A dazzling action movie from South Korea,
Shiri follows two South Korean government agents, Ryu and Lee, as they pursue a female super-assassin from North Korea. Meanwhile, an elite paramilitary squad from North Korea has stolen a shipment of CTX, an undetectable liquid explosive of enormous power, which they've planted all over the city of Seoul. As their investigations are successively foiled, Ryu and Lee begin to suspect that there is a mole within the ranks of the agency--and it may be one of them. Both hyperstylish and hyperrealistic,
Shiri rips along as a smooth fusion of Hong Kong and American action movies. Ryu's troubled romance with his alcoholic fiancée adds a striking emotional counterpoint to the blazing gunfights and high-speed chases; the ending is unexpectedly moving. It's not surprising that this film beat
Titanic's box-office records in Korea.
--Bret Fetzer
1 Juxtaposition of Three
New to the genre of East Asian action movies - I have to admit that I simply liked this movie. A little high on the gore - but in the tradition So Close and Naked Weapon - nonetheless entertaining.
The story is based on the juxtaposition and convergence of three main characters: Ryu, Lee, and Hee. Ryu (Suk-Gyu Han) and Lee (Kang-Ho Song) are Seoul detective/secret service types who are hot on the trail to find elusive assassin Hee (Yun-Jin Kim). Hee was developed by and works for a North Korean terrorist organization known as the Special 8th Force. The group's aim is to bring about the unification of Korea by precipitating a war.
Special 8th force hijacked an army convoy carrying the liquid volatile CTX. With the clock running out before the lethal chemical is detonated, Ryu must find Hee and stop her by any means necessary. As a complication and this should prove predictable, Ryu and Hee are romantically involved.
The sub-plot of a love story between Ryu and Hee is not lost amidst the ruckus of bullets and explosions. The writers make no bones about the identity of the female assassin. If taken as simply an action film, it is fairly good. This movie is replete with tales of counter espionage action, snipers, heavy gun fights, swat teams, bomb threats, and car chases. The product is proof positive that the filmmakers took the time and paid close attention to detail.
There was a hint of social commentary with the introduction of the deception and suffering caused by the separation and resulting into of the two Koreas. Perhaps the viewers might heed the ramblings that perhaps it might be beneficial to consider the development of a single Korea - for that and the action it was worth the price of admission - in this case the price of a DVD.
Miguel Llora
2 Decent action movie
Yunjin Kim from the ABC TV show "Lost" is the North Korean mole at the center of this movie. You've seen all this before - a conflicted agent, duty and honor, a McGuffin that could destroy all of Seoul - but you've probably not seen it Korean style, or put together with obvious love by the filmmakers.
Surprisingly, "Shiri" is a loving travelogue of Seoul as much as an action movie. I've never been, but man does this movie make it look attractive. I think we see more of Seoul in "Shiri" than we do of Tokyo in "Lost in Translation."
By and large, this is an energetic action film that starts off over-the-top violent and then ends up as "Black Sunday." The plot is a bit confused, and at more than one location my wife and I were left scratching our heads trying to figure out what exactly was going on. The actions of the police are often equally strange - ambushing terrorists in one room of a building in which everyone else is going about their normal business? But it's an action movie, so just roll with it. It makes as much sense as any random Michael Bay movie and it cost a fraction as much to make.
If you're in the mood for an Asian action movie, this is worth a shot. Indeed, if you're not familiar with Asian cinema in general, "Shiri" is a good way to ease you into a whole other world of film.
3 this is GOOD, Tae Guk Gi is better.
Teh plot takes some rather chunky turns, like Sword in the Moon it feels out of order at times but it is good none-the-less. . .
"The plot is standard for movies like this. A rogue North Korean military officer, along with a bunch of soldiers from his unit, has decided that having two Koreas is not acceptable, so he hatches a plan to steal a top-secret South Korean weapon that looks like water, but can be used as a bomb. (Or something along that line.) The weapon itself is not important, it's just the McGuffin to get the story rolling. Years before, the gung-ho communist officer had sent over a woman to spy on the South Korean agency that monitors all of these type of events (think CIA or FBI). Activated once again, the spy becomes an assassin, turning Seoul into a shooting gallery.
The only fault I can find with the movie is that the story is not very original (the "secret biological weapon" theme is almost identical to that of "The Rock") and sometimes the action scenes go on for too long. There are gunfights that run on and on and on, always ending the same way -- with nothing solved (at least until the inevitable end). The bad guy doesn't get killed and neither does the good guy. The only people that ever die are civilians and some indistinguishable cops, SWAT members, or the rogue officer's lackeys. I could have done with less nonstop shooting and more consequential action.
Although the film tries to offer up a love story, it's mostly lost in the hail of bullets and loud explosions. Not only that, but the identity of the female assassin is relatively easy to figure out; and if you can figure that out, then the whole subplot about a possible mole in the good guys' agency becomes somewhat irrelevant.
In any case, the movie is a good action film if taken just that -- it's very loud and the action is staged quite effectively. But again, they do seem to go on for way too long, and after a while it all gets a bit repetitive. Run and shoot; talk about it; then run and shoot some more. A little bit of variety might have helped. Also, there are some very obvious product placement. Who knew that the South Korean government's super duper spy agency was sponsored by a major corporation? It must be, because we see the corporation's logo on the agency's helicopter!
I won't tell you how the movie ends, but you can probably guess. The film is not very original, even though a quiet love story managed to be very effective among the loud gunplay, running, and explosions. The film probably has too many plot points for its own good, and the ending, which takes place at a soccer stadium full of South Korean officials marked for assassination, is quite thrilling."
