Month: March 2024

Today’s quick review: Missing. Lee Ji-sun (Uhm Ji-won), a working mother, has her hands full with her career and a bitter custody battle with her ex-husband Jang Jin-hyuk (Go Jun). During the day, she leaves her daughter Da-eun (Seo Ha-nui) with Han-mae (Gong Hyo-jin), a Chinese nanny. But when Lee comes home to find Han-mae and Da-eun missing, she begins a desperate search for them, in the process uncovering dark secrets from Han-mae’s past.

Missing is a Korean mystery about a mother trying to find her missing child. Lee Ji-sun follows a thin trail of clues to piece together who Han-Mae really was and what happened to Da-eun. Missing plays its cards well, opening with the mundane drama of Lee’s life and gradually ratcheting up the tension until the finale. Resonant acting and a strong plot progression make the movie a worthwhile pick for anyone in the mood for something darker.

Missing handles its mystery with skill. The question of what happened to Da-eun drives the plot and keeps the tension high, but the movie sprinkles in smaller questions about Han-mae’s identity that are tantalizing in their own right. Each revelation sheds a little more light on the situation while making the facts of the case more grim. The result is a gut-wrenching puzzle that becomes more captivating as it comes together.

Missing will not suit everyone. Its slow start, dark tone, and highly personal stakes will frustrate some viewers. But for viewers with a taste for uneasy situations and tragedy, Missing offers a well-crafted mystery that delivers on its premise.

For a dramatic mystery about a kidnapped child, try Changeling or Gone Baby Gone. For a crime thriller about a woman’s dark secrets, try Gone Girl. For an offbeat dramatic comedy about a missing baby’s journey home, try Tokyo Godfathers.

[6.5 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6292996/). I give it a 7.0 for a tight plot and effective drama.

Today’s quick review: No Tomorrow. After a mentally handicapped man is found at sea showing signs of abuse, reporter Lee Hae-ri (Park Hyo-joo) and her cameraman Seok-hoon (Lee Hyun-wook) travel to a remote island to investigate the salt farm where he worked. There they receive a cold welcome from the farm’s owner (Choi Il-hwa) and his son (Ryu Jun-yeol) but press on to interview Sang-ho (Bae Sung-woo), an abused worker from the farm.

No Tomorrow is a Korean mystery about a pair of reporters investigating indications of slavery on a remote island. No Tomorrow takes a slow approach to its mystery, following Hae-ri and Seok-hoon as they search for the right island, question the locals, and try to piece together what is going on based on the guarded testimony of the handicapped workers.

No Tomorrow has a subtly ominous atmosphere. Everything from the time Hae-ri and Seok-hoon arrive on the island is just a little bit wrong, from the standoffish residents to the erratic behavior of the workers. Actual threats are few and far between, but the low, constant tension and found footage presentation style keep the movie engaging throughout.

The catch is that No Tomorrow does not have much of a plot. The investigation is a series of puzzle pieces that gradually come together, but the movie is slow about laying them out. The stakes are lower and less immediate than in similar movies. While the plight of Sang-ho and the other workers is tragic at a human level, it is only Hae-ri’s insistence on digging deeper that separates the story from an ordinary expose.

The result is an atmospheric mystery that will appeal to viewers with a taste for realistic crime stories. No Tomorrow does not have the sharp hooks and lurid appeal of similar investigations, but the plausible nature of the story and the slow drip of clues make it worth a watch for the right viewer. Still, No Tomorrow is harder to get into than similar films, and casual viewers may want to skip it.

Check out Parasite for an even darker Korean drama with a black comedy twist. For another thriller set on a remote island, try Shutter Island or The Wicker Man. For an even more low-key crime thriller that takes a turn for the worse, try The Interview, starring Hugo Weaving.

[6.4 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6333380/). I give it a 6.5 for immersive atmosphere and a loose plot.

Today’s quick review: A Special Lady. The JC Group, a criminal organization specializing in blackmail, is on the verge of legitimacy, and Chairman Kim (Choi Moo-sung) is considering settling down with Na Hyun-jung (Kim Hye-soo), the secret mother of his son (Kim Min-seok). But the Group is riven from within when his ambitious lieutenant Im Sang-hoon (Lee Sun-kyun) strikes a deal with Choi Dae-sik (Lee Hee-joon), a crooked district attorney.

