Shiri

Rating:
Summary: Shiri... the best from South Korea
Review: It has some flaws, it's a bit predictable, it's overly sentimental at times. So what! It moves with lightning speed, it strikes without mercy, and it's exceptionally entertaining.

Some folks may want to see it twice, because it's confusing at times. If you're of the queasy stomach type, you may want your mom close by to give you comfort in the opening scenes. No matter, they provide the necessary balance for the rest of the film.

Action sequences are ruthless, also for the actors who sometimes were injured. That gives you a clue as to the efforts taken to make a realistic action movie.

I enjoyed it and will buy it.

This DVD contains about an hour of "The making of..." material which is as interesting as the final product.

4 Stars for being predictable and setimental. Ruthless agents are not prone to lacrimogenous scenes. Otherwise, an exceptional movie.

Rating:
Summary: Great action with a twist
Review: My only exposure to this movie is from other amazondotcommers' reviews, which was very favourable. Nevertheless, I still didn't know what to expect. Some reviewers made allusion to "Le Femme Nikita," which is rightly so, but hardly the same movie. This is a guy movie and the lead actress didn't have as much screen time as the two OP agents which I think is okay because the movie was still able to give a profound impression about the what and why's of the Femme Assassin. Concerning the other reviewers, I have to agree with most, "Shiri" is quite impressive in the way that it tried and succeeded in making a Hollywodd style action movie but uniquely Korean. The melodramatic parts of the movie gives one time to pause from the sheer, dizzing action sequence, yet it didn't feel awkward although at times bordering towards soap opera. The plot, surprisingly was the movie's weak point, a bit too gimicky and had the potential to sag, where for not the actor's believable performances. Yun-jin Kim who plays the reincarnated Hyun had a bit more of a challenge having to play the vunerable pretty girl next door, to a deadly spy with a big gun. Kim had to convey varying degrees of emotions in a limited screen time convincingly, which gives her performance more notice. I also like the actor who played the nemesis, Min sik Choi. He has the same intensity that could be compared to a younger Clint Eastwood. And yes, I also like the ending, don't forget the tissue paper.

The DVD has a nice, extra long documentary on the making of "Shiri," which really shows you that these guys mean bussiness when it comes to action movies. They employ the same meticulousness of Hollywood movie makers, with a bigger challenge: a very, very small budget, relatively speaking ofcourse, 5 million dollars is nothing to a big action Hollywood movie, but to North Koreans movie makers, it's enough money to but their other half of the country, which makes you appreciate this movie even more. I know a reviewer pointed out the awkwardness of having to follow a plot in subtittles, but I didn't find it a problem, I thought it added to its uniqueness. I am really glad I followed the advice and reviews of fellow dot commers. This movie is worth having. I plan to watch it several more times just to catch some missed nuances and probably pass it around for others to appreciate it.

Rating:
Summary: Very Impressive
Review: My only exposure to this movie is from other amazondotcommers' reviews, which was very favourable. Nevertheless, I still didn't know what to expect. Some reviewers made allusion to "Le Femme Nikita," which is rightly so, but hardly the same movie. This is a guy movie and the lead actress didn't have as much screen time as the two OP agents which I think is okay because the movie was still able to give a profound impression about the what and why's of the Femme Assassin. Concerning the other reviewers, I have to agree with most, "Shiri" is quite impressive in the way that it tried and succeeded in making a Hollywodd style action movie but uniquely Korean. The melodramatic parts of the movie gives one time to pause from the sheer, dizzing action sequence, yet it didn't feel awkward although at times bordering towards soap opera. The plot, surprisingly was the movie's weak point, a bit too gimicky and had the potential to sag, where for not the actor's believable performances. Yun-jin Kim who plays the reincarnated Hyun had a bit more of a challenge having to play the vunerable pretty girl next door, to a deadly spy with a big gun. Kim had to convey varying degrees of emotions in a limited screen time convincingly, which gives her performance more notice. I also like the actor who played the nemesis, Min sik Choi. He has the same intensity that could be compared to a younger Clint Eastwood. And yes, I also like the ending, don't forget the tissue paper.

The DVD has a nice, extra long documentary on the making of "Shiri," which really shows you that these guys mean bussiness when it comes to action movies. They employ the same meticulousness of Hollywood movie makers, with a bigger challenge: a very, very small budget, relatively speaking ofcourse, 5 million dollars is nothing to a big action Hollywood movie, but to North Koreans movie makers, it's enough money to but their other half of the country, which makes you appreciate this movie even more. I know a reviewer pointed out the awkwardness of having to follow a plot in subtittles, but I didn't find it a problem, I thought it added to its uniqueness. I am really glad I followed the advice and reviews of fellow dot commers. This movie is worth having. I plan to watch it several more times just to catch some missed nuances and probably pass it around for others to appreciate it.

