Once I had the DVD, I couldn't wait to watch it. I installed in my favorite couch, under the thickest blanket ever, switched off laptop and smartphone and hit "Play". Ryoo Seung-Wan is undoubtedly one of my dearest directors in activity.
After a few minutes, I was a bit confused. The characters aren't really well-defined, neither do they have a solid background. It's a bit too chatty with uneffective exposition. And it drags along for too long.
They lack consistency. Some characters, like Keanu Reeves, know kung-fu (or more certainly Taekwondo), still they're beaten by kids. Sometimes one wants the Northmen (no Skarsgaard here) to be rescued and a couple of minutes later, the same guy wants to kick them out and vice-versa.
We expected at some point to see the taxi boy to appear and maybe save them somewhere in the 2nd or 3rd act, but he disappears, despite his friendly vibe.
Also, why did they feel forced to replicate some of the Black Hawk Down photography?
But the 3rd act is extremely solid, really well-made, compelling and so on. Exactly what I expected under my blanket.
A bit of a disappointment, but I needed to watch "City of Violence" thrice to deeply fall in love with it, so maybe...
After a few minutes, I was a bit confused. The characters aren't really well-defined, neither do they have a solid background. It's a bit too chatty with uneffective exposition. And it drags along for too long.
They lack consistency. Some characters, like Keanu Reeves, know kung-fu (or more certainly Taekwondo), still they're beaten by kids. Sometimes one wants the Northmen (no Skarsgaard here) to be rescued and a couple of minutes later, the same guy wants to kick them out and vice-versa.
We expected at some point to see the taxi boy to appear and maybe save them somewhere in the 2nd or 3rd act, but he disappears, despite his friendly vibe.
Also, why did they feel forced to replicate some of the Black Hawk Down photography?
But the 3rd act is extremely solid, really well-made, compelling and so on. Exactly what I expected under my blanket.
A bit of a disappointment, but I needed to watch "City of Violence" thrice to deeply fall in love with it, so maybe...