Yaksha: Ruthless Operations (2022)

6/10

OK movie, but over-complicates a simple plot

gabriel_sanchez11 April 2022

Scrolling through the Netflix catalog, I bumped into this fairly new entry. I'm into Eastern movies in general, so I decided to give this one a try after seeing the trailer and synopsis.

Yaksha: Ruthless Operations (YRO) is a spy action thriller about spy agents from different countries fighting and a seemingly conspiracy in the air. In the middle of this mess, we have Ji-hoon, a prosecutor that got demoted because his team messed up one investigation to bring down the leader of a major company for corruption.

This movie is not stereotypical. The action scenes are ok, although you get hints of the often-used martial arts in Eastern movies. The shots are nice and colorful enough to keep you hooked.

Plot-wise, though, I dont know. I found it too convoluted for no reason. The plot revolves around Ji-hoon getting demoted to an investigator. His mission is to investigate a Black Ops Team operating in Shenyang, China, led by Kang-in, notorious for being ruthless and whatever. The movie focus on the bound between Kang-in, Ji-hoon, and the team, while they fight their way to uncover a master conspiracy. The problem is the conspiracy, although serious, seems kinda overreacted. When you get your answers, you see it is a pretty straightforward plot that twists itself over and over to seem complicated. Some characters come and go too quickly, leaving you confused as to whom is the actual vilain (and why.)

YRO is lenghty. I believe this is mainly because they overcomplicated the plot.

Overall, ok. I don't know if I would recommend as a great movie to watch, but if someone wants a fresh taste of movie, go for it. It is not bad, just regular.

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7/10

Great spy movie

T-xoo10 April 2022

Yaksha is a fast paced movie. Rarely in the movie you will find a slow moment and if any, it's just to explain some situations to the viewer.

It's not the among the bests that exist and not among the worsts. In a lot of the gunfights, seeing how no bullets hit the good guys the movie just becomes comedic. But it stays enjoyable to watch. The acting is just okay. Just watch it if you got nothing else to watch and need a good time.

Please Note that the movie can be sensitive to viewers who are into politics especially Japanese and Koreans. A lot of hates cliché that Japanese hates koreans and koreans hate Japanese more than North Koreans. This movie won't resolve any tensions of the past. So just a warning to any who are into politics.

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7/10

Korean take on James Bond and Mission: Impossible...

toskomst10 April 2022

...except that it only cost a fraction to make, that it was made by filmmakers who seem to still believe that movies should be fun, and that it employs every cliché in the spy movie playbook, including probably some not yet invented.

The movie stars the veteran Sol Kyung-gu as Ji Kang-in, one of these rugged agents whose standard operating procedure indeed seems ruthless. He has a pre-credits teaser in Hong Kong at his disposal to prove his worth looking for a double agent and leaving bodies everywhere.

If I attempted to write a plot summary, I would most likely be writing well into next year, so let's say that the action shifts to Shenyang in northeast China four years later. The former Seoul prosecutor Han Ji-hoon (Park Hae-soo) comes to the city now representing NIS - South Koreas answer to CIA - to check out a supposed information leak. Is there a mole in agent Ji's team? Agent Ji sure hasn't found the one he been looking for himself.

The banter between Sol Kyung-gu and Park Hae-soo as polar opposites makes for some good fun in between a lot of shooting and a lot of plot. The movie's politics is equally offensive to everyone, from the North Koreans to the Japanese, while the Chinese apparently couldn't care less as the Shenyang police is mostly nowhere in sight despite all the gunfights going on in broad nightlight.

The idea of Shenyang as a hotbed for spies is a bit like Istanbul in "From Russia With Love", so maybe this is what the 1960s Cold War spy thrillers have developed into for the 2020s?

It's fast-paced fun, anyway, full of blood and guts. But it's not a movie to think too deeply about.

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This Korean movie is a bit over-the-top extreme

MovieIQTest9 April 2022

But nonetheless still a very exciting action packed thriller. I don't think this movie would be allowed to be released in China, 'cause most of the incidents happened in a north-east China city. Both South Korean and Japanese were involved in non-stop battles against each other, trying to get a top secret from the North Korean chief of intelligence. The acting part from the South Korean actors were absolutely great. The screenplay was also carried out perfectly. All the fighting scenes also looked quite real and seamless. This movie also carried a hidden message that both North Korea and South Korea seemed to realize neither Japanese nor American government would like to have a unified Korea and, of course, neither CCP China like North Korea united with South Korea. This hidden message is just an open secret that most of the people in the world, except those naive ones, already knew such fact. This is a very unique and exciting thriller, even it's a bit absurd, still highly recommended.

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6/10

BLACK OPS CHINA COMEDY

whitesixomar15 April 2022

It's a fun movie with dumb characters. I got a problem with the acting, I always keep trying to like Asian movies, but the acting seems dumb and funny all the time to me. Yaksha is no exception.

The movie tries to take itself seriously, but They got it so wrong. They go gun's blazing all the time and none of the team members get hit, they all seem to be teenagers, but they kill hundreds of armed goons. The combat dialogue is really cheap and dumb. It feels more like an action comedy than a serious spy movie that intends to be.

