Monkey Man is one of the most imaginative action films to come out sometimes and it comes from a first-time director who also stars in the lead role Dev Patel. Described as “Indian John Wick,” the action-thriller film follows the story of a young underground fighter who goes on a rampage against the city’s elite to avenge the injustices done by them to his mother and village. Monkey Man also stars Sobhita Dhulipala, Sikandar Kher, Adithi Kalkunte, Makarand Deshpande, Sharlto Copley, Brahim Achabbakhe, Ashwini Kalshekar, Pitobash Tripathy, and Vipin Sharma. So, if you loved the action and heartfelt story told in Monkey Man by the first passionate first-time director Dev Patel, here are some similar movies you should check out next.
John Wick Credit – Lionsgate Movies
Monkey Man is being described as “Indian John Wick,” so this film had to be on this list. Directed by Chad Stahelski, John...
John Wick Credit – Lionsgate Movies
Monkey Man is being described as “Indian John Wick,” so this film had to be on this list. Directed by Chad Stahelski, John...
- 4/7/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Doctor Slump is bringing smiles and tears to millions of Korean drama fans with its two brilliant leads Park Shin-hye and Park Hyung-sik. The Netflix series revolves around a plastic surgeon who gets entangled in a highly publicized criminal case because of a botched surgery and a doctor suffering from depression. When both of the leads meet each other again at the lowest moment in their lives, their high school rivalry starts to fade away as they start developing feelings for each other. So, if you are loving Doctor Slump here are some similar shows you could watch next.
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (Netflix) Credit – Netflix
Enemies to lovers is one of the most beloved tropes in Korean dramas, and this trope is used to perfection in the brilliant romantic-comedy series Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha. Based on a 2004 film titled Mr. Handy, Mr. Hong by Kang Seok-beom and Shin Jung-goo, the series revolves around...
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (Netflix) Credit – Netflix
Enemies to lovers is one of the most beloved tropes in Korean dramas, and this trope is used to perfection in the brilliant romantic-comedy series Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha. Based on a 2004 film titled Mr. Handy, Mr. Hong by Kang Seok-beom and Shin Jung-goo, the series revolves around...
- 2/18/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
International K-Drama Day: From The Glory 2 To Moving Top 10 Must-Watch Korean Shows Of 2023 ( Photo Credit – IMDb )
Korean dramas have provided a safe and comforting space to the audience over the years. Contrary to popular belief, K-dramas are not just about cliched romantic comedies, though there is nothing wrong with that, but also teach us many life lessons along the way. If K-fanatics are to be believed, 2023 has proved to be one fruitful year, with many heartwarming shows providing a feeling of contentment this year.
While K-dramas have been around for quite some time now, it wasn’t until a few years ago that Netflix, Viki, Disney+ Hotstar, and Prime Videos, among other streaming spaces, began streaming Korean shows, opening up a new dimension for global viewers. In 2023, all of these Ott giants have done a commendable job of delivering some top-notch K-dramas that have managed to swoon every drama lover out there.
Korean dramas have provided a safe and comforting space to the audience over the years. Contrary to popular belief, K-dramas are not just about cliched romantic comedies, though there is nothing wrong with that, but also teach us many life lessons along the way. If K-fanatics are to be believed, 2023 has proved to be one fruitful year, with many heartwarming shows providing a feeling of contentment this year.
While K-dramas have been around for quite some time now, it wasn’t until a few years ago that Netflix, Viki, Disney+ Hotstar, and Prime Videos, among other streaming spaces, began streaming Korean shows, opening up a new dimension for global viewers. In 2023, all of these Ott giants have done a commendable job of delivering some top-notch K-dramas that have managed to swoon every drama lover out there.
- 11/28/2023
- by Shivani Negi
- KoiMoi
The audiences will be in for a visual treat this week, as the streaming platforms are all set to release a bunch of titles ranging from coming of age show to crime thriller which will definitely enthral the viewers.
From Dulquer Salmaan starrer ‘King of Kotha’, to Gulshan Devaiah and Drashti Dhami’s ‘Duranga’ season 2, here is a list of five titles on various Ott platforms that have caught the attention of Ians this week.
Duranga 2: ‘Duranga’ is an official adaptation of the Korean show, ‘Flower of Evil’. New mysteries brew and come to light as the characters of Gulshan Devaiah and Amit Sadh are engaged in an epic showdown to reclaim their identities in the new season.
The second season of the show will see the return of Gulshan, Drashti Dhami, Amit Sadh, Barkha Sen Gupta, Rajesh Khattar reprising their respective roles.
Spanning across eight episodes, ‘Duranga S...
From Dulquer Salmaan starrer ‘King of Kotha’, to Gulshan Devaiah and Drashti Dhami’s ‘Duranga’ season 2, here is a list of five titles on various Ott platforms that have caught the attention of Ians this week.
Duranga 2: ‘Duranga’ is an official adaptation of the Korean show, ‘Flower of Evil’. New mysteries brew and come to light as the characters of Gulshan Devaiah and Amit Sadh are engaged in an epic showdown to reclaim their identities in the new season.
The second season of the show will see the return of Gulshan, Drashti Dhami, Amit Sadh, Barkha Sen Gupta, Rajesh Khattar reprising their respective roles.
Spanning across eight episodes, ‘Duranga S...
- 10/19/2023
- by Agency News Desk
The audiences will be in for a visual treat this week, as the streaming platforms are all set to release a bunch of titles ranging from coming of age show to crime thriller which will definitely enthral the viewers.
From Dulquer Salmaan starrer ‘King of Kotha’, to Gulshan Devaiah and Drashti Dhami’s ‘Duranga’ season 2, here is a list of five titles on various Ott platforms that have caught the attention of Ians this week.
Duranga 2: ‘Duranga’ is an official adaptation of the Korean show, ‘Flower of Evil’. New mysteries brew and come to light as the characters of Gulshan Devaiah and Amit Sadh are engaged in an epic showdown to reclaim their identities in the new season.
The second season of the show will see the return of Gulshan, Drashti Dhami, Amit Sadh, Barkha Sen Gupta, Rajesh Khattar reprising their respective roles.
