mjtruog-588-503164 Reviews

Shit Up! (2004)

A Tragic Comedy

[18 August 2021]

This film wasn't a comedy that caused me to laugh much, but instead had a decent amount of comedic irony that was entertaining. I enjoyed seeing its attempt to portray truth, with the gangsters having education-related difficulties where all they claim to know is how to fight. The gangsters are portraying older characters but the fighting was done well in a serious way and it was nice to see the older gangsters succeed in their pursuits.

There also is a dichotomy with the contrast between the gangsters and Eun Ji, the K-pop star. Eun Ji uses advertising and marketing for legal success and exploitation, not racketeering or blackmail like a gangster would use. However, Eun Ji does come from wealth accumulated by Dong Pal, the current gangster leader. Both Eun Ji and the gangsters do nonsensical things, but ultimately both groups of people are shown as humans that find their humanity with the gangsters avoiding anger and revenge while Eun Ji discovers love and reconciliation.

So, the film wasn't very popular and is difficult to find, but it is worth watching. It is hard to find comedy films about gangsters (especially the. Japanese Yakuza which seemed to influence this Korean film). The actions of gangsters really aren't sources of great comedy and if they are the directors often have trouble surviving after the film is released. That makes this film unique as safe-content with a human message.

A Stranger in Paradise (2013)

A Mediocre Thailand Gangster film

[8 March 2018]

The music in the film was good and the photography wasn't bad when considering the low budget this film was using. The script and action in the film was a bit stale and cliché, due to direction that appears to lack passion and a unique vision. The acting wasn't too great due to Colin Egglesfield's limited ability, though it was better than his lead role in the Thai horror film "Vampires: The Turning".

Not many Thai gangster films exist, that are accessible to an American audience, so that is a good reason to see this film. This film has greed as a central component, drawing a connection between wall street greed, money laundry, and the Thai mafia. So, it isn't a surprise that it doesn't have a large budget and isn't well received. The main reason to watch this film is that these topics are difficult to find elsewhere as a Thai film.

Almost Che (2012)

A Basic Comedy

[5 September 2016]

The film is a pretty basic comedy. There is some social commentary that is interesting about working conditions and expectations with separate social castes. The approach within the film shouldn't be too surprising for the viewer, due to a basic plot. However, using revolution within a comedy is uncommon and the political controversy the film's events represents seems to marginalize the film rather than make it appealing. The film's concept of a revolution is ironic and naive in an innocent way that helps to reflect the innocence of the main character.

The film is a good one to see if you can find a copy of it. Don't expect a deep film that you want to see many times. Just expect a basic comedy and you will be happy!

Red Family (2013)

Unique film that deserves more attention

[27 August 2016]

It is disappointing that this film hasn't yet found a larger audience and hopefully that can change in the future. The film itself helps to provide a very concrete microcosm for understanding Korean politics from the viewpoint of South Korea (where the film was made).

The film was written by Ki-duk Kim, who is known mainly for the films he has written and directed. This particular film was written by Ki-duk Kim, done by his production company, but not directed by him, and it doesn't have the extreme absence of dialogue that he is known for (in films like 3-Iron, Pieta, Samaritan Girl). The film presents a situation with North Korean spies living in South Korea that is believable and meant to be as realistic as possible. However, the film doesn't focus on mindless action, like most North/South Korean conflict films have in the recent past (avoiding any mimic of James Bond scenarios). Instead Korean politics are mapped onto the behavior of two families to present complex problems with concrete situations that both families are unable to escape.

The phrase to remember in this film is "In the end, all you have is family", which remains the main concept in this film. This concept attempts to tell us that Korea is one country and one people, divided by exterior political influence and manipulation that makes them puppets, despite being part of one family. The discord within the film occurs when the characters attempt to make their own decisions during the film's cycle of endless suffering and rebirth.

It is a great film and may not be very accessible, but if you get a chance, definitely see it.