Achyut Prashast Singh
India
-The film's really scary at times and it succeeds as a horror thriller.
-Kwak Do-won's performance is a major highlight. Chun Woo-hee is also very impressive, as are Hwang Jung-min and Kunimura Jun.
-The cinematography is excellent and the film's technical aspects are strong.
-The unpredictability of the film is what makes it thought-provoking and memorable.
-The ending is as mindblowing as it is unpredictably excellent.
Negatives:
-Well, not any.
Repeat value: Yes
Without a second thought, I can say that THE WAILING by Na Hong-jin is undoubtedly the best horror film of the decade, as it proves to be much more than a horror film and delivers something which not every film of this genre has. The film is unforgettable and you definitely won't be able to forget it.
Was this review helpful to you?
I was excited since long to watch HWAYI as the trailer and its synopsis impressed me highly. I decided to check out the film. I couldn't do it earlier but when I watched it, I was left totally spellbound by the excellence of the film.
I've never seen a film like HWAYI before. The story's quite new, unique and different, due to which it turns out to be highly impressive.
Performances are a major plus of the film, as are the emotions and the action sequences. The visual effects too are impressive. One emotional sequence in the second hour had me feeling too much for the characters involved in it. I felt very sad and I felt that even after the film ended.
If this happens, then it means the director has succeeded in his attempt. No doubt he did!
Kim Yoon-seok...I have no words for his performance. He's the most natural actor I've ever seen. He never acts. He lives every character he plays. Here he proves why he's one of the best South Korean actors. Yeo Jin-goo is impressive in his first attempt, and his performance shows he has a long way to go.
The screenplay is wonderfully written and presented on screen. The film grips from the very first scene and entertains you throughout the enrtire duration, and heading towards a climax which is excellent and makes you feel emotional.
No doubt that HWAYI lives up to every single expectation one can have from it.
Was this review helpful to you?
-Sol Kyung-gu is impressive as always. Ha Ji-won is highly impressive as well. Rest of the cast also does a near-perfect job.
-The action/disaster scenes of the film deserve a special mention as they are very neatly executed.
-Visual effects are pretty impressive and enhance the film's entertainment to a great extent.
-The emotional scenes are impactful and have been executed with excellence.
-The story is quite good and the message of the film is appealing.
Negatives:
-The only negative is that it takes too long to arrive at the main point. Although the first half does showcase some good character development and makes us understand them even more, the comedic bits are at times overdone and could've been easily done away with. In short, it's only the editing which is a major flaw.
TIDAL WAVE is adecent disaster film which does take its own sweet time to build up, but it makes sure to reward the viewer for his/her patience, in the second half with excellent visual effects and action scenes.
Was this review helpful to you?
- Ma Dong-seok's performance is cool, realistic and excellent. Apart from him, almost every actor, especially Yoon Kye-sang, also delivers a terrific performance.
- The action scenes are very well executed and are a delight to watch.
- The film uses humour surprisingly very well.
- The script is watertight and the editing too is praiseworthy. Most films on this theme are slow-paced, but this one is quite fast paced and that's why it never bores.
- The climax is very good and the ending is excellent.
Negatives:
- Nil.
Repeat value: Yes
THE OUTLAWS is another entertaining and extremely well-made South Korean crime action movie. There'a nothing more I can say, just go and watch it quick!
Was this review helpful to you?
- Kim Chang-wan's performance is excellent, while Bae So-eun's performance and dialogue delivery are impressive as well.
- The film is quite scary and creepy in various portions and stays true to its genre.
- The action scenes are very neatly executed.
- The climax is excellent.
- The basic story and screenplay are both gripping. The first half is very thrilling.
- The background score is excellent.
Negatives:
- The film has too much of obscenity which makes it hard to watch it at times.
- The film loses its momentum slightly in the second hour though it regains it very well.
Repeat value: Fine
DOCTOR is a well scripted action-horror thriller which could have been even better had it avoided its over-vulgar and obscene nature.
Was this review helpful to you?
BLACK HOUSE opens on a gripping note and proceeds to tell the story without any hiccups, thanks to the editing. The screenplay is quite engaging, and it would be hard to leave this film in between, even if you're busy. The film stays true to the genre, and this is absolutely a positive sign.
