MEMOIR OF A MURDERER is undoubtedly a very different sort of film. For the most part, it keeps you tensed and makes you interested in the screenplay. The film moves with a good pace, and there's hardly any unnecessary scene in the entire duration. The thrills are highly impressive and the emotional scenes too are well handled.
Sol Kyung-gu delivers a first-rate act. This is his first film I've seen and in many scenes he simply outdoes many South Korean actors. He never shows any inconsistency in the performance and is an actor to watch out for. Another praise to Kim Nam-gil, who wonderfully plays the character he's given. He's superb and is different in the portrayal of the kind of role he plays. Seolhyun is decent. Oh Dal-su is excellent as always.
There's some good humour which had me laughing out loud. The action is undoubtedly very well crafted and the final block will have the action buffs cheering up with energy. The cinematography is splendid and the visual/special effects are a treat to watch.
Director Shin-yeon Won makes the film not just enjoyable, but also a memorable one. The writers Jo-yun Hwang and Young-ha Kim also have done an excellent job. The final shot is totally jaw-dropping and is not to be missed.
MEMOIR OF A MURDERER is a marvellous and watertight action thriller which is a must see for South Korean movie lovers as well as those who love thrillers, dramas and action films. The film is a class apart and seriously, I enjoyed it more than any other South Korean action thriller. Now I'm waiting to watch the director's cut soon.
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- The film's screenplay is excellent: it grips you from the very first frame.
- The performances of Ha Jung-woo, Cha Tae-hyun, Ju Ji-hoon, Kim Hyang-gi, Ye Soo-jung and Lee Jung-jae are highly impressive.
- The CGI of the film is splendid and is a major reason why the film should be seen in the highest available quality.
- The action sequences are excellently choreographed and very well filmed as well.
- The film has a perfect balance between drama and humour as well. The emotions are excellently brought up and are bound to leave anyone teary-eyed.
- The climax is very powerful and the ending is highly energetic.
- The story is very relatable and is definitely thought-provoking as well.
- Excellent dialogues.
- No vulgarity or obscenity, and totally worth watching with family. Kids will love it!
Negatives:
Nil.
On the whole, ALONG WITH THE GODS: THE TWO WORLDS is a highly entertaining, heartwarming and thought provoking action-fantasy film from South Korea which proves that filmmakers there have the art to master almost every known genre.
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I'm very impressed with this South Korean crime action film, BELIEVER.
I guess the original will also be very entertaining since its remake has succeeded in hitting all the notes perfectly. Ranging from action to twists to performances to background score: BELIEVER excels in all the departments. Seriously, BELIEVE me.
I could say this is one of the best movies made on this theme. It is perfectly edited at 123 minutes (though I've heard there's a longer version too) and on the way delivers loads of action and some unique plot twists with pulsating music. The director has successfully extracted brilliant performances from the cast, especially Cho Jin-woong, Ryu Jun-yeol and the belated Kim Joo-hyuk.
Without extending the character drama to an overboard limit, BELIEVER remains engaging for the most part. It's the execution which even makes me wonder if this is the best crime action film I've ever seen. The film holds its ground on the technical front. The splendid cinematography does justice to the film's mood and tone.
BELIEVER doesn't intend to evoke emotions; it intends to entertain with its thrilling storyline and heart-stopping action sequences. It uses twists in limit, and without the plot getting too convoluted, it becomes an easily likable film. And as far as the action sequences are concerned, I like the way how a particular setup leads up to the big ones. Hand to hand combat, gunfights, explosions, destruction: there is everything an entertaining action film would have and all of these action blocks are simply outstanding.
And I mean it; every single action scene is spectacular and worth repeated viewings.
To sum it all up, BELIEVER is a film I will highly recommend to anyone who likes crime action movies with a great climax which allows thoughts to flow in. If you haven't already seen it, see it now!
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I've been highly impressed long time by Song Kang-ho, and I've been watching many of his movies since later few months. I was highly excited to watch his new historical action drama A TAXI DRIVER, because the trailer was highly impressive. It showed how the film would turn out to be. I just wanted to see it as soon as possible and I finally got the opportunity.
