Achyut Prashast Singh
India
THE TERROR LIVE is a very gripping film since the very beginning. There are a lot of unexpected surprises that come on the way. The editing is very tight as there's not even a single second wasted in introducing or developing the characters. It doesn't take much of a time to connect to the film and the lead characters. At some portions, the thrills are so amazing that one might just not be able to move!
The story and screenplay of THE TERROR LIVE seem to be something never attempted in the history of cinema before. The film is quite unpredictable and takes you by surprise every second it unfolds. The action sequences are executed brilliantly and realistically along with tension being well built.
Ha Jung-woo is really excellent in his performance. Other supporting actors deliver good performances. The film has nothing that would disappoint you. The technical aspects and production values are top notch. The visuals and cinematography are impressive, and climax of the film is excellent.
There's no doubt that THE TERROR LIVE is South Korean cinema at its best. Do nothing: just go and watch this amazing, gripping, engaging and mindblowing action thriller as soon as you can!
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GANGNAM BLUES is a film definitely not for kids or family audiences. Mature audiences too might not like it if excessive violence and sex are not their taste. For me, the violent action sequences were fine but the film was reduced to a B-Grade entertainer due to the insertion of pornographic sequences which were totally unnecessary. The action indeed is the best thing about the film as every single action scene is beautifully shot and executed. Even the storyline is good but the screenplay disappoints at times, and it's something I don't expect from South Korean filmmakers.
But this film has great actors who carry the film on their shoulders. Lee Min Ho and Kim Rae Won are good enough in their roles. Other actors are fit for their roles. The film could? have been far better had the director trimmed the film well, particularly the sex sequences. Also, though I liked the end, the last shot seemed way too unnecessary as it didn't make a proper sense and wasn't relevant enough.
But GANGNAM BLUES is indeed a good film. There are a few more flaws but you won't realize them while watching. This is definitely not the best film ever but is a good film for those who love dark action movies, just like I do.
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The film has great visuals at the same time. The thrills work big time, and the action sequences impress. The editing is excellent, as the film never bores. The message delivered by the film is felt well. Kudos to the director for portraying the brutal reality of the society well.
BROKEN is a film which not only entertains, but also leaves you broken especially towards the end.
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THE KING is dominated totally by the handsome and skilled actors, JO IN- SUNG and JUNG WOO-SUNG. You can totally trust them for their performances are so good that for a moment it's difficult to believe they're "acting". Rest of the cast does a great job too, especially RYU JUN-YEOL, who shows he's a terrific actor with his strong facial expressions and fighting skills.
The screenplay is racy, though at times one can feel that the film could've been a little shorter. The duration factor is taken care of by the pleasant background score, splendid visuals, powerful emotions, surprising thrills and some well-placed and choreographed action sequences.
I can only praise THE KING more and more for its cinematic excellence. It's not just entertaining, but has some really creative and artistic shots which deserve a huge praise. It's a solid action-crime drama that immediately needs to be seen!
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Ha Jung-woo is one of my favourite actors, and his performance is a major asset to this film. The transformation he undergoes is a treat to watch and his look suits him very well. Kang Dong Won is menacing at times, and delivers a terrific performance for a role that seems to be tailor-made for him. Cho Jin-woong and Ma Dong-seok are excellent and provide a good comic relief. Other actors like Lee Sung-min and Yoon Ji-hye, Lee Gyeung-young plays their parts extremely well. The best thing is that all actors fits in their respective roles.
Direction by Yoon Jong-bin is excellent. The story and screenplay are both excellent, as is the editing since the film never bores at all. The technical aspects, for which the film won a lot of acclaim and accolades, are the major strength of KUNDO. The action sequences are jaw-dropping and are bound to impress action fans. The visuals effects are extremely impressive, as is the splendid cinematography. I really loved one shot in the climax action sequence with Ha Jung-woo, which showed him walking, with a good usage of sound effects while maintaining a heavy impact.
The music too is a plus point of KUNDO, as it enhances the mood from time to time. Visually the film is like a fantasy.
KUNDO: AGE OF THE RAMPANT is undoubtedly a great action-fantasy epic that deserves to be seen, at any cost.
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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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won't get to see it because it's an old film. But surprisingly I found
the film in the highest quality and shifted the timing of subtitles to
match the dialogues. I watched it and I can say that THE SHOW MUST GO
ON is the best gangster film ever, largely because of its light-hearted
take on the genre.
Song Kang-ho is excellent as usual. His performance is an excellent
one, and the best of him comes out in the climax. Oh Dal-su provides
occasional comic relief, as does Song Kang-ho. Other actors are also
good, and deliver good performances.
The director and writer both deserve a great amount of praise for
mixing action, comedy and emotions very well. There's not a single
scene I didn't like. I loved every single scene of the film and found
it very refreshing, as not most of the films of this genre are as good
as this.
The comedy is natural and hilarious. The action sequences are good. The
emotions are very well portrayed and have a lot of depth. The entire
screenplay is excellent, as is the editing. The film doesn't bore for
even a single second, and I fully enjoyed it.
Many films will come and go, but this film will always remain great.
THE SHOW MUST GO ON IS the best gangster action drama which
entertains thoroughly and makes sure you leave the seat both with tears
and a smile, as the climax is wonderfully executed. It's an enjoyable
family entertainer that has a repeat value.
