Achyut Prashast Singh
India
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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Performances by every actor are great and realistic. Direction is superb and there's that unique "indie film" feel to it. DERAILED is a strongly scripted action film which sadly might not have seen by many people, but nevertheless leaves a strong impact, further haunting you especially after the end. It can even make you cry.
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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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This film stars Lee Yeong-ae in the lead role, who has given a stunning and highly impressive performance. Choi Min-sik too has impressed with his stellar act in a somewhat small role. The cameo of Song Kang-ho really proved to be a treat for me as I'm a big fan of him. Performance wise, this could be the best film of the trilogy. Execution wise, it is a good but comparatively the weakest film in the trilogy.
LADY VENGEANCE is neither action packed nor even thrilling. There are some violent sequences which have been neatly executed but aren't enough to guarantee a full-fledged, intense entertainment which the first two movies provided. SYMPATHY FOR MR VENGEANCE had me completely glued due to its dramatic yet thrilling narrative which was also supported by some well choreographed action scenes. Same applies to OLDBOY, which features the best action sequences and twists in the trilogy. LADY VENGEANCE doesn't really have anything else to boast except a decent screenplay and performances.
Technically, the film is alright. Editing is not that impressive because apart from the basic revenge plot, the subplots seem to hinder the film's pace and due to this, I couldn't finish the film in one viewing. The second half is good and goes on to entertain till the very end. The first half is also quite good but some flashbacks serve as speedbreakers.
Still as a whole, LADY VENGEANCE is a decent crime drama which can be watched if you have seen the first two movies and want to further explore Park's stylistic writing and direction. But if you haven't seen the first two films and are thinking which one to watch first, then choose any of the first two since this isn't the film to start the trilogy with.
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John Woo has crafted an action masterpiece that is undoubtedly one of the greatest gems of the genre. Chow Yun-Fat is impressive as Tequila and so are the other cast members. The pacing initially feels a little slow, but the film grips you with nonstop action sequences and tension-filled moments.
The story at first seemed like another cop vs criminals battle, but turned out to be a lot more than that as it unfolded. I was impressed, especially since it's a very old film but is still very fresh as per modern action filmmaking standards. Each and every action sequence is outstanding... I think even outstanding is a smaller term for that. I have really not seen action as exhilarating as this, ever before in a classic actioner.
And I can assure you that when the famous hospital action sequence will start unfolding, you'll be nothing but excited. It'd be like watching a completely different film as the action touches unprecedented heights from there. Hard Boiled is very easily a breathtaking, eye-popping and still fresh action film that needs to be seen as soon as possible. It's one of those films you must watch at least once in life!
10/10. (deserves even more!)
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-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.
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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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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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- Jang Dong-gun, Kim Myung-min, Park Hee-soon perform very well. Lee Jong-suk also does a fairly decent job. Jang excels in the action scenes and at times I got reminded of his movie "No Tears for the Dead" which was an excellent action movie.
- The action sequences are excellent and a treat to watch.
- The screenplay is excellent, though there are times when the film does slow down, but thankfully it regains its pace in no time, and goes on to entertain till the very end.
- Production values are decent.
- The BGM is in many sequences, outstanding.
- The format of narration is quite interesting.
Negatives:
- The film could've been edited a bit to be a little more captivating.
Repeat value: Yes
Overall, VIP comes out as a refreshing entertainer which blends action and thrill in a unique proportion, It's even good to see Park Hoon-jung write with his usual style, as he did in "The Unjust" and "I Saw the Devil". Just make sure kids don't get to watch the film (unless they become old enough). A definitely entertaining watch for genre fans, and much, much, much better than "New World".
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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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- The performances of Kim Rae-won and Han Suk-kyu are excellent.
- The action scenes have been shot and executed very well.
- The film is very well edited and there are no boring scenes in the film; it's very gripping.
- The screenplay is excellent and watertight. Unpredictability of most of the sequences makes it even better.
- The climax is quite excellent and very effective.
Negatives:
Nil.
Repeat value: Yes
THE PRISON is an extremely well-made crime action film which serves the viewers with the best stuff it has.
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- The action sequences are exciting and delightful to watch.
- Some thrills in the beginning are induced quite well, while some simply won't work if you've seen the trailer.
- The film's running time is decent; it's not stretched too long.
- Gang Dong-won delivers a decent act, and so do others.
- Some emotional scenes work in the second half.
- Technically, the film is a pure gem. The visual effects and cinematography have been handled very adequately.
Negatives:
- The film loses momentum after a big action sequence and this is exactly where some inconsistency shows up.
- The direction is not totally up to the mark: while the first half is excellently sketched, the second one looks slightly underdeveloped. Fortunately, the film picks up momentum at a high point, thanks to the action once again.
- The character development of Gang Dong-won's character is not good in the second half. Some changes seem way too abrupt and may not go down well with all.
- The inducement of some dramatic subplots at peak moments slows down the pace of the movie.
Repeat value: Only for the action sequences .
I had too many expectations because of the film being visually catchy and action packed. But GOLDEN SLUMBER is nevertheless an engaging action thriller which keeps you engaged for the most part. It stays true to its genre and that's good enough.
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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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