Acting at its finest - Jeon Do-yeon and Song Kang-ho in Lee Chang-dong's masterful "Secret Sunshine"

Great and truly suspenseful crime thriller with
very fine acting from i.a. Jin Ki-joo as deaf
Kyung-Mi. She accidently witnesses a woman
being assaulted and she becomes the target of
a serial killer, played by Wi Ha-Jun

Midnight (Mideunaiteu)

Direction and script: Kwon Oh-seung, production: 2020

Cast: Jin Ki-joo, Wi Ha-jun, Gil Hae-yeon
Blu-ray in korean audio with english subtitles, region all
US Epic Pictures bluray edition

Released in november 2023 this film became the
big Korean Blockbuster of 2023. An exciting
political thriller about the military coup dec. 12
1979 after the assassination of President Park.
Can Chun be stopped from grabbing power ?

12.12: The Day (Seoul-ui bom)

Direction: Kim Sung-su, production: 2023

Cast: Hwang Jun-min, Jung Woo-sung, Lee Sung-min
Blu-ray in korean audio with english subtitles, region all
China bluray edition

Drama with some comedy about the factory
worker Rose who wants to be a singer and with
two guys falling in love with her.
The film takes place between 1978 and 1995

Rosebud (Geudae ireumeun Jangmi)

Direction, co-script: Jo Seok Hyun, production: 2019

Cast: Yoo Ho-jeong, Park Sung-woong, Ha Yeon-soo
Blu-ray in korean audio with english subtitles, region all
Hong Kong CN Entertainment bluray edition

Great blockbuster action drama where South- and
North Korean embassy staff have to work together
to escape the chaos of Civil war Mogadishu. Takes
place between 1987 - 1990 and the film looks great
with all actors, koreans as africans, doing a fine job

Escape from Mogadishu (Mogadisyo)

Direction and co-script: Ryoo Seung-wan, production: 2021

Cast: Kim Yoon-seok, Huh Joon-ho, Jo In-sung
DVD in korean audio with english subtitles, region 3
Hong Kong Universe 2021 DVD edition

Nicely shot Crime Drama with a violent and
bloody ending. The mobster Tae-gu murders
the boss of another mafia gang and has to
hide on the southern Jeju Island until he can
leave on a boat to Vladivostok

Night in Paradise / No Safe Haven (Nakwonui Bam)

Direction and script: Park Hoon-jung, production: 2020

Cast: Uhm Tae-goo, Jeon Yeo-been, Cha Seung-won
Blu-ray in korean audio with english subtitles, region all
China bluray edition

Snappy Crime Action where, in a homage to
Baby Driver and the Transporter and such films,
a young woman makes special deliveries which
often involves speed car driving. Eun-ha gets
drawn into a conflict between mobsters

Special Delivery (Teuksong)

Direction: Park Dae-min, production: 2022

Cast: Park So-dam, Song Sae-byeok, Jang Eun-ha
DVD in korean audio with english subtitles, region 3
Hong Kong Edko Films Ltd. DVD edition

Crime Mystery Melodrama where a cop investigates
the death of a mountain climber and where the
wife of the deceased could be the murderer.
Won Park the Best Direction award in Cannes

Decision to Leave (Heojil Kyolshim)

Direction and script: Park Chan-wook, production: 2022

Cast: Tang Wei, Park Hae-il, Lee Jung-hyon
Streaming media

Fascinating and bizarre horror drama about a young
plumpy woman who will pay any prize to get slim
and beautiful, and with the elixir Beauty Water as
her expensive help she may do it. The price is high.
Based on a South Korean Web Toon

Beauty Water (Gigigoegoe seonghyeonsu)

Direction: Cho Kyung-hun, production: 2020

Cast: Animated film
DVD in korean audio with english subtitles, region 3
Hong Kong Edko Films - Lotte Entertainment DVD edition

Tranquil fine mystery drama from the great Shin
Su-won (Pluto, Madonna) about the unsuccessful
filmmaker Ji-Wan hired to do a restoration of an
old 1960's movie, and with the director and the
film mirroring her own life

Hommage (Omaju)

Direction and script: Shin Su-won, production: 2021

Cast: Lee Jung-eun, Ko Seo-hee, Lee Joo-sil
DVD in korean audio with english subtitles, region 3
Korean 12 DVD edition

"Welcome to Dongmakgol" Re-Visited in 2022:
Enchanting blockbuster drama comedy fairytale
about an isolated mountain village during the
Korean war, where 3 northern soldiers meets 2
soldiers from the South and a yankee pilot.
With the lovely Kang Hye-jeong as the crazy girl
and with a fine soundtrack by Joe Hisaishi

Welcome to Dongmakgol

Direction: Park Kwang-hyun, production: 2005

Cast: Jung Jae-young, Shin Ha-kyun, Kang Hye-jeong
DVD in korean audio with english subtitles, region 3
Korean KD Media 2 disc edition

Three movies from the Korean Master made between
2000 and 2009. Bong Joon-ho, one of my absolute
favourites of the Korean film director's, he never
dissapoint you. Never a bad film (yet ... knock on wood)

Bong Joon Ho Triple: Barking Dogs Never Bite / Memories of
Murder / Mother

Direction and script: Bong Joon Ho, production: 2000, 2003, 2009
Cast i.a. Bae Doona, Sung Jae Lee, Song Kang-ho, Kim Hye-ja
DVD in korean audio with swedish subtitles, region 2
Swedish Tri Art 3 disc DVD edition

Pretty good Sci-Fi Drama Thriller with very fine acting
from Gong Yoo and Park Bo-gum. A genetically
manipulated new human species Seobok has been
created and a secret agent is told to protect it, but
who are the bad guys - everyone ?

Seobok

Direction and script: Lee Yong-ju, production: 2020

Cast: Gong Yoo, Park Bo-gum, Jang Young-nam
DVD in korean audio with english subtitles, region 3
Hong Kong Edko Films DVD edition

Very entertaining crime thriller and black comedy
in a great debut feature film from Park. Happenings
around a bag of money on the loose resembling
the style of 2002 "No Blood, No Tears" and the
great Jeon Do-yeon owns every scene she's in

Beasts Clawing at Straws

Direction and script: Kim Yong-hoon, production: 2020

Cast: Jeon Do-yeon, Jung Woo-sung, Shin hyun-bin
DVD in korean audio with english subtitles, region all
US Artsploitation Films DVD edition

Entertaining silly crime comedy where a disgruntled
and grumpy South Korean cop takes his wife and kid
on a holiday trip to the Philippines and gets involved
with murder and hidden WW2 Japanese gold

The Golden Holiday

Direction and script: Kim Bong-ha, production: 2020

Cast: Kwak Do-won, Kim Dae-myeung, Kim Sang-ho
DVD in korean audio with english subtitles, region 3
Taiwanese Garageplay DVD edition

Feel good comedy with quirky Korean humour
where a top law firm attourney is set to manage a
run down Zoo without any animals or visitors.
The solution - Fake Animals

Secret Zoo (Haechijianha)

Direction and co-script: Son Jae-gon, production: 2020

Cast: Ahn Jae-hong, Kang So-ra, Park Young-gyu
DVD 9 in korean audio with english subtitles
US ? Capelight DVD 9 edition

A very fine drama (with some comedy) about
a failed rapper who returns to his home town to
visit his sick father, meeting old school friends
and to deal with his memories. The school beauty,
the nerdy girl, his gangster father and the thug

Sunset in My Home Town (Byeonsan / Show Me the Hometown)

Direction: Lee Joon-ik, production: 2018

Cast: Park Jung-min, Kim Go-eun, Shin Hyun-bin
DVD in korean audio with english subtitles, region 3
Korean Megabox DVD edition

Kang shines in a beautiful little film about a 40 year
old film producer that loses her job when her arty
director dies. She struggles with her life and meets
the ghost of HK actor Leslie Cheung.
Kang Mal-geum feels intensely alive in her role and
both she and the film has won festival awards

Lucky Chan-Sil (Chansily ineun Bokdo Manhji)

Direction and script: Kim Cho-hee, production: 2019

Cast: Kang Mal-geum, Bae Yoo-ram, Yoon Seung-ah
DVD in korean audio with english subtitles, region 3
Korean TheOn 2020 DVD edition

