Category Archives: Korean

Nowhere to Hide (2000) Review

Director: Lee Myung-sae Writer: Lee Myung-sae Cast: Joong-Hoon Park (Woo), Dong-Kun Jang, Ji-Woo Choi, Sung-kee Ahn, Sang Myun Park Running Time: 112 min. By Joe909 A mish-mash of style and substance, Nowhere to Hide is more focused than most other Korean movies I’ve seen. Which is to say, it doesn’t clock in at an epic running time. The shorter length doesn’t prevent flaws, though. As MPM points out, the opening … Continue reading

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Shiri | aka Swiri (1999) Review

Director: Kang Je-Gyu Producer: Kang Je-Kyu Cast: Han Seok-Kyu, Song Kang-Ho, Choi Min-Shik, Kim Yun-Jin, Yun Ju-Sang, Park Yong-Woo Running Time: 125 min. By Numskull Normally, I hate it when people talk about movies “sending messages.” The blocs of suburban yuppie mommies (better known as “soccer moms”) that currently hold a disproportionately large amount of dominion over American life have hijacked the word “message” and imposed upon it a definition … Continue reading

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Warrior’s Way, The | aka The Warrior (2010) Review

"The Warrior's Way" UK Theatrical Poster

Director: Sngmoo Lee Cast: Jang Dong Gun, Geoffrey Rush, Kate Bosworth, Danny Huston, Tony Cox, Ti Lung Running Time: 100 min. By HKFanatic I’m going to have to be the dissenting opinion here because I didn’t enjoy “The Warrior’s Way” nearly as much as Mighty Peking Man. I thought the film had potential, but overall the sluggish pacing and artificial-looking digital world didn’t do much for me. If you have … Continue reading

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Chawz | aka Chaw (2009) Review

"Chawz" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Shin Jeong-Won Cast: Uhm Tae-Woong, Jeong Yu-Mi, Jang Hang-Seon, Yun Je-Mun, Park Hyuk-Kwon, Kim Gi-Cheon, Lee Sang-Hee, Jeong Yun-Min, Mun Jong-Hun Running Time: 121 min. By HKFanatic Now for something totally different. “Chawz” is a South Korean horror/comedy that attempts to do the whole ‘small town terrorized by a big monster’ shtick like “Jaws,” except with dollops of goofy humor. And, you know what, it pretty much works. This … Continue reading

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L.A. Streetfighters | aka Ninja Turf (1985) Review

"L.A. Streetfighters" Theatrical Poster

AKA: China Town Director: Park Woo-sang Cast: Jun Chong, Phillip Rhee, James Lew, Rosanna King, Bill Wallace, Ken Nagayama, Frank Marmolejo, Dorin Mukama, Mark Hicks, Loren Avedon Running Time: 85 min. By Barey Gusey As a child of the 80s, I was a victim of the ninja craze. It was all about buying martial arts magazines and flipping to the mail order pages to check out the latest ninja gear. … Continue reading

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Memories of Murder (2003) Review

"Memories of Murder" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Bong Jun-Ho Producer: Cha Seung-Jae Cast: Song Kang-Ho, Kim Sang-Kyung, Kim Roe-Ha, Song Jae-Ho, Byun Hee-Bong, Ko Seo-Hee, Jeon Mi-Sun, Park No-Shik, Park Hae-Il, Seo Yeong-Hwa Running Time: 127 min. By Raging Gaijin “Memories of Murder” was a blockbuster hit in South Korea in 2003 and it’s just now finally seeing a DVD release in the US. The film is the chilling tale of South Korea’s first recorded case … Continue reading

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Addicted (2002) Review

AKA: Jungdok Director: Park Young-hoon Writer: Byun Won-mi Producer: Lee Choon-Yeon Cast: Lee Byung-hun, Lee Mi-yeon, Lee Ueol, Park Sun-young Running Time: 114 min. By JJ Hatfield Life is good for the two brothers Ho-jin and Dae-jin. They are very close and good friends too. The two live together as they have no other family until Ho-jin marries. Their lives are peaceful and routine and that seems to suit them … Continue reading

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Thirst (2009) Review

Thirst | Blu-ray (Kino Lorber)

Director: Park Chan-wook Producer: Park Chan-wook Cast: Song Kang-Ho, Kim Ok-Vin, Shin Ha-Kyun, Kim Hae-Sook, Park In-Hwan, Song Young-Chang Running Time: 134/145 min. By JJ Hatfield When I first heard of this film, it was presented as a vampire movie. The last thing I felt the world needed was yet another vampire (or zombie) flick. However, knowing that Song Kang-ho was the lead role and the director was Park Chan-wook, … Continue reading

