IMDb RATING
6.6/10
7.8K
YOUR RATING
Jong-seong, a North Korean ghost agent, interrupts an illegal arms sale in Berlin. A notorious North Korean agent tests the loyalties of everyone involved as Jong-Seong prepares to make the ... Read allJong-seong, a North Korean ghost agent, interrupts an illegal arms sale in Berlin. A notorious North Korean agent tests the loyalties of everyone involved as Jong-Seong prepares to make the ultimate sacrifice.Jong-seong, a North Korean ghost agent, interrupts an illegal arms sale in Berlin. A notorious North Korean agent tests the loyalties of everyone involved as Jong-Seong prepares to make the ultimate sacrifice.
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
- Awards
- 12 wins & 8 nominations total
Jun Ji-hyun
- Ryun Jung-hee
- (as Gianna Jun)
Choi Moo-seong
- Kang Min-ho
- (as Moo-Seong Choi)
Baek Seung-ik
- Agency Personnel 1
- (as Seung-ik Baek)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
I must admit I'm not a big crime movie fan, but I really did enjoy this, despite the fact that it did get over-complicated at one stage. A spy agency suspects a mole within their Korean embassy in Berlin. Agent Pyo Jong-sung (Jung-woo Ha) gets even more suspicious when his wife's name (who also works for the agency) is mentioned in a video confession and suspected of leaking information. He then starts watching and following her. It gets incredibly interesting from here as they realize both of them were double-crossed and set-up, and must run for their lives. The fight scenes are incredible and the action sequences awesome! One particular scene with his wife on a ledge outside a building, and Pyo and a baddie stumbling through an apartment window was insanely well done as they plummet to the ground!
Being Korean, the film doesn't quite have the ending you'd expect, but the ending was truly spectacular. Oh, and I loved the music, as well.
Being Korean, the film doesn't quite have the ending you'd expect, but the ending was truly spectacular. Oh, and I loved the music, as well.
just saw it. speechless! Taking Korean action film to the next level. Must see!! I am a big fan of Bourn series and 007 films.but I am not joking. this one is way better the plot and the acting hell of a movie Hope you guys can see it also I wish someday the director guy takes the next 007 film its a hell of a film man seriously. just watch it. whoooo a wtf this review thing! over ten lines? seriously. man Iam not writing a college essay here. give me a break why do i have to fill up all ten lines!! wtf wtf wtf anyway the movie is a masterpiece. none like the other you will be amazed by the escalated level of korean movies. best korean movie since the bittersweet life. wow man korean directors should be in Hollywood.
I was actually quite impressed by this film, probably since it caught me off guard. Because Korea comes out with some good and even great films but just not so much when it comes to action movies. Maybe just few. This is actually a really good action popcorn flick that is entertaining and enthralling most of the way through. It felt like it blends elements from the "Bourne" films but has enough of it's own elements to be it's own film. The actors in this is just fantastic with their roles. Ha Jung-Woo has really worked himself up to becomes one of the top stars of Korea. He may not be the best looking lead actor in movies but that is why his characters are more believable, plus he is a good actor and charismatic as well. Ryoo Seung-Bum is the show stealer in this film and just about every scene he is in is chilling and also entertaining to watch. Han Suk-Kyu is basically Han Suk-Kyu in just about every movie he is in. But he usually fits the role and he fits right in with this one as well. Gianna Jun is also in this but her role could have been played by almost anyone. This film is probably even good enough to go toe to toe with some Hollywood action movies. Even the fight sequences are second to none because it has that "Bourne" movie vibe going for it but it's not all choppy and crap. Even if few action parts doesn't make much sense. You can actually see everything that is going on. Overall if you like Korean films and also action movies than check this one out. If not, just check it out anyways.
7.8/10
7.8/10
After an arms smuggling deal goes bad, North Korean agent Pyo Jong Sung finds himself and his wife, translator Ryeon Jung-hee under a cloud of suspicion and tries to uncover the real culprit. North and South Korean, Russian, U.S., Israeli, and Arab agents are everywhere, to the point where it seems it's only slightly more likely to see a German citizen on the streets of Berlin than if the action took place in Seoul.
