sydneyswesternsuburbs Director and writer Jee-woon-Kim who also directed and wrote another classic flick, I Saw the Devil 2010 has created a gem in A Bittersweet Life.Starring Byung-hun Lee wha was also in Jee-woon-Kim classic flick I Saw the Devil and another classic flick, Terminator Genisys 2015.Also starring Jung-min Hwang.Also starring Dal-su Oh who has also been in another classic flick in Oldboy 2003.If you enjoyed this as much as I did then check out another classic South Korean crime flick, The Man from Nowhere 2010.

sol- Asked by his boss to shadow his mistress, a youthful mobster makes the mistake of falling in love with the young woman and has to suffer the consequences of not reporting her infidelity in this South Korean crime drama. The film has been described as a revenge thriller by many, but the narrative curiously does not adopt such a format until nearly halfway in with the majority of the first half of the movie dedicated to the mobster growing increasingly fixated with the young lady he is tracking. The film arguably spends too much time on this build-up for its own good, but director Kim Jee-woon does an excellent job depicting the protagonist's growing infatuation. In the first scene together, for example, we are treated to cutaways that fetishise her feet, legs, ears, nose and mouth at various points. Lee Byung-hun is also superb throughout as the infatuated mobster; confident in his enforcer job, but shy and uncertain around women. The film never quite answers what he expected to result from not reporting the infidelity. Is what the boss does to him (upon discovering the betrayal) really all that unexpected? Lee still manages to come across as an oddly sympathetic young man though and he has some great moments towards the end, waxing poetic about dreams that cannot come true. The best part of the film though is the entire final hour, which plays out as a non-stop adrenaline ride. Some of the action is a little over-the-top, but it is not without purpose as the whole second half represents a swelling of emotions in the protagonist's heart and mind.

Adam Peters (78%) Kim Ji-woon's super cool crime thriller is one of style, delicate beauty, combined with touches of harsh violence. The plot overall is a pulpy gangster staple, yet it's still very well told as every single scene actually is and feels important, and for something as polished and slickly flash there's very little excess fat or filler anywhere to be seen. Byung- hun Lee fits the role of a wronged icy cool, take-no-nonsense, manager of a gangster run restaurant like a glove; while the sweet romantic touches are brilliantly incorporated in this hard-edged tale of blood and revenge. The pacing during the first half is a touch too limp, but once it gets going this is hugely involving, entertaining, and satisfying watch.

George Clarke I first bought A Bittersweet Life not knowing what to expect, but was already in love with Korean cinema!I hadn't heard of its star Jeong-min Hwang, and the DVD wasn't giving away much. Then I watched it. And I was blown away!A Bittersweet Life quickly jumped to the top of my re-watch pile and I was telling everyone I knew about this awesome movie.Leading star, Jeong-min Hwang is Korea's Chow Yun Fat without a doubt. Handsome, fantastic actor, and great at action (further seen in his Hollywood debut - the p*ss poor GI Joe movies), Hwang is a star!His role in A Bittersweet Life just confirms that, and instantly earns him fans as viewers become hooked by him in this incredible film.I can't praise it enough and don't want to give anything away. Just see it before Hollywood remakes it and no doubt messes that one up too!