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Showing posts with label Korea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Korea. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

The Tiger: An Old Hunter's Tale (2015) South Korea

The final standoff between the man and the beast.






Original title:
Daeho (Korean)


Genre:
Adventure, Drama, Thriller.


Length:
Approximately 6-minute read.


Review:
     After the stunning performance in the 'The Admiral: Roaring Currents', the Korean superstar Choi Min-Sik is back for another unique film. This time he donned in a hunter's avatar and his role was pretty inspiring. From the director of 'New World' and second time working with the same actor. Reading this kind of story might work well because of we individually visualise them as what we want. But turning them into a film is a tough task because they're one man's vision and not everybody share the same perspective, hence the disagreement surface. So I think the director did his best with the kind of screenplay he had, I would say the whole team effort was good.

     During the Japanese rule of Korea in the 1925, a fine hunter who lives with his son in the forest near a village has given up hunting since his wife's death. But when the Japanese army chief obsessed with one particular magnificent tiger that lives in the mountains of Jirisan, summons all the hunters to get it. All the attempts go in vain, until the Japanese soldiers and Korean hunters team up and go after that last living tiger. The battle between the man and the beast only brings the bloody war that's going to change forever whoever involved in it.

     I was excited to watch it after learning about the plot, because the Korean experimental films are quite fascinating as they are made in the most realistic way. Take an example of 'Mr. Go', the same visual effects team behind this film as well. They did pretty awesomely, but it was a much harder job than the big ape they had created earlier. Though, in a few shots it was below par, at a time very much comparable quality to the recent CGI tigers such as Richard Parker and Shere Khan from 'Life of Pi' and 'The Jungle Book' respectively.

 Respect the mountain and take what it gives you. 

     The film was kind of mix of reality and fiction. From the human perspective, all the narration was quite rational and historically matches. Like humans hunt animals for pleasure and its skin, teeth, nails et cetera. As from the tiger's perspective, it turned out to be a little fiction, because of the animal showing same or equal emotions as the humans. Animals do show emotions, but not in the human way as it was shown in the film. That makes it a bit unrealistic and out of proportion. That would work in a pure fantasy film where this one comes under thriller that was targeted for adults with strong blood and gore. Otherwise, it would have made a great anime.

     Apart from those disappointments, I find the film was much better if not as what I anticipated. The actors did their part so well and so the crew members behind the camera. The cinematography was good, captured some beautiful landscapes, but I don't know some of those shots might be digital creation. The length a bit long, due to engaging screenplay you won't feel you're forced to sit for that long.

     For the action sequence fans, this film offers a good entertainment, but depends who you're cheering for. As for the conclusion, I did not get it properly, because it was an understanding term rather giving a full explanation. So viewers can have a different opinion and everything might make sense. (Be careful, this following line might contain spoilers.) For my understanding the tiger and the hunter decide what they should have done years ago should be done now.

     I might have mentioned it somewhere the film is suitable for grown ups. Even for an adult like me, knowing it just a fake and graphics felt a bit too much brutality. There is a scene where a boy was eaten alive by a pack wolves. I don't know what the filmmakers were thinking, what kind of audience they're targeting. The overall writing should have been improved, making more realistic way like how the natural world animals behave. It might work for some people with a minimum guaranteed entertainment, but little children should stay away from it. From my side, I go for 50-50, neither I suggest it nor encourage to skip it.



Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent


Similar movies:
Moby Dick, In the Heart of the Sea, Jaws, Mighty Joe Young, White Lion, Wolf Totem.


External link(s):
    


WCA geolocation:
Right now we're in

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Mr. Go (2013) South Korea

A tale of Wei Wei and Ling Ling.



Comedy | Drama | Sport

Original title:
Mi-seu-teo Go (Korean)


Tagline:
"World's first gorilla pinch hitter and his 15 year old trainer begin on their miraculous run in the Korean Baseball League"


Review:
     Hong Kong, Chinese, Taiwanese and now Jiao Xu, the 'CJ7' fame kid forayed into the Korean film industry. She was quite impressive in all her movies, we can call her a Disney girl from east. Her performance and flawless CGI character(s) are the movie's advantage. Frankly, I never expected such a clean graphical character like western's big production house do.

