"Pulp Noir", Women Empowerment and Martial Arts Action...What's There Not to Like??
Everyone knows that there are a number of great Hollywood directors such as Quentin Tarantino and even Martin Scorsese who are very fond of Asian cinema, and they have good reason to be. NO BLOOD NO TEARS (2002) is one of the true testaments to that claim and a welcome tribute to pulp noir films. Whoever said that Asian directors cannot keep up with the big-shots of Hollywood deserves a SPIDER FINGER JAB in the face. This film is proof as to why Korean cinema has been growing, Ryu Seung-Wan's (City of Violence, Arahan) latest U.S. release is so full of style, dynamic chemistry between its characters that meshes a lot of substance. Ryu Seung-Wan has been basking in "commercial fame" with the successes of his other films and finally this film is brought to U.S. shores. Korean movie fans have a reason to rejoice; CJ Entertainment is now operating in the U.S.
Soo-jin (Jeon Do-Yeon) is an aspiring singer with a boyfriend from hell named Puldok (Jeong Jae-yeong, Guns and Talks)...
Prime Korean Neo Noir
Awesome example of Korean neo noir. Two females with guns and a plan. What are the possibilities? Director Ryu steps back from his high-energy macho nihilism for a Elmore Leonard style of oddball and psychotic characters. The older female cab driver looks into the rearview and sighs, "Your glory days all gone." She promptly gets sideswiped by her future partner in crime, played by the great Jeon Do-yeon. Pity the film had to be marketed in the west as the Korean Thelma and Louise. Different as kimchi and cole slaw. Super cool, very modern Asian noir, highly entertaining.
Click to Editorial Reviews
No comments:
Post a Comment