A Special Lady is a Korean crime drama about a power struggle within a crime syndicate. As Im makes his move against his boss, Na is cast out and must take drastic actions to protect her son. A Special Lady has a few points in its favor, including some clever power games, an unpredictable plot, and a real sense of danger for the characters. However, questionable plot logic and an overly convoluted story dampen some of the movie’s payoff.

A Special Lady draws a lot of its drama from its criminal setup. The JC Group has elevated blackmail to an art, and Kim, Na, and Im all wield their power with skill. Seeing the group fall to infighting is one of the main appeals of the movie, especially as Choi exerts his considerable influence. Na also makes for a decent protagonist, a resilient and resourceful woman who comes into her own when she is fighting for her son.

Still, A Special Lady can be messy in places. The movie comes up with an elaborate backstory for its characters, one that drives their interactions but requires a little too much investment from the audience to piece together. The characters are interesting at a first glance, but the movie does not flesh them out enough to make them sympathetic. Finally, Im’s takeover attempt is a mixed bag, a mixture of bold moves and questionable decisions.

A Special Lady has a flair for the dramatic, and its twists and turns keep the outcome uncertain until the very end. But the movie does not have the strong foundation it needs, and its coy flashbacks and morally ambiguous characters never find solid purchase. As such, A Special Lady finds itself outclassed by a number of other crime movies, even if it does have something to offer fans of the genre.

For a more compelling crime drama about a power struggle within a gang, try Miller’s Crossing or Road to Perdition. For a more restrained crime drama about an enterprise under a similar sort of pressure, try A Most Violent Year.

[5.6 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7549884/). I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for interesting hooks and mixed execution.

Today’s quick review: Cold Eyes. Ha Yoon-joo (Han Hyo-joo), the newest recruit to the surveillance team of the Special Crimes Unit, has her skills put to the test when a criminal named Shadow (Jung Woo-sung) orchestrates a perfect bank robbery in broad daylight. Working under the guidance of Chief Hwang (Sol Kyung-gu), the team’s brilliant but eccentric leader, Ha watches the streets for any sign of their only suspect.

Cold Eyes is a Korean crime drama about an elite surveillance team on the hunt for a criminal mastermind. Cold Eyes uses this premise to good effect. Hwang and Ha make for a sharp duo. Hwang’s years of experience and keen tactical mind let him coordinate the operation with skill, while Ha’s clear memory and flashes of insight make her an asset despite her inexperience. Their skills are matched by the careful planning and ruthlessness of Shadow.

Cold Eyes’s distinguishing feature is its dedication to the craft of surveillance. The movie has a knack for making stakeouts, undercover work, and monitoring security footage feel like a lifestyle. The meticulous work the characters put in comes across clearly, yet the audience never has to wait long for the next bit of excitement. The characters also have great chemistry together, bringing them to life without resorting to personal drama.

Cold Eyes is a rock-solid pick for anyone in the mood for a criminal investigation. The mechanics of the surveillance are interesting on their own, the cast is easy to like, and the twists and turns of the investigation keep the movie tense and engaging from start to finish. Cold Eyes has a clear vision in mind and executes it well. Give it a shot if you are interested in what it has to offer.

For another battle of wits between a brilliant criminal and the police, try Inside Man or Heat. For a more paranoid thriller about a criminal mastermind, try Accident. For a more minimalistic crime movie about the perils of surveillance, try Following.

[7.1 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2969656/). I give it a 7.0 for a tightly woven plot backed by tense action and a skilled cast.

Today’s quick review: Musudan. When a patrol of South Korean soldiers is killed in the Demilitarized Zone, Captain Jo Jin-ho (Min-Joon Kim) and Lieutenant Sin Yoo-hwa (Ji-Ah Lee) take a squad of soldiers in to investigate. But when they come across mutilated bodies with wounds no human could inflict, they realize the true nature of their mission: to locate and eliminate an escaped biological weapon.

