Nowhere to Hide

I saw Nowhere to Hide for the first time just 2 nights ago. I recently discovered the wonders of Korean cinema and I purchased it sight-unseen based on what I had heard about the film. After viewing it I've decided that it's a film in search of a loftier goal.

Visually, Nowhere to Hide is a stunning film. I'm tempted to call it experimental since the goal seems to have been more of an experiment in motion rather than a basic action film. From the opening black and white scene to the ending fight set to that "Holiday(?)" song, NtH is true poetry in motion creating an incredible atmosphere through motion.

Unfortunately I feel that the director, Myung-se Lee, sacrificed artistic storytelling for artistic visuals. The film is as average story-wise as it is beautiful visually with its standard "cops search for killer" plot that never goes beyond the standard fare. It helps that Joon-Hoon Park conveys such an interesting character but I felt that the film still lagged through the middle half.

In the end, despite its shortcomings, I enjoyed Nowhere to Hide. As it stands, NtH is certainly worth seeing at least once but, with more focus on plot, it could have been so much more.

Nowhere to hide has to be one of the most perfectly made cop/villain thrillers i have ever seen. The movie has such a a great, yet tense feel to it and is so determined to blow the audiences minds away. The groundbreaking camera-work, beautiful cinematography, tense and violent action (featuring some of the coolest fight scenes i have ever seen) and a to die for soundtrack make this film in my opinion one of the greatest cop thrillers that has been made today. Laying right up there with 'Heat' and 'Infernal Affairs'. This film i think is not only a must see for Asian extreme fans, but for any one a fan of thrillers. 9 out of 10.

That's the rating this film has received so far?! I guess this really is a love-it-or-hate-it film; but I watched it twice in two nights without the benefit of English subtitles, that should tell you something. Even without understandable dialogue it's funny, exciting, and even a bit challenging. It's nice to see a film with artistic merit that isn't afraid to be entertaining. The film's unusual fight scenes are really something to see; at times it appears that the director just let the actors fight while the camera ran, sometimes for up to a minute at a time without any cuts. I can't recommend it enough. I imagine being able to understand it could only be an improvement.

This is an enjoyable, fast-paced action movie that's shot in a frenetic style that almost reminded me of "Run Lola Run". Joong-Hoon Park stars as Woo - the likeable yet violent, dopey yet determined Inchon detective who organizes a manhunt of a cold-blooded killer. The story is routine, yet the visuals and the characters in it are wonderful. Some of the images are beautiful (like the wait leading up to the murder at the beginning of the movie, and the snowstorm later on, and especially the fight during the rainstorm), some are hilarious (such as Woo's brawl with Meathead).

The only time the movie seemed to flag for me was when Woo's partner develops a conscience after killing a suspect in self-defense.

I liked this film a lot. Myung Se Lee is one of the most stylish directors in Korea and "Nowhere to Hide" is at the top of his skill. The opening black and white sequence, which stops at the every hit, was enchanting and the rainy murder scene was just amazing. The comic book like action was very original and more beautiful than the ones in Wong kar Wai and John Woo's movies. The actings were also superb. Joo Hoon park, a super star in Korea, proves that he's still a king of comedy with his hilarious movement and dialogues. Sung Ki Ahn also shows that good actors don't need to talk much to show a great performance. I'd loved this movie even more if the plot was tighter but if the director intented to show rather than tell, what can I say?