Fantastic Fest 2008

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Rated 4.561780664769156/5 Stars
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4.6 | 83
The Good The Bad and The Weird
Ji-woon Kim 2008
Categories: Action, Asian, Feature, Western
Run time: 139 min. | Korea | Language: Korean
Brief Summary:
Directed by Ji-woon Kim (A BITTERSWEET LIFE, A TALE OF TWO SISTERS) and setting an all-time Korean box office opening weekend record this year, THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE WEIRD, an homage to Leone's similarly named classic, is one of the year's most anticipated genre titles.

Full Description:
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE WEIRD, at face value, is a Korean remake of THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY. However, updated with eye-popping colors, fast-paced editing, explosive action and a slightly different twist on the story, it stands on its own two feet quite nicely.

Set in 1930's Manchuria, the intricate plot pits three outlaws against the entire Japanese army and a mob of Russian gangsters in a race to find the "treasure" that will define the outcome of the Sino-Japanese war. (The story is complex; expect to read lots of complaints that it makes no sense, but trust me, it's all there.) Jung Woo Sung is "The Good". While not quite as iconic as the unforgettable Clint Eastwood, he is nonetheless handsome as hell and unflappably suave. He stands for the Korean resistance, determined to use every weapon at his disposal against the Japanese invaders. Lee Byung Hun is "The Bad". More widely known from JSA, A BITTERSWEET LIFE and HERO, he's as bad as villains come and also icy smooth. Employed by a treacherous warlord to waylay the treasure, he has no intention of sharing any of the profit with his employer.

The stand-out is Song Kang Ho, who won my heart irrevocably in THE HOST and is also well known from JSA, SYMPATHY FOR MR VENGEANCE, MEMORIES OF MURDER and LADY VENGEANCE. His turn as "The Weird", for my money, outstrips Eli Wallach's Tuco for sheer fun quotient and is a stellar three-dimensional performance that provides most of the buoyancy of the film that sustains the 2-hour plus run time. Apparently just a solo bandit out making a living, he stumbles across the prize and fights off all comers to hold on to it.

Last but not least, the desert filming location is a major star. This is a fantastic Wild West location, with an Asian flair. Magnificent scenery and set pieces are beautifully shot and squeezed for every ounce of spectacle. (Karrie League)
2 pictures Pictures
Screenings
time venue calendar
6:25 PM     Fri, Sep 19 Alamo S. Lamar 1  
3:30 PM     Tue, Sep 23 Alamo S. Lamar 1  
About the film
Cast & Crew
director
Ji-woon Kim
 
Cast
Byung-hun Lee
Kang-ho Song
Woo-sung Jung
Audience Buzz
Rated 4.561780664769156/5 Stars
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4.6 | 83
views 1570 people viewed this page
adds 195 people added it to their calendar (find out who)
Featured Review
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Rated 5.0/5 Stars
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coyoteblue
11:17 AM
User Thumbnail A worthy wild and wooly Asian take on the Spaghetti Western circa Manchuria 1930 something (did anyone pick up on the movie that Chang-i (the bad) was watching. It sounded familiar but I couldn't place it). The chase toward the end of the movie is one of the best spectacles I've seen in years. All three leads were very good, but Song Kang-ho (the weird) is the stand out. I did once or twice feel like I was watching some Asian post-apocalyptic flick (not sure if that's good or bad). Anyway, plenty of action and comedy. I'm not sure if it's just me, but amongst all the Spaghetti Western influences I think there was just a smidgen of The Hallelujah Trail, but maybe that's just me.
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