An espionage thriller about loyalty and honor, set in the 1920's South Korea during the oppressive Japanese occupation with palpable suspense throughout and a thick atmosphere of paranoia. It's stylized, but it still feels like Kim Jee-woon's most mature and refined work so far, which speaks to his excellent abilities and versatility as a filmmaker. Kang-ho Song's performance is phenomenal as usual, the cinematography was amazing, the costumes and set design were wonderful, and there's some memorable scenes throughout. The Age of Shadows takes a patriotic approach but ultimately, this thrill-filled film is entertaining as much as it is greatly crafted.
Review of The Age of Shadows
