Outside of the United States cinema, Korean cinema is my favorite. I've yet to come across a film I haven't enjoyed yet. Of course that's because what's suggested to me has already been sifted through all the crap. While I'm sure South Korean cinema has some turds, I've yet to come across any. Below are five of the movies I deem "must see," that have come out the past five years. Enjoy!
Memories of Murder
Memories of Murder is by far my favorite Korean film by my favorite living director, Bong Joon-ho and stars one of my favorite actors, Song Kang-ho. The events in the film are based on real life. There is a great bit of social commentary going on in the movie as well. The way the cops are portrayed and how the citizens react to them are all what has been going on in South Korea. It's suspenseful and keeps you guessing throughout. Memories of Murder is a stunningly beautiful film to look at. One aspect of movie making that gets overlooked quite often is how a shot is staged. Memories of Murder does an amazing job of that.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0353969/
Mother
Mother is another film by Bong Joon-ho. It's a tale of a mother who tries to find out who framed her challenged son for a murder. The lengths she goes are only limited by her age. As with Memories of Murder, Joon-ho continues with his social commentary while telling an awesome story, and, once again, the cinematography is beautiful.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1216496/
I Saw The Devil
I Saw The Devil is the best revenge movie I've ever seen. Yes, even better than Deathwish. It's an unrelenting train ride of brutality that doesn't ever stop. It's not for those who don't like blood. The movie is brutal; one of the most brutal movies I've ever seen. How far is too far when you're on one side of the law and your target is on the other? Based on I Saw The Devil, there is no "too far."
www.imdb.com/title/tt1588170/
The Chaser
Cop turns pimp turns detective, that's The Chaser. Like Memories of Murder and Mother, The Chaser has an undertone of social commentary in it. In this case, it's between police forces and the police forces trying to save face at any cost. Oh yeah, there's the whole thing about a serial killer roaming around killing prostitutes. It's a really good crime movie that rivals anything that's come out domestically in the past decade and probably longer.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1190539/
The Yellow Sea
The Yellow Sea is Na Hong-jin's second film on this list with The Chaser being his other. In the same vein as The Chaser, The Yellow Sea is about investigating and trying to find answers. A down on his luck Gu-nam is approached by mobsters who ask him to carry out a single deed to clear him of all of his debts. Lucky, or unluckily, for him, they want him to go to South Korea. South Korea just happens to be the place where his wife went to look for work but has never been heard from again. The Chaser is a nice character piece that can be confusing at times, but, after a second viewing, it becomes more accessible. Either way, it's a good film to watch.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1230385/
Memories of Murder
Memories of Murder is by far my favorite Korean film by my favorite living director, Bong Joon-ho and stars one of my favorite actors, Song Kang-ho. The events in the film are based on real life. There is a great bit of social commentary going on in the movie as well. The way the cops are portrayed and how the citizens react to them are all what has been going on in South Korea. It's suspenseful and keeps you guessing throughout. Memories of Murder is a stunningly beautiful film to look at. One aspect of movie making that gets overlooked quite often is how a shot is staged. Memories of Murder does an amazing job of that.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0353969/
Mother
Mother is another film by Bong Joon-ho. It's a tale of a mother who tries to find out who framed her challenged son for a murder. The lengths she goes are only limited by her age. As with Memories of Murder, Joon-ho continues with his social commentary while telling an awesome story, and, once again, the cinematography is beautiful.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1216496/
I Saw The Devil
I Saw The Devil is the best revenge movie I've ever seen. Yes, even better than Deathwish. It's an unrelenting train ride of brutality that doesn't ever stop. It's not for those who don't like blood. The movie is brutal; one of the most brutal movies I've ever seen. How far is too far when you're on one side of the law and your target is on the other? Based on I Saw The Devil, there is no "too far."
www.imdb.com/title/tt1588170/
The Chaser
Cop turns pimp turns detective, that's The Chaser. Like Memories of Murder and Mother, The Chaser has an undertone of social commentary in it. In this case, it's between police forces and the police forces trying to save face at any cost. Oh yeah, there's the whole thing about a serial killer roaming around killing prostitutes. It's a really good crime movie that rivals anything that's come out domestically in the past decade and probably longer.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1190539/
The Yellow Sea
The Yellow Sea is Na Hong-jin's second film on this list with The Chaser being his other. In the same vein as The Chaser, The Yellow Sea is about investigating and trying to find answers. A down on his luck Gu-nam is approached by mobsters who ask him to carry out a single deed to clear him of all of his debts. Lucky, or unluckily, for him, they want him to go to South Korea. South Korea just happens to be the place where his wife went to look for work but has never been heard from again. The Chaser is a nice character piece that can be confusing at times, but, after a second viewing, it becomes more accessible. Either way, it's a good film to watch.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1230385/
