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A Bittersweet Life
Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 12:58PM / Standard Entry / Asian Movie Review / Members only
11 comments

Wow, where was I in 2005 that I didn't hear about this movie til now?!? It was mindblowing good!

'A Bittersweet Life' is a violent mafia revenge film directed by Kim Ji-woon and starring Korean super-star Lee Byung-Hyun.

I didn't know what to expect from this movie when I watched it, but I was really blown away by it. Lee Byung-hyun plays a bad-ass mafia enforcer who kicks one too many asses before the tables are finally turned on him.

The action (martial arts and gunplay) is pretty intense and the acting and direction is good (a lot of tension!) I was very surprised by Lee Byung-Hyun, i've only seen him in 'JSA' and 'Everybody Has Secrets' (basically a drama and a comedy) -- but he is quite good in the action scenes too.

It has a touch of John Woo in it, especially the finale, but a LOT darker and more serious. If I could be so bold as to say this: "the kind of film Tarantino wishes he could make!" :-P

this was my favorite scene... you can cut the tension with a knife! :-P

If you're a fan of 'film noir' or mafia or revenge flicks... this one is good. Not as 'out there' as 'Old Boy', but definitely well made and well acted. My only gripe is that, like John Woo's problem of never ending bullets, this film has never-ending flesh-wounds for the hero. :-P

I'll give it a strong 8/10

Entry comments (11)

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Li-Tong
posted on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 9:43PM [Report]

Hey! I watched this movie a few weeks ago! Definitely one of the better movies I watched this year!
xox
HuisyG
posted on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 9:56AM [Report]

I'm still waiting for this film to come out in Australia.
peachey
posted on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 2:44AM [Report]

I saw this a while back. And I can't remember a thing about it. 8\

Harmonium of My Memory - excellent movie.
Flagday
posted on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 12:43AM [Report]

JSA, Three Extremes and Harmonium of My Memory - I think Peachey had recommended that one....All good and all excellent performances.
Emmanuel Manzanares
posted on Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 10:37PM [Report]

yes! easily one of the best korean films made that year. extremely solid and Lee Byung-Hun was ridiculous fantastic. Plus Jung Doo Hong on the action! oh man, so good.
butter
posted on Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 10:07PM [Report]

I currently have this DVD but haven't watched it yet. I need to get on it. Emmanuel Manzanares recommended it and he had alot of good things to say about it as well. LBH/Brian Lee is a great actor. I'm sure they'll probably be remaking this one in Hollywood soon. Did you hear about the Oldboy remake with Will Smith?
Flagday
posted on Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 8:16PM [Report]

I've seen him in several movies (JSA, Three Extremes, JSA).  He's a fine actor.

I see he's playing Storm Shadow in the GI Joe movie.

Thanks for the review.  I'll pick this up.
Etchy
posted on Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 5:34PM

stunti - i'll bring the DVD in next week... or if you want i can give you the mp4 rip i watched on my phone...
snowduck
posted on Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 5:31PM [Report]

Agreed. Fine film.
stunti
posted on Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 5:03PM [Report]

One more movie to watch
Zhou Le
posted on Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 2:16PM [Report]

agree with you!! this movie is very very good :D