Vétéran

What worked: This movie works fine because if the use of right humor into the action movie. It's fun, engaging and enjoyable watch considering the good screenplay and the way it's directed. There is a nice balance of the comedy and the action in the movie making it a watchable movie. That's the reason I watched the movie multiple times and still found it a good movie

What did not work: Some minor issues with the plots that could have been worked if the makers put extra attention but overall it's still an entertaining movie. Final verdict: recommended

Brilliantly directed and even more effectively presented by all the actors. Ground breaking storyline backed by excellent dialogues and acting. Worth your precious time for sure. But I bet that in reality this super rich are too powerful and beyond the reach of cops. Let's hope that one day this will happen in reality as well.

With a summer filled with less than mediocre domestic films busting blocks in box office we get a quality entertainment from director Ryu Seung-Wan. This is not an entirely original film but Ryu packs it with enough real life relevance and intrigue in the plot to keep the audience thoroughly entertained.

The plot which has the same structure as "The Public Enemy" series, very popular and also from Korea, follows a hardboiled cop trying to take down a psychotic rich kid after his acquaintance ends up in hospital. Both parties do what they do best. One follows leads and the other does whatever it takes cover it up.

As mentioned above, the film's action scenes and its general tone (comic reliefs, charismatic yet evil rich baddies) are very similar to Public Enemy series. However the story is more focused here with director Ryu's confidence in his own style.

The entire cast turns in solid performances but the standout is Ah In Yoo, making a real nasty playboy who can convincingly smirk and get under your skin. Also worth mentioning is Hae Jin Yoo who's presence in a film almost always indicate solid performances. He plays a man who needs to juggle around running the company and keeping the young maniac under control. In its final action sequence, fans of Korean cinema will chuckle at a familiar face making a goofy cameo.

So far Ryu hasn't made a single film that wasn't worth the admission price. Sure, his film can come off cheesy at times but they were never boring. Ryu's style can also compensate for not entirely original plots in films like "Veteran" and "Berlin Files". A great success in box office, this film will pretty much guarantee the director to make any film he wants to make next. Anything he makes, I'll be first in line.

The beginning bit alone is worth watching the movie. Of course the movie has to settle a bit after that much mayhem, but does pick up the pace towards the end again. The comedy action mixture is really fitting and the actors are doing a great job. It's obvious they have fun with the script and the comedy that ensues.

It may seem all over the place and a bit over the top (alright sometimes a lot over the top), but if you don't mind that, you will be entertained as much as I did. South Korea has some really good filmmakers and some great talent in general and here are some on display if you are open minded and love originality, than you should give this a try

Overall, pretty good. While not my favorite Korean action film, if you like the genre you will probably enjoy it. Overall story and tropes will be broadly familiar to anyone who watches much Korean crime/action.

My one criticism is that the antagonist is cartoonishly evil - a genuine sadist - and his sadism is demonstrated probably more than is necessary, and in more extreme ways than is necessary, for a film which is trying to be more comedic.

Other than that, some good casting/actors, many of whom will be familiar to fans of the genre, including a cameo by Ma Dong-seok, probably my favorite actor in the genre.