Category Archives: Korean

Public Enemy (2002) Review

Posted on February 1, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Public Enemy" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kang Woo-Suk Cast: Seol Kyung-Gu, Lee Sung-Jae, Kang Shin-Il, Kim Jeong-Hak, Do Yong-Gu, Ahn Nae-Sang Running Time: 138 min. By Equinox21 In this suspense movie a serial killer is pursued by a bitter, burnt-out, cynical detective. Unlike most suspense/mystery movies, however, the viewer already knows who the murderer is from the moment the crimes are committed, as it’s all shown on screen. But don’t worry, this doesn’t make the … Continue reading →

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Good, The Bad, The Weird, The (2008) Review

Posted on February 1, 2011 by Jeff Bona
"The Good, the Bad, the Weird" Blu-ray Cover

Director: Kim Ji-woon Cast: Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun, Jung Woo-sung, Yoon Je-moon as Byeong-choon, Ryoo Seung-soo as Man-gil, Song Yeong-chang, Son Byeong-ho Running Time: 120 min. By Jeff Bona A psychotic hitman, Park Chang-i, aka The Bad (Lee Byung-hun), is hired to steal a treasure map from Kanemaru, a Japanese official traveling by train. However, Yoon Tae-goo, aka The Weird (Song Kang-ho), a thief, gets to Kanemaru first, with the … Continue reading →

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Bittersweet Life, A (2005) Review

Posted on February 1, 2011 by JJ Bona
"A Bittersweet Life" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Ji-woon Producer: Lee Yu-Jin Cast: Lee Byung-Hun, Kim Young-Cheol, Shin Mina, Hwang Jeong-Min, Kim Roi-Ha, Oh Dal-Su, Vadim, Eric, Kim Hae-Gon, Lee Mu-Young, Jin Gu Running Time: 120 min. By Iuxion A Bittersweet Life is pretty much a cardboard cutout example of how to make an entertaining gangster film, Korean or not. Lee Byung Hun shines in the lead as a hitman who is betrayed by his boss … Continue reading →

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Bichunmoo | aka Flying Warriors (2000) Review

Posted on January 31, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Bichunmoo" Korean Theatrical Poster

AKA: Bichunmoo – Dance with Sword Director: Kim Young-jun Cast: Shin Hyun-joon, Kim Hee-sun, Jeong Jin-young, Jang Dong-jik, Choi Yoo-jung, Gi Ju-bong Running Time: 118 min. By Alexander Bichunmoo is essentially a series of set pieces featuring beautiful people, gorgeous costumes and rousing music periodically interspersed with imaginative fight scenes that blend arcade-style action and wire-fu (and the occasional exploding torso and severed head). But despite the thin story (it’s … Continue reading →

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Beat (1997) Review

Posted on January 31, 2011 by JJ Bona

Director: Kim Sung-su Producer: Cha Seung-Jae Cast: Jung Woo-Sung, Ko So-Young , Kim Bu-Seon, Lim Chang Jung , Yu Oh-Seong, Lee Mun-Shik, Sa Hyeon-Jin, Jang Dong-Jik, Do Ki-Seok, Kim Seong-Su, Park Kyeong-Hwan, Kwon Tae-Won, Jin Bong-Jin, Lee Suk, Kim Yang-Woo Running Time: 113 min. By Mighty Peking Man “Beat” is the story involving a few hoods who lived fast and suffered the consequences of their violent, crime-filled lifestyle. It stars … Continue reading →

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Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000) Review

Posted on January 31, 2011 by JJ Bona

AKA: Dog of Flanders Director: Bong Joon-ho Producer: Cho Min-hwan Cast: Lee Seong-Jae, Bae Doo-Na, Byeon Hee-Bong, Miriam Yeung Chin Running Time: 106 min. By Mighty Peking Man The first time I saw Bae Doo-Na in Park Chan-Uk’s Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, I knew for a fact I would develop an interest in her right there and then. Not since Faye Wong’s presence in Wong Kar-Wai’s Chungking Express has there … Continue reading →

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My Sassy Girl (2001) Review

Posted on January 31, 2011 by JJ Bona

AKA: Yupgi Girl; Bizarre Girl Director: Kwak Jae-yong Cast: Jun Ji-Hyun (Chon Ji-Yeon, Jeon Ji-Hyeon, Joon Ji-Hyun, Gianna Jun), Cha Tae Hyun Running Time: 137 min. By Alexander Gyeon-woo, the main character in “My Sassy Girl,” is a slack-jawed, pink sweater-garbed, whiny little bitch. He falls in love with a rubber-faced, knobby-kneed bully who spends much of the film torturing this hapless loser and making decisions that are so bizarre … Continue reading →

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White Valentine (1999) Review

