Blog Archives

Public Enemy (2002)

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Posted on March 11, 2007 by James

There’s no mistaking it, director Kang Woo-suk excels in spraying testosterone, like John Woo’s bullets, all over the screen. Public Enemy is a brutal and quite bizarre mix of audience-pleasing suspense, violence and laughs.

If he were just a bad-mouthing, savage maniac, Seol’s cop would be a sort of Dirty Harry, but one that hadn’t showered and shaved in a month. As it stands, he’s also something of an underdog, unkindly pursued by the DA and internal affairs for his … (read more)

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Old Boy (2003)

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Posted on March 11, 2007 by Mark Morrison

Let’s get this out of the way first: to quote the MIFF catalogue, Park Chan-Wook’s Old Boy contains scenes which may offend some viewers. Which is to say, lead actor Choi Min-shik eats a live octopus. (Don’t blame me, I’m a vegetarian.) Now we’re not talking about a delicate gulp-and-swallow deal here; that sucker is about the size of a kitten, and he pretty much chomps it down.

I could explain that it’s actually vital to the plot, as … (read more)

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Natural City (2003)

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Posted on March 11, 2007 by Alison

Well, I enjoyed it. It’s not Blade Runner, but then again, what is? What it is, is an action-packed dark Korean flick full of body armour and chunky weapons, powerful bad guys and determined or tormented good guys, rainy streets with obligatory noodle stalls, and of course a plethora of beautiful Korean women.

The sound will drive your ears out the other side of your head: the weapons go chunka-chunka-chunk or rat-at-at-at, the boots and gear make all sorts … (read more)

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MUSA: The Warrior (2001)

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Posted on March 11, 2007 by Jonathan

Five years of planning and production, a seven million dollar budget, and three hundred staff shooting over five months travelling ten thousand kilometres across the Chinese continent. It is unfortunate that these figures speak to me (and probably you) more than the names involved with the production of MUSA: The Warrior. This film is the result of an amazing creative process, with the time and effort invested clearly displayed on screen.

This was made on a seven million dollar … (read more)

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Memories of Murder (2003)

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Posted on March 11, 2007 by Russell

A suprisingly powerful film from the director of the amusing Barking Dogs Never Bite, this film about a serial killer has the tone of Se7en but without the weirdness. More importantly, Memories of Murder has addressed the debate about integrity in police methods with the greatest effectiveness since Orson Welles made Touch of Evil. Song Kang-ho (JSA, The Foul King) is, as always, dynamite as the cop who is obsessed with this case.

Every Korean … (read more)

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Lies (2001)

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Posted on March 11, 2007 by Alison

If you’re looking for a film with lots of flesh, lots of moaning, and a sprinkling of assorted items of discipline, then the Korean film Lies will send you into raptures. The story centres on a young girl who decides to offer her virginity to a famous artist that she rather fancies, and follows her extensive efforts to complete her sexual education.

There’s more sex than your remote control can cope with, in full and glorious detail. There’s a surfeit … (read more)

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The Isle (2000)

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Posted on March 11, 2007 by Ben Jennings

Phew, this is a nasty piece of work. Before Kim Ki-duk took to making lovely and serene movies like Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring and 3-Iron, he was better known for lovely, serene and sometimes downright bloody ghastly efforts such as this one. In its mercifully brief 86 minutes, The Isle runs you through the wringer like few other movies. The fact that it’s also so sad and beautiful for much of that time makes it a uniquely … (read more)

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Hi, Dharma 2: Showdown in Seoul (2004)

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Posted on March 11, 2007 by James

Hi, Dharma 2: Showdown in Seoul is a very funny fish out of water tale that elaborates the monks vs gangsters concept in more entertaining and interesting directions than its novel but uneven precursor.

While the first film began to drag after a ripping beginning, the sequel carries a more adroitly paced plot that keeps upping the ante throughout. The comparative difference in story structure becomes apparent in each story’s use of a thought puzzle. The original introduces a problem … (read more)

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