an a to z guide to korean cinema

8/7/2019 An a to Z Guide to Korean Cinema

1/5

An A to Z Guide to Korean Cinema Part 1

Posted on March 11, 2011by Samson

Since I first discovered the wonderful world of Korean cinema in 1999, I have seen animpressive number of great Korean films. So as I started working on a top 10 list to

contribute to this years Korean Blogathon, I actually found it incredibly difficult to narrow

the number down to ten. Because of this, I have decided to do something a bit different

instead a list of my favourite Korean movies from A to Z.

I hope you will enjoy reading this article, share fond memories of the Korean films that you

have seen, and possibly discover something that you may want to check out in the future.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but here are some of the best:

Attack the Gas Station (1999): Filled with youthful energy, unexpected twists and funny

situations, this enjoyable comedy was a big hit in Korea, scoring the second highest numberof admissions for a local film in the year it was released. Outside of Korea, it has (sadly) not

received a lot of attention, but its DVD shouldnt be too hard to track down.

Bittersweet Life, A (2005): Directed by Kim Jee-woon, a filmmaker with that special gift of

being able to master different genres with ease, this gorgeous-looking ultra-cool gangster film

is one of the best examples of the genre to come out of Asia. It stars Lee Byung-heon (GI

Joe: The Rise of Cobra), one of Koreas coolest actors, as the male lead.

Chaser(2008):

This gritty serial-killer film builds up suspense to an almost unbearable level and maintains

the intensity till the final frame. Anyone after edge-of-the-seat entertainment should really

enjoy this movie. The fact that it is the work of first-time director Na Hong-jin makes him

someone worth looking out for in the coming years.

Dirty Carnival, A (2006): This is another fine gangster film to come out of Korea in recent

years. The script is tightly written, the performances are superb, and the fight scenes are

incredibly realistic. All these factors combine to make this one immensely exciting film.
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2/5

There are also a lot of dramatic elements that help set this film apart from other gangster

flicks.

Eye for an Eye (2008): This is a more recent film that stars Han Suk-kyu, one of Koreas

great actors who played key roles in many of the films from the Korean New Wave (Shiri,

Tell Me Something). While it may not qualify as a great film, it is nevertheless a solid andsatisfying thriller. Still, this is not director Kwak Kyung-taeks best work. The next film is.

Friend (2001): Based on Kwak Kyung-taeks true story of himself and his childhood friends,

this is clearly a personal film for the director. It is a tale about friendship, loyalty and growing

up. All of the 4 lead actors give wonderful performances. Also deserving a special mention is

the cinematography that beautifully captures the city on screen.

Good, the Bad and the Weird, The (2008): Coming from director Kim Jee-woon, this

Western offers one huge dose of exhilarating fun. There are plenty of heart-pumping chases

and frantic action scenes to be enjoyed. The cast is full of big name actors, including Song

Kang-ho (The Foul King, Secret Sunshine), Lee Byung-heon and Jung Woo-sung (Musa).

Host, The

(2006): From my favourite Korean director Bong Joon-ho comes this amazing creature

feature. The well-designed creature and great performances from the cast make this film

totally believable. The Hostis multilayered and goes well beyond the basic premise of

humans vs creature. In short, it is a monster masterpiece!

Isle, The (2000): One cannot write a best-of-Korean-films list without mentioning any work

by director Kim Ki-duk. This strangely mesmerising film may make some people nauseated,

but for those who can appreciate its beauty, it is a little gem. Certainly not as accessible as

many of Kims later films, but this one has left an impression on me for its uniqueness.

Joint Security Area (2000): While director Park Chan-wook may be best known for his

revenge trilogy (Sympathy for Mr Vengeance, Old Boy and Sympathy for Lady Vengeance),

his older filmJoint Security Area is equally as worthy of film lovers attention for its assured

direction, skillful story-telling and excellent performances.
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3/5

King and the Clown (2005): This was the surprise Korean hit of 2005. This period drama

without star casting became a phenomenon in Korea upon its release. In retrospect, it is not

hard to see why it was so popular. It is touching, it is charming and above all, it is

entertaining. After all, entertainment is what we are after when we watch movies, isnt it?

Lovers Concerto (2002): This romantic melodrama is a tearjerker. Its main cast, includingCha Tae-hyun, Son Ye-jin and the late Lee Eun-ju (Taegukgi), all gave likeable

performances. While the story is not particularly original, the film is an example of an

ordinary story told well. Viewers who like crying should have some tissues ready.