So... South Korea sends a prosecutor to investigate a black ops team deployed in China, and they mess around with him like he is worthless. Throw him into impossible situations just for the fun of it. It destroys the plot. The Japanese involvement and the way it's executed only keeps pulling away from something remotely real. I mean, everything you see in this movie seems disconnected from something you can grasp as real.

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6/10

It was solid........

owenpont-708031 May 2022

While some of the action scenes were filmed rather poorly, the action scenes were acceptable. It is a nothing special, solid enough spy movie. The background is very visually cool. And the writing was fine. There is nothing wrong with this film, its just not a special movie or a movie that stands out. But thats not always bad. Overall if you like spy films this is a solid enough spy film.

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7/10

With Enough Entertainment Value

albertval-6956017 June 2022

Entertaining enough with capable actors in Sol Kyung-gu (Memoir of a Murderer) and Park Hae-soo (Squid Game).

If the film really was shot in Shenyang, China then the viewer gets to have a rare glimpse of this metropolitan city north of North Korea.

As the film suggests, Shenyang is a center of espionage involving different nations. What's intriguing that the film suggests is the rivalry between Korea and China in the area of espionage. (Is there a grain of truth about this or is it totally fictional?)

Watch this film; it is never boring but don't expect a deep story here.

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7/10

Does the job

Leofwine_draca16 April 2022

I've seen this one getting lukewarm reviews but I have to say I really enjoyed it. Not the greatest Korean thriller, but with plenty of interest. The plot is typically complex and involved, even convoluted, but fast paced with it, keeping the brain engaged. The acting is strong and it's so nice to see the guy from SQUID GAME getting to play the hero for once. The cinematography, choreography and in particular the colour palette look really nice, making this another visual treat.

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6/10

decent but fairly predictable and a bit goofy

jsumm9615 April 2022

A little slow and convoluted to begin with, but once things got going it built up to a reasonable pace with the action and story. However, a lot of the story points became fairly predictable and as a few other reviewers have noted the action was a little goofy at times. The overall film in terms of plot and action scenes definitely could have been executed better, but decent cinematography and acting make this an ok watch.

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7/10

overwritten

A_Different_Drummer17 April 2022

Let's cut to the chase: I have several Korean films on my IMDb list of 165+ BEST OF THE BEST and I have also praised several K-Dramas. The problem with Korean productions is that the writers can't resist overthinking the story. Which is the case here. The opening is clever -- a prosecutor who believes that laws cannot be bent or broken is loaned out to a Black Ops team. Clever! Downhill from there .as the twists and turns take over the story, leaving the viewer dazed and confused. ((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))

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5/10

Enjoyable if you have absolute nothing to do

docflorinb13 April 2022

Undeveloped characters (I have nothing against actors), weak script, fable story. Nothing special, I just a mediocre spy/police movie with action (some very unrealistic) scenes.

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8/10

Good Spy thriller

salim-91-7034069 April 2022

It is a very good action spy thriller with many twists. If you want to spend your time action packed thriller, and entertainment, it is a good choice. I watched the dubbed one, which is good as well.

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7/10

Interesting movie with slight overthinking storyline

JeffDamulira23 November 2022

The film was good, the South Korean actors are very good in different types of films or TV series, especially in politics, military and law enforcement themes. Considering the current state of North Korea is to tread carefully with the storyline in relation to leaders of North Korea; as the films illustrates a espionage battle with Chinese and Japanese agents. However, I can see why the overthinking of the storyline could take place, considering one scene with a member of North Korean's central committee was in a very vulnerable position. Though, historically, a united Korea was considered a threat to Japan and US. Moreover, the film has a very cool visual with exciting drama and suspense. For history geeks, try not to decode too deeply with the storyline, its good action film.

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2/10

badly edited action scenes with some boring fake-drama

awaked-111 April 2022

If this would be Koreas best action movie, I would never watch Korean movies again. Thankfully, those reviewers are probably bots or happy to see an spy thriller.

Because this is not an action movie. It has a few short action scenes, which are worse edited than "Catwoman"s basketball scene. The vibe of this movie feels like either overy dramatic or overly pseudo-funny. The actors have to work with the bumpy script and survive the overlong pseudo-cool-spy-scenes and I feel bad for them. I read "This movie is full of bloods and guts and adrenaline." Thats wrong.

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7/10

Black Ops In China

Pairic14 April 2022

Yaksha: Ruthless Operations: South Korean Spy Thriller. A prosecutor (investigating magistrate) messes up a raid on a corrupt Chaebol and is banished to n an office which has no real work. He is given a chance of rehabilitation if he inspects an intelligence team in China who have gone dark, there are suspicions of malfeasance. The inspector gets himself caught up with a black ops team who make James bond and the Impossible Missions Force look like sticklers for the rules. A North Korean defector is being sought by Japanese, South Koran and North Korean agents. Shootouts, hand to hand fighting, car chases, hi-tech surveillance, corruption, betrayals and conspiracies keep the narrative going. Some parts of the plot may seem a bit far fetched but if James bond can get away with shooting up cities then why can't these guys? Quite violent and gory so be warned. A few interesting plot twists towards the end. Directed by Hyeon Na. On Netflix. 7/10.