Hwang Jung-min is a very talented actor who with his performance proves that he can pull out roles of any kind he's given. He excels in multiple sequences, and his dialogue delivery is decent. Yoo Sun and Kang Shin-il are menacing and their solid performances are a major asset to the film. Kim Seo-Hyung and other supporting actors, however don't have much to do but still end up delivering good performances.
The cinematography is decent, and is excellent in multiple shots. The small action bits have been done decently, and some shots are really praiseworthy. The climax was unexpectedly amazing and jaw-dropping. See it to believe!
If you love watching horror films, then BLACK HOUSE is a treat of course, but even if you don't, the film will take you on a creepy ride if you have courage to step in!
Was this review helpful to you?
Lee Byung-hun, Kim Woo-bin and Kang Dong-won rule the screen with their act. But it's Lee Byung-hun who impresses yet again after his brilliant INSIDE MEN. The editing is fine but could have been better. The film could have been shorter, though it has the action sequences placed accordingly. Visuals & cinematography are eye- catching. Story and screenplay both are well-woven, but a little tighter writing would have made the film better in the first hour. Anyhow, the film keeps you hooked for the most part because it offers plenty of entertainment.
Overall, MASTER is a well made action thriller that deserves to be watched if you like action thrillers with clean entertainment. No vulgarity at all. Check it out today, or wait for the Blu-ray, if it shows any chance of releasing. I'll soon watch it again some day, but with proper subtitles.
Was this review helpful to you?
THE TUNNEL has a great deal of tension throughout. The film's premise is built very well. You do feel the suspense at right moments. The film delivers well on the technical front. The cinematography captures the splendid visuals very well. There aren't any hiccups throughout the entire film and you feel the character's pain.
Ha Jung Woo is super solid in this film. This is his first film I've seen. Doona Bae and Oh Dal Su give terrific performances. The few action sequences are very well shot.
And yes, this didn't let me move from my seat. I kept on watching and enjoying it till the end. It's a film that can be watched again. Full marks to the director Seong Hun Kim for executing a brilliant survival tale with excellence.
Overall, THE TUNNEL is an excellent film that can be seen multiple times for its cinematic excellence and a hard hitting indirect message to all.
Was this review helpful to you?
The film is a must watch for anyone, especially South Korean audiences. They loved it and thus it became a Box Office success. But it's a film much more than just an entertainer. Unpredictable and well-detailed, the film's screenplay is quite excellent, and the execution is top notch. Don't ask about Kim's direction: it's excellent as usual. Same for Gong Yoo and Song Kang-ho: you'll be able to relate to them and feel what they go through, thanks to the natural performances of these two men. The reason what keeps you glued to the screens is the presence of mind- boggling thrills, breathtaking action sequences, splendid cinematography and a top notch execution along with delightfully awesome visuals supported by powerful emotions.
Seeing Lee Byung-hun in this film was an absolute pleasure. He plays his part perfectly. The humour in the film is quite decent and is placed accordingly. The editing, however needed to be tighter as it could've been trimmed to some extent. The film being a little slow might not engage everyone at once. But when it does, it does it seriously and successfully.
Having said that, I'll have no doubt I calling the film "Kim's masterpiece", since he lives up to the expectations one can have from him after he has delivered films which've changed the way world looked at South Korean Cinema. This film only adds up to the praise for the South Korean Cinema, and presents a lot of things we'll like to take back home with us.
Was this review helpful to you?
What keeps you engaged is the brilliant action. THE BERLIN FILE has really brilliant action sequences, and that's a major reason why one finds it somewhat easy to ignore the flaws. Visually, the film is a gem. Story wise, it's a masterpiece. Execution wise, it's great but not excellent.
Ha Jung-woo is extremely amazing in the role he plays. He's simply the best thing about the film. Just watch him in the action sequences and in the climax: his performance literally will blow your mind. Jun Ji-hyun is decent, and so is Ryoo Seung-bum: he's a firecracker when it comes to his act which he handles perfectly, and that's something which makes his character realistic.
The director Ryoo Seung-wan does a decent job by handling the screenplay and direction well. The editing too is fine. But as said before, the execution is the only thing which needed to be better as in the beginning, after the first scene, it's difficult to follow the story as it keeps getting convoluted and things get more complicated when scenes end without much explanation. However, the film never loses its focus and manages to entertain you, leading to a thrilling climax which makes you forget rather every single flaw.