4 Great action flick from South Korea
A few quick points:
* Good action, good drama, good plot, good acting.
* The opening sequence is quite brutal; not for the squeamish.
* What's with the seductive cover of the U.S. release? This image is not an accurate representation of the film. (Haha to anybody who buys it because of the cover--but buy it anyway.)
* If you liked Shiri, and you like comedy, the parody "Fun Movie" is strongly recommended (currently only available as the Region 3 Korean edition)!
5 Impressive
For a Korean movie with a much smaller budget than Hollywood, this is an impressive action movie. Shiri is during its time the top grossing film in South Korea, beating off such competitors as Titanic. Lee and Ryu are two South Korean intelligence agents who go hunting for the elusive North Korean female sniper-assassin Hee, while in the meanwhile the 8th special force of North Korea, a paramilitary organization, hijacks a special liquid explosive CTX, which is capable of blowing apart the city in small quantities. Intelligently paced and with a little twist in the middle, Shiri proves Hollywood and Hong Kong are not the only big fish in the international pond of action thrillers. Good acting, fine script - in short, an impressive film.
6 Hollywood needs to pay attention to this movie!!
Explosions and car chases...check. Intrigue and espionage...check. Romance...check. Requires a brain to watch...check. This is quite possibly the smartest and most well-rounded action movie in the history of action movies. I loved it. The plot is interesting and makes you see the North Korea/South Korea conflict from a different perspective. (I told you it's smart.) The action leaves you breathless. Normally, I don't like romance in my action movies because it's usually just a cheap attempt to get a woman's top off and a few seconds of sex. The romance in this movie, however, is understated and appropriate. (I never thought I would write something like that in a review of an ACTION movie.) I do have one piece of advice for viewing Shiri: watch it in its native language with English subtitles. Under no circumstances should you listen to the dubbed English soundtrack. It is disappointing and disgusting to see the actors on screen giving it their all while their voices sound like they're watching paint dry. There are several extras, but the music video "When I dream" is the best of them. The song is absolutely beautiful, not to mention heartbreaking. (I even bought a CD by the singer, Carol Kidd, after watching this movie.) For anyone who thinks action movies can't be entertaining and brainy or who still think Godzilla is the true measure of foreign films, watch Shiri. You won't be disappointed.
7 designer kitten =^-^=
Shiri
Dubbed by the local press as the 'small fish that sank Titanic', "Shiri (Swiri)" is the most successful film in South Korean box office history.visuals rivaling both Hollywood and Hong Kong action movies, the star power of popular Korean actors Han Suk-kyu ("Christmas in August") and Choi Min-shik, and a story centered around the continuing Cold War tensions between North and South Korea, this espionage action-thriller easily won over domestic audiences when it was released in 1999. "Shiri" also marked a turning point in the evolution of South Korean cinema.That said, the film's action sequences are rather fun to watch, and probably the film's only saving grace. Though the film was made for a paltry $5 million US (which is six times the typical budget for a typical Korean feature), the production values, particularly in the action department, are top-notch.So if you like action films then you will love this film.I give it 5stars because its one better action movies i have seen in good while.
8 Great action movie with an excellent story!
Though the movie opens with some very violent training scenes, which may turn some people off to the movie, once you get beyond that, it has an excellent, though in some cases cliche, plot, well played roles, with good characters, and is nicely paced. Though certain parts struck me as fairly predictable, that happens a lot with movies (as well as books), so I tend to ignore the predictability and enjoy the story. If you like action movies with a story, as opposed to action movies with just action going for them, I would highly recommend this movie.
9 Action-packed and suspenseful...
I just finished watching this spectacular film. I won't go into what's already been said about this movie except that Shiri does rival all the major Hollywood blockbuster action flicks in terms of production and action. It even beat Titanic at the box office in its home country of South Korea! And all for a budget of $5 million! Certain scenes of the movie will keep you riveted to the screen as well as leave you in suspense! The plot involves a group of North Korean military operatives who steal a top secret explosive and plan to use it at a reunification soccer game between the two Koreas. It's up to two South Korean agents to stop the operatives from carrying out their devious plan. It's gets a little more complicated at first as there is also a romance with one of the agents involved, but it's makes perfect sense later on, and I'll leave it at that. Any way, this is a pretty darn good action film! Three and a half stars.
10 Great action with a twist
Wow, this movie is really something unique. At first when I started the movie I thought okay, so this movie is basically going to be about a woman who likes to kick butt. Hey, since I am also a female, I thought, that's a great idea! I love to watch movies when women kick butt like also in Charlie's Angels. Something different for a change! Move aside Arnold Swarzenegger, this female assasin can really give it to you good. I just loved how cool and mysteriously she was portrayed. I don't know what Shiri means in Korean? but that sure isn't the assasin's name. Alright, so at first I thought that this movie would be all action, just bang bang and dead people, but to my great surprise there was a twist to the storyline. You'd have to watch it to find out. The twist was based on a romantic theme not action. The movie started off with action but ended up in a romance. I thought that this was an incredible transition, not seen in many if not at all any other action movies. The special effects in the fighting scenes are spectacular! No less worthy of Hollywood productions. It is just like watching a hollywood action movie, sometimes I'd have to stop myself and realize that this is an Asian movie not American. It was great to watch an action/romantic movie in Korean because I got a chance to see their country, culture and the way Koreans sound and look. I think that foreign movies are something very special, they have a certain charm about them not found in American movies. Well, anyways, the thing that was most memorable about the movie was the twist and the ending. I loved the theme song "When I dream". A sad movie that deeply touches the heart and is not a movie soon to forget. There is always something interesting that happens, always a twist here and there to keep you guessing and be surprised. This movie has high speed action and will keep you on your feet. The movie never slows down. I am thinking of buying the movie, but after having watched it a second time, the movie lost a bit of it's flavor. They also have a special feature documentary of the film (included). This documentary is awesome, it shows you how all the special effects are done with nothing to hide. It shows you the secret of the movie business. Just awesome!! Please take my advice and don't miss it for the world. It is an experience you won't forget. I LOVED IT !!!! Yippy! Finally a good movie for a change. I was just so fed up with boring lame movies, now I've finally found a good one. Don't miss it!
