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Shiri Editorial Review:
When a lethal sniper from a North Korean terrorist group threatens to sabotage national peace efforts with a high tech bomb, it is up to two South Korean special intelligence agents to stop her.
Genre: Foreign Film - Other
Rating: R
Release Date: 9-APR-2002
Media Type: DVD
Customer Reviews:
Solid thriller with a heart - and minor flaws which can be overlooked
There was a blurb on the DVD I rented, which quoted "Time" magazine as saying that with this movie Korean films had reached the level of Hollywood. I'm sure that was meant as a compliment:) I think probably the only thing wrong with the movie is the increbility of some of the action sequences.
It is possible to review it without spoilers, so I'll only say that it's a pity that the movie falls into the familiar trap of "two kinds of bullets" - the ones which work and ones which don't. As another reviewer has commented, there are scenes which are unrealistic. That's a bit irritating, but many action movies have this flaw. I would give Shiri 4.5 stars if I could.
But coming back to what made this a great movie for me, it was the human angles. It's wonderful that the human side of the enemy terrorists has been shown - particularly there is a punch line which is very telling in one of the key stand-offs. Characters have been developed. One of the questions which came to my mind is why the sniper makes some choices - and I was quite satisfied with the answer. The character of Hee could have gone over the top, but doesn't. I was expecting the usual fading away kind of anti-climactic end, but there is a touching twist which made the movie even more likeable.
Highly recommended for movie buffs who value action with a good storyline.
Good, but not great...
I thought this movie was about a female super-assasin, like Agent 47 in Hitman. It's not. In fact, you don't see this so-called super assasin do anything super in the movie, or close to it, other than openning credits.
This is an action movie revolves around two South Korean agents chasing a ghost of an assasin and stumbling on a bomb threat.
Apart from the Korean political content, this movie is a clone of any other Hollywood action movie. There are nice twists and turns but some can be rather predictable.
Acting and the visual quality of the movie is very good, then again there are some disjointed scenes where you go 'Huh, how did they ...', don't worry no spoilers.
Maybe I didn't quite get the movie because I was fooled by the cover and the overview. Overall, it's a good movie but just like many others said it's another action movie. Rental for us non-Koreans and I suppose a keeper for Koreans.
It's ok, but...
first of all don't be fooled by the picture of the girl on the dvd cover. There is a super female assasin but she's never dressed in skimpy clothing. Another problem is with the good guys. They can't hit anything they shoot at. The bad guys seem to have unlimited ammo. And the good guys just can't seem to surround a building they know the bad guys are in. The story itself isn't so bad and the action is alright. If you can get past the other problems, it might be worth watching.
Post Edit: I've watched this movie 3 times now and I find that my opinion of it is getting better everytime. But I can't seem to change my rating from 3 to 4 stars.
An Action-Packed Espionage Thriller that is a Wild Blend of Emotions and Political Intrigue!
One of the few films that managed to interest me in Korean cinema is the sleeper hit that awed many critics, wowed audiences in Fantasia, and is among Yun Jin-Kim's first starring roles before she achieved U.S. mainstream fame in "Lost". SHIRI (1999) is a South Korean espionage action thriller that has the qualities of an expensive Hollywood flick but maintains a touch of Asian cinema--full of Hong Kong coolness and Korean emotions. I have no idea as to why it took me this long to review this blockbuster Korean film, but I supposed it's better late than never.
An expert sniper who remains unseen and unidentified has been methodically killing off key figures in South Korean intelligence, most recently an arms smuggler poised to reveal vital information to special agents Ryu and Lee. (Han Suk-Kyu and Song Kang-Ho respectively) Ryu instinctively suspects that the killing is the handiwork of a female operative named Hee who is North Korea's most lethal assassin. She had avoided capture for quite sometime and is responsible for the execution of many government officials. Meanwhile, a group of North Korean extremists led by Park Mu-Young (Choi Min-Sik, Oldboy) had acquired a new undetectable bomb in liquid form called the CTX. Seems like there is a leak in South Korean intelligence since the North side seems to be always a step ahead. Ryu and Lee become suspicious of each other while they try to retrieve the CTX and foil the plot for disaster. To make things more complicated, Ryu is about to get married to a beautiful woman (Yun Jin-Kim) and it may be a sign of impending doom.