     Last time I heard was these eastern countries fought for the rights of Senkaku islands. But now it is good to see they are together for this wonderful movie. It won't be your favourite flick, but will be a cool movie to watch with children. For the moment I even thought did they hired Andy Serkis to do motion capture for the Gorilla. Because it was that perfect and Serkis is the only known who is a master in giving such performance.

     After losing their elders in an earthquake, a young circus ringmaster, Wei Wei and other children struggle to rebuild the business. When load shark threatens to take the kids and sell animals to cover the debt, Wei Wei comes up with a plan. To make a big buck that she must leave China for South Korea with her beloved pet, a gorilla called Ling Ling to take participate in the baseball series. Soon their popularity reaches far east, where many Japanese baseball franchises stand in the queue to sign Ling Ling in their team. When everything was going fine, the problem arises after money lender follows her there with another plan.

      It is a Korean's answer to Hollywood in the field of live shot movie with merge of an animated character. We must appreciate the filmmakers for their contribution to this movie from impossible theme to making possible. The plot is not believable, a gorilla to play baseball? Humans are no match with a gorilla's strength, then how can they allow to participate the tournament. It was a comedy flick so there you go that mean it is nothing more than an entertainment. In the perspective of family audience and kids, it is worth giving a shot.



Similar movies:
Sophie and Sheba, Mighty Joe Young Life of Pi, King Kong, Duma


Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent

Mr. Go (2013) on IMDb


  • Tween: From age between 7 to 12
  • Teen: From age between 13 to 19
  • Adult: From age above 20
  • Ignore: Not worth watching
  • Bad: Not good but watchable
  • Average: 50-50, choice is always yours
  • Good: great certainly not masterpiece
  • Excellent: A must see, Masterpiece

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Cold Eyes (2013) South Korea

It is a game of spying and slipping away.



Action | Crime

Original title:
Gam-si-ja-deul (Korean)


Also known as: 
Surveillance


Review:
      You can call it remake or inspired but this movie resembles Simon Yam's 'Eye in the sky' and a little bit of 'Infernal Affairs'. And that confirms when Simon himself appears as a cameo at the end. This Korean movie was very stylishly made especially the character appearances. An exciting pace with high tech electronic devices implements to spy the criminals gives a very modern look on detectives.

      The movie begins with a twist at opening itself like some interview to hire somebody. Its a surveillance theme where a team of Korean intelligence works together to take down a group of bank robbers. Piglet is a given pet name to a newly recruited officer for the special crime unite. Her impressive observation talent puts her straight into a major spying case. Soon she gets her first field assignment to track the movements of one of the heist member. The thrilling story of 'Cold Eyes' tells how Piglet and her team led by Lee jointly acts to get the ruthless thieves.

      This movie portrayed only between the two groups and nothing else like the rest of the world is blind. Between these two, the thieves and cops, it is demonstrated like a cat-mouse game. It was a good entertaining movie one can enjoy it thoroughly. If you have already seen 'Eye in the sky' or not, no matter this movie is still looking good on its own so you will have a good time. There were no hardcore stunts in the movie except a couple of quick sequences. After all it is a spying theme which fulfills its purpose in a stylish manner.



Similar movies:
Going by the Book, Eye in the Sky, Infernal Affairs, Headhunters, Flash Point, Kill Zone


Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent

Cold Eyes (2013) on IMDb


  • Tween: From age between 7 to 12
  • Teen: From age between 13 to 19
  • Adult: From age above 20
  • Ignore: Not worth watching
  • Bad: Not good but watchable
  • Average: 50-50, choice is always yours
  • Good: great certainly not masterpiece
  • Excellent: A must see, Masterpiece

Friday, December 13, 2013

Miracle in Cell No. 7 (2013) South Korea

The miracle lies between the fun and emotion.



Comedy | Drama

Original title:
7 Beonbangui Seonmul (Korean)


Also known as:
'A Gift from Room 7'


Review:
      Like tween girls in Japanese anime, tween girls are in Korean live shot movies. There are plenty of movies had seen success on father-tween daughter or similar combo. Those were really cool comedies and some were action-thrillers. This is one of those kinda where it deals a mentally challenged father and his 6 year old daughter. It has been a fun filled movie with often character emotion strikes strongly.

