kleaner Reviews

Kingdom of Heaven (2005)

Ridley Scott makes the best violence movies yet, he is a pacifist.

[10/10 · 10 May 2005]

Before I saw this film, I heard the main plot, Crusades defending Jerusalem from Muslims, and thought that it would turn out to be another 'Pearl Harbor'.

I, however, anticipated that if the director is Ridley Scott, he might have done something different. And Scott didn't disappoint me.

The cinematography is breathtaking, and the combat scenes are gorgeous. The director, however, doesn't embellish violence. He rather focuses more on how painful and futile it is.

I think this film criticizes the Iraq war. Like the line in the movie, the white people pretend that they are saviors, but what they really do is to rob the land and the properties from the Muslims for their own greed.

That's why I felt so delightful when Sybilla's husband, which I think represent Bush, is captured and humiliated at the meaningless battle.

What I love so much about this film is the main theme, peace and coexistence. That's what makes Ridelery Scott a great artist.

Some conservative Christians and Americans might be affronted by this film. But you know what? The truth always hurts.

Enemy of the State (1998)

Fast and Fascinating

[9/10 · 24 June 2004]

Enemy of the State is like a big music video. Every scene is fast and stylish. I especially like the bike chase scene, which is

breath taking.

Jon Voight is always a great villain and Gene Heckman also adds quality to this film. Will Smith's appearance and acting is believable as the trapped attorney.

His performance shines especially the scene Dean gets upset after hearing a personal question from his boss.

The last gun shooting sequence is brilliant and reminds me of Scott's former achievement, True Romance.

Great action flick.

Oldboy (2003)

stylish, good directing, great acting

[4 January 2004]

Based on the same titled Japanese comic book, Oldboy is about a common guy,Oh Dae-Soo, imprisoned for 15 years without knowing why and after released, seeking for the revenge.

Unlike many other revenge films, Oldboy is focused more on why than who imprisons Oh.

The cinematography is unique and the set art, such as the cross striped wall paper and using a lot of violet, shows the confusion of Oh very briefly.

Editing and directing is also very stylish and acting, especially by Choi Min-Sik, is so realistic that latter you will feel uncomfortable.

Oasis (2002)

so... this is love.

[8/10 · 5 October 2003]

Oasis is a very powerful film about love. Usually, romance movies have such good looking main characters with perfect soul that audience can think only decent people deserve to love. But in reality, not many people have lives like in "Pretty Woman".

Oasis completely reverses this cliche. Two main characters are hated by everyone. Jong-Doo is a three time ex-prisoner, and Gong-Ju is cebral palsy. Sol Kyoung Gu and Moon So Ri give such brilliant performances that at first I was annoyed by Jong-Doo and felt uncomfortable watching Gong-Ju's twisted body.

The scenes that Gong-Ju sometimes turns into normal and sings and plays coquetish show her wish very well. And the scene that Jong-Doo cuts off the branch which Gong-Ju scares is so powerful and emotional.

Some audience say the last scene is passimistic but I see that someday their love will blossom.

Director tells the audience that they are the ones who have prejudice to minor people and they should see them as warmly as others.

The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

Did I expect too much?

[6/10 · 4 July 2003]

After enjoying the first Matrix, I'd been waiting for this film with great expection, like many other people.

The Matrix Reloaded, however, disappointed me. The scenes that Oracle and Architect explain about the Matrix are too long and boring. I felt like I was in some kind of philosophy lecture rather than in a theater. Movies shouldn't explain verbally too much. That's why it's called "movie" and not "talkie".

The action sequels are amazing and spectacular but they are not as fresh as the first Matrix and they are also too long. I got bored while Neo was beating the crap out of the agents but they kept increasing. The scene when Neo flies like Super Man is embarrassing.

The scene that shows some dance party in the city also is uncessarily long.

The editin is one of the biggest reasons why this film is so boring and rough.

The Classic (2003)

full of cliche

[6/10 · 8 May 2003]

Like many romance films, Classic is cheesy. There is a sequence that the director intends to make the audience, especially female, cry. But it is very artificial. Music is very good but it's too much. Cinematography is very well-done and shows the Korean sightings beautifully. Son Ye-Jin is very cute but her performance is not different from any other tear-jerking Korean films, such as the letter, and the gift. Jo In Sung is very stiff and doesn't look that attractive, even though he is pretty handsome. Jo Seung-Woo is the only one who gives a right performance.

If you are a 13~18 year old girl or desperately in love with someone, you will like this film. Otherwise, I do not recommand this film.

Memories of Murder (2003)

Where are you, murder?

[9/10 · 6 May 2003]

This film is based on the true series homicide happened in the country of Korea from 1986 to 1990.

Salinui chueok is similar to Seven but focuses more on the back ground of Korea at that time and explains why the police couldn't catch the murder. The murder is very careful and cruel. The cops are dying to catch the murder but the military government uses the police force to cease the protest. The cops, also uses violence to the suspects to get the false confession rather than using a scientific

investigation.

