Yun Je-mun Movies
- 2007
First time feature filmmaker Lee Jeong-beom paints an intimate portrait of self-destruction with this unconventionally restrained gangster drama set in a remote village where life has come to a standstill. Jae-mun (Seol Gyeong-Gu) is a fearsome gangster whose lifelong pal was recently murdered by Dae-sik - a knife-wielding baddie who never thought twice about slaying his street rival. Now Jae-mun is out for revenge, and in order to personally ensure that Dae-sik pay for his crime Jae-mun recruits the gang's newest recruit - a young tae kwon do expert named Chi-guk - and heads to the misbegotten hamlet from which his target hails. Upon arriving at his destination, Jae-mun comes into contact with a strong willed village girl and strikes up a warm friendship with a feisty restaurant owner who bears a striking resemblance to his mother. As the days wear on and the duo patiently awaits the appearance of Dae-sik, violent gangster and lifelong city-dweller Jae-mun actually finds himself growing accustomed to life in the country. Later, when Jae-mun discovers that the restaurant owner whom he has warmed up to is in fact Dae-sik's mother, he begins to experience a crisis of conscience that could jeopardize the entire mission. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Seol Gyeong-gu, Jo Han-seon, (more)
When a young girl is snatched away from her father by a horrifying giant monster that emerges from the River Han to wreak havoc on Seoul, her entire family sets out to locate the beast and bring their little girl back home to safety in South Korean director Bong Joon-ho's big-budget creature feature. Hee-bong is a man of modest means who runs a snack bar on the banks of the River Han. Along with his slow-witted eldest son, Gang-du; Gang-du's young daughter, Hyun-seo; archery champion daughter Nam-joo; and unemployed, shirker son, Nam-il, Hee-Bong has managed to maintain a close relationship with his family despite the hardships that come with being a single father. When a rampaging fiend erupts from the Han and throws the city of Seoul into a state of emergency, Gang-du is heartbroken to see his precious little girl scooped up by the scaly creature and spirited away to an unknown destination. This is one family that always sticks together, though, and as the rest of the city denizens scramble to take cover, Hee-bong, Gang-du, Nam-joo, and Nam-il set out to prove that they're not letting their little girl go without a fight. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Song Kang-ho, Byun Hee-bong, (more)
A small time thug collecting debts for the local triad is torn between his criminal aspirations and his devotion to family in writer/director Yoo Ha's epic crime drama. Byeong-du (Jo In-seong) is a twenty-nine year-old Seoul gangster who's looking to rise up through the ranks. Though his ambition is unmistakable, Byeong-du finds his family's financial problems taking a heavy emotional tool as he attempts to intimidate the locals into paying off their lingering debts. It seems that a local real-estate developer is attempting to pressure Byeong-du's mother into selling the family home, but Byeong-du's boss Sang-cheol (Yun je-mun) can't be bothered to care about the problems of his low-level cog. When a rival gang shows up looking to put the hurting on Byeong-du's gang, Sang-cheol blatantly violates the gangster code and Byeong-du becomes right hand man to powerful crime kingpin Hwang Heui-jang (Cheon Ho-jin). Later, after cementing his loyalty to Hwang by killing a local prosecutor, Byeong-du runs into former school chum Min-ho (Nam-gung Min). It seems that Min-ho is about to shoot a gangster film, but first he needs some help getting the script finished. Unfortunately for all involved, Byeong-du's fateful decision to help out his old friend will have tragic consequences. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jo In-Seong, Cheon Ho-jin, (more)
- 2005
A call girl changes her life for love, only to discover she did so too late in this drama from South Korean writer and director Park Jin-pyo. Eun-ha (Jeon Do-yeon) grew up in a farming community and came to the big city to make something of herself. Sadly, her dreams have led her to a coffee bar that's a front for a prostitution ring, where she turns tricks under the guise of making deliveries. Seok-jung (Hwang Jeong-min) is a sweet but slightly dim guy who falls in love with Eun-ha, not realizing what she does for a living. Seok-jung follows Eun-ha everywhere she goes, and while she seems him as an easy mark at first, in time she grows tired of his wide-eyed attentions. However, when a beating from a client puts Eun-ha in the hospital, Seok-jung loyally stays by her side; touched by his devotion, Eun-ha decides to give up prostitution and wed Seok-jung. At first Eun-ha is perfectly happy to look after Seok-jung and be a housewife, but when a former client pays her a visit, Eun-ha makes a shocking discovery -- she's HIV Positive, and she's probably passed the virus on to her husband. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeon Do-yeon, Hwang Jeong-min, (more)
