Gangcheolbi

We have become so used to the hegemony of Hollywood that it is easy to forget other countries can and do produce excellent movies. This South Korean film is superb in that it is has a topical credible plot that is executed well producing an intelligent political action thriller with touches of humanity and humour. Well worth watching and enjoying.

This is a surprising film that conveys a Korean perspective on unification much different than what we get from the US media. In an action packed spy thriller, the story is the humanity of two agents from the North and South learning to trust and even like each other as the symbol that against all odds, unification of Korea is not just a pipe dream. There are subtle and not so subtle digs and critique of the USA's role in the Korean problem. The theme of the film is that the bad guys on both sides are the people who are using the division of Korea for their own personal power and profit and that is much worse than the division itself.

Well made complicated North and South Korea political and nuclear thriller. Its hard to follow in parts. Korean speakers will find this more understandable probably and appreciate the complicated politics. I liked the comic and touching relationship between the two main actors.

Just saw it on Netflix, really good movie, everything was done well, script, acting, effects, locations, direction and cinematography. 10/10. Please keep making more motion pictures like this!

If you like this, you'd probably also like Bad Guys Vile City (over the top violence, but good story and acting) and Stranger (Secret Forest) on Netflix. The only issue I have is having to pause and go back sometimes to read the dialogue. Netflix only has Korean (of course) and Spanish SAP, no English.

Clearly, and successfully, made for western consumption, this South Korean "The Sum of All Fears" style doomsday action/thriller/buddy film is one of the best I've seen. All the requisite action and intrigue parts are there and done very well. The actors are very good; the relationships and developments have weight; the meticulous script is excellent and the 'thriller tension' is ratcheted nicely. 'Timely' would be the cliché, but what isn't is that this not a one sided propaganda piece at all.

The hc subtitles do come quick, but they're good clear translations.