Koreanfilm.org Critics Poll

2004 · 2005 · 2006

Why goldfish? Fans of Korean cinema will notice, if they watch closely, that practically every single Korean film that was ever made has a fishtank in it somewhere. From Shiri to The Power of Kangwon Province to the granddaddy fishtank of them all found in Raging Years, fish and fishtanks appear with a frequency that seems far too great to be mere coincidence. I've never heard a convincing explanation for this phenomenon, but it exists, and in honor of this we will use goldfish in place of stars in our Koreanfilm.org critics poll. The following scores are based on a 5-fish scale.

These critical scores have been collected from contributors to the site or the discussion board, and are presented so that readers can get a quick range of opinions on a certain film. Of course, reducing the complexity of a full-length feature down to a mere collection of points is a huge disservice to the film, and the very short comments that go next to the scores are unlikely to help much. Also, one's opinion of a film can naturally change over time, so these scores won't reflect how well a film ages. In other words: please don't read too much into these scores, consider them just an informal conversation starter.

2006
The Art of Fighting

Paolo Bertolin		Has an extra punch that overcomes conventions. Baek+Jae=great!
James Brown		Multi-tonal coming of age yarn lacks the knockout flying kick.
Darcy Paquet		A somewhat bleak film that's easier to admire than to enjoy.

Cinderella

Mark Russell		Bong Man-dae makes the best bad movie of the year (again).

Forbidden Quest

Tom Giammarco		Drags a little by the end, but a good story.
Darcy Paquet		Engaging and creative, but this film has serious pacing problems.

Grain in Ear

Paolo Bertolin		Depressive tale crafted following "The Artsy Chinese Film Manual."
Darcy Paquet		Perhaps a little too meditative, but highly memorable.

Hanbando

Darcy Paquet		Stupid stupid stupid.

Holiday

Tom Giammarco		Lots of potential as a social commentary. Good casting.
Darcy Paquet		Story has real potential, but directed like a cheap action flick.

The Host

James Brown		Plunge into the murky depths of barely functional family relations.
Darcy Paquet		More than anything, a fabulously crafted, original film.
Mark Russell		Great for most, but so-so for Bong Joon-ho. A few silly scenes.

The Magicians

Paolo Bertolin		Best Song Il-gon since Flower Island.
Davide Cazzaro		Another outstanding confirmation of Song's talent.
Tom Giammarco		I loved the style and storytelling technique.
Darcy Paquet		Very touching, and tastefully crafted. Ends perfectly.
Mark Russell		Very lo-fi, but a strong story. Amazing technique.

My Boss, My Teacher

Tom Giammarco		Annoying. I hated it throughout its long running time.
Darcy Paquet	X	I've had dentist appointments that were more fun.

My Scary Girl

Darcy Paquet		The power of low-budget, HD comedy.

The Peter Pan Formula

Paolo Bertolin		Compelling, fascinating and disturbing: the best debut of 2004.
Darcy Paquet		A moody, puzzling film with real personality.

Ssunday Seoul

Tom Giammarco		Would have been better off without the second story.
Davide Cazzaro		Collateral effects of Korean commercial cinema.

See You After School

Paolo Bertolin		Refreshing comedy relying on Bong Tae-gyu's top-notch performance.
Darcy Paquet		A refreshingly well-crafted, nuanced silly comedy.

Silk Shoes

Paolo Bertolin		Seems not to know how to end, yet engaging and thought-provoking.
Darcy Paquet		A nice idea that steadily loses momentum.

Woman on the Beach

Darcy Paquet		Hong on a roll.
Mark Russell		Best Hong film since Turning Gate. Maybe even better.

2005
The Aggressives

Tom Giammarco		Good stunts. Flat, uninteresting characters.
Kyu Hyun Kim		Almost a science fiction about Korean urbanites. Fascinating.
Darcy Paquet		Has technical flair, but none of the poetry of Take Care Of My Cat.

All For Love

Tom Giammarco		A cross-section of Korean society. Reminiscent of Short Cuts.
Elif Kaya		Good cast but none of the stories moved me.
Darcy Paquet		Completely different genre, but worthy follow-up to Memento Mori.

Another Public Enemy

Tom Giammarco		Not a bad action movie but LONG. I kept checking my watch.
Elif Kaya		Neither as fun nor brilliant as its prequel.
Darcy Paquet		Suffers from a lack of efficiency.