11 Very Impressive
My only exposure to this movie is from other amazondotcommers' reviews, which was very favourable. Nevertheless, I still didn't know what to expect. Some reviewers made allusion to "Le Femme Nikita," which is rightly so, but hardly the same movie. This is a guy movie and the lead actress didn't have as much screen time as the two OP agents which I think is okay because the movie was still able to give a profound impression about the what and why's of the Femme Assassin. Concerning the other reviewers, I have to agree with most, "Shiri" is quite impressive in the way that it tried and succeeded in making a Hollywodd style action movie but uniquely Korean. The melodramatic parts of the movie gives one time to pause from the sheer, dizzing action sequence, yet it didn't feel awkward although at times bordering towards soap opera. The plot, surprisingly was the movie's weak point, a bit too gimicky and had the potential to sag, where for not the actor's believable performances. Yun-jin Kim who plays the reincarnated Hyun had a bit more of a challenge having to play the vunerable pretty girl next door, to a deadly spy with a big gun. Kim had to convey varying degrees of emotions in a limited screen time convincingly, which gives her performance more notice. I also like the actor who played the nemesis, Min sik Choi. He has the same intensity that could be compared to a younger Clint Eastwood. And yes, I also like the ending, don't forget the tissue paper.
The DVD has a nice, extra long documentary on the making of "Shiri," which really shows you that these guys mean bussiness when it comes to action movies. They employ the same meticulousness of Hollywood movie makers, with a bigger challenge: a very, very small budget, relatively speaking ofcourse, 5 million dollars is nothing to a big action Hollywood movie, but to North Koreans movie makers, it's enough money to but their other half of the country, which makes you appreciate this movie even more. I know a reviewer pointed out the awkwardness of having to follow a plot in subtittles, but I didn't find it a problem, I thought it added to its uniqueness. I am really glad I followed the advice and reviews of fellow dot commers. This movie is worth having. I plan to watch it several more times just to catch some missed nuances and probably pass it around for others to appreciate it.
12 A masterpiece of Korean cinema
I was excited about having a chance to watch this movie; after all, Shiri became South Korea's most successful and most-watched film of all time, surpassing even the mighty Titanic. It seems only right that a Korean film should hold the box office record in South Korea. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect from Shiri; I knew it was an action film involving a deadly female assassin from North Korea and that the plot revolved in some way around the idea of Korean unification, but that was the extent of my knowledge going in. Shiri definitely delivers, offering up heaping platefuls of suspense, action, and gritty violence; it also, much to its credit, carries an emotional payload of love, friendship, betrayal, duty, all of the angst that surrounds the question of unification. The special effects are well done (Shiri had a budget of only five million dollars, but that qualifies as a big budget in Korean cinema), the cinematography is beautiful, and the overall presentation of the film serves to touch the viewer in any number of ways.
I do have to admit that I found parts of the film somewhat confusing, especially early on; I also had trouble keeping some of the characters straight in my mind. I think this is explained by my American viewpoint and the fact that I could not devote all of my attention to the events on the screen as I had to depend on subtitles to follow the dialogue. Additionally, the whole theme of reunification obviously doesn't impact me the way it would a Korean audience. Even I can see how ambitious and daring the plot of this film was, though; this is truly a film borne out of the very soul of Korea.
Hee is North Korea's most infamous assassin, and as the movie opens, she seems to have reappeared for the first time in a year. South Korean special agents Ryu and Lee have been charged with the task of ending her reign of terror; this is no easy job, as she has left a trail of very important corpses right under their noses for years. As it turns out, Hee is not working alone now, and this only complicates things. Working alongside her now is a special, seemingly rogue element of the North Korean military. This group manages to steal a number of containers of a new super-incendiary device called CTX, and they stash these awful weapons throughout the metropolis of Seoul. These revolutionaries make demands that cannot be met, but their true goal is only made manifest in the final stages of the film. Against this backdrop, you have a highly visible cultural joining of both Koreas in the form of a soccer game in Seoul, the symbolism of which is made most obvious by the mutual attendance of the leaders of both Koreas. For special agents Ryu and Lee, the job of finding and eliminating the infamous Hee takes on incredibly emotional dimensions neither man could ever have anticipated, and it is on this highly personal level that the true heart of the movie plays out.
A 1999 film offering two distinct ideas about Korean reunification was definitely a risk for South Korean filmmaker Kang Je-Gyu. Of course, the greater the risk, the larger the possible reward, and this film proved the very opposite of divisive. South Koreans flocked to see Shiri, it is said that North Korea's leader Kim Jong Il arranged to see a stolen copy of it, and the South Korean government itself treated foreign diplomats to a free screening of this historic block-buster. Those who crave action and realistic violence will find much to their liking here, but it is Shiri's surprisingly powerful emotional impact that really sets the film apart as something special.
13 Excellent movie
This movie was excellent. Rarely is there a film where the romance and action are combined well - this one is it. Very fast, and there is plenty of action - but not so much so that you get sick of it. I've watched quite a few asian action movies - this is among the best. I don't own it but I'm going to buy myself a copy if I find one for a good price. Also, THE ENGLISH DUBBING (I THINK IT IS DUBBING) IS ALSO EXCELLENT!!!