Musudan is a Korean sci-fi survival thriller about a military cover-up on the border between North and South Korea. Captain Jo leads a squad into the jungle in search of an unknown creature, only to learn that the mission could be a death sentence. Musudan gets off to a promising start. It has a workable premise, the trek through the jungle keeps the tension high, and the hints of a ruthless conspiracy are a good hook for later on.

Unfortunately, Musudan does very little with its setup. The movie avoids the trap of revealing its monster too early, but it never figures out a way to make the threat credible. Nearly all of the tension comes from seeing the soldiers get picked off one by one, so by the time the monster shows up, there is little payoff to be had. The movie is also too coy with its conspiracy, never giving the soldiers a real chance to engage with it.

Musudan goes through the motions well enough, but ultimately there is no reason to watch until the end. The biological weapon at its core is neither thrilling nor memorable, some promising characters are never given their due, and the conspiracy, one of the movie’s stronger points, never coalesces into something tangible. Fans of budget sci-fi may get something out of Musudan, but most viewers can do better elsewhere.

Check out Predator for a much more iconic sci-fi movie about a group of soldiers being stalked by an unseen foe. For a budget horror movie with a similar setup, try Armed Response, The Facility, or Doom: Annihilation. For a more entertaining creature hunt in the jungle, try Anaconda.

[4.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5447140/). I give it a 5.5 for competent scaffolding with a flimsy core.

Today’s quick review: The Target. When his pregnant wife Jung Hee-joo (Jo Yeo-jeong) is kidnapped, Dr. Lee Tae-joon (Lee Jin-wook) is blackmailed into helping Baek Yoo-hoon (Ryu Seung-ryuong), a gunshot victim and suspected murderer, escape from police custody. In the aftermath, Senior Inspector Song Gi-cheol (Yoo Jun-sang) leads the manhunt for the fugitives, while Inspector Jung Young-joo (Kim Sung-ryung) investigates Baek’s motive for the murder.

The Target is a Korean action thriller based on the French movie Point Blank. The movie is about the unlikely partnership between a wanted fugitive and a doctor trying to get his wife back. The situation quickly devolves into chaos as Baek escapes from Lee and tries to find the men who framed him. The Target’s intricate plot, sharp twists, and healthy amount of action make it a satisfying pick for fans of the genre.

The Target has just the right amount of complexity. There are always a couple of mysteries in play at any given time, and the drip-feed of information keeps the audience engaged from beginning to end. Moreover, the story accomplishes the difficult feat of being chaotic and unpredictable while still wrapping up neatly. Topping it all off, The Target does a capable job with its action, using chases, brawls, and shootouts to keep the tension high.

The Target is an action thriller that shows unusually good judgment. The plot hangs together at every stage, many different characters are given a say in the events, and the action is always used to good effect. Fans of lighter action movies may find it a little serious, and the movie will not change the minds of any critics of the genre, but anyone interested in what the movie has to offer should give it a try.

For an American remake of the same film, try Point Blank starring Anthony Mackie and Frank Grillo. For another thriller about a criminal in the hospital, try Three. For a crime drama about corruption in the police force, try Training Day, Street Kings, or Pride and Glory.

[6.3 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3634940/). I give it a 7.0 for solid execution and a strong plot.

Today’s quick review: Troubleshooter. Private detective Kang Tae-sik (Sol Kyung-gu) has to go on the lam when he is framed for murder. Using the tape that can clear Kang’s name as an incentive, the killer (Lee Jung-jin) forces Kang to kidnap Yoon Dae-hee (Lee Sung-min), a key witness in a corruption investigation. Meanwhile, Detective Choi Sang-cheol (Dal-su Oh) deduces that there is more to Kang’s case than meets the eye.

Troubleshooter is a Korean action thriller about an ex-cop forced to break the law to clear his name. Caught in the middle of a political cover-up, Kang must use his wits to figure out why he was targeted and what to do about it. Troubleshooter offers a fair amount of action and a plot with some interesting twists. However, a weak opening act, a nondescript protagonist, and mediocre fight scenes keep the movie from standing out.

