Articles in South Korean Movie Reviews
Secret Sunshine (2007) Movie Review
“Secret Sunshine” is the latest effort from acclaimed Korean director Lee Chang Dong, who previously won praise and prizes both at home and abroad for his films “Green Fish”, “Peppermint Candy” and “Oasis”. Returning to the director’s chair following his work as Korean Minister of Culture and Tourism from 2003 to 2004, he managed to [...]
November 3rd, 2007 | James Mudge | 1 Comment | Read MoreThe Cut (2007) Movie Review
There can be no doubt that Korean horror is badly in need of a blood transfusion, as the majority of genre films over the last few years have been a pretty anaemic bunch without much in the way of visceral thrills. Strangely, despite the best efforts of the DVD box art, marketing blurb and indeed [...]
October 28th, 2007 | James Mudge | 0 Comments | Read MoreBoys of Tomorrow (2006) Movie Review
“Boys of Tomorrow” is poorly served by its misleading DVD box art, which seems to suggest some kind of wacky action comedy, despite the fact that the film is a very different proposition indeed, being a gloomy portrait of disaffected youth. Although this is perhaps understandable given that the film is not a particularly obvious [...]
October 28th, 2007 | James Mudge | 0 Comments | Read MoreMuoi: Legend of a Portrait (2007) Movie Review
“Muoi: Legend of a Portrait” is the latest of the 2007 batch of Korean summer horror films to make it to DVD. As any fan will sadly admit, the genre has of late become rather stale, with directors all too often content to simply recycle the same old tales of vengeance seeking female spectres, and [...]
October 27th, 2007 | James Mudge | 0 Comments | Read MoreMy Father (2007) Movie Review
(By Evan McKinney) In South Korea, if you bring up the topic of actor/model Daniel Henney, you’re sure to cause a girl to faint from a wave of desire. He is well-known for starring in Korean dramas, and because he is not fluent in Korean, he earns further recognition from his fans when he speaks. [...]
September 29th, 2007 | Guest Movie Review | 2 Comments | Read MoreThe Evil Twin (2007) Movie Review
The first of the summer 2007 wave of Korean horror films to hit DVD is “The Evil Twin”, marking the directorial debut of Kim Ji Hwan. Thankfully, for those fans who have understandably grown somewhat disillusioned with the genre of late, tired of directors’ reluctance to stray from the confines of the done to death [...]
September 22nd, 2007 | James Mudge | 0 Comments | Read MoreMr. Lee vs. Mr. Lee (aka Long Day’s Journey Into Night, 2006) Movie Review
“Mr Lee vs. Mr Lee” (a.k.a. “Long Day’s Journey into Night”) from director Shim Kwang Jin is a dysfunctional family drama based upon the play “Happy Family” and loosely inspired by the life experiences of lead actor Lee Dae Geun. The film is certainly a very personal affair for Lee, whose soul-searching performance won him [...]
September 22nd, 2007 | James Mudge | 0 Comments | Read MoreBeyond (Across) the Years (2007) Movie Review
2007 has been a landmark year for Korean cinema with the release of “Beyond the Years”, the 100th outing for director Im Kwon Taek, one of the country’s most accomplished and acclaimed film makers who has won praise around the world for works such as his 2002 Cannes hit “Chihwaseon”. The film is a follow [...]
August 19th, 2007 | James Mudge | 0 Comments | Read MoreUnstoppable Marriage (2007) Movie Review
Korean director Kim Seong Wook makes his debut with “Unstoppable Marriage”, having gained experience working on the hits “Lovely Rivals” and “My Teacher, Mr. Kim” as well as the hip cult favourite “Attack the Gas Station”. The film is a romantic comedy, with the emphasis firmly on humour rather than melodrama, and he certainly shows [...]
August 19th, 2007 | James Mudge | 2 Comments | Read MoreSmall Town Rivals (2007) Movie Review
“Small Town Rivals” is the latest offering from director Jang Gyoo Seung, who previously scored commercial hits with the likes of “Lovely Rivals” and “My Teacher, Mr. Kim”. He continues here in the same broad vein with a comedy about one of the most popular subjects in modern Korean cinema, namely small town life. The [...]
August 19th, 2007 | James Mudge | 0 Comments | Read More














