Review XI - Joint Security Area

Review XI
Joint Security Area (2000)

Park Chan-wook is an extremely talented director, thus when I saw he directed the film Gongdong gyeongbi guyeok JSA, also known as Joint Security Area in English, which stars Song Kang-ho, Shin Ha-kyn, and Lee Byung-hun, actors I know and love, as well as Lee Yeong-ae and Kim Tae-woo, I made it a film I had to watch.

The film revolves around Major Sophie E. Jean (Lee Yeong-ae), a Swiss major who is accompanied by Swedish lieutenant colonel Perrson (Herbert Ulrich), both part of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission, as the two investigate the death of two North Korean soldiers by a South Korean soldier, sergeant Lee Soo-hyeok (Lee Byung-hun).

I found the story heart-warming, and it was told very well. It shows the hardships of war, but the good things that can come out of it as well. It also gives some history on the conflict between North Korea and South Korea, which I enjoyed. While I know a bit about it (I knew about the "Bridge of No Return" and the "Axe Murder Incident" that are mentioned in the film), it still taught me new things, as well as actually demonstrated the way procedure is followed in the Korean Demilitarized Zone. While I wouldn't say it goes in great depth, it does talk about the Korean war, and without bias. I like that. It doesn't glorify one side (even if North Korea is Best Korea); the film shows how both North Korea and South Korea is composed of human beings who share similar feelings and needs.

The acting was grand, as well as the writing. The story was really interesting, and it wasn't over-dramatised, which I find Asian films can suffer from at times. I love the way story resolves at the end too; it's very human, and, as I said, it wasn't over-dramatised. I really wouldn't like to give anything away, so I'll stop here, but if you watch the film, you'll know what I mean.

While I found Major Sophie E. Jean was kind of just placed there, you still got a bit of history about her. I also think the Swedish lieutenant was unnecessary to the plot, but at the same time, they wouldn't only send one person in on an investigation like this. While I enjoyed the story, I found some elements rushed. The idea of the investigation was appropriate, but I find the way they incorporated itself into the story was not well done. We get a flashback instead of the Major discovering stuff on her own. I think the flashback was amazing, but I think they should have incorporated the flashback into the investigation a lot better. It seems almost like they added in the Major and Lieutenant at the end to add to the story instead of really making them part of the story. Either they should have put more emphasis on the investigation part, or taken it out altogether.

Overall, I'd give the movie eight stars on ten. While I found the story a bit rushed at some points, the main story was well shown, by acting and by writing. I found it very heart-warming and informative. If you like historical films or a good dramatic film, it's definitely worth the watch.

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Review X - Reservoir Dogs

Review X
Reservoir Dogs (1992)

I'm not a die-hard Quentin Tarantino fan. I've watched but a few of his films, and though I find them good, I guess they just aren't my style. Still, when I found out Reservoir Dogs was playing at a theatre about an hour away from where I live by public transportation, I figured it would be a good time to finally watch it. I asked a friend to come along, and we sat down to Quentin Tarantino's first film.

The plot revolves around a group of six thieves chosen to rob a jewelery store, but during the heist, everything goes terribly wrong. The six men don't know each other's names, only a code name they were each given by Joe Cabot (Lawrence Tierney), father of Nice Guy Eddie (Chris Penn). The group consists of Mr. White (Harvey Keitel), real name Larry Dimmick; Mr. Orange (Tim Roth), real name Freddy Newandyke; Mr. Pink (Steve Buscemi); Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen), real name Vic Vega; Mr. Blue (Edward Bunker); and Mr. Brown (Quentin Tarantino). The surviving members of the heist begin to suspect a rat is part of the group, and they aim to find out who.

The film mostly takes place in one room - an abandonned warehouse - and man, does a lot happen in that one place. I thought the film was superb, and I'm really glad I got to see it in theatres for five dollars. There was a mix of black comedy, action, and violence, and it was a perfect blend. You get a good idea of all the personalities of the characters (well, besides Mr. Brown and Mr. Blue, but you see why that is if you watch the film), and you feel for them. It was written very well, and I loved the soundtrack. It consisted of late sixties' and seventies' songs, and man, they were catchy. I honestly think a great soundtrack makes a film even better, and this was definitely the case. The acting was not anything fantastic, but it was good. Each character fit their part well.