Spanning across eight episodes, ‘Duranga S...
From Dulquer Salmaan starrer ‘King of Kotha’, to Gulshan Devaiah and Drashti Dhami’s ‘Duranga’ season 2, here is a list of five titles on various Ott platforms that have caught the attention of Ians this week.
Duranga 2: ‘Duranga’ is an official adaptation of the Korean show, ‘Flower of Evil’. New mysteries brew and come to light as the characters of Gulshan Devaiah and Amit Sadh are engaged in an epic showdown to reclaim their identities in the new season.
The second season of the show will see the return of Gulshan, Drashti Dhami, Amit Sadh, Barkha Sen Gupta, Rajesh Khattar reprising their respective roles.
Spanning across eight episodes, ‘Duranga S...
- 10/19/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
The upcoming South Korean romantic comedy television series ‘Doona!’ is adapted from Min Song-ah’s webtoon ‘The Girl Downstairs‘.
The plot of Doona finds retired glamourous K-pop idol Lee Doo-na and an ordinary college student Lee Won-jun becoming housemates and developing unexpected bonds.
Bae Suzy and Yang Se-jong have been cast to play the roles of Doo-na and Lee Won-jun respectively in the series. Doona is set to be released on October 20, 2023 on Netflix.
Following is a list of other South Korean romantic comedy television series that you might be interested in if you are a fan of rom-com K-drama and you like Doona.
Also Read: Top 10 Live-Action Series Like One Piece!
Top 10 Television Series Like Upcoming Netflix K-drama ‘Doona!’
The Fabulous – Number of Seasons: 1 Netflix
This romantic comedy South Korean TV series is set in the fashion industry of Seoul and revolves around young adults navigating their personal lives,...
The plot of Doona finds retired glamourous K-pop idol Lee Doo-na and an ordinary college student Lee Won-jun becoming housemates and developing unexpected bonds.
Bae Suzy and Yang Se-jong have been cast to play the roles of Doo-na and Lee Won-jun respectively in the series. Doona is set to be released on October 20, 2023 on Netflix.
Following is a list of other South Korean romantic comedy television series that you might be interested in if you are a fan of rom-com K-drama and you like Doona.
Also Read: Top 10 Live-Action Series Like One Piece!
Top 10 Television Series Like Upcoming Netflix K-drama ‘Doona!’
The Fabulous – Number of Seasons: 1 Netflix
This romantic comedy South Korean TV series is set in the fashion industry of Seoul and revolves around young adults navigating their personal lives,...
- 10/18/2023
- by Suvechchha Saha
- https://dailyresearchplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/new-sam
If you are a fan of the Rom-com series and you’re not sure what to watch, here we’ve Top 10 Rom-com series to watch in 2023!
Romantic comedy is probably the most heartwarming genre for all the viewers out there. After watching a plethora of horror, thriller, mystery, and crime series, What Heals Our Heart is a series depicting a love story. Following is a list of romantic comedy television series that have been released in 2023.
Also Read: Top 10 Horror Movies to Watch in 2023!
Top 10 Rom-com Series to Watch in 2023: Xo, Kitty- Netflix
Jenny Han created this romantic comedy-drama TV series that serves as a spin-off of the To All the Boys I’ve Loved film series. This is the first Netflix TV series to be a spin-off from a Netflix original movie.
The plot revolves around Katherine or “Kitty” Song Covey who thinks herself very knowledgeable on love.
Romantic comedy is probably the most heartwarming genre for all the viewers out there. After watching a plethora of horror, thriller, mystery, and crime series, What Heals Our Heart is a series depicting a love story. Following is a list of romantic comedy television series that have been released in 2023.
Also Read: Top 10 Horror Movies to Watch in 2023!
Top 10 Rom-com Series to Watch in 2023: Xo, Kitty- Netflix
Jenny Han created this romantic comedy-drama TV series that serves as a spin-off of the To All the Boys I’ve Loved film series. This is the first Netflix TV series to be a spin-off from a Netflix original movie.
The plot revolves around Katherine or “Kitty” Song Covey who thinks herself very knowledgeable on love.
- 9/29/2023
- by Suvechchha Saha
- https://dailyresearchplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/new-sam
When it comes to celebrities, even Korean actors, knowing too much can be a problem. Actor Kim Ji-hoon has appeared in many K-dramas recently, from Money Hiest: Korea, First Seven Kisses, and played a heinous villain in Flower of Evil. But Kim Ji-hoon recently made waves in Netflix’s Love to Hate You. Beyond his dashing good looks, fans learned he has a peculiar habit with his clothes.
Kim Ji-hoon as a CEO in ‘Love to Hate You’ | via Netflix Kim Ji-hoon starred in ‘Love to Hate You’ as a handsome CEO
The 2023 romance breaks free of some well-known K-drama tropes with a few gender swaps. Kim Ok-vin starred as Yeo Mi-ran, a lawyer who dislikes men’s egos and superiority complex. She is not the damsel in distress as she is skilled in multiple fighting techniques, a bit fearful of her feelings, and a do-it-all herself type of woman.
Kim Ji-hoon as a CEO in ‘Love to Hate You’ | via Netflix Kim Ji-hoon starred in ‘Love to Hate You’ as a handsome CEO
The 2023 romance breaks free of some well-known K-drama tropes with a few gender swaps. Kim Ok-vin starred as Yeo Mi-ran, a lawyer who dislikes men’s egos and superiority complex. She is not the damsel in distress as she is skilled in multiple fighting techniques, a bit fearful of her feelings, and a do-it-all herself type of woman.
- 4/6/2023
- by Gabriela Silva
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
What makes for a good stress-free rom-com K-drama? Fans have seen their fair share of romantic storylines with comedic elements, but there is one troped they often have in common. The main characters face turmoil through an intense murder case or severe scandal. Netflix’s Crash Course in Romance is a prime example of a rom-com that is not stress-free. Sometimes, fans want a smooth-sailing K-drama full of fun, swoon-worthy moments, and no extra drama.
