In 2006 a group of South Korean missionaries was taken hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan. The very conservative moslim Taliban are no friends of anything other than their own belief, and as soon as they find out that the hostages are not volunteers, as they make them believe, they give the other side a hard time to get them released. It results in a complicated poker game of exchanges of hostages, prisoners and money. Hyun Bin is almost like a Korean James Bond involved in this action drama that contains a few very gripping scenes. Especially one pursuit is very well made. The whole story is well told down to every detail.
10 Reviews
to the makers, thanks for keeping it real !
mariamabdellatif-8297624 April 2023
I'm an egyptian, don't know much about Afghanistan other than what's on the media (which is not true most of the time) but anyway i have that stereotypical image of Afghans and Taliban.
I like that the movie is based on a true story, the makers did not hide the fact that the missionaries were going "to spread Christianity" in a "strict Muslim country" and they showed both sides of Afghanistan, kind people who believe in peace and respect to all humans and extremists who use violence for their own benefits.
Not here to defend my religion or give lectures about Islam, but it breaks my heart that people might think most of us are extreme, but I wanna thank the makers for showing that being extreme has nothing to do with religions.
Also, love the locations and sets, even the editing is fabulous, i felt convinced most of the time. Huge applause for the cast, Hyun Bin sir your dedication to every character never fails to amaze me.
I like that the movie is based on a true story, the makers did not hide the fact that the missionaries were going "to spread Christianity" in a "strict Muslim country" and they showed both sides of Afghanistan, kind people who believe in peace and respect to all humans and extremists who use violence for their own benefits.
Not here to defend my religion or give lectures about Islam, but it breaks my heart that people might think most of us are extreme, but I wanna thank the makers for showing that being extreme has nothing to do with religions.
Also, love the locations and sets, even the editing is fabulous, i felt convinced most of the time. Huge applause for the cast, Hyun Bin sir your dedication to every character never fails to amaze me.
A very well-shot film.
Top_Dawg_Critic14 July 2023
I have to say the cinematography and landscapes was top-notch in this action drama thriller, however, it certainly was lacking in the action department. In the 108 min runtime, it's all pretty much dramatics with a few thrills and the very little action scenes here and there. The flow of the story was great, and all casting and performances were convincing. The score and direction was also very good. My main let-down was the lack of any real action, especially comparing this to similar films like The Covenant and Kandahar, plus I found the main narrative - the negotiator and the negotiations was a little underwhelming and didn't make much sense. Nevertheless, a decent one-time watch on a historical true-events story.
Don't watch this if you are expecting great action , you would be dissapointed,
kumarkyle29 September 2023
"The Point Men" unfolds as a riveting and expertly crafted hostage drama, casting an unflinching spotlight on the harrowing realities of a South Korean hostage crisis. In the grand tradition of South Korean cinema, renowned for its adeptness at translating real-life incidents into compelling, no-nonsense narratives, this film stands as a testament to the nation's prowess in storytelling. In a narrative parallel to its predecessor, "Escape from Mogadishu," the film seamlessly weaves urgency into its fabric, ensuring that the audience is gripped by the relentless pace of unfolding events.
A noteworthy strength of "The Point Men" lies in its screenplay, a captivating and realistic tapestry that avoids the pitfalls of forced storytelling. The film navigates the treacherous terrain of a hostage crisis with finesse, never succumbing to contrived plot devices. The infusion of humor, skillfully executed by Kang Ki-young, serves as an additional layer of authenticity, seamlessly integrating moments of levity amidst the gravity of the situation. While the absence of elaborate action set pieces may be perceived as a drawback by some, it is a conscious choice that bolsters the plausibility of the narrative. The filmmakers prioritize the integrity of the premise over gratuitous spectacle, a commendable decision that enhances the film's credibility.
In the realm of performances, "The Point Men" benefits immensely from the formidable talents of Hyun Bin and Hwang Jung-min. Although newcomers to my cinematic purview, their prowess as actors is immediately evident. Their portrayals are marked by authenticity and naturalism, adding a layer of gravitas to the unfolding drama. The chemistry between the leads enhances the film's emotional resonance, making their characters' struggles palpable to the audience. This synergy between compelling performances and a well-crafted narrative elevates the film beyond the trappings of a conventional hostage drama.
