Tag Archives: South Korean Film

Cheer Up, Mr. Lee (2012) ☆☆☆(3/4) : Loser filmmakers’ comic struggle

I enjoyed small funny moments in South Korean mockumentary film “Cheer Up, Mr. Lee”, and that was why I was relatively let down by what was shown around its ending. I know the characters in the movie are not that … Continue reading

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Cold Eyes (2013) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4) : Be careful – and be watchful

“Cold Eyes” is a pure exercise in thriller and professionalism. It is a taut, efficient work not wasting any minute throughout its 2-hour running time, and we are entertained by its main characters defined and driven by their professionalism. Everything … Continue reading

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Sleepless Night (2012) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4) : Now here comes their anxiety

 “Sleepless Night”, which will be one of small surprises from South Korean cinema of this year, really knows how married life feels around its beginning. Although I am not a married guy, its depiction of the early stage of married … Continue reading

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Dear Dolphin (2013) ☆☆☆(3/4) : Guilt and illusion they have

They are still grieving over their loss with guilt inside their hearts, and their confused hearts don’t know what to do. They are pretty clumsy when they grasp for consolation or redemption, and they remain as confused as before. In … Continue reading

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Fists of Legend (2013) ☆☆(2/4) : Lots of punches and kicks with little preparation

Usually, the sports films about boxing or kickboxing or MMA or any other kinds of sports played in the ring/cage have the preparation/build-up process before their obligatory big showdown scene. Main characters are introduced in the beginning, and we get … Continue reading

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Running Man (2013) ☆☆(2/4) : A running man in a hobbling thriller

 Ironically, new South Korean action movie “Running Man” does not run that much. It instead hobbles a lot while letting itself being saddled with many unnecessary story elements which could have been discarded without any problem, and I kept losing … Continue reading

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Very Ordinary Couple (2013) ☆☆☆(3/4) : Are they ever

Many romantic comedies become mellow or slow during their third act as things get more serious, but South Korean romantic comedy “Very Ordinary Couple” is a bit different because of the irony inside the dynamic between its couple. They decide … Continue reading

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Jiseul (2012) ☆☆☆(3/4) : A sad, restrained elegy for the nameless victims

“Jiseul” reminded me that I did not know much about the Jeju uprising, which was one of the most tragic incidents in the modern Korean history but a merely small fact in my high school history textbook. Although it is … Continue reading

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Nobody’s Daughter Haewon (2013) ☆☆☆(3/4) : She’ll probably be all right in the end.

“Nobody’s Daughter Heawon” is another small, lightweight work from South Korean director Hong Sang-soo which does not escape from our expectation much. Again, we are treated with the familiar elements from his previous works: drinking, problematic romantic relationship, and funny … Continue reading

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New World (2013) ☆☆☆(3/4) : In their ruthless new world

South Korean crime noir film “New World” mixes many familiar elements from its genre into its story, and you may recognize some of them if you have seen its seniors such as “Internal Affairs”(2002) or “The Departed”(2006). For instance, one … Continue reading

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