Mother - 母親

Mother (母親) is a 2009 film out of Korea. The movie stars Won Bin and Kim Hye-ja. This was the first film by Won Bin after he fulfilled his mandatory military service. The movie was also well received on the international market and one of the top 10 domestic films of 2009 in Korea.

Won Bin plays Do-joon, a mentally challenged individual who seems to have problems with his memory and ability to tell right from wrong. Do-joon's mother is a worker at a traditional medicine shop. Do is suspected of killing a local girl and put into prison. Do's mother believes that the police coaxed an confession and that he's innocent. From that point on, the mother is hellbent on getting to the truth and getting her son free.

What's not to like about a mother's quest to get her son released from jail? But a very common theme among the recent high profile Korean films is darkness. What type of activity drives individuals to do what they do? What drives a mother to go beyond her means to get her son released?

Did I like this movie? No, I was following along with the story, but was uneasy the whole time. It took over 2 months to finish this. Seriously, ten minutes here, ten minutes there. Finally, I said to myself, finish it. And I did and I also said, "Why'd you watch this movie?". The hype. I gave in to the hype. And it did not live up.

The Man from Nowhere - 大叔

The Man from Nowhere (大叔) is a 2010 film out of Korea. The movie stars Won Bin. This was the top domestic grossing Korean film of 2010.

Cha Tae-sik, played by Won Bin, is a loner who owns an pawn shop. So-mi, played by Kim Sae-ron, is a loner girl trying her best not to stay home with her mother, a drug addict. So-mi's mom was in on a heist and the people they stole from want find her. They take So-mi and her mom hostage only to kill the mom in a most deplorable way. So-mi is than sold into slavery as a child drug runner. Cha and So-mi build a uneasy bound as she pesters him daily so she doesn't have to go home. When So-mi leaves the drugs at his pawn shop, he's dragged into the chase against his will. When So-mi goes underground, Cha makes it his mission to find her and all those that stand in his way will pay the price.

This was an awesome movie. The story was a dark from the beginning and you knew you were dealing with thugs with no conscious. Cha has a tragic past and avoids people at all cost. However, So-mi pestered her way into his life. Much like many action oriented Korean movies, it takes the gritty nature laced with the darkness in all humans. Are all humans as dark as this movie makes people out to be? I have to believe not or society as a whole has no courtesy. However, this film dives into the So-mi yearning for love anywhere away from her mom and Cha's reclusion from his tragic and deadly past.

This film has been compared the the Liam Nelson film Taken, but I haven't watched that film so I can't say if that's true or not. However, this film reminded me a lot about Man On Fire with Denzel Washington. Man On Fire was gritty and explored the business of human trafficking for profit. Man From Nowhere was a little less investigative, but had that same gritty feel and shady characters to boot.

I can see why this film was a major hit in Korea and has been picked up for limited release in the US last year. Won Bin's heartthrob past isn't a hindrance nor the super cuteness of So-mi. A must watch for all Korean and Asian movie buffs.

Taegukgi - Brotherhood - 太極旗生死兄弟

Taegukgi (太極旗生死兄弟) is a 2004 film out of Korea. The movie stars Jang Dong-gun and Won Bin.

Jin-tae, played by Dong-gun is the older brother. Jin-seok, played by Won Bin is the younger brother. The Korean war starts and both brothers serve for the south. But in one of the battles, Jin-seok is injured and Jin-tae presumes he's dead after a strike. Jin-tae turns his back on the South and joins the North. After Jin-seok recovers enough to travel, he goes north to find his brother.

The movie has "saving private ryan" type war scenes, but its sprinkled with human elements of the bond between the two brothers. How strong is this bond?

At one point, the highest grossing Korean film, until "The Host". A must watch for fans of Korean cinema.

Guns and Talks - 殺手公司

Guns and Talks (殺手公司) is a 2001 film out of Korea. The film stars Shin Hyun-jun, Won Bin, Shin Ha-kyun, Jeong Jae-yeong, and Jeong Jin-yeong. Ko Eun-mi and Oh Seung-hyeon play supporting roles. Many of the faces here became mainstays in the Korean film industry up to today.

The movie is about a group of assassins and what seems like a 10-20 day span. The leader of the group is played by Hyun-jun as Sang. Sang's younger brother, Ha, is played by Won Bin. The other two that form this foursome are Ha-kyun as Jung and Jeong Jae-yeong as Jae. They operate out of their flat and take pictures with their clients. A police inspector, Cho, has started to get on their trail. The cat and mouse chase begins. Who will make it out?

When I saw this movie in 2002, I was completely blown away. Up to that point, I had really only seen Shiri and Bichunmoo in terms of Korean films. So, I was looking to be impressed. What I got was completely out of left field. The movie was both serious and comedic at the same time. It explored the mundane lives of assassins and those that chase them. Seriously blew my mind.

Does it stand the test of time, 8 years after. Recently dug up, I think it does. This is prior to all four members blowing up in Korea.