Antarctic Journal

Paolo Bertolin		Tries too many paths and loses its way: a wasted chance.
James Brown		Overlong, but an audacious effort with spine-chilling moments.
Tom Giammarco		Expected so much more. Curse of the Korean blockbusters resumes.
Adrien Gombeaud		Left me cold.
Elif Kaya		It is neither here nor there, lukewarm.
Kyu Hyun Kim		Should have gone the Herzog-Kinski route, perhaps?
Darcy Paquet		Starts off nice, but then loses its compass.

April Snow

Davide Cazzaro		Sadly enough, Hur's weakest film to date.
Adrien Gombeaud		A new melodrama by one of Korean cinema's most delicate talents.
Elif Kaya		Be cautious unless you like Hur or either of the stars.
Darcy Paquet		An interesting film about a boring couple.
Mark Russell		Beautiful, young and tragic -- a soap-opera story without depth.

Beast and the Beauty

James Brown		Zany stupidity with a fuzzy center. Hinged on too few great moments.
Elif Kaya		Delightful, well acted and predictable rom com.
Darcy Paquet		Nice actors, but a very frustrating lack of originality.

A Bittersweet Life

Paolo Bertolin		Kim's lavish visuals enriched by full-fledged dramatic consistency.
James Brown		Gangsters in the arthouse turn out to be all thumbs.
Filmbrain		Genre flick with lofty aspirations. Entertaining, but little more.
Tom Giammarco		Stylish violence and excellent characterizations.
Elif Kaya		Very stylish but trying too hard.
Kyu Hyun Kim		A box of bon-bons, with red cherry liqueur inside.
Darcy Paquet		Movie to show friends who liked Old Boy.
Mark Russell		Slick-looking but empty, with endless, pointless violence.

Blood Rain

Paolo Bertolin		Plot-wise far-fetched, yet holds momentum thanks to its cleverness.
James Brown		Well narrated but terribly grave. Required a more personable lead.
Tom Giammarco		Lots of care went into sets & costumes/Good story but wrong actor.
Elif Kaya		Gory, great sets & costumes, no suspense though.
Kyu Hyun Kim		A solid period mystery, not as absorbing as it should be.
Darcy Paquet		An exquisite-looking meal that leaves you with a stomachache.

Blossom Again

James Brown		Thoughtful, but, just like complex mathematics, quite impenetrable.
Darcy Paquet		An introspective and surprising melodrama that runs deep.

Blue Swallow

James Brown		A great story told well, but overly ambitious as blockbuster stuff.
Darcy Paquet		A film with obvious strengths and puzzling weaknesses.
Mark Russell		Great visuals and f/x, but TV-drama depth.

A Bold Family

Tom Giammarco		Schizophrenic film. Didn't expect much, wound up loving it.
Darcy Paquet		Not plagiarized from Goodbye Lenin, but not a match for it either.

The Bow

Paolo Bertolin		Feels like a mild "best of" for festivals and Western audiences.
Tom Giammarco		A weak mix of any two KKD films.
Elif Kaya		The Kim we know and love.
Darcy Paquet		Kim Ki-duk on autopilot.

Brainwave

Tom Giammarco		Enjoyable low-budget sci-fi but its vision was beyond its budget.
Adrien Gombeaud		Now I know why Terminator was not shot with a handycam.

Cello

Tom Giammarco	X	The ending is so confusing, but just be glad it ends.

Cracked Eggs & Noodles

Tom Giammarco		Good acting by leads/interesting development of dad/son relations.
Darcy Paquet		Ugh. Really rubbed me the wrong way.

Crying Fist

Paolo Bertolin		Loses height with the overemphatic finale. Choi and Ryoo are a KO.
Tom Giammarco		Ryoo Seung-beom's acting elevates the film from good to great.
Adrien Gombeaud		Hurts so good.
Elif Kaya		Wonderful storytelling, highly recommended.
Kyu Hyun Kim		Ryoo Brothers deliver a sucker punch. Seung-beom is amazing.
Darcy Paquet		Gives the boxing film genre a punch in the ribs.

Daddy-Long-Legs

Paolo Bertolin		Ridiculously cliched and way, way too long...
Adam Hartzell		Legs is something this film does NOT have.

Duelist

James Brown		Memorably wacky & colourful with a stunningly gorgeous finale.
Tom Giammarco		Would like to see this beautiful film again but with the sound off.
Darcy Paquet		The biggest disappointment of 2005, despite its visuals.

