mmeyers-4's Reviews

A Bittersweet Life (2005)

10/10

11 February 2006

This masterpiece comes from the director of Tales of Two Sisters and he delivers an epic tale of revenge.

I can't urge you enough to see this movie. The gun battles are reminiscent of Scarface, the martial arts are gritty and realistic, the poignancy of unrequited love is painful, there is a deep philosophical current that underlies this film, and the camera work is superb-but that's not what carries the movie. The actor who plays the main character is what sets this magnificent movie apart from the trash put out by Hollywood. He's a man's man-sharply dressed in well tailored suits driving in a BMW sedan (like the transporter)through beautiful Seoul (showing what a beautiful, spotless, and vibrant city it is). He reaches the point of no return and his vengeance and determination are a tour de force.

Magnificent. Bravo. South Korean films reign supreme.

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The Tunnel (2001)

10/10

Phenomenal movie about the effects of the Berlin Wall

25 November 2005

Warning: Spoilers

How this movie did not receive best foreign film of the year is beyond me.

This movie shows in agonizing detail the gut wrenching and true story of a champion swimmer who manages to escape to the other side of the Berlin Wall as it is being built in August, 1961. Some of his friends make it across also. The problem is that some of their families are left behind. The sheer audacity and will power of those who made it across and try to rescue their loved ones is awe inspiring.

Th acting is superb and the director manages to capture the claustrophobia and back breaking labor entailed in digging under the wall to bring their loved ones to freedom. I was very impressed by the whole cast, especially the leading man.

Warning, if you go around wearing Che' Guevera T-shirt and thought Motorcycle Diaries was a good film, this movie is not for you. It shows the true face of communism.

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Joint Security Area (2000)

9/10

Fantastic Korean movie

19 November 2005

Another gem by the Koreans who have far surpassed the Japanese movies in the last five years.

I loved it from beginning to the phenomenal end (with the exception of the two European actors who were terrible). Please do yourself a favor and watch this movie. You will have to replay the ending a few times to understand the brilliance of the final scene.

I must admit that my political views are very much like the tough South Korean Colonel (General?) in the beginning of the movie who despises "commies". By the end of the film I caught myself thinking about how pour souls can wind up being trapped in a communist hellhole simply by being born on the wrong side of the fence while their brethren enjoy a much better lifestyle on the other side of the fence.

A tour de force by a brilliant young director.

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Hayanbang (2002)

1/10

Terrible

15 November 2005

I am a huge fan of South Korean movies and find myself rooting for any movie coming from there. I am one of the few that feel South Korea has started to outpace Japan in making quality movies.

That being said, this movie was AWFUL. It made no sense, it wasn't scary, and doesn't even qualify as a cheap knockoff of"The Ring" which is what I believe they were shooting for. You are far better off with "Phone" "Koma" or the superb "Tale of Two Sisters" if you want a horror movie out of South Korea.

If you are looking for other movies out of Korea I would highly recommend "Brotherhood of War", "Joint Security Area", and the instant classic "Oldboy".

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mmeyers-4

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