Mil-jeong (2016)

Korean resistance fighters smuggle explosives to destroy facilities controlled by Japanese forces in this period action thriller.

Director:

Jee-woon Kim

Writers:

Jee-woon Kim, Ji-min Lee

Stars:

Byung-Hun Lee, Kang-ho Song, Yoo Gong

12 wins & 32 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Byung-Hun Lee	...	Jung Chae-San
Kang-ho Song	...	Lee Jung-Chool
Yoo Gong	...	Kim Woo-Jin
Richard Epcar	...	Art Collector (voice)
Kyle Hebert	...	Ludvik (voice)
Kaiji Tang	...	Hashimoto (voice)
Kirk Thornton	...	Kim Jan-Ok (voice)
Xander Mobus	...	Jung Che-San (voice)
Ji-min Han	...	Yun Gye-Soon
Greg Chun	...	Jo Hwe-Ryung (voice)
Michael McConnohie	...	Lee Jang-Chool (voice)
Zach Aguilar	...	Joo Dung-Sung (voice)
Hee-soon Park	...	Kim Sang Ho
Bill Rogers	...	Lee's Informant (voice)
Sean Chiplock	...	Kim Woo-Jin (voice)

Storyline

Set in the late 1920s, The Age of Shadows follows the cat-and-mouse game that unfolds between a group of resistance fighters trying to bring in explosives from Shanghai to destroy key Japanese facilities in Seoul, and Japanese agents trying to stop them. A talented Korean-born Japanese police officer, who was previously in the independence movement himself, is thrown into a dilemma between the demands of his reality and the instinct to support a greater cause.

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Plot Keywords:

resistance | japanese occupation | 1920s | korea | spy | 

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Taglines:

Friend or foe? Infiltration and deception. Suspicion and betrayal. The enemy lies within.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

South Korea

Language:

Korean Japanese Mandarin English

Release Date:

23 September 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Age of Shadows

Filming Locations:

Seoul, South Korea

Box Office

Budget:

$8,620,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$165,685, 23 September 2016, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$540,268, 23 October 2016

Company Credits

Production Co:

Grimm Pictures,Harbin,Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

140 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is Warner Bros. first Korean production.

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Goofs

In the train one of the resistance members open the pocket watch with QUARTZ inscription on dial. Second hand of the watch moves in distinct steps reaffirming they have a quartz movement inside. Quartz watch was not invented in 20s and was not available till late 60s.

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Quotes

Jung Chae-San: Even when we fail, we move forward. The failures accrue, and we tread on them to advance to higher ground.

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Soundtracks

Piano Sonata No. 16 in A minor D.845 - Moderato
Written by Franz Schubert

User Reviews

The movie you have to experience

Based on the real story that happened during the time that Japan ruled the Korea, The Age of Shadow is very successful history-based movie. It is a fine mixture of Korean characteristics and Western characteristics. Until these days, many Korean movies have sought for ways to put Korean-exclusive stories into the frame of Western film-making. The result has been somewhat successful but also somewhat disappointing. It fulfilled Korean people's wishes to watch Hollywood-ish Korean movies. However, it couldn't convince foreign people of the reason to watch Korean movies instead of Hollywood movies. I mean, no matter how hard Korean movies try, the budget is lower than Hollywood, and spectacles are also lesser.

However, this movie, The Age of Shadow, is different. This one is unique. I'm not going to praise action scenes, or comedy scenes because they were not that outstanding. What I want to praise is atmosphere in this movie that keeps suspense alive throughout the whole running time. Well, for better understanding I could use Quentin Tarantino as an example. Even though he is famous for violence in his movie, many people who watch his movies for the first time find them very non-blockbuster like but still quite amusing. The Age of Shadow is quite similar. This movie's acting, dialogue and visuals give this movie a special atmosphere that keep audiences' focus. I'm not saying that this movie is Tarantino-like though. Kim Jee-Woon and Tarantino are similar in a way that they use special atmosphere throughout the movie but their atmospheres are different. Kim Jee-Woon has the ability to form a Korean-exclusive atmosphere that is based on Korean culture. I'm not sure how to name it but it is something that can move Korean people's heart without stating it in a specific way. And I believe this movie will be quite amusing and also exotic experience for you if you are not Korean. This movie is not like other Korean movies, but also the most Korean-like movie. I recommend it.