Empress Chung

Tom Giammarco		Disney cliches meet dusty legend. OK for very young children.
Darcy Paquet		A well-intentioned South-North co-production that lacks energy.

Feathers in the Wind (Git)

Paolo Bertolin		Light as a feather, a small film often touched by grace.
James Brown		Lovingly crafted, visually splendid, sensual & engaging.
Davide Cazzaro		Definitely one of the best Korean films produced in 2004.
Tom Giammarco		Beautiful images, expertly paced story and interesting characters.
Elif Kaya		Calm, romantic and poetic, a must see.
Darcy Paquet		Korea's freshest screen romance in a very long time.
Mark Russell		Nice little film, but nothing special.

Geochilmaru: The Showdown

James Brown		Energetic but lacking the striking vision of a hot new talent.
Tom Giammarco		Fun update of old martial arts films. Great fighting sequences.
Adrien Gombeaud		Alive and kicking!
Kyu Hyun Kim		Only Koreans could make this wickedly charming slugfest.
Darcy Paquet		Engaging, fun, exciting low-budget martial arts.

A Great Actor

Paolo Bertolin		MASTERPIECE!!!

Green Chair

Paolo Bertolin		Asks the right questions in the proper manner. Heart-warming sex.
Davide Cazzaro		Good development of the story and fresh ideas. A little long.
Filmbrain		Daring, unconventional, sexy, and full of unexpected pleasures.
Tom Giammarco		This would have been much better as a short film. Last 20 mins good.
Adam Hartzell		Park peeps behind the Green Chair and finds more Park particulars.
Elif Kaya		Entertaining with lots of messages.
Darcy Paquet		Irreverent and obnoxious, but still very touching.

If You Were Me 2

Tom Giammarco		Arguably better than the original. Tightly focused storytelling.
Darcy Paquet		A well-formed omnibus (which is rare). Jung Ji-woo's is my favorite.

Innocent Steps

Tom Giammarco		Disappointing and cliche.
Darcy Paquet		I wish the screenwriter had just let them dance.

Jenny, Juno

Tom Giammarco		Treats the subject of early-teen pregnancy much too lightly.
Kyu Hyun Kim		Good Lord. Makes Blue Lagoon look like Umbrellas of Cherbourg .
Elif Kaya		Stylish, feel good film, not much else is there though.
Darcy Paquet		I was enjoying this movie, and then I started to hate it.

King and the Clown

James Brown		Balances Dae Jang Geum's melodrama with the slapstick of Duelist.
Tom Giammarco		Some great acting and excellent costumes/set.
Darcy Paquet		Engaging script, great acting, visually and cinematically flat.

Little Brother

Paolo Bertolin		A cutthroat premise developed with laudable sensitivity.
Tom Giammarco		If you like tearjerkers, this one is for you.

Long and Winding Road

Tom Giammarco		Could have been so much better. Lacked emotional impact.

Mapado

Paolo Bertolin		Formulaic characters and contrived plot. Obnoxious and trivial.
James Brown		Tiresome 'sisterhood' reworking of Hi Dharma.
Tom Giammarco		Need to turn off your brain to get through this comedy.
Elif Kaya		Entertaining, but don't expect much.

Marathon

Paolo Bertolin		Typical Korean woman-basher: it's all mum's fault! Cho overdoes it.
Tom Giammarco		Excellent performances shine in this touching story.
Elif Kaya		Your basic life melodrama with a good lead, nothing new here.
Kyu Hyun Kim		Surprisingly tough, too bad the climax turns overly manipulative.

Murder, Take One

James Brown		Sparkling, super-polished genre blender throws in a spanner too many.
Tom Giammarco		Intense acting by Shin. Like Law & Order but with fresh ideas.
Darcy Paquet		Lots of great moments, but lacks the form of Jang's better films.

My Boyfriend is Type-B

Tom Giammarco		Couldn't stand the characters. No chemistry between the leads.
Elif Kaya		Lacklustre rom com, only if you like any of the lead actors.
Darcy Paquet		How about that Lotte product placement?

Possible Changes

Davide Cazzaro		Former assistant to Hong Sang-soo tried to make a Hong film.
Tom Giammarco		Somber, depressing, stagnant and pointless.
Darcy Paquet		Maybe I missed something. I don't think so.

