Bogotá: A Cidade dos Sonhos Perdidos

I had high hopes for this film, especially since I've been a fan of recent Korean movies and their directors. Unfortunately, Bogotá: City of the Lost tries too hard to be stylish but falls flat in execution.

The protagonist, Cookie, is simply unconvincing. His rapid rise to the top in just seven or eight years-surpassing bosses who have ruled for decades, like Uncle-feels unrealistic. He doesn't display any remarkable intelligence, bravery, or leadership skills that justify his success. In fact, he often comes across as foolish, like when he grabs two pieces of underwear to prove his loyalty-a gesture that failed to evoke any emotional impact.

His unwavering respect for his father also feels undeserved. This is a man who abandoned him in Bogotá, later became a gambler, and even stole his son's money, knowing it could cost him his life. If he was that desperate, he should have considered other options instead of putting his son in danger. Cookie's devotion to such a father is baffling and unearned.

The chase scene where Cookie pursues the woman and his father after they steal his money is particularly weak. Korean cinema has evolved significantly, but action sequences-especially car chases-still lag behind Hollywood by at least 20 years. The scene was clumsy and lacked tension, making it almost laughable.

Ultimately, the film's biggest issue may not just be the genre itself but the casting and direction. Neither the lead actor nor the director seemed capable of delivering the depth and intensity needed to make this story believable. While Korean films have made great strides in storytelling, Bogotá: City of the Lost is a step backward in action filmmaking.

I like Song Joong-Ki - he is a good actor in the right vehicle - he can do romance and comedy and drama.

He was alright in this - it just didn't call on his acting skills. He was simply called upon to play it tough and intelligent - which he did. What amused me was the fact that he seemed to look younger the older he got.

He arrives with his family in Bogota because his father is useless and has landed them in unpayable debt. Asian parents seem to have no conscience about living off their children.

Guk-Hui soon finds favour with Captain Park who is a Korean immigrant who has risen in the local criminal fraternity. There is a lot of dialogue about trust - nobody trusts each other. Their business is smuggling fake goods to sell in local markets - it seems all Korean immigrants sell fake goods and all Colombian officials and military can be bribed - until they can't.

The story continues with various criminal rivalries which culminate in an assassination attempt on our hero which has a surprising result. Of course the villain is pretty obvious to fans of this genre.

I quite enjoyed it - but it does not sit well with South Korean actors - it's just too familiar fare from Hollywood I suppose.

The ending was as expected. We have seen similar many time before.

The stars are for Song Joong-Ki.

Great locations to visit, bad and poor story. Good production, magnificent locations (you must visit this city at sometime in your life)... but what a bad story, terrible, to tell this type of stories of corruption, smuggling, crime and evil, it could have been told anywhere else in the world, even in South Korea itself. The only real danger in Colombia is that you come here and you don't want to leave. It's a wonderful country and its people are extraordinary. That's the only reality and not what is shown and said in this film. Just ask the millions of tourists who come here throughout the year.

Bogota: City of the Lost is a gripping crime thriller that explores the world of Korean immigrants in Colombia. The movie follows Kook-hee, played by Song Joong-ki, as he navigates the treacherous streets of Bogota and rises through the ranks of the black market.

Song Joong Ki performance as Kook-hee is one of this film's most noteworthy aspects. His ability to convey internal conflict through subtle expressions and physicality allows the character to resonate, even if the writing doesn't quite fully explore his psychological transformation.

However, the movie's pacing can be a bit slow at times.

I was really excited about Bogotá: City of the Lost because the story sounded unique-Korean immigrants in Colombia and the struggles they face. But sadly, the movie very quickly failed to meet my expectations.

Instead of telling an interesting story about the connection between Korea and Colombia or developing its characters, it just focused on the usual crime and corruption themes. It felt like the filmmakers relied on clichés instead of offering something new or meaningful-the same old formula used in Hollywood movies about any country south of the U. S.

The story was predictable, and the movie didn't take any creative risks. The overall production was just okay, and at times, it felt like it was mocking Colombia rather than genuinely exploring its issues.

I wanted to like this movie, but in the end, it just didn't deliver on its promise.