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7/10

Gritty, and honestly pretty good.

divemabini23 November 2023

First, the bad: In typical Korean fashion, the final act, and the last battle in particular, are so ridiculously cartoony and poorly executed that the groans you'll utter detract from a thrilling ride up to that point. If you think James Bond movies are filled with gratuitous monologues, well this movie's final 15 minutes put those movies to shame. Then, the hesitancy to pull the trigger and end the threat is completely out of place given the background and motivations of the characters to that point. Yes, it is to set up the "thrilling" reveal, but it is so corny and cringy that you're left with a bad taste in your mouth.

Up to that point, a fun ride with some really interesting supporting characters. It really is a shame that it ends on such a lame "Boss Battle" note.

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7/10

Super South Korean thriller

ronnienahem22 June 2022

If you like action you'll like this movie. Real good special effects and excitement. Character's Got a little confusing so pay attention. Lots of nice twists and turns and acting is good. Overall a solid action spy movie.

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7/10

Good Masala movie

rajaccie23 April 2022

It was like a Bollywood masala movie, but I liked this one . Nice acting by all. Nice action sequences. Yamaha can never die :) waiting for the next one.

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7/10

for those who love action movies

fatoadg22 April 2022

An action film (of course they spared no expense), an honest prosecutor investigates corruption. Full of twists and effects, for those who love the genre I would have given 8 as a vote. It's nice that there are those who fight for justice.

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1/10

Making a movie like this should be consider a crime

mr-giroro30 May 2022

Warning: Spoilers

Making a movie like this should be considered a crime because it steals our valuable time for nothing. I hope you find this review before you watch this movie so that you do not waste 2 hours of your valuable time.

This movie has everything that a bad movie should have: The storyline is totally absurd and lack realism; the characters are the embodiment of every cliché you've seen in the movie; actions are laughable; and the shooting and editing are extremely poorly done. I would not be surprised if this movie gets the "Worst Movie of the Year" award. I would rate "The Swamp Thing" higher than this one.

First of all, the story is less believable than "Johnny English" (by Mr. Bean). You may think I am joking, but I am not. Korean spies engage in a machine gun shootout with Chinese police and kill dozens of them in the middle of a city, and they attack the Japanese embassy even without covering their face and identity. Basically, they declared a war against China and Japan, but apparently, China and Japan don't say a word about. And, those who caused the mayhem are supposed to be patriots. The writer and the director of this movie have the mental ability of a 3rd grader (because I knew better when I was a 4th grader).

The common sense is missing from not only the major plot but also almost every single scene. Just take the scene in which the team leader of the Korean black ops sets up the protagonist (the prosecutor sent from Korea) with a hooker and drug, and it was supposed to be a practical joke. Using drug is punishable by death in China. What a wonderful joke! How about the woman with him? She will be executed!

The editing of this movie is completely amateurish. The scenes jump from one to another abruptly, and some action scenes are cut off in the middle of action (most likely because the scenes were poorly shot, and they didn't have usable clips). The story itself was nonsensical, but this poor editing made it even more painful to watch it.

The acting is also terrible. I cannot fault the actors because I guess Anthony Hopkins and Jack Nicolson couldn't have acted better if they act using such badly written scripts.

Korean movies have come a long way, and Koreans are making some great movies and dramas. But movies like this garbage undermine the effort of other great Korean movie makers. If you are the producers of this movie, please stop making movies so that you don't drag down other great movie makers.

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9/10

Good 2 hours movie on Netflix

fransim-543949 April 2022

Came across this new Korea action movie on Netflix. Storyline was intriguing and fast pace. Quite a few plot twist and good action. Look like there is going to have a sequel. Can't wait to see.

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8/10

Bravo, great Korean action spy flick.

Top_Dawg_Critic16 April 2022

Well directed and written, excellent S/VFX and fight choreography, perfectly cast and performed with great pacing, score, cinematography and landscapes/sets. Another Netflix win!

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9/10

Yaksha almost 10 with High Octane action movie!

ThaiGuy25049 April 2022

Just finished watching another great South Korean high octane action spy thriller. Hope there be sequel to it. Great cast and director.

Thank you NetFlix for another Good Friday night movie. Can't figure out why it's 6.5 out of 10, I gave it a solid 9. My wife and I gave it a thumb up.

Thaiguy2504.

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8/10

Delivers the Action

AJ_McAninch13 April 2022

Great cast, predictable script, but like most things Korean, it's still better than most of what Hollywood cranks out any longer. Also like most action films, not much character development, but the characters are well drawn, and all the actors are experienced, respected, and superb in their roles. The film is gritty and gripping: I enjoyed it.

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10/10

Action! Action Everywhere!

ahganoona9 April 2022

I came across the sugesstion in Netflix and I spent two hours stuck watching it. Time really flew fastly; it is full of action escenes (they definetly used a lot of bullets), the plot has many twits, so if you are not paying attention you might miss an important detail. All actors carry out the dialogues and action impecably.

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