Emergency Declaration

Ok so, the first half of this movie was amazing. The thrill was there, performances were solid, everything was set up for a brilliant fast paced film, but then it just kind of wandered off a bit and turned into something completely different. A lot of unrealistic moments towards the end which knocks some points off but there's also a tearjerker moment that adds some back. Main awards go to si wan as the villain who did exceptionally good, and then of course the rest of the cast did well to match. Overall i'd say watch, you're not going to be disappointed but you will feel some things just didnt need to happen.

This movie is slightly above standard. As a fans, I complain that the story behind Lee has not been portrayed more. His part in the movie is less than expected. His image and outlook is not also in par with a pilot. I look for a more handsome and smart Lee, rather than an average middle age father.

Overall the plot of the movie is logical and sensible, though the story line is not very intricating. The story development and the ending is all expected without surprise. The transport secretary chuen is good at acting. But she is not given any chance to show her super acting skill. So does Lee.

All in all, it is not a bad movie but not a super one.

So locally, the movie was pretty good. I think (almost) every scene was well shot, well acted, and even every plot point was a good choice and moved the movie forward. My only issue with this movie was that if failed to create tension properly. Once the 'problem' begins you kinda feel the same level of stress. There aren't many local periods of anxiety or triumph. Even when some story critical sub plots work out, it just doesn't feel like anything was gain because at the same time nothing was risked. A good movie, just needs to vary tension, and pacing to achieve that goal.

A bit lengthy with some overheated exchanges and too many issues at same time, Han Jae-rim managed to present a gripping disaster movie from start to finish. Despite being underutilized, Song & Lee showed great fortitude to lead high-quality cast.

When I stumbled upon the 2021 South Korean thriller "Bisang Seoneon" (aka "Emergency Declaration") here late in 2022, of course I opted to sit down and watch it immediately. I am an avid fan of Asian cinema, and usually there is a lot of good movies coming from the South Korean cinema. Sure, I had not heard about "Bisang Seoneon" prior to sitting down to watch it, but that hardly mattered.

Writer and director Han Jae-Rim put together a very enjoyable and entertaining script and storyline for the movie, and it was quite a thrill ride. If you enjoyed the classic movie "Outbreak", then you will definitely also enjoy "Bisang Seoneon".

They had a great cast ensemble put together for the movie, and the actresses and actors put on good performances to bring the movie to life on the screen. I was initially thrilled when I saw that the movie had Lee Byung-Hun on the cast list.

And with the recent pandemic situation the world has been through, the storyline in "Bisang Seoneon" just packs a bit more of a punch that lands closer to home, doesn't it?

While "Bisang Seoneon" is a rather enjoyable movie, it could have benefitted from a more round-handed trimming in the editing room. Running at 141 minutes, this is quite an ordeal to sit through. Yeah, it was entertaining, but it was just a tad too long.

My rating of "Bisang Seoneon" lands on a six out of ten stars.