Nam Joo-hyuk and Lee Sung-kyung in ‘Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo’ | via Mbc ‘Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo’ is a K-drama classic that always does the job
The 2016 sports K-drama is an oldie but a goodie for a reason. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo has a bit of everything that fans want for an easy K-drama to watch whenever they need. Lee Sung-kyung stars as Bok-joo, a university student on track to becoming a professional weightlifter. She has...
Nam Joo-hyuk and Lee Sung-kyung in ‘Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo’ | via Mbc ‘Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo’ is a K-drama classic that always does the job
The 2016 sports K-drama is an oldie but a goodie for a reason. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo has a bit of everything that fans want for an easy K-drama to watch whenever they need. Lee Sung-kyung stars as Bok-joo, a university student on track to becoming a professional weightlifter. She has...
- 3/18/2023
- by Gabriela Silva
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Love to Hate You is a series directed by Kim Jung-kwon starring Kim Ok-bin and Yoo Teo.
Love To Hate You is a comedy that takes on romantic comedies to end up being a romantic comedy… but it does so gracefully and knows how to laugh at clichés and gender stereotypes.
Deep down, this is the usual, but done in a good way and with two lead actors that are close and clumsy it is impossible to not love.
It is not at all a Hollywood comedy, this series knows how to laugh at that and re-interpret in Korean style a genre we believed had little left to offer. If you thought Valentine´s day was for eating ice-cream and feel remorse for lost chances… Love To Hate You offers us the perfect excuse if not to believe in love, but to enjoy ten really funny episodes that will carry...
Love To Hate You is a comedy that takes on romantic comedies to end up being a romantic comedy… but it does so gracefully and knows how to laugh at clichés and gender stereotypes.
Deep down, this is the usual, but done in a good way and with two lead actors that are close and clumsy it is impossible to not love.
It is not at all a Hollywood comedy, this series knows how to laugh at that and re-interpret in Korean style a genre we believed had little left to offer. If you thought Valentine´s day was for eating ice-cream and feel remorse for lost chances… Love To Hate You offers us the perfect excuse if not to believe in love, but to enjoy ten really funny episodes that will carry...
- 2/10/2023
- by TV Shows Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid - TV
Welcome to a new edition of Pop Culture Imports for the month of October! Now granted, this month's column may not be quite as spooky themed as past October editions, but you could argue that it does give us a taste of different kinds of horror — from the erotic horrors of "Thirst" and "La Piscine," to the horrors of war in "All Quiet on the Western Front," to the horrors of having a chainsaw for a head. Don't say I don't give you variety.
Let's fire up those subtitles and get streaming.
All Quiet On The Western Front – Netflix
Country: Germany
Genre: War drama
Director: Edward Berger
Cast: Daniel Brühl, Albrecht Schuch, Sebastian Hülk, Felix Kammerer, Aaron Hilmer, Edin Hasanovic, Devid Striesow.
"All Quiet on the Western Front" opens with the aftermath of a massacre, as a young man is killed in the name of a war he doesn't understand,...
Let's fire up those subtitles and get streaming.
All Quiet On The Western Front – Netflix
Country: Germany
Genre: War drama
Director: Edward Berger
Cast: Daniel Brühl, Albrecht Schuch, Sebastian Hülk, Felix Kammerer, Aaron Hilmer, Edin Hasanovic, Devid Striesow.
"All Quiet on the Western Front" opens with the aftermath of a massacre, as a young man is killed in the name of a war he doesn't understand,...
- 10/28/2022
- by Hoai-Tran Bui
- Slash Film
October sees the release of "Decision to Leave," the first feature film in six years from South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook. Having premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, where Park won the Best Director award, the noir-drama, centered on a detective who investigates a woman with whom he becomes increasingly enamored, has already racked up plenty of "Best of the Year" credits. It's a testament to his immense talent that "Decision to Leave" isn't even considered a top-tier Park yet is still being heralded by many as a masterpiece.
Park is probably best known to English-speaking audiences for leading the charge of the 21st-century Korean New Wave, in large part thanks to his ultra-violent thriller "Oldboy." The stylish, shocking, and twist-filled movie that featured one of the best one-take action scenes ever shot instantly catapulted Park into the zeitgeist. Everyone from Quentin Tarantino to his occasional collaborator Bong Joon-ho...
Park is probably best known to English-speaking audiences for leading the charge of the 21st-century Korean New Wave, in large part thanks to his ultra-violent thriller "Oldboy." The stylish, shocking, and twist-filled movie that featured one of the best one-take action scenes ever shot instantly catapulted Park into the zeitgeist. Everyone from Quentin Tarantino to his occasional collaborator Bong Joon-ho...
- 10/12/2022
- by Kayleigh Donaldson
- Slash Film
Korean filmmakers have produced some of today’s most cutting-edge movies by borrowing the best elements from Hollywood, Chinese, and Japanese cinema, and mixing them their own unique cultural vision. So when it comes to the action genre, K-films are all over the map. K-actioners range from irreverent comedies to gritty brutal ultraviolence. Story arcs move from funny to savage in the blink of an eye.
Always well-crafted, Korean action films are filled with clever plot twists, refreshing characters that are fully fleshed out, and superb cinematography, However, Korean cinema tends to defy being as easily pigeonholed into genre boxes as Western contemporaries.
For example, Park Chan-wook’s disturbing Cannes winner, Oldboy, is more of psychological thriller than an action film, and yet the brilliant one-er hallway hammer fight is consistently referenced as one of the top examples of fight choreography from that year. Snowpiercer, which spawned a TNT series,...
Always well-crafted, Korean action films are filled with clever plot twists, refreshing characters that are fully fleshed out, and superb cinematography, However, Korean cinema tends to defy being as easily pigeonholed into genre boxes as Western contemporaries.
For example, Park Chan-wook’s disturbing Cannes winner, Oldboy, is more of psychological thriller than an action film, and yet the brilliant one-er hallway hammer fight is consistently referenced as one of the top examples of fight choreography from that year. Snowpiercer, which spawned a TNT series,...