Violent mystery action with great performances
from Kim Da-mi and Go Min-si when an evil secret
state agency is hunting down a teenage girl with
immense telekinetic powers. Like Brian De Palma's
1978 The Fury meets X-Men. Great Fun !
Region A stated but plays region all

The Witch: Subversion (Manyeo)

Direction, script and production: Park Hoon-jung 2018

Cast: Kim Da-mi, Go Min-si, Cho Min-soo, Choi Woo-shik
Blu-ray in korean audio with english subtitles, region all
US Well Go USA Entertainment bluray edition

Historical creature action horror taking place
under the Joseon Dynasty in 1506 with a weak
king being plotted against, and with a nasty
monster attacking the citizens.
Fun popcorn movie with a nice ST by Mowg

Monstrum

Direction and script: Huh Jong-ho, production: 2018

Cast: Kim Myung-min, Lee Hye-ri, Kim In-kwon, Choi Woo-shik
DVD in korean audio with english subtitles, region 1
US Mexico RLJE Films DVD edition

GREAT crime thriller with a fantastic Kim Yoon
Seok as the investigating cop, and Ju Ji-hoon is
good too as the perp. Fascinating interaction
between cop and perp, when the serial killer
gives clues of the whereabouts of his victims

Dark Figure of Crime (Amsusarin)

Direction and script: Kim Tae-gyun, production: 2018

Cast: Kim Yoon-seok, Ju Ji-hoon
DVD in korean audio with english subtitles, region 3
Korean Showbox 2019 DVD edition

Hard to define but surrealistic art drama comedy
may do. Beautiful and visually exciting about a
young woman who thinks she's a Cyborg.
Delightfully lighthearted and quirky from Park

I'm a Cyborg But That's OK (Ssaibogeu jiman goenchanha)

Direction and script: Park Chan-wook, production: 2006

Cast: Lim Soo-jung, Jung Ji-hoon (Rain)
Blu-ray in korean audio with english subs, region ALL
UK Tartan Video bluray edition

A Masterpiece. Unrelentingly dark and intense
drama-thriller about a young mans quest for a kidney
to his sick sister which leads to misery for many. 1st
part of Revenge Trilogy. Great acting and feel bad.
Read about the Swedish film critic scandal

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance - Masterpiece

Direction and script: Park Chan-wook, production: 2002

Cast: Shin Ha-kyun, Song Kang-ho, Bae Doo-na
Blu-ray in korean audio with english subs, region B
UK Tartan Video blu-ray edition

Mystery crime drama from Maestro Chang-dong
and his first directed feature in 8 years.
Exquisite cinematography and a cool progressive.
soundtrack by Mowg. Is there a false narrative?
What's the scheme, who's scheme, is there one?

Burning (Beoning)

Direction, co-script, co-production: Lee Chang-dong 2018

Cast: Yoo Ah-in, Jun Jong-seo, Steven Yeun
Blu-ray in korean audio with english subtitles, region B
UK Thunderbird Releasing bluray edition

Super Blockbuster drama-thriller with a great Song
Kang-ho and based on the true events of the
Gwang-Ju uprising in May 1980. When a Seoul
taxi drove a foreign journalist to witness the fascist
military junta's massacre on civilians in Gwangju

A Taxi Driver

Direction: Jang Hoon, production: 2017

Cast: Song Kang-ho, Thomas Kretschmann, Yoo Hae-jin
Blu-ray in korean audio with english subtitles, region A
US Well Go USA Entertainment 2018 blu-ray edition

Whatever Happened to Kim Je-woon? From being
one of my favourite Korean directors with films as
The Quiet Family, The Foul King and A Tale of Two
Sisters to a tired Junk maker. Mamoru Oshii's 1999
Jin-Roh transformed to a BAD Netflix sci-fi action

Illang: The Wolf Brigade

Direction and co-script: Kim Je-woon, production: 2018

Cast: Gang Dong-won, Han Hyo-joo

Netflix streaming

A light-hearted crime drama that turns Nasty
and almost into a horror. A young man is looking
for a new job without succeeding, until he finds
out that he's a talented car thief, and a ditto killer

Gifted

Direction, script, soundtrack: Juhn Jai-hong, production: 2015

Cast: Kim Bum-joon, Bae Jung-hwa, Jeon Beom-soo
Blu-ray in korean audio with english subtitles, region B
UK 88 Films 2018 bluray edition

Bong Joon-ho had a world-wide HIT with this
socio-political drama comedy, and it probably
is the most successful Korean film of alltime.
A poor family plans to infiltrate a rich family and
feed on them, but the maid already thought of it

Parasite (Gisaengchung)

Direction, story, co-script: Bong Joon-ho, production: 2019

Cast: Song Kang-ho, Park So-dam, Choi woo-shik
Blu-ray in korean audio with swedish subtitles, region B
Swedish Sony Pictures 2019 bluray edition

Yes? Another international project for Bong and on
Netflix, and .... Yes! Bong gives us an enchanting
sci-fi drama thriller about a girl and her Hippopotamus
pig. Somehow Bong has escaped the Hollywood
virus and kept his personal style and vision intact

Okja

Direction and co-script: Bong Joon-ho, prod: South Korea-USA 2017

Cast: An Seo-hyun, Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal

Netflix streaming video

Entertaining and snappily paced action thriller
bordering to sci-fi, and the return of director Park
Kwang-hyun, who made the super hit Welcome to
Dongmakgol in 2005. Computer gamer Kwon yu is
sentenced to life for a rape killing, but he's innocent

Fabricated City

Direction and script: Park Kwang-hyun, production: 2017

Cast: Ji Chang-wook, Shim Eun-kyung
DVD in korean audio with english subtitles, region 3
Hong Kong Deltamac 2017 edition

Enjoyable crime action comedy about 2 newbie
police academy recruits that decides to investigate
a case of human trafficking by themselves.
A mainstream hit with a simple plot, but OK popcorn

Midnight Runners

Direction: Jason Kim, production: 2017

Cast: Park Seo-jun, Kim Ha-neul, Sung Dong-il
DVD in korean audio with english subtitles, region 3
Hong Kong Deltamac 2017 edition

Loose cannon cop vs. Super-rich. Another corruption
crime movie action and it's great, very entertaining.
A blockbuster hit and Hwang Jung-min rocks as the
un-corruptible cop Do-cheol.
South Korean crime-action-thrillers rules. Great stuff!

Veteran

Direction: Ryo Seung-wan, production: 2015

Cast: Hwang Jung-min, Oh Dal-so, Yoo Ah.in
DVD in korean with english subtitles, region 3
Hong Kong Deltamac edition

The first korean TV series i've seen and it was GREAT!!
34 year old but youthful mother decides to enroll in her
daughter's high-school to protect her daughter from her
bullies and fight corruption. A 16 episodes hailed series
with crime-drama, melodrama and comedy. 4 DVD discs

Angry Mom - MBC TV Drama

Direction: Ashbun, production: 2015

Cast: Kim Hee-seon, Ji Hyun-woo, Kim You-jung
DVD in korean audio with english subtitles, region (9) ALL
Singapore 4 disc dvd edition

Hyped action bloodbath and update of Nikita/Black Cat
when the S.K. government trains a league of all-female
assassins. With a much talked about computer game-ish
opening take on the Oldboy corridor scene. Trash with
Kim Ok-bin in the main role

The Villainess (Ak-Nyeo)

Direction: Jung Byung-gil, production: 2017

Cast: Kim Ok-bin, Shin Ha-kyun, Bang Sun-jun
Blu-ray in korean audio with english subtitles, region B
UK Arrow Video 2017 blu-ray edition

Favourite Park Chan-wook is back with a South-
Korean film, the visually stunning drama thriller
The Handmaiden. Bizarre and enjoyable with
some very explicit lesbian lovemaking scenes

The Handmaiden - extended and theatrical cut (Agasshi)

Direction, co-script & production: Park Chan-wook, 2016

Cast: Kim Min-hee, Kim Tae-ri, Ha Jung-woo, Cho Jin-wong
Blu-ray in korean & japanese audio with english subtitles, region B
UK Curzon Artificial Eye 2 disc blu-ray edition

A Great psychological horror-thriller probably
unknown for westerners being made long before
the South Korean film explosion. A 19 year old
housemaid turns the life of a married couple into
smithereens ... and that creepy doll was nasty

Suddenly in the Dark

Direction: Go Yeong-nam, production: 1981

Cast: Kim Young-ae, Yoon Il-bong, Lee Ki-seon
Blu-ray in korean audio with english subtitles, region ALL
US Mondo Macabro 2017 blu-ray edition

Great mix of crime drama and media satire comedy
when a down on his luck TV station reporter makes
a big scoop getting info about a notorious serial
killer .... but, the info is fake though.
Roh Deok and Shin Su-won, some of South Korea's
very interesting female directors

The Exclusive: Beat the Devil's Tattoo

Direction & script: Roh Deok, production: 2015

Cast: Jo Jeong-seok, Lee mi-sook, Bae Seong-woo

Streaming video Netflix; korean audio with english subs

After The Chaser and The Yellow Sea Na has
another audience HIT movie with this Black Magic
horror. In a small countryside city strange deaths
occur and incompetent cop Jong-gu worries about
his little daughter. What about that japanese man?