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Tale of Two Sisters, A (2003) Review

"A Tale of Two Sisters" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Ji Woon Writer: Kim Ji Woon Cast: Im Su-Jeong, Mun Geun-Yeong, Yeom Jeong-A, Kim Gap-Su, Park Mi-Hyeon, Wu Gi-Hong Running Time: 115 min. By JJ Hatfield A Tale of Two Sisters is a finely crafted work of art from the skilled hands of Kim Jee-woon. Kim not only directed the film but wrote the screen play as well. This is beautiful and imaginative in a very subdued fashion. … Continue reading

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Musa | aka Musa the Warrior (2001) Review

Director: Kim Sung-su Writer: Kim Sung-su Cast: Ju Jin-mo, Jung Woo-sung, Ahn Sung-kee, Zhang Ziyi, Park Yong-woo, Park Jeong-hak, Yu Hye-jin, Jeung Seok-yong, Lee Du-il, Han Yeong-mok, Yu Rong Guang Running Time: 158 min. By Alexander Ignoring Public Enemy’s pleas to not believe the hype, I prowled misspelled listings of all-region Musa DVDs on eBay until I found a dealer who wasn’t charging $40+ for a cheaply pressed bootleg solely … Continue reading

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Frozen Flower, A (2008) Review

"A Frozen Flower" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Yu Ha Cast: Jo In-seong, Joo Jin-Mo, Song Ji-hyo, Shim Ji-Ho, Im Ju-Hwan, Yeo Wook-Hwan, Song Joong-Gi, No Min-Woo, Do Ye-Seong, Jang Ji-Won, Lee Jong-Gu Running Time: 133 min. By JJ Hatfield A Frozen Flower is a fictional drama set sometime near the end of the Goryeo Dynasty, 918 – 1392. The region is under control of the King (Jin-mo Ju) however it is always being watched by China. … Continue reading

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Lament | aka Elegy of the Earth (1997) Review

"Lament" Korean DVD Cover

AKA: Jisangmanga Director: Kim Hee-Cheol Cast: Shin Hyun-Joon, Lee Byung-Hun, Jeong Seon-Kyung, Choi Hak-Rak, Yeo-kyeong Kim Running Time: 87 min. BY JJ Hatfield When we first meet Lee Kwang Su (Shin Hyun Jun) he is in very bad shape. His entire life he has tried to forget and escape from a nightmare of a childhood. His only family is an older brother who is half insane. Kwang Su does his … Continue reading

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Whispering Corridors (1998) Review

AKA: Whispering Corridor Director: Park Gi-Hyeong Producer: Lee Chun-Yeon Cast: Park Jin-Hee, Lee Mi-Yeon, Kim Gyu-Ri, Choi Gang-Hee, Yun Ji-Hye, Park Yong-Su Running Time: 107 min. By Equinox21 Lovers of the 1999 hit Memento Mori take note, its prequel, Whispering Corridors, will definitely entertain. The stories both take place in an all-girl’s school, with some supernatural goings on. Memento Mori was the first Korean film I ever saw, and at … Continue reading

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Once Upon a Time in High School | aka The Spirit of Jeet Kune Do (2004) Review

"Once Upon a Time in High School" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Yu Ha Cast: Kwon Sang-Woo, Han Ga-In, Lee Jeong-Jin, Kim In-Gweon, Lee Jong-Hyeok, Kim Bu-Seon Running Time: 116 min. By Equinox21 Never have I seen a movie that struck so close to home. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m pining for a girl who is interested in someone else at the moment, in much the same way the main character of OUATIHS is, but I felt the frustration of … Continue reading

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JSA: Joint Security Area (2000) Review

"JSA: Joint Security Area" Korean Theatrical Poster

AKA: JSA Director: Park Chan-wook Cast: Lee Byung-Hun, Song Kang-Ho, Shin Ha-Kyun, Lee Young-Ae, Kim Tae-Woo, Gi Ju-Bong, Lee Han-Wi, Lee Dae-Yeon, Kim Myung-Soo, Kim Kwang-Il Running Time: 100 min. By Equinox21 J.S.A. has been my favorite Korean movie, my second favorite Asian movie (behind Chungking Express), and one of my top 5 favorite movies in general ever since I first saw it. Everything about it (save for one minor … Continue reading

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