Category Archives: Korean

Crying Fist (2005) Review

December 17, 2011 JJ Bona
"Crying Fist" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Ryoo Seung-wan Cast: Choi Min-Sik, Ryu Seung-Beom, Im Won-Hee, Cheon Ho-Jin, Seo Hye-Rin, Byeon Hee-Bong, Na Mun-Hee, Gi Ju-Bong, Kim Su-Hyeon, Lee Jun-Gu Running Time: 134 min. By Equinox21 The problem with most, if not virtually all, sports movies is that you can tell who is going to win the big “game” at the end. Not so with Ryu Seung-wan’s latest movie, Crying Fist. This is a movie focusing … Continue reading →

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Man from Nowhere, The (2010) Review

December 10, 2011 Z Ravas
"The Man from Nowhere" International Theatrical Poster

AKA: Ajeossi Director: Lee Jeong-beom Writer: Lee Jeong-beom Cast: Won Bin, Kim Sae-ron, Kim Tae-hoon, Kim Hee-won, Kim Sung-oh, Thanayong Wongtrakul Running Time: 119 min. By HKFanatic “The Man From Nowhere” is probably the best blind buy I’ve ever made. I decided to pick it up during release week based on the little positive word-of-mouth I’d read online. I figured: hey, it’s a new gritty Korean revenge movie, it has … Continue reading →

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Chaser, The (2008) Review

December 7, 2011 Z Ravas
"Chaser" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Chugyeogja Director: Na Hong-jin Cast: Kim Yun-Seok, Ha Jung-Woo, Seo Yeong-Hee, Park Hyo-Joo, Jung In-Gi, Jo Duk-Je Running Time: 123 min. By HKFanatic It took me a second viewing to realize it but “The Chaser” is probably one of the best films I’ve ever seen. It’s also an extremely frustrating experience. “The Chaser” is a thriller that refuses to behave like one as writer/director Na Hong-jin embraces the sad … Continue reading →

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Better Tomorrow, A (2010) Review

November 25, 2011 Z Ravas

Director: Song Hae-Seong Cast: Joo Jin-Mo, Song Seung-Heon, Kim Gang-Woo, Jo Han-Seon, Kyeong-yeong Lee, Ji-yeong Kim, Hae-gon Kim, Hyeong-jun Lim, Tae-hwa Seo, Sin-seong Lee Running Time: 124 min. By HKFanatic Considering Hong Kong cinema’s rich history, particularly during the New Wave of the 80’s and early 90’s, it’s surprising that producers haven’t indulged in more remakes. Then again, the Hong Kong film industry has changed so much during the last … Continue reading →

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Unjust, The | aka Bad Deal (2010) Review

October 16, 2011 Z Ravas
"The Unjust" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Ryoo Seung-wan Writer: Park Hun-Jeong Cast: Hwang Jeong-Min, Ryu Seung-Beom, Yu Hae-Jin, Cheon Ho-Jin, Ma Dong-Seok, Jo Young-Jin Running Time: 119 min. By HKFanatic When I sit down to watch a slick, commercial thriller, this is exactly what I want it to be. The director of “No Blood, No Tears” and “City of Violence” weaves an im-morality tale of police corruption, political maneuvering, and gangland-style justice with no discernible … Continue reading →

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Oasis (2002) Review

September 2, 2011 JJ Bona

Director: Lee Chang-Dong Cast: Sol Kyung-Gu, Moon So-Ri, Ahn Nae-Sang, Ryoo Seung-Wan, Chu Kwi-Jung, Son Byung-Ho, Yoon Ga-Hyun, Park Myung-Shin, Park Kyung-Geun Running Time: 132 Min. By Raging Gaijin “Oasis” is a difficult film to watch, let alone review. The story is deceptively simple, as the plot synopsis above describes, but from it grows one of the most unlikely and captivating relationships in cinema history. Writer/director Lee Chang-Dong has crafted … Continue reading →

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Waikiki Brothers (2001) Review

August 21, 2011 JJ Bona
"Waikiki Brothers" Theatrical Poster

Director: Yim Soonrye Cast: Lee Eol, Park Won-Sang, Ryu Seung-Beom, Hwang Jung-Min, Oh Ji-Hye, Park Hae-Il Running Time: 140 mins. By Equinox21 Waikiki Brothers is a mildly depressing film about a band of the same name, with Sung-woo as the lead member. The band loses members for a number of reasons, one being that they bring in less and less money, and people simply can’t afford to play music in … Continue reading →

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Nowhere to Hide (2000) Review

August 16, 2011 JJ Bona
"Nowhere to Hide" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: 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 credits alone prove … Continue reading →

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Shiri | aka Swiri (1999) Review

August 16, 2011 JJ Bona
"Shiri" Korean Theatrical Poster

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

August 3, 2011 Z Ravas
"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

July 23, 2011 Z Ravas
"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

July 19, 2011 Barey Gusey
"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

July 15, 2011 JJ Bona
"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

July 4, 2011 JJ Hatfield

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

June 25, 2011 JJ Hatfield
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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