Typhoon on DVD (2007)

SAI81 from Tonbridge [Highly rated reviewer] , 28/04/2007

Typhoon blows. Oh, yes, that's not really a review, okay then.

A naval policeman (Lee Jeong-jae) is sent after a North Korean pirate (Jang) who has a (very stupid) plan to get back at the whole of the South on whom he swore vengeance 20 years ago when, having been told they would be granted asylum his family was massacred crossing the border. Only the pirate; Sin and his older sister (Lee Mi-yeon) survived. They haven't seen each other for twenty years and so the police use Sin's sister as bait to force him into a confrontation.

Over the last few years the South Korean new wave has produced some of the best and most distinctive cinema in the world and marched very much to the beat of its own drum. This is the most expensive film yet made in South Korea ( a still comparatively frugal US$ 35m) and director Kwak has clearly looked to America for inspiration, sadly he's not looked to America's best films but to their cheesiest actioners and from the first sequence we can hear the famlliar squeaking of gears as the Plot O'Matic 3000 cranks up.

The first hour of the film is deadly dull, not only is it very talky but in his effort to make a film that will have crossover appeal Kwak has much of the dialogue spoken in English (Lord knows what the plot justification is). Look, I love foreign films and I consider dubbing an affront to cinema, but so is this. These actors have a grasp of the English language which would be falttered by the description 'tenuous'. They struggle so hard to get the words out in a coherent fashion that they are unable to act at the same time. The effect is akin to listening to that emotionless voice that tells you you have voicemail deliver all the exposition.

It isn't, however, entirely bad news. Kwak puts his budget to work and comes out with a great looking film and some acceptably good CGI. He's also got some solid action scenes sprinkled around, with the opening siezure of an American ship and the final fight between Jang and Lee Jeong-jae being real highlights. It is worth noting though the badly botched direction of chase sequence which looks to have been film by an epileptic with Parkinsons.

There's also some good work from the cast. Lee Mi-yeon has a tiny role which belies her third billing, she's on screen for less than 15 minutes but still walks away with the film. As Sin's older sister she brings emotional weight to the thinnest of material and shows again that she's a very special talent indeed. The charismatic Jang, so impressive in Tae Guk Gi, is also very strong with a forceful, fierce turn as Sin which holds up the bulk of the film. Sadly Lee Jeong-jae is not so good, a blank faced actor with a weak character he seems lost and is unable to find any real spark that would help us care about him.

Typhoon is a total mess. All this has been done before and better. For fans of actors Lee Mi-yeon and Jang Dong-gun it's perhaps worth a look but don't expect much

  10 out of 12 people found this review helpful

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Chris Shields from Suffolk, England , 31/08/2007

A very good film for lovers of Korean cinema, it contains action adverture and something for your softer side. The plot progresses well and gives you just enough to keep you entertained. The first 30 mins can be seen as a bit slow but definatly worth paying attention. Sometimes i found the english harder to understand that the Korean but i got over it quickly. Definatly worth a watch if you enjoyed 'Infernal Affairs', 'From Russia with love' or 'The Bourne Identity'

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

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