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This review may contain spoilers
Revenge movies have always been my taste. South Korean filmmakers have a great skill in churning out excellent revenge films, with OLDBOY and I SAW THE DEVIL being the best examples. While these films have grown into being classics ever since they released, Park Chan-wook, the director of the former film, gave another solid revenge film even before it came out. The film, SYMPATHY FOR MR VENGEANCE, is to say simply one of the best revenge films to come out from South Korea. Well-written and well- timed, there's a lot one can take home after watching this film.SYMPATHY FOR MR VENGEANCE, as the title itself says, is a film about revenge and thus it's no spoiler. In its overall duration, there wasn't even a single dull moment and the film was livened up by a solid execution along with some top notch performances and the screenplay.
Song Kang-ho is one of my favourite South Korean actors, and he proves why. He portrays every emotion with perfection. He breathes and rather, lives the role of Park Dong-jin. Shin Ha-kyun is excellent as Ryu, and his performance will definitely have you rooting for him in certain scenes. Doona Bae as Cha Yeong-mi has a lot to do, but delivers only occasionally. Other actors, including Han Bo-bae and Lim Ji-Eun are excellent too.
The film's editing is commendable, along with the cinematography being another major plus. The action is brutally intense and well executed on screen. There are some gruesome scenes as well, but they aren't too extreme to be very difficult to watch. This must indicate that this film isn't for kids or even, the faint-hearted. The emotional scenes are quite effective and manage to make you feel for the characters. The screenplay is excellent with no major hindrances to storytelling, eventually leading to a powerful and effective climax.
The only flaw is that the story is a little convoluted in a few scenes due to which many might not be able to understand what happened.
Apart from it, there is no such flaws you'll find. Just start watching it. You won't even wish to find any.
To sum up, SYMPATHY FOR MR VENGEANCE is a powerful and intense action thriller which raises the bar for South Korean revenge movies, eventually finding its top position in the list of the best movies of the World Cinema. You may definitely watch it, and it would be better if you watch it as soon as possible. Better catch it on a Blu-ray, to experience the depth with which the cinematography captures the fine visuals in this dark yet entertaining film.
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THE HOST is decently executed, and its not being excessively gory makes it an interesting watch for kids as well. They are bound to love it. The director's approach towards the film's genre is interesting and he binds action, emotions and thrills very well in the film. The screenplay is excellent, as the film doesn't take too long in setting up the story and characters. The editing too is a major plus.
Technically, it's one of the best South Korean films. From visual effects to action scenes: everything is executed and presented very well.
As far as the performances are concerned, every actor does a great job, but of course it's Song Kang-ho who takes the lead with his top notch performance.
THE HOST is undoubtedly an excellent and memorable action-horror flick which is a must watch for anyone who loves watching films.
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-All the three protagonists stand out in their respective performances, with Song Kang-ho performing the best.
-The film has many excellently choreographed, well shot and surprisingly executed action sequences which are bound to impress. Undoubtedly, they are the main highlight of the film.
-The film makes good usage of humour in certain places, particularly in the second half.
-The cinematography is really excellent and increases the visual grandeur of the film.
-The climax is thrilling and the ending is superb! The story, screenplay and editing are all excellent and top notch.
-The second half is full of endless entertainment and it keeps getting bigger and better in and with every frame.
-A lot more, can't just sum it up in words. Watch it to see yourself.
Negatives:
Well, not really any!
-Repeat value: Definitely, a big YES!
With THE GOOD THE BAD THE WEIRD, Kim Jee-woon once again proves why he's the master of genres and why his films are meant to be seen more than once. It's the best South Korean action film I've seen till date!
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Positives:
-The performances of Song Kang-ho and Kang Dong-won are extremely realistic. Their bonding is a treat to watch.
-The film has some intensely thrilling and tension-inducing moments due to which it doesn't let go of your attention.
-The action scenes are very well executed and placed accordingly.
-The editing is top notch as the film doesn't bore for even a second.
-The film has a powerful climax which needs to be seen.
-Some bits of humour are very well executed.
Negatives:
-Well, nothing much!
Repeat Value: Yes
On the whole, SECRET REUNION is a very gripping and entertaining action film. Watch it soon, with your best friend!
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-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.
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-Song Kang-ho is the soul of the film. His performance is excellent enough to be remembered. Shin Se-kyung is also very impressive.
-The screenplay unfolds well and keeps you engrossed.
-The action sequences have been executed very well.
-The background score is good and enhances the viewing impact.
Negatives:
-The film slows down a little bit in the second hour.
Repeat value: Yes
HINDSIGHT is on the whole an entertaining South Korean action drama which is quite entertaining despite of some narration and editing flaws. You may watch it, and you'll find it's pretty good fun.
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-The performances of the lead actors are quite effective.
-The background score is at times very impactful.
-The action sequences are very well choreographed and executed.
-The script is very unique: I have never seen anything like this before. The screenplay is very engaging, especially in the second hour.
-The humour in many scenes is very well used and will make sure you laugh out loud.
-The climax is quite effective and excellent.
Negatives:
-The film takes a lot of time to set up.
-The editing could've a bit better since the pace in the beginning is not very good.
Repeat value: Yes
Overall, THE UNJUST is an entertaining action film from South Korea which is bound to impress with its highly entertaining action scenes and unique script.
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-The performances of the two lead actors Jung Woo-sung and Kwak Do-won are excellent, and the relation they form is a delight to watch.
-The visual and technical aspects of the film are top notch.
-The action scenes are shot and executed very well.
-The emotional aspect of the film has been dealt with very well.
-The film is very gripping thanks to the excellent story and crisp editing.
Negatives:
-The film could've been slightly shorter.
Repeat value: Yes
Undoubtedly, STEEL RAIN is a masterfully crafted action film which is a must watch for all!
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