Troubleshooter suffers from poor motivation, at least at first. The frame job on Kang is flimsy enough that he has no reason to run from the police, while the killer goes to a lot of trouble to have Kang kidnap Yoon, a job he clearly could have handled himself. The reasons for these discrepancies are eventually revealed, but the movie plays coy with what is really going on, making it hard for the audience to invest.

Later on, Troubleshooter’s plot becomes one of its strong points. Kang pulls off some clever tricks once he has some idea of what is going on, and the conspiracy to frame him has some good layers to it. Viewers willing to push through the movie’s rough start will find a rewarding second half.

As for its action, Troubleshooter is a mixed bag. The quantity of the action, as well as few bursts of inspiration here and there, should be enough to satisfy fans of the genre. But the overall quality is not that high, and the movie uses choppy camerawork to cover for its basic stunts.

Give Troubleshooter a shot when you are in the mood for an action thriller and are willing to forgive some rough edges. The movie does not stand with the best of its genre, and its poorly motivated opening makes the rest of the movie an uphill struggle for the audience’s approval. But between its well-chosen plot twists and sense of urgency, Troubleshooter manages to be worthwhile in the end.

For an action thriller with a similar plot and similarly shaky execution, try Quicksand. For an action thriller with a similar setup but a more dangerous protagonist, try Shooter. For one that delves even deeper into the political conspiracy angle, try Enemy of the State.

[6.2 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1846803/). I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for a solid plot hurt by a weak start and mediocre action.

Today’s quick review: A Company Man. Ji Hyeong-do (So Ji-sub), a hitman working for a white-collar company, begins to question his job when he is ordered to kill Hun (Kim Dong-jun), his young protege. In the aftermath, Ji visits Hun’s mother Yu Mi-yeon (Lee Mi-yeon) and begins to fall in love. But to put his violent career behind him and make a fresh start, Ji must convince his controlling boss Kwon (Kwak Do-won) to let him leave in peace.

A Company Man is a Korean action movie about an assassin who wants to get out of the business. So Ji-sub stars as Ji, a quiet man who keeps his head down and kills with efficiency when required. Over the course of several morally taxing assignments, Ji becoms disgusted with his work, setting him on a collision course with his former colleagues. Crisp action and a contemplative tone help A Company Man carve out a niche for itself.

A Company Man has an introspective streak that serves it well. The movie takes its time getting to know Ji and the dilemma he faces. Ji has devoted his life to the company, and now he has nothing to show for it. His targets are much the same: men left empty and purposeless because they sacrificed everything for their dehumanizing work. The drama is simple but effective, and it adds a layer of thematic depth to an otherwise conventional plot.

A Company Man takes a focused approach to its action. The action scenes are spread out with long stretches of character work in between them, but they are well worth the wait. Each fight is executed with power and precision. Sharp choreography shows off the skills of Ji and his fellow assassins, while the kill-or-be-killed nature of the fights keeps the stakes high. Fans of the serious side of the action genre will like what they see.

The end result is a tightly scoped action movie that delivers everything it promises. A Company Man will to appeal to everyone, thanks to its moral ambiguity, slow pacing, and heavy tone. But its melancholy story, strong stunt work, and all-around clean execution make it well worth a watch for the right viewer.

For another movie about a hitman questioning his line of work, try Bangkok Dangerous. For a more brutal, stylized action movie about the complications of leaving the assassination business, try Polar or John Wick. For an even more introspective movie in the same vein, try The Professional, La Femme Nikita, or Drive. For a black comedy with a similarly corporate setup for assassination, try Dead in a Week (Or Your Money Back).

[6.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2371486/). I give it a 7.0 for sharp action and solid character work.

Today’s quick review: Helios. When Helios (Chang Chen), an international arms dealer, steals a prototype nuclear device from South Korea, Colonel Choi (Jin-hee Ji) and Lieutenant Park (Si Won Choi) are dispatched to Hong Kong to get it back. There they join forces with Inspector Lee (Nick Cheung) of the Hong Kong police, physics specialist Professor Siu (Jacky Cheung), and Chinese official Song An (Xueqi Wang) to hunt down Helios.

Helios is a Chinese action thriller about a stolen nuclear device that turns Hong Kong into a battlefield. The members of an international task force must put aside their differences to catch Helios, recover the bomb, and transport it safely out of the city. The movie features a strong sense of tension, a plot that weaves together several competing agendas, and a couple of sharp twists, making it a worthwhile pick for action fans.

Helios puts a new spin on a classic formula by pitting its heroes against each other. Choi, Park, Lee, and Song all have very different ideas about what to do with the bomb once it is found. What begins as a unified task force devolves into infighting as the political interests of Hong Kong, South Korea, and mainland China collide. This tug of war nicely complements the hunt for Helios, resulting in a story that’s tense from start to finish.

Otherwise, Helios is a capable but fairly standard action thriller. Bursts of high-stakes violence serve to break up a longer stretches of tracking down Helios, gathering intelligence, and quarreling over what to do with the bomb. The plot can be a little cluttered, thanks to the large number of factions involved, but the events are not too hard to follow, and the movie does a great job of establishing what is at risk.

Helios does make a few mistakes. The movie shoots for a relatively serious tone, so its heroes are flawed and prone to infighting. Their conflicting priorities and willingness to make moral compromises can make it hard for the audience to root for any of them. At the same time, the political drama of the situation is not robust enough to rise to the level of commentary. Finally, the movie doesn’t quite stick the landing, with a dicey finale.

Give Helios a shot when you are in the mood for a tense thriller that has a nicely tangled plot. The flawed nature of the task force gives the story a reliable source of conflict, while the external pressure of locating and disposing of the bomb keeps the story moving quickly. Steer clear if you dislike the genre or are looking for something with more clear-cut heroes.

For a more entertaining action thriller about a stolen weapon of mass destruction, try The Rock. For an American film in a similar vein, try The Peacemaker. For a Japanese crime thriller that takes a deeper look at the ethics of law enforcement, try Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade.

[5.6 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3614922/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for hard-hitting action wrapped around a solid plot.

“Old movies always end this way, don’t they?” —Rain

Today’s quick review: Manhunt. Du Qiu (Zhang Hanyu), a Chinese lawyer working for Tenjin Pharmaceutical, has to run for his life when he is framed for the murder of a woman he never met. Dodging crooked cops and assassins who report to Tenjin’s president (Jun Kunimura), Du’s only hope lies with Inspector Satoshi Yamura (Masaharu Fukuyama), a brilliant but troubled detective, and Mayumi Mounami (Qi Wei), the widow of a Tenjin scientist.

Manhunt is a Chinese action thriller based on a Japanese novel and directed by John Woo. A lawyer who knows too many of a pharmaceutical company’s secrets flees through the streets of Osaka while trying to clear his name. Manhunt features a fast-paced plot and flashy action that never lets up for long. Its raw adrenaline will appeal strongly to some viewers, but issues with its story and acting will disappoint others.

Manhunt has a knack for stylish action. Inventive camera techniques, chaotic battlefields, sharp choreography, and gratuitous property damage make the action scenes a treat for anyone drawn to the flashy side of the genre. Manhunt makes no attempt at realism, instead allowing its imagination to run wild. If you are willing to roll with the punches and accept the unexplained fighting prowess of a 40-year-old lawyer, you should have a good time.

Manhunt’s main weakness is its cast. Neither Zhang Hanyu nor Masaharu Fukuyama have the presence to sell their respective roles. The movie gets along fine on the basis of its plot and spectacle, but the lack of a strong lead holds it back. Meanwhile, the overall structure of the plot is solid, but it tends to sacrifice logic for the sake of action. By the finale, all pretense of a police investigation has been dropped in favor of violence.

How much you get out of Manhunt will depend on what you are looking for. If you want popcorn action with way more style than substance, Manhunt is the right choice for you. If you are looking for a cerebral thriller with more down-to-earth action, give it a pass.

For a similar type of action thriller from the same director, try Face/Off or Paycheck. For a slightly more grounded action thriller about a man on the run because of a crime he didn’t commit, try The Fugitive or The Negotiator. For another Chinese action thriller about pharmaceutical malfeasance, check out Sky on Fire.

[5.2 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4537986/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for pure action coupled with weak leads and an imperfect plot.