- 9/2/2022
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Netflix’s seige on the Korean content market continues and after a spate of hit Korean tv dramas productions, they go back to feature film with ”Carter”. Netflix’s first Korean feature production since ”Okja”, the action film ”Carter is helmed by “The Villainess” director Jung Byung-gil.
Synopsis
An action blockbuster about the breathtaking pursuit of Agent Carter in a mysterious operation with all his memories lost.
When a man wakes up, he doesn’t remember anything about himself or even his name. At that time, he receives a phone call and the caller tells him “Your name is Carter.” He is then enlisted in an importation, dangerous mission without knowing the reason why.
Jung Byung-gil proved his action film mettle with “The Villainess”, which impressed if not with its storytelling then most certainly with its execution of the action sequences. Like that feature, where he turned the unlikely Kim Ok-bin...
Synopsis
An action blockbuster about the breathtaking pursuit of Agent Carter in a mysterious operation with all his memories lost.
When a man wakes up, he doesn’t remember anything about himself or even his name. At that time, he receives a phone call and the caller tells him “Your name is Carter.” He is then enlisted in an importation, dangerous mission without knowing the reason why.
Jung Byung-gil proved his action film mettle with “The Villainess”, which impressed if not with its storytelling then most certainly with its execution of the action sequences. Like that feature, where he turned the unlikely Kim Ok-bin...
- 7/8/2022
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
12 – 17 July 2022, Louis Koo Cinema
New Waves, New Shores: Busan International Film Festival is back with three screenings and a masterclass! The moving image programme is presented by the Hong Kong Arts Centre (Hkac), financially supported by the Film Development Fund, Create Hong Kong, and in festival partnership with the Busan International Film Festival (Biff). Through an integrated series of screenings, talks, workshops and a masterclass, the programme aims to introduce the cross currents in Hong Kong and Korean cinema, as well as the importance of Biff as one of the leading film festivals in Asia. The screenings comprise a Hong Kong showcase curated by Maggie Lee, and a Korean showcase co-curated by Lee and Nam Dong-chul.
Previously brought to a halt by the pandemic, the programme now brings back screenings of Too Many Ways to Be No. 1, Dumplings and Thirst, and Masterclass on Screen Adaptation: A Conversation Between Chung Seo-kyung and Fruit Chan,...
New Waves, New Shores: Busan International Film Festival is back with three screenings and a masterclass! The moving image programme is presented by the Hong Kong Arts Centre (Hkac), financially supported by the Film Development Fund, Create Hong Kong, and in festival partnership with the Busan International Film Festival (Biff). Through an integrated series of screenings, talks, workshops and a masterclass, the programme aims to introduce the cross currents in Hong Kong and Korean cinema, as well as the importance of Biff as one of the leading film festivals in Asia. The screenings comprise a Hong Kong showcase curated by Maggie Lee, and a Korean showcase co-curated by Lee and Nam Dong-chul.
Previously brought to a halt by the pandemic, the programme now brings back screenings of Too Many Ways to Be No. 1, Dumplings and Thirst, and Masterclass on Screen Adaptation: A Conversation Between Chung Seo-kyung and Fruit Chan,...
- 6/21/2022
- by Suzie Cho
- AsianMoviePulse
To show off the video capture capabilities on their new flagship phone, Apple commissioned a few directors from different parts of the world to each make a short film, shot entirely using their new iPhone 13 Pro phone. One such director was Korean maestro Park Chan-wook, who went ahead a made “Life is But a Dream”, a short entirely out of his comfort zone.
In the dark of the night, a villager digs up an old grave and robs it of the high-quality lacquer coffin, an action which awakens the spirit of the person buried with it, an umbrella-wielding swordsman. The swordsman follows the villager home, adamant on killing him and taking his coffin back but hesitates when the villagers pleads for his life and tells him that he stole the coffin to lay to rest a benevolent person, a woman known as the White Marten, who saved the villagers from the clutches of a loanshark.
In the dark of the night, a villager digs up an old grave and robs it of the high-quality lacquer coffin, an action which awakens the spirit of the person buried with it, an umbrella-wielding swordsman. The swordsman follows the villager home, adamant on killing him and taking his coffin back but hesitates when the villagers pleads for his life and tells him that he stole the coffin to lay to rest a benevolent person, a woman known as the White Marten, who saved the villagers from the clutches of a loanshark.
- 2/20/2022
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
Exclusive: Korean feature film The Villainess, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017, is set to be adapted for television by Amazon Studios.
The streamer is developing a small screen remake of the movie with Dynasty and Sleepy Hollow writer Francisca Hu attached to write and exec produce the pilot episode.
It comes after Deadline revealed in 2019 that Robert Kirkman’s Skybound Entertainment, which is behind series including Fear The Walking Dead and Amazon’s Invincible, had teamed up with Next Entertainment World’s Contents Panda to adapt the movie.
Jeong Byeong-Gil, who directed the original film, is set to helm pilot and will exec produce alongside Star Trek Beyond writer Doug Jung.
The Villainess series will follow an Asian woman who believes she is adopted and raised by white parents in a small American town, but after a violent incident on a trip to Seoul, she discovers she...
The streamer is developing a small screen remake of the movie with Dynasty and Sleepy Hollow writer Francisca Hu attached to write and exec produce the pilot episode.
It comes after Deadline revealed in 2019 that Robert Kirkman’s Skybound Entertainment, which is behind series including Fear The Walking Dead and Amazon’s Invincible, had teamed up with Next Entertainment World’s Contents Panda to adapt the movie.
Jeong Byeong-Gil, who directed the original film, is set to helm pilot and will exec produce alongside Star Trek Beyond writer Doug Jung.
The Villainess series will follow an Asian woman who believes she is adopted and raised by white parents in a small American town, but after a violent incident on a trip to Seoul, she discovers she...
