City of the Rising Sun (1998) User Reviews

Another Sung-Su Kim-Woo-Sung Jung youth movie

[sunhee_yongdae_lee · 7/10 · 21 October 2000]

This movie is at the extension of "Beat", Sung-Su Kim-Woo-Sung Jung combination's 1997 hit. Of course, this movie is a bit different from "Beat". Jung-Jae Lee, another Korean stud actor, joined the combination and the female character, Mimi, has less value than Romi. Also the ending is also not as tragic as "Beat". However, "Te yang eun up da" still talks about depression of youth and their struggle for a better tomorrow in Wang-Kar Wai like cinematography. This movie is less violent and dynamic than "Beat" but the drama is more intense. Do Chul, a boxer, has a dream to be a champion but he's got some dieseas that makes him nose bleed during the game and faints him. Hong Ki has a dream to be a millionaire and owns some buildings but all he can be is a hoodlum. They know that it's nearly impossible.

Many people assert the importance of keeping the dream and the hope. This movie asks if it's wise to go for the dreams when it seems impossible in reality. However, the movie doesn't give audiences the answer.

Passable Korean drama

[alain-kapel5 · 6/10 · 9 February 2024]

This dynamic drama was the first collaboration of Korean stars Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo-sung.

While I appreciate the stars' acting and the film's sometimes gritty approach, I wasn't too satisfied by the execution. Despite showcasing a lot of energy, the cinematography often lurches into MTV-video mode, complete with common slo-mo effects and sometimes frenetic cutting. It undermines the story and makes it feel like a fashion advertisement rather than a serious slice-of-life drama. Not to mention Lee and Jung posing like models for like half the film. :)

Would be recommended if you can get past its too obvious adoration for its actors. It isn't bad, but it does kinda meander in its second half. Thankfully this wasn't their last collab, for they seriously upped their game for 2022's Hunt.

"BEAT"-- five years later, and with soul

[hwarangdo · 10/10 · 13 May 2002]

This is my favorite Asian film. The reason? Not only can I relate to the story and the characters, but every movie-making element I see is flawless in my mind. The acting is superb (with Lee Jung Jae sweeping the Lead Actor Awards in '99 and gaining superstardom) and the direction is worthy of a standing ovation.

Like Kim Sung-Soo's previous movie "Beat", this movie represents the lost generation in Korean society. The two main leads (one a boxer, the other a con-man) are extremely different from each other but both depend on each other to survive in the harsh reality they live in. Together they go through life, only they both find out that greed, love and pride is just waiting to ruin their friendship.

Gritty, realistic, funny, it's a film which viewers from all around the world should enjoy. If you like noir films or rebel films, this is the one for you

Intense!

[kureboy · 10/10 · 27 February 2007]

I'm glad I threw away my reluctance to watch this film, what a treat. There was never a dull portion of the movie, kept going and sucked you in...great directing and flow here. The intensity between the main characters was incredible...credible acting and emotion which I like to see in a film (who doesn't??). Mimi (I knew it was Go Eun Han the moment I saw her walk out of Hong-Gi's room) was a good addition to the group as a "crutch" to Do Chul not to mention nice eye-candy ;) Her acting was credible as well for her early acting career at the time (debut movie?). All-in-all I highly recommend you watch this movie, you won't be disappointed...even the mediocre subtitles (at times and depending on which version you picked up) cannot ruin the intensity of this movie.