A TAXI DRIVER, without a second thought, is the best South Korean film I've seen till date. From narration to execution to performances to presentation: it's perfect in each and every aspect. The change in the tone of the film has been brought up extremely well, thanks to its director Jang Hoon. The screenplay is never disappointing throughout, and the film comes out as both a refreshing as well as a memorable experience.
The film's editing is top notch as it doesn't take much of time to introduce and set up the characters as well as the storyline. As the film progresses, you find yourself connected to the characters, especially the ones of Song Kang-ho and Thomas Kretschmann. Both actors have delivered extremely excellent performances, and rather so excellent that I ended up rooting for them completely. When they smiled, I smiled. When they cried, I cried too. Rest of the supporting cast, especially Ryu Jun-yeol and Yu Hae-jin deserve a lot of praise.
The film's technical aspects are top notch. The visuals are breathtaking and the story is well captured by a first-rate cinematography. The film's action sequences are another major highlight, as they induce a lot of excitement along with tension as to what would happen next. The film's not extremely violent, and thus I recommend you to watch it with your family. There's no vulgarity or obscenity in this film.
There are plenty of emotional sequences which make the film a totally unforgettable experience. Watch the film and you won't find it difficult to guess which scenes I'm talking about. Various emotional, thrilling as well as action packed sequences have been elevated by the brilliant music.
A TAXI DRIVER is a hard-hitting film which must be seen not just for its overall excellence but also for the message it delivers to its viewers. It's hard and almost impossible to forget the film, as you're left highly emotional & impressed by the time the credits start to roll. In short, a perfect masterpiece from South Korea!
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PARK YEOL is an unexpectedly very entertaining film which never loses its focus. The screenplay is watertight and the editing, razor sharp. There aren't any dull moments or unnecessary sequences to deviate the film from telling the story. It manages to engage the viewer with its beautiful visuals, well-handled cinematography, brilliant action scenes, terrific & clapworthy dialogues, and above all, the extraordinary direction & execution.
Lee Je-hoon breathes and lives the role of Park Yeol. He's stunning in his part and the sequences involving him are simply the best part of the film. Another major credit to the actress who paired with Lee, giving the most remarkable performance in the film after him. Other actors manage to hold the attention with their solid performances.
Without wasting even a single second, director Lee Joon-ik connects us to the leading characters, especially Park Yeol and this is his biggest success. The film's pace is another major plus point as it never pulls you into boredom. The film's BGM enhances the viewing experience from time to time. The climax, however could've been handled a little better as it might seem a little abrupt, but it's absolutely fine since the way it's covered further is commendable.
PARK YEOL is a film which isn't merely a film. It's a phenomenon which doesn't usually happen in case of most filmmakers. It's perhaps the best biopic ever, and you'll find my words true once you watch it soon.
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It won't be anywhere wrong to say that SINGLE RIDER rides totally on the shoulders of Lee Byung-hun. Other actors like Gong Hyo-jin and Ahn So- hee also do their respective parts well. But undoubtedly, it's Lee who steals the show with a stellar performance.
The film's technical aspects are top notch. The cinematography is praiseworthy. The visuals of the film are quite excellent, and they are another reason why this film should be caught on a Blu-ray. The film succeeds in getting the emotional parts right and never bores till it ends.
The music also needs to be appreciated as it enhances the viewing experience from time to time. The director deserves praise for bringing out the best from the cast.
The film's unfolding towards the end is however a slight issue, as many might get confused as to what happened. Even I got. But I didn't find it difficult to realize what actually happened. The climax packs a punch as it's pretty intense.
SINGLE RIDER undoubtedly is another addition to top Lee Byung-hun films. He will keep you engrossed no matter what. Just trust him, watch him, the film and just question yourself about how would you've felt had you been in his place?