The President's Last Bang

Paolo Bertolin		Im knows how to dare, and his ambition and bravery deserve praise.
James Brown		Hip, intrepid piece but its irreverence is just a touch too zealous.
Davide Cazzaro		Witty, provocative and mordent. A "must not miss" Korean film.
Filmbrain		Brilliant political satire that easily ranks with the best.
Adrien Gombeaud		A solid political thriller and a delightful satire.
Elif Kaya		Great visuals, wonderful cast, a must see.
Darcy Paquet		Baek Yoon-shik is a god, and Im Sang-soo is a master.
Mark Russell		Maybe not great history, but a great film. Dark and funny.
Boris Trbic		Undressing fascism can be fun. Gloomy and entertaining.

Princess Aurora

James Brown		Gorily promising, but marred by a cop out ending.
Kyu Hyun Kim		Left-wing (?) pro-death penalty (?) vigilante (?!) thriller (?!?).
Darcy Paquet		Campy, but played too seriously to be any fun.

Reading or Feeding

Tom Giammarco		Complex story expertly handled by director/Interesting camera work.

Red Eye

Tom Giammarco		An embarrassment to ghosts everywhere.
Kyu Hyun Kim		No Oriental Express, but I rather fancied the train setting.
Darcy Paquet		Nice cast, but none of the emotions in the film hit home.

The Red Shoes

Tom Giammarco		Kim Hye-su is excellent/Plot has many holes but manages to scare.
Elif Kaya		Stylish, moody, and artistic.
Kyu Hyun Kim		The shoes are, uh, pink. At least Kim Hye-su dances to her tune.
Darcy Paquet		An A for style, a C- for enlightened creativity.

Road

Davide Cazzaro		Nothing very new but Bae Chang-ho shows his talent and experience.
Tom Giammarco		Great cinematography & story. Not perfect due to lead actress.
Darcy Paquet		Its slow-building emotional power is its greatest strength.

Sad Movie

Elif Kaya		Only if you like melodrama.
Darcy Paquet		Glossy packaging, but feels very calculated.

Shadowless Sword

Darcy Paquet		Meat-and-potatoes martial arts. At least the pacing is tight.
Mark Russell		Trite story, lame martial arts. Goofiest hair of all time.

She's On Duty

Elif Kaya		Don't expect what you see on the DVD cover.

Short Time

James Brown		Overlong, but hilarious at times and ultimately earns viewer empathy.
Tom Giammarco		Rather bland comedy. Choi Seong-Guk is surprisingly good here.
Darcy Paquet		Trashy, but surprisingly fun. Cutest kid in 2005.

Spying Cam

Paolo Bertolin		Korean political background, yet universal ethics in a great film.
Darcy Paquet		Made with passion but not quite as much precision.

Sympathy for Lady Vengeance

James Brown		Powerful, even if somewhat mired in clever, expressive abstraction.
Davide Cazzaro		Is the "PCW-style" at risk of becoming a victim of its own success?
Tom Giammarco		Great film despite the simple black-and-white characters.
Elif Kaya		Weakest of the trilogy but still a good watch.
Darcy Paquet		Quirky, introspective, harrowing. A bit lopsided, but it works.
Mark Russell		PCW's talents wasted on his weakest film to date. Silly and shallow.

Tale of Cinema

Paolo Bertolin		An utter disappointment. Is Hong running out of inspiration?
Adrien Gombeaud		One of the few inteligent films on cinema.
Elif Kaya		The Hong you know and love.
Darcy Paquet		Do I detect a tiny glimpse of optimism in this film?
Mark Russell		..ooOOoo....ooOOoo... Love that zoom. Dull and uninspired.

This Charming Girl

Davide Cazzaro		Probably the best debut of 2004. Let's keep an eye on Lee Yoon-ki.
Filmbrain		Small, quiet, subtle. The kind of film we need to see more of.
Tom Giammarco		Amazing film giving intricate details of the life of one woman.
Adrien Gombeaud		She walks in beauty.
Adam Hartzell		Not a jumped-up postal girl, but an intriguing character study.
Elif Kaya		Very effective in a quiet way, brilliant actress.
Kyu Hyun Kim		Finally, a filmic antidote to the "YOU WANNA DIE?" Sassy Girls.
Darcy Paquet		A quiet but strong film. Kim Ji-soo is worth following.

Typhoon

James Brown		Solid multi-national chase movie collapses under woeful histrionics.
Darcy Paquet		Good try, but this is a film without a soul.
Mark Russell		Respectable looking, even if nothing makes any sense.