As a thrilling exploration of a genuine hostage crisis, "The Point Men" captivates audiences with its honesty and unwavering commitment to true storytelling. Those anticipating elaborate action sequences may find themselves disappointed, as the film deliberately eschews such embellishments in favor of a more grounded depiction of events. However, for aficionados of sincere and gripping narratives, this film emerges as a compelling addition to the genre. It's a testament to South Korean cinema's ability to delve into complex, real-world scenarios, presenting them with authenticity and an engrossing narrative that resonates long after the credits roll.
A noteworthy strength of "The Point Men" lies in its screenplay, a captivating and realistic tapestry that avoids the pitfalls of forced storytelling. The film navigates the treacherous terrain of a hostage crisis with finesse, never succumbing to contrived plot devices. The infusion of humor, skillfully executed by Kang Ki-young, serves as an additional layer of authenticity, seamlessly integrating moments of levity amidst the gravity of the situation. While the absence of elaborate action set pieces may be perceived as a drawback by some, it is a conscious choice that bolsters the plausibility of the narrative. The filmmakers prioritize the integrity of the premise over gratuitous spectacle, a commendable decision that enhances the film's credibility.
In the realm of performances, "The Point Men" benefits immensely from the formidable talents of Hyun Bin and Hwang Jung-min. Although newcomers to my cinematic purview, their prowess as actors is immediately evident. Their portrayals are marked by authenticity and naturalism, adding a layer of gravitas to the unfolding drama. The chemistry between the leads enhances the film's emotional resonance, making their characters' struggles palpable to the audience. This synergy between compelling performances and a well-crafted narrative elevates the film beyond the trappings of a conventional hostage drama.
As a thrilling exploration of a genuine hostage crisis, "The Point Men" captivates audiences with its honesty and unwavering commitment to true storytelling. Those anticipating elaborate action sequences may find themselves disappointed, as the film deliberately eschews such embellishments in favor of a more grounded depiction of events. However, for aficionados of sincere and gripping narratives, this film emerges as a compelling addition to the genre. It's a testament to South Korean cinema's ability to delve into complex, real-world scenarios, presenting them with authenticity and an engrossing narrative that resonates long after the credits roll.
An engaging and well made hostage drama which outlines the horrors of Taliban
ritesh6578 May 2023
An engaging and well made hostage drama which outlines the horrors of Taliban.
The Point Men is an extremely well made , realistic tale of one of the biggest hostage crisis of South Korea. The Koreans have a great art of taking up real life incidents and converting them into hard-hitting , no nonsense dramas with arresting storytelling to support it. This film does exactly the same. Just like the earlier released Escape from Mogadishu, this one also follows the similar theme of urgency. The screenplay for me was quite enticing and realistic and never felt forced. The humour is exceptionally integrated by Kang ki-young and felt really natural. The only con I would say is I expected some good action set pieces , but that again would have decreased the plausibility of the premise. Hyun Bin and Hwang Jung-min are exceptional actors from what I understand from their filmography but I saw them for the first time and man these guys are fantastic. The performances are authentic and natural which makes this even more rewarding. Overall, its a thrilling drama which speaks about a real hostage crisis with exceptional performances. Don't watch this if you are expecting great action , you would be dissapointed, but if you appreciate honest and true storytelling then this one is really compelling.
Instagram @streamgenx.
The Point Men is an extremely well made , realistic tale of one of the biggest hostage crisis of South Korea. The Koreans have a great art of taking up real life incidents and converting them into hard-hitting , no nonsense dramas with arresting storytelling to support it. This film does exactly the same. Just like the earlier released Escape from Mogadishu, this one also follows the similar theme of urgency. The screenplay for me was quite enticing and realistic and never felt forced. The humour is exceptionally integrated by Kang ki-young and felt really natural. The only con I would say is I expected some good action set pieces , but that again would have decreased the plausibility of the premise. Hyun Bin and Hwang Jung-min are exceptional actors from what I understand from their filmography but I saw them for the first time and man these guys are fantastic. The performances are authentic and natural which makes this even more rewarding. Overall, its a thrilling drama which speaks about a real hostage crisis with exceptional performances. Don't watch this if you are expecting great action , you would be dissapointed, but if you appreciate honest and true storytelling then this one is really compelling.
Instagram @streamgenx.
