Category Archives: Korean

Spare (2008) Review

"Spare" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Lee Seong-han Cast: Lim Joon-il, Mitsuki Koga, Hitoshi Ozawa, Jung Woo, Kim Soo-hyun, Yang Ki-won, Yoo Sang-seob, Seo Ji-oh, Kang Yeong-mook, Kwak Jin-Seok Running Time: 105 min. By Paul Bramhall There was something about fight flicks made in 2008 that saw some of the best ones simply disappear into the ether. Koichi Sakamoto’s Broken Path was sucked into a blackhole, which save for an obscure South African DVD, would take 4 … Continue reading

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Peninsula (2020) Review

“Peninsula” IMAX Poster

Director: Yeon Sang-Ho Cast: Gang Dong-Won, Lee Jung-Hyun, Lee Re, Kwon Hae-Hyo, Kim Min-Jae, Koo Gyo-Hwan, Kim Do-Yoon, Lee Ye-Won, Kim Kyu-Baek, Moon Woo-Jin Running Time: 116 min. By Paul Bramhall 4 years since the breakout zombie hit Train to Busan, director Yeon Sang-ho returns to make it a trilogy with 2020’s Peninsula. Korea’s seen plenty of zombie action in the years in-between, with the genre supplanted to ancient times with … Continue reading

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Magnificent, The (1978) Review

"The Magnificent" Poster

Director: Kim Hyeong-Jun Co-director: Chan Siu-Pang Assistant-director: Godfrey Ho Cast: Carter Wong, Casanova Wong, Chan Sing, Doris Lung, Elton Chong, Chang Il-do, Dragon Lee (Mun Kyong-sok), Martin Chui Man-Fooi, Chan Chan-Wa Running Time: 90 min. By Paul Bramhall In the late 70’s the kung fu genre was evolving dramatically. After the Bruce Lee mania of the early 70’s there came a wave of ‘basher’ flicks, movies that put an emphasis … Continue reading

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Return of Red Tiger (1977) Review

"Return of Red Tiger" Theatrical Poster

AKA: The Return of Bul-bom Director: Nam Gi-Nam Cast: Bruce Le (Huang Kin Long), Eagle Han Ying, An Tae-seop, Lee Kang-jo, Kim Jin-hui Running Time: 94 min.  By Paul Bramhall As a kung fu movie fan, have you ever asked yourself if there’s a kung fu flick out there that’s so bad, it could put you off the genre for good? I have, and I’ve kept my fingers crossed that … Continue reading

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Time to Hunt (2020) Review

Director: Yoon Sung-hyun Cast: Lee Je-Hoon, Choi Woo-Sik, Ahn Jae-hong, Park Jung-Min, Park Hae-Soo, Cho Seong-Ha, Choi Hee-Do, Jeon Woon-Jong, Won-hae Kim, Kang Ji-Gu  Running Time: 134 min.  By Paul Bramhall Prior to its release, Korean production Time to Hunt was one of the prime examples of a movie impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally scheduled for a cinematic release in February, it was quickly pulled due to the lockdown … Continue reading

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Dragon Lee vs. the 5 Brothers | aka The Five Disciples (1978) Review

"Dragon Lee vs. the 5 Brothers" Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Si-hyun Cast: Dragon Lee (Mun Kyong-sok), Yuen Qiu, Kwon Il-soo, Gam Kei Chu, Lee Ye Min, Chui Man Fooi, Kim Ki-ju, Han Myeong-hwan, Choi Hyeong-keun, Jeong Ju-Hyeon, Jang In-Han, Choe Il, Kim Dong-Ho Running Time: 87 min.  By Paul Bramhall The Bruceploitation genre would melt the brain of even the most academic film critic, which is why I prefer to remain on the other end of the scale. … Continue reading

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Dragon Bruce Lee, Part II | aka Big Boss 2 (1981) Review

"Dragon Bruce Lee, Part II" Korean Poster

AKA: Dragon Lee Fights Again Director: To Man-Bo Co-director: Lee Eun Cast: Dragon Lee (Mun Kyong-sok), Lee Suk-jin, Cheung Lik, Ju Eun-seop, Jang Ryeok, Bolo Yeung, Tien Feng, Philip Ko Fei, Sham Chin Bo, To Wai Wo Running Time: 75 min. By Ian Whittle OK, this is rather complicated. A 1930’s set kung fu movie starring Dragon Lee that, depending on what version you own, is a sequel to one … Continue reading

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Ghost in Love (1999) Review

"Ghost in Love" Theatrical Poster

Director: Lee Kwang-Hoon Writer: Hong Ju-ri Lee Sung-Jae, Kim Hee-Seon, Cha Seung-Won, Yoo Hye-Jung, Jang Jin-Young, Lee Young-Ja, Park Kwang-Jung, Jeong Won-Jung, Jang Se-Jin Running Time: 91 min. By Paul Bramhall 1999 was a landmark year for Korean cinema. After starting the 90’s with a film industry practically on its last legs, throughout most of the decade it slowly began to regain popularity with local audiences, before finally, on the … Continue reading