      From the director of 'Champ' who again portrayed childish father and brave daughter relationship in this movie as well. There no much deviation in those two characters, only circumstances changes here. Lee is a mentally challenged of 6 year old mind who got a daughter with same age. He works in a supermarket and earns enough for his little family. They lead a regular smooth life like everyone until  Lee gets arrested for a criminal offense. Now this child got no elders to take care after her father. How this innocent little girl fight for her father is what the movie portrayed in its remaining.

      It was a heartwarming family movie with equally fun and melodrama filled story. Frankly to say I did not like it as much as everybody else around me because the emotions looked a bit fake to me. To me it looked alike 'The Green Mile' with total changed scenario. Why am saying it mean I love emotional themes, it is one of my favourites. The kid performed very well though and the convincing father character. At least you might like it more than me because it's got lots of positive responds from movie goer everywhere. So what you are waiting for, give it a try.


Similar movies:
Harmony, The Green Mile, I am Sam, Deiva Thirumagal, Champ


Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent

Miracle in Cell No. 7 (2013) on IMDb


  • Tween: From age between 7 to 12
  • Teen: From age between 13 to 19
  • Adult: From age above 20
  • Ignore: Not worth watching
  • Bad: Not good but watchable
  • Average: 50-50, choice is always yours
  • Good: great certainly not masterpiece
  • Excellent: A must see, Masterpiece

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Treeless Mountain (2008) South Korea

Surviving without a parenting love and support.



Drama

Review:
It was about two Korean kids which follows after their mother leave them in theirs aunt's house to fix her relationship with her husband. Their mother gives a piggy-bank and tells them will be back before it get full. So the mission begins to these kids fill the piggy-bank. But very soon everything turns upside down when their mother and aunt turn it down to take care. And what happens to their future is the remaining story.

It was a very close theme to 'Children of Invention' and 'Mommo'. Our heart really suffers to see the kids struggle to survive the world. In one minute they had everything in life like all the normal kids then in the next minute they unwanted to their dear ones. To see from the kids' perspective it was truly hurtful but the girls respond very well to the situations and for each others stays strong together.

There was a scene where kids involve in some cruel incident. Due to cultural difference (especially foods) it might make a bit uncomfortable with the sensitive audience. I mean I was saying about grasshoppers in the movie.

The direction was exceptional, the movie looked original and realistic. Both the kids were cute and did an awesome job. This is easily one of a best children's movie as well Korean.


Similar movies:
Children of Invention, Children of Heaven, Mommo


Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent

Treeless Mountain (2008) on IMDb


  • Tween: From age between 7 to 12
  • Teen: From age between 13 to 19
  • Adult: From age above 20
  • Ignore: Not worth watching
  • Bad: Not good but watchable
  • Average: 50-50, choice is always yours
  • Good: great certainly not masterpiece
  • Excellent: A must see, Masterpiece

Friday, July 5, 2013

The Tower (2012) South Korea

Action | Drama | Thriller


Tagline:
"Tower sky. 108 stories. Survive at any cost'."


Review:
It is an Universal subject, disaster movies are very rare in Korean movies, which requires standard graphics but recently Korean film makers began to explore on it. After 'Tidal Wave' about Tsunami which was a decent hit and now this movie about similar to 9/11 incident.

Performances were good, story was little weaker, graphics were acceptable and little humorous in some parts. It is supposed to be an emotional tale due to some of the characters that involved in the story were struggled to have nice relationship with their near dear ones but I did not feel it. The story was told from different character perspective which everything meets at the end. One was from firefighters and other one was from building employees and the survivors.

Technically it was top notch as a Korean movie standards but average as a movie. Similar kinda movies in Hollywood are considered as a B movie. So, worth a watch as a Korean movie than expecting Hollywood level of standards.


Similar movies:
Tidal wave, Speed, Volcano, Ladder 49


Suitable for:
Tweens, Teen, Adults, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent


  • Tweens: From age between 7 to 12
  • Teens: From age between 13 to 19
  • Adults: From age above 20
  • Ignore: Not worth watching
  • Bad: Not good but watchable
  • Average: 50-50, choice is always yours
  • Good: great certainly not masterpiece
  • Excellent: A must see, Masterpiece