Constant/excessive physical violence mars this well-done/plausible story about three street-wise buddies who take different paths after deciding not to take college-entrance exams. In his bittersweet romance with Romi, Min with his beguiling smile reminded me of Tom Cruise. Indeed, I later found out from a young girl from Korea that Woo-sung Jung is known as the Tom Cruise of Korea.
7 Reviews
a stylish action/drama
sunhee_yongdae_lee30 September 2000
I enjoyed this movie. Everything in this movie was good. The cinematography, which seems influenced by Wong Kar Wai, was beautiful and action scenes were very cool. Woo-Sung Jung performs a charismatic but naive loner very well. I'm sure girls went crazy while seeing this movie. Chang-Jung Lim's funny and realistic performance makes this film less dark and more delightful. This film is based on a famous comic book in Korea with a different ending. To me, the film seems more cartoonish, doesn't mean the film is bad.
Beat has a message and should be seen.
davyneves30 December 2006
I found this movie engaging. It's one of those movies I could watch a few times
It's the story of Min and his friends Tae Soo, Whan and Romy.
Min and Tae Soo are best friends and their world consists of fun and violence.
Min's mother decides she wants Min to further his education and decides to have Min transferred to another school. In the new school Min meets Whan and in an unexpected way they become friends.
Romy is introduced to Min in another unexpected way and she becomes the love interest.
The movie follows their relationships and consequences of their choices.
I myself believe it is a story that is plausible and shows the pressures upon, and avenues available to, young people.
Beat has a message and should be seen.
It's the story of Min and his friends Tae Soo, Whan and Romy.
Min and Tae Soo are best friends and their world consists of fun and violence.
Min's mother decides she wants Min to further his education and decides to have Min transferred to another school. In the new school Min meets Whan and in an unexpected way they become friends.
Romy is introduced to Min in another unexpected way and she becomes the love interest.
The movie follows their relationships and consequences of their choices.
I myself believe it is a story that is plausible and shows the pressures upon, and avenues available to, young people.
Beat has a message and should be seen.
Awesome!! If you don't take it seriously.
hwarangdo13 May 2002
"Beat" is one of the most entertaining and enjoyable films to come out of Korea. It's not as deep as it advertises itself to be, but has great humor and action. The overwhelming pressure of education and family of Korean culture produces the "BEAT" generation, which this movie makes an effort to represent. Although there is no martial arts or big gangster images for international audiences to enjoy, the realism and acting generates enough interest. This movie is famous for making the biggest star in Korean cinema, Jung Woo-Sung. As the lonely and brave fighter, his charisma is worth the price of renting the film alone.
one of the better Korean movies...
mugshot13 September 1999
Sung-su Kim did an awesome job directing one of Young-man Huh's comic books. Wu-sung Jung did a great job as a disadvantaged rebel. the photography was really similar to Kar-wai Wong's 1995 DUOLUO TIANSHI. if you're a fan of Young-man Huh's comic books, you'll really enjoy this movie. I wish more directors would adapt screenplay from Young-man Huh.
Technically expert but overlong
theorbys21 September 1999
Min and his friends are 'lost youths' living in an increasingly Westernized country which has many conflicts with its more rigid, traditional social structures and values brought about by relentless modernization. Min, (who looks somewhat like Yuen Biao) is also a natural kung fu expert and gets mixed up in street gang action much to the dismay of his dysfunctional girl friend and equally dysfunctional best friend and business partner. Technically the film is quite well done, a sort of mix of Japanimation (the motorcycle shots were right out of Akira), Hong Kong crime films, and music video/tv commercial: neon, garish lighting, sudden cuts, extreme camera angles and positions, and lots of little shot pieces edited togehter to give it a jumpy, visually nervous feel. But it is all surface and no substance. The film is a good 20 or more likely 30 minutes too long, and cutting out the kung fu/street gang plot would have been the perfect solution. Working with just the romantic and best friend relationships would have made this a much more interesting film.
A Sad but Badass Movie
dragonfiretech-5924319 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
To be honest I first found about this movie at my local video store. I immediately bought this amazing movie and watched throughout the whole day. To be honest this is an excellent and compelling movie. This movie is so good. I love the motorcycle scenes and how its shot very well. The fight scenes a very stylish and very well done also. I love the motorcycle scenes in piticular because its shows one shot of our main character feeling sad or angry. The story is spot on too and I like how this movie is very unique in its own way. The leads in this movie played by actor Jung woo sung and actress ko so young do their performances very good and I like who Jung woo sung brings out the emotion to his character and you feel for him also. The scene where he runs away from home and rides his motorcycle is very compelling and very sad too. All in all I would highly recommend this movie to anyone at the fullest. I love this one shot where he just sits on his motorcycle and starts feeling sad because of what he's going through. Also this actor Jung woo sung looks very much like Tom cruise and is basically the Korean Tom cruise of Korea. Enjoy the movie.
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