the MV for this song: "Who keeps giving Joon a gun? Bad things happen when he has a gun!" And I ADORED Mir's new look. I can't tell if I want the sexy long hair that he used to have back, or if I want him to keep this look forever and ever....

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  2. lol. This MV is hilarious to review, apparently--mostly cuz it makes no sense whatsoever. You should watch Eat Your Kimchi's review of it--my favorite part was when Simon was talking about the part near the end when the girl is standing in front of Thunder, protecting him from Joon, and Thunder keeps trying (and failing) to push her out of the way to safety. Simon's confusion over this scene is summed up pretty well by this quote: "Honestly now, is it really that hard to move the girl out of the way? I don't know how to say this any other way, but...she's a small Korean woman.  She probably weighs ninety pounds. Soaking wet.  Wearing chain mail.  And holding an anvil.  Just. Shove her."  XD

    anyhoo, thanks for another great review--i feel bad i haven't been reading your reviews for a while, but now it just means I have lots of fun material to read all at once when i get the time :)  love what you've done improving the site, btw 

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  3. Oh dear, what happens when Joon gets a gun? Is this from a show or something? *curious*

    I honestly believe that Mir can wear anything and have his hair in any style and still look awesome. /biased :D

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  4. Hee, I love Eat Your Kimchi! I cracked up at the anvil comment. But I think that the girl in the MV was really determined not to move, and Thunder's character didn't want to hurt her.

    Oh, I'm so glad you mentioned that you liked the site! It took me forever to decide what background and layout, etc., I wanted, and to sort out the kinks. :D

    I've been very slow at updating of late because I've been job hunting, which is no fun at all, so I don't know that you've missed much, unfortunately. But I hope you enjoy them if you get time! :D

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  5. Heh, I'm just thinking back to their "Y" video, because....Joon also had a gun in that one. And it turned out badly, yep....(I could also make Ninja Assassin references with weapons in general, but I'll be good). 

    Oh dear lord yes. That boy is so gorgeous and awesome, he'd probably look good bald....I never want to test that theory of course, because I love his hair. 

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  6. Ohhh, okay. Yup, Joon should probably not handle guns or weapons of any kind... :D 

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  7. I think k-pop vids not making sense is in their "job description", like, a director wants to film a vid that has a coherent plot for once but he's overrun by the producers because the rule says, "vid = no sense" :)

    ANd Joonie doesn't always get the most screen time. Wasn't so in Mona Lisa.

    Are you watching Hello, Baby with MBLAQ? It's super awwwwsome.

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  8. LOLOL, if a Kpop MV makes sense, it is thrown out as not artistic enough!

    The more MVs I watch of MBLAQ, the more I'm seeing that although Joon doesn't usually get more screentime than the others, his charisma makes it seem to me like he does. He's just so arresting. *stares*

    I'm not watching their Hello Baby yet, but I will (hopefully soon)...I've been a little preoccupied by other things, lol...*shifty eyes*

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  9. I def see what you mean about the Malcom x quote, I had the same issue with that, but gotta note, I don't think MBLAQ is trying to appeal to international fans atm anyway, they're still trying to get Korea's love so it's fine lol. They're my favorite group though so I'm glad you reviewed ^_^ I don't get why so many people have trouble with the storyline though, I got it the first time I watched it and my sis who doesnt know about kpop got the storyline straight away (once I explained to her that Joon and Cheondung were not the same person X__X)
    I gotta agree, Joon is so much more appealing on camera than Cheondung because he has so much charisma, tbh I think all of MBLAQ have so much charisma, but cheondung is the only lacking in that and it shows on stage quite a bit =/
    If you've seen the live choreography I think your opinion on it could possibly change though? 
    Mir really looks the best in the this mv I think, the hair really suits the mv, but g.o's look is too normal for the video I think =S
    Love your reviews as usual (even though I never fully agree lol but they're so enjoyable to read ^__^)

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  10. Yay, I'm glad MBLAQ is your favorite group! They're not my favorite, but I like them too, and am constantly amazed by their huge fanbase. :)

    ...but gotta note, I don't think MBLAQ is trying to appeal to international
    fans atm anyway, they're still trying to get Korea's love so it's fine
    lol.


    Well, they're trying to appeal to Japan, at least. And whether or not they're actively promoting internationally, I think they should at least be aware that they have a big international audience (I'm an example of it!), and they certainly don't want to do anything to mess that up. My issue is that I doubt anybody in the writing and promoting room stopped to think about what they were doing and if it was potentially offensive. Their managers should just...think in the future, I guess...

