Category Archives: Korean

Dragon Bruce Lee, Part II | aka Big Boss 2 (1981) Review

"Dragon Bruce Lee, Part II" Korean Poster

AKA: Dragon Lee Fights Again Director: To Man-Bo Co-director: Lee Eun Cast: Dragon Lee (Mun Kyong-sok), Lee Suk-jin, Cheung Lik, Ju Eun-seop, Jang Ryeok, Bolo Yeung, Tien Feng, Philip Ko Fei, Sham Chin Bo, To Wai Wo Running Time: 75 min. By Ian Whittle OK, this is rather complicated. A 1930’s set kung fu movie starring Dragon Lee that, depending on what version you own, is a sequel to one … Continue reading

Posted in All, Bruceploitation, Chinese, Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , |

Ghost in Love (1999) Review

"Ghost in Love" Theatrical Poster

Director: Lee Kwang-Hoon Writer: Hong Ju-ri Lee Sung-Jae, Kim Hee-Seon, Cha Seung-Won, Yoo Hye-Jung, Jang Jin-Young, Lee Young-Ja, Park Kwang-Jung, Jeong Won-Jung, Jang Se-Jin Running Time: 91 min. By Paul Bramhall 1999 was a landmark year for Korean cinema. After starting the 90’s with a film industry practically on its last legs, throughout most of the decade it slowly began to regain popularity with local audiences, before finally, on the … Continue reading

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged , |

Jackie and Bruce to the Rescue | aka Fist of Death (1982) Review

"Jackie and Bruce to the Rescue" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Fist of Death Director: Wu Chia Chun Co-director: Choe Dong-Joon Cast: Kim Tai-chung, Lee Siu-Ming, Wang Pao-Yu, He Ying, Chang Il-Sik, Eagle Han Ying, Ma Sha, Chen Shan, Baek Hwang-ki, Park Yong-Pal Running time: 90 min.  By Ian Whittle You’d think a film featuring a Bruce Lee clone AND a Jackie Chan clone (not to mention maverick exploitation producer Dick Randall’s name on the credits) would be a lot … Continue reading

Posted in All, Bruceploitation, Chinese, Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , |

Metamorphosis (2019) Review

"Metamorphosis" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Hong-Sun Cast: Bae Sung-Woo, Sung Dong-Il, Jang Young-Nam, Kim Hye-Jun, Cho Yi-Hyun, Kim Kang-Hoon, Jung Yun-Ha, Baek Yoon-Sik, Kim Lee-Kyung Running Time: 113 min. By Paul Bramhall The current South Korean fixation with bad-ass priests continues with Metamorphosis. Capping off the holy trilogy of 2019, following the release of The Divine Fury (MMA priests!) and Svaha: The Sixth Finger (occult detective priests!) earlier in the year, the latest … Continue reading

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged |

Take Point | aka PMC: Private Military Company (2018) Review

"Take Point" Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Byung-Woo Cast: Ha Jung-Woo, Lee Sun-Kyun, Jennifer Ehle, Kevin Durand, Malik Yoba, Spencer Daniels, Shin Hyun-Bin, Ahn Seong-Bong, Kim Sun-Hyuk Running Time: 124 min. By Paul Bramhall The Korean film industry has an interesting relationship with the action genre. A mainstay of the countries cinematic output for a long time, it was ultimately an action movie which brought Korean cinema to international attention with 1999’s Shiri. Skips forward 20 … Continue reading

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged , |

Tazza: One Eyed Jack (2019) Review

“Tazza: One Eyed Jack” Theatrical Poster

Director: Kwon Oh-Kwang Cast: Park Jung-Min, Ryoo Seung-Bum, Choi Yu-Hwa, Woo Hyeon, Yoon Je-Moon, Lee Kwang-Soo, Lim Ji-Yeon, Kwon Hae-Hyo, Choi Dong-Hoon, Kim Ye-Eun Running Time: 139 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s probably a stretch to say that anyone was clamouring for a third entry into Korea’s Tazza series. The original entry, 2006’s Tazza: The High Rollers, marked director Choi Dong-hoon’s sophomore feature, and its colourful energy combined with performances … Continue reading

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged , |

A*P*E (1976) Review

"A*P*E" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Paul Leder Cast: Joanna Kerns, Rod Arrants, Alex Nicol, Lee Nak-hun, Yeon-jeong Woo, Jerry Harke, Larry Chandler, Walt Myers, J.J. Gould, Kwon Il-soo, Chiu Chun Running Time: 87 min. By Paul Bramhall When people think about Asian takes on King Kong, chances are the most likely answer they’re going to give you will be the 1977 Shaw Brothers flick The Mighty Peking Man, which came a year after Hollywood’s … Continue reading