It is very difficult to review this film without giving out some major spoilers, but I will try anyway. "Shiri" is an action-packed thrill ride full of twists and turns, while at first glance, one may think it has influences taken from "The Rock", but trust me, it's not as simple as that. The film has a very good premise--and it proves surprising. While the plot itself is simple, the way everything gets revealed is a work of a great developing storyline, the story definitely evolved into a living emotional roller-coaster thrill ride meant to appeal to our emotions. This South Korean espionage-cop thriller carries a lot of character and the action is nicely placed.
The characters in the film managed to become a breathing presence. Although truth be told the character development is a little restrained, the depth of each one most specifically their interactions have a lot of merit and helps the viewer form an attachment to them. These agents have personal lives, even the villains are well-rounded. All the characters have a presence and they feel very real; that even though you barely know who they are, one can't help but to feel their convincing situation. Agents Ryu and Lee are very similar although one of them is engaged, but both are equally committed to their job. Hyun (played by Yun Jin-Kim) is the type of woman any man would love to marry, and she is very likable. The acting is very good, but of course the film isn't one without any flaws. Some scenes were dangerously close to becoming overly sentimental, (the scene with the speech by Park) but I could excuse it since it was a way for the villain to achieve an essence of humanity. This is a Korean film, and the Korean people love character drama and political dramas.
Now, the film is a well-polished action movie and it is a popcorn film. The plot does give doses of emotion and character but nonetheless it is an eye-candy popcorn film. There are a lot of swat teams running around, laser-guided rifles, bullets flying all over the place provide excitement but honestly, some were a tad exaggerated and unrealistic. (but not as overly stylish as a John Woo action flick) I was a little distracted with the occasional "shaky" camera movement, but it doesn't really hamper the film too much. The film's paced carries a lot of momentum and the proceedings are never dull. Thankfully, the film's action has a sense of restraint and director Kang Je-Kyu knew how to balance its fast-paced elements with its calmer parts that even the dialogue will not bore you. The soundtrack has strong similarities to a Michael Bay film, and adds some commercial appeal.
Suffice it to say, if you're the type of person who loves eye-candy visual style, brisk action sequences, with a touch of human drama then "Shiri" is definitely for you. The film has the themes of love, trust, loyalty and fortitude that may seemed a little clichéd at first impression (the North vs. South Korea political intrigue), but believe me, the film's structure is solid enough that you will feel the characters and buy into the experience. This film is a significant achievement in Asian cinema, I've read that this film surpassed "Titanic" as South Korea's leading blockbuster. The film is beautifully executed and carries more depth and tragic fate than a typical Hollywood movie. I guess if you like espionage action-thrillers, then "Shiri" will not disappoint.
Highly Recommended! [4+ Stars]
When I Dream, I Dream of You.......
This sleek and elegant action thriller from South Korea transcends genres as its visually stunning and highly stylized violence is balanced with an emotionally rich story that makes it one of the finest action films ever. This film was a bigger blockbuster in Asia than Titanic, and after viewing it for the first time you will know why.
Unlike most action films, director Je-gyu Kang retains a very human element within the often spectacular physical sequences, giving this picture a heart. It deals with politics and the anguish of a country which has been divided through what, in the end, turns out to be a very intimate story of two people in love.
Shiri is a viciously trained female assasin who has gone underground after leaving a goodbye message in blood at her last kill. Ryu and Lee are South Korean agents who have dealt with the beautiful and deadly Shiri once before. When she resurfaces and takes out a black market arms dealer, they must discover why she has returned. Their search will cause each to subtly question their friendship and cast suspicion on each other.
A new weapon developed by South Korea called CTX has been stolen. It is a liquid, like water, that when exposed to light is deadly enough to destroy an entire city with one gallon. Korea is close to taking its first steps toward unification with a soccer game attended by the leaders of both sides of Korea. But if the deadly Shiri is working for North Korea why would she kill both leaders? The only conclusion is that not everyone in Korea wants the same kind of unification.
This film has some incredibly stylized action sequences but never sacrifices the more human elements which drive it. Ryu's relationship with his sweet fiancee is tender and real. She is a recovering alcoholic who runs a fish shop. Their scenes together are truly touching. She does not know Ryu is an agent and as his pursuit of Shiri begins to intrude on their lives she may not be able to stay away from the bottle.
There are revelations exposed near the end which are full of anguish and heartbreak. I cannot reveal more but can say that not everyone will survive. There is some fine Korean music in the background to this terrific film and it is visually gorgeous. The final scene of two people sitting together on a bench overlooking the ocean and listening to "When I Dream, I Dream of You" is heartrending, and what separates this great film from others of its genre. A real winner.
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