I've previously said this: Kim Jee-Woon is my favourite South Korean director and Lee Byung-hun, my favourite South Korean actor. Thus seeing their combo once again after the mindblowing action thriller I SAW THE DEVIL, I was eager to see this movie. And I was highly impressed with this standard of filmmaking. Not every director manages to achieve what Kim has, through this film.A BITTERSWEET LIFE is an example of cinematic excellence which is beyond imagination. The film's quite entertaining, of course but it touches a chord down there in your heart: eventually making you feel for the lead character. Lee Byung-hun plays it very well like he does in most of his films. He's a master actor and this needs to be said again and again as everyone knows.Director Kim's direction deserves a special mention as without his powerful, imaginative and creative vision, the film won't have achieved what it did. From the screenplay to editing to action to dialogues to performances: there's nothing that will disappoint you actually. The action sequences are mindblowing and have the "classic" tag all over them. You'll love to play them on loop, and I'm not joking. Seriously. The film's dialogues too are a major strength and there are many you'll remember forever. A BITTERSWEET LIFE is indeed a masterpiece and Kim's gift to the entire world. Watch it, you'll love this action drama for sure. Make sure to catch it on a Blu-ray.

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South Korean Cinema is known worldwide for its excellent action and thriller films. However, action flicks from there with a historical backdrop are also noteworthy, as they are visually quite strong and emotionally gripping. So is this Choi Min-sik starrer action-war film THE ADMIRAL. I saw it dubbed in Hindi. I was really impressed with the amazing visuals, action & battle scenes, while I was also completely gripped emotionally to the film in the entire second hour.

The first hour is a little slow. But that doesn't mean it isn't good. There are many outstanding sequences in the first hour. Emotions are very strong in portrayal throughout the entire film. There are many sequences bound to leave you spellbound, and you'll find yourself short of words to describe the visual excellence of the film.

The second hour is totally gripping. Not a single second is wasted. The entire second hour is entirely enjoyable, as the real grandeur of the film comes to be seen here. It's a film which has importance not only in South Korean Cinema, but also in world cinema due to its sheer excellence.

Choi Min-sik is ultimately powerful in the role he plays. Watch him act throughout the entire film, and you won't feel like he's acting but indeed living the character. Rest of the cast is praiseworthy as not a single performance goes over the top.

The film is extremely strong on the technical front. Be it the visual effects, the action sequences or the cinematography, everything is excellent. The powerful BGM enhances the viewing experience, and certain well executed sequences will hold your breath for sure.

THE ADMIRAL undoubtedly is one of the best South Korean films, especially in terms of presentation. You're bound to love it, but to love it completely make sure you don't find the first hour boring.

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South Korean filmmakers know how to keep a secret hidden in any film. They indeed appear like detectives when they write such films...I mean make such films. OLDBOY is a classic South Korean action thriller which has been acclaimed all over the world. It changed the way world looked at the South Korean Cinema. This film is undoubtedly from the genius Park Chan-wook, who gave us the emotional revenge thriller SYMPATHY FOR MR VENGEANCE. This film, however also belongs to the nearly same category but has what that film didn't have: excellent action which is perhaps the most classic you've ever seen in a South Korean film.

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."

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South Korean action films are quite amazing and interesting to watch because of the kind of action they offer: unique and different. Due to being an action film lover, I found out about this action flick ASURA THE CITY OF MADNESS, and decided to watch it. Though there were initially some negative reviews on IMDb criticising the film's violence, I wasn't diverted at all and continued with my decision to watch this film. And I found it to be brutal, intense and enjoyable.

ASURA completely belongs to Jung Woo-sung, who handsomely plays his part. This time, I was seriously impressed with Hwang Jung-min. I haven't seen any other of his films except this one and the disappointing NEW WORLD, but I can say that this is his like the best performance he's ever delivered. No words for Kwak Do-won: he's an actor who plays every single role naturally and as usual, brilliantly.

The screenplay of the film is fully engaging with decent performances, action sequences, chases and everything you can expect from the film. And there's not only brutality: there's a lot more than that in this film. It raises questions which we perhaps come across daily. The answers lie in the questions themselves.

The action is this film's biggest strength. The well-choreographed action has a great repeat value as well. It's excellent enough to satisfy any action lover. Besides, the emotional scenes too generate emotions from the viewers, and in the end, you realize what anything bad can lead to.

ASURA is indeed the perfect example of how mad we the humans actually are. It doesn't only entertain you with its high-octane action but also strips before you the layers of madness a human mind has and can have.