Love,
Chin
14 What A Movie!
This movie is a concoction of many romance, thriller and action movies. As the movie started, I thought to myself, ah, another shoot-shoot, bang-bang movie and that the heroes would be victorious in the end. Surprisingly, as the movie progresses, it actually turns out to be quite a movie with substance. The two South Korean agents that were assigned to track the assassin that killed many of their scientists started to suspect one another for being a mole as the assassin seemed to be ahead of them every & each time. Doesn't that remind you of Al Pacino and Colin Farrell in "The Recruit"? The question is who can we trust? Then, there was this over-the-top North Korean agent that lined his wits and brawns against the South Korean agent and naturally, there would be a grand finale show down. Doesn't that remind you of John Trovolta & Nicholas Cage in "Face Off"? Then, there was the element of romance to captivate female audience's interest. The South Korean agent's girl friend seemed to have a troubled past with alcohol and what was the demon that haunted her all this time? What was the corelation between her and the North Korean agent? Last but not least, it was the time to save the Presidents of both North & South Korea in the nick of time from their untimely death in an exhibition soccer match. Doesn't that remind you of Clint Eastwood trying to prevent John Malkovich from killing the President in "In The Line of Duty"? As been said by other viewers, the ending was very moving and you would definitely need tissues if you are a softie, which I am one! Overall, a very well-made movie and a movie that manages to captivate audience's interest from the beginning till the end. South Korea has definitely matured in its film-making by being daring to address the delicate or fragile peace between North & South Korea. You won't be disappointed with this offering.
15 A noble attempt for a Korean blockbuster
Shiri, prior to its release in South Korea, received some attention as the subject focusing the conflict between North Korea and South Korea, a conflict that has been very real and decisive at times over the last decades. What should be noted is the fact Shiri is one of the first Korean blockbusters, with a budget of $5 million, a huge budget for a foreign film to this day. The film did exceptionally well in Korea, drawing more audience than James Cameron's Titanic in Korea, which is not a small feat. Yet, aside from its accomplishments and facts that are noteworthy, as a pure action film, it falls a few steps short.
It is important it deals with a real life conflict between the two Koreas, and there has not been many movies that dealt with that situation before Shiri. Shiri addressed an issue that is very real, without choosing any sides. Both the North Korean terrorists and South Korean special operations have reasons to chase down and foil each other's agenda, and while they carry out their objectives, they also have to exorcise their own demons. Such plot lines alone is worth a look, especially to understand the conflict in the Korean peninsula.
The acting is decent, but not great. Some of the actors play their character with deep understanding of their characters, and play them with their hearts. Some actors are not able to ignore the cameras, and it shows- sometimes to the degree where it impacts the film.
The actions sequences, while some are impressive, some feels as if they stole a few pages directly from a typical Jerry Bruckheimer-Michael Bay film. The scenes were executed with ambitious goals, although the small budget hinders the sequence sometimes. If you are used to big explosions every five minutes, this is not your type of film, as this film deals more with the conflict of the Koreas and the Koreans who deal with it.
While it may not be the breathtaking film of sorts, it has similar elements that fans of Hong Kong cinema will certainly enjoy. But note this film has different approaches from the typical Hong Kong cinema, and this film has been one of the best offerings from Korean cinema. It is definitely worth a look, but I am not sure if I'd want to own this film.
16 A fantastic action film!
Unlike most countries, Korea's domestic films have always beaten out any imported films, especially those from the US, in the box office. Watching Shiri, I can certainly understand why. The film takes place in present day South Korea, where years of separation from North Korea have created a tense political situation. The two countries are actually considering reunification and have already taken steps toward that goal. The story focuses on an intelligence agent named Ryu who is trying to thwart a plot by North Korean agents to steal a special liquid explosive called CTX and use it to disrupt the reunification process. Ryu is pitted against Hee, the North Koreans' best assassin, whose skill as a sniper are unparalleled. However, nothing will prepare Ryu for Hee's true identity. Touted as "49% romance and 51% action," Shiri is an intense film similar to films like Heat and John Woo films and actually beat out Titanic in the Korean box office. A worthwhile and intense action experience.
17 Enjoyable but Predictable Intensity
Somewhere just past the opening sequence of Shiri, two special forces recruits race furiously to manually assemble the dismantled pistols in front of them. The male recruit glances nervously at the female recruit who calmly finishes her gun first, points it at him and blows his head off. The strong survive.
Kang Je-gyu's 2002 effort is loaded with these types of moments, be it in a tragic, suspenseful or politically heart-pounding sense. It is first and foremost a blow-em up shoot-em up action film, but Shiri creates distance from the norm by relying on the people, emotions and motivations behind the bombs and bullets. It's not as simple as the formulaic "something bad happens to the hero; hero must retaliate against villain; villain has world-ending plan; hero must blast his way through the challenges to get to blast the villain" scenario we've all become accustomed to. Shiri's characters must question their loyalties to each other, to their countries, to a particular cause or to their past at each step. It isn't a new concept by any means, but movies with incessantly self-questioning heroes AND villains usually make for some good watching, especially when the "hero" and "villain" tags are easily blurred.
In Shiri, Ryu and Lee must find Hee, once the female recruit mentioned above, now a dangerous killer. There seems to be a connection between Hee, a terrorist hijacking of a volatile, extremely destructive liquid explosive called CTX, and an upcoming North Korea Vs. South Korea soccer match intended to promote peace between the countries. The hunt is on.