THE BERLIN FILE is a powerful, breathtaking and intense action thriller which is a must see for the lovers of this genre. For others, I can easily recommend it, though they won't be easily able to follow the film in the beginning. Still, watch the film because the kind of action it offers is the one you won't have seen before.
Was this review helpful to you?
ROUGH CUT is a highly entertaining movie, thanks to its highly impressive action sequences, new story and the lead actors: So Ji-sub and Kang Ji-hwan. They hold the film together very well, and deliver enough of entertainment to make you remain hooked to it completely. Even emotionally, the film manages to engage you. There are certain scenes which are highly commendable.
I was seriously impressed with the film's storyline: I have never heard a story or seen a film like this before. Without adding much, I would just say that ROUGH CUT is an effective and highly impressive action film which you'll love for its originality and uniqueness apart from everything else it has.
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
Choi Min-sik is not just an actor, he's something lot more than that. Just watch the film and then you'll believe me. He's perhaps one of the most natural actor I've ever seen. This is his best performance till date. Kang Hye-Jung is excellent and has a great role which she plays effortlessly. Yoo Ji-tae is just brilliant: his best act is in the climax which you're bound to love.
The screenplay of the film is never disappointing at all. It never deviates from telling us one of the biggest tales of all time, and it fully engages us into watching it till the end. The action is seriously classic and mindblowing. The visual effects are terrific, as is the cinematography. The natural humour present throughout the film is decent, as is the portrayal of human emotions in the most realistic and effective way.
There are literally no more words I can have for OLDBOY except "Intelligent, classic, entertaining masterpiece."
Was this review helpful to you?
CONFESSION OF MURDER is the best of its kind. A film full of thrilling surprises and mindblowing action sequences, it's the perfect South Korean film I had been looking for. It easily proves that films and filmmakers in South Korea are nothing short of being branded as genius.
Visually, this film is an absolute masterpiece. The screenplay is the best thing about the film, as you won't have seen or heard such a brilliant screenplay before, ever. The action is another major strength, as are the two lead actors Jung Jae-young and Park Si-hoo: they keep you glued to the screen for the entire duration, and there's not a single moment in which you'll feel bored or distracted. Jung Jae-young delivers a sharp and intense performance, while Park Si-hoo keeps the viewers engaged with his solid expressions.
The film is gripping from its very first sequence. From here it won't be difficult to predict that the film's going to be unpredictable. Mark my words: UNPREDICTABLE. And I seriously mean it.
CONFESSION OF MURDER benefits a lot from the intelligent and watertight screenplay, but suffers slightly due to the editing, which often slows down the film's pace occasionally. But happily this doesn't happen for long and what you get at the end of the show is a cinematic masterpiece. Full marks to its director and writer Byung-gil Jung for such a well executed film, and a salute as well, for bringing out the best of the two lead actors as well as giving such a great film not only to the Korean but also the world audience. Strongly recommended!
Was this review helpful to you?
THE YELLOW SEA is a film which presents human emotions in a very realistic manner. Ha Jung-woo is so excellent as Gu-nam that you'll definitely root for him. Kim Yoon-seok is very impressive as usual, and leaves and impact like the former. Rest of the cast is impressive as well.
The character development is what needs to be praised. It's so good that you feel like you know the characters fully, and eventually you manage to develop a psychological relation with them, especially Gu-nam played by Ha Jung-woo.
The film's biggest strength is the screenplay itself, as it contains all other brilliant elements a film of this genre needs. The cinematography is excellent and captures the journey of the characters very well. The action sequences are: extremely mindblowing and spellbinding! And due to this, they deserve a repeated watch. The editing is excellent, and I recommend you to watch the director's cut as it has a lot of depth. Can't say about the other version because I haven't seen that, but the director's cut being an amazing one is, I feel, better to watch.
The emotions are very well brought out on screen. The film is exactly what you can expect from a South Korean filmmaker. It's emotional, thrilling, violent, action packed and what not. It has everything to keep you hooked to the edge of the seat. There's not even a single dull moment and the film is very enjoyable despite of being quite dark as well.
THE YELLOW SEA is a perfect action thriller which shows what South Korean filmmakers are capable of. Definitely, with films of this kind, they will earn more respect in the eyes of viewers. Highly recommended!
Was this review helpful to you?
