High Heel (2014) poster
7.8
Your Rating: 0/10
Ratings: 7.8/10 from 2,206 users
# of Watchers: 6,180
Reviews: 17 users
Ranked #3825
Popularity #2314
Watchers 2,206

Ji Wook is a cold-blooded detective who would brutally assault and stop at nothing to catch criminals. However, despite looking masculine, Ji Wook struggles with a secret desire to be a woman. When at last, Ji Wook decides to undergo a sex change, a gang, the detective had brutally arrested by force, plots revenge. After resigning and secretly dreaming of physically transforming into a woman, people close to Ji Wook get caught up in a conspiracy and killed. When the one person Ji Wook must protect, Jang Mi, also falls in danger, a choice must be made. Edit Translation

  • English
  • Русский
  • Türkçe
  • magyar / magyar nyelv
  • Country: South Korea
  • Type: Movie
  • Release Date: Jun 3, 2014
  • Duration: 2 hr. 5 min.
  • Score: 7.8 (scored by 2,206 users)
  • Ranked: #3825
  • Popularity: #2314
  • Content Rating: 18+ Restricted (violence & profanity)

Cast & Credits

Photos

High Heel (2014) photo
High Heel (2014) photo
High Heel (2014) photo
High Heel (2014) photo
High Heel (2014) photo
High Heel (2014) photo

Reviews

Completed
PickyMcpickleton
26 people found this review helpful
Nov 17, 2014
Completed 1
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
It's been a long time since I struggled to rate a movie and even now I'm not sure how I feel about it. For one, emotions came first in this. There was very little room for me to ponder on things because of the way this movie delivered. However, in the end, I found myself a touch disappointed because while the movie approached this topic very intellectually, it still felt a touch hesitant, a touch too cautious and a little muddled.

The biggest reason being that this movie at times felt a touch too muddled in what it was trying to convey. It deeply explores an issue very well but yet not deeply enough. Deep issues are at times downplayed due to very stereotypical assumptions, and the end for me felt like a cop out. I admit, that viewpoint can be countered but I felt in the grand scheme of things, it allowed the audience to still retain their view of "normalcy". However, this isn't what made me dock points largely.

This movie deals with a topic that I rarely see and as a review mentioned, where a man trying to become a woman isn't the butt of a joke. Here, there is no laughter, little room for it. This movie cleverly approaches the topic as it takes this Herculean and manly guy who isn't happy with himself. He wants to become a woman. It creates an interesting and refreshing dichotomy as here is a guy who can easily fight any man and easily conquer a horde of attacking gangs yet he wants to be a woman.

The strong point is definitely Cha Seung Won's character (Ji Wook) and he carries this movie for me. The rest of the plot for me is kind of fodder as are a bunch of the characters. There were certain characters in here that for me had no legitimate reason to be here or to be included in the story as they were. Mainly because they muddle vs aid the story. There are other characters though I recognize their importance because they add to Cha Seung Won's character. For example, the antagonist here the sub-leader of a gang and while I find his character to add very little in terms of plot, he brings out Ji Wook's character. What I mean is that most of the action sequences come from the interaction between the two which allows for the story to cement the manly image that Ji Wook has. However, while a good portion of the action scenes are relevant, I have to pick a bone with a good number of them. I feel this way about a lot of movies and dramas that bring to the table an unsettling topic or a very intelligent topic. There are always dramatic actions sequences involved. Yes, it's a way for the director to sell the plot but it would be nice to just directly approach the topic. In this case, the topic is interesting enough to be the sole focus. I just feel that the action sequences at times distract from the main topic.

On a personal note, there were quite a few things in this movie I wish I could alter. I also wish I could make this movie go hard in terms of really exploring this theme. I feel like this movie should have shocked the viewer more than it did. It makes it feel a little regrettable in that regard. Nonetheless, definitely one to watch.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
shar
8 people found this review helpful
Dec 4, 2016
Completed 0
Overall 2.5
Story 2.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
i'm a bit shocked to see the high ratings on here. i will say i was very interested in this when i realized the main character was actually transgender. thing is, you can't really portray something so serious such as gender identity when the whole story basis itself in a "cop vs. gangster" setting along with a past love interest dealing with a boy and the current love interest being the deceased boy's sister.

i'm actually very disappointed in this film. there were so many sub-plots, i think my brain swirled itself around for the duration of the movie. it's not like cha seung-won is a bad actor. he takes on the role of a cold-blooded detective like it's something he was born to do. the problem is, i didn't know what to pay attention to. is it the actual enemy that's plotting to destroy him inside out or is it ji wook's inner battle with his demons?

and the ending! ugh, there was no silver lining in this movie! i'd like to see growth and development. instead, i got a character who ran around in circles and came back to the starting point: miserable in his own skin. just not worth my time with that bad portrayal of a trans-character. i think the only reason why i even gave it a rating itself was because it redeemed itself with the action scenes. romance/plot? pure waste.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?

Recommendations

Jane
Lady Daddy
Two Weddings and a Funeral
The Man from Nowhere

Recent Discussions

Title Replies Views Latest Post
Main Theme by fiflydramalover 0 0 No discussions yet

Details

  • Movie: High Heel
  • Country: South Korea
  • Release Date: Jun 3, 2014
  • Duration: 2 hr. 5 min.
  • Content Rating: 18+ Restricted (violence & profanity)

Statistics

  • Score: 7.8 (scored by 2,206 users)
  • Ranked: #3825
  • Popularity: #2314
  • Watchers: 6,180

Top Contributors

36 edits
26 edits
16 edits
6 edits

News & Articles

Popular Lists

Related lists from users
BL / Gay (*Rated Order*)
653 titles 2777 loves 46
Korean BL Master List
215 titles 913 loves 6
LGBT Asian movies and dramas. ♥
345 titles 160 loves 5

Recently Watched By