New World (2013) User Reviews

Gripping and spectacular

[Phyxi · 8/10 · 30 June 2013]

'New World' is an epic gangster film from South Korean director, Park Hoon-jung. With actors such as Choi Min-sik (probably most well known for his role as Dae-su in 'Oldboy'), I was expecting this film to deliver something spectacular. And, well, it did. For the duration of the narrative, I could not tear my eyes away from the screen. While the pace of most films of this length tends to slow, or get a little dull, 'New World' kept a steady rhythm, full of political intrigue.

Undercover cop, Ja-seong (played by Lee Jeong-jae), leads a dual life. He has his job as a policeman, and the role of a gangster in a large crime syndicate that goes under the name of 'Goldmoon.' When the boss of the syndicate is killed in a car accident, Chief Kang (Choi Min- sik) puts a new project into effect called 'Operation New World'. The purpose of this operation is to ensure that one of the undercover cops in the syndicate will rise to a position of power. The ultimate aim is for the syndicate to be in the hands of, or at least easily manipulated by, a trusted law enforcer.

Ja-seong finds himself torn between his duties as a cop, and his loyalties to 'brother,' and gang member, Jung Chung (Hwang Jung-min). Putting more hours, and more effort into his work, Ja-seong finds less time at home with his pregnant wife, and more into the syndicate 'family'. Acting as a bridge between the law, and the underworld, the loyalty of Ja-seong is rarely questioned by his acquaintances. Yet, it is apparent that Ja-seong beings to question the nature of loyalty, and of betrayal. As he prepares to dive further into the syndicate, his confusion becomes ever more apparent.

Some of the conversations in 'New World' were gripping, and the portrayal of violent acts was just spectacular. The use of blood in these instances, paired with close ups, were some of the most aesthetically pleasing moments in the film. While not extremely violent, 'New World' uses violence in a manner that complements the pace of the film. The ruthless nature of the law, and the syndicate, was highlighted in these instances, and it is apparent that both sides can be as manipulative, and as corrupt, as one other. All the while, in the midst of this corruption, Ja-seong must find a place of power to call his own; he must create a whole new world.

Amazing acting and character development pardon for a predictable story

[kluseba · 8/10 · 14 August 2013]

When the leader of a crime syndicate called "Goldmoon" gets assassinated, there are three potential followers who battle for absolute power. Caught in between the growing tension is undercover agent Lee Ja-Sung, played by the extraordinary newcomer actor Lee Jong- Jae, who wants to retire after eight years of service with his girlfriend being pregnant. He has become the right hand and even good friend of one of the three potential followers who is the provocateur Jung Chung, played by a superb Hwang Jeong-Min, and is suddenly in the middle of the action. Chief Kang, played by one of Korea's greatest actors ever, Choi Min-Sik, wants his undercover cop to do one last dangerous mission called "Operation New World" and intervene in the selection process for the next crime syndicate leader. Soon, people all around Lee Ja-Sung are dying and the rumour is spread that at least one undercover agent has infiltrated the syndicate. Lee Ja-Sung has to quickly take several important decisions before he gets uncovered.

"New World" is a very well played gangster movie with addicting characters and much better than last year's "Nameless Gangster" that had no gripping story line and too many slapstick elements in it. This movie is dark and tension filled but especially the acting is outstanding. Several characters develop throughout this movie. The old and tired number two in the syndicate suddenly develops some new ambitions and is ready to do anything for it. The other two potential followers are a naive and obscene character and and a cold and dangerous one but both of them also change throughout this film with the first one becoming more brutal but mature at the same time and the second one becoming too arrogant and uncontrolled.

At the beginning of the movie, the viewers have a clear idea of who are the bad and who are the good guys but this also changes throughout the movie. While the police risks the lives of their agents without pity, you begin to see that some gangsters are more human than others as well. All these developments lead to a spectacular but also predictable ending. Those who don't know the genre might fall for some minor twists here and there but those who are experts of the gangster movie genre won't be taken by surprise.