I'd give the film eight point five stars on ten. I don't really think there is anything else I can say besides what I mentioned. It's a Quentin Tarantino film, but I find a bit more tamed than his other films. If you're not his biggest fan, check this film out anyway. I could definitely say it is one of my favourite films, and this is coming from a person who isn't a big Quentin Tarantino fan.

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Review IX - The Good, The Bad, The Weird

Review IX
The Good, The Bad, The Weird (2008)

I've watched a few Western shows, but Joheunnom nabbeunnom isanghannom, aka The Good, The Bad, The Weird, was the first Western film I ever watched. Not because I oppose Westerns, but because I just never got around to watching one. The film is directed by Kim Jee-woon (same director as I Saw The Devil), and stars Song Kang-ho, Jung Woo-sung, and, once again, Lee Byung-hun.

Park Chang-yi, The Bad (Lee Byung-hun), is hired to steal a treasure map from a Japanese soldier on a train, but Yoon Tae-goo, The Weird (Song Kang-ho), steals it first. Park Do-won, The Good (Jung Woo-sung), initially aiming to claim the bounty on The Bad's head, ends up being part of the search for the treasure, while the Japanese Imperial Army aims to get the map back.

The film is very entertaining. While I, as I mentioned, was disappointed with I Saw The Devil, The Good, The Bad, The Weird is one of my favourite films from Kim Jee-woon. The plot was simple, and it was perfect for the amount of action that was in the film. It was a good balance, and where I Saw The Devil failed, The Good, The Bad, The Weird succeeded. Song Kang-ho did an amazing job portraying The Weird, just as good as Jung Woo-sung did as The Good, and Lee Byung-hun as The Bad. The action scenes in the film are very well done, and the bits of comedy in the film fit in nicely. It's not a film that makes you think, but it does a fantastic job at keeping you entertained. The music was also amazing, but I've noticed that Kim Jee-woon's films always contain an awesome soundtrack.

I'd give the film eight on ten. I found it to be very entertaining, and the actors did a good job in each role they had. I wish maybe they had explored the history of Korea in the 1930s a bit more, but it wasn't necessary. As I mentioned, the plot is very simple, but with all the action that goes on, I'm happy they stuck with a simple plot. Had the plot been too complex, it would have led to a film lacking too much in the story. If you enjoy Westerns or are just looking for an entertaining, funny movie, it's highly recommended.

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Review VIII - Ichi the Killer

Review VIII
Ichi the Killer (2001)

If you are an avid horror movie fan, you've most definitely heard of Miike Takashi. While he's done family-friendly films like Ninja Kids!!! (Nintama Rantarô in Japanese) and Yatterman (Japanese title being Yattâman), Miike Takashi is known for his controversial horror films, most notably his film adaptation of Koroshiya 1, or, as it's known in English, Ichi the Killer.

The film revolves around Kakihara (portrayed by Asano Tadanobu), a sadomasochist yakuza, and his search for his crime boss, Anjo. While Anjo is brutally murdered at the beginning of the film, Kakihara believes him to be alive as Jijii (Tsukamoto Shin'ya) tells him he is, though he knows full well Anjo is dead. Enter Ichi (Ōmori Nao), a homicidal yet very confused man, who is ordered to kill Kakihara and his yakuza gang, and you end up with a violent-infused gore fest.

The film was gory, that's for sure. While it doesn't meet the standards of Dead Alive, aka Braindead, I found myself flinching a lot more. The gore was not zombie gore - it was humans-being-stabbed-and-sliced-in-half gore which means you could imagine yourself in the shoes of the character being tortured. And trust me, there is a lot of torturing going on. The film deals with sadomasochism so it's only expected. Nonetheless, while it did make me flinch, this film was still made eleven years ago, so the effects can be kind of outdated. For example, and this isn't really a spoiler since it only emphasises Ichi's homicidal capabilities, when Ichi kills a random pimp who is beating up on a prostitute he takes a fancy to, he slices him in half. While the zoom up on the face was alright, you can tell the movie isn't very recent because of the effects. I was also disappointed since it lacked in the blood department (I'm really nitpicking now) in that scene, but at least when the carotid artery and jugular vein were sliced, it was messy. The plot isn't really anything amazing; you really only follow Kakihara around, watching him crave finding Ichi to finally punish him as Anjo used to, and follow Ichi around as he's fed lies from Jijii and throwing people's guts around. As I'm sure you've guessed, the reason you'd watch this film is for the gore. I never read the manga, so I'm not sure if the plot of the film follows the manga exactly (I know Anjo is killed in the manga right at the beginning), but I'm assuming it's similar to the film. While some elements of the plot are interesting, others are left unexplained, and it's left a bit too obscure for my liking.