Once all of these players are introduced, the movie does a good job of sorting them all out, as Jong Sung investigates who is responsible. There are a number of very effective action sequences throughout the film to keep things moving.
The relationship between Jong Sung and Jung-hee is central to to plot. For an action movie, the characters are very well presented. But fans expecting a repeat of Jun Ji Hyun's delightfully over-the-top performance in The Thieves will be disappointed. Her role as Jung- hee in The Berlin File rarely goes beyond that of a typical damsel in distress.
The movie is exceptionally well filmed to reflect a tense, somber mood. There were some shots that looked almost as if they were filmed in black and white to harmonize with the prevailing tone.
The end of the movie strongly foreshadows that a sequel is in the works. Of course that typically depends on how well the movie performs at the box office. By all reports The Berlin File easily did well enough to justify a sequel. I'll be looking forward it.
Once all of these players are introduced, the movie does a good job of sorting them all out, as Jong Sung investigates who is responsible. There are a number of very effective action sequences throughout the film to keep things moving.
The relationship between Jong Sung and Jung-hee is central to to plot. For an action movie, the characters are very well presented. But fans expecting a repeat of Jun Ji Hyun's delightfully over-the-top performance in The Thieves will be disappointed. Her role as Jung- hee in The Berlin File rarely goes beyond that of a typical damsel in distress.
The movie is exceptionally well filmed to reflect a tense, somber mood. There were some shots that looked almost as if they were filmed in black and white to harmonize with the prevailing tone.
The end of the movie strongly foreshadows that a sequel is in the works. Of course that typically depends on how well the movie performs at the box office. By all reports The Berlin File easily did well enough to justify a sequel. I'll be looking forward it.
This spy movie had me on the edge of my seat many times. This is a good fast-paced action, thriller, and drama with subtitles. The fight scenes were excellent, the stunt driving was top-notch; there was so much that was great about this movie. What I found so refreshing in this Korean movie, was the lack of blood and gore that Hollywood uses by the truckload. The subtitles sometimes moved too fast though.
Ten lines of text about a movie is too much to say about a movie especially since one will give spoilers away. I choose not say what is in the movie but to say it was good. If one knows ahead of time what one will see then it will no longer be a surprise. That is wrong with all of the movie trailers because they give the movie away before we even pay to see it.
Ten lines of text about a movie is too much to say about a movie especially since one will give spoilers away. I choose not say what is in the movie but to say it was good. If one knows ahead of time what one will see then it will no longer be a surprise. That is wrong with all of the movie trailers because they give the movie away before we even pay to see it.
Did you know
- TriviaRyoo shot the film almost 100% on location in Europe. Filming began on April 16, 2012 on a film set in Namyang, south of Seoul, in Gyeonggi Province. After wrapping there, cast and crew relocated to Berlin, Germany and Riga, Latvia in early May 2012, and among the locations were the roof of Berlin's Westin Grand Hotel, in Schoneberg, at the Hackescher Markt, and on Pariser Platz in front of the iconic Brandenburg Gate in full view of the American and French Embassies. The shoot involved a 15-person German crew from Film Base Berlin, but the majority of production elements and talent were Korean, including around 80 crew members who brought their entire equipment. Observing that Ryoo did the recces of the locations with the actors so that they could get used to the settings, Film Base boss Mathias Schwerbock described the director as "very thorough and precise in his preparations. They are fast at shooting and very efficient."
- GoofsAfter the shooting at the hotel, numerous police sirens can be heard. However, those sirens are American in style. German police sirens have different sound.
- Quotes
Dong, Myeong-soo: Revenge... is a dish best served cold!
- ConnectionsReferences Black Rain (1989)
- How long is The Berlin File?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Languages
- Also known as
- The Berlin File
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $9,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $665,210
- Gross worldwide
- $48,979,656
- Runtime
- 2h 1m(121 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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