- 7/8/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
The Villainess is an upcoming action thriller. From Well Go USA Entertainment, this Korean film involves a female assassin, trained since childhood. Several years into her killing career, Sook-hee (Ok-bin Kim) now wants freedom and will stop at nothing to get it. The Villainess will be available, through several formats, this November. The title, from director Byung-gil Jung, also stars: Jun Sung and Ha-kyun Shin. A preview of the film's home entertainment launch is hosted here. The official trailer was released earlier this year (Aug. '17), for The Villainess. It shows Sook-hee partially via first person camera shooting. Similar to Hardcore Henry's (2015) shooting style, Sook-hee battles several foes on motorcycle or in the air. It looks like there is no end to this killing spree. The Villainess will be available on three formats this November. On November 21st, this action title will show on DVD, Video-on-demand and a Blu-ray/DVD combo.
- 11/8/2017
- by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
Stars: Ok-bin Kim, Seo-hyung Kim, Ha-kyun Shin, Jun Sung Bang | Written and Directed by Byung-gil Jung
It’s been a while since a foreign language movie came out that truly blew me away, probably The Raid being the last one and we all know how much I gush over that movie. The Villainess brings us all the things I loved about The Raid and some intricate clever plot points that echo Infernal Affairs sprinkled with some Nikita… Add all this together and you get a damn good movie, that is in serious danger of being in my Top 5 movies of 2017!
The awesome folks at Arrow Video have brought us a shiny awesome Blu Ray and DVD release of this instant classic and its out today. Spoilers (I normally save this bit till the end): I absolutely recommend this movie to any fan of Korean Cinema, action fight sequences, stunning choreography,...
It’s been a while since a foreign language movie came out that truly blew me away, probably The Raid being the last one and we all know how much I gush over that movie. The Villainess brings us all the things I loved about The Raid and some intricate clever plot points that echo Infernal Affairs sprinkled with some Nikita… Add all this together and you get a damn good movie, that is in serious danger of being in my Top 5 movies of 2017!
The awesome folks at Arrow Video have brought us a shiny awesome Blu Ray and DVD release of this instant classic and its out today. Spoilers (I normally save this bit till the end): I absolutely recommend this movie to any fan of Korean Cinema, action fight sequences, stunning choreography,...
- 11/2/2017
- by Kevin Haldon
- Nerdly
The Villainess Review The Villainess (2017) Film Review from the 16th Annual New York Asian Film Festival, a movie directed by Byung-gil Jung, and starring Ok-bin Kim, Ha-kyun Shin, Seo-hyeong Kim, Jun Sung, and Eun-ji jo. The Villainess was, at its face, a tribute to Luc Besson‘s Le Femme Nikita, and the latest [...]
Continue reading: Film Review: The Villainess: You’ll Root for the Bad Girl & Like It [Nyaff 2017]...
Continue reading: Film Review: The Villainess: You’ll Root for the Bad Girl & Like It [Nyaff 2017]...
- 10/30/2017
- by Sam Joseph
- Film-Book
This Korean revenge thriller reels from genre to genre with abandon but boasts some exceptional moments
This violent, high-energy Korean thriller springs to life in a neon-lit hallway. Its breathless, blood-splattered opening begins from a shooter’s point of view (with a bodycam and a fisheye lens capturing much of the action), as they mow down the armed men who appear at every turn like avatars in a video game. When the shooter crashes into a full-body mirror, the image opens out and the assassin is revealed to be a young woman. Sook-hee (Ok-bin Kim) is eventually captured, though by the secret service rather than the police, before being retrained and refashioned (by way of plastic surgery) as one of their own.
At two hours long, Byung-gil Jung’s revengesploitation film is overstuffed and overcooked, lurching between melodrama, satire and kung fu grindhouse. At one point, the film turns into a K-drama style romcom,...
This violent, high-energy Korean thriller springs to life in a neon-lit hallway. Its breathless, blood-splattered opening begins from a shooter’s point of view (with a bodycam and a fisheye lens capturing much of the action), as they mow down the armed men who appear at every turn like avatars in a video game. When the shooter crashes into a full-body mirror, the image opens out and the assassin is revealed to be a young woman. Sook-hee (Ok-bin Kim) is eventually captured, though by the secret service rather than the police, before being retrained and refashioned (by way of plastic surgery) as one of their own.
At two hours long, Byung-gil Jung’s revengesploitation film is overstuffed and overcooked, lurching between melodrama, satire and kung fu grindhouse. At one point, the film turns into a K-drama style romcom,...
- 9/17/2017
- by Simran Hans
- The Guardian - Film News
The Villainess Trailer 2 The second and final movie trailer for The Villainess / Ak-Nyeo (2017) has been released. This movie trailer shows the viewer the Pre-government sponsored life of Sook-hee (Ok-bin Kim) and what happened to her after the government got their hands on her (think The Bourne Identity). The previous trailer showed more [...]
Continue reading: The Villainess (2017) Movie Trailer 2: Ok-bin Kim Becomes A Sleeper Agent for South Korea...
Continue reading: The Villainess (2017) Movie Trailer 2: Ok-bin Kim Becomes A Sleeper Agent for South Korea...
- 8/28/2017
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
Stars: Ok-bin Kim, Seo-hyung Kim, Ha-kyun Shin, Jun Sung Bang | Written and Directed by Byung-gil Jung
Sook-Hee is a trained assassin who was born to kill. She was just a little girl when the training started in China. And after the death of her mentor, when the chance of starting a new life was given to her, she came to South Korea as a government agent. The National Intelligence Service promised her freedom after ten years of active assignments. So begins her new double life as a theatre actress-come-hit-woman until the dark secrets from her past start to reappear. Then she gets a new mission and it changes everything.
There’s been a lot of hype for The Villainess, ever since it first screened at Cannes; and as an action-movie fan and genre fan I was all ready to buy into that hype. But I should have known better! To...
Sook-Hee is a trained assassin who was born to kill. She was just a little girl when the training started in China. And after the death of her mentor, when the chance of starting a new life was given to her, she came to South Korea as a government agent. The National Intelligence Service promised her freedom after ten years of active assignments. So begins her new double life as a theatre actress-come-hit-woman until the dark secrets from her past start to reappear. Then she gets a new mission and it changes everything.
