Category Archives: Korean

Wild Card (2003) Review

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

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

"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

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

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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Guns & Talks (2001) Review

"Guns & Talks" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Jang Jin Cast: Shin Hyun-Joon, Shin Ha-Gyun, Won Bin, Jung Jai-Yung, Jeong Jin-Young Running Time: 123 min By Equinox21 This film is a classic! Though, it took watching it twice to come to that realization. But every time I watch this one, I come to appreciate it even more. The acting is terrific, the comedy is funny, the action is spectacular, and the music is excellent! The movie is … Continue reading

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Quiet Family, The (2002) Review

"The Quiet Family" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Ji Woon Cast: Park In-Hwan, Na Moon-Hee, Choi Min-sik, Song Kang-ho, Go Ho-Kyung, Choi Cheol-ho Running Time: 105 mins. By Equinox21 Welcome to The Misty Inn Where guests check in, but they don’t check out! And, as the saying goes, the family that kills together stays together. The Quiet Family is a movie about a group of people who make such stupid decisions and are so dysfunctional you … Continue reading

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Real Fiction (2000) Review

Director: Kim Ki-Duk Writer: Kim Ki-Duk Producer: Harry Lee, Seung-Soo Shin Cast: Jin-mo Ju, Jin-ah Kim, Min-seok Son, Je-rak Lee, Ki-yeon Kim, Sun-mi Myeong Running Time: 83 min. By Mighty Peking Man I’m currently on a “Ki-du Kim” natural high. I love his unorthodox style of filmmaking, his morbid approach to storytelling and his fascination with toying with viewers’ minds using uncanny visuals. Ki-duk Kim is definitely on the verge … Continue reading

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Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring (2003) Review

Director: Kim Ki-duk Writer: Kim Ki-duk Producer: Lee Seung-Jae Cast: Oh Yeong-Su, Kim Jong-Ho, Seo Jae-Gyeong, Kim Yeong-Min, Ha Yeo-Jin, Kim Ki-duk Running Time: 106 min. By Slaxor “Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…And Spring” tells the story of a monk from childhood to his adult years. Well this may be the most visually beautiful movie I have ever seen. If you told me tomorrow I could be living on the floating … Continue reading

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Samaria | aka Samaritan Girl (2003) Review

Director: Kim Ki-duk Writer: Kim Ki-duk Producer: Kim Ki-duk, Jeong-min Bae, Jeong-min Baek Cast: Gwak Ji-Min, Seo Min-Jeong, Lee Eol Running Time: 95 min. By Equinox21 Kim Ki-duk’s newest movie, Samaria, takes on the problem of child prostitution in a way only Kim Ki-duk can present it. In what could have been a tremendously risqué and dangerous film to make, he takes on the subject in such a way that … Continue reading

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Isle, The (2000) Review

Director: Kim Ki-Duk Writer: Kim Ki-Duk Producer: Lee Eun Cast: Seo Jeong, Kim Yu-seok, Park Seong-hee, Cho Jae-hyeon, Chang Hang-seon Running Time: 100 min. By Alexander The only thing that saved this exploitive and pretentious piece of trash from a 0/10 is the gorgeous cinematography. The people responsible for The Isle may not know how to engender audience sympathy, write dialogue, use lighting or tell a story, but they sure … Continue reading

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Bow, The | aka Arrow (2005) Review

Director: Kim Ki-Duk Writer: Kim Ki-Duk Producer: Kim Ki-Duk Cast: Jeon Seong-Hwan, Han Yeo-Reum, Seo Ji-Seok By Equinox21 I thought it would be really difficult for me to be disappointed with a Kim Ki-Duk movie, but after seeing The Bow, I realize it’s not that tough at all. The Bow’s not a terrible movie, and it does have a lot going for it, it’s just that after seeing many KKD … Continue reading

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Birdcage Inn (1998) Review

Director: Kim Ki-Duk Producer: Lee Kwang-Min, Yoo Hee-Suk Cast: Lee Ji-Eun, Lee Hye-Eun, Ahn Jae-Mo, Jeong Hyeong-Gi, Son Min-Seok, Jang Dong-Jik, Lee In-Ok, Jang Hang-Seon, Bang Eun-Jin, Seo Won Running Time: 103 min. By Mighty Peking Man From the lurid-mind of director Kim Ki-Duk comes yet another film exploring the gritty world of sex-for-sale. I haven’t seen all of his films, but I have seen enough to make the simple … Continue reading

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Bad Guy (2000) Review

Director: Kim Ki-Duk Writer: Kim Ki-Duk Producer: Lee Seung-Jai Cast: Cho Je-Hyun, Seo Won, Kim Yoon-Tae, Choi Duk-Moon, Choi Yoon-Young, Shin Yoo-Jin, Kim Jung-Young Running Time: 100 min. By Mighty Peking Man A vigorous-looking man (Cho Je-Hyun) notices a beautiful college girl (Seo Won) waiting for her boyfriend to pick her up. The man walks up and sits besides the girl, turns his head and just stairs at her – … Continue reading

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Art Museum by the Zoo (1999) Review

Art Museum By The Zoo (1999) Director: Lee Jeong-Hyang Producer: Lee Chun-Yeon Cast: Ahn Seong-Ki, Shim Eun-Ha, Lee Seong-Jae, Song Seon-Mi Running Time: 109 min. By Mlindber I think the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had while watching any Korean films are the times when I’m confronted with a genre that I don’t particularly like and manage to come out really enjoying the film. I never liked the romantic comedy in … Continue reading

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