Kundo: Age of the Rampant

Imagine if you took an Italian western, Kurosawa's "Seven Samurai" and "Robin Hood" and then transported all this to 19th century Korea. This is pretty much what you get in Jong-bin Yun's masterpiece, "Kundo: Age of the Rampant". It's a new martial arts epic that I cannot recommend strongly enough--and fans of this sort of picture are bound to be satisfied with this excellent film.

The film begins during the latter years of the long Joseon Dynasty. The country is racked with famine, disease and locusts. But these locusts aren't the kind you're thinking of...they're the human kind. These are the various lords and governors who exploit the people and make the suffering and starvation even worse--as they strip the land from the people and force them into slavery. However, an honorable gang of bandits have made it their mission to right wrongs, care for the poor and punish the evil men in charge. For a while, their mission goes off without a hitch, as bureaucrat after bureaucrat are captured and sentenced for their crimes. However, one of these evil men, Yo-Joon, is something else. He is not only among the most evil and bloodthirsty, but he's an incredible fighter and more than a match for any of these Robin Hood-style bandits. Plus, he has his loyal band of seven evil warlords and an army...what good could these bandits do against such odds? Well, being heroes, they do what heroes must do even if the mission seems like certain death.

The film's plot is very reminiscent of an old western and the music really heightens the effect. It's not exactly Ennio Morricone's in style but has many similarities to his scores that this great and very prolific Italian composer wrote for epics such as "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" and "A Fistful of Dollars". It's rousing and energetic to say the least. And, the main bandit, Dochi, is also cut from the same mold as these great old films. All in all, a terrific film that features top-notch acting, music and production values--as good as any martial arts movie you could find. See this film...just don't take your young kids. Only a crazy person would let them watch this film or films like it. It's extremely realistic in its violence and bloodshed--as you would expect. So, even if they beg you, find another film for them and watch this one when the little ones are asleep, as it clearly earns its R rating.

Best period action movie I've seen so far. With star-studded cast, badass martial arts choreography, a pinch of comedic lines, and boy Gang Dong Won as the hottest villain of the Joseon Dynasty.

I've seen a lot of good historical action films created by South Korea, but this one is on my top list. Though too late to have noticed this, I came across this film because I read Gang Dong Won's name included in the cast list. Surprised that he played the anti-hero role, but not surprise how good he is as the main antagonist. This is the first time I'm seeing a movie where I am fixated at the villain instead of the protagonist. LOL. And I am not regretting it. How could he looks so fine while delivering his inhumane lines and killing-spree moves? Not to mention (all) his fight scenes? Honestly, I was rooting for him instead of the heroes. That's how good the Gang Dong Won is. I've watch this film for 3x and still not getting over it.

We/I might not know this one particular story of Kundo, but we have seen this underdog story before. Which is not to be held against the movie, because it does a fine job telling the story of class distinction and the "small" people rising up against oppression. You might not agree with everything happening here, but you can't fault the movie or the story for that.

The action is more than decent enough and our hero against his own will, has a great journey to undertake. Some have compared this to some of the classic Japanese movies. But even if you don't agree with that either, you only have to like the story to get into it and enjoy the movie.

A great Kung Fu flick made by Koreans.

Or should I say an Eastern, as the filmmakers used a lot of, what looked like American western tricks, like with the music and the sudden close ups, to give it that Western vibe.

At the same time, cinematically it reminds me of a back in the day Kung Fu film like what the Shaw bros. would do. What an excellent martial arts flick this turned out to be, jumbled with everything you except to see from a film by the likes of Tarantino paying homage to the Kung fu genre. I've always been a fan of Korean Cinema and this movie just increased my fandom. This was a great movie I recommend everyone to see.

''Kundo: Age of the Rampan'' is a South Korean period film which has become one of the country's highest grossing movies ever upon release. It has also won eight awards in five different film festivals. The movie is primary an action movie and costume drama in authentic locations. The film has a sinister atmosphere filled with tension due to a charismatic acting by Kang Dong-won who is playing an ambitious villain and Ha Jung-woo who portrays a sympathetic antihero who becomes an inspiration for oppressed citizens. The fight scenes are filled with both brutal tension and elegant aesthetics. Despite the coherently dark mood, there are a couple of more amusing and emotional scenes that keep the movie dynamical over an epic length of nearly two and a half hours.

The story takes place during the late Joseon era and is partially inspired by authentic historic events. In a time of aristocratic tyranny, an illegitimate son strives for power and hires a poor butcher as assassin. Since the butcher is unable to complete his mission, he is terribly punished but manages to survive. He decides to change his life in order to protect those he was supposed to kill and fight those who have punished him. He changes identity and becomes a ferocious swordsman who helps the poor, persecuted and helpless people until the time is come to challenge his worst enemy to a final duel.

The only negative points about this movie are the fact that the story itself is quite predictable and standard for its genre despite a couple of good conspiracies and intrigues and the exaggerated final fight that feels incoherent if compared to the rather realistic fight scenes in the rest of the movie.

Still, ''Kundo: Age of the Rampant'' is a highly entertaining movie with lots of action and drama, great actors and characters and stunning locations and settings. Fans of historically inspired action movies can't get around one of last year's best Asian movies.