The Wailing (Goksung)

Direction & script: Na Hong-jin, production: 2016

Cast: Kwak Do-won, Hwang Jung-min, Jun Kunimura
Blu-ray in korean audio with english subtitles, region A and B
US Well Go USA Entertainment 2016 blu-ray edition

Dark drama thriller about the Hospital of Evil and
the ways of the rich. Moon has just started her new
job in a hospital VIP ward where a comatose pregnant
woman is about to be murdered for a heart transplant
to a rich paralyzed old man. Shin's follow up to Pluto

Madonna + Circle Line (short film)

Direction & script: Shin Su-won, production: 2015

Cast: Seo Young-hee, Kwon So-hyun, Kim Young-min
DVD in korean audio with english subtitles, region 3
Korean EOS Entertainment 2016 edition

Great Fun! Bizarre comedy and tragic drama about
an unlucky married woman helplessly watching her
life whirling out of control. Looking for Cult status
and in the same unusual vein as A Bloody Aria.
Lee Jung-hyun is great as the poor Soo-nam

Alice in Earnestland

Direction & script: Ahn Gook-jin, production: 2015

Cast: Lee Jung-hyun, Seo Young-hwa, Lee Hae-young
DVD in korean audio with english subtitles, region 3
Korean Art Service 2016 edition

Hard-boiled indie crime drama, blacker than coal,
violent and bloody about street children being
exploited by a female crime boss, a loan shark and
an organ trafficker. Winner of a lot of film prizes
and with an interesting and intense pulse to it

Coin Locker Girl (Chinatown)

Direction: Han Jun-hee, production: 2015

Cast: Kim Go-eun, Kim Hye-soo, Lee Soo-kyung
DVD in korean audio with english subtitles, region 3
Korean Art Service 2016 edition

Fine comedy and melodrama with Na Moon-hee
in top form as a grumpy old lady who magically
turns into a 20 year old cutie, but stays grumpy
and foul-mouthed anyway. South Korea, masters
of making fine comedies about nothing really

Miss Granny

Direction: Hwang Dong-hyuk, production: 2014

Cast: Shim Eun-kyung, Na Moon-hee, Hwang Jeong-min
DVD in korean with english subtitles, region 3
Hong Kong Deltamac DVD edition

Girlschool drama turns horror-thriller. Beautifully
shot with a lot of atmosphere, but ... still trashy.
Quite enjoyable though. Epitaph meets Cracks,
minus a script. Something strange is going on at
the Gyeongseong Girlschool in 1938

The Silenced (Gyeongseong School: disappeared girls)

Direction & script: Lee Hae-young, production: 2014

Cast: Park Bo-young, Uhm Ji-won, Park So-dam
DVD in korean audio with english subtitles, region 3
Korean Lotte Entertainment 2016 edition

Impressive artmovie crime-drama and Neo-Noir about
a murder hunt and feelings between an undercover
cop and the perps girlfriend, an aging bar hostess.
The Hypnotic Yeon Do-yeon is Mindblowing and
gripping as the life-weary Kim Hye-kyung. Wow!

The Shameless (Moorwehan)

Direction & script: Oh Seung-uk, production: 2015

Cast: Yeon Do-yeon, Kim Nam-gil, Park Sung-woong
DVD in korean audio with english subtitles, region 3
Korean Art Service 2016 edition

Psychological crime thriller turned slasher about a
killer on the loose in an office building. Former child
actor prodigy Ko Ah-sung is phenomenal as the
harassed and unhappy intern in the Office from Hell.
This young actress certainly grew up well

Office

Direction and co-script: Hong Won-chan, production: 2015

Cast: Ko Ah-sung, Park Sung-woong, Ryo Hyun-kyung
DVD in korean audio with english subtitles, region 3
Korean KTH 2016 edition

Suspenseful crime-thriller with an intricate story
and with an ending twist. A police crime inspector
on his way to a glorious chief post promotion is
suddenly drawn into a killing and tries to hide the
evidence. South Korea, the masters of crime movies

The Chronicles of Evil

Direction & script: Baek Woon Hak, production: 2015

Cast:Son Hyun-joo, Don Lee, Daniel Choi
DVD in korean audio with english subtitles, region 3
Korean CJ Entertainment edition

A Very entertaining action comedy with a constant
chase and pace and K-Pop queen BoA in a
main role. MMA fighter Iko has to chase his
kidnapped brother and follow the rules of the Game
Popcorn Fun and everyone is having a good time

Big Match (Big Maechi)

Direction & co-script: Choi Ho, production: 2014

Cast: Lee Jeong-jae, Shin Ha-kyun, BoA
DVD in korean audio with english subtitles, region 3
Korean BK Pictures edition with cards

Gripping drama about the teenage school girl
Han Gong-ju doing a midterm change from
her school in Seoul to Incheon. Somehing bad
has happened to her and will she be able to
make a new start? Dark social commentary

Han Gong-Ju

Direction & script: Lee Su-jin, production: 2013

Cast: Chun Woo-hee, Jung In-sun, Kim So-young
Blu-ray in korean audio with english subs, region B
UK Third Window Films blu-ray edition

A talented and unusual indie high school thriller from
one of the future hopes of korean cinema, Shin Su-won.
An inhuman school system leads to nihilism and even
murder in a university prep school. Not the usual
high school horror and one of the most promising
south korean films i've seen in many years

Pluto (Myungwangsung)

Direction & script: Shin Su-won, production: 2013

Cast: Lee Da-wit/David, Sung Jun, Kim Kkobbi
Blu-ray in korean audio with english subs, region B
UK Third Window Films blu-ray edition

Nice North vs. South spy action-thriller where K-Pop
singer T.O.P. is impressive in the role of a young
northern spy camouflaged as a refugee.
Fights between north agents due to a power struggle
after the death of Kim Jung-il in december 2011

Commitment (Alumnis)

Direction: Park Hong-soo, production: 2013

Cast: Choi Seung-hyun TOP, Han ye-ri, Cho Sung-ha

Streaming video; korean audio with english subs

Stuntwoman Jo Joo-hyeon is great as detective Ha.
She's tough, sexy and grumpy in a quite cool and
enjoyably B-ish crime action. An obscure but still
Fun film and please, please, i want to see her again.
OK, i admit it, i'm in love with Jo Joo-hyeon

Lady Furious / The Beating Woman (Pae-neun Yeo-ja)

Direction: Kim Choon-sik, production: 2010-2012

Cast: Jo Joo-hyeon, Jeon Se-hong, Park Tae-seong
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean EOS Entertainment edition

Absolutely OK crime-action with a somewhat
unusual plot in the world of the board-game Go.
Some small time grifters/hoodlums are planning
a Heist against a big time gangster syndicate

The Divine Move

Direction: Jo Bum-gu, production: 2014

Cast: Jung Woo-sung, Lee Bum-soo, Ahn Sung-ki
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean KD Media edition

Very original romantic comedy where a harassed
advertising agency woman seeks the help from a
mysterious self-help video manual in her quest
for a boyfriend and a dream job
South Korean comedy rules

How To Use Guys With Secret Tips

Direction: Lee Won-suk, production: 2013

Cast: Lee Si-young, Oh Jung-se
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean D & C Entertainment edition

