Achyut Prashast Singh
India
- Kim Hye-soo steals the show with her stellar act and excels in some action scenes. Lee Sun-kyun impresses even more with his insanely terrific act.
- The action scenes are decently shot.
- The film is quite entertaining in its last 30 minutes. Some sequences at this time are really very well executed.
- The climax is quite good.
Negatives:
- The film is very slow and the story takes too long to pick up, almost when it's too late.
- Editing is decent at 90 minutes, but it could've been edited even more as the first 30 minutes are a complete washout. Character development takes too long and the slow beginning was a major reason towards putting this movie on hold for long.
- The film drags in many portions and the action takes too long to happen.
Repeat value: No
A SPECIAL LADY is all gloss but almost no substance. Watch it for some decent action scenes and performances, but don't expect anything special.
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?
- Sol Kyung-gu impresses once again. His comic timing is excellent and he even excels in the action department as usual, while Moon So-ri is also quite entertaining as his wife. All actors deliver terrific performances.
- The plot is very fast paced and quite simple to follow.
- The action scenes are excellent.
- The editing also works big time as the film rarely has any boring moments.
- The humour also is actually hilarious.
- The screenplay is quite impressive.
Negatives:
- Nil.
Repeat value: Yes
THE SPY is a completely entertaining action comedy which is gripping from the start to finish. Do watch it, and especially, don't miss the end!
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?
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.
Was this review helpful to you?
The film has a decent storyline, and given the genre, you know what to expect. But the writing has a sweetish charm in the beginning, which continues for a longer duration. The film, of course takes its own fine time to build up the story, but it does the job by serving you with the scenes which turn out to be very engaging, inspirational and emotional as well. The screenplay gets stronger as time passes and you're hardly able to leave your seat. The film's highly engrossing and never bores for even a second.
A large fraction of the film's excellence is held by Song Kang-ho. His courtroom scenes have been handled very well, and the execution is perhaps the best one for a film of this genre. After a point, it can be understood that he wasn't acting but being real: when he gets angry or emotional and delivers his dialogues with strong emotions - he isn't trying to act but straightaway speaking out his own heart. No doubt why he's one of the most respected South Korean actors. With A TAXI DRIVER this year and some more films which I saw, he became my favourite and this film only adds to more and more praise & respect towards him.
The supporting cast holds its own and lends decent performances. The writing must also be praised for multiple clapworthy moments throughout. The climax is also a memorable one. Another major praise should go to the dialogues as they are another major highlight of the film. The emotions too are portrayed very well.
Was this review helpful to you?
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?
Was this review helpful to you?
THE DIVINE MOVE has a great storyline, which starts picking up right from the beginning. Not a single second is wasted and the film grips you in its atmosphere quite easily. The direction is decent, as there aren't any problems I faced with it. The screenplay is quite well written, and certain sequences are praiseworthy. The action is excellent as are the VEX and cinematography.
The film's dramatic tone, however may not appeal to everyone but it works big time for the film. At times, even at a decent and not-so-long running time, the film can seem a little longer, but the overall presentation as well as the climax take the cake.
Jung Woo-sung is brilliant as always. His transitional performance is a delightful treat to watch. Kim In-kwon entertains with his humour and scores well in other scenes too. Ahn Sung-ki, however impresses extremely and his performance is excellent. Same for the rest of the cast, including Ahn Gil-Gang.
That said, THE DIVINE MOVE is a well made action film which is a treat to watch. So go ahead, make a move and watch the film!
Was this review helpful to you?
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.
Was this review helpful to you?
CONFIDENTIAL ASSIGNMENT is an entertaining action film which director Sung-Hoon Kim has made an enthralling experience calling for another watch. The action scenes are so well executed that they demand a repeat value as well. The way it balances action, emotion and humour is commendable.
Technically, the film stands tall. The cinematography in certain action sequences is splendid. The visuals are a treat to watch. The editing is decent as the film rarely deviates from storytelling; it doesn't bore for even a second.
Hyun Bin is quite excellent. His performance is a commendable one as he manages to show multiple emotions with perfection. Yu Hae-jin, however steals the show with his solid performance. Rest of the cast does a fairly good job.
The action is excellent, the emotions are well brought out, and the comedy too is quite a good one. The music, however, is another major reason why the film stands this tall. Various sequences get enhanced by the energetic music and I would love to hear it again and again. It's quite catchy and foot-tapping, apart from being hummable.
Definitely, CONFIDENTIAL ASSIGNMENT is a must watch for action lovers. Not just for them, however. The film is an energetic, lively entertainer with a solid repeat value. Do go for it, and you won't regret it. I heard somewhere that it's coming to India as well, and that's truly a great news.
Was this review helpful to you?
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.
Was this review helpful to you?
Han Hyo-joo is amazing. It's a pleasure to see an actress like her step into this genre. She's pretty, of course, and not just her looks but even her strong performance won't let you take your eyes off her. Sol Kyung-gu: mastermind genius! He's such a great actor. His performance is excellent and is to be watched out for. Jung Woo-sung: EXCELLENT. He's not just a manly, handsome actor but also a strong performer. These three actors are simply one of the best things about this film, apart from the tight screenplay, stunning action sequences, splendid cinematography and edge of the seat thrills.
The film has rich production values. What also impressed me is that the directors have not wasted even a single second and have told the story very skilfully.
COLD EYES, undoubtedly is one of the best action thriller films, ever, ever, ever. It's so good that I would love to see it again and again and again. It has got a great repeat value.
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?
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.
Was this review helpful to you?
The screenplay is the real hero of A DIRTY CARNIVAL. Not for a moment does it let go of the grip on the viewer. The film has, apart from this, a lot more things to admire. The director has depicted everything very well. The character development is quite good, and it's quite easy to be connected to the lead character played by the very talented Jo In-sung. He's superb throughout the entire film and he rules alone with his act. Rest of the cast does a great job but he's alone enough to impress the viewers.
The action scenes are extremely well choreographed, and quite realistically executed on screen. The cinematography is also very good, and the production values are quite good.
The film, however is quite long and doesn't really justify this long duration. It could've been trimmed a little bit, almost close to 10 or 15 minutes for a better experience. But still, the film is a delight to watch. It had me excited to know what would happen in the end. The end was really very astonishing as well as impressive at the same time.
A DIRTY CARNIVAL is a well made action drama with a lot of offer as a treat to the viewers. You don't really need to have a very strong heart to watch this film. What all you need...is to watch this film!
Was this review helpful to you?
