I haven't watched this movie yet, to thoe who already watched it, what do you think of the movie?
bizkit_chic
I liked it. I liked Jae Hee's character, felt for him. On the surface, it's a really sad film.
I was surprised when i watched the film because the trailers made it look like an action comedy film. True, there were action sequences (although most of them featured the main character getting beaten up by bullies), and some funny scenes(not laugh out loud funny), but the film consists mostly of conversations between jae hee and his master. It made me feel for both characters.
Raymond
jae Hee keeps Getting Better!
Korea should be proud of him for having such a great fine actor like Jae Hee. I am really impressed by his acting in this movie. Honestly, he deserves an award for this role! Yes, I am biased because I am speaking as a fan. But if you will watch any of his films, you will definitely adore him and you will be amazed by his acting prowess. Congratualations Jae Hee! no words can express how proud we are for you!!!
About The Movie
OK! I have to be more objective as much as possible right? I thought it was an OK movie. I 've watched this movie mainly because of Jae Hee. Story wise... I didn't like the story itself(I'm only speaking for myself). 90% of the movie was more on fighting. Quite violent and, I wouldn't recommend this to young viewers though. But there are some scenes that I really like. I was moved by the scene where his friend gets beaten up to death and this particular goon was asking Byungtae's (Jae Hee) friend to lick and swallow his spit on the floor. How crruel is that? Since he was really weak and couldn't fight anymore, he has no choice but to oblige. Byungtae can't do anything but to cry. I was really moved by this scene. Another scens that was still on my mind is where his mentor was shot by Byungtae's father. His father thought that he's trying to kill Byungtae and out of love, he shot Byuntae's mentor. I really felt byung tae's pain in this scene.
Anyhow, if you're looknig for a comedy (which I tohught it was judging from the trailers)movie, then this is definitely not the one you're lookng for. if "action" is the type of movie you want, then this is definitely a must see movie. it's nice to know that this movie was a box office hit though(people were enticed to watch this movie mainly because of actors[no doubt about that] and I guess the trailers have a huge contributing factor also).
polabola
story and way the film is made (read at your own risk, may contain a lot of spoilers...)
\A lot of Jae Hee fans are anticipating on this movie expecting it to be action comedy, but sad to say though, Jae Hee fans and movie goers alike are going to be very disappointed. I personally categorize this movie more of an action for the most part with a touch of drama and a sprinkle of comedy.
Here's the gyst. The story starts with Byun Tae asking a martial arts expert to be his teacher since BT has been bullied all his life eversince he transeferred to a technical high school. The teacher gets killed by a mob of gangsters after hearing their conversation. After that, scenes of Byun Tae being bullied by his schoolmates were shown. Personally, this is a very weak start for a movie because they should have immediately shown how Byun Tae sufferred from the start and build it up from there, showing how he lived in fear and low self esteem. Then after 30 minutes or so of the movie, Byun Tae meets his mentor who when Byun Tae saw how good he was in fighting in an incident, but his mentor refuses him many times and Byun Tae continues to plead doing all sorts of things to please his master. After approving to be his student, the master gives BT advice and BT takes it to heart. Too much to heart that is, he forgot the "mind" aspect of fighting. He still can't conquer his fear. The turning point of this movie was when BT's friend gets mulled by the bullies of BT after defending BT (I interpret the friend has a special thing with BT), then BT saught for revenge and he successfully defeats his bullies, though not necessarily killing them. The story ends when BT gets assaulted by another set of gangsters who are after the master, the master gets stabbed, arrested since according to the police he's a bad man and walks away after surgery for his wounds. With parting words by BT saying that he never really knew this man.
All in all, the story for me is bland although it had its moments courtesy of the witty sayings by the master. I felt like clicking the fast forward button on some scenes because I find them actually pointless and boring. The dramatic and fight scenes are okay, not brilliant, just okay for my taste, thanks to the cinematography and make-up team. The directors are bad at having continuity and flow in their story. One scene then jumps to another. The transition is not smooth at all and this annoyed me throughout the film. I know a lot of people would notice if the film is seamless or it there are strings attatched to it. Would I recommend this film for the best screen play in any awards show? the answer is a flat no, but maybe I will leave it for audiences to decide when they see it for themselves
Acting
The acting...the acting...the acting...I gave a fair review for the story, but the acting deserves much much more. All the actors were great. Jae Hee as Byun Tae is absolutely wonderful with his innocent and cowardly expressions. With only a few lines, he carried the movie well. The other lead (sorry forgot the name) who played the master is great. I felt like he really was his character, the smooth and witty man he is in the movie. The other supporting characters embodied their character well too. I never felt I was seeing actors act. I felt they were these people and these people exist in life. All in all, the acting...exceeds beyond my expectations. I didn't feel anyone over or underacted.
lualm
my thoughts on art of fighting...
the story line is somewhat similar to the 1984 movie the karate kid, an old mentor teaching his ward the techniques on how to fight...back. the plot may not be an explosive one, but for me it was interesting enough to keep me glued on my seat. i feel for byun tae, he represents weaklings in schools who are made to suffer by their ruthless classmates. we all have our bullies once in our lives, and this movie makes one realize how helpless we can be, of how vulnerable we are without someone to turn to. aof may seem shallow, but the message its trying to convey is clear, we allow ourselves to be treated the way we are treated, we can either sulk in one corner and just take all the beatings or stand up, fight back and kick some *** around.
baek yoon shik fits the role of the mentor or si fu, to a T. he is the epitome of coolness, a seasoned actor who carries each role with suave, confidence and subtlety . his last scene in the beach reminds me of the last scene from the movie the silence of the lambs where anthony hopkins escaped to some exotic hideaway...
so is there anything left to be said about jae hee? well i would first take note on the little details, notice first the way he walks, in sgch he walked with utmost confidence, here in aof he walks in a goofy kind of way. the speech, in sgch he spoke loudly, here he speaks faintly. the look, in sgch his stares were full of life and zest, here his stares are almost empty and his eyes are filled with constant sadness. even the way he crawls and the way his behind protrudes in the window scene suggest a weak persona. the fight scenes, notice how well he executed those fight scenes in sgch, here in aof he fights like a school kid throwing punches amateurishly and awkwardly. i am pointing out these differences to show jae hee is a thinking actor, he gives what the role requires of him, from a queer tae suk , to a vivacious mong ryong, and now transforming himself into an unattractive wimpy byun tae. i felt the rage within him when he mustered enough courage to finally fight back, i found myself hitting at the wind with each punch he threw at his foes, i felt like extending my hand to the tv screen when he was crying helplessly and reaching out for his wounded mentor. i would go as far as saying , anything that's with jae hee in it, it must be good.
art of fighting may not be what movie critics would rave about, but it definitely has some elements that would make one stop and think. the director may have put in gory details but i believe he is portraying byun tae's situation as realistic as it can be.
Raymond
Tae Suk is queer enough to be straight and stand up for the woman he loves.
