The Killer

No pun intended - whenever I hear the Killer ... I always think of John Woos classic movie. A movie that really changed a lot for me - and I suspect not just for me. I like movies from everywhere and try to watch as many as possible (which you may have already figured out) ... but Killer and Hard Boiled were quite the revelations for me.

Now this has nothing to do with that movie and stands on his own. Like the titular character. He knows what he is doing ... and he still will do anything his girlfriend tells him to do ... even babysitting. Which is not an easy thing to do anyway - but even worse when the subject is attracting evil people ... and trouble. I would not entirely blame her - spoiled as she might be. But it also helps the story move along ... and gives us a lot of action sequences ... very well choreographed ones at that.

The stoic nature of our main character, the knowledge that he is better than others ... well maybe you can identify with that - like I do. I'm just kidding of course ... we wish. Great action cinema ... paper thin story, but enough to keep it all moving along. With a main bad guy, we get to see fight our guy over and over again ... what more could you wish for?

If you follow Korean cinema you already know that Korean auteurs, among the best in the world, prefer to be first with a concept. However if they have to be a copycat, they will be relentless in trying to improve on the original. As good as this is, it has the same failings as the iconic American original, too fast, too furious, too frenetic, too implausible. Which is why it never comes close to the Korean masterpiece THE MAN FROM NOWHERE 2010, on my IMBb list of all time classics. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

I liked this movie. In general, the cinematography of the countries of the East, like other industries, knows how to quickly use the inventions and ideas of the West. In our case, it is a replica of the popular American franchise about the hired killer John Wick.

And you know, copied quite well. Certain illogicalities were masked by a dynamic plot that does not allow us to think about inconsistencies. The battles are staged quite well, the camera movements are also copied from Hollywood masters. But there is still a Korean environment and atmosphere. There is a lot of blood, but it does not cut the eyes and harmoniously fits into this meat grinder.

The main character for me is just a killer robot doing his job according to the scripts. This picture is not about empathy for the characters, but about a driving attraction that captivates and draws you into a whirlwind of gunfights and duels.

Therefore, as a project with a meaningful load, it should not be considered. Although he promotes certain moral principles - do not insult the innocent and the weak, for example.

For me, this is a well-deserved 7 points. Hang out in the evening with chips and corned beef.

One of the few gifts of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the use of Korean films to provide cinema screens in the Western world with content/programming. Until the pandemic hit, I'm unsure whether I had watched more than a handful of Korean movies over the course of my near half-century on this Earth. Since then, I've watched several every year, especially when the reviews are good, and I've rarely been disappointed. If you can handle subtitles, if you can take this in on a big screen, if you're open minded enough to watch foreign films, and if you enjoy action movies, then you should enjoy The Killer. It's recommended viewing for fans of the genre.

The action sequences were well crafted and shot. This movie is filled with terrific fight choreography and cutting edge fight sequences.

Also appreciated how self-aware the story is, with characters often commenting on other similar movies or with small gestures with certain props (no spoilers, sips a coffee).