More Than a Game – The Match (2025) Review

"Dad is always dad." Now, to know why I'm saying this, there's a movie on Netflix called The Match, which is a Korean movie based on a real-life character. It's a two-hour running length and available in English. It's a sports drama. You have to watch this movie. Then you'll understand why I said—"Dad, dad is always dad."

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This movie is based on a game called Baduk. I didn't know anything about this game. And this game is called the World's toughest board game.

Since I don't know this game, I had to go to YouTube and see what the basic guidelines are, how to play, how many people play, what the rules are—I watched these basic things first so that I could connect with the movie well, understand the game at least a little. It's not possible to understand it all at once, in that four-five minute tutorial! Still, I tried to understand as much as I could from YouTube.

I would recommend that before watching this movie, you also search a little about this game on YouTube, learn a little about the basics. Then it will be convenient to watch the movie, you will like it, you will be able to connect well. Now what is the story of the movie?

Story Overview

The story of two people. One is the champion—the champion of this Go game. He has already done all the achievements of the Baduk game. I mean, he has done all the achievements related to the Baduk game.

The other is a little boy, who is Gifted—plays this game well but has no formal education. The champion's eyes fall on the boy. Seeing that the boy is gifted, he plays well, but he has no basic education.

Then the champion thinks, "I will take him with me, make him a champion, like me." Then the guru takes the boy, makes him a disciple.

What happens in the end?

Is there any conflict between these two? Can the child go to his teacher's place or become a champion until the end?

And to know why I said 'Why is a father a father'—you have to watch the movie. It's on Netflix.

Let's talk about Positive and negative aspects of this movie.

Positive Aspects

This movie is an outstanding movie. There are many positive aspects. The first positive aspect of which is—the treatment of the entire movie is very slow.

First of all, let me say that those who are not used to watching Slow Burn treatment, those who think that they will get something or the other moment, there will be excitement, there will be a lot of spice, or they will get a lot of "Edge of the Seat" Moment like other Korean movies—those things are not here.

This movie is very Slow Burn and you have to sit patiently when you go to watch this movie. You have to know the game even a little—which I said before.

Those who like Slow Burn treatment will like this treatment.

The way the emotion has come up in this Slow Burn treatment, the way the bonding between the guru and the disciple has come up, the way their conflict has come up, is very good.

We have seen such sports dramas before—Dabaaru was done in Bengali, and Dangal was done a few days ago. A common trope is used in such movies—the boy who is being taught, after winning something, becomes arrogant, thinking "Dad, brother, I know everything."

That common trope is not kept in this movie.

Conflict is shown here too, but in a different way. A conflict related to the game, not of arrogance. I liked it very much—the conflict has been shown in a different way.

Emotion works very well. Production quality is very high. The era that has been shown has been recreated very well.

Even if you don't know the game, you will get "Edge of the Seat" Moments. You will be able to connect with the game.

You will be able to connect with the Inner Pain of these two characters. You will feel sad when you see conflict somewhere. These things are placed outstandingly in the movie.

Performances

Hero—the one who played the role of the champion, IS Devil—is an outstanding actor. He played that role outstandingly here.

Student—played his character very well. All the other performers supported him very well.

So, Emotion, Performance, Look and Feel—all of them are amazing. Even if you don't know the game, the movie will give you some Edge of the Seat moments.

The way the game is shown, the way the conflict is taken forward in a different flavor with Slow Burn treatment—that's very good.

This movie is an Outstanding movie. Go, go and watch it—you can feel what sports drama means, how drama works in the game.

It's good if you already know the game, otherwise, learn from YouTube—it will be convenient to watch.

Negative Aspects

One aspect that I disliked—the movie is a bit big.

Two hours running length. If it had been one hour and 45 minutes, it would have been better for the movie. It might have dragged a little in some places.

Also, there are no loopholes in the movie. Outanding movie. Very good. Go, go and watch it. This movie is based on a real life character. It shows that real character in the end. Very good movie.

Final Verdict

I highly recommend it—for those who like slow treatment, those who love watching sports drama, those who want to see a nice balance of sports and drama—this movie is for them. Go, watch The Match on Netflix.

This was the review of The Match.

Those who have already watched it, comment and let me know. Those who haven't watched it, go and watch it. Don't forget to tell me how you liked it in the review.