Ranking the Korean Movies I've Seen
Home of the Melodramas, tear jerkers, and pulling the heart-strings
masters of thriller mysteries
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masters of thriller mysteries
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- DirectorPark Chan-wookStarsKim Min-heeHa Jung-wooCho Jin-woongA woman is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, but secretly she is involved in a plot to defraud her.Lesbian themed Erotica film . Chan Wook Park Romance
A conman hires a bootlegger's daughter to help him convince a wealthy woman to marry him. As the woman and her maid come closer and closer the lines get blurred who's conning who ..
P.S. :: There are graphic nude scenes, Japanese erotic-folklore, lesbian scissoring action, and severed genitalias in glass jars
--- "This is a movie for the perverted mind." - David Fincher
10/10 - DirectorBong Joon HoStarsSong Kang-hoKim Sang-kyungKim Roe-haIn a small Korean province in 1986, two detectives struggle with the case of multiple young women being found raped and murdered by an unknown culprit.The first movie to get me started with Korean cinema , and still one of the best to ever do it
A must-see for all Korean (or Asian) fan cinema
Cultivating, engaging, mysterious, excellent supporting role actors (the falsely accused are highly entertaining in their own right)
Excellent murder mystery that'll leave you questioning in the end ..
Based on true story ... 9.5/10 - DirectorHan-min KimStarsPark Hae-ilRyu Seung-ryongKim Mu-yeolA skilled Korean archer goes up against the mighty force of Manchus with the sole purpose of rescuing his kidnapped sister.A classic Action/Adventure Movie
The best Marksman alive has only one mission in his life -- to protect his little sister
10/10 movie -- Never skips a beat . Excellent pacing , excellent script , mesmerizing arrow battles - DirectorNa Hong-jinStarsJun KunimuraHwang Jung-minKwak Do-wonSoon after a stranger arrives in a little village, a mysterious sickness starts spreading. A policeman, drawn into the incident, is forced to solve the mystery in order to save his daughter.A story about Angels, Devils, Apprentices, Spooks, Spirits, and Shamans (even a cameo from a zombie) ..
Real life magic portrayals , and the events that happen in this movie are very surreal .. the ceremonial "face-off" was highly entertaining .. Lead protagonist is riveting and engaging
10/10 movie .. from plot to acting to cinematography , everything 10/10 - DirectorKang Hyeong-cheolStarsYoo Ho-jeongShim Eun-kyungJin Hee-kyungSeven girls become good friends in high school, then events pull them apart for 25 years. When one of the friends lies dying in a hospital, she wishes to see each of them one last time.Adorable comedy about a group of friends - past and present
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Seven friends rekindle their friendship after life separated them for 25 years ..
During a visit to see her sick mother, Na-mi stumbles across the leader of their posse who has a terminal illness and one month to live . She and the vice-leader of the gang go out to reunite all the girls from their posse and relive their childhood memories together ..
Movie travels from present (adulthood) to past when they were highschoolers, sharing memories on: '80s living, revolutionary siblings, girl-gangs, her first love, school dances, and all the other cute stuff in-between
Best chick-highschool-flick on this list , basically "Friend" without the gangster elements and with very vivid vibrant colors
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Edit :: just watched this again in 2020 and its too f-ing adorable ,, top 5 korean movie
i don't even think I can watch this with my loved ones I cry too much :( ,,, jk ;) - StarsLee Jung-jaePark Hae-sooDylan BesseauHundreds of cash-strapped players accept a strange invitation to compete in children's games. Inside, a tempting prize awaits with deadly high stakes: a survival game that has a whopping 45.6 billion-won prize at stake.Korea did it again ..
Another masterpiece
Granted this is a TV show ..
I'm going to spoil it because my memory is shit so if you want no spoilers please don't read this part
Game 1 is Red Light Green Light .. the intro Game 2 is Origami shape licking Game 3 is Tug of War Death Style Game 4 is Choose Partner then Kill Them :( Game 5 is Balance on the Glass Beams or Die Game 6 is Squid Game Oldboy style
The Korean Hunger Games
If you know Korean cinema you know this doesn't end on a high note
Even in victory , are there really any winners ?
10/10
p.s. includes cop side story and Eyes Wide Shut Illuminati party tribute - DirectorPark Hoon-jungStarsHitanshu BarikKim Hong-paPark In-SooWhile the Kingdom of Korea is under occupation by the Japanese, an old and experienced hunter is challenged by the hunt of the last tiger.Classic Action-Adventure Movie ;; A Dedication to Spirit Animals and the Animal Kingdom
The movie follows an ex-hunter raising his teenage son to respect the culture of living in the wilderness, all the while his son would rather engage in the activities of town life ;; And how a one-eye Tiger left to raise himself on his own becomes the King of the Mountain
Japanese hire Korean hunters to hunt down the last remaining tiger's of their land if they wish to make a living .
Reminder to Respect the Land which we live upon and live Harmonious with Nature - DirectorHan Jae-rimStarsSong Kang-hoLee Jung-jaeBaek Yun-shikAbout Nae-kyung who is able to assess the personality, mental state and habits of a person by looking at his face. Because of his abilities, he gets involved in a power struggle between Prince Sooyang and Kim Jong-Seo.Facial Feature Fortune-Telling , Intelligent and scientific study of the human face
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A famous courtesan seeks out a defamed face-reader and hires him as a new service for her clients and girls .. He begins reading the faces of the girls and customers (giving them attraction tips), and his name spreads around the kingdom.
His first mission (from the king) is convicting a murderer from a pool of suspects , and he picks out the culprit with ease .. This assignment makes him both highly valuable to the king and a major target to his competitors .. The king appoints him as a loyal adviser and facial screen-er for all the subordinates in his kingdom ..
The king is sick , and the kingdom is spilt between the Aging Tiger, and the Hungry Wolf .. Once the king dies , the throne is up for grabs
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10/10 - DirectorDong-hoon ChoiStarsCho Seung-wooBaek Yun-shikKim Hye-suA guy with a talent for cards makes his way into the dangerous world of underground gambling in this crime thriller from South Korea. Go-ni (Jo Seung-woo) is a small-town guy with a big appetite for gambling. Convinced he?s on a hot streak one evening during a card game, Go-ni bets his life savings on a hand of hwatu, only to lose to a crooked cardsharp. Determined to get revenge, Go-ni sets out to find the guy who cheated him and win back his money. But nothing is as it seems down the road.Very original movie .. could be considered a classic to some (like me :)).
The story of a poor ambitious hustler with big dreams and bigger balls. Addicted to the fast life of gambling , he dives as deep into the rabbit hole as he possibly can get with dreams of one day - becoming a High Roller.
Excellent from the cinematography: colorful lighting, beautiful backgrounds, scenery, people and costumes.
All the characters are believable: the hustlers, the competitors, the rival, the sensei, the High Rollers, and the femme fatale.
Definitely a must-see ::: 9/10 - DirectorHun JangStarsShin Ha-kyunGo SooRyu Seung-suA drama centered on the Korean War's final battle that will determine the border between north and south.A CIC officer is sent to the Aerok Hills to investigate a mole in the army . What he finds instead is a two-year stalemate between North and South Korea - back and forth fighting over ownership of The Hill which will be a decisive border-line after the war is over .
During the two years of losing and recapturing the vantage point of the Hill , the commanders of opposing armies send gifts and letters to each other as a way to pass the time . Though, as the armies become familiar to each other , they still have orders from the Top of Command to capture the Hill by any means necessary .
Features a sniper named Two Seconds , and a standoff scene paying homage to JSA - Excellent war film - DirectorBong Joon HoStarsTilda SwintonPaul DanoAhn Seo-hyunA young girl risks everything to prevent a powerful, multinational company from kidnapping her best friend - a fascinating beast named Okja.Vegan Environmentalist movie ....... or ... the Piggy Holocaust Movie
------ Based on True Events Happening Today --------
A company creates GMO super-pigs disguised as non-gmo eco-friendly pigs and spread them across the world to be bred by farmers for 10 years. The time has arrived for them to get their pig back , but a young farmer's daughter says otherwise ..
Clash ensues between the Big Corporation versus Mija and her environmentalist friends over who has rights over Okja
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What starts as a kids movie slowly turns into holocaust episode in this realism tale of the food industry and American big business
10/10 Politicalism
9/10 for shotty english acting - DirectorPark Chan-wookStarsLee Yeong-aeLee Byung-hunSong Kang-hoAfter a shooting incident at the North-South Korean border DMZ leaves two North Korean soldiers dead, a neutral Swiss and Swedish team investigates what actually happened.A story about bonds and brotherhood being formed across enemy lines. Two nations who share the same blood separated by a bridge , and soldiers from both sides decide who defy the odds.
One night , a grave misunderstanding leads to very tragic consequences ..... - DirectorPark Chan-wookStarsSong Kang-hoKim Ok-binChoi Hee-jinThrough a failed medical experiment, a priest is stricken with vampirism and is forced to abandon his ascetic ways.Vampire themed Romantic Tragedy . Chan Wook Park Romance
A priest undergoes an EV experiment which develops into a form of vampirism. As the lust inside of him grows , so does his love for a woman from his village
An Experience .. Alternative style love story .. almost Shakespearean
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"This is a movie for the perverted state of mind." - David Fincher - DirectorKim Byung-seoUi-seok JoStarsSol Kyung-guJung Woo-sungHan Hyo-jooA high-tech police surveillance team attempts to take down a gang of ruthless bank robbers.Entertaining thrill ride from start to finish , everything is on go
Following a survellience team assigned to catching bank-robbers, with a ruthless leader
The action that ensues will leave you on the edge of your seat
8.5/10 Overall .... 9/10 Action Movie - DirectorPark Chan-wookStarsChoi Min-sikYoo Ji-taeKang Hye-jeongAfter being kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years, Oh Dae-Su is released, only to find that he must track down his captor in five days.Second movie of Revenge Trilogy by Chan Wook Park
Half Detective Mystery , Half Arthouse Slayings , Half Redrum Kubrick Style , All Revenge
Oldboy must pay for his past and the rumors he's spread as a kid , as the brother of a murdered girl is looking for payback .. Kidnapped , imprisoned , and brainwashed for 15 years ,, he has 5 days to uncover the mysteries of the past or one of them has too die ..
Classic grindhouse movie - DirectorLee Joon-ikStarsLee ReSol Kyung-guUhm Ji-wonStory of an 8-year-old girl who faces a horrible rape that damages her internally and affects her emotionally, trying to overcome all the obstacles following the incident with the good support of those around her.A "Feel-Good" Rape movie based on a true story ..
A movie you can watch without reading any subtitles - and understand perfectly everything that's going on .. Visual Storytelling masterpiece (simple not stylized) ... Reading the subtitles will probably send you through waves of emotions .. have tissue in hand
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A drunk man rapes a young girl on her way to school and damages her internally behind repair .. Ruptured intestines and waistline organs permanently handicapping the girl forever ..
This movie is about all the support surrounding her helping her regain her sense of self , and feel like a princess again . Her parents, her close friend's parents, the boy she has a crush on, and her therapist all pitch in to help the young bright star regain her excellence ..
She becomes ashamed to be around men , and her Father goes extra miles to ensure his young daughter feels empowered anytime she's feeling vulnerable ..
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Happy Story rape movie .. no graphic scenes , but the emotions are definitely still there
9/10 - DirectorKyung-taek KwakStarsYu Oh-seongJang Dong-gunSeo Tae-hwaFour childhood friends go their separate ways, two go off to college while the others become rival gangsters.Follow four friends over the course of 15 years , and how all the forces of life surrounding them affects their inner dynamic friendship within ..
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Four friends from different backgrounds; scholar, shopkeeper, gangster, undertaker (morgue) .. Two of the friends choose the high-road college life , the other two choose the seedy gangster life .. But as the years past they remember one thing that's most important; no matter where they go or who they become in life - they'll always be friends til the very end .
Great story , easy to follow .. classic storytelling of watching boys become men
9/10 - DirectorYeon Sang-hoStarsGong YooJung Yu-miMa Dong-seokWhile a zombie virus breaks out in South Korea, passengers struggle to survive on the train from Seoul to Busan.A Battle between the Selfish and the Selfless
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A father who neglects his child gets the fated opportunity of spending his daughter's entire birthday on the day of a zombie outbreak . He becomes a man by the end of his episode .
Some people assist along the ride , others throw people under the bus ... Who will survive the Train to Busan
9/10 -- crowd pleaser , family thriller - DirectorBong Joon HoStarsSong Kang-hoLee Sun-kyunCho Yeo-jeongGreed and class discrimination threaten the newly-formed symbiotic relationship between the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim clan.Bong Joon Ho's latest;
follows a family of con-artist suckering a wealthy family into hiring them as tutors and maids , by sabotaging their already hired employees one-by-one .. one of the fired employees learns the secret of the family , but the swindlers won't let anything or anybody steal their new con job
features: a bum family showdown , a "You"-esque stalk and hide scene , and intelligent morse code
9/10 - DirectorBong Joon HoStarsKim Hye-jaWon BinJin GooA mother desperately searches for the killer who framed her son for a girl's horrific murder."Damn Mama!!"
After her disabled son is framed for the murder of a high school girl , Mother must take the law into her own hands after the prosecution closes the case . She first hires a big city lawyer to no avail , then enlists the help of her son's only friend and the two investigate the case ..
What are the secrets of the Rice Cake Girl? Who would want to kill her and "display her" to the town? And are there extra witnesses in hiding? Can Mother clear her son's name?
9/10 - DirectorYoung-Tak KimStarsCha Tae-hyunKang Ye-wonLee Moon-suA man's failed suicide attempt enables him to see ghosts, who later keep following him everywhere. It is now up to him to fulfill their wishes to make them go away.(Watch twice list)
An ode to family , life vs death , and our ancestors (angels) watching over us.
A man wishes suicide , and upon failure he begins to see ghosts . He must complete the ghosts tasks in order to finish suicide mission . As he's completing the ghosts tasks , he slowly falls for a nurse at the hospital . - DirectorLee Chang-dongStarsSol Kyung-guKim Yeo-jinMoon So-riFollowing a man's suicide, time traverses back to reveal six chapters of his life on why he committed suicide.Storytelling at its finest
A man torn between the two loves of his life: his first love - the one he truly loved , and his wife - the woman he tried to replace her with
Story transitions backwards: when he dies, three days prior, 1994 w/ family sex drama, 1987 cop life - student demonstrations, 1980 when he first meets his wife..becomes cop..first encounter w/ first love after war, '77 his day as a soldier under martial law, and Summer '76..his last innocent year dreaming and falling in love for the first time
9/10 - DirectorDong-hoon ChoiStarsJun Ji-hyunLee Jung-jaeHa Jung-wooWhile Korea is occupied by the Japanese Army in 1933, the resistance plans to kill the Japanese Commander. But their plan is threatened by a traitor within their group and also the enemies' forces are hunting them down.Starts as a confusing mind-*beep* as they introduce too many characters too quickly , and all the double-crosses within ...
But once the double-crossing settles and people choose their battlelines , the story takes off from there
More words than action , dialogue heavy , but very engaging
Highly intelligent, forces the viewer to have to think to solve the many puzzles going on in the movie
Rewarding in the end, Jung Jae Lee plays an excellent villain .. Highly engaging highly recommended - DirectorWoo-seok YangStarsSong Kang-hoKwak Do-wonIm Si-wanAn ambitious tax attorney decides to represent an old friend in court.High octane lawyer movie for such a stale title !
Based on a true story , President of South Korea '03-'08
This movie takes place in the late '70s and '80s
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A poor common worker with big dreams and mouths to feed decides to tackle the field of lawyers . He makes his roots from real estate to tax filing. He's well known to the people for both his honesty in helping the commoners and his love for money
When the owner of his favorite soup shop closes business to look for her missing son , the lawyer does some snooping around and finds out he was illegally arrested on grounds he's a "communist". On top of that, he's been tortured into a submissive state of admitting he's the ringleader of fabricated lies ..
In the name of justice , the lawyer begins his first human rights case ever , and the rest is history
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Excellent movie , excellent performances , excellent storytelling
9/10 must see .. highly recommended - DirectorSung-bo ShimStarsKim Yoon-seokPark Yoo-chunHan YeriA fishing-boat crew takes on a dangerous commission to smuggle a group of illegal immigrants from China to Korea.A struggling sailor, his horny crew, and an old rusty freighter are given a job to save them from their financial troubles: smuggle Chinese immigrants into Korea .... What could possibly go wrong
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Written by Joon-ho Bong , and Directorial debut from Sung-bo Shim (co/writer of Memories of Murder)
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Very engaging from start to finish , great fast pacing, suspense and action driven
9/10 - DirectorHwi KimStarsYunjin KimMa Dong-seokKim Sae-ronResidents of a mansion live in fear when a young girl is murdered. They suspect their neighbor for the crime, and a battle erupts to protect the next victim.People are disappearing in an apartment complex , and the residents have their suspicious on a very questionable neighbor
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Entertaining thrill ride ; enjoyable characters ; interesting watching how some of the residents solve their version of the case due to their experiences with the "suspect" neighbor .
Very enjoyable and highly recommended for a mystery thriller - DirectorYoon Jong-binStarsChoi Min-sikHa Jung-wooCho Jin-woongOn the verge of being fired, a corrupt customs official finds a haul of drugs and teams up with a vicious gangster to become the most powerful crime partnership in Busan.True Gangster movie
Loyalty, Family, Generational Wealth, High-Status Connections, Corrupt Officials, Drugs, Clubs, Casinos, Bribery, Rival Gangs, Business Competitors, Rats, Informants, and the Prosecution
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Movie is about an ex-prosecutor who becomes addicted to his great-grandson's gangster lifestyle .. A man formally nothing but brains , now has muscle on his side ,, and greed in both their eyes ..
9/10 best Korean gangster film to date - DirectorNa Hong-jinStarsKim Yoon-seokHa Jung-wooSeo Yeong-hieA disgraced ex-policeman who runs a small ring of prostitutes finds himself in a race against time when one of his women goes missing.Action packed thrill ride from start to finish .. Highly engaging and very easy to follow
Based on a true story gone terribly wrong , a film about racing against time
Hong-jin Na first movie , and his natural directorial talent is displayed immediately .
First movie launching Yun-seok Kim and Jung-woo Ha as powerhouse performers
8.8/10 - DirectorKim Seong-hunStarsLee Sun-kyunCho Jin-woongJeong Man-sikAfter trying to cover up a car accident that left a man dead, a crooked homicide detective is stalked by a mysterious man claiming to have witnessed the event.Classic Action-Adventure movie
Filled with mishaps, f-ups, johns, and an insane villain .. A villain as indestructible as this poor cop's luck.
Must-see if you like fun action thrill ride movies
9/10 - DirectorRyu Seung-wanStarsHwang Jung-minYoo Ah-inYoo Hae-jinA honest cop seeks justice for a common man against all odds. A rich boy seeks revenge on the cop.Action-Adventure movie with Classic Themes in high-octane movies
The aggressive yet comical cop , his funny team of cop bandits , high-power politicians , car chases , shoot-outs , a final showdown , and an insane adrenaline-rushed villain
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The moment Seo (the cop) meets the young entrepreneur (Tae-Oh), he knows this man lives a dangerous life .. When one of his friends is hospitalized after an injury caused in Tae-Oh's building , the cop begins his own personal investigation .
This leads him into a web of corruption from internal affairs taking bribes from the head Corporation Tae-Oh runs. And to send a message the corporation begins paying visits to all of Seo's loved ones to get him to back off ...... But instead Seo turns up the heat even more
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Good movie to watch with friends , highly entertaining , never skips a beat .. A-Class Villain
9/10 - DirectorDong-hoon ChoiStarsGang Dong-wonLim Soo-jungKim Yoon-seokJeon Woo-chi, an undisciplined womanizing Taoist from the Joseon era, ends up in present-day Korea causing mayhem with his knack for magic.Naruto and Avatar combined into a film ...
Evil Goblins and Arch God, Silly Noblemen, magical weapons, Talismans, scroll magic, illusions, Good vs Evil showdown Magic style
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Goblins break loose from the underworld, the Gatekeeper (Arch God) has gone mad , and the magical seal (the flute) has gone missing ....
Woo-chi, an apprentice wizard, is on a personal quest of obtaining magical items that'll help him become a powerful wizard , when he comes across a beautiful woman with a highly-sought after flute .. Once Woo-chi learns of the flutes powers and the woman's dangers , he vows to protect them both and take down all evil that gets in their way
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Period Film going from Dynasty era to modern day - a 500-year quest to seal the Arch God and the Goblins back into the underworld , their rightful place
If you can get passed the old-school CGI this is a highly enjoyable film - DirectorLee Su-jinStarsChun Woo-heeJung In-sunKim So-youngHan Gong-Ju transfers to a new school to escape her past. It takes a long time for her troubled past to catch up with her but when it does, the revelation is devastating.Based on a true story ... a mild portrayal of a truly disgusting act taking place in 2003 ..
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Movie follows a girl transferred to a new high-school , alienated from society , with a general fear towards men . She adjusts to her new life , getting involved in extracurricular activities, and making a new friend .
Her story is told through a series of flashbacks , and how her life of yesterday affects her life of today
Character story , speaking on what leads up to the rape , and the psychological effects afterwards .. This movie is a watered-down version of what truly happens
-----S T O R Y B E H I N D F I L M-----
True events about 44 students (evidence suggest over 100 students involved) gang-raping outcast high-school girls over the course of 11 months ..
Han gong-ju lives with her alcoholic father in a divorced home , becomes bait of bullies , and is sexually assaulted over the course of a year . The blackmail her with rape footage , torture her with sex toys, and bully her to bring in her cousins to get raped aswell
When everything is exposed , all blame is placed on the young girl ("seducing" claims) and a settlement is made with her father to get all the kids out of trouble
To this day , the boys involved with the case never received prison sentencing, and live normal Korean lives ... her father is dead to alcohol poisoning, and she moves from place to place without the ability to ground herself - DirectorYoon-Chul JungStarsHwang Jung-minJun Ji-hyunKang Ae-shimA snobbish producer makes a documentary about the extraordinary behavior of her neighbor who believes himself to be Superman.This is not a movie to watch focusing on the storyline and cinematics ..
Instead this is a movie to watch for its underlining message of the Key of Humanity residing within all of us.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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Movie follows a man as he goes around town helping people and completing deeds .. The man believes he's Superman and behaves that way too , fighting crime keeping his community safe .
Underlining message: everybody has a Superman within them , they just need a key to unlock it .. Stay true to who you are , your natal self .. Suppression of emotions and memories through intoxication will lead you too lose your powers .. What may seem at first a lonely path is truly filled with adventure and excitement when you firmly believe and stand for who you truly are ..
This movie should be film studied everywhere , not for its cinematography , but the simple theme of humans lending a helping hand and spreading love and free joy abroad ..
8.5/10 overall
1000/10 for the message behind the movie - DirectorKim Ki-dukStarsKim Ki-dukOh Yeong-suJong-ho KimA boy is raised by a Buddhist monk in an isolated floating temple where the years pass like the seasons.The stages of life for a young buddha and his teacher on a floating house in the middle of the lake
The phases of childhood, adolescence, thirties, mid-life rebirth, and elderhood
"Cycle-of-Life" movie
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8.5/10 - DirectorHun JangStarsSong Kang-hoThomas KretschmannYoo Hae-jinA widowed father and taxi driver who drives a German reporter from Seoul to Gwangju to cover the 1980 uprising, soon finds himself regretting his decision after being caught in the violence around him.Based on a True Story
Martial Law is an ugly thing: senseless killings, chemical warfare, illegal search and seizures, curfews, severed phone lines, cover-up news stories, and corrupt cops
But the courageous few whom throw themselves into danger to save the lives of many make it a beautiful thing
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1980's South Korea: Student protests for democracy were spreading rapidly across the country. One city, Gwang-ju, became so rampant, they declared a martial law and shut the city down. All telephone lines and newspapers were cut from circulation , so no outsiders knew what was going on ..
A German news-reporter hires a widowed taxi driver to be his escort as he documents the entire affair .. The longer they stay in Gwang-ju , and the more their identities are discovered , the more dangerous their livelihood becomes .
8.5/10 - DirectorLee Jeong-beomStarsWon BinKim Sae-ronKim Tae-hoonA quiet pawnshop keeper with a violent past takes on a drug-and-organ trafficking ring in hope of saving the child who is his only friend.Mysterious man befriends a little girl who's mother steals drugs from a crime boss. As punishment, they kidnap the girl and her mother and use them as bait to make Tae-suk do their bidding.
The police are on Tae-suk trail as he treks down a bloody path of drugs, organ harvesting, loan sharks, andd children runners .
The daughter does a good job acting , high-beat ending compared to most Korean thriller endings - DirectorLee Chang-dongStarsYun Jeong-hieLee Da-witKim Hee-raA sixty-something woman, faced with the discovery of a heinous family crime and in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, finds strength and purpose when she enrolls in a poetry class.An elderly woman working as a part-time maid takes a poetry class to help her with her memory and self-expression. She also learns of her son's heinous crime where he and his friends raped a schoolgirl until she committed suicide , and she along with the rest of the parents have to come up with a settlement to pay off mother ..
The elderly woman soon learns there's so much to life in the silence and subtle beauty outside of the noise pollution. She spends her days listening to water and birds, enjoying nature, and living her own personal experiences of happiness after hearing her classmates share the same experience - DirectorNa Hong-jinStarsLee Yoo-miHa Jung-wooLee Hee-joonWhen the attempt to kill a professor goes wrong, a series of violent events are triggered which force a taxi driver to run for his life.Another classic starring Hong-Jin Na directing ,, and his leads stars from The Chaser ( Yun-seok Kim, Jung-woo Ha)
Another movie with multiple powerhouse performances from the two stars
The most action packed of his three movies .. Three part movie contained in one - DirectorCheol-soo JangStarsSeo Yeong-hieJi Seong-wonMin-ho HwangA woman subject to mental, physical and sexual abuse on a remote island seeks a way out.Island breeding submissiveness in all the women to always lay down and stay out of people's business. One islander - who's raised there her entire life - decides she not gonna take it any more, and snaps ...
Includes: old ass hating ass women, rape culture breeding, "no snitching" consequences, lotta psychological physical and sexual abuse (not always shown, more so implied)
A movie where there's really no honest person , everybody on the island torments poor Bok-nam -- she drives over the insanity cliff with one way tickets sending everybody to hell - DirectorHyeon NaStarsKim Rae-wonHan Suk-kyuJeon Bae-sooA troubled ex-cop imprisoned for a hit-and-run accident discovers that the entire penitentiary is controlled by an inmate who has been running a crime syndicate with the help of the warden and guards which provides them 100% alibi.Classic Prison Movie
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There's a man with an anonymous past who controls the entire prison he's stationed at through fear . Rumor has it he'll eat the eyeballs of any man who challenges him . He runs secret missions from inside the prison walls , and hires other convicts to complete them .
One day an aggressive cop gets sent to the prison , and after a series of brawls he becomes acquainted with the man in charge . He gets promoted to head henchman , but the cop has secret motives behind his madness - DirectorYoon Jong-binStarsHa Jung-wooGang Dong-wonLee Sung-minA period action film centered on a militia group who turn against an unjust nobility.A period-film about Robin Hood bandits taking down the rich and giving back to the poor . The bandits gather any outcast strong and willing to fight the unjust nobility along their path.
A bastard child from the king and his concubine plays the villain , with a personal objective of seizing the kingdom for himself .
Watch him and the bandits square off with action-packed sword fight sequences - DirectorSang-Jin KimStarsLee Sung-jaeYu Oh-seongKang Seong-jinFour disaffected youths rob a gas station but find their plans complicated and sidetracked before the night is through.Very odd movie ..... and they make it work
Group of bored friends decide to rob a frequented gas station .. They hold up all the workers , and any difficult customers disturbing their night of leisure ..
Highly original , rememberable characters , even the extras get in on the action
Hopefully these young stars made careers , must-see for old-school action comedy
8/10 .. the level of eccentricity is Grade A - DirectorLee Joon-ikStarsSong Kang-hoYoo Ah-inMoon Geun-youngSet in 18th century Korea, long-ruling King Yeongjo's struggle with his son, Sado, sees the king take extreme measures in order to deal with his heir.Prince Sado's story - a child born into royalty who speaks with his heart and not with decorum ..
The film follows Sado spending in his final days inside a rice chest , and the events leading up to his "lunacy" .. Film spans from him as a child, to him as a regent, to him as a disowned son once he gives birth to a more studious grandson . When the only person who protected him passes away , he puts life of the kingdom behind him and lives life "as free as the arrow which glides with the wind."
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Soundtrack excellent , very rememberable quotes on Confucius and revelation crossroads .. Definitely recommended if you're a history buff - DirectorJun-hee HanStarsKim Hye-suKim Go-eunPark Bo-gumA new born girl is placed in a coin operated locker in the subway station. The girl is raised by a mother who is the boss for a loan shark group. Later, when the girl has grown into a teen, she carries out missions given to her by her mother.Darker, grittier, (and more realistic) Woman's Version of Hwayi
Arthouse movie
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An abandoned girl is given to a loan shark to clear a debt - fore the lady collects children as payment . The lady runs an organ donor business on the side incase their clients don't cooperate . Mother grooms her children with the ability to run the operation as they get older . Some of her children have even gone off and become independent ..
As Il-young gets older her role in the business increases . She's assigned to collect the debt from a son who's father ran off indebted , and when she begins developing feelings for him things get complicated --- with her and her family .
8.5/10 - DirectorJee-woon KimStarsLee Byung-hunGong YooSong Kang-hoKorean resistance fighters smuggle explosives to destroy facilities controlled by Japanese forces in this period action thriller.Espionage thriller between the Korea Independence Army and the Japanese in Korea
Has an "Inglorious Bastards" feel with the art direction (homage w/ suspenseful spy vs spy showdown in a bar)
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The story is about a Korean policeman (who's swore loyalty to Japan) tasked with arresting the members of a Korea Independence Army .. He has ties to some of the members in the party because they were ex-policemen in Korea before Japanese occupation
He's a double-spy for the Liberation Army , but his officials suspect this and place a Japanese spy on him . They aswell have double-spies within the Liberation Army - and things begin to get messy as the spies uncover more and more data on one another
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Great shoot-out scenes , very dialogue heavy but little wasted dialogue (everything pertains to the story) , very clever , excellent support coming from Hashimoto , art and scenery is amazing , and a homage sequence to Quentin T
8/10 - DirectorDae-min ParkStarsHwang Jung-minRyu Deok-hwanUhm Ji-wonThe story takes place in occupied Korea at the start of the 20th century, where a young student in medicine discovers the murdered body of the son of a government official. Being scared of being accused, he decides to hire Hong Jin-ho (a detective) to help him find the murderer before the police accuse him of the murder.Mystery comedy about an investigator hired to find a murderer.
Money drives this P.I., and a serial killer taking down political members mean big bucks to find the killer. The P.I. goes miles he's never made before, dangerous places he's swore to never step in.
He has a young medical student who's his sidekick, who hired the P.I. in the first place. Together they take down the political circus .
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Beautifully choreographed movie for a debut , old-school mystery movie lighting styles - DirectorKyu-dong MinStarsJu Ji-hoonKim Kang-wooLim Ji-yeonThe story of Joseon's tyrant king Yeonsan who exploits the populace for his own carnal pleasures, his seemingly loyal retainer who controls him and all court dealings, and a woman who seeks vengeance."This is a movie for the perverted state of mind."
Black-comedy erotica-romance w/ some insanity killings
Based on true story (?)
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After his mother is killed and all the traitors of the kingdom have been slain - the King begins rounding up all the peasant women in his kingdom for his own carnal pleasures .. The Minister Im's and his Concubine are behind the dubious scheme , hoping this will lead the King down a path of insanity and they can siege the throne
The women compete for the King's love , and two women stand out from the rest - a beautiful courtesan and a butcher . Each woman is a plant by those close to the King looking to seize his throne , and the Minister falls for one of the women, making the other jealous ..
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Highly sexual; erotic posing for art, sex-ed class for sexual bliss, lesbian-softcore scene, random aroused nipples, and some sword and arrow-play for the action fans
8/10 ... Nighttime movie , "Netflix and Show-Your-Lady-New-Techniques" movie - DirectorJoon-Hwan JangStarsKim Yoon-seokYeo Jin-gooCho Jin-woongA boy with five fathers who is attached to the criminal underworld. A sinister past is about to be revealed as he is forced to join the killing spree.A kid with no memory has a family of five fathers . After a pivotal mission with Hwayi directly affected , his memories slowly begin coming back to him one by one ...... In the long haul , his father's raised him well . The boy became a monster
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Good action with a good story , and a few key twists - DirectorChang-min ChooStarsLee Byung-hunRyu Seung-ryongHan Hyo-jooA look-alike commoner is secretly hired to take the place of a poisoned king to save his country from falling into chaos.Korean remake of Kurosawa's "Kagemusha"
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Rumors of treason spread among the kingdom , and poison's have been slipped into the King's food . The King predicts these assassination attempts however , and orders his guards to retrieve him the ideal stunt double ..
As time passes playing the King , the Thief (a man of the common people) humanizes the kingdom where both nobility and the poor are treated alike .. During his active role as king he begins the change the hearts of his loyal servants and guards for the better , while changing the traitors of the King for the worse
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10/10 :: Cinematography ,, beautiful wide-shots and framing
8/10 :: Overall (though it may be higher if not already familiar with Kurosawa's classic already mentioned) - DirectorHwang Dong-hyukStarsGong YooJung Yu-miKim Hyeon-sooBased on real events, this film depicts the story of a school for the hearing-impaired where young deaf students were sexually assaulted by the faculty members over a long period of time.A true story exposing Mujin City - but a message of realism felt across the globe ---- the reality of uncertainty parent-less children endure during the upbringing of their childhood
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The School for the Deaf is a cover for a perverted principal to have his way with students. Most of these students have retarted parents or they're orphans - so basically the staff has their way with them without consequences. Of course the principal is a big investor in the city -- so when *beep* hits the fan, nothing happens in the name of justice ..
Movie takes place in Korea but the narrative is a reality for many parent-less children spread all over Asia, Africa, South, Central and North America, and Pacific and Caribbean Islands
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First half of movie is about the teacher getting accustomed to his surroundings
Second half of movie is courtroom drama
8/10
1000/10 for delivering a message - DirectorYang Ik-joonStarsKim KkobbiHwan LeeYang Ik-joonA bitter loan shark strikes a friendship with a troubled schoolgirl as he faces his own troubled past with his abusive father.Retribution story of an abused child wrestling and making peace with his inner demons
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A bitter rage-oholic loan collector beats people to a bloody pulp for a living . One day he runs into a young girl - also from an abused home - with thick skin and tough enough to strengthen him out .
His father is fresh out of jail for the murder of his mother , but the abuse he received as a kid haunts him into his adulthood as he inflicts the same pain to everyone around him when he has violent memory spasms .
In time , he begins to open his heart and spread love to those around him .. but is it too little too late
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Excellent movie , be mindful of shaky cam one-man-crew shooting
8/10 - DirectorJung Byung-gilStarsKim Ok-binShin Ha-kyunSung JunA female assassin leaves a trail of bodies behind her as she seeks revenge.Very good stylized action movie -- Resembles "Crank" in it's unique way of capturing the action shots ..
First 40 minutes and final 50 minutes sums up the whole movie
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An assassin group detains a crazy woman who attacked their base overnight. Seeing her inner killer within, they decide to take her in and train her for 10 years .
The woman is searching for her father's killer. She believe's her husband was killed by the same agency. 10 years later the familiar gentleman reappears in her life .. - DirectorHun JangStarsSong Kang-hoGang Dong-wonKo Chang-seokA fired South Korean agent and a deserted North Korean spy meet by chance after six years and start a business partnership, each with the intention of stealing information from the other.Action-packed espionage thriller
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An ex-cop and an ex-spy whom first learned of each others identities during a botched-mission; return to each other's lives 6 years later .. life has changed for them since they are both out of their former work , but the memories of yesterday lead them both spying on each other without the other's discrepancy
Good ole' action / comedy movie -- both leads are excellent , and watching them develop a friendship "humanely" makes their jorney even more fun - DirectorYong-hwa KimStarsHa Jung-wooCha Tae-hyunJu Ji-hoonAfter a heroic death, a firefighter navigates the afterlife with the help of three guides.
- DirectorKang Je-kyuStarsJang Dong-gunWon BinEun-ju LeeWhen two brothers are forced to fight in the Korean War, the elder decides to take the riskiest missions if it will help shield the younger from battle.A Personalized Tale of the Korean War told through two brother's journey as soldiers.
Big brother (shoe shiner) protects little brother (college student, artist) from the hardships of war. He becomes a battle-hardened machine as life on the edge begins to mold him into a monster .. Little brother plays the conscious and peace-maker .. The two butt heads from time to time but ultimately remember their sole purpose is to help each other safely return home.
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8.5/10 - DirectorBong Joon HoStarsSong Kang-hoByun Hee-BongPark Hae-ilA monster emerges from Seoul's Han River and begins attacking people. One victim's loving family does what it can to rescue her from its clutches.Science experiment gone horribly wrong spawns a huge monster in the river .. The monster kidnaps a shopkeepers daughter , and its left to him and his dysfunctional family to the save the youngest of the clan
- DirectorGil-young JungStarsRyu Deok-hwanHa-ram KimDa-mi KoTwo killers are living in our town An ordinary small town is terrorized when local women are found brutally murdered and 'crucified' in public places. Gyeong-joo, a struggling novelist, impulsively kills his landlady during a fierce argument over rent. With the recent murders, he decides to stage the killing so that it looks like the act of the serial killer. Mimicking the details of previous killings, Gyeong-joo (Oh Man-seok) hangs the dead body in the village park. The police and media believe the case is the work of the same serial killer, but Hyoi (Ryu Deok-hwan), who runs a small stationery shop in the neighborhood, knows something really interesting has happened. He knows that it is a copycat crime because he is the real killer. While Gyeong-joo's childhood buddy and police officer Jae-shin (Lee Sun-kyun) begins to suspect that there may be a second killer, anxious Gyeong-joo and Hyoi, begin their own secret investigations to track down each other.A story about two killers with interconnected pasts ..
A novelist documents serial killing murders happening around the city that closely resembles a murder he once committed when he was young ...
Very good murder mystery , interesting watching a cop (who's the brother of one of the killers) investigate who's the killer , while the killers investigate themselves
8/10 - DirectorHyeong-jun BaeStarsKim Ha-neulGang Dong-wonSong Jae-hoWhile a man is out of town, a con-woman claims to be his fiancée and moves in with his family.A con artist fresh on parole runs into a newlywed on a train and accidentally obtains his wedding ring . She sets out to return the ring as stealthy as possible , but instead gets entangled in a web of lies as she tries to make her escape. One of the lies: she's pregnant with the newlywed's child , and she is his expected bride ...
What starts out as a standoffish relationship slowly begins to grow as the two spend more and more time with each other .. Her lies slowly becomes truths as the two fall in luuve ,,, Heck , the country boy may even think about changing brides .. - DirectorPark Chan-wookStarsNam-mi KangJeong-nam ChoiHye-Sook GoAfter being wrongfully imprisoned for thirteen years and having her child taken away from her, a woman seeks revenge through increasingly brutal means.Art-house Kill Bill meets Sin City Korean Style .
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The Bride returns from a 13-year sentence for a murder which she was framed - as she already has a master plan for revenge .
Beautiful scenes, backgrounds, lighting, wallpaper ... Yeong-ae Lee was a Superstar - the Kind-Hearted Witch
Very reminiscent of Quentin T/Frank Miller style .... First 90 min beautiful vibrant colours , final fourth of movie noir blk/wht
8/10 - DirectorHur Jin-hoStarsSon Ye-jinPark Hae-ilRa Mi-ranThe last remaining princess of the Joseon Dynasty leaves her home for Japan, under Japanese colonial rule. Her childhood friend makes a vow to retrieve her and help her make her way back to Korea.True story of the last princess of the Korean Empire before Japanese Rule ..
High ranking Joseon officials are ready to sell out to Japan , but first they must "take care" of the royal family . They exile the princess to Japan to "attend school" and keep her from returning home .
One day, her Joseon love comes to protect her and bring her home
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Sentimental movie, have tissue at hand .. Melo-dramatic , w/ action escape plans
8.5/10 - DirectorDong-hoon ChoiStarsShin-yang ParkYum Jung-ahBaek Yun-shikOne month has passed since CHOI Chang-Hyuk's release from jail after being convicted for fraud, but this time he's cooked up an elaborate plan: the biggest bank heist in history. The best five thieves come together to form a team: CHOI Chang-Hyuk, the brain behind the perfect plan; Master KIM, the godfather of swindlers; Big Mouth, a guy who can talk people into anything; Swallow, a remarkable lady-killer; and Gasoline, who has a gift for counterfeiting. The only drawback is that none of them can trust one another. They have only one goal: to hit a bank for 5 billion won ($5 million)--but each one of them has his own plan in mind.A revenge heist movie .
A Master Swindler gathers up some professionals in his field for a bank heist , and the seemingly perfect plan derails on an anonymous tip.
Follow the clean-up from both the robbers and investigators as they solve the crime - DirectorJee-woon KimStarsSong Kang-hoLee Byung-hunJung Woo-sungThe story of two outlaws and a bounty hunter in 1940s Manchuria and their rivalry to possess a treasure map while being pursued by the Japanese army and Chinese bandits.
- DirectorAndrew LauStarsJun Ji-hyunJung Woo-sungLee Sung-jaeAbout a tragic love triangle story involving young painter Hye-young, Interpol detective Jeong Woo, and professional hitman Park Yi.Love triangle between a painter, a hit man, and a cop
Quest for Love - the mysterious Daisy man - with John Woo homage between shootouts and romantic backstories
An assassin loves a painter from afar , sending her daisies everytime he thinks about her . One day , a mysterious man sits in front of the lady with daisies in hand , and over time the two begin to form a relationship .. But the special bond they share is against the hit-man's wishes
Korean/ Hong Kong movie - filmed by same man who shot 'Internal Affairs' - DirectorLee Il-HyungIl-Hyeong LeeStarsHwang Jung-minGang Dong-wonJung Seung BaeAfter a prosecution lawyer is framed and convicted for murder, he tries to catch the real murderer from jail with the help of a con artist.An aggressive prosecutor framed for a murder becomes a saint behind prison bar's by helping those inside with their legal cases .
The murder is tied to a political circus involving prosecutors and gangsters .
The framed prosecutor knows exactly who set him up , he just needs help gathering evidence from the outside world .. and five years into his sentence the perfect con-man falls into his lap - DirectorLee Hae-junStarsJeong Jae-yeongJung Ryeo-wonYeong-seo ParkA failed suicide attempt leads a heartbroken man to live a life in the wilderness.A man on the brink of suicide jumps off a bridge and lands on an island in the Han River . He grows to enjoy his life of solitude and learns survival skills while stranded ..
A woman who stays in her room all day and takes pictures of the moon at night discovers the lost man - and begins to pass him messages via bottles so they can communicate with each other
These lonely lovebirds make each other their company - DirectorKim Ki-dukStarsLee Seung-yunJae HeeHyuk-ho KwonA transient young man breaks into empty homes to partake of the vacationing residents' lives for a few days.My man didn't say a single word this entire movie and it was more than enough.
Truly a lost art of Filmmaking: the Art of Visual Storytelling
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He goes into people's homes when they're out of town , as the tidy man . He runs into a saddened woman and decides to be the joy of her life
Mr. Steal your girl to Mr. Superman your girl to Mr. Shadow you while you with your girl .. This man has a lot of free time - all in the name of love - DirectorCho Jung-RaeStarsSoon-Hyoung ChaPark Choong-HwanKim Dong-WonTwo Korean girls, Jung-Min (14) and Young-hee (15) are kidnapped by the Japanese Imperial Army and taken to a 'Comfort Station' in China. There, they join other kidnapped girls in serving Japanese soldiers as sexual slaves known as 'Comfort Woman'. By the end of the war, only one of the girls survives. Decades later, an elderly lady attempts to reunite with the spirit of her lost friend. Inspired by the testimony of Kang Il-chul.Based on a true story .. Child Sex Slave Depot during WWII Japanese-Occupied Korea
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A Spirit Channeler helps an elderly rape victim heal her past and get in touch with her closest friend's soul when they were "Comfort Girls" for the Japanese Army
In 1943 a bunch of underage girls are kidnapped by Japanese Army and taken to a border by China as "Comfort Girls" for any passing platoon's . These girls are put through the worst imaginable sexual mistreatments - and are put to death for non-compliance .. They spend their lives inside of a shack divided into small motel-sized rooms , completely uncertain in what the future holds ...
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The Soundtrack is amazing .. One of a kind fit specifically for this film
Majority of this movie was financed through crowd-funding ,, both subtle and graphic in the cinematography styles - arthouse style - DirectorKang Woo-sukStarsAhn Sung-kiSol Kyung-guHuh Joon-hoBased on a true story of 1968 Korean Republic Army plan to assassinate North Korean president Kim Il-Sung. 31 criminals and death row inmates are recruited into secret training on the island of Silmi; for two years they are subjected to maximum mental and physical abuse before the mission is cancelled and the unit terminated.Based on true story: The South Korea government begins a secret operation to assassinate the President of North Korea , and they have their military train a bunch of death-row convicts to become the gov personal hit-man squad
They train these warriors to become the best in their class , but after South Korea makes peace with North Korea , they order the execution of the secret operation - and all its participants . Only problem , these men are now trained assassins , so executing them won't be easy - DirectorPark Chan-wookStarsLim Soo-jungRainPark Byeong-eunA girl who thinks she is a combat cyborg checks into a mental hospital, where she encounters other psychotics. Eventually, she falls for a man who thinks he can steal people's souls.Episode in a Looney hospital; centering around a girl who thinks she's a cyborg, and boy who steals souls. She wants him to take away her sympathy; he wants her to eat some food
Eccentricity at it's finest .. Very strange movie , basically indescribable
More comedy than a romance , and an action scene Chan Wook Park style
Excellent cinematography - DirectorHyeong-Joon KimStarsSol Kyung-guRyu Seung-beomHan Hye-jinDespite being nearly proven the murderer, a serial killer threatens to kill the daughter of a forensic pathologist if he doesn't get him bailed out.When the past comes back to haunt you ..
A coroner has to help a murderer clear his name from a murder charge - or the coroner's daughter will be his next victim
It takes a while for the movie to pick up the pace , but once the kidnapping takes place its a thrill ride until the end
Great performances from both leads , and the assisting cops
7.5/10 overall
8.5/10 Thriller/Suspense - DirectorJuly JungStarsBae DoonaKim Sae-ronSong Sae-byeokA young police officer is sent to work in a small village and takes in a teenager to protect her from her abusive stepfather.A movie about abuse - alcohol abuse and physical abuse - small town customs, and minor lesbian themes
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A female chief is transferred to a small seaside town to lay low for her impending case , and she comes across a girl who seems to be the subject of abuse all over town . She stands up for the girl in the face of her bullies , and the girl becomes attracted to the woman as a motherly-figure .
When the female chief notices severe scars on the young girl's body , she takes the girl in to keep her safe for her alcoholic father . The chief and father have many altercations around the town about his shady dealings nobody speaks against . One night, the father learns the secret of the police chief's past and prepares to take her down .
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8/10 - DirectorKang Hyeong-cheolStarsChoi Seung-hyunShin Se-KyungKim Yoon-seokGo-ni's nephew, Ham Dae-gil, enters the gambling underworld only to be used as a scapegoat in a deal gone wrong. Now he's planning his revenge by entering one big fatal game.Good runner up to the Tazza
Not as classic , not as original ..
Great master schemes and revenge plans .. Hae-jin Yoo and Yun-seok Kim make a return ..
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Same concept : beginning roots, set-up by friend, student wants to master gambling, master teaches student, they go out and make money, the cougar hostess, the woman he wants to save, the rival who robs the main, tragic consequences, revenge ensues, Agwi
7.9/10 - DirectorPark Hoon-jungStarsLee Jung-jaeChoi Min-sikHwang Jung-minAn undercover cop finds it difficult to play both a cop and a goon.Korean version of Hong Kong's "Infernal Affairs"
first movie seeing Jung-Jae Lee (what an unsuspecting babyface villainous typecast of an actor !!), and he held it down with the greats
A man who is undercover for almost a decade gets an extension on his case - right as he's about to retire .. Too make things interesting - his boss (Chief of Police) double-crosses him by exposing his undercover identity to a head mafia leader
With bodies dropping left and right as two gangs fight over the position of the New Leader (the former leader dies in beginning), and Internal Affairs keeping him in the dark as they attempt to back-stab him , the Undercover cop is left in a very vulnerable position , where he only has himself to trust .. - DirectorKang Hyeong-cheolStarsCha Tae-hyunPark Bo-youngIl-Kwon AhnA radio DJ/entertainer in his 30s suddenly learns he may be a grandfather, thanks to a young girl who has a baby son and claims to be his daughter.Quirky dramedy about a bachelor in his 30's getting the surprise visit of his long-lost daughter - whom he never knew he had . She also has a son , and they both have big dreams of getting familiar with papa . Papa , on the other hand , is not with the get-down
Has its moments , the kids are real musicians so they have some musical numbers .. It is rememberable , but not much comic appeal - DirectorDong-hoon ChoiStarsKim Yoon-seokLee Jung-jaeKim Hye-suAfter a heist in South Korea, a gang of 5+1 fly to Hong Kong to look into a heist, in a Macau casino, of a $30M diamond, planned by someone unreliable. He brings in HK thieves as well. Can anyone be trusted?Ocean's Eleven where leads actually get bodied ....
Intelligent heist film, thieves with connected pasts come together in the present for one final heist .... or so they think
7.5/10 - DirectorHun JangStarsSo Ji-seobKo Chang-seokJang Hie-jinA gangster who wants to be an actor; an actor more gangster than anything. Here their paths and lives begin to cross.A movie about the realism behind movies
The actor teaches the gangster how to become a better human being , the gangster teaches the actor how to become a better actor
But the vices of life keep these men from reaching their true potential
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All the parts about them making the movie was excellent , but the gangster side-story kinda took away from the overall thrill ride - DirectorJae-young KwakStarsCha Tae-hyunJun Ji-hyunIn-mun KimA young man sees a drunk, cute woman standing too close to the tracks at a metro station in Seoul and pulls her back. She ends up getting him into trouble repeatedly after that, starting on the train.Based on true events :: a man documents his one year relationship about his long lost love on the internet
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A college student bumps into a drunk girl on the subway station .. A series of random events over the next few days bring them closer together , and they begin seeing each other as they enjoy each others company .
The girl , rebounding from a serious break-up, never expected anything to happen out of the relationship . But over time , she begins to doubt her own feelings of denial .... The boy , on the other hand , knew she was his type since Day One
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Very original story , definitely a rememberable romance - DirectorSang Man KimStarsSoo AeYoo Ji-taeMa Dong-seokSun-young, a popular radio host, decides to quit her job to take care of her ill-daughter. But, the last day of her job turns nightmarish when a murderer takes her family hostage.An obsessed fan breaks into a Radio DJs home while she's on air and takes her family hostage . The Radio DJ must comply to all commands or there will be consequences
Similar to 'Terror Live' , w/ moving around locations
Comes with an obsessed stalker to clash w/ obsessed serial killer showdown
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For Oldboy fans , the villain from Oldboy is the villain in this . - DirectorKwang-Hyun ParkStarsJeong Jae-yeongShin Ha-kyunKang Hye-jeongSoldiers from both sides of the Korean divide live among villagers who know nothing of the war.Deserted South Korean soldiers and AWOL North Korean soldiers are hiding out in Dongmakgol . What starts as a very tense rivalry begins to levitate as their love for the innocence of the village grows .
An U.S. Air Force pilot also crashes on the island .. He goes missing in the village and his superiors believe they're anti-aircraft missiles stationed on the island .. Of course when America gets involved - something's gotta get blown up
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Movie was submitted for Academy Award but never received a glance ... But with such an anti-America message - who woulda guessed - DirectorMin-suk KimStarsGang Dong-wonGo SooJung Eun-chaeCho-In can control other people's minds when they are within his field of sight.Except one man.Action-Supernatural Movie
The villain (controls people with his eyeballs), and the vigilante (super healing ability) square off all over town .. The villain distraught someone dare defy his supernatural ability, and the vigilante getting justice on a man manipulating people freely
Classic storyline - fast paced - children's story (somewhat? people do get bodied) - Overall fun - DirectorByung-woo KimStarsWon-Jin AhnLee Da-witChoi Deok-moonA newsman discovers he's been rigged with a bomb after he has an exclusive interview with a terrorist who blew up a bridge.'The 'ole bomb in the ear technique aaaeeehhh ?!'
A news anchor at the bottom of his career gets the opportunity of his lifetime - an interview with the city premiere terrorist
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Credits song is a hit daaaaamn . Had to include it - DirectorHa YooStarsZo In-sungChun Ho-jinMin Nam-koongA small time thug collecting debts for the local triad is torn between his criminal aspirations and his devotion to family."As far as my eyes can see , There are shadows approaching me ,
And to those I left behind, I wanted you to know , You've always shared my deepest thoughts , You follow where I go"
Outro Song to the movie --- practically sums it all up
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A poor 30 year old gangster living in poverty will do anything he's asked to come up -- and one day the Big Boss gives him the assignment of eliminating an attorney , and the action changes his life forever .
First half follows him as an footstool under his ungrateful boss and seizing power
Second half follows him serving Big Boss and his interactions with his filmmaker buddy
7.5/10 - DirectorJeong-hoon KimStarsKwon Sang-wooSung Dong-ilSeo Yeong-hieA true-crime enthusiast and a washed up cop facing demotion launch a joint murder investigation to help a mutual friend who is wrongfully charged with murder.Pays homage with classic themes to old school detective movies - Hardy Boys and Sherlock Holmes
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An investigative enthusiast teams up with a hard-boiled police chief to solve a mystery of a woman's death - whom their best friend has been framed for murder .... It leads them down a path of cheating wives getting bodied , and "murder exchange" agreements , and it gets more dangerous the deeper they get
Comedy-mystery movie - DirectorKim Sung-suStarsJang HyukSoo AeMin-ah ParkChaos ensues when a lethal, airborne virus infects the population of a South Korean city less than 20 kilometers from Seoul.The continuity of this movie was terrible , ridiculous , absurd ,, but it makes up for it as a steady-paced thriller from start to finish
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A professional helper (yes) saves a woman from a mine shaft (?) and its opens a mini romance between the two .. Elsewhere in the city some boozos open a contaminated storage container , absorb the virus fully , and begin infecting everything around them ..
As bodies are dropping all over the place , the government decides to lockdown the entire city , and clean sweep everybody .. The professional helper , his new love interest , and her daughter must survive the epidemic
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I must point out there's things in this movie that make absolutely no sense .. One somehow a man survived in the virus-infested storage container for NINE whole years !? Two , there's literally people walking around with no masks , and not catching the virus ...
Are they immune to the virus? Never explained
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7/10 -- exciting, engaging , great performances , very visual , family movie, easy to follow
10/10 -- Netflix and "chill" with your lady movie - DirectorIm Sang-sooStarsJeon Do-yeonLee Jung-jaeYoun Yuh-jungA man's affair with his family's housemaid leads to dark consequences.Sexy thriller indeed
Housemaid and Man of the house have an affair , and leads to a pregnancy . Something gots to happen to the baby //
"I'm polite to people , because I put myself first." cool quote - DirectorHee-chan RaStarsJeong Jae-yeongSon Byung-hoLee Young-eunThings get out of control when Doman, an eager and saintly traffic cop, is asked the play the role of the bank robber in a robbery intervention police training program.Comedy version of Dog Day Afternoon
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After a string of bank robberies in their city , the police stage a mock-run as a case-study for future prevention. A by-the-book cop is assigned to be the bank robber , and he takes his job veeery seriously .
From killing, slapping, suffocating, raping (all fake for the mock trial), to his grand escape - he keeps his boss and cops on their toes the entire ride . Hopefully his superiors learn a thing or two from their master criminal cop - DirectorRyu Seung-wanStarsHa Jung-wooHan Suk-kyuRyu Seung-beomJong-seong, a North Korean ghost agent, interrupts an illegal arms sale in Berlin. A notorious North Korean agent tests the loyalties of everyone involved as Jong-Seong prepares to make the ultimate sacrifice.They double-crossed the wrong spy ..
A made-man spy gets set up by his corrupt superiors who's covering their "cleaner" loose ends. A botched arms deal gone wrong opens up suspicions of a leak of information , and four groups (N. Korea, S. Korea, Israel, Mossad) are tossed in the fray looking for answers
The screenplay is a bit too large for the story to follow , barely introducing and giving backstories to all the characters in the investigation .. Its a bit confusing who's double-crossing who , but of course once the action starts, nothing else matters as the story flows like water til the final showdown.