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Who doesn't like surprises? Especially the ones in a film? The genres themselves promised surprises in this South Korean action thriller CONFESSION of MURDER starring Jung Jae-young and Park Si-hoo. The film is so unpredictable, smart & intelligent that after watching it, you'll officially salute its makers, especially the one who scripted this masterpiece!

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!

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Gong Yoo is a skilled and matured actor, and I witnessed this in TRAIN TO BUSAN, SILENCED and THE AGE OF SHADOWS. I was so impressed with him that I ended up being a fan of him. I searched for more of his action films, and came across THE SUSPECT. A film with a decent screenplay, visuals and action scenes, this one definitely guarantees a watch.


THE SUSPECT comes with bunch loads of surprises. These are quite effective as well. The story being a fine one and the screenplay being a decent one holds you, along with the action sequences being the best thing about the film.



One thing that is disappointing for sure is that the film doesn't have a proper execution in certain portions. The film's pace could've been better in the between when it begins to slow down. Certain sequences are deftly handled, while many are just executed in an unimpressive way. I can understand that the director would've tried his best, but he has not been successful in gripping the viewer completely. Some scenes look similar to many popular South Korean action films.



But these flaws flaws don't trouble you for long as the film lets go of the grip only occasionally. Once it regains, particularly in the second hour, it entertains fully with its terrific action scenes, cinematography and performances, heading towards a clapworthy climax. I was so overjoyed that I rewinded and replayed the ending scene. Here the director succeeds to a great extent.



Gong Yoo is excellent, and that needs not to be told. He looks even better and manly here. Park Hee-soon is terrific, and his character is quite likable to a certain extent, just like that of Gong Yoo. Yoo Da-in is just fine, and even though she overdoes her part in a few scenes, her act is a decent one.



THE SUSPECT may not be the best South Korean film, but with its stunning action, visuals and of course, its leading man, deserves to be seen at least once. I liked the action a lot, and I'll be watching it again.

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I liked this film because it has amazing visuals, excellent action,
mind-boggling thrills and a watertight script. It's a film targeted at
youth like us and that's another reason why I enjoyed it very much.

The film's excellence is visible from the very first scene: it's the
best part of the film in my opinion. As the film progresses, it turns
out to be something extremely surprising. If you've seen the trailer
you might be having great expectations from this film, and happily it
doesn't disappoint.

Ji Chang-wook fits in the lead role and does an excellent job. Same for
the rest of the cast, especially his friends and the antagonists.

The visuals are breathtaking, and the action scenes are "explosive".
The editing is decent and some dialogues are memorable.

FABRICATED CITY is an impressive action thriller which will be liked
more by the youth than any other audience.

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I'll be straight: the film was breathtaking. I started watching and
didn't realise when 2 hours passed away. It was really engaging, and
well executed. Visually it looks like a fantasy. Ryoo Seung-wan's
recent release THE BATTLESHIP ISLAND is a well made action film that
never gets too melodramatic and the entertainment quotient remains
quite high throughout.

It's another time I'm impressed with Hwang Jung-min. He delivers
another great performance as he did in ASURA. So Ji-sub was decent in
the action sequences, but one would wish his character got a proper
scope in the second hour. Song Joong-ki's character was extremely well
written and he delivers a great performance. Kim Su-an does another
mindblowing job after TRAIN TO BUSAN. One can only wish she does more
such roles because she really acts well. Same for rest of the cast.

The screenplay is excellent: it stays focused and never deviates from
storytelling. The action sequences are jaw-dropping and mindblowing:
make sure you watch the film in a very high quality so as to appreciate
the film even more. The cinematography is excellent and captures the
eye-catching visuals very well. The editing is decent and really, I
didn't wish the film was shorter.

THE BATTLESHIP ISLAND turns out to be a terrific action film which
should be seen not just because of its high quality technical values
but also to know about this extremely well-narrated tale of survival.

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This is a film action buffs (like me) should definitely watch, because it offers a lot of well choreographed and excellently shot action sequences. The last action block is extremely mind-blowing and the moves are classic & epic in themselves. There's hardly an action scene that fails to leave an impact. Indeed, every action scene had me dropping my jaw. If I see this film again, the action would be a reason enough.

But that's just what the film is about.

THE CITY OF VIOLENCE or JJAKPAE does have stylish and mesmerizing action scenes to leave enough of an impression on the viewer. But it suffers in the writing department. The story starts pretty slow with some uninteresting moments, which made me difficult to finish the film in once. I would've watched it quite earlier too but the beginning was way too boring to make me proceed with watching it in once.

