Fists of Legend (2013)

I think this is based off a webtoon because I swear I've read it. If it's not then perhaps I should lower my score for biting off a webtoon. However, I'll assume it is as a lot of Korean movies are based off webtoons.

Another movie I went in for the stellar cast (Hwan Jung Min to be particular). However, in the end, the movie wasn't as engaging as I thought it would be. Too many moments could have been further developed and showcased but because they weren't, it left the script just full of gaps.

For instance, more back story on their history and younger selves. They just befriended each other, stuff randomly happened and bam, all grown up. It was rushed and a little unbelievable. Furthermore, the defining moment in their younger years was just terribly written and terribly done. It should have been a far more emotional, psychological and dramatic scene. Instead it ended faster than their lunch scene.

They are all also severely in shape and skilled for people who haven't fought in 25 years. Further more, they fight like professionals and even better with minimal training...

There's also very little back story on his life after high school. There were just too many gaps to find this engaging. A lot wasn't developed making me not root for the characters that much. The climax of the movie was his last fight but I didn't find myself on my tippy toes severely rooting for his character. Normally, when I root for a character, I get tense and vocal but I realised, I neither cared if he won or not.

Overall: Underdeveloped script and characters make for an unengaging plot.

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Full oF Action

This movie fully revolved around professional fighting, about the lives of three fighters in their younger days who became involved in a crime. They are forced to fight again due to their present circumstances or simply saying the need for money. The backstory is well written which shows the societal difference they faced due to greedy people and still live in it. They are professional fighters, so they cant use their force to fight when they see something wrong, otherwise, it would be against the rules. I felt really bad due to the backstory because, they were young unaware of the laws too, which the elderly use to manipulate the people and they couldn't do anything.

The actors tried their best with the script they were given. Younger actors also did an excellent job portraying the characters perfectly. The emotions they showcased made the backstory strong.
Hwang Jung Min portraying the noodle owner and a father had a delicate storyline and he nailed it. His struggle as a single father and the way he bonds with her daughter was magnificent.
Yu Jun Sang as the office worker fighting legend was also amazing. He finally broke off from the unhealthy friendship and chose something for himself.
Yoon Je Moon, well he always looks like a villain to me. He had a funny and friendly feel in the movie.

Because it has no unnecessary BGM, having silence and natural sounds is nice.

Although it's an action movie I would watch this again to see the mixed martial arts done by the actors.

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Victory in Life

I miss movies like this. The martial arts genre is the genre of my youth that I enjoyed the most. Movies of this type have moved into the genre of thrillers, bloody gore or superheroes, but they have never been as good, and that's why I was both surprised and delighted by how much I liked this movie. It reminds me of the golden age of Korean cinema, which for me was from 2005 to 2010 when I was watching Korean movies every day, and in a way this film also belongs to that time.

Actually, I started watching the now movie because it wasn't on my "already seen list", but as soon as the movie switches to the youth of the main characters, I remembered that I had already seen it. I would even say that now, 10 years later, this movie is even better for me than when I watched it for the first time.

The film shows three friends who meet again in the ring after 25 years. The film briefly shows the days of their youth, but the main part of the film is the present time and these actors did the best job. I'm especially glad to see Hwang Jung-min, who is one of my favorite actors, and here he shows how skilled he is in fighting, and also in singing, since we hear his voice in the closing song of the film. The fight choreographies are very good, the story has enough plot and drama to justify the long duration. I have no complaints. A 10 for me.

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