This is maybe the weak point of the movie. It adds nothing new to the gangster flick genre apart of the emotional acting. The story is very predictable and you feel as if you've had watched all of this before a couple of times. That's why this movie also has a couple of lengths. After an intriguing opening and a few exciting scenes in the second part of the movie, director Park Hoon-Jung maybe takes too much time to introduce all characters and employs too many dialogues. Maybe this was necessary to understand who is who but the whole thing could have been more dynamical in my opinion. That's where this movie is too traditional against its own good and not a far call from many American gangster flicks. With all these great actors involved, one could have created a true masterpiece but this film is ultimately only a very good and realistic gangster flick which is still great to watch but there is some wasted potential as well.

Fans of crime and gangster movies should definitely try out this film. Those who have liked the actors involved in here before should also dig this flick even though the amazing Choi Min-Sik is a little bit under- used in my opinion. In the end, it's hard to tell if this movie is worth a seven or a eight star rating. I would probably choose the middle of it as many users on this site. As the acting in here is quite exceptional, I though decided to go for the more positive evaluation in the end.

By far the best Korean movie of the year

[ceokim83 · 9/10 · 8 May 2013]

I don't know if it was coincidence or these actors choose a great movie all the time but when I see a movie with Hwang Jungmin, who played Jeong Chang, or Choi Minshik, chief Kang, I automatically know that it's going to be a good movie.

I didn't like Lee Jungjae at times when he was trying to correctly pronounce each syllable, but he played the role superbly.

As for the story-line and how the conclusion of the movie unfolds, wow. I was lost in words. The same feeling I got when I watched Shiri about 13 years ago.

"When everyone turned their back on me, he called me a brother."

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome. No other word can better describe how the movie is.

Superb gangster flick from the writer of "I saw the devil"

[sulaco_in · 10/10 · 8 April 2013]

I am surprised that more people (especially my friends from South Korea) haven't reviewed this excellent movie so far. Perhaps they know of better Korean cinema to view and review!! I for one am from India (settled in the US) and big fan of Korean films, which were introduced to me by a Korean friend of mine during my graduate school days here in the US. Anyhow, this is the only Korean movie I could lay my hands on in a theater close to me (I generally see Korean movies on Netflix or home video). Perhaps it is my excitement of having watched a Korean movie in a movie theater after so long which has me biased in favor of this film. But I think not, as the rating right now on IMDb is 7.7/10. Anyways, here goes.

This is an amazing movie. Like the only other reviewer here has said, it mixes elements of "The Godfather" with "The Departed". It also reminded me of a Hindi art house movie which is not so well known (unfortunately) called "Droh Kaal" (1994 by director Govind Nihalani). Park Hoon-Jung being an accomplished writer (I loved his "I saw the devil"), does craft an original and engaging story. Violence is heavy handed when it is depicted and makes you cringe, but I don't mind that personally. I loved the costumes (every gangster in the movie wears designer suits which should be the envy of Wall Street executives). In fact, its the law enforcement officials who are comparatively shabbily dressed. The feel and atmosphere is subtly captured by cinematographer Chung Chung-hoon. I love his camera work, which was only recently at display in "Stoker" (by Park chan-wook), which I saw the day it was out. It was also a treat to see Choi min-shik ("Oldboy") again after "I saw the devil".

Overall, the movie kept me on the edge of my seat and was really entertaining. It is definitely much better than what Hollywood is churning out these days (with a few exceptions of course). Let me hope they don't butcher my favorite "Oldboy". I would highly recommend "New World", please do go and see it in a theater to really get the feel (like I said earlier, the cinematography is top-notch and needs to be seen on a big screen to be believed!).

New World is 2 hours and 12 minutes long, and every single second, is exciting

[BloodyNovocaine · 10/10 · 23 July 2013]

There are very few movies which makes you jump from your seat, clap (even though you are watching it alone in your laptop), entertained, excited and happy. I was lucky enough to go through all the above emotions on multiple levels while watching 'New World'. 2013 was a big year for cinema lovers. We saw the son of krypton resurfaced, we saw the Iron Legion and even the Wrath of Khan. Yet, 'New World', is the best movie I have seen in 2013, till date.

Now what makes 'New World' beat the big guns which came out this year. It certainly did not have the leverage of breath taking CGI, nor mind bending plot lines. It did not have any particular fan favorite tags like the super hero genre, apart from Min-Choi of Oldboy and I Saw The Devil fame, no one in the Western hemisphere knows the actors. The director cum writer, is relatively unknown. So what is so great about it? It is the actors, the characters, the screenplay, the haunting BGM, the cinematography, the art direction, the story and every single piece of this movie. It was epic for me. It was just lying around in my hard drive since last 3 weeks. Did not even care to go for it, even though Min-Choi was in it, and today I wanted to see a Korean flick, and bang!

The story has shades of 'The Infernal Affairs' trilogy, yet it differentiates itself with its characters and screenplay. It is enjoyable to watch. You get to see a lot of twists, more importantly enjoyable twists in this movie. It is shot stylishly and supported by an amazingly haunting background score. Cinematography and art direction are astonishing. It indeed makes you wanna stand in rain in front of the towering skylines of South Korea.

The acting is top notch. Every single major characters have been portrayed by the actors flawlessly. Min-Choi is 'just' and 'corrupted' just like a the 2 sides of a coin, and he gives a solid performance. This guy should go to Hollywood, he will own them. Lee Jeong is the one who plays the protagonist. I was surprised to learn that, this is his first movie ever, and at no point, he looked like a novice. The performance, I enjoyed the most was of, Jeong-min Hwang. As of today. I am a fan of this dude. Every single scene he is in, he steals the show. The friendship between his and the central character kinda managed to squeeze in a tear from my eyes.

This is the best movie I have seen this year. 10 on 10 Period!

Wow........

[rightwingisevil · 2 July 2013]

what a great Korean movie! the screenplay is shockingly and amazingly good. the scenario, the twists of the plots...OMG, just like a Russian artifact egg, so many smaller eggs one after another hidden inside another; a perfect onion, so many layers inside one after another, so subtly and so purposely wrapped each other. this is by far the most fantastic undercover film ever made after 'the infernal affair' and the adaptation 'the departed'. the special effects and the stunt of this film are also top notched. thank god there's no disgusting overly used visual effects done by computer, but more convincing stunts. the performances of all the actors, female or male, are also did great jobs. pay attention to the guy who played with the plant leaves, broken it, then sneakly turned the vase around a little bit to hide the broken leaf, that scene, well, was so good. the twists of the plot would make you sit up a bit straighter to the edge of your sofa or chair, 'cause it's that thrilling and suspenseful. love this movie and Hollywood, just give me a break, will you guys, don't adapt it into an inferior film again.

Derivative

[aron_c_t · 7/10 · 7 September 2013]

Maybe I've seen too many gangster movies (is that possible?), but this one doesn't quite cut it for me. It isn't terrible but it lacks the subtlety and character development of the films it is clearly inspired by. What it does have is solid brutality, decent acting and good cinematography. There is something cool about a bunch of slickly dressed dudes walking in unison. Hwang JeongMin is particularly good. If you're new to the Korean gangster genre, I recommend you see A Bittersweet Life for the gold standard. Otherwise, I think you're better off re-watching Infernal Affairs, The Departed, or Reservoir Dogs.

This Movie Will Not Disappoint. I Guarantee.

[queenofeverything-966-488196 · 10/10 · 5 August 2013]

Maybe it's a little excessive to give this movie a 10/10 rating, but GOD it is so amazing.

1. Fantastic cast of top-notch Korean actors who DELIVER it hot n' ready in under 30 minutes.

2. Cinematography, excellent.

3. Script, wow. Never a line delivered that I cringed at how corny it was, which I find tends to happen more often for me watching a foreign film. Unlike so many American films, there's real character development and the story may be filled with some of the best actions scenes and Korea mafia tension you'd expect, but the greatest moments are the intimacies between the characters in the film. You think you're getting an action flick, but it is so much more.

I cannot recommend this movie more than I already have, I saw this almost by accident and went in with little to no expectations of quality or anything of the like. I really went because I recognize the actor from Oldboy, who is in his own right amazing in every role I've seen him in.

A great Korean neo-noir title

[neonoirkorea · 7/10 · 23 October 2022]

Lee Ja Sung is an undercover cop sent by Chief Kang to infiltrate Goldmoon, a corporate entity run by criminals. However, he finds himself in a difficult situation after the chairman of Goldmoon suddenly dies because he is still forced to keep his identity while Chief Kang becomes a Chessmaster for the movie.

The whole point of the plot was all about Ja Sung's identity and whether he will stick to his mission as an undercover cop or become a full-fledged criminal. Guess what? He chose the latter at the end of the film.

What I liked about the film is that it placed emphasis on Ja Sung's struggle to stick to his mission and the ills of the police force that shaped his identity at the ending of the film. My only criticism of this movie is that it borrowed many elements from Infernal Affairs (a Hong Kong movie)

If this movie had been made in Hollywood it would swallow up all the Oscar buzz for the year.

[Guacamole_Bandit · 10/10 · 17 September 2013]

There's nothing more to say in order to recommend it, but IMDb requires me to so here goes.

If this were made in Hollywood, we wouldn't even be calling it Korean Godfather or Korean Infernal Affairs or a cross between the two. It is its own beast and excels at the most fundamental aspects of film-making in a way even the aforementioned films weren't always able to.

It's not perfect, I'd give it a 8.5 out or 9 out of 10 if I really wanted to be critical but it manages to carve out a place for itself in one of cinema's deepest genres. We haven't seen this kind of heavily character drama driven take on the genre before (and lucky for us, it was done so well!).

A well written story

[zain-nov · 7/10 · 27 December 2015]

At time, 'New World' would seem just another movie. With elements borrowed from many past famous movies. But still it has that fresh taste thanks to that brilliant cinematography and editing. We have seen many movies with an undercover cop who wants to get out of the life (Infernal Affair & The Departed) and we have seen movies where left and right hands fight to reach to the throne. It is a mix of both of those types with addition of brutality and emotions.

An undercover cop, who becomes part of the biggest mob family as his clan merges with others to form an organization. A decade has passed since he is in the job and now wants to get out. But his boss is constantly breaking his promise to pull him out and keeps on blackmailing him to stay put. Finally he embraces his fate and burns all the boats.

On important part of movie is him relation with closest friend who protects him till the end and in fact is the one who advises him to choose for himself instead of being a pawn and living in shadows.The use of young boys as mobsters fighting with other mobsters of same age group is a new thing. Another visual treat is that all the men are dressed in formal suits. Very well acted, powerfully written a strong story of kind heart cop turned into cold blooded Don.

Subtle, ironic and full of ambiguity

[nftravel-740-284044 · 10/10 · 17 July 2013]

Brilliant movie, definitely one of the best in a row of other Korean masterpieces of the last decade -- such as "The Front Line" (2011), "The Host" (2006), "Crossing" (2008), "The Foul King" (2000), "Santamaria" (2008)...

Hoon-Jung Park has created the whole 'New World' for his audience, where everybody can find his own senses and accents. I watched it four times, just to catch all these nuances, embedded into the fabric of the story. Finally, you are ready to cry at what you were beginning to laugh at, and vice versa. I give it 10 out of 10, because am not able to invent any improvements to this full-fledged performance. Current generation of Korean directors, scriptwriters and actors is definitely a product of a self-contained school, whose distinctive feature is, so to say, Uncertainty. There are no bad guys or good guys, you are free to rearrange your sympathies until the last film shot, and even further. Just like an ordinary life, which teaches us not to be rigid and inexorable, Korean film school shows us, very inventive, ironic and gently, all the variety of circumstances and reactions.

A Korean riff on INFERNAL AFFAIRS

[simonize850 · 7/10 · 28 October 2013]

I was initially confused by the relationship between the two principal leads, introduced early in the film. Their personalities were so different as to be conflicting. Then with the introduction of a third male lead, one considerably older, just as abrasive but considerably less well groomed things started to fall into place.

The two young men- JANG, stiff and seemingly humourless - appears pitted against JEONG -loud, obnoxious and yet with some charm. They are both members of Korean crime syndicate, that has managed to go legitimate. The third man - Section Chief KANG - is pulling any number of strings to bring down the syndicate before it becomes too powerful to stop.

As such fans and devotees of both INFERNAL AFFAIRS and Martin SCORCESE's remake THE DEPARTED may find parallels in the actors TONY LEUNG; ANDY LAU, and ANTHONY WONG.

I don't think the comparison between NEW WORLD; INTERNAL AFFAIRS, and THE DEPARTED far fetched - there is even a young woman comparable to the psychiatrist in INFERNAL AFFAIRS. This woman plays chess with JANG, though their meetings serve another purpose.

NEW WORLD is a reminder of how we were introduced to contemporary Korean cinema. Heroes and villains separated by the finest of lines; violence ever present and visceral, with hands, knives and assorted other weapons other than guns meting out terrible damage (it's stunning how much one key player survives).

I am giving the film only 7/10 because once I reflected on the key characters and their possible relationships, the story held few surprises for me. Furthermore the length of the film -135 minutes - works against its overall momentum. That said, NEW WORLD is professionally executed and a nice addition to Korean filmmaking.

PS: I was taken aback at how much swearing and coarse language the film contains. Is this a sign of the times in Korean film, or a concession to international markets?

Recycled and overdone

[CiccioButcher · 5/10 · 8 June 2014]

While I admit the overall idea is great, the execution is not and this is obvious from the very first scenes. The acting is overdone by the main characters, at least for the crime/thriller movie. Maybe it would've been great as a musical :). Anyways, there are serious plot holes: man with a knife kills a person with a gun in a rather naive hand to hand combat although the person with a gun notices the killer slowly approaching from 5+ meters away; ilogical assumptions on the police database, atrocious security setup around the people that are very powerful and have everything to lose, lack of any skills by pretty much anyone (marksmanship and/or combat skills) etc. Fighting scenes are laughably naive, the script feels empty and the timing of events is always too convenient and feels obviously set-up, even for a movie. The final result is that the "New world" is kind of boring.

The Departed meets Godfather with a good dose of swagger.

[azn_amarillo · 8/10 · 7 March 2013]

Korean cinema has matured immensely over the past decade and 2013 has already seen The Berlin File which I believe would show quite well overseas. New World is perhaps a more domestically oriented movie that would be enjoyed more by those who understand Korean culture, however the casual movie-goer will definitely not be let down.

Take The Departed (Infernal Affairs) and Godfather, mix it in a blender, add a dash of Korean gangster and you've got a slick thriller that offers a bit of the brutal violence Korean cinema is known for as well as some humor. While not as polished as the Berlin File, it's arguably a better movie when it comes to plot.

All in all, it looks like a great start to the year for Korean movies.

"I'm a undercover cop, the rules are different"

[KineticSeoul · 8/10 · 29 August 2013]

This is one of the best Asian gangster film I seen. Sure the story maybe a bit far-fetched and unrealistic. But for the direction it goes, it just doesn't have much other alternatives. Plus the payoff makes it worth it. All the cast in this did a fantastic job or at least fit the roles totally. What I especially liked about this flick is how, just about all the characters aren't just set in stone. There are hidden colors for each of them. The story brings out the corruption, the manipulation, the scheming, human ambitions and how the environment can have a effect. Watching this film made me think of the Chinese film "Infernal Affairs" not because of the similarities when it comes to the characters and story. But how well done the intentions and direction is. The plot is about a undercover cop that is caught in a dilemma while being in a notorious crime organization in Korea while also being a cop. While watching this film, I wondered about those Hong Kong undercover cop flicks and thought...What if it went in a different direction? And that is what this film brings out. Sure it does have all the typical Asian gangster elements but it's also a different gangster film. The plot is enticing, cool and absorbing. It brings about quite a bit of twists and turns, especially when it comes to the characters inner being. Overall it's a film that can be enjoyed by anyone that likes gangster films, undercover cop films, or just a film with a good script in general.

8.5/10

The Best Korean Mob Film Since A Bittersweet Life.

[CinemaClown · 18 March 2014]

A highly gripping portrait of Korean crime syndicate, New World is arguably the best mob film to come out from South Korea since Kim Jee-woon's A Bittersweet Life & is an ingeniously structured, stylishly filmed, firmly composed & violently told cinema that shares a similar thematic structure with Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather. Opening with a bloodied face of a person being tortured as he is suspected of being the mole in the gang, this crime-drama sets the tone for what's to come & as the film progresses, becomes more & more engrossing until it all culminates on a rousing high with an expertly executed finale.

The plot covers the conflicts between the police & the mob through the eyes of an undercover cop who has worked his way up over the past 8 years to become the right hand man of the second-in-command for the throne of Goldmoon; the biggest crime syndicate in Korea. When its leader is killed in a car accident, the crime ring is thrown into a succession struggle of which both the police & the mob wants to make the most of and which in the end comes down to our undercover cop, who must finally make a choice that'll decide the fate of this crime organization.

Outstanding well written & directed by Park Hoon-jung who does a superb job in shaping the story & even better at illustrating it on the screen, skilfully photographed too with fine use of close-ups & camera angles, tightly edited as the film flies through its 134 minutes of runtime, spectacularly scored with music making its way in or out of scenes at the right moments & strongly performed by its stellar cast, New World works because of a combination of many things it does right & is one of the best films of last year plus one of the most impressive mob films in a long time. Do not miss it.

Familiar world

[deastman_uk · 6/10 · 19 October 2013]

Frankly, I'll go a long way to see a Korean movie. While this film doesn't quite have the exuberance or originality of some recent examples, it is an entertaining example of the Asian cops vs gangsters format. But the field is very well stocked, and to be fair this film ticks the boxes without standing out.

The acting and direction of the main protagonists keeps the important development tight, while allowing for those languorous scenes that Hollywood directors remove. But the characters are so watchable, even when fishing in a warehouse, and cursing each other in a language I understand none of.

There are a couple of notably stylish action sequences, as well as slightly too many standard scenes (funeral, boardroom, hospital etc) that we are all too familiar with. If you have seen Infernal Affairs, then you won't struggle to follow the plot.

Korean cinema is now big enough to carry the merely good along with the excellent. And while this effort should be enjoyed in that vein.

Another knockout South Korean gangster flick.

[Ser_Stephen_Seaworth · 9/10 · 4 July 2013]

"New World" is, at its core, about a man torn in his loyalty between law and lawlessness. It is easy to understand why Ja-sung hesitates in going along with Operation New World. Jung Chung is a charismatic man, excellently played by Hwang Jung-min, but the undying trust that Jung places in his underling shows itself poignantly in both men's performances. Choi Min-sik, who has made a career of playing heavies so well, shows he's equally adept at taking on responsibilities on the right side of the law. All three men play these roles to the hilt, perfectly portraying the high-stakes tension associated with the game at hand.

True to form for Korean cinema, some pretty vicious punishments are doled out in graphic detail (in one scene, a snitch is forced to guzzle wet cement; in another, an undercover cop is stuffed in a barrel). But what makes the film so engrossing is the tension that broods over the film, the threat of exposure that permeates every second of its runtime. The director certainly has a wonderful handle on the atmosphere, something that should put him in a tier with Park Chan-wook (of "Oldboy" fame).

"New World" does feel like the spiritual successor of films like "Infernal Affairs" and its Oscar- winning remake "The Departed". And like Scorsese's take on it, the film is masterfully crafted, with lovely cinematography and a true gem of a musical score adding to the foreboding nature of the piece. I would even go so far as to say that I think "New World" is an improvement on those other films, in that I feel it keeps all of the tension while erasing the kinks that I feel dragged them down (no Nicholson-esque dildo gags or Farmiga-level awfulness here, viewers).

"New World" works smashingly, continuing in that fine South Korean tradition of great and gritty crime dramas. It may lack the sheer visceral nature of the "Vengeance" trilogy and virtuoso acting of "I Saw the Devil", but this thriller is strangely personal, with brusque action and merciless Mamet-like urgency keeping us on the edge of our seat. If Marty decided to try his hand at another remake, he'd do well to consider this one.

New World doesn't seem that new...

[asandor · 6/10 · 14 July 2015]

New World is a crime thriller about an undercover cop, Lee Ja-sung (played by Lee Jung-jae) navigating the underworld as those around him conspire to shake things up. Lee is undercover in a super- criminal gang that has gotten a bit too big for the Korean police force. After the death of the organization's leader, those both within and without the organization vie for power, and Lee is stuck in the middle.