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With a not-so-long running time and a crisp editing, it becomes an even more exciting watch as time passes. The story and screenplay are well written, well portrayed and well presented in terms of entertainment too. The dialogues are quite powerful and many of them make a great sense. The action scenes are executed very well and in a very realistic way. In other words, this film is just another South Korean film which makes us think. The visuals and the cinematography too are excellent and eye-pleasing.
Actors Kim Yoon-seok and Yu Hae-jin are a major strength of this film. The way their bond strengthens is good to watch. Both actors deliver powerful performances and you tend to believe that they aren't acting but indeed living the characters.
It's undoubtedly true that THE CLASSIFIED FILE turns out to be both an artistic and entertaining film at the same time. Those who believe in watching good cinema, should definitely watch it. Since there's no vulgarity or obscenity, it's a clean family entertainer and hereby recommended for all ages, and because apart from telling an engaging story, it also has a unique message hidden for all. I classify it as excellent.
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ORDINARY PERSON is by no means an ordinary film. It has an extraordinary screenplay which is bound to shake the viewers from inside. The film's biggest strength is that it's easily relatable. I wasn't seriously bored for even a second while watching it.
I don't know who the lead actors are, but I can say they did a commendable job, especially the lead actor. One won't find it difficult to connect to his character.
The screenplay is well written, and technically, the film manages to hold you till the end. The cinematography and action sequences too deserve a special mention. Dialogues are effective and thought provoking. Kudos to the director for giving us something out of the box.
This is one of the most relatable and emotionally gripping South Korean movies.
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THE HOST is decently executed, and its not being excessively gory makes it an interesting watch for kids as well. They are bound to love it. The director's approach towards the film's genre is interesting and he binds action, emotions and thrills very well in the film. The screenplay is excellent, as the film doesn't take too long in setting up the story and characters. The editing too is a major plus.
Technically, it's one of the best South Korean films. From visual effects to action scenes: everything is executed and presented very well.
As far as the performances are concerned, every actor does a great job, but of course it's Song Kang-ho who takes the lead with his top notch performance.
THE HOST is undoubtedly an excellent and memorable action-horror flick which is a must watch for anyone who loves watching films.
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- The performances of the lead actors are decent.
- The screenplay is for the most part gripping.
- The action sequences have been shot and executed quite well, most notably a terrific car chase.
- The film starts to get thrilling towards the end, and the climax is quite an unexpected as well as an amazing one.
Negatives:
- The story takes its time to set up, and in the process the writing at times turns a bit uneven.
- The editing is also not without its share of flaws, as the film could've been trimmed slightly.
- The dramatic aspect has not been handled very well.
Repeat value: Low
As a whole, THE SWINDLERS is an entertaining and a decently made crime action film which is worth watching watching once, if you're interested in movies of this kind.
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THE MERCILESS or BULHANDANG is a highly entertaining action movie. It is an exceptional film which combines action, drama and unpredictable plot twists in an unprecedented manner.
The director for sure has done a great job in extracting the best out of his cast as well as crew. The film really delivers on every front: be it the technical aspects or some other, the film rarely lets one down. It's not a boring film, as right after a decent setup in the early minutes, the film starts delivering knockout action sequences and plot twists very well.
Im Si-wan is the star to watch out for in this film. I watched him only in THE ATTORNEY which was a powerful social drama. In this particular film, he does a lot of action and delivers a solid performance. Sol Kyung-gu: don't know why I always run out of words when it comes to praising him! His act is straightaway an award-worthy one. His crazy laughter adds a lot of fun to the proceedings. Other actors like Kim Hee-won are also very impressive; he adds a great comic flavor to this somewhat dark film.
The film impresses with its well choreographed, violent action sequences which stand out as a major highlight of the film. For sure, there is a lot of bad language used in the film which is enough to put off a lot of viewers, but as it progresses, this no longer remains an issue. The atmosphere built by the director and writers pulls the viewer in it and makes him feel like a part of the narrative. The ways the feel gets darker in the second half without getting melodramatic or boring is perhaps one of the best things about the film.
