The Age of Shadows (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:

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

13 wins & 37 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Kang-ho Song	...	Lee Jung-Chool
Lee Byung-Hun	...	Jung Chae-San
Gong Yoo	...	Kim Woo-Jin
Zach Aguilar	...	Joo Dung-Sung (voice)
Richard Epcar	...	Art Collector (voice)
Kyle Hebert	...	Ludvik (voice)
Kaiji Tang	...	Hashimoto (voice)
Han Ji-min	...	Yun Gye-Soon
Kirk Thornton	...	Kim Jan-Ok (voice)
Sean Chiplock	...	Kim Woo-Jin (voice)
Greg Chun	...	Jo Hwe-Ryung (voice)
Michael McConnohie	...	Lee Jang-Chool (voice)
Xander Mobus	...	Jung Che-San (voice)
Seong-rok Sin	...	Jo Hwe-Ryung (as Sung-rok Shin)
Chris Hackney	...	Heo Chul-Joo (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

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

Lee Jung-Chool: [testifying before the judge] I always adhere to the work of the police.
[He sighs, and continues hoarsely]
Lee Jung-Chool: If the mission is successful, I will be promoted to Superintendent. I always give my utmost in police operations. I...
[He pauses, and sighs again, but this time his sigh trembles slightly]
Lee Jung-Chool: I have only to fulfil my duty as a Japanese police officer.
[He finds himself close to tears]
Lee Jung-Chool: I'm not a member of the Heroic Corps. I just wanted to manipulate Kim Woo-jin.
[...]

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Connections

Featured in Boléro, le refrain du monde (2019)

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Soundtracks

When you're smiling
Written by Larry Shay (uncredited), Mark Fisher (uncredited) and Joe Goodwin (uncredited)
Performed by Louis Armstrong

User Reviews

Enjoyably Thrilling

Well, that was a lot of fun. The Age of Shadows is a spy thriller that is basically a ticking bomb and once things go wrong, it just gets brutal and chaotic. The set up for these characters and their plot is well put together enough to be engrossing. And the set pieces are just excitingly executed. The film is unafraid of showing something terrible from their consequences. Though there is one point at the third act where I wished the film had ended. It gets to feel a little too long as it goes on, but man, the train sequence alone is one hell of an exercise for suspense. The production is also too impressive and the acting is quite engaging. Overall, it's a dark and brutal, yet quite an edge of your seat cinematic thrill ride.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan] Vidio [Indonesia]

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, 25 September 2016

Gross USA:

$541,719

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$54,491,162

Company Credits

Production Co:

Grimm Pictures, Harbin, Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

140 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1