Category Archives: Korean

Musa | aka Musa the Warrior (2001) Review

June 4, 2011 JJ Bona

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

April 20, 2011 JJ Hatfield
"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

March 20, 2011 JJ Hatfield
"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

February 16, 2011 JJ Bona

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 →

Posted in Korean, Reviews |

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

February 9, 2011 JJ Bona
"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

February 6, 2011 JJ Bona
"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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Uninvited, The (2003) Review

February 1, 2011 JJ Bona

Director: Lee So-Youn Cast: Jun Ji-Hyun (Chon Ji-Yeon, Jeon Ji-Hyeon, Joon Ji-Hyun, Gianna Jun), Park Shin-Yang, Kim Yeo-Jin Park, Won-Sang Jeong Wuk, Lee Ju-Sil Running Time: 128 min. By Mighty Peking Man One day Jung-Won (Park Shin-Yang) falls asleep on a subway train. Once his stop point comes, he awakens and gets off. Just as he steps out, he turns around and notices two little girls, abandoned, sleeping peacefully on … Continue reading →

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La Belle | aka Love Remembered By The Body (2000) Review

February 1, 2011 JJ Bona

AKA: Mi In Director: Yeo Kyun-Dong Cast: Lee Ji-hyun, Oh Ji-ho Running Time: 91 min. By Alexander Get two models. Any two will do. Put them in a stylishly furnished loft with a gorgeous view. Lock the door. Encourage your “actors” to improvise their dialogue and fuck each other often. Refer occasionally to the napkins you wrote your script on. Film. The result? “La Belle.” “La Belle” is like a…poor … Continue reading →

Posted in Korean, Reviews |

Il Mare (2000) Review

February 1, 2011 JJ Bona
"Il Mare" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Lee Hyeon-Seung Producer: Cha Seung-Jae Cast: Lee Jeong-Jae, Jun Ji-Hyun (Chon Ji-Yeon, Jeon Ji-Hyeon, Joon Ji-Hyun, Gianna Jun) Running Time: 90 min. By Owlman Have you ever wondered what you would do if you discovered a device for time travel? Would you use it to discover what future lies ahead of you? Or would you use it to make changes in the past? Or better yet, would you use … Continue reading →

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Host, The (2006) Review

February 1, 2011 ningen31
"The Host" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Bong Joon-Ho Cast: Song Kang-ho, Byun Hee-bong, Park Hae-il, Bae Doona, Ko Ah-Sung, Kwon Byung-Gil Running Time: 120 min. By Ningen A subordinate Korean guy who probably works for Harvey Weinstein at his day-job listens to his white American supervisor scientist know-it-all guy and dumps some random chemicals into the sink, even though the pipe leads to the Han river. What the toxic mix creates is some sort of … Continue reading →

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Sad Movie (2005) Review

February 1, 2011 JJ Bona
"Sad Movie" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kwon Jong-Gwan Cast: Jeong Woo-Sung (Jung Woo-Sung), Im Su-Jeong (Im Su-Jung), Cha Tae-Hyeon (Cha Tae-Hyun), Yeom Jung-A, Yeo Jin-Gu, Shin Min-A, Son Tae-Young Running Time: 108 min. By Mighty Peking Man Kwon Jong-Gwan’s Sad Movie is a damn near perfect piece of cinema. From start to finish, it keeps your attention. It’s a great looking movie that feels refreshing, vibrant and tight. There’s not a dull moment I can … Continue reading →

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Asako in Ruby Shoes | aka Sunaebo (2000) Review

February 1, 2011 JJ Bona

Director: E J-Yong Producer: Koo Bon-Han, Tsuchida Masaki, Iwata Hitoshi Cast: Lee Jeong-Jae, Misato Dachibana, Kim Gumija, Kim Min-Hee, Ren Osugi Running Time: 115 min. By Mlindber Asako in Ruby Shoes is another one of those great films from Korea in a genre you’d normally hate. You know the type. The movie is about a guy named U-in (Lee Jung-jae) from Korea, how much of a loser he is, and … Continue reading →

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Anarchists, The (2000) Review

February 1, 2011 JJ Bona
"The Anarchists" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Yu Yeong-Sik Cast: Jang Dong-Geon, Kim Sang-Jung, Jeong Jun-Ho, Lee Beom-Su, Kim In-Gweon, Ye Ji-Won, Jeong Won-Jung, Lee Chan-Yeong, Seo Ji-Won Running Time: 108 min. By Equinox21 When I heard that this movie was written by Park Chan-wook (writer and director of J.S.A. and Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance), I got really excited about seeing it. However, I then noticed the low rating it had on the Internet Movie Database, … Continue reading →

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Afrika (2002) Review

February 1, 2011 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

February 1, 2011 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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