Laikals
The greatest movie ever made..!
Dynamixor
The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.
StyleSk8r
At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.
Claire Dunne
One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.
kluseba
Here comes another solid movie from the country that currently produces the best films in the whole wide world which happens to be South Korea.Don't worry about the critics. The economical, political and social component of a divided Korean peninsula is an issue in this movie and one should at least have a basic knowledge about this conflict to understand this movie. But this delicate topic doesn't dominate the movie and makes the whole thing too melodramatic. It's rather a positive elements as it adds some spicy ingredients to a promising melting pot and it adds some depth and development to many characters in this movie as you will see.The movie still stays a tension filled action movie about a lonesome pirate that wants to attack the Korean peninsula with nuclear garbage. The acting of both the main villain and the main hero is authentic and unique to both of them. The supporting actors such as the main villain's sister also do a great job. The amazing thing about this movie is that the bad guy is more than just your average terrorist. There are many reasons why he has become the one he is and sometimes good and evil are not clearly distinguished. When it comes to the confrontation between the good and the bad guy, one realizes that they have a lot in common and could have been big friends in another situation. This is what makes this movie emotional, tragic and not too expectable at some points. Towards the end, the flick becomes a true tearjerker but I mean this in a positive way. The movie truly touched me because the stories behind the characters are really well thought out. They are dramatic, emotional and tragic.The story is not complicated but still detailed enough to remain interesting and demand a certain kind of attention. The movie just has the right mixture of dialogues, narrative flashbacks and explosive action scenes. The settings are also amazing. The movie plays in several countries from Laos to Russia and exposes many beautiful landscapes and different cultures without being too educational.The only two small flaws during this joy ride are a little bit confusing beginning as too many different characters are introduced at the same time and you need a lot of concentration to get out who's doing what. The second point is a too predictable ending that reminds a little bit too much of many Hollywood movies. I really felt that I have already seen similar stuff a couple of times before at that point. A final showdown on a ship during a storm including terroristic pirates and a courageous military special unit that refuses to obey any orders to save the world on their own is a thing that uses too many stereotypes. Nevertheless, this movie still remains quite underrated, should get more praise and I would definitely watch this again.
Paul Magne Haakonsen
I must admit that it with with a certain level of anticipation and expectations that I sat down to watch "Typhoon", because it had gotten fairly good reviews and it said "a first rate thriller" on the DVD cover. And being a big fan of Asian cinema, I am always thrilled to see a movie that I haven't seen already."Typhoon" is a fairly standard formula thriller, as where the 'good guys' have to catch the 'bad guys' before they manage to unleash some kind of malevolent threat upon humanity. And in this case it was a North Korean who wanted to wreck vengeance upon all of South Korea because he believe they took away his chance for a good life in South Korea and took away first his father, then his mother and finally his sister. And it is up to a special government undercover agent from South Korea to stop him before he can execute his plan.The acting in the movie was actually quite good, especially the performances put on by Dong-gun Jang (playing Sin) and Mi-yeon Lee (playing Choi Myeong-ju). And the scene where they become reunited after twenty years, well, that was just spectacular. It was really nicely acted and came off as believable and emotional.There was a great deal of good action in the movie and also some exciting enough thrills throughout the movie. However, it just never really managed to raise itself out of a stereotypical formula, and it was something that had been seen before. And on that account, the movie was somewhat of a disappointment. However, if you just watch the movie for the sheer entertainment, then "Typhoon" will actually entertain you quite nicely for the approximate 104 minutes it is running. Just don't expect to see anything new or groundbreaking.For a Korean action movie, then "Typhoon" was a little bit tame and stale, and there are far more impressive and action-packed Korean action movies available out there. I will say, though, that "Typhoon" is good the first time you watch it, however, I doubt that the movie actually have enough contents to support a second watching.
tmcdaniel1
If this is the "average Korean blockbuster" show me more! It is an imperfect movie but compared to most of the crap from Hollywood USA these days, it is a superior effort. The steely-eyed, hero that never quits and still has a heart has been abandoned by Hollywood as hopelessly out of date. Yet, these men still exist and the public still craves to see them fictionalized on the movie screen. Add a bad guy that you eventually come to feel some real sympathy for and you've got the conflict that powered hundreds of Westerns in decades past. Mix it up with some high-tech Clancy-istic plot settings and you have...an enjoyable movie. The acting is above average and there is enough depth to the story to keep one involved to the end.It helps if you can appreciate the Korean sensibilities. All I can say is try to open your mind. If it seems "Corny" ask yourself if you are not just a little to hip (jaded) to enjoy it.I hope this is a harbinger of a rapidly developing Korean cinema. In a few more years they may be the equal of anyone.
Nav Hussain
One of the biggest high budget movie's made in Korea. Basically it's Korean style Bourne movie. The cast are brilliant including Jung-Jae Lee (City of the Rising Sun) and Dong-Kun Jang(2009: Lost Memories). Great location's however most of the budget must have been used for this, there are very few action scene's, don't be expecting amazing shoot out's or high flying unrealistic kung fu fight's. Do expect a film with characterisation and a bit of depth. Overall it's a film which will be enjoyable to watch if you are patient enough to last the first half hour. Ifg anyone has seen 'A Bittersweet life' by Ji-woon Kim you will enjoy this movie but it wont stand out as a classic but a stylish action movie.