The Unforgiven

Elif Kaya		Good story, great acting but an uncomfortable, bad rhythm.
Kyu Hyun Kim		His military buddy is not okay and that's real Korean man for ya.

Voice

Tom Giammarco		Good drama, few scares.
Kyu Hyun Kim		Sotto voce, but thoughtful, disturbing and ultimately very sad.
Darcy Paquet		Has many flaws, but the core story is interesting.

A Wacky Switch

Elif Kaya		Suprisingly entertaining, no body soul exchange here.

Wedding Campaign

Elif Kaya		Nothing special, US version was much better.
Darcy Paquet		Captures the men's point of view well, but not the women's.

Welcome to Dongmakgol

James Brown		Tries too hard to please everyone, resulting in a flat finish.
Davide Cazzaro		Ups and downs and quite long but some parts are really powerful.
Tom Giammarco		Technically well done. Wished it could have been more fantasy.
Elif Kaya		Cute and impossible to hate despite its obvious flaws.
Darcy Paquet		This is how you should make a Korean blockbuster.
Mark Russell		Really great first half, but loses its way later on.

The Wig

Kyu Hyun Kim		The wig itself is scary enough. Silly resolution, as always.
Darcy Paquet		Actresses are great, but done in by over-intellectualized ending.

The Windmill Palm Grove

Kyu Hyun Kim		Wonderful local color compensates for boring love story.
Darcy Paquet		Rural, working class Korean woman turned into Madame Butterfly.

You Are My Sunshine

James Brown		A far more successful rendering of a bittersweet life.
Kyu Hyun Kim		Magically transforms sap into amber.
Darcy Paquet		Melodrama with rough edges, from a future directorial star.

2004
3-Iron

James Brown		Film school ideas assembled by an increasingly skilled minimalist.
Davide Cazzaro		The "silent" and impressive surprise of Venice Film Festival 2004.
Filmbrain		Tailor-made for international art-house set. Sumptuous, but shallow.
Tom Giammarco		A restrained Kim Ki-duk film. His best in years.
Adrien Gombeaud		Kim invites you to a fascinating ritual.
Adam Hartzell		Pretty to look at, but otherwise as ephemeral as Jae's character.
Elif Kaya		One of Kim's best and a must see.
Boris Trbic		Based on an interesting premise. Too sweet, thin.

100 Days With Mr. Arrogant

Elif Kaya	X	Stay away.
Darcy Paquet	X	Waste of good film stock.

Arahan

James Brown		Fun, but nothing more. What is up with that guttural roar?!
Davide Cazzaro		Funny. For the first ten minutes.
Tom Giammarco		Light recreation of a comic book. Fun, but drags in parts.
Adrien Gombeaud		Ryu Seungwan frozen in his own CGI.
Adam Hartzell		Close, but no sequel.
Elif Kaya		Been there, done that but still enjoyed the ride.

Au Revoir, UFO

Adam Hartzell		The two Lee leads do their best to add a fish ranking.
Elif Kaya		Sweet but it lacks a certain something. Only if you have time.

The Big Swindle

Elif Kaya		Fun film with a great cast and a high tempo.

Bunshinsaba

Davide Cazzaro	X	A new (?) horror (?) by director Ahn Byung-ki? Yes, unfortunately.
Tom Giammarco		Nothing new.
Adrien Gombeaud	X	Looks like a spoof but it's not.
Elif Kaya		So so effort, only to lovers of the genre.
Kyu Hyun Kim		Could have been a classic if it were only a little loonier.

Clementine

Adam Hartzell	X	The bottom has been hit.
Tom Giammarco		Proves Seagal can make bad movies internationally.

Dance With the Wind

Tom Giammarco		Lacks the punch it needed to make it truly good.
Elif Kaya		A watchable failure.

Desire

Adrien Gombeaud		Pretentious.
Adam Hartzell		Gutsy, got to give it up for that.
Darcy Paquet		Confession time: I loved this movie.

The Doll Master

Tom Giammarco		Fun if you don't think about how ridiculous the plot is.

Don't Tell Papa

Tom Giammarco		About as bad as they come. Truly horrible father.

Everybody Has Secrets

Tom Giammarco		Could have developed the characters better but not bad.
Adrien Gombeaud		Good script, good actors, but director is missing.
Adam Hartzell		It's no secret this film was a pleasurable comedy.
Elif Kaya		Fun, sexy and enternaining, don't expect more though.
Kyu Hyun Kim		Heartily recommended to Lee Byung-hun fans. The rest beware.