There's nothing technically new that the film offers; you won't see any groundbreaking or impressive camera work, special effects or action sequences--everything is old hat. The film certainly wants to emphasize and build itself around the North vs. South tension, but ultimately ends up reducing that issue to background noise, up until the end. The dialogue is also nothing special, and gets impossibly preachy by the final frames.
Still, Je-gyu manages to develop the characters current relationships extremely well. Most of the main characters develop well enough for you to feel the emotional weight and pain when one of them dies. Your emotions should be running high by the final five to 10 minutes of Shiri.
Only one thing, which verges on being a spoiler, prevented me from enjoying this movie at a 4-star capacity. Most viewers who play close attention to faces, and can reasonably differentiate Asians, will have to be able to get over the realization early on that Ryu and Lee have Hee well within their grasp. It isn't too disappointing or so important that the film is ruined, but a little bit more time invested on make-up work on one particular character would've given this film an extra edge.
Once again, it's a high-emotion, high-intensity action film, but the Korean setting and subplots should give viewers something more to work with than your average shooter movie.
18 EXCELLENT
I don't speak Korean so I'm not always fond of movies with subtitles or that are dubbed... I saw the film in Korea with out subtitles or dubbing and it was pretty easy to follow... It keeps the viewer entracned... and the action is never purposless.
19 definately worth a look
This is the first South Korean film that I have seen. I do not know if this is standard for what the nation puts out, or if this is a superior Korean movie. What I do know is that I thoroughly enjoyed Shiri.
The basic plot of the movie is that there is an assassin named Hee taking out top officials of the South Korean government. Two of the top agents in S.K. are ordered to find and stop her. At the same time, an elite military group from North Korea has stolen a shipment of CTX, an extremely explosive liquid. Mix in a perfectly woven love story between one of the agents and a woman named Hyun, and you have one of the best action movies that should have been made in America but never was.
While some may find parts of this movie clichˇ, there is very little in action cinema right now that is not clichˇ in some way. This movie is worth seeing for any fan of action movies, or of movies dealing with intelligence agents, assassins and spies. Excellent movie.
20 Great Movie, Great Plot, emotional & Action & suspense
The plot is great.
The most interesting part is it is in a way different from most American action movies with similar plots.
SHiri combines both emotion and excitement with solid plot.
It is unlike from most action movies you will encounter. It goes beyond that. Surprisingly superb storylines and unbelievable actions. Great Cast. Main charater is a very well known actor in S.Korea. It is meaningless to compare with most holiwood action flicks unless you expect the same, flat out obvious plot with hardly any storyline and too unrealistic actions. THis movie is different, with full of fresh actions and storyline that also involve north and south korea.
21 Shiri... the best from South Korea
It has some flaws, it's a bit predictable, it's overly sentimental at times. So what! It moves with lightning speed, it strikes without mercy, and it's exceptionally entertaining.
Some folks may want to see it twice, because it's confusing at times. If you're of the queasy stomach type, you may want your mom close by to give you comfort in the opening scenes. No matter, they provide the necessary balance for the rest of the film.
Action sequences are ruthless, also for the actors who sometimes were injured. That gives you a clue as to the efforts taken to make a realistic action movie.
I enjoyed it and will buy it.
This DVD contains about an hour of "The making of..." material which is as interesting as the final product.
4 Stars for being predictable and setimental. Ruthless agents are not prone to lacrimogenous scenes. Otherwise, an exceptional movie.
22 School play with no emotional depth
The story is quite predictable and action has no speediness. This is 30 years behind Hongkong films in quality of action, 40 years behind Japanese films in depth of story, and 50 years behind Hollywood in entertainment.
23 Incredible Opening Segment - Well Worth Watching
I consider this a good action movie. It does have quite a number of cliches. Some of the plot is predictable, perhaps even annoyingly so at times. However, there are few action movies from any country that avoid having some level of predictability and cliche.
It may help to understand that many Koreans are enthusiastic to the point of yearning to reunite the north and the south. The depth of this need is much greater than The United States' desire to end the cold war, and at least as great as the desire of the Germanys to reunite their country. The story of the Shiri, a fish, was an element that aided in understanding the motivations of the North Korean agents and their fervor.
The movie itself can be divided into three segments. The first segment shows how members of the North Korean 8th Special Forces Unit were trained, focusing particularly on the training of beautiful female agent Hee. The second segment builds suspense regarding whether super agent Hee is actually active in South Korea, and what her goal is. The final segment pulls all the parts together into a race to prevent the two countries from falling into chaos and war.
The first segment is violent and bloody, and can put off some viewers. However, historically Asians have had a reputation for ruthlessness that this first segment exploits with perhaps excessive blood, but to some extent the violence is necessary to provide the contrast needed for the rest of the movie. To provide many details about this segment would be to take away the surprise. Let's just say that the training for North Korean agents as depicted in this movie is very realistic and ruthless. This portion of the movie was incredible and very different from any movie I can recall having seen.
The second segment falls more into a classic spy movie, with the two lead South Korean agents trying to understand how all the pieces fit together. A significant portion of this segment went into building up the characters and their relationships. Unfortunately a lot of the cliche also went into this portion of the movie, as well as some of the predictability. My biggest annoyance was that every time the North Korean agents got into a gun fight, they lost no one, and the South Koreans had numerous casualties. The North Korean agents were well trained, but eventually the bullets will catch up with you. They do in this movie, but it seems to take a long time.
The third segment reveals the goals of the North Korean super agents, and from that point it's a race to see whether the South Koreans are going to save the day. By this point the movie has fallen somewhat into a groove that we recognize from countless other spy movies, and it is perhaps this portion that detracts from the rest of the movie. However, there were still a few surprises left, and for the viewer who truly gets into the movie, it is sad and can cause you to shed a tear.