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Jackie and Bruce to the Rescue | aka Fist of Death (1982) Review

"Jackie and Bruce to the Rescue" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Fist of Death Director: Wu Chia Chun Co-director: Choe Dong-Joon Cast: Kim Tai-chung, Lee Siu-Ming, Wang Pao-Yu, He Ying, Chang Il-Sik, Eagle Han Ying, Ma Sha, Chen Shan, Baek Hwang-ki, Park Yong-Pal Running time: 90 min.  By Ian Whittle You’d think a film featuring a Bruce Lee clone AND a Jackie Chan clone (not to mention maverick exploitation producer Dick Randall’s name on the credits) would be a lot … Continue reading

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Metamorphosis (2019) Review

"Metamorphosis" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Hong-Sun Cast: Bae Sung-Woo, Sung Dong-Il, Jang Young-Nam, Kim Hye-Jun, Cho Yi-Hyun, Kim Kang-Hoon, Jung Yun-Ha, Baek Yoon-Sik, Kim Lee-Kyung Running Time: 113 min. By Paul Bramhall The current South Korean fixation with bad-ass priests continues with Metamorphosis. Capping off the holy trilogy of 2019, following the release of The Divine Fury (MMA priests!) and Svaha: The Sixth Finger (occult detective priests!) earlier in the year, the latest … Continue reading

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Take Point | aka PMC: Private Military Company (2018) Review

"Take Point" Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Byung-Woo Cast: Ha Jung-Woo, Lee Sun-Kyun, Jennifer Ehle, Kevin Durand, Malik Yoba, Spencer Daniels, Shin Hyun-Bin, Ahn Seong-Bong, Kim Sun-Hyuk Running Time: 124 min. By Paul Bramhall The Korean film industry has an interesting relationship with the action genre. A mainstay of the countries cinematic output for a long time, it was ultimately an action movie which brought Korean cinema to international attention with 1999’s Shiri. Skips forward 20 … Continue reading

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Tazza: One Eyed Jack (2019) Review

“Tazza: One Eyed Jack” Theatrical Poster

Director: Kwon Oh-Kwang Cast: Park Jung-Min, Ryoo Seung-Bum, Choi Yu-Hwa, Woo Hyeon, Yoon Je-Moon, Lee Kwang-Soo, Lim Ji-Yeon, Kwon Hae-Hyo, Choi Dong-Hoon, Kim Ye-Eun Running Time: 139 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s probably a stretch to say that anyone was clamouring for a third entry into Korea’s Tazza series. The original entry, 2006’s Tazza: The High Rollers, marked director Choi Dong-hoon’s sophomore feature, and its colourful energy combined with performances … Continue reading

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A*P*E (1976) Review

"A*P*E" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Paul Leder Cast: Joanna Kerns, Rod Arrants, Alex Nicol, Lee Nak-hun, Yeon-jeong Woo, Jerry Harke, Larry Chandler, Walt Myers, J.J. Gould, Kwon Il-soo, Chiu Chun Running Time: 87 min. By Paul Bramhall When people think about Asian takes on King Kong, chances are the most likely answer they’re going to give you will be the 1977 Shaw Brothers flick The Mighty Peking Man, which came a year after Hollywood’s … Continue reading

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Parasite (2019) Review

"Parasite" Theatrical Poster

Director: Bong Joon-Ho Cast: Song Kang-Ho, Jang Hye-Jin, Choi Woo-Sik, Park So-Dam, Lee Sun-Kyun, Cho Yeo-Jeong, Jung Ji-So, Jeong Hyun-Jun, Lee Jung-Eun, Park Seo-Joon Running Time: 131 min. By Paul Bramhall The following review for Parasite was originally posted on COF in July of 2019. Because the film took home four Academy Awards at the recent 2020 Oscars (Best Picture, Best Director, Best International Film and Best Original Screenplay), we … Continue reading

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Battle of Jangsari, The (2019) Review

"The Battle of Jangsari" Theatrical Poster

Director: Kwak Kyung-Taek Co-director: Kim Tae-Hoon Cast: Kim Myung-Min, Minho, Kim Sung-Cheol, Kim In-Kwon, Kwak Si-Yang, Megan Fox, Jang Ji-Gun, Lee Ho-Jung, Lee Jae-Wook, Dong Bang-Woo, Kim Mi-Hwa  Running Time: 104 min. By Paul Bramhall With the thawing in relations between North and South Korea in recent years, movies about the Korean War have taken a back seat, and noticeably been replaced by more action-centric productions which partner agents from … Continue reading

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