Song Kang-ho is great as the lawyer who
stood up against the military Junta in South
Korea during the 1980's. A lawyer and a tax
expert mostly interested in making money
becomes a fighter for democratic rights

The Attorney (Byeonhoin)

Direction: Yang Woo-seok, production: 2013

Cast: Song Kang-ho, Kim Young-ae, Oh Dai-su
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Hong Kong Edko Films edition

Wow! This was great and even better than the
Hong Kong original. A gorgeous looking crime-
thriller where a crime police surveillance unit
hunts the evil mastermind behind a series of
brutal robberies. High Tech action with pace

Cold Eyes

Direction: Jo Eui-suk, production: 2013

Cast: Han Hyo-joo, Seol Kyung-gu, Jung Woo-sung
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Hong Kong CN Entertainment edition

Bong Joon-ho's much talked about dystopian
Sci-Fi action about a future ice age where the
humanity or what's left of it has gathered on
an eternally moving train. Some love it and some
don't. At least it was interesting

Snowpiercer (Sulguk Yeolcha)

Direction: Bong Joon-ho, production: Park Chan-wook 2013

Cast: Chris Evans, Song Kang-ho, Go Ah-sung, Tilda Swinton
Blu-ray in english audio with some korean, swedish subs, region B
Svensk Noble Entertainment blu-ray edition

Lee Sung-gang (Lee Seong-kang) born in 1962

Enigmatic, pensive and beautiful artmovie drama.
Also a philosophical thriller ghost story with sex,
phantoms and sorrow. A Highly impressive and
deeply original "real" film debut feature from the
Korean master of animation. Gets into your head

Texture of Skin (Sal gyeol)

Direction: Lee Sung-gang, production: 2006

Cast: Kim Yoon-tae, Choi Bo-young
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Taewon Entertainment edition

GORGEOUS animation about the mythical folk tale
fox Kumiho from animation master Lee Sung Gang.
The film "straggles" with too many side stories and
may have borrowed some from Miyazaki, and it's
uneven for sure but still, I LOVE THIS FILM

Yobi the Five Tailed Fox (animation - Yeu woo bi)

Direction: Lee Sung-gang, produktion: 2006

Cast: Animation
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3 PAL
Thai J-Bics edition

Wonderful and prize winning animated feature
film, the directors first, about the magical summer
of two boys in a fishing village at the sea.
Uniquely own style compared with japanese anime

My Beutiful Girl, Mari (animation - Mari iyagi)

Direction: Lee Sung-gang, production: 2002

Cast: Animation (voices: i.a. Ahn Sung-ki )
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Hong Kong Mega Star edition

Animator Genius Lee mostly makes short films,
and some early are collected on this DVD, before
doing 3 feature films. All 3 near masterpieces but
underrated and sadly obscure, especially his 3rd
Texture of Skin. A Great filmmaker is silent ...

Lee Sung Gang Animation Collection

Direction: Lee Sung-gang, production: 1995-1998

Cast: Animation
DVD in korean audio without english subs, region 3
Korean KD Media edition

The Return of Jang Joon-hwan, the maker of the
modern korean film masterpiece Save the Green
Planet, after 10 years silence.
But, this slick crime-action-drama about a boy
growing up among murderers is NO masterpiece

Hwayi - A Monster Boy

Direction: Jang Joon-hwan, production: 2013

Cast: Yeo Jin-goo, Kim Yun-seok, Im Ji-eun
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean KD Media 2 disc edition

Great spy action-thriller and a huge blockbuster
Hit about a North-korean spy in Berlin.
Slick looking, violent and with lots of pace this
was great entertainment with popcorn potential

The Berlin File

Direction & script: Ryoo Seung-wan, production: 2013

Cast: Ha Jung-woo, Ryoo Seung-bum, Lee Geong-yeong
DVD in korean and english audio with english subs, region 3
Hong Kong Edko Films edition

A finely tuned and hailed by critics romantic drama.
Memories of a bitter love affair from the youth
resurfaces when an architect gets a surprise
project to work with. Just beautiful and great

Architecture 101

Direction: Lee Yong-soo, production: 2012

Cast: Uhm Tae-woong, Han Ga-in
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Hong Kong IVL edition

This hypnotically fascinating drama-thriller is not
just good, it's completely Mental. It's beyond good,
it's Interplanetary good, As Good as it Gets and a
Modern Korean Masterpiece. One of the wildest
and most inspired films this century

Save the Green Planet ! (Jigureul jikyeora!) - A Masterpiece

Direction & script: Jang Jun-hwan, production: 2003

Cast: Shin Ha-kyun, Baik Yun-shik, Hwang Jung-min
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 1
US Koch Lorber Films edition

3 stories and short films on a Sci Fi apocalyptic
theme. About a meat virus that turns people
into zombies, about a robot asking questions
about existance and being human, and the lovely
Bae Doo-na and a billiard ball shaped meteor

Doomsday Book

Direction: Kim Je-woon & Yim Pil-sung, production: 2012

Cast: Ryo Seung-bum, Ko Joon-he, Bae Doo-na
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Candle Media edition

Intense psychological thriller about a woman who
disappears shortly before her wedding. Gripping
and strong Feel Bad stuff. One of the better
films i've seen from Korea the latter years

Helpless

Direction: Byun Young-joo, production: 2012

Cast: Kim Min-hee, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Sung-ha
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Filament Pictures edition

Enjoyable blockbuster crime-thriller about
serial killings and a loose Murder Wolf
terrorizes the inhabitants of Seoul
Fun suspense for a popcorn evening

Howling

Direction & script: Yoo Ha, production: 2012

Cast: Song Kang-ho, Lee Na-young, Shin Jeong-kun
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean CJ Entertainment edition

The Charm of Ko Hyun-jung carries this
somewhat entertaining crime-comedy
where a woman with a lot of phobias is
mistaken for the Gangster Ms. Go 2

Miss Conspirator (Miss Go/Miss Go Project)

Direction: Park Chul-kwan, production: 2012

Cast: Ko Hyun-jung, Yoo hae-jin, Sung Dong-il
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region free
Thai STG Multimedia edition PAL

A Slow crime-drama where Song Kang-ho
impresses as usual and this time as a
enjoyer of life gangster who become friend
with young women Shin

Hindsight

Direction & script: Lee Hyun-seung, production: 2011

Cast: Song Kang-ho, Shin Se-kyung, Kim Min-jun
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region free
Thai STG Multimedia edition PAL

A strange but fascinating experiment filmed on a
couple of iPhones. Unforgettable short long film
that will haunt you for a long time after watching
it. Brilliant and arty who won the Golden Bear in
Berlin. What? What did i just see?
One of my favourite Park and South Korean films

Night Fishing (Paramanjang) - Forget Stoker and see this instead

Direction, script, production: Park Chan-wook/Park Chan-kyung 2011

Cast: Oh Kwang-rok, Lee Yung-jun
Youtube, in korean audio with english subs

Well made crime-drama where a celebrity lawyer
gets her daughter kidnapped, and she has to get
a man on death row freed and aquitted, otherwise
her daughter dies. Re-made in 2010 as No Mercy

Seven Days

Direction: Won Shin-yeon, production: 2007

Cast: Kim Yoon-jin, Kim Mi-sook, Park Hee-soon
DVD in korean audio with english subs, regionfri
US Virgil Films 2010 unrated edition

Pretty good crime-thriller where a blind ex-cop
are threatened by a serial killer.
Dolly the Dog shines in her canine part

Blind (Beulraindeu)

Direction: Ahn Sang-hoon, production: 2011

Cast: Kim Ha-neul, Yoo Seung-ho, Dolly - The Hero Dog
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region free
Thai STG Multimedia DVD edition

An intense and hailed crime-drama but very,
very un-comfortable and feel bad about
violence and rape against children in a school
for the mute. Braille writing on the sleeve

Silenced (Dokani/The Crucible)

Direction: Hwang Dong-hyuk, production. 2011

Cast: Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region free
Thai STG Multimedia DVD edition

Strong stuff this. Talented drama turns horror
about two young women, one from Seoul and
one from an isolated island harassed by the
islanders unhuman evil. Nasty and dark.