As a South Korean movie, this DVD gets 5 stars. I think it's likely the best I've seen. As a spy movie, I give it 4 stars, particularly for the incredible beginning and the basic plot concept. I fall short of giving the movie 5 stars overall because of excessive predictability near the end. However, I still recommend this movie. I found a lot to like about it, and I think it compares well with some James Bond movies. The acting was generally pretty good. If South Korea continues to make movies with this movie as the ground floor of quality, we may be seeing South Korean movies in theater release in the future.
Oh, and the cover is misleading...
24 Brutal Beauty - Deadly Aim
North Korea's 8th Special Forces train highly effective, ruthless, and deadly agents that operate within South Korea's borders. The most lethal of them all is a female sniper, Hee, whose identity has been revealed to the South Korean secret service. It seems like Hee is stalking two South Korean agents, Ryu and Lee, and somehow she is constantly two steps before them. However, this time it seems like Hee has made an error and has left a track behind, but the real question is why? Shiri is a suspenseful tale of infiltration and espionage that tingles the nerves; however, there is slight inelegance in the story that downplays the complete cinematic experience.
25 not really that great
I had read lots of great reviews about this movie, but it's got too many plot holes and unbelievable events that spoiled it for me. I tried to like it, but there were just too many instances where the events were ridiculous.
It was well made in an a hollywood action movie way, but if you care for even somewhat believable plots (even james bond level), you'll be insulted by this one.
26 chicks n guns
First off, I agree with a previous reviewer that the cover is very deceptive and has absolutly nothing to do with this movie. It's just a selling ploy. Which is actually not a bad idea considering it may reach a larger audience. This movie has some extreme violence in it (excessive blood splatering, an exploding chick), but overall it is a great guy movie. There is some lovey-dovey stuff in it too. Nothing new or origional, but still fun, suspenseful and entertaining. Rent it before you buy it. The DVD has some nice extras.
27 Holy Freaking Wow!
Sure, SHIRI might end up being little more than 'eye candy' on some critics lists, but two best picture awards aren't handed out like food samples at the corner grocery stores, now are they?
A densely layered action flick (a thinking man's DIE HARD), SHIRI plays out from start to finish with blistering action choreography ... brainwashing (a harrowing twist on THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE if there ever was one), gun battles (some of which are poorly photographed yet rival John Woo's HARD-BOILED in their choreographed frenzy), car chases (brief but rivals THE FRENCH CONNECTION in intensity), international espionage (a Cold War spin on the North / South Korea political situation) ... you name it, it's in there somewheres. All of that, and there's even a James Bond-like explosive called CTX that keeps our two government agents on the run against the would-be terrorists.
While there were several elements of the ending that the astute viewer will see coming, the impact of the performances maintain the interest level, doing an excellent job at elevating what could've been a stockpile story into a tiny little work of art.
All in all, SHIRI is a must for any fan of action movies. Thanks to the miracle of DVD, I've watched both the subtitled version and the dubbed, and I was quite pleased with the English language dubbing that was accomplished; it did very little to distract from this hot little gem.
28 Outstanding in every way!!!
This movie is a real treat. Great plot, great action, and great performances (although I don't speak any Korean). This movie reminded me of Heat with Pacino and DeNiro; of that same calibre, but with a different story line. Very emotional moments when the Northern Koreans reflect upon their life in the face of the South Koreans. This is a must see, a perfect 10 or 10, were 10 stars available!!!!
29 Thinking man's action movie
Thank God! Finally a movie where the motive isn't cynical, a la "follow the money." A passionate, intense, political movie.
Bad news first: except for its politics, the movie breaks little new ground. This is not to say that it isn't clever, but the movie borrows plot elements and style liberally from the best action movies of the last twenty years from the USA and Hong Kong. The good news is, while the movie is derivative, it is exceptionally well written, acted, and directed. There is no little or no slack, and the action is intense and well-staged. All of the elements, which range from standard HK-style action sequences to HK-style romantic elements and political elements cohere into an intelligent whole. Verdict: don't miss it.
30 One Of The Best Movies That I've Seen In A Long, Long Time!
I think that this is an absolutely great film. I just watched the DVD last night. It has great action scenes, a great plot, great romance and many surprising twists. This is one of the few movies that you enjoy more when you know less about it before you see it (Don't read too many reviews. They give away too much about it. Its best watched "cold".). If I could only buy (10) DVDs in my life, this would be one of them.
Eddy C.
31 This movie was off the hook.. get it!
dang! this movie was hella tite. everybody needs to go watch this movie. after that they will love it! and then they will be like me...buying one off of amazon.com. it has action and the romance part is the besT!...watch it everyone!
32 Wow i really loved this movie
What can i say... action, drama, romance... it has it all.
I totally love this genre where they just jam pack so much stuff into a movie. Ok so thats not really a genre but you get what i mean :)
Im very much a fan of asian movies, and i must say, this was my first taste of Korean action and i am very much impressed. The action never stopped the whole 90minutes and the atmosphere was great. Shiri is a veyr high budget film, especially compared to other asian movies. The ending is fantastic (except for that extremely cliched thing at the end that'll make you roll your eyes hehe)
But otherwise this is a top rate film, that everyone should see, if only once.
This film doesnt actually deserve the full 5 stars, but theres no four and a half so yeah :)
33 Great Flick!!
This is the first Korean action ovie that I have seen. If they are all of this caliber Hong Kong watch out. Outstanding performances by the leads. Good action segments. Well written. It is definately worth the price of admission!!!
