Metamorphosis / 변신 - Movie Review

The Movie: Metamorphosis / 변신

The Director: Kim Hong-seon

The Cast: Bae Seong-woo, Sung Dong-il, Jang Yeongnam, Kim Hye-jun, Cho Yi-hyun, Kim Kang-hoon

The Story: An evil spirit that changes faces infiltrates one family placing one brother in danger while the other tries to save him.

Korean Movie Night At Home - Free Movies!

Thanks to a friend of mine sharing a post from the Korean Consulate of Seattle, I have discovered this unique and free opportunity to watch Korean movies thanks to the Korean Cultural Center New York and JBG Pictures. The following is from the event's website page.

"In this unique revamp of Korean Movie Night, we’ve partnered with JBG Pictures to provide FREE access to these films online until the end of June. Since its inception in 2010, Korean Movie Night New York presented free film screenings that introduced the full spectrum of contemporary and classic Korean cinema to New York audiences, including popular blockbusters, independent films, documentaries, animation, and more."

The DMZ (데스트랩) - Movie Review

The Movie: The DMZ (데스트랩)

The Director: Oh In-chun

The Cast: Joo Min-ha, Kim Joon-seob, Hirota Masami

The Story: A female police officer steps on a land mine while chasing an escaped prisoner through the Korean Demilitarized Zone.

The Battleship Island (군함도) - Movie Review

The Movie: The Battleship Island (군함도)

The Director: Ryoo Seung-wan

The Cast: Hwang Jung-min, Kim Su-an, Lee Jung-hyun, So Ji-seob, Song Joong-ki

The Story: During the Japanese colonial era, roughly 400 Korean people, who were forced onto Battleship Island ("Hashima Island") to mine for coal, attempt to escape.

The Villainess (악녀) - Movie Review

The Movie: The Villainess (악녀)

The Director: Jung Byung-gil

The Cast: Kim Ok-bin, Sung, Joon, Shin Ha-kyun, Bang Sung-jun, Kim Seo-hyung

The Story: A woman assassin leaves a trail of bodies behind her as she seeks revenge.

A Taxi Driver (택시 운전사) (HIFF 2017) - Movie Review

The Movie: A Taxi Driver (택시 운전사)

The Director: Jang Hoon

The Cast: Song Kang-ho, Thomas Kretschmann, Yoo Hae-jin, Ryu Jun-yeol, Park Hyeok-gwon

The Story: A taxi driver from Seoul, incidentally gets involved in a German journalist's reporting of the events of the Gwangju Democratization Movement, also called the Gwangju Uprising, in 1980.

2016 Recap - The Korean Films

During the summer of this year, I discovered that my local AMC theater had an ongoing program of Korean film screenings which gave me a great opportunity to see some really great stuff I never would have otherwise had a chance to watch. Read below for a list of all of my Korean film reviews including my 2016 TwoOhSix favorite!

Vanishing Time: A Boy Who Returned (가려진 시간) - Movie Review

Vanishing Time: A Boy Who Returned tells the story of a legendary object that has the ability to stop time for those who find it and how it affects their lives for better or worse. The film, written and directed by Tae-hwa Eom, features acting performances from Hyo-je Lee, Eun-soo Shin, Dong-won Gang, and Hee-won Kim.

Seoul Station (서울역) (HIFF 2016) - Movie Review

Seoul Station, an official selection of the 2016 Hawaii International Film Festival, is an animated feature and predecessor to the smash hit Korean zombie action film, Train to Busan, both of which were written and directed by Sang-ho Yeon. The film, which shows the original zombie outbreak that leads the events of Train to Busan, features voice acting contributions from Seung-ryong Ryu, Franciska Friede, and Joon Lee.

