Recent Korean Films Worth Watching
June 13, 2012 7:22 PM   Subscribe

What are some recent (last ten year or so) Korean film that's worth watching?

I have seen classics such as:
Old Boy and the trilogy
Taegukgi
Silmido
Joint Security Area
My Sassy Girl

I have stopped watching Korean films for last few years and don't know what's worth watching.
posted by Carius to Society & Culture (40 answers total) 37 users marked this as a favorite
 
Best answer: I enjoyed The Host
posted by birdherder at 7:24 PM on June 13, 2012 [8 favorites]


I took a Korean film course about three years ago on the strength of Old Boy and company and I haven't felt driven to see any since. Still, there were some good ones:

The King and The Clown
Peppermint Candy
Memories of Murder

I heard good things about Thirst, Park Chan-Wook's vampire film, but I'm a Cyborg But That's OK wasn't really worth watching.
posted by 23 at 7:26 PM on June 13, 2012


Best answer: 3-Iron and most everything else Kim Ki-Duk has done is worth watching.
posted by cazoo at 7:34 PM on June 13, 2012 [3 favorites]


In addition to the ones you mention, I like 3-Iron.
posted by Ideal Impulse at 7:34 PM on June 13, 2012


Best answer: Oh man, I really loved Castaway on the Moon. Funny and charming and strangely poignant. And if you have Netflix Instant Watch, you can currently find it there.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 7:34 PM on June 13, 2012 [6 favorites]


I also liked The Host.

Slightly more than 10 years old, but JSA (Joint Security Area) was good.
posted by rmd1023 at 7:36 PM on June 13, 2012


Thirding The Host.
Also, Take Care of my Cat.
posted by Rash at 7:43 PM on June 13, 2012


My Left Eye Sees Ghosts is funny and clever. Starts kinda choppy, but picks up speed after it establishes characters and exposition.
posted by IAmBroom at 7:43 PM on June 13, 2012


War of the Arrows is a good action movie and on Netflix instant.
posted by munchingzombie at 7:45 PM on June 13, 2012


The Wayward Cloud, which is off-the-wall awesome bonkers.
posted by Evilspork at 7:51 PM on June 13, 2012


Ack, my apologies, it's from Taiwan, I misremembered it as Korean.
posted by Evilspork at 7:52 PM on June 13, 2012




Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring, also by Kim Ki-Duk (mentioned by cazoo) and +1 on:

Castaway on the Moon
The Man From Nowhere
posted by sharkfu at 8:08 PM on June 13, 2012




I liked The Way Home (Jibeuro).
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 8:15 PM on June 13, 2012


Also Three and Three... Extremes, though they aren't strictly Korean films.
posted by skilar at 8:21 PM on June 13, 2012


I very much like Lee Chang-dong's movies, notably Oasis and Secret Sunshine (I also like Green Fish, but haven't yet seen Peppermint Candy).

Lee is a very humane, empathetic and shrewd storyteller, and I love how he captures the details of everyday life.
posted by KokuRyu at 8:23 PM on June 13, 2012 [1 favorite]


Breathless. You must see this.
posted by misozaki at 8:56 PM on June 13, 2012


I second Take Care of My Cat!
posted by nicebookrack at 9:01 PM on June 13, 2012


I was bawling my eyes out after Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring. Also seconding The Host.
posted by tully_monster at 9:04 PM on June 13, 2012


Best answer: The Housemaid (2010)
Mother (2009)
Old Partner (2008)
3-Iron (2004)
Oldboy (2003)
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring (2003)*this movie deserves another mention
posted by hedonic.muse at 9:25 PM on June 13, 2012 [1 favorite]


One Fine Spring Day was heart wrenching for me.
posted by gadget_gal at 9:59 PM on June 13, 2012


Seconding "The Man From Nowhere."
posted by Hobo at 10:00 PM on June 13, 2012


Tale of Two Sisters.
I'm A Cyborg, But That's Okay. (AMAZING, seriously)

Also, Windstruck (or: "I'd Like To Introduce You To My Girlfriend"). And if you liked that, and like smart or weird or creepy Korean rom-coms, let me know. I watch them endlessly. They're so gloriously fantastic.
posted by corb at 10:05 PM on June 13, 2012 [1 favorite]


The same actor in "Castaway on the Moon" also stars in "Going by the Book," which I personally loved (quirky heist film).

My tastes run more towards "My Sassy Girl" than "Oldboy," so keeping that in mind, here's what I've enjoyed recently:

Cyrano Dating Agency
Penny Pinchers
Punch/Wandeuki
Architecture 101
posted by paisley sheep at 10:08 PM on June 13, 2012


Anarchists from 2000 is rip-roaring (largely pseudo-) historical action.
posted by Abiezer at 10:18 PM on June 13, 2012


Attack the Gas Station!

Seriously, Attack the Gas Station!

Please watch Attack the Gas Station!
posted by jsturgill at 10:40 PM on June 13, 2012


I'll have to third "The Man from Nowhere", which I just watched, indirectly due to this thread. In a lot of ways it's a standard revenge-motivated actioner, so something like Oldboy (with its share of gore), but also like Oldboy it has this un-Western sentimental B story that drives the action. It's been (as I was unsurprised to learn) optioned for Hollywood, and I was imagining someone like Clive Owen in the role. There are intermittent flashes of brilliant cinematography, too, although most of it is simply stylish yet efficient storytelling.
posted by dhartung at 11:08 PM on June 13, 2012


I really liked the movie Blind (2011).
posted by ichomp at 11:54 PM on June 13, 2012


all the movies I recommended recently have been mentioned, except for The Chaser by Hong-jin Na
posted by muta at 12:05 AM on June 14, 2012 [1 favorite]


Korean film director Lee Chang-dong has already been mentioned. But not his film Poetry (2010). "It tells the story of a suburban woman in her 60s who begins to grow an interest for poetry while struggling with Alzheimer's disease and her irresponsible grandson. Yoon Jeong-hee stars in the leading role, which was her first role in a film since 1994. The film was selected for the main competition at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Best Screenplay Award." Remarkable, absorbing.
posted by Mister Bijou at 12:20 AM on June 14, 2012


Best answer: Save The Green Planet!
posted by furiousthought at 12:26 AM on June 14, 2012 [1 favorite]


Castaway on the Moon is one of the better movies I've seen from any country in the past few years.
posted by Stacey at 2:46 AM on June 14, 2012 [1 favorite]


THIRST (Priest turns into a vampire after a failed drug trial in Africa)

THE CHASER (pimp chases serial killer who took one of his girls - loosely based upon a real case)
posted by fso at 4:52 AM on June 14, 2012


I recently saw The Yellow Sea at a Korean film festival and really enjoyed it. It's heartbreaking, full of action with oddly funny grotesque moments. Here's a bit more about the movie in the context of that festival.
posted by like_neon at 5:10 AM on June 14, 2012


seconding save the green planet. one of the best movies even made.
posted by Infernarl at 6:40 AM on June 14, 2012


Hansel and Gretel. And nthing I Saw the Devil (best creepy-violent movie since Oldboy), The Host, Mother, and Save the Green Planet.
posted by Gortuk at 7:38 AM on June 14, 2012


Castaway on the Moon
posted by SinAesthetic at 10:15 AM on June 14, 2012


all the movies I recommended recently have been mentioned, except for The Chaser by Hong-jin Na

Oh, I forgot about The Chaser. Yes, that's worth a watch too!
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 10:28 AM on June 14, 2012


Nthing Mother, Memories of Murder and The Host, all directed by Bong Joon-ho.
posted by hot soup girl at 12:33 PM on June 14, 2012


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