Blog Archives

Joint Security Area (2000)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by Mark Morrison

I had wanted to see Joint Security Area for a long time. Its incredible box office success in Korea stamped it as something worth tracking down, especially as the previous box office title holder was the engrossing North-South action flick Shiri. I was delighted when I got the news that JSA was screening at MIFF 2001. I knew I was going to like this film.

Turns out, I loved it.

That is, if “love” is a term that can … (read more)

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My Lovely Sam-Soon (2005)

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Posted on January 15, 2006 by Christian

Whether you’re from the West or the East, most people are familiar with the entertainment medium known as the Soap Opera. It’s a world where anyone and everyone can be connected in some way, from the main hero to the dog crossing the road in the third episode. Such TV Dramas can usually be cliché-a-plenty and have enough cheese for a week’s worth of lunches but this, however, proves not to be the case for My Lovely Sam-soon (aka My … (read more)

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Birdcage Inn (1998)

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Posted on January 8, 2006 by Alison

I confess that I always approach Kim Ki Duk films with some trepidation. It’s not that they’re bad: Kim is a master film-maker, and just about every film he’s made is a work of art. It’s just that Kim’s films are visceral. Kim’s films explore the pain of life, probing with bloody fingers in the meat of human suffering. In short, Kim’s films hurt.

Birdcage Inn is no different. The characters are all unhappy, with a pain that’s visible but … (read more)

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My Generation (2004)

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Posted on December 10, 2005 by Christian

The world of DV filmmaking is a tantalising concept. Anyone can pick up a cheap camera, get a bunch of friends together arguing over a map and make their own Blair Witch Project. It’s affordable and offers complete control to the budding filmmaker, such that DV is sometimes also described as a “liberating” format by established big gun directors. Despite this dangling carrot of auteur-ship, the DV format seems to be something that these established film directors dabble … (read more)

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Sopyonje (1993)

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Posted on December 6, 2005 by Eugene

When a film is described as a genuine Classic of Korean cinema, there’s a certain wariness about writing a review without being caught up and overwhelmed by the accolades heaped upon it previously.

It’s fortunate then that I didn’t come across those comments until after seeing the film, so my expectations were along the lines of the usual Korean drama with the standard allotment of pathos and melodrama. Opening the review with the adjective of classic, it would … (read more)

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Short Time (2005)

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Posted on December 4, 2005 by Ben Jennings

In doing a little online research about this pretty damn kooky South Korean action comedy drama, I discovered quite by accident that it’s actually a remake of a fairly obscure 1990 Hollywood movie by the same title. It’s quite commonly accepted that part of the reason South Korean cinema is experiencing such a boom at the moment is its ability to emulate Hollywood, and this movie is a perfect example.

Having said that, while I’ve not seen the Hollywood version, … (read more)

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Wonderful Days (2003)

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Posted on November 25, 2005 by Alan

Did you read that synopsis? Did it not sound like a rejected Dr Who script? Did you wonder why there would be a city that thrives on pollution? Is it the only city on the whole world? If so, why are there people living outside of it? In fact, why would anyone live in it, considering it looks kinda grimy and empty and not a lot of fun? Did you think I was just making this whole thing up and … (read more)

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Sorum (2001)

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Posted on November 25, 2005 by Jonathan

From reading the programme notes on Sorum, my understanding of what I was about to see was that it amounted to little more than a ghost pic. A highly unconventional ghost pic perhaps, but a ghost pic none the less. This rather unfortunate presupposition was further reinforced by the opening act of the film, as all the right pieces just fell into place — the derelict apartment building, the naïve newcomers, the unfriendly neighbours with their dark secrets.

Well, … (read more)

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