This film had a very Godfather-esque plot, with similar music to boot. In fact the plot is so similar, that I found the "twist" at the end to be easily determinable, and the plot a bit stale. It was never in poor taste however, and kept me entertained right up to the end.

The actors themselves were good enough, with Lee Jung-jae leading the pack. His taught nerves and emotional stress were clear throughout the film. Choi Min-sik, one of my favourite Korean actors, felt a bit wasted in this film however, as the hard-boiled police retainer.

This movie was well shot too. The cinematography was interestingly done. The corporate landscape shone and contrasted nicely with the subdued costumes (mostly suits) that the characters wore constantly. However, the costumes seemed to get old, and the lack of variety (everyone always wore suits, all the time, without fail) was baffling.

Overall, the film was enjoyable, well acted, and pretty to look at. There was some wasted talent (Choi Min-sik), a weak and clichéd gangster film plot and some stale costume choices, but the film stilled turned out pretty OK.

Again, I enjoyed this film, but it did seem a bit stale and had a few directional choices I did not quite enjoy. This is a good fit for the gangster genre, but it is definitely not the best of its kind. 6/10

Korean Godfather, yes that good!

[tiagoss · 9/10 · 7 August 2013]

I normally go see Korean movies for the action pack scenes, and some good acting on occasion. This movie took me completely off guard, the screenplay and storytelling are awesome. The actors are stupendous, the plot is unbelievable good, and when the movie unfolds the Machiavellian story starts to unwind every little hidden piece. The action scenes are good as expected, but that is not really what stands out in this movie, the real deal is the actors depth in portraying a story to make this movie brilliant. Please check this movie out, and see it through till the amazing end parts.

PS: my 10 is saved for the Godfather masterpiece ;-)

Feels 'copied' and 'unoriginal'.

[Amyth47 · 6/10 · 16 July 2019]

My Rating : 6/10

The pacing is too slow and it's not as satisfying as 'Memories of Murder' or 'Oldboy' for example.

It's got all the usual Korean thriller traits - slick production, amazing characters, sharp dialogues, twisted gore, gangsters in suits, action, humour - but still feels rather unoriginal and fails to impress on a deeper level.

Not bad for a pleasure-of-the-first-viewing type movie, not rewatchable like a 'Memories of Murder' though.

Another classic

[kosmasp · 9/10 · 23 February 2014]

I don't use the word classic lightly here, but this movie deserves it. It has all the right ingredients and even though it may be predictable from time to time (therefor not full 10 out of 10 from me), it never seizes to amaze. Be it the way it was shot, the acting, editing, scoring and the general storytelling.

But if you can't watch movies from Asia (like the great Chinese Infernal Affairs before this), then you might not welcome this movie with the embrace I have. Korean action cinema has gotten a lot of attention in the last two decades and this movie just proves, that there is more to come. I'm not sure I'm looking forward to an American Remake, seeing they are mixed bags (a good "Departed" being followed by a very weak "Old Boy" to name but two).

tgchan.com

[tgchan · 7/10 · 10 May 2020]

This is what happens when you push too far...

tgchan's rating: 7.5 /10

Amazing acting, intriguing and gripping story, solid balance between action & story unravel. Nothing really new here but it is interesting from the very start to the very end. It is not high-paced but it won't make you sleep either.

A perfect movie for non-thinking people

[Aristides-2 · 1/10 · 8 October 2015]

Ghastly because of its non-originality. Illogical too in some scenes; Mr. Big is dozing in the back of his limo, two bodyguards in front seats. Late at night in the totally deserted ferry parking line up. Another car pulls up next to them but the moronic supposed bodyguards, just stay parked instead of peeling away or pulling out their guns and maybe even firing away. Remember folks, Mr. Big is the godfather of the yakuza. Then their car pulls forward abruptly and the driver, apparent lacking peripheral vision and deaf to boot, gets slammed by a speeding, noisy truck coming from his left. The truck, by the way, appears supernaturally since it wasn't seen in the master establishing shot earlier. Final thought: I can suspend disbelief but not my intelligence.