Fun the watch
SleepyStrayCat1 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
It's fairly nice and entertaining for a hostage thriller, however there are numerous holes and problems when discussed afterwards, such as how Hyun Bin escaped the prisoner situation and looked so well in the end. It was, however, far from boring to watch. The plot and creative parts in the film are both good. From start to finish, there is a lot of strain, tension, excitement, and chaos. Hwang Jung Min is a fantastic actor. Both main actors perform admirably in their roles. The action sequences are excellent. The best scene, as expected, was the negotiation scene. Also the name might not good to convey the plot, 'The Negotiator' or 'The middle man' would be better and more understandable.
I only got halfway through...
deborah-9917221 April 2023
...before giving up. I'm a big fan of Hyun Bin, but this script was tedious. And who were the idiot missionaries who thought it was a good idea to go into Afghanistan? I mean seriously. I get that the movie is based on a real-life incident, but all that effort to rescue people who should have known better. This is what I call a man movie. There are no female leads. It's men talking and fighting. If you are a man, you might like it. If you are a woman, maybe not.
Um, since when is there a word minimum for reviews? I'm just going to type here until I fill up the required characters. Almost done. Whew.
Um, since when is there a word minimum for reviews? I'm just going to type here until I fill up the required characters. Almost done. Whew.
The Reel Real Plan
kilorome16 July 2023
This is a must watch for all to understand how the Convertion game is played upon Asians. From China to India converts are spreading the virus to infect other Asians.
The real players like America Europe Arab already inflected few Asians with religion and now these infected people are reaching out to others with greater risk The start is simple a group mission to convert Afgans to church gone wrong and missionary got trapped in a setup which is already converted long back and the price is to bring these missionary people back.
Long and short sequence how afgans wants to live life happily with or without America and how Koreans missionary are behaving American agents to convert people and got caught Well plan and played.
The real players like America Europe Arab already inflected few Asians with religion and now these infected people are reaching out to others with greater risk The start is simple a group mission to convert Afgans to church gone wrong and missionary got trapped in a setup which is already converted long back and the price is to bring these missionary people back.
Long and short sequence how afgans wants to live life happily with or without America and how Koreans missionary are behaving American agents to convert people and got caught Well plan and played.
Fasinating and gripping hostage negotation
phd_travel6 February 2023
It's taken a while for this true story about the 2007 hostage crisis in Afghanistan to come to the screen but it was worth the wait. This movie isn't a non stop action thriller like Escape from Mogadishu. It deals realistically with the process of negotiation with the Taliban step by step with mistakes and all the back and forth dealings. This isn't boring - it's fascinating. The acting is fine. As the negotiator Hwang Jung Min is a superb actor totally convincing - check him out in Narco Saints. Hyun Bin looks sufficiently bronzed and bearded to play a Korean who has been there for a while and knows the ways of the country. Although he has one tense action sequence his character is not a superhero here and that's good. He screws up too. When it's a true story like this one you don't need unrealistic heroics. Need to understand missionaries were not welcome there because of the religious aspect but volunteers to help the people were.
Production is top notch with on location filming in Jordan and the hellish atmosphere of Afghanistan captured well. You can almost feel the heat and dust. The viewer is brought face to face with the Taliban and that's better than some of the Hollywood treatments of the subject which seem redacted and remote like Zero Dark 30. No torture here or focus on the killings. There is an overwhelming lesson here about not recklessly going into dangerous countries especially when warned. See all the trouble it caused.
Production is top notch with on location filming in Jordan and the hellish atmosphere of Afghanistan captured well. You can almost feel the heat and dust. The viewer is brought face to face with the Taliban and that's better than some of the Hollywood treatments of the subject which seem redacted and remote like Zero Dark 30. No torture here or focus on the killings. There is an overwhelming lesson here about not recklessly going into dangerous countries especially when warned. See all the trouble it caused.
The point is the final negotiation table
aswathysoorya22 October 2023
It's not necessary to have lots of action to make a movie a thriller, even though the genre is action-thriller. Before watching, expected lots of action. Even though not many action or fight scene was not involved, the movie made enormous tension throughout. The plot showed, the diplomatic, humanistic points and its clashes. How much trauma can make someone stuck in past is well depicted here. How a small personal debate and reporting can provoke someone or something or some group and what outcome it can bring, is also well depicted. How much courage it takes to go through a negotiation table and how to manage the tension throughout the negotiation is portrayed very cleverly.
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