Achyut Prashast Singh
India
The film has some minor flaws, perhaps not really flaws because they don't hinder the progress the film makes from the beginning. But really, a few sequences needed to be a bit shorter and a few subplots could've been avoided. But what takes over these flaws is the performance by the lead actors, Byung-hun Lee and Choi Min-Sik. These two men drive the story to an extreme and keep you interested all the time.
I SAW THE DEVIL is well adapted and executed by its director Kim Jee- Woon. I don't have problem with violence, since I have been habitual of seeing such kind of violence in many action movies and being an action film lover, I couldn't resist myself from watching the fight scenes again and again. But due to the excessive obscenity in a few scenes, I recommend it's better to watch this film alone or with someone of your age group who is interested in such films, not family. It's definitely not for kids, unless they grow up of course.
There are a lot more positives to list here. The film is well shot with good production values, due to which it's recommended to catch the film on Blu-ray instead of DVD. The visuals are excellent. The film is never hindered by any songs and the BGM is terrific, especially in the action and dramatic scenes. It has brilliant action, but it also has a riveting drama. Byung-hun Lee is very handsome and a brilliant actor who fits the role. Choi Min-Sik as the villain is a total firecracker. He gives a brilliant performance close to perfection. Other actors do their part well.
Overall, I SAW THE DEVIL is a good action thriller that nevertheless keep you riveted despite of mild editing flaws as the overall film is very gripping. It's recommended for those who like dark action thrillers and without minding the language barrier. I know it's not 100% perfect, but then who gives 100% perfection always? For movie lovers who can see a lot more than just violence and vulgarity, this film is a must watch and definitely thought-provoking. In other words, an action packed thrilling delight!
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TRAIN TO BUSAN is the first South Korean film to have a wide theatrical release in India. That attracted too. It was released in India in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. I watched the film first in Korean with English subtitles, and then in Hindi. And I realized that the film manages to convey its message and make you reciprocate emotionally for the film, whether you watch the dubbed version or the original version. The Hindi dubbing was good enough to add to the positive feel.
The art South Korean filmmakers know is how to add an emotional feel to different genres. Thus, TRAIN TO BUSAN is no exception as it makes you feel for every character. Gong Yoo takes his performance to a higher level and raises the bar for world cinema actors in the climax. He is extremely likable and excellent. Ma Dong-seok is brave, lively and energetic too. Jung Yu-mi impresses big time with her beautiful & emotionally active character. Kim Su-an is cute & impresses with her strong act in sequences which one can't expect from a child artist of her age. Other actors too deliver performances great enough to make you care for them.
The film's scale is big, and the visual effects are amazing. Cinematography is excellent and captures the locales & thrilling action sequences with plenty of intrigue, while also succeeding in sending chills down your spine through the emotional sequences. Thankfully, it's not an Indian film, otherwise filmmakers won't have rested without adding songs & unnecessary romance. Whatever you see in the film, looks very, very realistic. The tension is very well built and neither do you deviate from enjoying the film, nor does the film deviate from storytelling.
The story and screenplay are both excellent, and the editing is excellent. The only thing that disappointed me was the A certificate given to it by the Indian Censor Board called CBFC. Why? No nation of the world gave this film an 18+ rating except India & Malaysia. Leave Malaysian Certification system because they follow equal rules for all films Irrespective of the target audience. But in India, films with dozens of gory violence & bucket loads of vulgarity get a UA (PG) certificate. TRAIN TO BUSAN is a clean family entertainer despite the A certificate it has been subjected to. But it's not a mistake of the makers, so there was no flaw I found in the film.
Overall, TRAIN TO BUSAN is a must watch film for any movie enthusiast. Irrespective of language and nation barriers, the film deserves to be watched by one and all. And yes, I forgot to tell. This film was the first one that actually made me cry. No film before had compelled me to shed tears, but this film did. Even the emotionless will emote. Such strong is this film. Go, watch it with your family and enjoy it fully, along with respecting the safe life we have from zombies in reality.
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The film can't be easily put into one genre, and that's true. Still, whether you like black comedies/dramas/thrillers or not, you must see this film at least once. It's just that you need to prepare yourself to be shocked because once the surprises start coming, you can't forget any of that for a long time. Parasite runs a little more than 2 hours but is so captivating that it might feel like the shortest 2 hours of all time.
Words won't be sufficient to further describe this film's actual brilliance. I'm still spellbound. What started like a fun movie became something so surprising that it was hard to forget after it ended. It took away the very feel of watching a film. Whatever I saw just felt real, absolutely real. No doubt, Parasite is one of the most original films you'll see in the recent memory, and surprisingly has elements of almost every genre covered in its entire duration.
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- The screenplay is gripping from the very first sequence.
- The action sequences are some of the best ones you would've ever seen in a South Korean action film.
- The visual effects are top notch and other technical aspects too are highly impressive.
- Park Hae-il delivers the best performance out of all, while Ryu Seung-ryong too is impressive as others.
- The editing is absolutely perfect.
- The film has no vulgarity or obscenity and can be seen with the whole family.
- The tension during archery sequences is very well built.
- The film has a lot of crowdpleasing and clapworthy moments.
Negatives:
- Nil.
Repeat value: Yes
WAR OF THE ARROWS is simply and definitely the best period action film I've seen from South Korea.
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- The biggest strength of MIDNIGHT FM is its watertight, gripping and edge of the seat thrilling, suspenseful screenplay. Tension remains throughout the entire film.
- Soo Ae's performance is excellent, as is that of Yoo Ji-tae. But it's Ma Dong-seok who steals the show with his innocent and lovable act. The child artist also did a commendable job.
