Review of New World (2013) by Christopher L — 03 Oct 2013

This film is particularly good if you like the genre. Korean Mobster flicks have their own style, their own feel, and if you like that this film will satisfy you to no end. It engages playfully and engagingly with the tropes, using clichés enough to be interesting, but not enough to be tired. Many of Korean's character actors come and play the same characters they usually play, but somehow the complexity of the story brings out new and satisfying facets of well-trodden characters.

This is the movie I would have liked Eastern Promises to be. The ending is just perfect.

As a side-note: fails the Bechdel test with flying colours. The wife character feels really superfluous and I was really sad she didn't somehow turn out to be important. Also, the go teacher was fine except her most important characteristic seems to be that she's really hot. Which she is, but I don't see what that added to her character.

Also: violence warning. But if you watch Korean Mobster flicks you know that. Elevator knife fight. Fuck yeah.