Rating:
Summary: Brutal Beauty - Deadly Aim
Review: North Korea's 8th Special Forces train highly effective, ruthless, and deadly agents that operate within South Korea's borders. The most lethal of them all is a female sniper, Hee, whose identity has been revealed to the South Korean secret service. It seems like Hee is stalking two South Korean agents, Ryu and Lee, and somehow she is constantly two steps before them. However, this time it seems like Hee has made an error and has left a track behind, but the real question is why? Shiri is a suspenseful tale of infiltration and espionage that tingles the nerves; however, there is slight inelegance in the story that downplays the complete cinematic experience.

Rating:
Summary: Seriously over-hyped
Review: SHIRI caused a massive sensation amongst western fans of Asian cinema upon its release, generating a massive amount of hype and stimulating a new interest in Korean cinema. I must qualify my own review by saying that I appear to be in a minority, but I really don't think the movie lives up to the hype.

The movie is certainly slick - no questioning that. It easily matches the production values of a Hollywood action blockbuster, but on 1/10th of the budget. Taken as a Hollywood action movie it is very good, but this means that it shares the faults of typical Hollywood movies, which are what drove many viewers in the west to turn to Asian cinema instead.

Underneath the surface gloss, SHIRI is a hollow movie. It tries to create the impression that it contains well developed characters and a strong romance story, but this is pure veneer. On a first pass you may be deceived, but second time through it is all too clear that the characterisation does not hold up to questioning, the twists in the plot are illogical, and the events cliched. Pacing is also an issue, with the middle section dragging horribly second time through, and the epilepticam used in the action scenes really annoys.

For fans of Hollywood movies, SHIRI may well impress, and may even be a gentle introduction to the world of Asian Cinema. I am very unhappy that the movie is often championed as a great example of Asian Cinema's strengths though, because it possesses none of the charm that makes a Hong Kong or Japanese or most Korean movies such a refreshing change from Hollywood processed blandness.

Rating:
Summary: A noble attempt for a Korean blockbuster
Review: Shiri, prior to its release in South Korea, received some attention as the subject focusing the conflict between North Korea and South Korea, a conflict that has been very real and decisive at times over the last decades. What should be noted is the fact Shiri is one of the first Korean blockbusters, with a budget of $5 million, a huge budget for a foreign film to this day. The film did exceptionally well in Korea, drawing more audience than James Cameron's Titanic in Korea, which is not a small feat. Yet, aside from its accomplishments and facts that are noteworthy, as a pure action film, it falls a few steps short.
It is important it deals with a real life conflict between the two Koreas, and there has not been many movies that dealt with that situation before Shiri. Shiri addressed an issue that is very real, without choosing any sides. Both the North Korean terrorists and South Korean special operations have reasons to chase down and foil each other's agenda, and while they carry out their objectives, they also have to exorcise their own demons. Such plot lines alone is worth a look, especially to understand the conflict in the Korean peninsula.
The acting is decent, but not great. Some of the actors play their character with deep understanding of their characters, and play them with their hearts. Some actors are not able to ignore the cameras, and it shows- sometimes to the degree where it impacts the film.
The actions sequences, while some are impressive, some feels as if they stole a few pages directly from a typical Jerry Bruckheimer-Michael Bay film. The scenes were executed with ambitious goals, although the small budget hinders the sequence sometimes. If you are used to big explosions every five minutes, this is not your type of film, as this film deals more with the conflict of the Koreas and the Koreans who deal with it.
While it may not be the breathtaking film of sorts, it has similar elements that fans of Hong Kong cinema will certainly enjoy. But note this film has different approaches from the typical Hong Kong cinema, and this film has been one of the best offerings from Korean cinema. It is definitely worth a look, but I am not sure if I'd want to own this film.

Rating:
Summary: designer kitten =^-^=
Review: Shiri
Dubbed by the local press as the 'small fish that sank Titanic', "Shiri (Swiri)" is the most successful film in South Korean box office history.visuals rivaling both Hollywood and Hong Kong action movies, the star power of popular Korean actors Han Suk-kyu ("Christmas in August") and Choi Min-shik, and a story centered around the continuing Cold War tensions between North and South Korea, this espionage action-thriller easily won over domestic audiences when it was released in 1999. "Shiri" also marked a turning point in the evolution of South Korean cinema.That said, the film's action sequences are rather fun to watch, and probably the film's only saving grace. Though the film was made for a paltry $5 million US (which is six times the typical budget for a typical Korean feature), the production values, particularly in the action department, are top-notch.So if you like action films then you will love this film.I give it 5stars because its one better action movies i have seen in good while.