34 america ruins asian films
first the cover for the US version has nothing to do with the movie at all, everytime a asian film is released in america they ruin it with either stupied dubbing and name changes or something to that effect. People who think it didnt't live up to the hype are stupied. the story is very good and highly evolved for asian cinema. Maybe if people who wrote these review had any knowledge of korean history or korea's current state would find this film more to their liking, simple thinking people who have no life but to sit home and bash good movies should just keep their comments to them selves and not ruin a great movie for others. shiri is excellent to say the least that has a great plot and love story that alot of action packed movies do not have these days. i love action movies and my girlfriend is more of a romance movie goer and both of us agree this film is worth owning.
35 well worth watching
This stylish thriller follows two elite South Korean secret agents, Ryu and Lee, as they hunt a ruthless North Korean assassin (a woman known only as Hee) and her
compatriots (from North Korea's 8th Special Forces unit) who hijack a shipment of CTX, a newly created liquid of enormous explosive power. The action takes
place against the backdrop of Ryu's love affair with a recovering alcoholic, fish shop owner, and a soccer game between the two countries that occurs as part of a visit
to Seoul by the leaders of North Korea for peace talks.
Although the film is mostly just an extraordinarily graphic combination of La Femme Nikita and John Woo's The Killer, it also seems to want to say something
profound about the effects of separation on the Korean psyche, but it succeeds better at choreographing violence than at plumbing psycho-political drama. Shiri,
the codename of the North Korean terrorist plot, are a kind of fish that populate the rivers that divide the Korean peninsula and, I guess like salmon, swim upstream
to spawn. The screen is filled with images of fish and water and even the CTX is indistinguishable from water. To the extent that I comprehend Kang's point, I guess
the two peoples of Korea are supposed to be like the fish, fighting their way against the current to be reunited. But their inability, over the past fifty years, to achieve
this coupling is also used to explain the psychoses of the North Korean operatives, whose war cry is "For the Unification!", and to make them, especially Hee, as
sympathetic as cold-blooded communist killers can be made. A little of this pop philosophy generally goes a long way and by the time Kang tacks on a coda where
he's explaining it all in more detail it's gotten a tad too heavy-handed for an adventure flick.
Other than this overt, even clumsy, politicizing, the film is fairly formulaic. Anyone even casually acquainted with the conventions of the genre will know where the
movie is headed most of the time and there's far more blood and guts on display than is really necessary for simple storytelling; it's truly gratuitous. But when the
focus turns from psychology and politics to action, it is quite exciting and visually diverting. The Korean setting is also interesting, much of it oddly familiar,
demonstrating how thoroughly American culture has penetrated the society, but exotic just the same.
Shiri famously out-grossed Titanic in South Korea and comes to America accompanied by a good deal of hype. It fails to live up to what are probably unfair
expectations, but taken for what it is--a technically accomplished thriller with a patina of serious politics--it is well worth watching.
GRADE : B-
36 VERY GOOD KOREAN MOVIE
This is a very VERY VERY good korean movie. I saw it a long time ago because it already came out in Korea like 3 years ago. This movie is action packed and very surprising. BUY IT
37 Rave reviews do not equal a hit, or even a great movie.
First of all I will say I liked this movie. However, I do not feel it lives up to the hype that the other columnists are stating. I do think this is a movie worth watching, once. The first thing I will do with this movie now htat I have it, is sell it. Any bidders?
38 Great movie, awful cover
First, let me say that the cover on the U.S. release is just awful. I realize they are trying for the whole "Bond Girl" thing, but if you don't know the movie and go by the cover, you will probably not rent it or, if you do, be sorely disappointed because the movie is NOTHING like the U.S. cover. OK, now that that rant is over... The movie is really quite good, particularly if you are familiar with the tensions that can exist only in a divided nation. This is one of three "must see" Korean movies made in the past few years that shows a remarkable shift in how South Koreans portray North Korean spies and soldiers. Rather than maintaining the old stereotypes of North Koreans being unfeeling wolves out to slaughter South Koreans, these movies leave the audience feeling sympathetic to the North Koreans, even when they are doing horrible things. The other two are Spy Lee Chul Jin (AKA super pig) and JSA (Joint Security Agency). If you can't buy them online, at least go to your local Korean grocery store and rent them.
39 good start
I first watched this movie when it was released in Korea a few years ago, and recently watched it again in its DVD version. Its plot is a quite predictable, and its action sequences are good, but not exceptional. Despite such shortcomings, this movie proves to be rather decent because of two things: the acting and the cultural context.
First acting: two of the main characters of the movie is played by two of the best actors in Korea working today: Han Suk-kyu and Song Kang-ho. It is quite amazing how seriously and convincingly these actors (as well as other actors in the movie) portray their characters given a somewhat far-fetched story line. Yet, they pull it off, rendering the movie much more credible and meaningful.
Secondly cultural context: As many other reviewers have remarked, this movie may have touched Korean audiences more due to its subject matter. While the movie seems to adopt "good vs. evil" approach where the North Koreans are the former and the South the latter, it is tastefully undercurrented by more personal and romantic theme, where a person loves another person free of political agendas or still very much lingering tragedy of Korean war. The result, in my opinion, is a much smarter film, in which the differnce between right and wrong is much more ambiguous, and audiences are able to understand / care for the characters more; the tragic divide between the two main characters and thier ultimate end seems to reflect the same kind of divide between South and North Koreas in which all Koreans can relate.
Having said all this, I like to note that this movie noted a beginning of contemporary Korean cinema which has come a long way since then (I think the theatrical release of "Shiri" was in 1997). Since then, many excellent Korean movies have sprung, and I wish that Shiri marks a beginning of further importation of new and improved Korean cinemas into US. As one other review has mentioned, "JSA" (Joint Security Area), starring Song Kangho (who also starred in Shiri), is an excellent example of such new and improved Korean films. Be sure the check it out when it comes out in US.