1st half sets the tone of the movie (investigations within double-crosses) , 2nd half is a full-on thrill ride
You know you're enjoying Asian cinema when both characters run out of ammo - and immediately ensue into a pistol-whip kungfu battle (..... just because)
7.5/10 .......... and a Part 2 is definitely on the way - DirectorJin JangStarsShin Hyeon-junShin Ha-kyunWon BinFour unlikely assassins genuinely care about their customers and victims, meanwhile a prosecutor is on their trail.Follows a family of romantic assassins and their preparations before hits
One of them is super clean and deadly accurate, one is a bumbling hot-head who falls in love, the older brother who's the leader and planner, and little brother who's the whiz head and narrator .
A cop gets on their case as he links the trail of bodies to a suspicious license plate . But the cop likes their style , and decides to have fun with them instead of arresting them
Low-key comedy w/ some action and small romance scenes - DirectorKang Je-kyuStarsJang Dong-gunJoe OdagiriBingbing FanIn World War II-era Korea, rival runners, one Korean (Jang Dong-gun) and one Japanese (Joe Odagiri), go to war together against the Soviets.Two childhood marathon rivals become friends as they transgress through the perils of regional war: Japan, Russia, and Germany
Beginning is a mini sports movie - only part worth mentioning
Their journey during the Japanese stint is the main outliner shaping the rest of their adventure during the movie - DirectorKyung-taek KwakStarsYu Oh-seongJu Jin-moKim Woo-bin17 years after the events of first movie, Choi Sung-hoon, Lee Han Dong's son, who grew up in abusive family, and has fallen to life of petty crime, ends up in jail, same one where Lee Jeong-suk is serving his sentence. Choi Sung-hoon's mother there visits Lee Jeong-suk and begs him to take her son under his protection. Being Lee Han Dong's childhood friend he agrees, and Choi Sung-hoon who never had any sort of proper role model in his life, is quickly swayed by this senior. But what will happen when Choi Sung-hoon learns why is Lee Jeong-suk sentenced in the first place?Decent runner-up to Friend , giving more depth into the storyline . This film follows Jeo-Sook and the gangster legacy continuing 17 years after his sentencing
The son of one of the women from their childhood (Dong-Su child) grows up violently rising in the ranks in a gang . After he gets arrested , he befriends Jeo-Sook in jail and becomes one of his right-hand men
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Film pays homage to the Godfather: Flashbacks to Papa Gangster beginnings, family ties, hospital set-up,
Good action , sweet motorbike scenes , and more stylized version of Friend
Recommended if you like a continuation of the franchise - DirectorUi-seok JoStarsLee Byung-hunGang Dong-wonKim Woo-binSouth Korea's financial crime unit launches a manhunt for a con man involved in a nationwide financial fraud after he absconds with the money and takes on a new identity.An investigation team closes in on a pyramid-scheme organization in Korea worth billions .. When their operation blows up the con-man stages his death and relocates to the Phillipines
First half: investigations team closing in on arresting One-Network the easy and legal way
Second half: investigations team going undercover as money launderers as another strategy of taking down One-Network - DirectorMin-ho WooStarsLee Byung-hunCho Seung-wooBaek Yun-shikA former political henchman seeks out revenge for being dropped by a ruthless politician while a determined investigator tries to find proof of a connection between the two of them.The intertwining tale of three powerful men (Congressman, News Editor, Motor Company Typhoon) who rule the Nation , and a prosecutor and a vengeful mobster trying to bring them down
7/10 - DirectorKim Ki-dukStarsJo Min-sooLee Jung-JinWoo Ki-hongA loan shark is forced to reconsider his violent lifestyle after the arrival of a mysterious woman claiming to be his long-lost mother.Story focuses on a Loan shark who cripples people if they don't pay his absurd rates . One day he gets a visit from his abandoned mother and begins to experience a change of heart in the way he treats people and conducts business ...
- DirectorJee-woon KimStarsLee Byung-hunChoi Min-sikJeon Gook-hwanA secret agent exacts revenge on a serial killer through a series of captures and releases.bloody madness , slightly overhyped ...
P.S.: Mainly famous for extreme gore
Backstories were never told , the reasoning behind the violence - from both the killer and the cop - are never explained ..
For the hardcore fans of senseless violence
7/10 - DirectorJo Byung-SukShin Jae HoShin Jai-HoStarsKim Jae-wonHa Ji-WonJin Tae-hyunA cute, poor, Korean high school senior's dumped by her boyfriend so she kicks a beer can hitting a handsome driver, who "crashes" his convertible. He insists on 3M won/USD3000 in damages. She can work it off over 100 days. Comedy follows.Rom-com featuring a high-school student falling in love in the college boy a-hole
The two meet one fateful day , when Ji-Won Ha "damages" the a-holes car .. As payback , he writes up a fake contract -- $30 for 100 days slave contract . Ji-Won agrees (feared of getting sued) , and becomes the a-holes errand boy for the next 100 days ..
Of course , spending 3 months tied to someone going out and doing activities every single day .. somebody's bound to fall in love .. if not both . - DirectorPark Chan-wookStarsSong Kang-hoShin Ha-kyunBae DoonaA recently laid off factory worker kidnaps his former boss' friend's daughter, hoping to use the ransom money to pay for his sister's kidney transplant.Revenge on revenge on revenge on revenge --- Art-house Style
Had potential , cool concept .... but pacing too slow .
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A deaf man wants a kidney transplant for his sister .. He gets robbed by organ donors in process , so now he needs double the money to cover loss. He kidnaps his boss daughter , there's a freak accident by the lake - and now father wants revenge ......
Have sympathy for this poor deaf man ... the movie poster doesn't do this man any justice - DirectorJung Byung-gilStarsJeong Jae-yeongPark Shi-hooJung Hae-kyunLee Du-Seok publishes an autobiography describing murders he committed after the statute of limitations expires. A detective and one of the victim's mothers search for the author while an anonymous person claims to be the real killer.The 50/50 Love it or Hate it Thriller in Korea
The movie is a guide on PR and Media stunts for serial killers - becoming famous off unsolved murders ..
As convoluted the entirety of this movie was , the ending will somehow hit you in the feels
6.8/10
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11/10 in Message of Media over Justice - DirectorDae-min ParkStarsYoo Seung-hoJeon Ah-heeKo Chang-seokBased on the popular conman character of KIM Seon-dal from Korean folktale who famously sold the water of Daedong River.Period-piece Swindler's tale
A swindler and his band of thieves set out on an adventure to steal from the King who sold out his people -- a cop who's been following his crimes is on the case
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Story is a bit over-loaded , and the heists aren't that clearly explained .. but its entertaining, colorful, and comical nonetheless
Also comes with happy ending :)
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P.S. :: Around the 48:30min mark the meanest cleanest most epic slap in Asian cinema history - DirectorHan-min KimStarsChoi Min-sikRyu Seung-ryongCho Jin-woongAdmiral Yi Sun-sin faces a tough challenge when he is forced to defend his nation with just 13 battleships against 300 Japanese enemy ships in the Battle of Myeongryang."Turn your Fear into Courage"
With a hard-head, willpower strong as the ocean, and a little bit of luck on your side , any thing is possible.
First half is the build-up: Japanese stregthening its lines of offense, Korea's Admiral indebted, ailing, and abandoned struggling to finish his prized Turtle ship ..
Second half is the battle: Admiral takes the sea with 12 ships, places them strategically (?) across the ocean's waters - guarding a narrow strait the Japanese must cross through if they hope of conquering Korea.
With brass balls the size of Buddha anything is possible . - DirectorJoon-Hwan JangStarsShin Ha-kyunBaek Yun-shikHwang Jung-minByeong-gu believes that the world is on the verge of an alien invasion, and sets out to save the world.More of a drama than a comedy .....
A kid (insane or chosen one?) kidnaps a CEO (Alien or Human?) convinced this man is the leader of Pure-Breed Humans spawned from Andromeda aliens . He takes this man to his secret base and puts him through a series of torture endurance tests to see how strong his Alien DNA is .
For alien/reptilians/conspiracy/sci-fi-mystery-horror(?) lovers - must see
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Great storyline , but a stale pace