Face

Tom Giammarco		Disappointing. The ghost seemed like an afterthought.
Elif Kaya		Well meaning, but useless.

A Family

Davide Cazzaro		A good debut feature with a perfect cast.
Adam Hartzell		If ending's sappiness were toned down a tad, a perfect melodrama.
Tom Giammarco		Made to manipulate your emotions. Succeeds in doing so.
Elif Kaya		One of the best melodramas I have ever seen.

Fighter in the Wind

Tom Giammarco		Starts well but characters fail to develop fully.
Adam Hartzell		Like the wind, this passes you by quickly.
Elif Kaya		Don't expect action or suspense.
Kyu Hyun Kim		Laughable history meets Stone Age martial arts flick cliches.

Flying Boys

Adam Hartzell		I still carry valuable pieces from this unsatisfying whole.
Tom Giammarco		Interesting story. Accurate portrayal of young adults.
Elif Kaya		Non melodramatic and effective in its storytelling.
Kyu Hyun Kim		Earnest and warm-hearted but ultimately drags its feet.

Foolish Game

James Brown		Genuine, composed, wry -- and persistently irritating.
Adam Hartzell		Indeed.

The Ghost ("Ryung")

Tom Giammarco		Would have given it higher points but the ending was confusing.

Ghost House

Tom Giammarco		Couldn't hold my interest. Took two tries to get through it.
Elif Kaya		Too much CGI, not enough script.

Hi Dharma 2

James Brown		Funnier and more coherent than the high concept original.
Darcy Paquet		As sequels go, a decent effort. From the monks' POV this time.

How to Keep My Love

Tom Giammarco		Even the cuteness of Kim Jung-eun could not save this movie.
Elif Kaya		Don't bother.

Hypnotized

James Brown		An eye-catching staircase leading nowhere.
Tom Giammarco		Takes some patience to get through but ultimately worth it.
Elif Kaya		A wonderful bad film.
Kyu Hyun Kim		Visually stunning but the "mystery" goes nowhere fast.

Ice Rain

Adam Hartzell		Falters early on in its climb.

Love So Divine

Elif Kaya		Don't bother unless you are a fan of either lead.
Tom Giammarco		Follows the usual rom-com blueprint to perfection.

Lovely Rivals

James Brown		Spirited idea, but the story progressively loses focus.
Tom Giammarco		Would have been better if they had cut out most of the comedy.

Low Life

James Brown		Likably conventional.
Filmbrain		A more accessible Im, but emotionally flat.
Tom Giammarco		Tries to cover too great a time period.
Adrien Gombeaud		Complex, dark portrait of the post-war era. Im's most personal film.
Adam Hartzell		Im Kwon-taek hits a low point.
Elif Kaya		Mediocre.
Darcy Paquet		I think Im was trying to prove too much in this film.

A Moment to Remember

Tom Giammarco		Watch only if you are in the mood to cry.
Elif Kaya		Must see if you are into melodrama.
Kyu Hyun Kim		You get to see the dental work in Son Ye-jin's molars.
Darcy Paquet		Very, very slick. I hated it.

Mr. Gam's Victory

James Brown		Frivolous, but extremely likeable and wonderfully photographed.
Tom Giammarco		Well-told character-driven sports story.
Adam Hartzell		A pleasant day at the ball park.

Mr. Handy

Elif Kaya		Lovely female lead makes this humble rom com watchable.
Tom Giammarco		An unpredictable, mature romantic comedy is a nice change.

My Brother

James Brown		Taegukgi for the bullet shy.
Tom Giammarco		Interesting family dynamics. Heavy on melodrama.
Elif Kaya		Your usual Korean melodrama (meaning it's good).

My Generation

Davide Cazzaro		Alienation of the young generation. New? No, gloomy and uninspired.
Adam Hartzell		This film has grown on me more and more.
Tom Giammarco		Interesting use of cameras. Realistic, but frustrating characters.
Darcy Paquet		This director's short films show greater vision and creativity.

My Little Bride

Elif Kaya		Cute leads, funny story, better than the original.

My Mother, the Mermaid

James Brown		Bittersweet fantasy that occasionally dives a little too deep.
Filmbrain		Some nice performances in an otherwise standard romantic drama.
Tom Giammarco		Good acting in a generally underrated movie.
Elif Kaya		Gains a lot from the lovely lead actress' superb performance.
Kyu Hyun Kim		Jeon Do-yeon is magnificent. Wish the film had stronger legs though.

