The Foul King

As a long term wrestling fan in Australia I viewed this movie with some trepidation based on the description in our cable movie guide. I was pleased to find the 'blurb' was nothing like the real thing and my interest was well rewarded.

As others reviewers have commented, this film is a mix of two themes interwoven with action/comedy sequences and the boringness of being in banking.

My only disappointment was the ending. Perhaps because I am not Korean I may have missed the significance of some key things along the way.

This is a great film for those who enjoy a good laugh, some great wrestling action wrapped in a cultural gentleness which could teach us in 'the west' something about life.

For me, 8.5 out of 10.

This outrageous comedy was a box office smash in Korea for a reason. It was hilarious and poignant! The direction was terrific as the tone was always right on, and placed every event into the evolution of the story. The absurd slapstick humor hides the statement about barriers of social status and changes to one's life. The performances make this film even more outstanding.

Human beings are strange as they are engaged in a constant tussle with their alter egos. There is no rest for them as their minds are plagued with constant thoughts about a perpetual struggle which would be somebody's gain at the cost of somebody's loss. This strangeness enables them to emerge as powerful persons with absolute control over their lives. South Korean film 'The Foul King' is about the secret life of an ordinary bank employee who makes the most of his after work wresting sessions to emerge as a physically as well as emotionally stronger human being. It is nice to watch our hero as the tough guy in appearance but soft at heart. However, a mean bank boss is going to experience the wrath of audiences for having used unparalleled physical force against a weak person. Every act of success comes with a price tag attached to it. For the film's protagonist Dae-Ho,it is the lack of romance which shatters him the most. However,director Kim Jee Woon has constructed his imaginative screenplay in such a manner that the weak man is able to redeem his lost honor when his bully father recognizes his physical prowess. Although featuring WWF style wresting, 'The Foul King' appears more a drama film due to its pacing which is very regular. Its universal appeal lies in the fact that all countries have the fair share of "The Foul King' .

I enjoyed this comedy that deals with wrestling in Korea, and Kang-ho Song was perfect in this role. I couldn't think of any other actor that could have played this role better than he did. There is also some superhero elements in this where, when Im Dae-ho(Song Kang-ho) character becomes someone instead of the coward in the office when he wears the tiger mask. Not that the tiger mask gives him special abilities, but it gives him confidence in himself. The movie starts off kinda slow but when it picks up, it's pure entertainment from there on with some good humor that kept me laughing. Some may not enjoy this type of humor in a movie, but I enjoyed it a lot. I hope more films like this is made in the future, since Korea isn't known for making great comedies.

8.3/10

I have seen Kang-ho Song in many films: Thirst; The Good, the Bad, the Weird; The Host; Sympathy for Lady Vengeance; Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance; Joint Security Area; Shiri; and now, The Foul King.

There is no doubt about his acting abilities, not of director Ji-woon Kim, who kept things moving and presented a good film.

It was a drama about a man that had no confidence in himself, and developed it only when he took up wrestling. Hiding behind a mask allowed him to be someone else. You can guess the eventual outcome.

It was funny at the same time. Unfortunately, it is not the humor that I especially enjoy. If there was an American remake, it would easily feature Adam Sandler - not a great recommendation.