South Korean Movie Reviews »
Elbowroom (2010) Movie Review
Hard hitting Korean indie drama “Elbowroom” marks a bold debut for director Ham Kyoung Rok, following the trials and tribulations of a young cerebral palsy suffering woman. With real life cerebral palsy actress Park...
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Hindsight (2011) Movie Review
“Hindsight” attracted a great deal of hype in Korea, marking the return of “Il Mare” director Lee Hyun Seung after an absence of over a decade. The film also whipped up interest thanks to...
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Quick (2011) Movie Review
“Quick” is a Korean blockbuster in the Hollywood mould, which as its title suggests packs in plenty of high speed action, with a motorcycle courier getting caught up in a mad bomber’s crusade of...
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Pain (aka Pained, 2011) Movie Review
Korean blockbuster director Kwak Kyung Taek, responsible for hits such as “Friend” and “Typhoon” returns with something a little different in “Pain”, his first film in three years. Far more of a melodrama than...
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Couples (2011) Movie Review
“Couples” is a Korean remake of Japanese director Kenji Uchida’s popular 2004 offbeat romantic comedy “A Stranger of Mine”, helmed by Jeong Yong Ki, who previously enjoyed success with commercial fare such as “The...
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War of the Arrows (2011) Movie Review
“War of the Arrows” (also known as “Arrow, the Ultimate Weapon”) is a period set Korean blockbuster revolving around battling archers and the 17th century second Manchu invasion of Korea. The film was directed...
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Spellbound (2011) Movie Review
Generally speaking, I am not a fan of your typical, run-of-the-mill romantic comedies, regardless of what country they hail from. Despite my deep fondness for the director or my undying respect for the cast,...
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The Day He Arrives (2011) Movie Review
Korean art house auteur and international film festival favourite Hong Sang Soo returns with “The Day he Arrives”, his twelfth outing and another alcohol soaked rumination on the male ego and insecurities. The film...
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Sector 7 (2011) Movie Review #2
“Sector 7” is a big budget Korean monster film, charting the struggle between the crew of an offshore oilrig and a man eating horror from the deep. Shot in 3D, the film was directed...
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Blind (2011) Movie Review
“Blind” is a Korean thriller which takes on the classic suspense theme of pitting a blind heroine against a killer, directed by Ahn Sang Hoon (“Arang”). In this case, the woman in question is...
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Sunny (2011) Movie Review
“Sunny” has been one of the biggest hits of the year in Korea, perhaps somewhat surprising given that it’s essentially a nostalgic comedy revolving around a middle aged woman reminiscing about her childhood. In...
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The Front Line (2011) Movie Review
“The Front Line” is the latest blockbuster film to tackle the tough subject of the Korean War, this time revolving around the battle for a strategically placed hill during the final days of the...
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London Korean Film Festival Review: Poongsan (2011)
Although directed by Jeon Jae Hong, helmer of the superb and criminally under seen “Beautiful”, whether fairly or not, “Poongsan” will probably be pushed as and seen by many as a Kim Ki Duk...
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London Korean Film Festival Review: Suicide Forecast (2011)
Despite its gloomy title, “Suicide Forecast” is a Korean comedy headlined by popular actor Ryoo Seung Bum (recently in his brother Ryoo Seung Wan’s awesome “The Unjust”), revolving around him as an insurance salesman...
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Second Half (2010) Movie Review
“Second Half” is a Korean indie film with an interesting pedigree, being the debut feature from writer director David Cho, who just happens to be the chairman of Sponge Entertainment and the producer of...
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Ghastly (2011) Movie Review
The excellently titled “Ghastly” is the latest of the 2011 Korean summer horrors to hit DVD and is another dealing with the ever popular theme of creepy possessed children. Directed by debut helmer Yang...
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The Cat (2011) Movie Review
Korean horror takes a furry, feline turn with “The Cat”, from writer director Byun Seung Wook (“Solace”), pitting television actress Park Min Young (“City Hunter”, “Sungkyunkwan Scandal”) against a killer kitty and the usual...
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London Korean Film Festival Review: Detective K – Secret of the Virtuous Woman (2011)
“Detective K: Secret of the Virtuous Woman” is a period set film with a different and distinctly modern feel, mixing action, mystery and humour to entertaining effect. Directed by Kim Seok Yoon (“Old Miss...
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Encapsulated Cinema: Ghastly, Head, and Midnight FM
Ghastly (2011)There aren’t too many movies out there that feature a small children stabbing their classmates in the neck with number two pencils. As you can probably imagine, there’s a very good reason for...
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Sector 7 (2011) Movie Review
After spending so much time covering director Kim Ji-hoon’s deep sea monster movie “Sector 7″, you’d think that my lofty expectations would completely ruin the experience for me. And, truthfully, I’d be lying if...
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