IslandGuru Who payed the critics

Lovesusti The Worst Film Ever

Matrixiole Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

Anoushka Slater While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Prashast Singh Movie: New World (18)Rating: 1/5A great thing is that all the South Korean films I've watched turned out to be good. But the bad thing is that this film is the only one which isn't good. NEW WORLD, seeming to be extremely amazing from the promos, synopsis and IMDb rating, turns out to be a major downer despite of a great performance from the seasoned actor Choi Min-sik. The other lead characters simply overdo their parts. The film is supported by good music, visuals and a handful of action, but is let down by a poorly executed story and screenplay. The biggest problem with NEW WORLD is that it chooses the melodramatic way of telling a story which needed a faster pace and sharper execution. The first hour of the film is totally wasted in setting up characters which don't seem to be impressive. And they unfortunately turn out to be the lead characters. Despite of a lot of time being given in character development, one of the lead characters looks simply underdeveloped. The film, which I was expecting to be a solid one, turned out to be a disappointment because it didn't stay true to the genre it was expected to stay to. It's a crime drama, but as it progresses, it turns out to be a "crime melodrama" instead. Choi Min-sik is the saving grace of this film. And only he is. Hwang Jung-min disappoints. Lee Jung-jae doesn't show any other expression other than the one he sports. Park Sung-Woong was a total surprise package as he performed very well. But sadly, his character isn't well written and neither does he get a proper scope to perform. Others actors too are disappointing. The story and screenplay both seem to be poorly written and after a point of time, the film turns into a yawnfest. The film fails to evoke or convey any emotion. It's indeed hard to figure out what is being tried to convey with this film. The first hour being totally bland makes you lose interest even when the second hour seems to get a little back on track. But sadly, it never actually gets back on track. The moment you feel it's suddenly back on track, it just gets derailed with the next shot. In other words, the editing is another major negative point of the film as it's too slow paced to engage you. Many portions are overlong, especially the pre-climactic episode, and they generate no tension at all.But I mustn't forget to praise the cinematography, music and one well choreographed action scene. But these are the only things one will remember. For a full time watch, NEW WORLD doesn't seem to be a right film. South Korean films never disappointed me so getting disappointed with this one is something I didn't expect at all. Don't think I don't like drama films. I do like intense dramas apart from action and thriller films. But this film seems to be having almost no intensity at all.Still, I must say I have no "new word" for NEW WORLD to describe it as something more than bad. I am not saying that don't watch it. Watching it depends on you, and not watching too. Just note that the film lacks the kick of action films, the intelligence of crime films, emotion of drama films and the edge of the seat sharpness of thriller films. Instead, watch Lee Byung-hun's INSIDE MEN: an excellent film of the same genre which is both far longer and million times better than this "world" of 135 minutes.Repeat value: Definitely, A big no!

CinemaClown A highly gripping portrait of Korean crime syndicate, New World is arguably the best mob film to come out from South Korea since Kim Jee-woon's A Bittersweet Life & is an ingeniously structured, stylishly filmed, firmly composed & violently told cinema that shares a similar thematic structure with Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather. Opening with a bloodied face of a person being tortured as he is suspected of being the mole in the gang, this crime-drama sets the tone for what's to come & as the film progresses, becomes more & more engrossing until it all culminates on a rousing high with an expertly executed finale.The plot covers the conflicts between the police & the mob through the eyes of an undercover cop who has worked his way up over the past 8 years to become the right hand man of the second-in-command for the throne of Goldmoon; the biggest crime syndicate in Korea. When its leader is killed in a car accident, the crime ring is thrown into a succession struggle of which both the police & the mob wants to make the most of and which in the end comes down to our undercover cop, who must finally make a choice that'll decide the fate of this crime organization.Outstanding well written & directed by Park Hoon-jung who does a superb job in shaping the story & even better at illustrating it on the screen, skilfully photographed too with fine use of close-ups & camera angles, tightly edited as the film flies through its 134 minutes of runtime, spectacularly scored with music making its way in or out of scenes at the right moments & strongly performed by its stellar cast, New World works because of a combination of many things it does right & is one of the best films of last year plus one of the most impressive mob films in a long time. Do not miss it.

kosmasp I don't use the word classic lightly here, but this movie deserves it. It has all the right ingredients and even though it may be predictable from time to time (therefor not full 10 out of 10 from me), it never seizes to amaze. Be it the way it was shot, the acting, editing, scoring and the general storytelling.But if you can't watch movies from Asia (like the great Chinese Infernal Affairs before this), then you might not welcome this movie with the embrace I have. Korean action cinema has gotten a lot of attention in the last two decades and this movie just proves, that there is more to come. I'm not sure I'm looking forward to an American Remake, seeing they are mixed bags (a good "Departed" being followed by a very weak "Old Boy" to name but two).

Jim Astonishing Korean production. The drama and treachery approaches the brilliant of the Godfather. Unfortunately, we don't have time to explore the context in Korean society.Brilliant performance by Jung-Jae Lee (the tired police spy) and his hood buddy Jeong-min Hwang. Excellent direction and editing.Who is the police's ultimate mole? How ruthless can the police boss be? The boss makes the mistake of telling the spy that only two people know his real identity.In the end, the police spy has no choice. He is squeezed between his ruthless boss and the treacherous politics of the underworld.