    ...tbh I think all of MBLAQ have so much charisma...

    YES! OMG. And especially Joon. I don't think Thunder's necessarily lacking; it's just that anybody would seem like they are lacking in charisma while standing next to Joon. It's an unfair comparison, lol.

    Glad you like the reviews, even though we disagree on some stuff--the world would be really boring if everybody agreed all the time, though! :D

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  11. I know what you mean with the quote, why didn't they stop to think? What bothers me is that MBLAQ said they had nothing to do with production this time HOWEVER One Way's Chance did everything and he grew up in the US if I'm not mistaken!! How did HE not realise to think twice about using this quote?? O_o
    Everywhere I've ever read always says how Mir has enough charisma for the entire group so I'm suprised that you see it as Joon who has the most, although like you said the entire group oozes charisma lol
    Hehe yeah, I love reading reviews that I don't agree with anyway tbh, it's more interesting that way ^__^

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  12. Really, a guy who grew up in the US put this together? Wow. Well, maybe in the future they'll think a bit more about appropriating cultural icons. 

    Hahaha, Mir is actually my favorite! (I have a thing for maknaes, it seems...heh heh.) But, yeah, they're all super-charismatic! :)

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  13. Yeah, he lives in Korea now, but from what I've read him and his group member from One Way mostly all grew up in the US, and MBLAQ themselves said they didn't have much to do with production this time as they wanted a third party to choose what he thought sounded right for them without their input. I find it annoying that he put that quote without thinking about it's meaning, because obviously MBLAQ are the ones that are presenting his work and therefore take responsibility for ignorance of using the quote. 
    Hehe Mir is my favorite too, he's actually my favorite in all of kpop lol >_<

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  14. ...obviously MBLAQ are the ones that are presenting his work and therefore take responsibility for ignorance of using the quote.

    I know; it's so frustrating. Because how is the average viewer/listener to know that this is an outsider's doing? They just see MBLAQ and assume MBLAQ chose and supports its use. But I suppose that's the same with any decision that comes from management and not the artists themselves.

    Mir is your favorite in all of Kpop? That's awesome!

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  15. It really is frustrating, I think there was only one interview that they mentioned in that they had nothing to do with production, so unless someone saw that they would never know =/ But definetly as a group, it's your place to take the responsibility at the end, seeing as you're the face of the work in a way- it's frustrating but the way things are I guess. Hehe Mir's awesome ^__^

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  16. I think the plane tickets are so that nobody can assassinate her 

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  17. So Joon's character had kind of planned this beforehand, then? Or had he expected that he would be the one going on a plane with her, instead of Thunder? 

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  18. I accidentally bumped onto you site today. Pretty appealing I must say!
    You make really nice reviews, loved to read them. ^_^

    Actually this was my firs MBLAQ's MV I ever saw and also my first K-pop MV of 2012. So this very MV is kinda meaningful to me. ^_^  Moreover, I finaly found my favourite group! Yay!

    The first thing I thought watching the MV was: "Wow! Live orcestra + modern beat! My favourite combination!" and then that bullet sequences send me back to "Wanted" [but seeing the bullet brackes physics' laws in 5 minute video is definitelly better then watching it for 2 hours XD]

    I also felt letdown for the ripping of the song. :(
    They should've just made Drama and Dance Versions separetly or make the MV much longer like TVXQ in "Before You Go".
    Anyhow, despite all this nonsence of the video it is still one of my favourite MVs! XD

    Also the Shadow Dance is quite interesting discovery. SHINee should thank MBLAQ for the idea ("Sherlock"). ;)

    That's funny how you keep naming Cheondung "Thunder" yet you wrote "Changmin" instead of Max. No offence, that's fine; I just personally prefer to keep their Korean names. ;)

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  19. I also feel that Ceondung is a bit out of place, though I love all the members.
    Do yo know that Cheondung joined the group just several months before their debute? He replaced former member Sangbae and Sangbae supposed to be the one called "Cheondung".
    I just recently found that info and was really surprised, though there's no information on Sangbae in the net, only some pics... According to the pics he might be more "fit" for MBLAQ's image then current Sanghyun... idk...maybe yes, maybe no but current Cheondung is definitely too timid. :)

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  20. yeah I know all about sangbae, and from what I can see from his uniqlo modeling pics, he's got a whole hell of a lot more charisma than cheondung, but I wouldn't trade in cheondung, the whole dynamic of the group would be different I think. I do wish cheondung would loosen up on stage though, everybody is exuding charisma times a million and there's cheondung looking like he has a stick up his butt, im always sitting at my computer cheering him on like 'come on cheondung express yourself a little please!!' meh he'll learn eventually im sure lol 

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  21. Really good with your opinion....i like it..well done!!