I'd give the film a six point eight on ten. The plot was weak, and it focused a bit too much on the aspect of sadomasochism to keep the story going. Still, while the gore and special effects were cheesy at times, they could at least give you a good laugh, or make you flinch at how gross it was. Worth a look if you like horror/gore films.

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Review VII - The Yakuza

Review VII
The Yakuza (1974)

The yakuza is a traditional organised crime group from Japan. Originally a crime group that started in the 17th century, they still continue today with over 100 000 members. The group has a very strict ruling system, and it is very well organised. Academy Award winnder Sydney Pollack took the yakuza and made the 1974 cult hit The Yakuza. It is said to be one of the first films to have an ethnic character (Takakura Ken) in a man role and has been complimented for its intelligent plot. The film also stars Robert Mitchum and Brian Keith, two actors who are quite well known, if you watch older films anyway.

The plot revolves around Harry Kilmer (Robert Mitchum) as he returns to Japan to help out an old friend, George Tanner (Brian Keith), whose daughter was kidnapped by the yakuza as Tanner has been doing business with the yakuza but could not meet the standards of a deal. Kilmer goes to visit an old beau, Eiko (Kishi Keiko), a woman he fell in love with after the war. He had helped her daughter get medicine and lived together, but when Ken (Takakura Ken), Eiko's brother, came back from an island where he had been stranded as a Japanese soldier, he became enraged but was forever in dept for what Kilmer did for him. Now Kilmer is asking for Ken's help with the yakuza, which turns into a greater affair than they thought.

I thought it was an interesting plot. It was also nice watching a film where an oriental man was seen on equal ground as an American. There is also a cool little twist at the end of the film which I thought was well done. The fight scenes were well choreographed, and I loved the last fight scene with Takakura Ken and Robert Mitchum. It was suspenseful, and I loved that there was no music playing during the fight scene. While I love a good soundtrack, it reminded me of Seven Samurai a bit with only the sound of katanas clashing and wooshing sounds. Sometimes I found it dragged a bit, but otherwise, a film that definitely deserves its cult status.

I'd give it a seven point five on ten. It was pretty entertaining, but as I said, some parts I found dragged. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood at the time; I'm not sure. It's worth checking out. I wouldn't highly recommend it, but if you like action films and drama, take a chance.

I couldn't find a trailer, sorry...

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Review VI - Big Trouble in Little China

Review VI
Big Trouble in Little China (1986)

As you know from my introduction, I watch The Spoony Experiment videos. In one of his vlogs, he mentioned that John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China was his favourite movie. Perhaps things have changed since then, but I decided to check out the film which stars Kurt Russell, Dennis Dun, James Hong, Kim Cattrall, and Victor Wong.

Jack Burton (Kurt Russell) is friends with Wang Chi (Dennis Dun), and when Wang Chi tells him he first has to pick up his fiancée from the airport before giving Jack his one thousand dollars for losing a bet, Jack doesn't realise he'll be in for a crazy day when Wang's fiancée is kidnapped by the Lords of Death, a Chinese street gang, as an intention to be sold as a sex slave. Suddenly the two are dealing with powerful magicians and an immortal sorcerer out to rule the world.

The film is cheesy, but it's the good kind of cheese because I loved it. It's a b-movie, but a really good b-movie. The film doesn't try to be anything it isn't - simply entertaining with some cool martial arts scenes and funny plot lines. While Kurt Russell's character is seen as the "hero", Dennis Dun's character is the real hero considering he actually does all the work to get his fiancée back. It's a strange movie at certain parts, and you're expected to just take things as they are, but it works. Jack is an ass, but he's not a complete ass, and it's not like he's shown as a god either. He's just a regular man who's gotten caught up in a 2000 year old Chinese legend, and, all things considered, he takes it pretty well!