Posted on January 28, 2011 by JJ Bona
"White Valentine" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Yang Yun-Ho Cast: Park Sin-Yang, Jeon Ji-Hyeon, Jeon Mu-Song, Kim Se-Jun, Kim Young-Ok, Yang Dong-Keun, Kang Jin-Wu, Jang Myeong-Cheol, Park Mi-Rae Running Time: 89 min. By Mighty Peking Man Jung-min (Jeon Ji-Hyeon) is a young woman who drops out of school to pursue her love for “art,” a pastime she wants to make her career. She mysteriously lost her parents when she was very young, and now, lives and … Continue reading →

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Windstruck (2004) Review

Posted on January 28, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Windstruck" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kwak Jae-yong Cast: Jeon Ji-hyun, Jang Hyuk, Kim Jung-Tae, Kim Su-Ro, Lee Ki-Woo, Lim Ye-Jin, Cha Tae-Hyun Running Time: 123 min. By Owlman Kyung-Jin (Jeong Ji-Hyun) is a young police officer. She meets Myung-Woo (Jang Hy-Yuk), a schoolteacher, in the most unusual circumstances. They fall in love. Tragedy ensues. Lots of tears and, as a testament to the title of the film, lots and lots of wind. More tears. … Continue reading →

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No Blood No Tears (2002) Review

Posted on January 16, 2011 by JJ Bona
"No Blood No Tears" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Ryoo Seung-wan Cast: Jeon Do-Yeon, Lee Hye-Young, Jung Jae-Young, Shin Goo, Jung Doo-Hong, Kim Yeong-In, Baek Chan-Ki, Lee Yeoung-Hu, Ryoo Seung-Bum, Kim Soo-Hyun Running Time: 116 min. By Dragon Ma I managed to watch this last night and and it came as complete surprise, I’d heard good things about this film, although mostly people compared it to films like ‘Snatch’ and ‘Pulp Fiction’. The film definitely retains the same … Continue reading →

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Wild Card (2003) Review

Posted on January 16, 2011 by JJ Bona

Director: Kim Yu-Jin Writer: Lee Man-Hee Producer: Jang Yun-Hyeon Cast: Jeong Jin-Yeong, Yang Dong-Geun, Han Chae-Yeong, Gi Ju-Bong, Kim Myeong-Guk, Hwang Jun-Yeong, Yu Ha-Bok Running Time: 117 min. By Mighty Peking Man Four psychotic hoods are going around murdering and raping innocent people. Sometimes for money, and other times for pure pleasure… Now, a group of policemen are assigned to the case, particularly detectives Je-su (Dong-kun Yang of Bet On … Continue reading →

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Arahan (2004) Review

Posted on January 13, 2011 by JJ Bona

Director: Ryoo Seung-wan Cast: Ryoo Seung-Bum, oon So-Yi, Ahn Sung-Ki, Jung Doo-Hong, Yun Ju-Sang, Kim Ji-Young, Kim Yeong-In, Baek Chan-Ki, Kwon Bum-Taek, Park Yoon-Bae Running Time: 114 min. By Alexander FINALLY. I’ve FINALLY seen a FUN Asian film. YAY! No live squids being eaten here. No rapes. No severed Achilles tendons. No punctured jugulars. No cannibal babies. Just a lot of comedy, some fantastic martial arts action, a virtuosic performance … Continue reading →

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Antarctic Journal (2005) Review

Posted on January 13, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Antarctic Journal" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Yim Pil-sung Producer: Cha Seung-Jae Cast: Song Gang-Ho, Yu Ji-Tae, Kim Gyeong-Ik, Park Hee-Sun, Yun Je-Mun, Choi Deok-Mun Running Time: 115 min. By Owlman I have to admit something here. I got suckered into buying Antarctic Journal from the selling line at YesAsia – “Suspense and danger lurk everywhere, even at the South Pole!” The premise of a team of explorers trekking through the Antarctic seemed very interesting at … Continue reading →

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Failan (2001) Review

Posted on January 13, 2011 by JJ Bona

Director: Song Hae-Seong Cast: Choi Min-Sik, Cecilia Cheung Pak-Chi, Kong Hyung-Jin, Jeong Dae-Hun, Son Byung-Ho, Hae-gon Kim, Ji Dae-Han, Kim Soo-Hyun, Kim Ji-Yeong Running Time: 116 min. By Klotera This is a very unique film. At a very general level, one would call it a drama. But, it is more like a character based gangster film put together with a romance film that has no romance. Yes, it sounds strange, … Continue reading →

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Green Fish (2001) Review

Posted on January 13, 2011 by JJ Bona

Director: Lee Chang-Dong Writer: Oh Seung-Wuk Cast: Han Seok-Kyu, Shim Hye-Jin, Moon Seong-Keun, Myeong Kye-Nam, Kim Yong-Man, Lee Ho-Seong, Han Seon-Kyu, Oh Ji-Hye, Sohn Young-Sun Running Time: 111 min. By Equinox21 The story of a guy who can’t find a job so he ends up involved in gangs is nothing new, but don’t let that dissuade you from seeing this one. There is plenty to keep your interest, even if … Continue reading →

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