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  22. I think the plot line is that Joon is an assassin whose target is the girl but he falls in love with her; that's why he can't kill her and protects her from the second assassin. Since she gets shot, Joon takes her to Thunder, who lives in the junkyard. Joon meanwhile makes some sort of plot to save the girl and practices shooting in the yard before leaving, asking Thunder to take care of the girl until he returns.

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  23. During that time, Thunder and the girl fall in love. Joon returns and tries to take the girl with him because e has plane tickets that will take her and him somewhere safe. Girl doesn't want to leave and Thunder tries to stop Joon. In a fit of anger, Joon fights Thunder and tries to hoot him, but upon seeing the girl defend Thunder, Joon realizes she would be happier with Thunder and can't bear to cause her unhappiness. But if Joon stays alive, his assassin organization will somehow torture her whereabouts out of him so he shoots himself and gives te tickets to Thunder and the girl.

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  24. Thanks for your thoughts! Glad you're enjoying the blog. So many people really love MBLAQ, which is nice. Sorry about the Thunder/Cheondung thing. I don't know why I wrote that; for some reason that's the way I learned their names. But I'll try to remember to change it in the future. :D

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  25. Here is a comment from Anonymous that was sent to my email but won't show up here for some reason (?). Maybe it will help with the plot:

    I think the plot line is that Joon is an assassin whose target is the girl but he falls in love with her; that's why he can't kill her and protects her from the second assassin. Since she gets shot, Joon takes her to Thunder, who lives in the junkyard. Joon meanwhile makes some sort of plot to save the girl and practices shooting in the yard before leaving, asking Thunder to take care of the girl until he returns. 

    During that time, Thunder and the girl fall in love. Joon returns and tries to take the girl with him because e has plane tickets that will take her and him somewhere safe. Girl doesn't want to leave and Thunder tries to stop Joon. In a fit of anger, Joon fights Thunder and tries to hoot him, but upon seeing the girl defend Thunder, Joon realizes she would be happier with Thunder and can't bear to cause her unhappiness. But if Joon stays alive, his assassin organization will somehow torture her whereabouts out of him so he shoots himself and gives te tickets to Thunder and the girl.

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  26. I'm back!! Found your site while googling for NaLinA for the 18 millionth time, and am now commenting on everything. Now about this post-
    It is my understanding that I refuse to let go of because it took way to much effort to arrive here: Joon has a change of heart and decides he wants to save, not kill, Pretty Korean Girl, who I will henceforth call Yeolja. He takes Yeolja to his good buddy Thunder's house, b/c Thunder is a garbage man and no one will look for Yeolja there. He leaves Thunder a note asking that he look after Yeolja while Joon goes off to handle things, presumably breaking off contact with his mob boss and buying tickets out of the country for Yeolja and himself so they can be safe and not dead. Yeolja falls for Thunder because she know him and Thunder starts to like her back, but then Joon returns and is all "Dude, what the heck, that's my girl!" and pulls an angry oppa dragging his girl move. Lots of drama, fighting over Yeolja, and then Joon decides that since he only has two plane tickets, neither he nor Yeolja are safe in Korea, and Yeolja won't leave Thunder, Thunder has to take Yeolja to safety and he has to die so the people looking for him won't be able to get info on Yeolja out of him. The music break was just so that we could see Joon's awesome bullet curve powers so we weren't completely lost at the end when he somehow offs himself.

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  27. Cool interpretation! Thank you for sharing your thoughts about that. I kind of wonder what the point of the bullet-curving thing is in the end, though. Just to look cool? I think he's the only person who has the cool powers, right? Yeah, probably. 

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  28. I was searching for who that girl was on the internet because she reminded me so much of li si young.. what do you think.. would that girl be li si young?? i cant seem to find it-.- so i'd really like to know the answer^^

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  29. NO NO NO joon is an assasin who falls in love with that girl that's why he didn't kill her and because he did not kill the other assassins would kill him so he wanted to flee but the girl fell for thunder and don't wanted to go so he committed suicide voordan that other men did THAT'S IT

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