- The action sequences have been masterfully executed and are a definite treat to watch.
- The editing is excellent, and the film's grip never loosens.
- The climax is excellent.
Negatives:
- Nil.
Repeat value: Yes
MIDNIGHT FM is a mindblowing action thriller which must be seen at any cost!
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- The performances of all actors are excellent, especially Ryu Seung-ryong. He impresses big time as an action hero.
- The background score with which the film opens and ends is very thrilling.
- The screenplay is excellent and grips you right from the first scene.
- The action scenes are decently executed.
- The twists and turns are very well woven into the film.
- The editing is excellent.
- The technical aspects are top notch.
Negatives:
-Well, nothing much.
Repeat value: Yes
THE TARGET is a highly impressive action thriller which hits the target, point blank.
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Kim OK-bin is the soul of THE VILLAINESS. Her performance is mindblowing and highly impressive in certain sequences. Shin Ha-kyun is terrific, and he's impressive throughout the duration he's given. Rest of the cast is also decent and their performances prove an asset to the film.
The unfolding is what needs to be appreciated. The film's impact in the first few minutes is praiseworthy. The film however slows down in certain portions, but it's the action which hardly lets you down. It's extremely excellent, and a major reason why this film works big time. The visuals are excellent, as is the cinematography. Some of the thrills are really very impressive.
THE VILLAINESS is a solid action entertainer which works for the most part and impresses even an average action lover. It's really a top class action film with some of the best action sequences in a South Korean film, even though it doesn't come close to some classic South Korean action films like NO TEARS FOR THE DEAD.
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Negatives:
Yunjin Kim's performance is just fine, and for the most part it's not very impressive.Even though the action scenes are decent, they are not filmed very well. Too much of shaky cinematography during a few action blocks spoils the impact slightly.Editing is another major negative as the film could've easily done away with some 10 minutes. The romance subplots only add to the length. It was difficult to finish this film in once only due to the editing.
Repeat value: Can't say
SWIRI is an entertaining action film with some decent plot twists and overall entertainment, and further worth seeing if you love action films. But that factor too can act slightly negative since the action scenes are just fine and don't really hold a repeat value, though a few action blocks are done excellently too, at the same time.
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Along With the Gods 2: The Last 49 Days
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This happens with LAST 49 DAYS also. It has a lot of action, drama, some comedy and twists presented in a screenplay that is thoroughly engaging and will keep you hooked to the end despite of long duration.
The guardians are all excellent as before, but this time their characters have been explored so well that no glitches matter after a point of time. Ha Jung-woo excels in the film with his strong expressions and dialogue delivery. Surprisingly enough, Ju Ji-hoon takes the cake for an astonishing performance, while Kim Hyang-gi still delivers a cute performance. Ma Dong-seok is a worthy addition to the cast and you'll love his character. Lee Jung-jae is brilliant as he was in the first one. Kim Dong-wook is superb.
The action sequences are once again breathtaking but this time the director has kept them more grounded. From chases to superhero-esque fights to sword fights etc: every action block clicks. The director has used action sequences in a very interesting way, making them an integral part of the story while not losing grip on the characters or story. Visual effects are still dazzling but the focus seems more on story than CGI so it's a little less glossy than the prequel.
The emotional depth of the characters makes them extremely likable. Perhaps this is another thing which makes this fantasy action sequel a bit better than the THE TWO WORLDS, even though the prequel has an upper hand in terms of pacing, action choreography and visual spectacle.
10/10
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The biggest problem with NEW WORLD is that it chooses the melodramatic way of telling a story which needed a faster pace and sharper execution. The first hour of the film is totally wasted in setting up characters which don't seem to be impressive. And they unfortunately turn out to be the lead characters. Despite of a lot of time being given in character development, one of the lead characters looks simply underdeveloped. The film, which I was expecting to be a solid one, turned out to be a disappointment because it didn't stay true to the genre it was expected to stay to. It's a crime drama, but as it progresses, it turns out to be a "crime melodrama" instead.
Choi Min-sik is the saving grace of this film. And only he is. Hwang Jung-min disappoints. Lee Jung-jae doesn't show any other expression other than the one he sports. Park Sung-Woong was a total surprise package as he performed very well. But sadly, his character isn't well written and neither does he get a proper scope to perform. Others actors too are disappointing.
The story and screenplay both seem to be poorly written and after a point of time, the film turns into a yawnfest. The film fails to evoke or convey any emotion. It's indeed hard to figure out what is being tried to convey with this film. The first hour being totally bland makes you lose interest even when the second hour seems to get a little back on track. But sadly, it never actually gets back on track. The moment you feel it's suddenly back on track, it just gets derailed with the next shot. In other words, the editing is another major negative point of the film as it's too slow paced to engage you. Many portions are overlong, especially the pre-climactic episode, and they generate no tension at all.
But I mustn't forget to praise the cinematography, music and one well choreographed action scene. But these are the only things one will remember. For a full time watch, NEW WORLD doesn't seem to be a right film.
South Korean films never disappointed me so getting disappointed with this one is something I didn't expect at all. Don't think I don't like drama films. I do like intense dramas apart from action and thriller films. But this film seems to be having almost no intensity at all.
Still, I must say I have no "new word" for NEW WORLD to describe it as something more than bad. I am not saying that don't watch it. Watching it depends on you, and not watching too. Just note that the film lacks the kick of action films, the intelligence of crime films, emotion of drama films and the edge of the seat sharpness of thriller films. Instead, watch Lee Byung-hun's INSIDE MEN: an excellent film of the same genre which is both far longer and million times better than this "world" of 135 minutes.
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