Once Upon a Time in HS

Filmbrain		Gripping, brutal, but heartfelt portrait of youth.
Tom Giammarco		Good story but the brutality of the fight scenes left me cold.
Adrien Gombeaud		A teen film, a historical drama, a political satire, and more...
Adam Hartzell		And I thought Calculus was hard.
Elif Kaya		Solid coming of age story, raw fight scenes, nostalgia.
Kyu Hyun Kim		Not as slyly ironic as Yu Ha's Marriage. Still enjoyed it greatly.

The President's Barber

Adam Hartzell		Song Gang-ho AND Moon So-ri? You expected much more.
Elif Kaya		Strangely offending in its cuteness in the second half.

R-Point

Adam Hartzell		War films/Horror films, my least fave genres, so an uphill battle.
Elif Kaya		The horror is not effective, but it has other worthwhile qualities.
Kyu Hyun Kim		Fine ensemble acting propels a straightforward Viet Nam horror.
Tom Giammarco		Horror of war and ghosts from the past make for a good film.

Repatriation

James Brown		Astonishingly soulful, intelligent & self-aware personal document.
Davide Cazzaro		An outstanding, unforgettable work. Don't even think to miss it.
Adam Hartzell		Saved the year from being a complete toss off.
Kyu Hyun Kim		Compassionate, open-minded, liberal in the best sense of the word.

Rikidozan

Davide Cazzaro		Subtitle: A Hero Extraordinary. not the film, though.
Tom Giammarco		First viewing disappointing, second was better.
Darcy Paquet		Interesting lives don't always make interesting movies.

Romance of Their Own

Tom Giammarco		Got attention because of the actors. Watch only if you're a fan.
Elif Kaya		Not worth your money.
Darcy Paquet		Not a bad start, but completely loses it at the end.

S Diary

James Brown		Subtle Diary it ain't. Very pushy and totally awry.
Elif Kaya		Starts to smell towards the end, but still enjoyable.
Tom Giammarco		Childishly cute 'revenge' movie. Character motives unclear.

Samaritan Girl

James Brown		Provocative, obscure, and a little silly: KKD at his most sincere?
Davide Cazzaro		Quite underrated. One of Kim Ki-duk's best.
Tom Giammarco		Could not identify with the characters at all!
Adrien Gombeaud		A simple film about loving and growing up.
Elif Kaya		Might be a good introduction to Kim, my least fave.
Boris Trbic		Cliched and pretentious. Early Fassbinder it is not.

The Scarlet Letter

James Brown		Pathetic indulgence of a cine-theorist in search of an audience.
Davide Cazzaro		You can study film wherever but if the inspiration lacks...
Filmbrain		Gratuitous male fantasy. Laughably awful.
Tom Giammarco		The never-ending trunk scene ruined this movie.
Elif Kaya		Nicely directed, tidy and well acted (but mysogynist).
Kyu Hyun Kim		Well-acted but wholly unpleasant. A genuinely decadent film.

Shin Sukki Blues

Tom Giammarco		Dull body-switch movie.
Elif Kaya		Nothing special.

Shit Up!

James Brown		Screwy redemption-themed comedy with poor script and execution.

A Smile

Adam Hartzell		I hope Choo Sang-mi gets more leading roles.

So Cute

Davide Cazzaro		An eccentric debut. A little entangled but some parts are great.
Darcy Paquet		Seems to aspire to Kusturica, but falls significantly short.

Some

Adam Hartzell		I like to think about what could have been more than what was.
Elif Kaya		A different sort of storytelling, but that's about it.
Kyu Hyun Kim		Slinky and entertaining. The deja vu stuff is a total tease, though.

Someone Special

James Brown		Curveball romance that delightfully surmounts its chestnut hook.
Davide Cazzaro		A big disappointment. Take a look at Jang's first two films.
Tom Giammarco		Good acting, loved the characters.
Elif Kaya		A different sort of rom com, give it a try.
Kyu Hyun Kim		Don't say Nay(oung) to this charming & quirky Jang Jin romance.
Darcy Paquet		Jang Jin's best film to date, and an absolute pleasure to watch .

