First, it is a decent thriller, but not great. And, I agree with other reviewers that it does contain clichés and borrowed elements from different movies. However, this is not a knock against the writer/director, Han-min Kim, because nothing is new under the sun. Quentin Tarantino is a master of using clichés and borrowed elements into his own, for example. (Although, Kim might not have meant to borrow conscientiously as Tarantino). Regardless, the movie's pace, character developments, and great visual make this a pleasure to watch. I'd give 7 or 8 just for the movie.
I hope many of you get to see the director's cut, because a great societal commentary could be missed if those deleted scenes are not shown. The studio apparently envisioned more of a popcorn blockbuster with faster pace and shorter runtime, or they didn't want to shove the morality pill against moviegoer's throat. Nevertheless the societal commentary was brave and well thought out. This embedded element make this a solid 9.
Let me explain for those who didn't get to watch the director's cut. Nam-yi and Ja-in live near border between China and Korea. Korean government has set a harsh law to curb migration: whoever crosses a river to China regardless of reasons can never be back. Modern-day North Korean government has that rule now. North Korean refugees when captured in China are sent back to North Korea to have them tortured in concentration camps and/or killed. Even families and relatives (even grandchildren) can be punished. Thus, those who escape to China are stuck there and live in fear. An escaped North Korean in China, who are an epitome of a refugee, has never been granted a refugee status. Only escape route is going into an embassy or go through the desert to Mongolia. Sadly, many are captured and killed in trying to do so. The tragic thing is that South Korean government, even though they recognize every North Korean as its citizen as stated in its Constitution, do not try to get these North Korean refugees out of China.
In the movie, Nam-Yi and Ja-in are also stuck as shown in a deleted scene. They are not allowed back by their own countrymen. Chinese military are after them. Only a hero raised up to face its fears brought its loved ones back home. I hope South Korean government faces its fear of economic power of China and put up a fight to get its rightful citizens their refugee status and their ticket home.
Last scene includes, Nam-Yi wanting to go to Seoul and give his sister, Ja-in, pretty shoes. He deserves to have that dream of going home and enjoy its prosperity, because he and his sister belongs in Seoul. That's where their home is.
Now, the fight comes to us. China wants to use North Korea as a strategic buffer between Western allies of South Korea and Japan. North Korean government needs China to survive and keep their people bottled up, because North Korea and China sees the refugees as a precursor to the reunification as was in Germany. This is the frontier of the greatest injustice of our generation. It is time for them to pay for the horrific crimes against humanity. We may sit quietly. Or, we may wake up and be aware of the most evil government in the face of the earth today: North Korea and its biggest enabler, China.
I hope many of you get to see the director's cut, because a great societal commentary could be missed if those deleted scenes are not shown. The studio apparently envisioned more of a popcorn blockbuster with faster pace and shorter runtime, or they didn't want to shove the morality pill against moviegoer's throat. Nevertheless the societal commentary was brave and well thought out. This embedded element make this a solid 9.
Let me explain for those who didn't get to watch the director's cut. Nam-yi and Ja-in live near border between China and Korea. Korean government has set a harsh law to curb migration: whoever crosses a river to China regardless of reasons can never be back. Modern-day North Korean government has that rule now. North Korean refugees when captured in China are sent back to North Korea to have them tortured in concentration camps and/or killed. Even families and relatives (even grandchildren) can be punished. Thus, those who escape to China are stuck there and live in fear. An escaped North Korean in China, who are an epitome of a refugee, has never been granted a refugee status. Only escape route is going into an embassy or go through the desert to Mongolia. Sadly, many are captured and killed in trying to do so. The tragic thing is that South Korean government, even though they recognize every North Korean as its citizen as stated in its Constitution, do not try to get these North Korean refugees out of China.
In the movie, Nam-Yi and Ja-in are also stuck as shown in a deleted scene. They are not allowed back by their own countrymen. Chinese military are after them. Only a hero raised up to face its fears brought its loved ones back home. I hope South Korean government faces its fear of economic power of China and put up a fight to get its rightful citizens their refugee status and their ticket home.
Last scene includes, Nam-Yi wanting to go to Seoul and give his sister, Ja-in, pretty shoes. He deserves to have that dream of going home and enjoy its prosperity, because he and his sister belongs in Seoul. That's where their home is.
Now, the fight comes to us. China wants to use North Korea as a strategic buffer between Western allies of South Korea and Japan. North Korean government needs China to survive and keep their people bottled up, because North Korea and China sees the refugees as a precursor to the reunification as was in Germany. This is the frontier of the greatest injustice of our generation. It is time for them to pay for the horrific crimes against humanity. We may sit quietly. Or, we may wake up and be aware of the most evil government in the face of the earth today: North Korea and its biggest enabler, China.