But when I recalled the excellent action clip I had seen from the film on YouTube, I decided to give it a full watch today finally. And I did enjoy it, though not totally.

The film's writing is very uneven as the story starts slowly as I already said, and then suddenly the events are rushed one after another; rather so much that it's hard to relate to anyone. The last 30 minutes, however save the film as in this runtime itself the film ends up justifying its title.

Another thing that's praiseworthy is that Ryoo Seung-wan, who also stars in the lead role along with veteran action director Jung Doo- hong, has avoided unnecessary violence. Whatever we see is just integral to the story and not a single violent shot seems pointless. But both the actors are just fine when it comes to their performances; The latter excels in the fights and the energy of the duo is enough to make you enjoy this badly written action entertainer. Rest of the cast is just average in performances.

The cinematography styles in certain portions are quite innovative and have a classic feel.

This film could disappoint you if you like story-driven stuff.

But if you're an action lover and can ignore the uneven writing and some unimpressive performances, this film is made for you. THE CITY OF VIOLENCE is not the best action film, but it does have some of the best action scenes ever. (The 8 is for the action only!)

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Films with excellence like this one are rare to find nowadays. TAEGUKGI is in every aspect a masterpiece; I can confidently say it's flawless. While watching the film, I was totally absorbed into it. Director Kang Je-kyu, who also made another war/action drama MY WAY with the same actor Jang Dong-gun in the lead in 2011, had impressed me big time; that film was totally a masterpiece, and made me more excited to watch TAEGUKGI. I was left speechless, moved and emotional by the time the end credits started to roll. Undoubtedly, it's one of the best South Korean films I've seen till date and another excellent war film like MY WAY.

Director Kang Je-kyu binds us emotionally into the tale with perfection sprinkled all over; the unfolding is so convincing that I felt connected to the brothers (played by the very excellent and unbeatable actors Jang Dong-gun and Won Bin) right from the beginning. Jang delivers a perfectly neat act and you feel for him since the very beginning, while Won makes you cry along with him. This is seriously an award deserving performance from both the actors, and undoubtedly the film won a lot of awards and love from people all over. Rest of the actors too add glory to the film's victory.

The technical aspects need to be heavily praised, as not for a second it's felt that the film has a low quality or production values. The scale is pretty high, and the production values are rich. The war sequences, rather and better to be called action sequences, are extremely well choreographed and are enjoyable enough to be seen again. The cinematography is splendid and the lens doesn't capture a single shot without perfection.

The screenplay and editing are very well dealt with, as even at 148 minutes (I have seen the director's cut) the film doesn't bore for a second. The moment you think it's over, it goes on to deliver some chilling portrayal of human emotions and continues the narration with utmost sincerity. The climax is very well done, and the last few minutes had me constantly crying. Every emotion could be felt.

TAEGUGKI is undoubtedly a major triumph for the South Korean cinema. When I finished watching the film as well as shedding tears, I was left silent as well as asking myself a question again and again, "Why didn't I see this gem before?"

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All know very well that South Korean movies are emotionally very engaging. When I started to watch this disaster-action film PANDORA, I wasn't expecting anything of the grade it went on to transform into. Yes, the trailer raised expectations and I knew what the film would be about, but I didn't know it would be this excellent.

PANDORA is a film which takes some time to build up, but when it does, it doesn't let go of the grip it has on you. I was seriously left spellbound as to what would happen next. Certain scenes are so well filmed that they deserve a standing ovation.

The performances are extremely mindblowing. They hold you very well, especially Kim Nam-gil's performance in the climax. I mustn't forget to mention that I was seriously crying and shedding tears while watching the emotional scenes. After TRAIN TO BUSAN, this is the second South Korean film which made me cry.

The technical aspects are amazing. The cinematography is decent, the visual effects are excellent and the action sequences: simply jaw- dropping.

PANDORA is a film which isn't a must see but indeed a SHOULD see movie.

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Director Na Hong-jin, known for his mindblowing action thriller THE CHASER, returns with THE YELLOW SEA, another action thriller but with a lot of difference as well as excellence. Starring Ha Jung-woo and Kim Yoon-seok, it's a film every cinema enthusiast should watch. It's a masterpiece by all means and a film which isn't just a film but something more than that.
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!