Memories of Murder(2003): Many great Korean films have English titles that start with the

letter m. Examples includeMy Sassy Girl, Marathon and director Bong Joon-hos otherfilm Mother. Of these, my favourite is Memories of Murder, a police procedural that is

suspenseful and chilling. The strong cast shines brilliantly. It is one of the best Korean films

ever made.

Nowhere to Hide (1999): This is the ultimate demonstration of style over substance in

cinema. What makes this cop thriller work is that there is so much style that a relative lack of

substance becomes insignificant. This movie has some of the best action scenes ever captured

on film, and the final fight scene in heavy rain has no doubt provided inspirations to many

filmmakers.

Oasis (2002): This one comes from another one of Koreas great directors- Lee Chang-Dong

(Poetry, Peppermint Candy). It tells a love story, but if it is something sweet or touchingyoure after, Oasis may not be for you. It is actually a rather challenging film to sit through,

but patient viewers should find this film very rewarding.

Public Enemy (2002): Featuring a hard-boiled cop out to catch some criminals, this film is

both violent and funny. Actor Sol Kyung-gu (Oasis) gives another great performance as the

main character who happens to be a corrupt cop. You may not like this character but the fact

that he is so bad is what makes this film so much fun to watch.
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4/5

Quiet Family, The (1998): This film was the directorial debut of Kim Jee-woon (A Tale of

Two Sisters), and it shows that right from the beginning, this now famous director was

already showing a great deal of talent. Boasting a strong ensemble cast, including Choi Min-

shik (Failan, Old Boy) and Song Gang-ho, this dark comedy is both clever and brilliant.

Rough Cut (2008): When I saw this at the Korean Film Festival in Australia (KOFFIA) last

year, I realised that I was watching something special. First time director Jang Hoon, protg

of Kim Ki-duk (who helped in writing the screenplay for this film) effectively mixes comedy,

romance and action to deliver a truly original gangster movie.

Shiri (1999): This was the first Korean film that I ever saw. Not knowing much about the

film, except for the information that it smashed box office records and literally sankTitanic

in Korea, I was impressed by this spy thriller tremendously. The success of this film marked

the beginning of the renaissance of the Korean film industry, and the rest, as they say, is

history.

Take Care of My Cat (2001): This gentle film tells a touching and memorable coming-of-age

story of five young women living in Korea. A few of the performances stand out, including

that by the lovely Bae Doo-na (Barking Dogs Never Bite,Linda Linda Linda), one of myfavourite Korean actresses. I still find this special film refreshing whenever I watch it.

Untold Scandal (2003): In this film, the filmmakers have cleverly adapted the French novel

Les Liaisons Dangereuses and changed the storys setting to Koreas Chosun Dynasty with

interesting effects. Skillful storytelling and high production values make this elegant period

drama filled with lustful deceptions a really entertaining film.

Volcano High (2001): This comic book-like film contains some of the most spectacular

visual effects in a Korean film. The violence is cartoonish and the action is wild. While it

certainly has some flaws, Volcano High is nevertheless a lot of fun to watch. I amdisappointed and surprised there have not been many other similar films coming out of

Korea.
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5/5

Welcome to Dongmakgol (2005): This film did great business when it was released in 2005,

and remains one of the biggest blockbusters in the history of Korean cinema. There is really a

lot to like about this feel-good movie about war. Jeong Jae-yeong (Castaway on the Moon)

and the rest of the cast all give strong performances. Also the story is very good.

(Xmas) Christmas in August (1998): It stars Han Suk-kyu and another of the most popular

actors at the beginning of the Korean New Wave, Shim Eun-ha. This beautiful actress turns

in an award-winning performance in this love story, which is told in the most subtle manner.

The result is a truly unforgettable film.

You Are My Sunshine (2005): Yes, this is yet another Korean melodrama, but its a good

one. Multi-award winning actress Jeon Do-yeon (Secret Sunshine, The Housemaid) stars in it,

which pretty much automatically makes this film worth watching. With a sad story that pulls

hard on those heart strings, this intimate little film may just make you drop a tear (or two).

Z - Art Museum by the Zoo (1998): Wait a minute, this film starts with a, I hear you say. I

apologise as I havent seen any Korean film with an English title that starts with z. So this

lovely film will have to do. Despite having a very simple story, this film is easy to fall in love

with because of the wonderful chemistry between its two leads, Shim Eun-ha and Lee Sung-

jae.

So there, you have it: my A to Z guide to Korean cinema. I hope you have found it

interesting, and wish that the rest of the year will bring us many more great Korean film
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