There’s been a lot of hype for The Villainess, ever since it first screened at Cannes; and as an action-movie fan and genre fan I was all ready to buy into that hype. But I should have known better! To...
- 8/27/2017
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
"When I receive orders, I assign them. And you kill." Well Go USA has unveiled another official trailer for the badass Korean action film The Villainess, which opens in select theaters (NY & La) this weekend. So if you think this looks good, you can see it now! We've written about this film before and featured a trailer a few months ago. Ok-bin Kim stars as Sook-hee, a trained assassin who tries to become a stage actress after giving 10 years of service as an assassin. But her dark past comes creeping back and she must take things into her own hands to finish her work and be free once and for all. The full cast includes Eun-ji Jo, Seo-hyung Kim, Ha-kyun Shin, and Jun Sung. This trailer is packed full of intense action and quotes from critics, and will leave you more than excited to see this. I'm looking forward to catching it sometime soon.
- 8/25/2017
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Den Of Geek Aug 22, 2017
Horror Channel FrightFest takes place in London this weekend. Here's our pick of films to look out for...
Summer’s almost over and what better way to welcome in the spooky season than by hiding from the heat in a darkened room, with five days of wall-to-wall horror? Yep, it’s August Bank Holiday and that means the 18th annual London Horror Channel FrightFest is upon us. For some, this is a familiar pilgrimage. Veterans will be used to bloodshot eyes, numbness in the spine, a lack of nutrition and an acute anxiousness every time there’s a loud noise. For others, it may be their first visit and these are things to look forward to. Either way, FrightFest promises probably the biggest, purest, uncut dose of horror you can endure without going insane, complete with special guests, world premieres, live events and at least a couple of parties.
Horror Channel FrightFest takes place in London this weekend. Here's our pick of films to look out for...
Summer’s almost over and what better way to welcome in the spooky season than by hiding from the heat in a darkened room, with five days of wall-to-wall horror? Yep, it’s August Bank Holiday and that means the 18th annual London Horror Channel FrightFest is upon us. For some, this is a familiar pilgrimage. Veterans will be used to bloodshot eyes, numbness in the spine, a lack of nutrition and an acute anxiousness every time there’s a loud noise. For others, it may be their first visit and these are things to look forward to. Either way, FrightFest promises probably the biggest, purest, uncut dose of horror you can endure without going insane, complete with special guests, world premieres, live events and at least a couple of parties.
- 8/21/2017
- Den of Geek
Warning: You are not prepared for what this movie delivers. I watched The Villainess about a week after I saw Atomic Blonde — which was also part of Fantasia 2017 — and the two have a lot of similarities. On the surface level alone, they’re both about awesome, extremely dangerous women who are working for a shadowy organization, and both movies contain lengthy, seemingly one-take action sequences which are the highlight of the film. In fact, The Villainess has three of those action sequences. But the similarities pretty much end there as Atomic Blonde’s Cold War espionage is more akin to Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, whereas The Villainess shares a lot of DNA (including one identical scene) with La Femme Nikita. So while Luc Besson was off making a bloated, sci-fi epic, Byung-gil Jung (Confession of Murder) was reworking the flick that put him on the map in the first place.
- 8/9/2017
- by Mike Hassler
- Destroy the Brain
"Let me show you what you made me into." Well Go USA has released the first official trailer for an action film from Korea titled The Villainess, which premiered out-of-competition at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this summer. I heard some rave reviews of this and I definitely want to check it out. Ok-bin Kim stars as Sook-hee, a trained assassin who tries to become a stage actress after giving 10 years of service as an assassin. But her dark past comes creeping back and she must take things into her own hands to finish her work and be free once and for all. The full cast includes Eun-ji Jo, Seo-hyung Kim, Ha-kyun Shin, and Jun Sung. One review from Cannes says that its "dynamically staged, blood-drenched action sequences are a highlight." Based on all the buzz and footage from this trailer, I'm very excited to see this film. Take a look.
- 7/20/2017
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Writer/director Byung-gil Jung sure knows how to open an action flick. Think Oldboy‘s hallway scene from the first-person perspective of Hardcore Henry spilling over through a non-descript doorway into a wide-open setting for a one-on-twenty bloodbath a la Kill Bill‘s House of Blue Leaves sequence. Only when the orchestrator of this carnage is picked up and shoved headfirst into a mirror does the camera stumble backwards to show Sook-hee’s (Ok-bin Kim) bloodied face and grimace for more. It’s the type of over-the-top, out-of-control set piece most films work towards as a finale nobody will ever forget and we receive it as soon as the lights go down. A breathtaking jump through a window augmented by police sirens in the distance later and this party has only just begun.
If it wasn’t one-take, it was shot to look like it. You become so wrapped up...
If it wasn’t one-take, it was shot to look like it. You become so wrapped up...
- 7/15/2017
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
The Villainess Trailer Byung-gil Jung‘s The Villainess / Ak-Nyeo (2017) movie trailer stars Ok-bin Kim, Seo-hyung Kim, Ha-kyun Shin, and Jun Sung. The Villainess‘ plot synopsis: “Trained to be an assassin in Yanbian, China, from a very young age, Sook-hee has only ever known a life of killing. When South Korea’s Intelligence Agency captures her following [...]
Continue reading: The Villainess (2017) Movie Trailer: Ok-bin Kim is a Female John Wick...
Continue reading: The Villainess (2017) Movie Trailer: Ok-bin Kim is a Female John Wick...
- 6/25/2017
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
Director: Kim Hyeon-seok. Review: Adam Wing. In the not-so distant future, researchers at a deep-sea laboratory have finally succeeded in inventing a time machine. Heavily burdened by financial stress, head researcher Woo-seok is promised more funding from a mega-corporation, but only if he can successfully complete a test flight. Ji-wan tries to stop his colleague and lover, Young-eun, from going on the dangerous flight, but Woo-seok and Young-eun carry out the mission and travel to 11 A.M. the following day. They arrive to find their deep-sea laboratory on the verge of collapse. All the researchers have gone and somebody is out to kill them. Jae-yeong Jeong (Moss), Ok-bin Kim (Thirst) and Daniel Choi (Cyrano Agency) star in Kim Hyeon-seok's taut sci-fi thriller, a new film that attempts to juggle complex human emotions with lean action thrills. The opening act is certainly intriguing, as a ragtag team of scientists learn that...