Rating:
Summary: designer kitten =^-^=
Review: Shiri
Dubbed by the local press as the 'small fish that sank Titanic', "Shiri (Swiri)" is the most successful film in South Korean box office history.visuals rivaling both Hollywood and Hong Kong action movies, the star power of popular Korean actors Han Suk-kyu ("Christmas in August") and Choi Min-shik, and a story centered around the continuing Cold War tensions between North and South Korea, this espionage action-thriller easily won over domestic audiences when it was released in 1999. "Shiri" also marked a turning point in the evolution of South Korean cinema.That said, the film's action sequences are rather fun to watch, and probably the film's only saving grace. Though the film was made for a paltry $5 million US (which is six times the typical budget for a typical Korean feature), the production values, particularly in the action department, are top-notch.So if you like action films then you will love this film.I give it 5stars because its one better action movies i have seen in good while.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable but Predictable Intensity
Review: Somewhere just past the opening sequence of Shiri, two special forces recruits race furiously to manually assemble the dismantled pistols in front of them. The male recruit glances nervously at the female recruit who calmly finishes her gun first, points it at him and blows his head off. The strong survive.

Kang Je-gyu's 2002 effort is loaded with these types of moments, be it in a tragic, suspenseful or politically heart-pounding sense. It is first and foremost a blow-em up shoot-em up action film, but Shiri creates distance from the norm by relying on the people, emotions and motivations behind the bombs and bullets. It's not as simple as the formulaic "something bad happens to the hero; hero must retaliate against villain; villain has world-ending plan; hero must blast his way through the challenges to get to blast the villain" scenario we've all become accustomed to. Shiri's characters must question their loyalties to each other, to their countries, to a particular cause or to their past at each step. It isn't a new concept by any means, but movies with incessantly self-questioning heroes AND villains usually make for some good watching, especially when the "hero" and "villain" tags are easily blurred.

In Shiri, Ryu and Lee must find Hee, once the female recruit mentioned above, now a dangerous killer. There seems to be a connection between Hee, a terrorist hijacking of a volatile, extremely destructive liquid explosive called CTX, and an upcoming North Korea Vs. South Korea soccer match intended to promote peace between the countries. The hunt is on.

There's nothing technically new that the film offers; you won't see any groundbreaking or impressive camera work, special effects or action sequences--everything is old hat. The film certainly wants to emphasize and build itself around the North vs. South tension, but ultimately ends up reducing that issue to background noise, up until the end. The dialogue is also nothing special, and gets impossibly preachy by the final frames.

Still, Je-gyu manages to develop the characters current relationships extremely well. Most of the main characters develop well enough for you to feel the emotional weight and pain when one of them dies. Your emotions should be running high by the final five to 10 minutes of Shiri.

Only one thing, which verges on being a spoiler, prevented me from enjoying this movie at a 4-star capacity. Most viewers who play close attention to faces, and can reasonably differentiate Asians, will have to be able to get over the realization early on that Ryu and Lee have Hee well within their grasp. It isn't too disappointing or so important that the film is ruined, but a little bit more time invested on make-up work on one particular character would've given this film an extra edge.

Once again, it's a high-emotion, high-intensity action film, but the Korean setting and subplots should give viewers something more to work with than your average shooter movie.

Rating:
Summary: Holy Freaking Wow!
Review: Sure, SHIRI might end up being little more than 'eye candy' on some critics lists, but two best picture awards aren't handed out like food samples at the corner grocery stores, now are they?

A densely layered action flick (a thinking man's DIE HARD), SHIRI plays out from start to finish with blistering action choreography ... brainwashing (a harrowing twist on THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE if there ever was one), gun battles (some of which are poorly photographed yet rival John Woo's HARD-BOILED in their choreographed frenzy), car chases (brief but rivals THE FRENCH CONNECTION in intensity), international espionage (a Cold War spin on the North / South Korea political situation) ... you name it, it's in there somewheres. All of that, and there's even a James Bond-like explosive called CTX that keeps our two government agents on the run against the would-be terrorists.

While there were several elements of the ending that the astute viewer will see coming, the impact of the performances maintain the interest level, doing an excellent job at elevating what could've been a stockpile story into a tiny little work of art.

All in all, SHIRI is a must for any fan of action movies. Thanks to the miracle of DVD, I've watched both the subtitled version and the dubbed, and I was quite pleased with the English language dubbing that was accomplished; it did very little to distract from this hot little gem.