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews |

Parasite (2019) Review

"Parasite" Theatrical Poster

Director: Bong Joon-Ho Cast: Song Kang-Ho, Jang Hye-Jin, Choi Woo-Sik, Park So-Dam, Lee Sun-Kyun, Cho Yeo-Jeong, Jung Ji-So, Jeong Hyun-Jun, Lee Jung-Eun, Park Seo-Joon Running Time: 131 min. By Paul Bramhall The following review for Parasite was originally posted on COF in July of 2019. Because the film took home four Academy Awards at the recent 2020 Oscars (Best Picture, Best Director, Best International Film and Best Original Screenplay), we … Continue reading

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , |

Battle of Jangsari, The (2019) Review

"The Battle of Jangsari" Theatrical Poster

Director: Kwak Kyung-Taek Co-director: Kim Tae-Hoon Cast: Kim Myung-Min, Minho, Kim Sung-Cheol, Kim In-Kwon, Kwak Si-Yang, Megan Fox, Jang Ji-Gun, Lee Ho-Jung, Lee Jae-Wook, Dong Bang-Woo, Kim Mi-Hwa  Running Time: 104 min. By Paul Bramhall With the thawing in relations between North and South Korea in recent years, movies about the Korean War have taken a back seat, and noticeably been replaced by more action-centric productions which partner agents from … Continue reading

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged |

Human, Space, Time and Human (2018) Review

"Human, Space, Time and Human" Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Ki-Duk Cast: Jang Keun-Suk, Ryoo Seung-Bum, Ahn Sung-Ki, Mina Fujii, Lee Sung-Jae, Joe Odagiri, Tae Hang-Ho, Park Se-in, Sung Ki-Yoon, Kim Dong-chan Running Time: 122 min. By Paul Bramhall If ever there was an example of a movie destined to seal the fate of its creator, then it could very well be Human, Space, Time and Human, controversial Korean auteur Kim Ki-duk’s latest (and most likely last) movie. … Continue reading

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged , , |

One on One (2014) Review

"One on One" Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Ki-Duk Cast: Ma Dong-Seok, Kim Young-Min, Lee Yi-Kyung, Cho Dong-In, Yoo Teo, Ahn Ji-Hye, Jo Jae-Ryong, Kim Joong-Ki, Kim Jae-Rok, Joo Hee-Joong, Choi Gwi-Hwa Running Time: 122 min. By Paul Bramhall Just like movies are a product of the time they’re made in, so the same can be said for reviews that are written of them. A review of The Matrix in 1999 described it as an innovative … Continue reading

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged , |

Exit (2019) Review

"Exit" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Lee Sang-Geun Cast: Cho Jung-Seok, Yoona, Ko Du-Shim, Park In-Hwan, im Ji-Young, Hwang Hyo-Eun, Lee Bong-Ryun, Bae Yoo-Ram, Yoo Su-Bin, Kim Kang-Hoon, Lee Dong-Hwi Running Time: 103 min. By Paul Bramhall Much like every other film industry in the world, South Korea may not check-in to the disaster genre that frequently, but when it does it tends to go all out. Whether it be big blockbuster FX showcases such … Continue reading

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged |

Svaha: The Sixth Finger (2019) Review

"Svaha: The Sixth Finger" Theatrical Poster

Director: Jang Jae-Hyon Cast: Lee Jung-Jae, Park Jung-Min, Lee Jae-In, David Lee, Jung Jin-Young, Hwang Jung-Min, Jin Seon-Kyu Ji Seung-Hyun, Yoo Ji-Tae, Moon Sook, Ok Joo-Ri  Running Time: 122 min. By Paul Bramhall I’m not sure if there’s something in the air, but the South Korean film industry has been cranking out a steady stream of evil ass-kicking Christians in recent years. From Kim Yoon-seok and Kang Dong-won in 2015’s … Continue reading

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged , |

White Badge (1992) Review

"White Badge" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Chung Ji-young Cast: Ahn Sung-ki, Lee Geung-young, Shim Hye-jin, Ahn Do-Hun, Dok Ko Yeong Jae, Heo Jun-Ho Running Time: 124 min. By Paul Bramhall When you think of Korean war movies, chances are the titles that spring to mind are ones that take place in the (no irony intended) Korean War. From the likes of 2004’s Taegukgi, through to 2011’s The Front Line, the war which ended with an … Continue reading

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged |

Burning (2018) Review

"Burning" Theatrical Poster

Director: Lee Chang-Dong Cast: Yoo Ah-In, Steven Yeun, Jun Jong-Seo, Kim Soo-Kyung, Choi Seung-Ho, Moon Sung-Geun, Min Bok-Gi, Ban Hye-Ra, Lee Bong-Ryun, Lee Young-Suk Running Time: 148 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s been 8 years since Lee Chang-dong last sat in the director’s chair, having helmed 2009’s critically acclaimed Poetry, leaving it just long enough for the rest of us to worry if we’d ever see a Lee Chang-dong movie … Continue reading

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , |