Listonixio
Fresh and Exciting
Glimmerubro
It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.
Kaydan Christian
A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.
Leofwine_draca
TYPHOON, a big-budget international action flick from South Korea, successfully manages to combine breakneck thrills and spills with the kind of multi-layered characterisation usually witnessed in human drama and tragedies. In many ways it fulfils all the requirements of a typical action movie while at the same time going beyond there to become something much more affecting and poignant.The essential story is a game of cat and mouse between an intelligence agent (the square-jawed Jung-Jae Lee) and a terrorist (the excellent, and sympathetic, Dong-gun Jang) but of course there's much more to it than just that. The locations are varied, taking in Thailand, China, Russia and South Korea, and the photography is never less than impressive. Kyung-Taek Kwak films each moment with a real crispness and clarity that really helps his picture come to life in the pulse-pounding shoot-outs and car chases.The acting, too, is stand out, particularly from Dong-gun Jang and Mi-yeon Lee, playing the defector brother and sister who spend their lives oppressed by circumstance and failure. Their touching moments together lend the movie real heart and almost get you cheering on the villains at times. Fans of Thai action cinema may also spot ONG BAK baddie Chatthapong Pantanaunkul as one of the terrorists. With its fine film-making, high level of quality and combination of genres, TYPHOON is another stand-out film from a country with a record of making them.
tmcdaniel1
If this is the "average Korean blockbuster" show me more! It is an imperfect movie but compared to most of the crap from Hollywood USA these days, it is a superior effort. The steely-eyed, hero that never quits and still has a heart has been abandoned by Hollywood as hopelessly out of date. Yet, these men still exist and the public still craves to see them fictionalized on the movie screen. Add a bad guy that you eventually come to feel some real sympathy for and you've got the conflict that powered hundreds of Westerns in decades past. Mix it up with some high-tech Clancy-istic plot settings and you have...an enjoyable movie. The acting is above average and there is enough depth to the story to keep one involved to the end.It helps if you can appreciate the Korean sensibilities. All I can say is try to open your mind. If it seems "Corny" ask yourself if you are not just a little to hip (jaded) to enjoy it.I hope this is a harbinger of a rapidly developing Korean cinema. In a few more years they may be the equal of anyone.
Nav Hussain
One of the biggest high budget movie's made in Korea. Basically it's Korean style Bourne movie. The cast are brilliant including Jung-Jae Lee (City of the Rising Sun) and Dong-Kun Jang(2009: Lost Memories). Great location's however most of the budget must have been used for this, there are very few action scene's, don't be expecting amazing shoot out's or high flying unrealistic kung fu fight's. Do expect a film with characterisation and a bit of depth. Overall it's a film which will be enjoyable to watch if you are patient enough to last the first half hour. Ifg anyone has seen 'A Bittersweet life' by Ji-woon Kim you will enjoy this movie but it wont stand out as a classic but a stylish action movie.
Chindah
If you like your typical American movie, with your typical over-the-top-ness & your typical unnecessary love scenes: go by the commentary above..I have to agree in that is very much a Korean movie; the acting is solid, the lines make sense and the scenes aren't dragged out too long.The movie in a nutshell: A boy bittered by the massacre of his family grows up into a modern day pirate, aiming to destruct 'the evil south'. Queue lots of killing, an amazing amount of Russians, your fair share of beautiful scenery and torn emotions as the two leads' understanding of each other grows.
