What Happened Last Night (2008) Movie Review

“What Happened Last Night?” represents quite a radical change of direction for Korean director Kim Jeong Min, who made his debut with “Dark Forest” from the horror collection “One Day Suddenly”. Here, he turns his hand to romantic comedy, though with somewhat of an amoral and adult twist....

December 20th, 2008 | Read More

Loner (2008) Movie Review

Korean horror has always strived to capture the zeitgeist, with films from the original teen issue chiller “Whispering Corridors” through to the recent plastic surgery themed “Cinderella” trying to make creepy use of current issues. Adding to this trend is “Loner”, whose alternate title “Hikikomori”...

December 17th, 2008 | Read More

Brain Wave (2005) Movie Review

Originally released back in 2005 and now finally arriving on DVD, “Brain Wave” was the debut feature from Korean director Shin Tae Ra, whose grim psychological thriller “Black House” was one of the horror highlights of 2007 and was a popular hit at the domestic box office. Since screening at...

December 17th, 2008 | Read More

A Shark (2005) Movie Review

The independent filmmaking scene in Korea has been thriving in recent years, producing a healthy number of interesting alternatives to the usual blockbusters and giving first time directors the chance to do something a little different. This is certainly the case with Kim Dong Hyun, who followed the...

October 20th, 2008 | Read More

Delivering Love (aka Beyond All Magic, 2008) Movie Review

Bittersweet slice of life comedy “Delivering Love” marks the debut of Korean director Cho Nam Ho, and features the reunion of actresses Kim and Shim Hye Jin from the hit television sitcom “Hello Francheska”. Although the film’s premise sounds familiar enough, focusing on three women of different...

October 19th, 2008 | Read More

The Happy Life (2007) Movie Review

Although not as well known around the world as the likes of Park Chan Wook or Bong Joon Ho, Korean writer and director team Choi Suk Hwan and Lee Jun Ik have already established themselves as top domestic talent, having won over the critics and smashed box office records with “King and the Clown”...

September 28th, 2008 | Read More

Hansel and Gretel (2007) Movie Review

“Hansel and Gretel” is Korean director Im Pil Seong’s follow up to his debut “Antarctic Journal”, a slow moving slice of ambiguous horror which although visually impressive managed to confound as much as it did chill. For his sophomore outing he has taken a similarly offbeat approach, drawing...

September 28th, 2008 | Read More

Sex is Zero 2 (2007) Movie Review

Given the massive success of “Sex is Zero” back in 2002, a sequel was always inevitable, and now, finally, “Sex is Zero 2” arrives to challenge the sensibilities of viewers everywhere. Unsurprisingly, returning director Yoon Je Kyun was keen to raise the bar from the original, which in this case...

September 23rd, 2008 | Read More

Beautiful (2008) Movie Review

With “Beautiful” having been written and produced by grumpy Korean auteur Kim Ki Duk, known for searing explorations of the darker recesses of the human condition such as “Time” and “Breath”, viewers should have a pretty good idea up front of what they are letting...

August 21st, 2008 | Read More

The Chaser (2008) Movie Review

Korean film “The Chaser” comes on an incredible wave of critical acclaim, having won the Grand Prize award at the 44th Baeksang Art Awards, as well as the five top prizes at the 45th Daejong Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor, not to mention having been very well...

August 8th, 2008 | Read More

My New Partner (2007) Movie Review

Buddy cop dramas have long been a mainstay of the Korean thriller genre, something which industry legend Ahn Sung Ki must be only too aware of. Certainly, the renowned actor has featured in more than his fair share, most notably Lee Myung Se’s classic “Nowhere to Hide” and Kang Woo...

July 20th, 2008 | Read More

Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Si Do (2006) Movie Review

Teen angst raises its head once more with Korean drama “Do-Re-Mi-Fa-Sol-La-Si-Do” from helmer Kang Geon Hyang and online novelist Guiyeoni, who also gave the genre “He Was Cool” and “Romance of Their Own”. The film treads a similar path to these earlier efforts, again...

July 20th, 2008 | Read More

G.P. Guard Post 506 (2008) Movie Review

Although Korean horror films have for the most part been an uninspired lot over the last couple of years, there have still been a few flashes of creativity, enough so to keep genre fans hoping, holding out for something truly special. Simply put, “The Guard Post 506”, the second effort from Kong...

July 18th, 2008 | Read More

Rainbow Eyes (2007) Movie Review

The recent renaissance of Korean mystery thrillers continues with the cryptically titled “Rainbow Eyes” from director Yang Yun Ho, who previously gave viewers the melancholy “Holiday” and martial arts drama “Fighter In The Wind”. Here, he follows in the wake of genre...

June 29th, 2008 | Read More

My Love (2007) Movie Review

“My Love” is the latest from noted Korean romanticist Lee Han, who previously charmed genre fans with “Lover’s Concerto” and “Almost Love”. Here, he attempts to out-do himself by assembling an impressive all-star cast in an unabashedly sentimental exploration...

June 28th, 2008 | Read More

Off Road (2007) Movie Review

A great example of effective low-key film making, “Off Road” marks the debut of Korean director Han Seung Ryong, who had previously worked as an editor on the likes of “Bongja”, “Resurrection of the Little Match Girl” and “Untold Scandal”. A hard-hitting...

June 21st, 2008 | Read More

Hellcats (2008) Movie Review

Despite its inappropriate title and DVD cover, which would seem to suggest some kind of anarchic girl power sex comedy, “Hellcats” is actually a genuine attempt to depict the lives, and indeed love lives of women from three different generations in modern day Korea. This is no more than should...

May 24th, 2008 | Read More

Miss Gold Digger (2007) Movie Review

The latest in an ever-growing list of girl power romantic comedies, “Miss Gold Digger” marks the debut of Korean director Park Yong Jib and is basically a vehicle for popular actress Han Ye Seul. As suggested by its title, the film offers a decidedly materialistic and contemporary take on...

May 22nd, 2008 | Read More

The Devil’s Game (2007) Movie Review

Body swapping has always been a popular cinematic theme, with the idea of being someone else offering the chance for escapist wish fulfilment and fantastic thrills. While “The Game” from Korean director Yun In Ho (Responsible for “When I Turned Nine” and “Mayonnaise”,...

May 20th, 2008 | Read More

Le Grand chef (2007) Movie Review

Although cooking may not sound like the most exciting subject for a film, Stephen Chow’s hilarious “God of Cookery” aside, “Le Grand Chef” from director Jeon Yoon Soo (previously responsible for “My Girl And I” and “Besa Me Mucho”) proved to be a...

April 28th, 2008 | Read More