Movie Information
Overall Rank: 1376
Average Rating: 3/4
# of Ratings: 25
Theatrical Release Date: 04/01/2006
Language: Korean
Genre: Drama, Crime
MPAA Rating: NR
Director: Ji-woon Kim
Actors: Jeong-min Hwang, Byung-hun Lee, Ku Jin, Roe-ha Kim, Gi-yeong Lee, Dal-su Oh
Plot: A Mafia head asks his loyal enforcer to track his young mistress if she is having an affair. After Kim Sun-woo (Lee Byung-hun) discovers the real truth, he makes a decision that will lead to unfortunate events. Revenge and love are involved in this tragic crime film.
Full Movie Reviews
Rating of
4/4
Bittersweet Life, A (Dalkomhan insaeng) review
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 05/21/2012
Kang (Kim Yeong-cheol) informs an enforcer named Kim Sun-woo (Lee Byung-hun) to look over his young girlfriend Heesoo (Shin Min-ah), who he thinks might be having an affair. Not sure how one can survive being buried alive even with a broken finger, it was a deep hole despite Moon saying it was shallow. Nevertheless, the realism of the violence was impeccable and stylish while Lee Byung-hun brought his sensational and sincere acting which makes you empathize for his ordeals and keeps you focused with the plot. Soundtrack was applicable and endearing as well. Utilization of light, reflections, overhead shots, flashbacks and slow-motion were majestic. Screenplay was well written with lines from: President Kang - “The world is not easy. You can do 100 things right, but one mistake can …
Rating of
4/4
"A Bittersweet Life" by Yojimbo
Yojimbo - wrote on 02/10/2012
A mob enforcer is made an example of when he shows mercy and fails to execute the mistress of the boss he has served with unquestioning loyalty for the previous seven years. Bloody vengeance ensues. Yes, this plot line isn't exactly the most original material you are ever going to see, but this film really is something special. Lee Byung-hun is an anti-hero following the classic examples of everything from Yojimbo through to Kill Bill; an intelligent, quiet and seemingly unflappable character who is the last person on Earth you'd want to piss off! It has the artistic visuals of Chan-wook Park, the gritty violence of Scorsese, the balletic, blood soaked action of old school John Woo films and a quirky credibility reminiscent of Quentin Tarantino. The result is everything I want from a …
Rating of
4/4
A Bittersweet Life (Kim JI Woon, Korea)
PunkGeisha - wrote on 08/28/2010
The director would be much more known for his extraordinary and different kind of Horror in A Tale of Two Sisters and the hilarious black comedy ]The Quiet Family. This actually reveals he’s a real thespian of a movie maker who can delve into any kind of genre without sacrificing the trademark of his works. Classy.
A Bittersweet Life is probably one of his best. Proving once against that he can lay his hand on any kind of material and lift it out of being a stereotypical ho-hum kind of movie. More than anything else, the premise by which this movie was based on is very much something that could easily fall prey into that category. A modern-day story of betrayal, revenge and some gangsta cool. The Koreans called it action noir that brings to mind John Woo’s directorial style. …
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