"Professional baduk player Tae-seok loses a high-stakes game to infamous underground gambler Sal-soo, and ends up framed for the murder of his own brother and locked up in prison. He vows revenge and trains ferociously. After serving his seven-year sentence, he gets in touch with his brother's former associate "Tricks," hermit and blind master player "The Lord," and skillful junkyard owner Mok-su; together, they begin formulating a plan to get back at Sal-soo and his men. Tae-seok slowly penetrates Sal-soo's inner circle and his gambling joint, and eliminates Sal-soo's men one by one. But Sal-soo discovers Tae-seok's true identity and engages him in one final game that will seal the fates of the two men involved."-Wikipedia
This film really shows off a different side to some famous actors/actresses in Korea. So be ready to be very impressed.
Tae-Seok (Jung Woo Sung) is a professional GO player, at first glances he is a very weak and unconfident man. He basically is all of that but it takes a surprise visit from his elder brother to change all of that. Tae-Seok has to go through hell and he must fight to get out of it the only way he can. We see a very good character development as Tae-Seok goes from a nerdy weakling to a confident man. We know he can kick ass and he shows us that he can a lot. But he can also show off his GO skills and he is quite a silver tongued man now.
Sal Soo (Lee Beom-Soo) is the bad guy of the film but he is more like the ultimate bastard. He has a mysterious past which is a big clue when we first see his tattooed body. He is an okay GO player but the people behind him are a thousand times better so he doesn't really need any actual skill. He also is quite the fighter and is quick to use his trusty knife when he wants. Everything about him screams out control freak as it is his way to make him feel important.
Bae-kkob (Lee Si-young) is a skilled GO player who fell into the wrong crowd. She is basically owned by Sal Soo even though you know she doesn't remotely like anything about him. Sadly she is forced to stay with the criminal group but it appears that she grown up to be more mature than when she was during the first GO match. Over the course of the film she changes into a slightly better person or you may see her actually start to be more like herself especially when she meets the little girl. Bae-kkob becomes interested in Tae-Seok after meeting him face to face for the first time and eventually falls for him to the point she openly challenges Sal Soo grip on power.
Kkong-soo(Kim In-kwon) is a decent GO player but he is more like the face as Sal Soo knows what Tae-Seok looks like. Kkong-soo is a very selfish and annoying person but he starts to grow on you as the movie carries on. He goes through an easy character change as he starts to trust people and becomes more trustworthy himself. Out of all the character he will be the one that goes through a lot of pain towards the end of the film.
Its not that bad of a movie but it has a lot of room for improvement. The story was a bit lacking, it was a little too slow at some parts. At times it felt a little rushed, the film could have used better direction. The main component of this film were the actors as they are the only reasons to watch this film. Jung Woo-sung, Lee Si Young, and Lee Beom-Soo really impressed me with their acting range. As typically Lee Beom-Soo acts in action comedies but this is no comedy film and he is not playing on the good side. Lee Si-young who has acted with before with Lee Beom-Soo as his love interest in one of those action comedies was able to show off her acting chops as well.
She really was awesome in this, much more so than any of her other roles. The only person I wasn't impressed with was Kim In-kwon as this is the kind of role he often does. Though he was still good to watch, he could have been better. There is also a very good supporting cast present in the film that might entertain you.
I suggest this film to Korean movie fans that like the more darker films. Be warned this is not the best movie but it will at least entertain you for a little while.
2.9/5
Cast
Jung Woo-Sung
Also appeared in:
Mutt Boy
A Moment to Remember
Sad Movie
A Good Rain Knows
Dramas:
Padam Padam...The sound of His and Her Heartbeats
Lee Beom-Soo
Also appeared in:
Please Teach Me English
Au Revoir, UFO
She's on Duty
200 Pounds Beauty
The Righteous Thief
My Wife is a Gangster 3
Over My Dead Body
Dramas:
On Air
Prime Minister and I
Lee Si-young
Also appeared in:
Five Senses of Eros
The Righteous Thief
Meet the In-Laws
Couples
How to Use Guys With Secret Tips
Killer Toon
Dramas:
Boys Over Flowers
Becoming a Billionaire
Kim In-kwon
Also appeared in:
Please Teach Me English
Once Upon A Time in High School
Love, So Divine
Two Faces of My Girlfriend
Tidal Wave
Secret (2009)
He's on Duty
Haunters
Quick
My Way
Masquerade
The Tower
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