Directed by:
Jae-hoon ChoiScreenplay:
Jae-hoon ChoiVOD (1)
Plots(1)
After the fall of King Gwanghae, Joseon' greatest swordsman and royal guard Tae-yul is forced into hiding. In the meantime, Joseon is caught between Qing and Ming dynasties' conflict, and is at the mercy of Qing's envoy and slave trade Kurutai's ridiculous demands. As general populace suffering deepens, Tae-yul's daughter is taken away as a tribute to Qing and although he wanted to live his remaining days in solace, Tae-yul has no choice but to unsheathe his sword and face the Qing foes in order to bring his daughter back. (Cine Asia)
(more)Reviews (2)
The story couldn't be much simpler, except that sometimes simplicity is beauty. What the film definitely excels at, though, is Hyeok Jang and his talent for martial arts. For him, this role was quite introverted and silent, but it suited him without the loud laughter and determined speeches. In this case, he just acted. And fans of sword fighting will definitely enjoy his moves. I just have a weakness for guys who save little girls, so I might be a little bit turned on by it as well. 4 stars.
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The most anticipated South Korean film of this year is finally over and, even though it has a few flaws, I am thrilled because this is a debut and there hasn't been a better swordplay film since Rurouni Kenshin. The weakest link is probably the story, which is not very interesting, but I didn't watch the film because of the story, it's the other stuff that's important! The main character is very interesting, he's cold, doesn't smile, has minimal facial expressions and doesn't say much, but in fights he's awesome, his agility, speed and sword skills reach unprecedented levels. The technical aspect is flawless, the period setting is decent, the costumes are very nice and the action is plentiful, shot wonderfully and blood is not spared. The finale is almost half an hour long and the scene where the protagonist mows down 30 enemies by himself was a sheer delight. High praise must also go to the star of The Raid and The Night Comes for Us, Joe Taslim, who here plays the arrogant bad guy with grace. He may not get a chance to show off his sword skills until the finale, but the 5-minute duel is among the best ever made in the genre without question. Asia is having perhaps its strongest year in 5 years and this year is really on a roll. Story***, Action*****, Humor>No, Violence****, Entertainment****, Music****, Visuals*****, Atmosphere****, Suspense****. 8.5/10.
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Gallery (15)
Photo © OPUS Pictures
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