New World - Zwischen den Fronten

'New World' is an epic gangster film from South Korean director, Park Hoon-jung. With actors such as Choi Min-sik (probably most well known for his role as Dae-su in 'Oldboy'), I was expecting this film to deliver something spectacular. And, well, it did. For the duration of the narrative, I could not tear my eyes away from the screen. While the pace of most films of this length tends to slow, or get a little dull, 'New World' kept a steady rhythm, full of political intrigue.

Undercover cop, Ja-seong (played by Lee Jeong-jae), leads a dual life. He has his job as a policeman, and the role of a gangster in a large crime syndicate that goes under the name of 'Goldmoon.' When the boss of the syndicate is killed in a car accident, Chief Kang (Choi Min- sik) puts a new project into effect called 'Operation New World'. The purpose of this operation is to ensure that one of the undercover cops in the syndicate will rise to a position of power. The ultimate aim is for the syndicate to be in the hands of, or at least easily manipulated by, a trusted law enforcer.

Ja-seong finds himself torn between his duties as a cop, and his loyalties to 'brother,' and gang member, Jung Chung (Hwang Jung-min). Putting more hours, and more effort into his work, Ja-seong finds less time at home with his pregnant wife, and more into the syndicate 'family'. Acting as a bridge between the law, and the underworld, the loyalty of Ja-seong is rarely questioned by his acquaintances. Yet, it is apparent that Ja-seong beings to question the nature of loyalty, and of betrayal. As he prepares to dive further into the syndicate, his confusion becomes ever more apparent.

Some of the conversations in 'New World' were gripping, and the portrayal of violent acts was just spectacular. The use of blood in these instances, paired with close ups, were some of the most aesthetically pleasing moments in the film. While not extremely violent, 'New World' uses violence in a manner that complements the pace of the film. The ruthless nature of the law, and the syndicate, was highlighted in these instances, and it is apparent that both sides can be as manipulative, and as corrupt, as one other. All the while, in the midst of this corruption, Ja-seong must find a place of power to call his own; he must create a whole new world.

I don't know if it was coincidence or these actors choose a great movie all the time but when I see a movie with Hwang Jungmin, who played Jeong Chang, or Choi Minshik, chief Kang, I automatically know that it's going to be a good movie.

I didn't like Lee Jungjae at times when he was trying to correctly pronounce each syllable, but he played the role superbly.

As for the story-line and how the conclusion of the movie unfolds, wow. I was lost in words. The same feeling I got when I watched Shiri about 13 years ago.

"When everyone turned their back on me, he called me a brother."

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome. No other word can better describe how the movie is.

A highly gripping portrait of Korean crime syndicate, New World is arguably the best mob film to come out from South Korea since Kim Jee-woon's A Bittersweet Life & is an ingeniously structured, stylishly filmed, firmly composed & violently told cinema that shares a similar thematic structure with Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather. Opening with a bloodied face of a person being tortured as he is suspected of being the mole in the gang, this crime-drama sets the tone for what's to come & as the film progresses, becomes more & more engrossing until it all culminates on a rousing high with an expertly executed finale.

The plot covers the conflicts between the police & the mob through the eyes of an undercover cop who has worked his way up over the past 8 years to become the right hand man of the second-in-command for the throne of Goldmoon; the biggest crime syndicate in Korea. When its leader is killed in a car accident, the crime ring is thrown into a succession struggle of which both the police & the mob wants to make the most of and which in the end comes down to our undercover cop, who must finally make a choice that'll decide the fate of this crime organization.

Outstanding well written & directed by Park Hoon-jung who does a superb job in shaping the story & even better at illustrating it on the screen, skilfully photographed too with fine use of close-ups & camera angles, tightly edited as the film flies through its 134 minutes of runtime, spectacularly scored with music making its way in or out of scenes at the right moments & strongly performed by its stellar cast, New World works because of a combination of many things it does right & is one of the best films of last year plus one of the most impressive mob films in a long time. Do not miss it.

When the leader of a crime syndicate called "Goldmoon" gets assassinated, there are three potential followers who battle for absolute power. Caught in between the growing tension is undercover agent Lee Ja-Sung, played by the extraordinary newcomer actor Lee Jong- Jae, who wants to retire after eight years of service with his girlfriend being pregnant. He has become the right hand and even good friend of one of the three potential followers who is the provocateur Jung Chung, played by a superb Hwang Jeong-Min, and is suddenly in the middle of the action. Chief Kang, played by one of Korea's greatest actors ever, Choi Min-Sik, wants his undercover cop to do one last dangerous mission called "Operation New World" and intervene in the selection process for the next crime syndicate leader. Soon, people all around Lee Ja-Sung are dying and the rumour is spread that at least one undercover agent has infiltrated the syndicate. Lee Ja-Sung has to quickly take several important decisions before he gets uncovered.

"New World" is a very well played gangster movie with addicting characters and much better than last year's "Nameless Gangster" that had no gripping story line and too many slapstick elements in it. This movie is dark and tension filled but especially the acting is outstanding. Several characters develop throughout this movie. The old and tired number two in the syndicate suddenly develops some new ambitions and is ready to do anything for it. The other two potential followers are a naive and obscene character and and a cold and dangerous one but both of them also change throughout this film with the first one becoming more brutal but mature at the same time and the second one becoming too arrogant and uncontrolled.

At the beginning of the movie, the viewers have a clear idea of who are the bad and who are the good guys but this also changes throughout the movie. While the police risks the lives of their agents without pity, you begin to see that some gangsters are more human than others as well. All these developments lead to a spectacular but also predictable ending. Those who don't know the genre might fall for some minor twists here and there but those who are experts of the gangster movie genre won't be taken by surprise.

This is maybe the weak point of the movie. It adds nothing new to the gangster flick genre apart of the emotional acting. The story is very predictable and you feel as if you've had watched all of this before a couple of times. That's why this movie also has a couple of lengths. After an intriguing opening and a few exciting scenes in the second part of the movie, director Park Hoon-Jung maybe takes too much time to introduce all characters and employs too many dialogues. Maybe this was necessary to understand who is who but the whole thing could have been more dynamical in my opinion. That's where this movie is too traditional against its own good and not a far call from many American gangster flicks. With all these great actors involved, one could have created a true masterpiece but this film is ultimately only a very good and realistic gangster flick which is still great to watch but there is some wasted potential as well.

Fans of crime and gangster movies should definitely try out this film. Those who have liked the actors involved in here before should also dig this flick even though the amazing Choi Min-Sik is a little bit under- used in my opinion. In the end, it's hard to tell if this movie is worth a seven or a eight star rating. I would probably choose the middle of it as many users on this site. As the acting in here is quite exceptional, I though decided to go for the more positive evaluation in the end.

Maybe it's a little excessive to give this movie a 10/10 rating, but GOD it is so amazing.

1. Fantastic cast of top-notch Korean actors who DELIVER it hot n' ready in under 30 minutes.

2. Cinematography, excellent.

3. Script, wow. Never a line delivered that I cringed at how corny it was, which I find tends to happen more often for me watching a foreign film. Unlike so many American films, there's real character development and the story may be filled with some of the best actions scenes and Korea mafia tension you'd expect, but the greatest moments are the intimacies between the characters in the film. You think you're getting an action flick, but it is so much more.

I cannot recommend this movie more than I already have, I saw this almost by accident and went in with little to no expectations of quality or anything of the like. I really went because I recognize the actor from Oldboy, who is in his own right amazing in every role I've seen him in.