I'd give it an eight on ten. By b-movie standards, it's definitely one of the best I've ever seen. It's a b-movie cult classic, and it has earned its status. If you've never seen it and you like b-movies, it's definitely worth a watch, especially with its typical eighties' music.

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Review V - I Saw The Devil

Review V
I Saw The Devil (2010)

Lee Byung-hun is one of my favourite actors. He's appeared in such classics as Joint Security Area, The Good, The Bad, The Weird, and A Bittersweet Life, demonstrating a great acting ability. This month, on the 23rd, he and Ahn Sung-ki will become part of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, being the second Asians (they are going together so they are considered both second) to become part of the Walk of Fame after John Woo, and the first Koreans to become a part of it. Lee Byung-hun is overcoming a barrier that is not often seen, and that is he is starting to become part of Hollywood films. Yes, even though he is Korean, he can speak Korean, French, Mandarin, and English fluently. That is quite a feat for anyone. Because he can speak English fluently, he's starring as actual useful characters in films, though so far he has only been seen in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. However, I'm hoping that with the recognition he'll be getting with his introduction into the Hollywood Walk of Fame, he'll start appearing in even better films than G.I. Joe.

Due to his introduction into the Walk of Fame, I'll be reviewing a few of his films this month. I would say all, but we'll see if I can actually get my hands on all of them. In the meantime, let's check out the 2010 I Saw The Devil directed by Kim Jee-woon, and starring, besides Lee Byung-hun, Choi Min-sik.

The film opens up with a young woman, Joo-yun (Oh San-ha), speaking to her lover, Kim Soo-hyun (Lee Byung-hun), as she waits for a tow truck to come get her as she has a flat tire. The two continue to talk as a random stranger in a students' services van (Choi Min-sik) stops to ask her if she needs help. Soo-hyun warns her to lock the doors and tell the man to leave her alone after he sings her a song. Eventually they hang up as Soo-hyun needs to go to work. Joo-yun thanks the man for his help but tells him she'll be fine. Little does she know he is a serial murderer, and she is his next victim. She is killed shortly after (gruesomely, I may add) even after confessing she is pregnant, and her dismembered carcass is found in a river. Soo-hyun swears revenge for her death, and Joo-yun's father agrees. The film turns into a mouse and cat thriller from here on out.

It's a gruesome movie. If you can't handle blood, rape, and mutilation, stay away. I thought Choi Min-sik did an absolutely amazing job acting as a sociopath. I would say watch the film for his portrayal alone - yes, it was that good. I've only ever seen Choi Min-sik in Oldboy, but he did an amazing job in that film. In this film, he plays the antagonist, the killer, and it's absolutely wonderful. I thought Lee Byung-hun displayed great emotion in the scenes that called for it. I honestly felt the despair he felt in those moments. I already knew his capabilities of emotional scenes because of Addicted, but this revealed it even more.

As much as the acting was good, I found Soo-hyun's story lacked a lot. I would have preferred a bit more of a story when it came to him and his wife, and most of the time, he had no emotion. I suppose that is what they were going for (if you watch the film, you'll understand what I mean), which makes sense, but I still found that we'd get a scene where he cries, and the next, he's displaying nothing. I can't necessarily nitpick about this too much because, again, this could actually be justified due to the predicament, but it still bothered me a bit. I also found that characters were introduced, yet not much was necessarily done with them. They bring up how they're related to the antagonist or protagonist, but they don't really do anything. It's just a mention, and then suddenly later, they're important. I would have preferred a little less of the cat and mouse chase and had them developed further instead.

I also found the story lacked a bit. I really don't want to give anything away so I'll just say that I finished the movie, but I didn't feel one hundred percent satisfied. Had Kim Jee-woon written the script, I have a feeling it would have been amazing. Instead we got an interesting, suspenseful plot that lacked just a little... something.

I'd give the film seven point five stars on ten. As I said, Choi Min-sik did an amazing job in his role, and Lee Byung-hun as well. Nonetheless, the lacking story brings it down, even if the gore effects were amazing, as well as the martial arts bits.

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