Bedevilled

Direction: Jang Chul-soo, production: 2010

Cast: Seo Young-hee, Ji Seong-won, Baek Su-ryeon
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region free
Korean DSMedia DVD edition + postcards in a plastic slip

Enjoyable romantic lightweight comedy based
on Edmond Rostands Cyrano de Bergerac från
1897. A Dating business are very serious in their
work getting their clients happy with the love life

Cyrano Agency (Sirano yeonae-jojakdan)

Direction: Kim Hyun-seok, production: 2010

Cast: Uhm Tae-wong, Rhe Min-jung, Daniel Choi, Park Chul-min
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region free
Thai STG Multimedia DVD edition

Na's follow up to his impressive The Chaser is a
somewhat enjoyable but pretty disappointing mix
of crime-drama, chase-thriller, slaughterhouse
violence and comedy. A mess really, but fun

The Yellow Sea

Direction & script: Na Hong-jin, production: 2010

Cast: Ha jung-woo, Kim Yoon-seok
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 2
Warner Brothers DVD edition

Slow burning brilliant crime-drama with a
fantastic Kim Hye-ja as an over-protective mother
sleuthing for a murderer. Masterful and one of the
best films yet from the very fine Bong Joon-ho

Mother (Madeo)

Direction & script: Bong Joon-ho, production: 2009

Cast: Kim Hye-ja, Won Bin
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 1
US Magnolia DVD edition

A fun conspiracy thriller with great pace,
where an ex-cop (what else) is suspected for
murder and gets drawn into a political corruption
scandal. Hey, ho, let's go, popcorn ahead

Troubleshooter (Haegyeolsa/Trapped)

Direction. Kwon Hyeok-jae, production: 2010

Cast: Seol Kyung-gu, Lee jung-jin, Oh Dal-su
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Thai J-Bics DVD edition

Portrait of a Woman with a brilliant Yun Jeong Hie
as 66 year old Yang and with lots and lots of
problems. But, No, sorry this time it didn't work
for me Master Lee. On the brink of falling into the
melodrama trap. Felt calculated and too tearful.
Don't be angry. I loved his Secret Sunshine, also
filled with misery and with whiffs from the grave

Poetry

Direction & script: Lee Chang-dong, production: 2010

Cast: Yun Jeong-hie, Lee Da-wit
DVD in korean audio with swedish subs, region 2
Swedish Folkets Bio DVD

Crime-thriller and murder mystery where a 2009
murder is connected to an unsolved murder case
in 1995, and the nasty killer is a threat to everyone
involved. The perp strikes again and again and
soon most people have been murdered

White Night

Direction: Park Shin-woo, production: 2009

Cast: Han Suk-kyu, Son Ye-jin, Lee Min-jung
DVD in korean audio with english subtitles, region 3
Korean Cinema Service 2 disc DVD edition

Korean spaghetti western from the 1930's
Manchuria where robbers hunt for a hidden
treasure somewhere. Tarantinoesque fluff.
A desperately unfunny action-comedy mess
from the once great Kim Je-woon

The Good, The Bad, The Weird

Direction & script: Kim Je-woon, production: 2009

Cast: Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun, Jung Woo-sung
Blu-ray in korean audio with swedish subtitles, region B
Swedish Njuta Films bluray edition

Another HUGE disappointment even though
film critics from the west went bananas. A luke-
warm reception in South Korea and there are some
fine acting and slick photo but not much else

The Housemaid (Hanyeo) - Re-make of Kim Ki-young's classic

Direction: Im Sang-soo, produktion: 2011

Cast: Jeon Do-yeon, Lee Jung-jae, Yun Yeo-jong
DVD in korean audio with swedish subs, region 2
Swedish Atlantic Rental DVD edition

Kim Ki-young

Kim Ki-young, en tidig mästare i sydkoreansk film
och inspiratör till senare generationers filmare.
Ulf Lönn presenterar Kim

Läs Ulf Lönn's presentation av Kim Ki-young här - följ länken

Classic thriller with Lee Eun-shim i the role as
the ultimate korean Femme Fatale.
Ulf Lönn har sett denna mycket omtalade och
legendariska klassiker. Läs mycket mer på
bildlänken

The Housemaid (Hanyeo)

Direction: Kim Ki-young, production: 1960

Cast: Lee Eun-shim, Kim Jin-kyu, Joo Jeung-nyu, Ahn Sung-ki
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
KOFA, Korean Film Archive edition

Kim's melodrama classic has been released in a
prestigious edition by the South Korean Film
Archive.
Ulf Lönns presentation av filmen på bildlänken

Yangsan Province (Yang-san-do/The Sunlit Path)

Direction: Kim Ki-young, production: 1955

Cast: Kim Sam-hwa, Cho Yong-soo, Park Am
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region free
KOFA, Korean Film Archive edition

Beautiful youth drama after a literary classic
who became something of a icon within the
South Korean popular culture.
Ulf Lönn har sett filmen.
Läs mer på bildlänken

The Shower (Sonagi)

Direction: Ko Young-nam, production: 1978

Cast: Lee Young-soo, Cho Yoon-sook, Kang Kye-sik
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region free
KOFA, Korean Film Archive edition

Ulf Lönn has seen the historical erotic drama
Eoudong with the beautiful Lee Bo-hee
Läs mer på bildlänken

Eoudong

Direction: Lee Jang-ho, production: 1985

Cast: Lee Bo-hee, Ahn Sung-ki, Park Won-suk, Kim Myung-kon
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Spectrum edition

In his 9th film Hong is joyosly filled with irony
over his own life. He tells us about a director of
artmovies visiting a film festival, and surprise ....
there's talking, drinking, eating and fucking.
But as always, his films has got some charm

Like You Know it All (Jal aljido mothamyeonseo)

Direction: Hong Sang-soo, production: 2009

Cast: Kim tae-woo, Uhm Ji-won, go Hyun-jung
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3 PAL
Thai J-Bics edition

Entertaining but a little trashy Wild Boar horror
action-thriller-catastrophe movie something
when a gigantic wildboar attacks a peaceful
mountain village. Finally, a south korean
Razorback movie

Chaw

Direction: Shin Jeong-won, production: 2009

Cast: Uhm Tae-woong, Jang Hang-sun, Yun Je-mun
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Thai J-Bics edition

Dark, brilliant crime thriller about a bum ex-cop
and a pimp searching for one of his girls, who
has became a victim for a nasty serial killer.
Kim Yoon Suk is unforgettable as Jung-ho.
One of the best korean crime-thrillers EVER

The Chaser (Chugyeok-ja)

Direction: Na Hong-jin, production: 2008

Cast: Kim Yun-seok, Ha Jung-woo
DVD in korean with english subs, region 3
Korean Premier Showbox 2 disc Limited Digipak edition

Kong is great as the very unpopular and eccentric
teacher Mi-sook in a likewise slightly eccentric
comedy produced by Park Chan-wook.
The debut feature for director Lee

Crush and Blush (Misseu Hongdangmoo)

Direction: Lee Kyung-mi, production: Park Chan-wook 2008

Cast: Kong Hyo-jin, Lee Jong-hyuk, Seo Woo
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Thai J-Bics edition

The Lovely and immensely talented actress
Jeon Do Yeon in a drama about a debt
Ulf Lönn har sett filmen, läs mer på bildlänken

My Dear Enemy (Meotjin haru)

Direction: Lee Yoon-ki, production: 2008

Cast: Jeon Do-yeon, Ha Jung-woo
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Premier Entertainment edition

Unusual fairytale horror and fantasy where a
man lost in the woods meets 3 cute kids living
on their own in a big house, and they really,
really wants a daddy. There's no way out of
the woods anyway, so .... better be a nice daddy

Hansel and Gretel

Direction: Yim Phil-sung, production: 2008

Cast: Chun Jeong-myong, Eun Won-jae, Shim Eun-kyung
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean CJ Entertainment-Bear 2 disc edition

Crime-comedy about 4 women chasing their
savings who has got stolen from them by the
grifter/criminal Sung or The Bitch. Paperthin
story but a funny female Buddy movie

Girl Scouts - Korea, masters of funny comedies about nothing

Direction: Kim Sang-man, production: 2008

Cast: Kim Sun-ah, Lee Kyung-sil, Ko Joon-hee, Na Moon-hee
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3 PAL
Thai Rose Media edition

Masterpiece! Gripping drama filled with sorrow and
performed by 2 fantastic actors, Song Kang-ho and
the sublimely talented Jeon Do-yeon.
The old maestro Lee is back with a Big Bang.
Stringent but still sensitive and not tearful