Operation Chromite (인천상륙작전) - Movie Review

Operation Chromite (인천상륙작전), directed by John H. Lee, uncovers a secret mission, ordered by General Douglas MacArthur, that would either help to win the Korean War or, if not successful, would simply send a group of brave men to their deaths. The movie features acting performances from Jeong-jae Lee, Beom-soo Lee, Se-yeon Jin, Joon-ho Jeong, Byeong-ok Kim, Geum-seong Kil, and Liam Neeson as General Douglas MacArthur.

The Handmaiden (아가씨) - Movie Review

The Handmaiden, co-written and directed by Chan-wook Park, is a 1930's crime thriller filled with deceit, debauchery, and double crosses as a con man tries to steal an inheritance from a secluded young woman. The film features acting performances from Min-hee Kim, Kim Tae-ri, Jung-woo Ha, and Jin-woong Jo.

Luck-Key - Movie Review

Luck-Key, directed by Gye-beok Lee, is a remake of a Japanese film called Key of Life and tells the tale of two men who switch lives after an accident leaves one man with amnesia and the other with a new lease on life. The film features acting performances from, Hae-jin Yoo, Lee Joon, Yoon-hee Jo, Ji-yeon Lim, Hye-bin Jeon, Dong-hwi Lee.

Asura: The City of Madness - Movie Review

Asura: The City of Madness, directed by Sung-su Kim, follows a corrupt cop down a bloody path of corruption and politics as he plays both sides of an investigation between prosecutors and the city's mayor. The film features acting performances from Woo-sung Jung, Jung-min Hwang, Ji-hun Ju, Do Wan Kwak, and Man-sik Jeong.

The Tunnel - Movie Review

The Tunnel is a film by South Korean director Seong-hoon Kim and tells the story of a man trapped underneath a collapsed highway tunnel along with the efforts of the rescue team tasked with getting him out. The movie features acting performances by Jung-woo Ha, Dal-su Oh, and Doona Bae.

Train to Busan - Movie Review

Train to Busan, directed by Sang-ho Yuen, is a South Korean action thriller about a group of people trapped on a high speed train as a zombie infection breaks out across the country. The film features acting performances by Yoo Gong, Me Dong-seok, Choi Woo-sik, Jeong Yu-mi, Kim Soo-an, and Sohee.

A Hard Day - Kkeut-kka-ji-gan-da (SIFF 2015) - Movie Review

A Hard Day, written and directed by Seong-hoon Kim, is an official selection of the 2015 Seattle International Film Festival. This South Korean action thriller stars Seon-gyun Lee, Man-shik Jeong, Jin-woong Jo, Dong-Young Kim, and Dong-mi Shin.

Seoul Searching (SIFF 2015) - Movie Review

Seoul Searching is a South Korean coming of age comedy drawn from the real life experiences of writer and director Benson Lee. The movie features an ensemble cast including Justin Chon, Jessica Van, In-Pyo Cha, Teo Yoo, Esteban Ahn, Rosalina Leigh, Byul Kong, Albert Kong, Heejun Han, and Crystal Kay.

Snowpiercer - Movie Review

Snowpiercer is a science fiction action movie both written and directed by acclaimed Korean director Bong Joon Ho. The film stars Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, Ed Harris, Kang-ho Song, John Hurt, Jamie Bell, Octavia Spencer, Ewen Bremner, Ah-sung Ko, Vlad, Ivanov, Adnan Haskovic, Luke Pasqualino, Alison Pill, and Stephen Park.

Pieta (SIFF 2013) - Movie Review

Pieta is a South Korean drama written and directed by Ki-duk Kim who is a highly respected and decorated filmmaker. This dark and brooding film stars Jung-Jin Lee as Gang-Do and Min-soo Jo as Mi-Son.

71: Into the Fire

71 Into the Fire is based on a story about a South Korean army platoon made up entirely of student soldiers who were tasked with protecting a strategic location against a vastly superior North Korean force. This tale of uncommon heroism stars Korean rapper Seung Hyun Choi who turns in an impressive performance under the direction of John H. Lee.