THE MERCILESS is a masterfully crafted action film from South Korea which effectively entertains the viewer with the best stuff it has got. Also with an outstanding climax, the film makes sure viewers don't soon forget it.
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-The performances of the two lead actors Jung Woo-sung and Kwak Do-won are excellent, and the relation they form is a delight to watch.
-The visual and technical aspects of the film are top notch.
-The action scenes are shot and executed very well.
-The emotional aspect of the film has been dealt with very well.
-The film is very gripping thanks to the excellent story and crisp editing.
Negatives:
-The film could've been slightly shorter.
Repeat value: Yes
Undoubtedly, STEEL RAIN is a masterfully crafted action film which is a must watch for all!
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Positives:
- Ryu Seung-ryong is aptly cast for the lead role and he is very impressive as the psychokinetic superhero who's very relatable and like any other human being. Shim Eun-kyung's performance is excellent and remarkable. Jung Yu-mi also impresses big time in a limited yet well-written character.
- The visual effects are top notch and realistic. The VFX team has not made us "feel" the VFX, and that's a major plus for a film depending a lot on visual effects.
- The action sequences are the best for any superhero film. Creativity is visible in every frame of the action blocks, particularly the final one, which is bound to be greeted with claps and whistles.
- The music is heartwarming and fits very well into the narrative. It enhances the impact from time to time.
- The emotional sequences are impactful and have been handled very well.
- The cinematography and other technical aspects are also excellent, and the production values are very impressive.
- The editing is excellent at 101 minutes as there's nothing boring or unimpressive throughout the whole movie. Director should be praised for blending action, comedy and emotions very well, in a proper proportion in the movie.
- The humor is very effective.
- The ending is very good.
Negatives:
- Nil.
Repeat value: ABSOLUTELY!
PSYCHOKINESIS is South Korea's first attempt at the superhero genre and it needs to be both encouraged as well as appreciated, especially when it's so well made and masterfully crafted.
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A HARD DAY is perfectly scripted, rather so much that you won't get deviated from watching the film, and if some interruption happens between watching it, you might even get angry and start shouting. It's one of those films which don't let you move. Even if you move, you will not feel good to leave it. That's why I finished it in just one viewing.
Director Seong-hun Kim has done a marvellous job as he handles both the direction as well as writing departments in a very professional manner. He has done his best in telling the story with full force, and has provided plenty of entertaining elements to keep you engrossed.
Sun-Kyun Lee is an actor to watch out for. His performance creates a strong impact and after a point it doesn't seem he's acting at all. It's a natural act by him. Another round of applause to Cho Jin-woong: he's menacing at times and his performance is quite effective. Same for the rest of the cast.
The thrills are quite chilling and the action, superb. The cinematography is excellent in many shots, especially the action scenes. The background score is quite pulsating and increases the excitement from time to time.
That said, A HARD DAY is a mindblowing action thriller which has plenty of surprises to offer to viewers, especially those expecting just another action or thriller film. It's something you won't have seen before, and this film undoubtedly increases the respect for South Korean cinema in my eyes.
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Bong Joon-ho is known for experimental movies. And most of them have impressed the viewers. This film is no exception. Packed with powerful performances from Song Kang-ho and Kim Sang-kyung apart from a powerful script and an even powerful screenplay, the film has all the ingredients of an ideal entertainer. The film makes us feel a lot. Song Kang-ho lives the character he plays, and you can't separate his reel and real life characters. Kim Sang-kyung plays his natural best. He's got some terrific acting talent and displays it perfectly. Rest of the actors do a good job.
The cinematography is excellent in many portions. The film is definitely worth watching in the highest quality available. The music is very melodious, and the one in the end will stay with you for long. Certain scenes have the excitement increased due to the powerful BGM. A few action bits are decently done too.
Undoubtedly, MEMORIES OF MURDER is the best and a masterpiece of its genre. You would've never seen a film like this. Song Kang-ho and Kim Sang-kyung won't let you just watch the film, they'll make you involved in the screenplay, and that's the biggest victory of the film.
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