After the film, I felt sympathy for the victims and was furious at the murder who hasn't got caught, yet. This is the director's intention to make the audience look back the sad past of Korea.

Excellent directing, acting, cinematography. The best Korea film lately.

Save the Green Planet! (2003)

so shocking and good

[9/10 · 7 April 2003]

This is one of the most unprecented korean films I've ever seen. It contains almost every film genre, horror, comedy, action, thriller and so on. The story is very rare to find in the main stream movis. The plot was so surprising. Acting, and cinematography were also superb. Assuming that it's the director's dubut film, I expect that he becomes a great master as he keeps making movies. This is a true rule breaker. Other Korean fist timer directors, who made such crap as "Jungle Juice" and "My wife is a gangster" and there are so many, should reflect on themselves.

8 Mile (2002)

Eminem version of "What's Eating Gilbert Grape"

[8/10 · 1 April 2003]

I liked the opening scene when the camera shows Rabbit practicing rap in various angles. Good story and good actings by every actor and

actress. I wasn't so sure why Rabbit made that desicision in the end, though. Eminem made a good decision to be in this movie instead of some cheesy gangster or dumb comedy.

Volcano High (2001)

Good CGs, Bad Story

[5/10 · 23 March 2003]

Computer Graphics in this film is one of the best in Korean films but the story is pretty bad and doesn't make a sense. Song Hak Lim is

the best fighter in school and acts like he is going to do something agisnt the evil teachers. Instead, he is locked in the prison for the entire movie. Kendo girl all of a sudden flys to fight with the female teacher. How can she be that good in martial arts all of a sudden? In later parts, the film uses too many slow motions so it makes me boring. Action sequences are not choredgraphed well, either. If the director cared more about the story and details, this would have been a pretty good movie.

Wasabi (2001)

action comedy without a brain

[4/10 · 23 March 2003]

After Luc Besson turns into a producer, he makes similar non brain action comedies, Taxi series and Wasabi. This film reminds me of Leon. Jean Reno plays a tough but warm hearted guy in both films and he also looks after a teenage girl. But Wasabi is uncomparable to Besson's 1994 classic. The jokes aren't that funny and action sequences are not good, either. Cinematography and the actings by Reno and Ryoko are pretty good, however. But, this doens't cover the holes of the plot.

I hope Luc Besson stops making these cheap flicks and goes back to the mind of Le Grand Bleu.

My Tutor Friend (2003)

Funniest Korean Movie Lately

[8/10 · 16 March 2003]

I enjoyed this film very much. Many Korean people will feel familiar with this film because many of them have tutors when they go to school. Cinematography was average. The movie would have been better if the angel or the movement of the camera was more irregular. Editing, however, was very neat and unusual.

The acting was also very good. Kim Ha Neul usually played an innocent, weak girl in the Korean soap-opaeras. But this time, she plays a cute tomboy very well. Kwon Sang Woo also plays his role very believable.

What I like the most about this film is, the emotion of the characters are not too exaggerated. There are many Korean romance films that the characters cry river before the audience and I always thought it was very stale. There was no such crap in this movie.

Very funny and well-done.

Jungle Juice (2002)

A piece of crap

[1/10 · 26 October 2002]

This film is really disgusting and stupid. It is one of those who gets the money ganster comedies but not everyone can be Quentin Tarantino and Guy Richie. Humor wasn't funny the plot was boring. Hopefully none of the young filmmakers won't make a mistake like this.

Star (I) (2001)

So Cool!

[10/10 · 26 October 2002]

I loved this film. The camera work is fantastic and the story is really funny. I really liked the scene when the car began speeding up, Blur's song comes out and when the car flies, classic music comes out and Blur's song comes out again when the car lands. Through the whole film, I could see how clever the director is.

Windtalkers (2002)

John Woo is getting worse?

[1/10 · 23 October 2002]

After "Face Off", John Woo's films are getting worse and definitely this film is the worst. It shows nothing but "how American people are great" crap. The scene when one of the American soldiers sacrifices his life to rescue a little Japanese girl is a good example. In real life, they wouldn't do that. The racist soldier is closer to who they really are. The plot is not different from other war films and even the action sequences are boring. What happened to John Woo?

The Others (2001)

Chilling

[9/10 · 2 July 2002]

"The Others" is a great horror/thriller. There is no special effects, cutting throats or huge monsters but it's very thrilling with camera works, set, music and sound effects. In my opinion, it takes more creativity and effort to make a horror film this way but effects the audience more. The acting is also superb. Nicole Kidman is very impressive as a paranoid mother.

Charade (1963)

one of the best thrillers i've seen!

