Gangcheolbi

I was expecting an "okay" action movie with an excuse plot and a lot of unrealistic, flashy stunts from the lead character. Gangcheolbi (Steel Rain) is not that. This is a movie that gets it right.

It doesn't rely on flashy action scenes to provide entertainment and fake tension, but on a good story to provide actual tension. It doesn't force in character development or beg for some audience empathy, but simply lets the characters do what they do in a believable and organic way. Actions feel consequential. The dramatic scenes (unlike most movies) succeed because they are set up carefully and aren't milked for everything they can.

It's got plenty of action scenes and those were very enjoyable: fast, but well-shot (no super-short cuts), gritty, and with very little nonsense. Some of the shots in general were absolutely stunning. But the plot is also very solid (if somewhat difficult to follow for a Western person...) and stays interesting for the entire movie. It uses credible dynamics between countries and powers and masterfully displays the concerns over the existence of two entire nations, as well as the concerns over an entire people.

My only gripes with the movie are the sub-par acting of the CIA woman, and the parts where Asian actors suddenly tried to speak English (for no reason whatsoever) and didn't do so well, which is a bit of a shame since they acted phenomenally otherwise.

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.

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.

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.

Do yourself a favor and watch this entire film. Great acting, story, special effects, etc. So glad I watched all of it.