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This film is seriously the most underrated South Korean film I've come
across till now. There were reviews which criticized the film, but I
went on to watch the film, as it also had a high IMDb rating and great
reviews from audiences. I was totally lost in the film and got so
immersed in it, that for a moment I felt like I was a part of the
story. Seriously, MY WAY is the best war-action film I've come across
till date.

The technical aspects of the film are definitely mindblowing, but it's
a tight scripting, intense emotions and powerhouse performances that
make this film the best of its kind. The action sequences are
mindblowing of course, and the way the combination of an excellent
cinematography and breathtaking visuals has supported them is a treat
to watch.

The story is quite an excellent one, and I must say this film never
bored me for a single second. Jang Dong-gun is excellent as he is in
most of his films. Joe Odagiri too delivers an intense performance and
it's difficult to choose who performs better among the two.

Rest of the cast delivers memorable performances.

The film is very well written and there aren't any noticeable flaws
you'll be able to find. The climax is brilliant, and I felt various
types of emotions while watching the film: sadness, happiness, anger.

The film, in simple words, is one of the most powerful South Korean
films in the recent years.

MY WAY is a film you won't be able to forget once you have finished
watching it. You'll miss it, and that's definitely a good sign.

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South Korean action films are often engaging and entertaining. When I watch an action film, I don't think of finding any logical loopholes. Why should one? Action films are always meant to draw attention towards impressive action and emotions set in visually stunning backdrops. So is this South Korean action film NO TEARS FOR THE DEAD. It has all the elements a perfect action film should have and is extremely impressive and wholly engaging.

NO TEARS FOR THE DEAD has not just impressive action, but impressive visuals, performances and BGM too. This is Jang Dong-gun's first film I've seen and he's just excellent! It's difficult to take eyes off the screen when he's either acting, emoting or fighting: he does every part so well. Kim Min-hee delivers a strong performance. Other actors manage to leave a mark with their respective memorable performances.

The story and screenplay are like never seen or heard before. The film looks extremely stylish and this is another reason why you should catch this one on Blu-ray. It has all the things that make it a perfect watch for action lovers. But not just for action lovers. It has elements which work with lovers of drama and thriller genres too. The VFX, locations and cinematography too are excellent and production values are top notch.

Overall, NO TEARS FOR THE DEAD is a memorable action film that will definitely be liked by action fans and South Korean cinema lovers.

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If you're into watching realistic movies, then you're bound to like it. SILENCED/THE CRUCIBLE is an effective & realistic drama feature that appeals because of the sincerity towards the film by its actors and the justice done to the script by the director. Such strong content- oriented films can definitely change the society and it's not a spoiler, it did. To find out more, search about it on Internet. SILENCED is by no means an ordinary film: it's a film which questions South Korean society, as well as the people of the world as humans, too.

I don't think it would be right to tell what the film is about since that can be found out easily. But, wait. Why don't you simply see the film and recommend it to others? This is a realistic film, and the word is enough for you to understand what kind of a film it is. The topic is what is being commonly raised in our Indian movies too, but from a totally different perspective. I think this is the first of its kind. The film is made in a way that you'll end up rooting for the lead characters, their efforts and the young victims. I was indeed shocked to see how far can the devilish nature of humans go. Some scenes, rather many scenes might be, by no means an easy watch. But I support the director's reason for adding these realistic scenes: to make us feel angry, and I not just felt angry, but also happy that he succeeded in making us emote.

SILENCED is a film which can end up raising hot debates and talks, and it would be a surprise if one doesn't end up liking the film. The film is a perfect example of films that can change the society, the country and eventually, the world. Even though I'm not a South Korean, I ended up liking this film very much. What happens in this film happens in India almost daily, but still it was refreshing to see such a realistic film from South Korea, the country from where we get terrific films everywhere.

Technically too, this film is brilliant. I recommend catching it on Blu- ray. The dialogues are powerful. Gong Yoo once again proves himself and I don't need to say why. Jung Yu-mi is not just pretty, but a talented actress too. You can see it from her performance. The child artists surprise you with their acts, since you don't expect kids normally to do such a dark film. They all give terrific performances, eventually making you feel their pain. The pain in the torturous violence can be felt, and is thus not meant to entertain you.The cinematography is excellent. Visuals are excellent. The music supports the film and the editing is great as the film doesn't bore you for even a second.

SILENCED is a very, very powerful film which deserves to be seen. Sadly I can't recommend it for kids, since they would be saddened but I recommend it to people around 15 and above to watch it. Such films don't intend to entertain you only, but also to make you aware and alert. It won't be right to call it an enjoyable film, but it's definitely thought-provoking, and at times, entertaining too.

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