[10/10 · 25 June 2002]

charade has everything; good story, good humor, good acting, good directing, good editing, good music, good cinematography...and so on. i took a film summer school and my professor showed this film as an example of "perfect film". i absolutely agree with her. cary grant and audrey hepburn seem like a perfect match despite the age differeence. A MUST SEE

Bedhead (1991)

amazing family comedy

[10/10 · 24 June 2002]

This short film shows Rodriguez films' characterstics, fast, low budget, and unique camera works. The idea of this film is very original and fascinating. The acting is very good also. I love Rodriguez's action films but hopefully he will make more films like Bedhead for variety.

Fireworks (1997)

violent but beautiful

[8/10 · 8 April 2002]

Kitano Takeshi's "Hana-bi" is different from many other cop films. This film is not about action. It's more about philosophical observation of life and death. Nishi is a middle aged cop in Japan. He has a wife who is dying from terminal illness. They also had their daughter's death before and now they have to prepare for another. Nishi's partner, Horibe, gets shot during the duty and his family leaves. At first, he commits suicide but after surviving, he wants to paint but doesn't have money to buy the equipment. Nishi robs a bank and buys Horibe the painting equipment. Afterwards, he goes on the farewell trip with his wife. Nishi's character is very unique: he nearly has any dialogues and is always expressionless even he faces the danger of death. He usually seems a nice guy but when he gets upset, he commits brutal violence without warning. When Nishi stabbed an eyeball of a yakuza who was insulting him, it made me jump out of the seat. Action is not important in this film. The camera is looking at somewhere else when the characters beat up or shoot each other and only shows the injured or dead people. Nishi and his wife do not seem to be afraid of the death. During the journey, they concentrate on childish activities. There is not a scene they hug each other and cry. Kitano asserts that even death comes, people always can relax. The camera does not move much and the music is also calm. But they are beautiful and go along with the film very well.

Pulp Fiction (1994)

the movie that started all

[10/10 · 8 April 2002]

After this film, every movie that tries anything unique gets the nick name of "Post Tarantino". Diarrangement of time, sudden brutal violence, oldie soundtrack, and the funny moments of the situation...Tarantino invented none of these but now any of those has his brand on it. Beside the time disarrangement, the movie itself is so fun to watch. When filmmakers make ganster films, they must suffer a lot because Tarantino has achieved so widely in this film.

Go (2001)

stylish

[10/10 · 19 March 2002]

I liked this film. The topic of the could have been very heavy but this movie is fast and enjoyable, like "Trainspotting". The first part of the film is very stylish, especially the basketball court fighting scene and "Super Great Chicken Run" scene.

Unlike the beggining scene, however, the later scenes are bit slow and a bit boring. The acting is really good. The main actor played the Korean-Japanese guy very realistic even though he isn't one of them.

The use of the Shakespeare's quote at the beginning of the film represent the theme of the film very well. Who cares about the nationality? It's important to be truthful to who I am.

Pearl Harbor (2001)

Horrible

[1/10 · 19 March 2002]

This is one of the worst movies I've ever seen. Cinematography is good but when the plot is really bad, it doesn't help. The story is just like TV soapoperas in the morning and I'm really sick of all those glorifying America crap. This is one of the few movies that I fell asleep 20 minutes after beginning. It's time for Hollywood to stop saying "America No.1" and look back the reality.

Joint Security Area (2000)

one of the best korean blockbusters

[10/10 · 18 March 2002]

Recently, the size of the Korean movies have become enormous. But there are not many Korean blockbusters that satisfy the audience. Many of them are cheezy or don't make senses. "JSA", however, is a great film. It's got a wonderful drama, good humor, excellent use of Kim Kwang Seok's songs, great acting and editing. I really enjoy the movie and afterwards, I also felt very emotional. Many South Koreans were forced to believe that every North Koreans are villains and we have to hate them when we were young. This film, however, asserts that there is no difference between North and South Koreans and ideologies are useless. I hope every Korean movies will have as high quality as "JSA".

The Warrior (2001)

Great Visual but Weak Story and Character

[5/10 · 16 March 2002]

This film is disappointing. Jung Woo-Sung plays the same character, the lonely fighter, once again and it's not cool any more. If he wants to continue his career, he has to take some different characters from now on. Choi Jung's character is laughable even though it's not supposed to be. He wants to control his troop but they never listen to him so one night he says "I'm going my own way, you guys go your own. Don't anybody follow me or I'll kill him" in a lonely heroic way and leaves the troop. Of course no one follows him but next morning, they find him fallen out of the horse and passed out about 100 M away from their camp. Zhang Zi-Yi doesn't look as hot as in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". All the princess does is to whine through the whole movie and causes other innocent people to be slaughtered. The monk always tries to teach other people but he is rather annoying than wise. Ahn Sung-Ki gives the best performance as the warm-hearted archer. The spectacle is one of the best in Korean films. Unlike Hong Kong martial art films, the action scenes are also realistic but they are too long so I got bored later. The idea of this film is original and the cinematography is wonderful. If it had a better script, "Musa" could have been a great film.