40 A Good Romantic Movie
I personally think there is too much criticism when rating this movie, especially since this particular film was produced in a country that didn't have the long history of film making and experience like american productions. If one expects so much out of this film and expecting professional quality cinematics and directing, why not just go rent or buy american action movies? They seem to deliver that quickly and effortlessly. However, I personally like the originality and creativity of this film. Other foreign films such as The Road Home starring Zhang Ziyi was one of my favorites. This wasn't because they had super action scenes or tear dropping romance like the Titanic. It was simply because the plot was creative,simple, and overall pleasant. One should understand that Shiri also portrays a similar feel - particularly at the end of the movie.
41 RED HOT ACTION THRILLER
Heard of "SHIRI"? Thought not. This razzle dazzle action flick from South Korea out grossed "Titanic" on its home turf. Hard to believe? You'' find out why when you check out this hyperstylish, super realistic action thriller about a phantom sniper who is assassinating key figures in a South Korean intelligence investigation. Special agents Ryu and Lee figure it's North Korea's most lethal female operative, Hee. A South Korean security breech reveals missing CTX, an undetectable explosive of tremendous power that been placed all over Seoul. Ryu and Lee realize there's a mole in their ranks and time is running out to save the city and themselves.
This movie is red hot and tackles ideas that were only recently forbidden in Asian -- and western -- cinema.
42 Seriously over-hyped
SHIRI caused a massive sensation amongst western fans of Asian cinema upon its release, generating a massive amount of hype and stimulating a new interest in Korean cinema. I must qualify my own review by saying that I appear to be in a minority, but I really don't think the movie lives up to the hype.
The movie is certainly slick - no questioning that. It easily matches the production values of a Hollywood action blockbuster, but on 1/10th of the budget. Taken as a Hollywood action movie it is very good, but this means that it shares the faults of typical Hollywood movies, which are what drove many viewers in the west to turn to Asian cinema instead.
Underneath the surface gloss, SHIRI is a hollow movie. It tries to create the impression that it contains well developed characters and a strong romance story, but this is pure veneer. On a first pass you may be deceived, but second time through it is all too clear that the characterisation does not hold up to questioning, the twists in the plot are illogical, and the events cliched. Pacing is also an issue, with the middle section dragging horribly second time through, and the epilepticam used in the action scenes really annoys.
For fans of Hollywood movies, SHIRI may well impress, and may even be a gentle introduction to the world of Asian Cinema. I am very unhappy that the movie is often championed as a great example of Asian Cinema's strengths though, because it possesses none of the charm that makes a Hong Kong or Japanese or most Korean movies such a refreshing change from Hollywood processed blandness.
43 an ok movie, but wait.....
I watched it because it was a box-hit. Thoughout the movie, I felt nothing more but disappointment. This action movie is well plotted, yet with strong Hong Kong style. Just when I was about to throw this movie behind my collection, my Korean friend told me that SHIRI is a special fish that only lives between South and North Korea. Having that in mind, it changes how I view this movie entirely. And I get to appreciate how it becomes a box-hit in Korea, and how Koreans feel when they watch this movie.
4 stars if I know what shiri means !
44 Movie within special cultural context
I don't think the movie meets the Hollywood standard for action movies. It is very well done, however it still lacks few elements that would make it a first class action movie. However, I would like to give five for its plot and portrayal of romance. The romance plays in the setting of very special circumstance, involving the division in North and South Koreas. I thought that this was a really good romance film.
45 A smart action movie that is actually a good film? Wow!!!
Wow! Hollywood couldn't make a film this stylish, smart, or dangerous if it used an eighty million dollar budget. It's tried before, but always fallen short. This film has it all - action for action lovers, an incredibly tragic romance, and above all in intriguing premise that is carried out well by the director and the actors.
The basic premise is this: A North Korean sniper, Hee, who had taken out numerous important South Koreans has been out of sight for a significant ammount of time. The two agents investigating her are dragged into violence, explosions, and loossing trust in what little they have to believe in. One of the agents, Ryu, is in love with Hyun, who is played equisitly by the beautiful Kim Yun-Jin. I can't talk much about their love story for fear of giving away any of the brilliant steps that it takes.
In short, if you are looking for what an action film can and should be, check out Shiri. If you like standard American aciton fare, you will love this. And if, like me, Hollywood action leaves you lacking, this film will blow you away.
Don't miss it!
46 Shiri
Until recently, Korea banned all movies that depicted North Korea as anything other than bumbling and incompetant. By depicted the North Korean plight is such a moving way, Han really went out on a limb. Directors before Han that tried to do the same thing were thrown in jail. However, the South Korean government allowed this movie to be shown, and Shiri grossed more than Titanic did when it opened in Korea.
I thought that this movie was excellent, not because of the action (which was rather gory at times) but because of the storyline. It sheds new light on the suffering of North Koreans. I also, thought that the characters were well developed, especially the lead female. Even though some parts were rather predictable, I thought that it was a very moving and compelling story. I would definately recommend seeing this movie.
47 Lame Hollywood Wannabe
South Korea's first serious attempt at imitating a Hollywood blockbuster is exactly that -- an imitation. And a real clumsy one at that. "Shiri" recycles every action movie clichˇ imaginable that I felt like I was watching a James Bond highlight (lowlight?) reel most of the time. The plot is laughably bad and predictable, and the acting and dialogues are even worse (not having to read the subtitles isn't always a blessing). If you want to see a real South Korean blockbuster, I suggest you check out "Joint Security Area" instead.
