Ryoo Seung-wan Movies
- 2008
A legendary Korean spy is assigned the task of recovering a national treasure, only to discover that he was set up for failure from the very beginning by the very people he once trusted most. Korea is under Japanese imperialism, and when the Golden Buddha goes missing, what better candidate to ensure its safe return than legendary covert operative Lee? Unfortunately the mission was fixed, and in the process of attempting to recover the Golden Buddha, Lee loses both the statue and his partner. Upon discovering the truth about his doomed mission, a vengeful Lee sets out to settle the score with the man who set him up, and expose the shadowy figure for all to see. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Martial-arts pro Jeong Du-hong stars as Jeong Tae-su in notorious Korean action director Ryoo Seung-wan's The City of Violence (aka Jakpae). A former punk and brawler-turned-police detective, Tae-su returns to his hometown for the funeral of a buddy, Wang-jae (Ahn Gil-gang). Once there, he reconnects with members of the "old gang," including the tough but loyal fighter Ryoo Seok-hwan (played by the director) and the gang leader, Jang Pil-ho. Tae-su suspects foul play in Wang-jae's death, and instinctively ties it to Pil-ho, now a scuzzy slimeball with a massive inferiority complex and hordes of armed men. His instincts, it seems, are correct -- Pil-ho indeed had Wang-jae rubbed out. Thus, Tae-su and Seok-hwan ultimately take on Pil-ho at an abandoned Korean restaurant, fighting myriads of his henchmen with bare knuckles, blades, and Korean martial arts, and accompanied by a rousing Leone-style score. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeong Du-hong, Lee Beom-su, (more)