- 11/26/2013
- 24framespersecond.net
The Front Line
Directed by Hun Jang
Written by Sang-yeon Park
2011, South Korea, imdb
*****
South Korea’s official entry to this year’s Academy Awards The Front Line is being released on DVD and Blu-Ray on February 27th. We thought that we would ask two of our staff to watch the film and argue their way through it on Twitter. Defending The Front Line is Edgar Chaput, who writes our weekly Shaw Brothers Saturday column. Attacking The Front Line is Michael Ryan, who rather to his own surprise became our go-to-reviewer for Korean films during last year’s Fantasia Film Festival and a dab hand at writing about himself in the third person. Their original debate has been slightly edited and reordered to improve grammar and flow.
*****
Michael: The Front Line is about a Korean counter-spy, Kang Eun-pyo (Shin Ha-kyun) in the dying days of the Korean War sent to...
Directed by Hun Jang
Written by Sang-yeon Park
2011, South Korea, imdb
*****
South Korea’s official entry to this year’s Academy Awards The Front Line is being released on DVD and Blu-Ray on February 27th. We thought that we would ask two of our staff to watch the film and argue their way through it on Twitter. Defending The Front Line is Edgar Chaput, who writes our weekly Shaw Brothers Saturday column. Attacking The Front Line is Michael Ryan, who rather to his own surprise became our go-to-reviewer for Korean films during last year’s Fantasia Film Festival and a dab hand at writing about himself in the third person. Their original debate has been slightly edited and reordered to improve grammar and flow.
*****
Michael: The Front Line is about a Korean counter-spy, Kang Eun-pyo (Shin Ha-kyun) in the dying days of the Korean War sent to...
- 2/13/2012
- by Michael Ryan
- SoundOnSight
Alex BBats here, dishing about about a film that has been on Nathaniel’s must-see radar, the South Korean film The Actresses. (Nathaniel, you will Love this film!)
The Actresses recently screened in Los Angeles at the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles as a part of their bi-monthly film-screening program. Though it is usually a projected DVD affair, it is free and I have fond memories of this venue because it was the first place I saw a movie in La. Jail Breakers, four long years ago …good times. If you’re in the La area, why not give it a shot (hint: cheap date night).
Time passing is one of the main topics of discussion in The Actresses. Get ready for lots of discussion, because that’s all that happens. Six actresses ranging from 20 to 60 years old get together to talk about acting, public pressures, rivals, boys, failed marriages,...
The Actresses recently screened in Los Angeles at the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles as a part of their bi-monthly film-screening program. Though it is usually a projected DVD affair, it is free and I have fond memories of this venue because it was the first place I saw a movie in La. Jail Breakers, four long years ago …good times. If you’re in the La area, why not give it a shot (hint: cheap date night).
Time passing is one of the main topics of discussion in The Actresses. Get ready for lots of discussion, because that’s all that happens. Six actresses ranging from 20 to 60 years old get together to talk about acting, public pressures, rivals, boys, failed marriages,...
- 10/15/2011
- by Alex Barbatsis
- FilmExperience
Usually, this spot is reserved for our weekly rundown of the new movies available to stream on Netflix Instant but August is a dead month and there is nothing notable streaming this week. Doesn’t look like there will be for another couple weeks either, so let’s pick the best horror movies available to stream on Netflix right now:
Let Me In / Let the Right One In
Let Me In
Rated R | 2010
Flickchart Ranking: #482
Times Ranked: 9558
Win Percentage: 63%
Top-20 Rankings: 22 Users
Let the Right One In
Rated R | 2008
Flickchart Ranking: #63
Times Ranked: 78814
Win Percentage: 65%
Top-20 Rankings: 404 Users
________________________________________________
The Exorcist
Rated R | 1973
Flickchart Ranking: #281
Times Ranked: 309191
Win Percentage: 49%
Top-20 Rankings: 4116 Users
Directed By: William Friedkin
Starring: Ellen Burstyn • Max von Sydow • Lee J. Cobb • Linda Blair
________________________________________________
The Evil Dead
Rated Nr | 1981
Flickchart Ranking: #350
Times Ranked: 129936
Win Percentage: 49%
Top-20 Rankings: 511 Users
Directed By: Sam Raimi
Starring: Bruce Campbell • Ellen Sandweiss • Betsy Baker...
Let Me In / Let the Right One In
Let Me In
Rated R | 2010
Flickchart Ranking: #482
Times Ranked: 9558
Win Percentage: 63%
Top-20 Rankings: 22 Users
Let the Right One In
Rated R | 2008
Flickchart Ranking: #63
Times Ranked: 78814
Win Percentage: 65%
Top-20 Rankings: 404 Users
________________________________________________
The Exorcist
Rated R | 1973
Flickchart Ranking: #281
Times Ranked: 309191
Win Percentage: 49%
Top-20 Rankings: 4116 Users
Directed By: William Friedkin
Starring: Ellen Burstyn • Max von Sydow • Lee J. Cobb • Linda Blair
________________________________________________
The Evil Dead
Rated Nr | 1981
Flickchart Ranking: #350
Times Ranked: 129936
Win Percentage: 49%
Top-20 Rankings: 511 Users
Directed By: Sam Raimi
Starring: Bruce Campbell • Ellen Sandweiss • Betsy Baker...
- 8/18/2011
- by Daniel Rohr
- Flickchart
A plethora of different personas pervade the mockumentary dramedy effort that is Actresses. These are real people with notable inflations to their ego and the generation gap that persists between their varying degrees in age and experience. All of the actresses have come together for a Vogue Christmas fashion shoot; a seemingly simple exercise but underneath boils a complicated emotional and personal war that often spills out to the open in the form of subtle catty attacks to full blown physical assaults that are both equally hilarious and petty.
