Asian movies in my opinion get the endings wrong BUT this one I'm screeming happy about,FINALLY this director got it right thank you it was a slow start but the fight scenes omg amazing I'm truly blown away by this movie give it a full viewing don't skip parts hey at the end if it's not your cup of tea what a cpl hours but you'll be as happy as I am I love Asian films in general and this one rocked
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
A bit Tarantino (what isn't these days), a bit John Wick ( a lot John Wick actually), but it felt unique, not generic, there were moments of surprise amid the formula... and the movie felt distinctly Korean, which is great.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
MK is a company of assassins that Boksoon belongs to, but the story doesn't just focus on that. Despite the fact that she is very good at her job, we see how those skills are not reflected in her role as a mother. Dealing with a teenage girl, Boksoon faces her biggest challenge, understanding her daughter's behavior. The film intercut between the two scenarios, one full of action, blood, and deaths, and the other where the interaction between mother and daughter is the protagonist.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Brutal and touching in a fierce tale of assassination and motherhood.
Director Byun Sung-hyun's South Korean crime action thriller Kill Boksoon (2023) feels explicitly modern in its elegant violence and poignant emotional realizations. Byun Sung-hyun is certainly a South Korean director to watch out for as his visceral action sequences feature the intricate, fast, and hard hitting close quarters combat of Oldboy, John Wick, or The Raid. Kill Boksoon also reminded me of the lady assassin film The Villainess with its sleek style and flairs of violence. The use of imagined fights playing out in the killer's mind brought me back to being amazed by Zhang Yimou's Hero. Kill Boksoon is easily one of 2023's greatest pictures. It is well worth seeking out on Netflix.
I was amazed by the sheer creative force that is Byun Sung-hyun's direction whether it is subtle drama or gory fights with effortless slickness. His dedication to keeping Kill Boksoon character driven and closer to a crime drama rather than a brute force action thriller is commendable. I felt enthralled. Writer Byun Sung-hyun crafts a complex narrative out of a single mother and lady assassin trying to reach her conflicted lesbian daughter emotionally, all while fending off lethal attacks from her fellow assassins in an intricate underworld of hired contract killers. I like how caring he makes his ruthless heroine as a decent, realistic mother besides a principled mass murderer. The background story of rule bound assassins is as gripping as Gil Bok-soon's personal narrative of developing as an empathetic mother and successful killer.
Kill Boksoon is shocking, cool, and tender with each scene carefully cut with precision by editor Kim Sang-bum. From an intimate cut showing a character's affection in a single glance to splicing revealing flashbacks or dozens of murderous scenarios together in neat montages, Kim Sang-bum's editing skills are astounding. Cinematographer Cho Hyoung-rae's deft camera choices show off formidable moody lighting, mesmerizing close-up shots of eyes, careful blocking, smooth panning shots, inventive angles, and a precision to which shots are held on longer in both conversations and surprisingly clear action sequences. Kill Boksoon is a visual marvel of skilled filmmaking prowess from the entire crew.
Jeon Do-yeon is gorgeous and cool as the emotionally cold contract killer Gil Bok-soon. She felt like a professional assassin with skilled action movements, while feeling totally relatable as a woman figuring out what she wants in life. Gil Bok-soon is a wonderful heroine with awesome choreography and impressive dramatic skills that Jeon Do-yeon provides with ease. I wish performances from actresses in these genre pictures got more serious awards consideration. She is phenomenal!
Park Se-hyun is cute and unhinged as young Gil Bok-soon. Kim Si-a is touching as her young lesbian daughter Gil Jae-yeong. Her affections for her girlfriend and nervousness about coming out to her judgmental mother feel sincere. Koo Kyo-hwan's apprehensive and kind killer Han Hee-seong is excellent opposite Jeon Do-Yeon. He is handsome and dashing when necessary, then underhanded when the need rises. Hwang Jung-min's cameo as the Yakuza samurai Shinichiro Oda is fearsome with a fabulous sword duel with Gil Bok-soon.
Sol Kyung-gu is handsome and engaging as the assassin business' organized crime boss Cha Min-kyu. He is calm and cool, yet his dramatic performance shows his inner affection for Gil Bok-soon with a mature nuance. His fights with blades and guns are as mind blowing as Jeon Do-yeon's violent encounters. Lee Jae-wook is charming and intriguing as young Cha Min-kyul.
Esom is lovely as the sultry and jealous Cha Min-hee. Her fierce director of the assassin company MK is devilishly entertaining and conniving. I loved her chewing the scenery and glaring daggers at Jeon Do-Yeon's Gil Bok-soon. Her icy demeanor creates a constant tension whenever she graces the screen.
Production designer Han A-reum creates lavish sets for Gil Bok-soon's lovely spacious manor as well as the sterile assassin corporation headquarters. Set decorator Song Suk-ki puts flowers and tables all over Kill Boksoon. Visual effects artist Kim Jung-soo does startling work putting all the CGI blood and cuts in, while adding in the visuals for when Gil Bok-soon is imagining killing people in her head. Stunt performers No Hyeong-gi and Jang Jae-wook do unbelievable fast and deadly choreography.
Composers Lee Jin-hee and Kim Hong-jip's film score is breathtaking with gentle melodies and sudden rushes of intense rhythms during the unreal fights. I loved the music throughout Kill Boksoon. Sound designers Kim Byung-in and Park Jong-geun do wild noises for swords slicing and limbs dismembering. Costume designer Kim Jung-won crafts outstanding colorful, contemporary suits for Jeon Do-yeon's killer lady's suits. Makeup from Kwak Tae-yong, Hwang Hyo-kyun, and Kwon Su-kyung is impeccable and fashionable with stunning makeup for the actresses.
In conclusion, Kill Boksoon is magnificent in its hypnotizing acting, astonishing combat, and sleek craftsmanship. Absolutely going to end up on my best of the year list.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
This movie is pure gold. Flawless acting, great character development and beautifully filmed.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Loved it. This movie checks all the blocks for me.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Slow, meandering, yawn-inducing, gore is not enough, and fights are not snappy enough. For a fan of the Genre, this was not a good execution of what could have been a great John Wick rival.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Loved it, my husband started and he was busy but I ended up watching it from beginning to end. Yup it was great