Category Archives: Korean

Afrika (2002) Review

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

Director: Shin Seung-Soo Writer: Shin Seung-Su Cast: Lee Yu-Won, Kim Min-Sun, Jo Eun-Ji, Lee Young-Jin, Sung Ji-Ru, Park Young-Gyu Running Time: 109 min. By Mighty Peking Man Lee Yu-Won (“Attack the Gas Station”), Kim Min-Sun (“Memento Mori”), Jo Eun-Ji (“Tears”) and Lee Young-Jin (also of “Memento Mori”) star in this colorful, light hearted, chick-flick that brings back fond memories of 1985’s “The Legend of Billie Jean.” It’s quite clear that … Continue reading →

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3-Iron (2004) Review

Posted on February 1, 2011 by JJ Bona

Director: Kim Ki-Duk Writer: Kim Ki-Duk Producer: Kim Ki-Duk Cast: Lee Seung-Yeon, Jae Hee, Kwon Hyeok-Ho Running Time: 90 min. By Alexander Albeit difficult, it’s possible to tell a compelling story without the use of dialogue. While I’m fond of movies that balance exciting imagery with snappy conversation–like Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation, Pedro Amaldovar’s Talk to Her and William Golding’s Princess Bride, to name a … Continue reading →

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301 302 (1995) Review

Posted on February 1, 2011 by JJ Bona

Director: Park Chul-soo Writer: Lee Seo-Gun Producer: Park Chul-soo Cast: Bang Eun-Jin (Pang Eun-Jin), Hwang Shin-Hye, Kim Chu-Ryun Running Time: 94 Min. By Equinox21 The Korean movie 301 302 was one of the strangest I’ve seen in a while. It wasn’t hard to follow at all, nor was it as disturbing as other Asian movies I’ve seen, but it did seem to spark a mixture of feelings that I’d gotten … Continue reading →

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Old Boy (2003) Review

Posted on February 1, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Oldboy" Japanese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Oldboy Director: Park Chan-wook Cast: Choi Min-Sik, Yu Ji-Tae, Kang Hye-Jeong, Ji Dae-Han, Oh Dal-Su, Kim Byeong-Ok, Kim Su-Hyeon, Park Myeong-Sin, Lee Dae-Yeon, Yun Jin-Seo Running Time: 120 min. By Owlman Oldboy is one of those films that prove difficult to review. Not because it wasn’t entertaining (it very much was). Nor was the storyline and character development lacking (storyline was very engaging, character development was strong). No, it’s … Continue reading →

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Foul King, The (2000) Review

Posted on February 1, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Foul King" Korean Theatrical Poster

AKA: Foul King Director: Kim Ji Woon (Kim Ji Wun) Cast: Song Kang-Ho, Jang Jin-Young, Park Sang-Myeon, Jang Hang-Seon, Jung Woong-In Running Time: 111 min. By Equinox21 The Foul King is the story of Im Dae-ho (Song Kang-ho), a pitiful bank teller with an utter lack of self-confidence. Everyone, from his boss to the gang on the street, beats him up. No one gives him any respect, especially his father … Continue reading →

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Fighter in the Wind (2004) Review

Posted on February 1, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Fighter in the Wind" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Yang Yun-Ho Producer: Jeon Ho-Jin Cast: Yang Dong-Geun, Aya Hirayama, Masaya Kato, Jung Tae-Woo, Jung Doo-Hong, Lee Han-Gal Running Time: 120 min. By Owlman I really enjoyed Fighter in the Wind. However, it should be noted that I’ve come to the recent realization that I’m a sucker for “underdog” movies – stories where somebody goes up against seemingly insurmountable odds and triumphs. Films about sports are built around derivatives … Continue reading →

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2009 Lost Memories (2001) Review

Posted on February 1, 2011 by JJ Bona

Director: Lee Si-Myung Producer: Stanley Kim Cast: Jang Dong-Kun, Toru Nakamura, Masaaki Daimon, Shohei Imamura, Nobuyuki Katsube Running Time: 136 min. By Joe909 Do you like well-made action movies? Do you like wholesale scenes of carnage and destruction, complete with explosions, fistfights, and high-tech firearms? Do you thrill to the sight of fully-outfitted SWAT teams, armed to the gills and glaring through red-tinted visors? Do you enjoy the occasional romantic … Continue reading →

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Another Public Enemy | aka Public Enemy 2 (2005) Review

Posted on February 1, 2011 by JJ Bona

Director: Kang Wu-Seok Cast: Seol Gyeong-Gu, Jeong Jun-Ho, Kang Sin-Il, Park Sang-Wuk, Uhm Tae-Wung, Im Seung-Dae, Park Geun-Hyeong, Byeon Hee-Bong, Jeong Gyu-Su Running Time: 148 min. By Equinox21 Like its prequel, Another Public Enemy focuses on a man of the law named Kang Chul-jung. However, instead of being a corrupt detective, this time the character is a straight as an arrow prosecutor. Even though the character name is the same, … Continue reading →

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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
"My Sassy Girl" Korean Theatrical Poster

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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