Secret Sunshine (Miryang)

Direction & co-script: Lee Chang-dong, production: 2007

Cast: Jeon Do-yeon, Song Kang-ho, Seon Jeong-yeob
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Art Service 2 disc Limited edition

Lee Chang-dong, en sydkoreansk mästare. Ulf Lönn
från Portland Street skriver kort om El Maestro

Läs Ulf Lönn's presentation av Lee Chang-dong här - följ länken

Im Kwon-taek, ännu en sydkoreansk filmmästare.
Ulf Lönn från Portland Street skriver om Der
Altmeister och hans många filmer

Im Kwon-taek, lite av en gigant i hemlandet om inte rentav Mr. Koreansk Film
Läs Ulf Lönn's fina presentation av Im Kwon-taek här - följ länken

(och läs om hans gangstertrilogi längst ner på denna sida)

Gory military horror where a massacre has
taken place at an isolated border guard post
in the de-militarized zone. A sequel to R-Point
from 2004. OK popcorn fun but not more

The Guard Post (GP 506)

Direction: Kong Su-chang, production: 2008

Cast: Choi Kyoo-hwang, Chun Ho-jin, Ko Byong-cheol
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean KD Media 2 disc edition

Fun romantic comedy where some enjoyably
odd couple fall in love even though their
terrible parents do everything to sabotage
their marriage. Well, the title give us the spoiler

Unstoppable Marriage

Direction: Kim Seong-wook, production: 2007

Cast: Ha Seok-jin, Yoo Jin, Kim Soo-mi
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3 PAL
Thai J-Bics edition

Amazingly dreamlike and visually stunning
horror-drama about spirit manifestations in
a korean hospital during the japanese occu-
pation in 1942

Epitaph (Gidam)

Direction& script: The Jung Brothers, production: 2007

Cast: Jin Ku, Kim Tae-woo, Lee Dong-gyu
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean SM Pictures Limited 2 disc Digipak edition

Intense horror-thriller about an insurance
agent meeting the client from hell.
Based on a japanese novel

Black House (Geomeun Jip)

Direction: Shin Terra, production: 2007

Cast: Hwang Jung-min, Yoo Sun
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Bear-CJ Entertainment edition

A completely different and hypnotically
fascinating thriller that rocked the world on it's
release. The big jury prize in Cannes 2004 to the
then, at that moment, most exciting director in
the world Park Chan-wook

Old Boy

Direction & script: Park Chan-wook, production: 2003

Cast: Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae, Kang Hye-jeong
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Starmax 2 disc edition

Den internationella succéen, en sydkoreanskt
kul klurig mix på monsterfilm, drama och komedi.
Läs Ulf Lönn's recension av filmen
läs mer på bildlänken

The Host

Direction: Bong Joon-ho, production: 2006

Cast: Song Kang-ho, Bae Doo-na
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 1
US Magnolia edition

A VERY offbeat sex-comedy musical-high
school satire with gorgeous colors and based
on a Comic. Visually sensational and inspired
lunacy from the director of Untold Scandal

Dasepo Naughty Girls

Direction & script: E J Yong/Lee Jae-yong, production: 2006

Cast: Kim Ok-bin, Park Jin-woo
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean HB Entertainment 2 disc edition

A suspenseful enough crime thriller where a
slick prosecuter and a rowdy cop makes a buddy
couple fighting against a mob crime lord
Fine soundtrack by the great Kenji Kawai

Running Wild (Yasu)

Direction: Kim Sung-soo, production: 2006

Cast: Joo Yi-tae, Kwan Sang-soo, Son Byung-ho
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean KD Media 2 disc edition

Trashy B-ish but still funny highschool comedy
where a new transfer student in class is believed to
be the legendary and dangerous fighter 7 Cutter.
Absolute nonsense in the style of "See You after
School" but entertaining popcorn fun

The Legend of Seven Cutter

Direction: Kwon Nam-gi, production: 2006

Cast: Ahn Jae-mo, Yun Eun-hye
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region free
Hong Kong Sky Entertainment edition

Brilliant, brutal and surprisingly funny in a
delightfully bizarre psycho drama, where
two big city people lost out in the country
meets very violence proned psycho locals

A Bloody Aria (Guta yubalja deul)

Direction: Won Sin-yeon, production: 2006

Cast: Lee Moon-sik, Oh Dal-soo, Han Seok-you)
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Bear 2 disc edition

Lots and lots of cool fighting in Korean style
in a very stylized crime drama with some vibes
of Tarantino and spaghetti western. Taekwondo
moves en masse from fighting master Jung Doo
Hung. Style over substance in a Tofu western

The City of Violence

Direction: Ryu Seung-wan, production: 2006

Cast: Jung Doo-hong, Ryu Seung-wan, Lee Beom-soo
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Bear 2 disc edition

Sad, sad melodrama love story about the great
love of Jo-kang for the secretful girl Ari.
Ari's played by the lovely Kang hye-jeong from
Old Boy and Welcome to Dongmakgol

Love Phobia

Direction: Kang Ji-eun, production: 2006

Cast: Kang Hye-jeong, Cho Seung-woo, Kang Shin-il
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Cinema Service 2 disc edition

A huge comedy hit in South Korea that tells us
the story about a weak loser of a man who starts
a relation with a very attractive but very scary
woman. Yes, the koreans can make a film comedy
out of virtually nothing, and make it work

My Scary Girl (Dalkom salbyeorhan yeonin)

Direction : Son Jae-gon, production: 2006

Cast: Choi Gang-hee, Park Yong-woo
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean CJ Entertainment 2 disc edition

A pretty good and somewhat unusual crime
drama about a prison escape in 1988 and a
story that is based on true events

Holiday

Direction: Yang Yoon-ho, production: 2006

Cast: Lee Sung-jae, Choi Min-soo
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean KD Media 2 disc edition

High School comedy where the walking catastrophe
Dal starts in his new school and immediately by
accident happens to challenge the School bully
no. 1, and yes, the title say it

See You After School

Direction: Lee Seok-hoon, production: 2006

Cast: Bong Tae-gyu, Kim Tae-hyun, Jeong Gu-yeon
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Enter One 2 disc edition

Visually beautiful and expertly made drama-comedy
historian style about a writer at the korean royal
court who suddenly starts a career as a
pornographer. This underrated film was released
also in a HUGE Limited edition with a book

Forbidden Quest

Direction & script: Kim Dae-woo, production: 2006

Cast: Han Suk-gyu, Lee Beum-soo, Kim Min-jung
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean CJ Entertainment 2 disc Limited edition with a book

Three short stories in more humour orientated
horror style. A Schoolboy is a vampire, a parody
homage to martial arts and a horror one about
a serial killer breaking into a house

Ssunday Seoul

Direction: Park Sung-hoon, production: 2006

Cast: Bong Tae-gyu, Kim Su-hyeon, Park Seong-bin
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Cinema Service edition

A totally charming, delightfully bizarre and
romantic melodrama with the phenomenal
actress and my personal favourite Jeon Do-yeon
What a strange film. Just capitulate for her Art

You Are My Sunshine

Direction: Park Jin-pyo, production: 2005

Cast: Jeon Do-yeon, Hwang Jun-min, Na Moon-hee
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Hong Kong Asia Video edition

The Third and last film in Park's Revenge
series - The Revenge Trilogy and a decade later
considered as a concept and a part of film history.
This time told from a womans point of view and
visually gorgeous

Sympathy For Lady Vengeance

Direction: Park Chan-wook, production: 2005

Cast: Lee Young-ae, Choi Min-sik, Kim Si-hu
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean CJ Entertainment Bear 2 disc edition

6 directors on the theme Human Rights including
Park Chan-wook's brilliant documentary style
short film NEPAL (Never Ending Peace & Love)
about the unfortunes of a poor nepalese female
guest worker in South Korea. One of his Best

If You Were Me (6 short films) with Park's beautiful NEPAL

Direction: Park Chan-wook, Yeo Kyun-dong, Yim Soon-rye, Park
Jin-pyo, Jeong Jae-eun, Park Kwang-su, production: 2003

DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Wision edition

South Korean artmovie auteur Hong's 6th film
a meta drama about relations that competed in
the Cannes film festival in 2006.
I guess people talk a lot, eat a lot, drink a lot
and fuck a lot like in an intellectual french film

A Tale of the Cinema (Geukjang-jeon)

Direction: Hong Sang-soo, production: 2005

Cast: Kim Sang-kyung, Uhm Ji-won, Lee Ki-woo
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Woo Sung edition

Animated short films on the theme of Human
Rights:
Daydream, Animal Farm, At Her House,
The Flesh & Bone, Bicycle trip
Be a Human Being

If You Were Me (animation)

Direction: Yoo Ji-nee, Kwon Oh-sung, Amy Lee, Lee Sung-gang,
Park Jae-dong, production: 2005

DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean KD Media edition

Kul action-komedi där en ilsken kvinnlig polis
tvingas gå under-cover som skolflicka i jakt
på en tjallare. Kim Seon-ah is lovely as the
grumpy police woman

She's On Duty

Direction: Park Kwang-choon, production: 2005

Cast: Kim Seon-ah, Gong Yoo, Nam Sang-mi
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Bear Spectrum 2 disc edition

Very good and stringently told drama-thriller
about the murder in 1979 of South Korean
dictator Park. With Baek Yun-sik from Save the
Green Planet and the Amazing indie favourite
singer Yun Ah-kim from Jaurim in a decent role

The President's Last Bang

Direction: Im Sang-soo, production: 2005

Cast: Baek Yoon-sik/Baik Yun-shik, Han Seok-gyu
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean KD Media 2 disc edition

Brilliant, intense andviolent crime action about
the gangster and ruthless killer Sun-woo from
the great film director Kim Je-woon.
But, this was the last great film by Kim Je woon,
sorry, but that's my opinion. The ideas ebbed

A Bittersweet Life (Dalkomhan insaeng)

Direction & script: Kim Je-woon, production: 2005

Cast: Lee Byung-heon, Kim Young-cheol, Shin Min-ah
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean CJ Entertainment 2 disc edition

Vackert och meditativt stillsamt drama om ett
udda par på fiske-båt, Kim Ki Duk's 12:e film.
En av hans mindre populära filmer För lite bisarra
upptåg för de västerländska intellektuella kanske?
R.I.P. Kim Ki-duk 1960-december 2020 covid-19

The Bow (Hwal)

Direction: Kim Ki-duk, production: 2005

Cast: Jeong Sung-hwan, Han Yeo-reum, Seo Ji-seok
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean KD Media edition

A very good but also very SAD triangle crime-
drama where a policeman are investigating
murder and are having troublesome relations.
The Last film of the talented and beautiful
Lee Eun-joo who sadly committed suicide

The Scarlet Letter

Direction: Daniel H. Byun, production: 2004

Cast: Han Suk-gyu, Lee Eun-joo, Sung Hyun-ah
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Bear Spectrum 2 disc edition

Koreas artmovie maestro om 2 vänner som
besöker en ex-flickvän. Ja, ni vet hur det blir
väl. Antar att det pratas, äts, krökas och gökas.
LE med original soundtrack CD och en filmremsa .

Women is the Future of Man

Direction : Hong Sang-soo, production: 2004

Cast: Yu Ji-tae, Kim Tae-woo, Seong Hyun-ah
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Bear Limited edition + 35 mm film clip

Stylized and entertaining martial arts action with
the MA fighter Jung Doo-hung in a film created
by the director of the 2002 "No Blood, No Tears",
The City of Violence and the 2013 "The Berlin
File"

Arahan

Direction: Ryu Seung-wan, production: 2004

Cast: Ryu Seung-bum, Jung Doo-hong, Yoon So-yi
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Cinema Service 2 disc edition

Idiosyncratic Kim about a girl lured into prostitution
Dark and disturbing (as usual) and awarded with the
Silver Bear in Berlin for best direction.
Limited edition with original ST CD
R.I.P. Kim Ki-duk 1960-december 2020 due to covid-19

Samaria (Samaritan Girl)

Direction: Kim Ki-duk, production: 2003

Cast: Kwak Je-min, Seo Min-jung, Lee Eol
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Starmax Limited numbered edition

Serenely beautiful and peaceful and probably
my favourite film from Kim Ki-duk.
This film about a man that becomes a buddhist
monk told in tableaux of the seasons.
R.I.P. Kim Ki-duk 1960-december 2020 covid-19

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring

Direction: Kim Ki-duk, production: 2003

Cast: Kim Young-min, Seo Jae-Kyung, Kim Ki-duk
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Bitwin edition

Atmospheric, visually beautiful and enigmatic
fairy taleish horror about a house, 2 sisters and
a stepmother. From the director of favourites as
The Foul King and Quiet Family, Kim Je-woon

A Tale of Two Sisters (Janghwa, hongryeon)

Direction & script: Kim Jee-woon, production: 2003

Cast: Im Su-jeong, Moon Geung-yeong, Yeom Jeong-ah
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Metro 2 disc edition

A Slow burning, coldly beautiful and very well
acted psychological drama-horror with intense
feelings of feel bad and dread. Jeon Ji-hyun as
the traumatized Yun. A Much Underrated film

The Uninvited

Direction: Lee Soo-youn, production: 2003

Cast: Jeon Ji-hyun, Park Shin-kang
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Hong Kong Panorama Entertainment edition

A gorgeous highly stylized love drama from
the 18th century Korea based on Dangereuse
Liasons. The Huge limited edition box included
a book with paintings from the picture.
Yong who later made the eccentric but great
Dasepo Naughty Girls, a unique strange film

Untold Scandal

Direction and script: E J Yong, production: 2003

Cast: Bae Young-jun, Lee Mi-suk, Jeon Do-yun
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean CJ Entertainment 2 disc Limited box edition

Bong's second film after Barking Dogs Never Bite
is a brilliant crime-drama based on a famous
real life criminal case of serial killings in 1986-1991
Film of the Year in South Korea. A Film each 3 year
and Bong don't know how to flop yet

Memories of Murder (Salinui chueok)

Direction and co-script: Bong Joon-ho, production: 2003

Cast: Song Kang-ho, Kim Sang-kyung, Park No-shik
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 1, 3
Korean CJ Entertainment 2 disc edition

Romantic comedy where the talented and lovely
favourite Bae Doo-na believes that she gets love
messages in library books and then searches for
the culprit, the lover. Fun fluffy fluff stuff

Spring Bears Love

Direction: Yong Yi, production: 2003

Cast: Bae Doo-na, Kim Nam-jin, Yoon Ji-hye
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3 PAL
Thai Seahorse Entertainment edition

En väldigt snygg animerad Sci-Fi action om
jorden efter katastrofen och som tog hela 7 år
att göra och som kostade en förmögenhet.
Snyggt visuellt men helt ointressant handling

Wonderful Days (Wondeopul-deijeu)

Direction: Kim Moon-Saeng, production: 2003

Cast: Animated film
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Bitwin 2 disc edition

Ulf Lönn har sett dramat Lover's Concerto.
Välgjort och välspelat med bl a Lee Eun-joo
the lovely actress that tragically committed
suicide February 22 - 2005

Lover's Concerto (Yeonae-soseol)

Direction: Lee Han, production: 2002

Cast: Cha Tae-hyun, Lee Eun-joo, Son Ye-jin, Moon Geun-young
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Enter One limited edition + soundtrack CD

Sadly obscure but a really great comedy
with big favourite and cult actress Bae Doo-na
as the ex-volleyball player housewife out in
the Seoul nightlife to save her kidnapped
husband. Impossible to find this on a DVD?