There is a lot of cultural sensitivity as each actress is slowly introduced. Some are professional and early on the set, perhaps too early and others whine, mope and are very late to the set. The losing face aspect of Asian culture is given some interesting commentary and is openly made harmless fun of. A younger international starlet is met by...
There is a lot of cultural sensitivity as each actress is slowly introduced. Some are professional and early on the set, perhaps too early and others whine, mope and are very late to the set. The losing face aspect of Asian culture is given some interesting commentary and is openly made harmless fun of. A younger international starlet is met by...
- 11/9/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Time to call your cable or satellite provider and add the Sundance Channel to your lineup as the network is launching a new season of its late-night destination Asia Extreme™ on August 7, showcasing the sharpest of cutting-edge Asian genre fare every Saturday night at midnight.
You'll note that a few of the offerings aren't strictly horror fare, but we're including everything since just about all of them offer gore and violence, even if the supernatural/horror elements aren't quite there.
From the Press Release:
The 2010 season of Asia Extreme includes the U.S. television premieres of five films from South Korea: The Restless, Shadows in the Palace, Tazza: The High Rollers, Voice, and The Wig. The new season of Asia Extreme premieres on August 7 at 12:00 midnight Et/Pt.
In addition to their on-air presentations, the five premieres will be among the thirteen Asia Extreme titles available free from August...
You'll note that a few of the offerings aren't strictly horror fare, but we're including everything since just about all of them offer gore and violence, even if the supernatural/horror elements aren't quite there.
From the Press Release:
The 2010 season of Asia Extreme includes the U.S. television premieres of five films from South Korea: The Restless, Shadows in the Palace, Tazza: The High Rollers, Voice, and The Wig. The new season of Asia Extreme premieres on August 7 at 12:00 midnight Et/Pt.
In addition to their on-air presentations, the five premieres will be among the thirteen Asia Extreme titles available free from August...
- 8/4/2010
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
Tuesday Top Ten: for the list maker in me and the list lover in you
We spend a lot of time with the older ladies here at Tfe -- the working legends as the case may be. So for a change of pace, some quality time with the young and still-rising. What follows is a list of the ten whose next decade on screen we're most intrigued to watch develop. The cut off for this list was 33 years of age because starting right about there... well, that's a Huge time for actresses (many win Oscars or give career defining performances at 33/34). Let's look at the actresses who haven't reached that important time yet.
10 Actresses (Under 33) Whose Next Decade We Eagerly Await
disclaimer: This list includes English language actresses only since American distribution of foreign films is so problematic. It can be hard to follow full careers but we could...
We spend a lot of time with the older ladies here at Tfe -- the working legends as the case may be. So for a change of pace, some quality time with the young and still-rising. What follows is a list of the ten whose next decade on screen we're most intrigued to watch develop. The cut off for this list was 33 years of age because starting right about there... well, that's a Huge time for actresses (many win Oscars or give career defining performances at 33/34). Let's look at the actresses who haven't reached that important time yet.
10 Actresses (Under 33) Whose Next Decade We Eagerly Await
disclaimer: This list includes English language actresses only since American distribution of foreign films is so problematic. It can be hard to follow full careers but we could...
- 3/17/2010
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Chan-wook Park's draw to the horror genre has always been apparent. The dark brutal subject matter of his films, revolving around revenge, mystery, the unattainable and ultimately themes of regret, redemption and water (which signifies trouble and death in all of Park's Films) could almost be part Alfred Hitchcock, part Roman Polanski and part Sam Fuller. The beautifully lit and gorgeous locked off compositions apparent in his Vengeance trilogy especially, often evokes Kubrick and his humour, which always bubbles under the surface, a kind of playfulness with gore, is perhaps reserved only for the Sam Rami's or George Romero's of the world. Cut, his short film (along with Fruit Chan's Dumplings and Taekashi Miike's Box) which made up one third of Three... Extremes could be seen as his most horrorfied (yes its a word...) film to date. A kind of Saw like situation where a kidnapper cuts...
- 10/20/2009
- by Neil Innes
- t5m.com
Focus Features just released this brand new movie clip “Shoes” from the upcoming film “Thirst” by directed by award-winning auteur, Park Chan-wook (Oldboy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance) and starring Kang-ho Song and Ok-vin Kim. Synopsis: A priest becomes a vampire…another man’s wife is coveted…a deadly seduction triggers murder. Thirst is the new film from director Park Chan-wook (Old Boy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance). Already a boxoffice smash in Korea, Thirst was honored with the Prix du Jury [Jury Prize] at the 2009 Cannes International Film Festival. Continuing his explorations of human existence in extreme circumstances, the director spins a tale that he conceived and then developed [...]...
- 8/19/2009
- by Brian Corder
- ShockYa
Focus Features recently released the new clip “Vampires Are Cuter Than I Thought” from the upcoming film “Thirst” by directed by award-winning auteur, Park Chan-wook (Oldboy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance) and starring Kang-ho Song and Ok-vin Kim. Synopsis: A priest becomes a vampire…another man’s wife is coveted…a deadly seduction triggers murder. Thirst is the new film from director Park Chan-wook (Old Boy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance). Already a boxoffice smash in Korea, Thirst was honored with the Prix du Jury [Jury Prize] at the 2009 Cannes International Film Festival. Continuing his explorations of human existence in extreme circumstances, the director spins a tale that he conceived [...]...
- 8/18/2009
- by Brian Corder
- ShockYa
Focus Features just sent us this brand new movie clip “I’m Not Catholic” from the upcoming film “Thirst” by directed by award-winning auteur, Park Chan-wook (Oldboy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance) and starring Kang-ho Song and Ok-vin Kim. Synopsis: A priest becomes a vampire…another man’s wife is coveted…a deadly seduction triggers murder. Thirst is the new film from director Park Chan-wook (Old Boy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance). Already a boxoffice smash in Korea, Thirst was honored with the Prix du Jury [Jury Prize] at the 2009 Cannes International Film Festival. Continuing his explorations of human existence in extreme circumstances, the director spins a tale that he conceived [...]...
- 7/18/2009
- by Brian Corder
- ShockYa
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