Carter

The idea of this film was very promising and attention-grabbing, especially for lovers of action films and thrillers (for me!). However, the execution and direction of this film just weren't satisfying enough.

In the beginning of the story, I was already doubtful after seeing the sauna scene - "Carter", a single man with no memory, manages to kill over 20 (probably 30+) men, all with knives and other kinds of weapons, basically single-handedly and without a scratch. Even the best-trained killers wouldn't be that capable. The opening already tells you how the story will go. The action scenes are way too unrealistic, almost fantasy-like. For a film that's classified as an action thriller, that's not so good.

The one-scene one-cut technique used during the camera work was nice and refreshing at the beginning but later on became frustrating. A lot of "empty" scenes showing empty rooms, the underneath of a car etc...just absolutely unnecessary scenes.

The non-Korean actors ruined the show for me. Their acting was simply bad, very amateur-like and mediocre.

An absolute brilliant effort in cinematography and fight choreography, acting is perfectly adequate marriage with a typical action storyline.

High praise for what is visually presented it's wildly entertaining using creative action that plays comedic while never losing visceral impact.

If you love action films, this is your bag!

The film isn't about the plot the politics or the acting. It's about the action. In and of itself, despite some wonky parts that are just not believable, the action is decent.

But the whole thing is ruined by the attempt at a constant one take attempt constantly jostled about by the shaky camera effect.

If you mixed Kingsman camera movement and spinning and pov changing with Blair witch project handheld shaky cam footage it would be the camera work on this movie.

Absolutely unbearable after a certain point while you're just trying to focus on the action scenes unfolding.

Its worth a try if you think you can withstand that. Otherwise it's hard on the eyes and brain with the constant camera shake.

The entire film is shot and made in a way that makes it look like a one-shot long take. But you can notice that there were lots of cuts because there are like 85% of the actions that were pretty insane, so that would be extremely impossible to shoot one long take lol.

It was Hardcore Henry type movie that had more actions, only the editing was kinda poorly done. Lots of cheap green screens and CGI, but doesn't bother me anyway. The actions sequences were actually pretty insane and impressive, IMO. The camerawork is kinda cool, but some people might find it annoying.

Would have been one of the best action films if it was shot in 4-6 long takes without green screens, for sure. Overall, I liked it, it's quite unique. Except Hardcore Henry, I've never seen any movies like this one.

Director Jung has come to collect - in an exhausting, unwavering maelstrom of ambitious yet somehow derivative fist fights, shoot-outs, car chases and plane crashes, all shot with nauseating, nitrous-fuelled drones that appear caught in a perpetual tailspin. As a result, much of the action feels weightless and simulated, even when propped up by Won's insanely physical performance.

Carter is a protagonist for whom the laws of physics are merely a suggestion, and whose dramatic motivation is spoon-fed to him by inconsequential bit players between punch-ups, like cutscenes in a video game.

One time watch for the respect of Byung-gil Jung, who made The Villainess (2017).