Saving My Hubby (Gutse eora geumsuna)

Direction: Hyun Nam-seop, production: 2002

Cast: Bae Doo-na, Kim Tae-woo
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region free
Thai edition

Cool, hipster-cool á la Tarantino-Richie and a bit
dated today maybe (2015) but still great fun when
everyone incl. a singer and a taxidriver are hunting
a bag with money. Should re-watch this i guess

No Blood, No Tears (Pido nunmuldo opsi)

Direction: Ryu Seung-wan, production: 2002

Cast: Lee Mi-suk, Kim Seong-je
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Cinema Service edition

Masterful drama about the relation between
two outcasts of the South Korean society, a
women with cerebral palsy and an ex-prisoner.
Intense who won the Gold Lion in Venice 2002

Oasis (Oasiseu)

Direction & script: Lee Chang-dong, production: 2002

Cast: Seol Kyung-gu, Moon So-ri
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean CJ Entertainment 2 disc edition

Mörkt, intensivt kriminal-drama om en tvekamp
mellan yuppie-mördare och en enkel snut.
Gyeong-gu är lysande som nerdekad polis

Public Enemy

Direction: Kang Wu-seok, production: 2002

Cast: Seol Kyung-gu, Lee Seong-jae, Gi Ju-bong
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Cinema Service 2 disc edition

Provocerande "kärleks" -drama
där våldsman gör kvinna till slav och hora.
Mycket obehagligt och Carola sjunger en
psalm ovanpå detta. Yes, Swedish Carola
R.I.P. Kim Ki-duk 1960 - december 2020 covid-19

Bad Guy (Nappeun namja)

Direction: Kim Ki-duk, production: 2002

Cast: Jo Jae-hyoun, Seo Won
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean CJ Entertainment edition

Kriminalkomedi där tre ungdomar får en säck
med pengar och en tjuv ner-dimpande på sin
bil. De snor wonen och jakten är igång

Make it Big

Direction: Joh Ui-seok, production: 2002

Cast: Song Seung-heon, Lee Bum-soo, Kwon Sang-woo
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region free
Thai Mangpong edition

Ulf Lönn har sett Jin-ho's drama One Fine Spring Day
läs mer på bildlänken

One Fine Spring Day (Bomnareun ganda)

Direction: Hur Jin-ho, production: 2001

Cast: Yoo Ji-tae, Lee Young-ae, Baek Sung-hee
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Honh Kong Universe edition

Underhållande Sci-Fi kung fu action.
Bråkstaken Kim relegeras och hamnar i
värstingskolan Volcano High

Volcano High (Hwasan-go)

Direction: Kim Tae-gyun, production: 2001

Cast: Jang Hyuk, Shin Min-ah, Kim Soo-rooi
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Cinema Service 2 disc edition

Kanske min favoritfilm av Kim Ki-duk som här
är fortsatt upprörande i drama om mänskliga
vrakspillror i Korea-krigets efterföljd.
R.I.P Kim Ki-duk 1960 - december 2020 covid-19

Address Unknown

Direction: Kim Ki-duk, production: 2001

Cast: Yang Dong-kun, Park Min-jung, Jo Jae-hyun
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Enter One 2 disc edition

Fascinerande obehagligt om ung kvinna som
servar fisketurister på många vis.
Drama, skräck och erotik.
Art-horror med oförglömlig krokscen, urrk

The Isle (Seom)

Direction: Kim Ki-duk, production: 2001

Cast: Suh Jung, Jae Hyun-cho, Jang Hang-seon
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Hong Kong Universe edition

Cult comedy and Mega Hit all around Asia and
with fans in the west too. At the front of the
Korean film wave that swept the world for some
years. A Student helps a drunk but beautiful
girl and much melancholic romance chaos enfolds.
Everyone fell in love with Jeon Ji-hyeun

My Sassy Girl (Yeopkijeogin geunyeo) Directors Cut

Direction: Kwak Jae-yong, production: 2001

Cast: Cha Tae-hyun, Jeon Ji-hyun
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Hong Kong Edko Films edition

Kvinnlig gangster lovar sin döende syster
att gifta sig.
Originell kul komedi i den koreanska jo-pok
genren och som väl kommer i US Re-make.

My Wife is a Gangster (Jopok manura)

Direction: Jo Jin-gyu, production: 2001

Cast: Shin Eun-kyung, Ahn Jae-mo, Park Sang-Myeon
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Bear 2 disc edition

Artmovie auteuren Hong Sang-soo's 3e film
är ett romantiskt artmovie triangel drama
inspelat i svart och vitt. Med fina Lee-Eun joo
OMG she was beautiful, but such a tragic life

Virgin Stripped Bare By Her Bachelors (O! Sujeong)

Direction: Hong Sang-soo, production: 2000

Cast: Moon Seong-keun, Jeung Bo-seok, Lee Eun-joo
DVD in korean audio with english subs, b & w, region 3
Korean Spectrum edition

The Harrassed anti-hero looser bankman
played by Song Kang-ho wants to impress
his bossy boss and becomes the wrestler
bad guy (and looser) The Foul King.
A funny and uniquely whimsical comedy from
Kim when he couldn't do anything wrong

The Foul King (Banchik-wang)

Direction & script: Kim Jee-woon, production: 2000

Cast: Song Kang-ho, Chang Jin-young
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region free
Korean Spectrum edition

Vackert övernaturligt drama från Whispering
Corridors regissören där en man tar hand om en
15 årig flicka som tappat minnet och visar sig
besitta skrämmande krafter

Secret Tears (Bimil)

Direction: Park Ki-hyung, production: 2000

Cast: Cho Seung-woo, Kim Mi-jo
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Spectrum edition

A Sensual and visually enthralling High
School horror-drama about love between
teenage girls and suicides in school.
Brilliant and sensual and quite unusual
for the genre

Memento Mori (Yeogo-goedam dubeonje iyagi)

Direction: Kim Tae-yong, production: 2000

Cast: Park Ye-jin, Lee Young-jin, Kim Min-sun
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Spectrum edition

Dramathriller om en incident i gränszonen
mellan Syd- och nordkorea. Välgjort snyggt från
den blivande mästaren Park Chan-wook med
briljante Song Kang-ho i en av huvudrollerna.
Mainstream thriller innan Park lossade alla sina
förankringar och förnyade den sydkoreanska
filmkonsten med sin Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance

Joint Security Area (Gongdong-gyungbi-guyeok)

Direction: Park Chan-wook, production: 2000

Cast: Lee Yeong-ae, Song Kang-ho
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region free
Hong Kong Modern edition

Experimentellt nollbudget kriminaldrama om
en mördare som följs av en kamera.
Från alltid eller oftast intressante Kim Ki-duk.

Real Fiction

Direction: Kim Ki-duk, production: 2000

Cast: Joo Jin-mo, Kim Jin-a, Kim Ki-yeon
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region free
Korean JMI edition

Astounding debut feature film from Koreas
future artmovie master auteur Hong Sang Hoo.
Parallell stories and a korean version of Short
Cuts that i liked a lot. My favourite film from
Hong who later made umpty of films about
people talking, eating, drinking and fu--ing

The Day A Pig Fell Into The Well

Director: Hong Sang-soo, production: 1996

Cast: Kim Yui-seong, Park Jin-sung, Lee Eun-kyung
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Marvel Entertainment edition

Fartfylld mainstream popcorn action om
jakten på nordkoreanska terrorister som slog
alla kassarekord i Sydkorea.
With Kim Yun-jin from i.a. TV series Lost

Shiri

Direction: Kang Je-gyu, production: 1999

Cast: Choi Min-shik, Song Kang-ho, Kim Yun-jin
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Hong Kong Edko Films edition

Absolutely brilliant and wonderfully offbeat
cult comedy feature film debut about a guest-
house in the country mountains who has a
big problem with dying guests. Underrated and
somewhat obscure which was re-made in a quirky
wild version by the talented Takashi Miike

The Quiet Family (Joyonghan gajok/Choy onghan kajok)

Direction & script: Kim Je-woon, production: 1998

Cast: Choi Min-shik, Song Kang-ho, Lee Yun-seong
DVD in korean with english subs, region 3
Korean Myung edition

A romantic drama in the melodrama style that at
the end of the 1990's started the South Korean
Film Wave and conquered Asia.

Documentary, music video and trailer

Christmas in August

Direction: Hur Jin-ho, production: 1998

Cast: Han Suk-gyu, Shim Eun-ha
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region free
Korean Daewoori edition

Im Kwon Taek's episka gangstersaga om
Kim Doo Han och hans brottsbana under den
japanska ockupationen har martial arts mästaren
Jung Doo-hong i en tidig roll. Massor av fighting
i koreansk taekwondo stil

The General's Son Trilogy (Jang goon eui a-deul)

Direction: Im Kwon-taek, production: 1990-1992

Cast: Park Sang-min, Jung Doo-hong
DVD in korean audio with english subs, region 3
Korean Taewon 3 disc edition

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