Spider Forest

James Brown		Too intense, but genuinely mysterious.
Davide Cazzaro		Surprisingly underrated. Great story and atmosphere.
Tom Giammarco		Wonderfully atmospheric and full of symbolism.
Kyu Hyun Kim		Song Il-gon's empathy overcomes the art-movie trappings.

Spin Kick

Tom Giammarco		Similar to many films about underdog athletes, but fun anyway.
Elif Kaya		Nothing new here, average.

Springtime

Tom Giammarco		Strong, simple film made better by Choi Min-shik's acting.
Adam Hartzell		That man Choi Min-shik's got mad skills and mass range.

Spy Girl

James Brown		Kim Jeong-hwa's magnetism is an ace in the hole; the rest is junk.
Tom Giammarco		Like Kim Jeong-hwa, but the film is very childish.
Adam Hartzell		There's nothing secret about this film's service to a burger chain.
Kyu Hyun Kim		Please stop insulting N. Koreans by making "comedies" about them.

Sweet Sixties

Adam Hartzell		I wanted this to be so much better than it was.
Kyu Hyun Kim		A pleasant comedy for the nostalgically inclined. That's all.

Taegukgi

James Brown		Wildly overblown, histrionic, mind-numbing bombardment.
Davide Cazzaro		Welcome to "Seoullywood".
Tom Giammarco		Captured the heart of the nation--with good reason.
Adrien Gombeaud		Not worse than a Michael Bay Film... not better either.
Adam Hartzell		Kang continues his reign.
Elif Kaya		Melodramatic, grand and gritty, a must see for Korean cinema.
Kyu Hyun Kim		Surprisingly effective, considering its ersatz Spielbergianisms.

Three... Extremes

Tom Giammarco		Miike Takashi's Box is the best of the three shorts.
Elif Kaya		Cut: gory, superbly acted, moody and funny.

To Catch a Virgin Ghost

Adam Hartzell		It is what it is, unless I'm seeing something that isn't there.
Tom Giammarco		Interesting mix of genres takes a predictable twist.
Kyu Hyun Kim		Wish all the jopok got killed off in the first five minutes.

Too Beautiful To Lie

Darcy Paquet		Overly cute, but not entirely ineffective.
Elif Kaya		Silly, entertaining and heartwarming, only to rom com lovers.

Two Guys

Tom Giammarco		If you think hitting people is comedy, you'll love this film.

When I Turned Nine

Adam Hartzell		I don't think I'll like these kids even when they turn 30.
Elif Kaya		Exceptional child actors, decent story.

Windstruck

James Brown		Kwak varies & depletes his pet subject with a dash of self-reflection.
Adam Hartzell		I've suffered enough, Kwak, shorten your films, please!
Tom Giammarco		Winner of the award for Most Product Placements.
Elif Kaya		Wasted leads in an obvious cash-in job.
Darcy Paquet		Not as bad as its rep, but no Sassy Girl.

The Wolf Returns

James Brown		Those crazy days of summer. Is the cops and robbers plot necessary?
Tom Giammarco		Entertaining while watching but instantly forgettable.
Darcy Paquet		Seemed like a good idea, but the humor feels forced.

Woman is the Future of Man

James Brown		Gloomy, instantly forgettable affairs.
Filmbrain		Hong IS the future of cinema. Gets better with each viewing.
Adrien Gombeaud		Hong touches the frontiers of fantastic cinema.
Adam Hartzell		My least fave Hong film, but there's tough competition.
Elif Kaya		A masterpiece.
Kyu Hyun Kim		Clever and funny as usual, but Hong's drunks are getting tiresome.
Boris Trbic		A poignant, intriguing tale about love and growing up.

Participating critics include: Paolo Bertolin (Italy, based in Berkeley, CA), James Brown aka katsuben (originally New Zealand, based in Adelaide, Australia), Davide Cazzaro (based in Venice, Italy), Filmbrain (based in NY), Tom Giammarco (US, based in Samrye, North Cholla Province, Korea), Adrien Gombeaud (Paris, France), Adam Hartzell aka atom (US, based in San Francisco), Elif Kaya aka Eliza Bennet (based in Istanbul, Turkey), Kyu Hyun Kim (US/Korea, based in Bay Area, CA), Darcy Paquet (US, based in Seoul), Mark Russell (Canada, based in Seoul), Boris Trbic (based in Melbourne, Australia). Please understand that many of our critics live outside Korea, so there may be some delay before they are able to watch new films.

Back to Korean Film Page