Ironically, that makes Illang a rather ideal project, at least on paper. But another enemy may be lurking nearby. Meanwhile, Yun-hee lures Lim into a trap. I thought all of the fighting and firefights of the movie were incredibly unique and interesting as far as movies go, the setting was also something that I enjoyed. Its only use is during the prologue to explain why the government would launch a Special Unit force to put an end to Sect. had to be impartial due to my upbringing in the States. It received mixed reviews and under-performed at the domestic box office, selling around 897,000 tickets against its break-even point of six million tickets. Whatever. [9], An early comment on the film was given by Blue Sky animator Andr Mazzone, who was shown the film in May 1999 as part of a delegation from the studio to Production IG's headquarters. Illang (2018 Film) Information Gay rights have, 23 min read TAMSYN MUIR is the bestselling author of the Locked Tomb Trilogy, which begins withGideon the Ninth, continues. [11] Helen McCarthy in 500 Essential Anime Movies called the anime "a must-see" and praised the score and the design, commenting on "some breathtakingly composed scenes". The adaptation of Mamoru Oshii's "Jin-Roh" of 1999 is quite good, it retains the essence of the original animation film directed by Hiroyuki Okiura. It had the chance to take the core concept of the original and remake it with more Korean influences and depart into a similar, but uniquely different, film or to recapture the original with live action and a few more action sequences. The first couple minutes at the protest was good. The sniper? Han Hyo-joo sure tries hard to make Yoon-hee work, but I think to really make that character come alive, Joong-kyung needs to be more dynamic, and by design, he's not. [8], Hyper commends the film for its "art direction and character design which are beautiful examples of hand-drawn animation and the music fits the action (or lack thereof) brilliantly. Even $1 helps keeps us afloat. Add to that the complete change of medium, and I was intrigued to see what the end result would be. They changed huge plot points that destroyed the original theme and made it feel more Hollywood. However, due to negative reviews from both critics and audience members, the film screened for only three weeks, and ended up attracting a total of 897,254 moviegoers, grossing US$6.2 million. He stands up to instructor Jang Jin-tae. Some okay action and fighting scenes. The Wolf Brigade is a high powered, deadly force of men whose job it is to crush the sect opposing reunification. The state security wants to disband the special unit. When your consent is required, you can accept, refuse or personalise your choices. People just want to the see the armor suit fighting. As a live-action anime adaptation, I'd give this a 9/10. Jee-Woon's films 'I saw the Devil' and 'The Good the Bad the Weird' are among my favorite Korean films (and favorite films in general). It focuses on Kazuki Fuse, a member of the elite Kerberos Panzer Corps, a metropolitan counter-terrorism unit. Thank You! It has been relicensed in North America by Discotek Media, with a DVD released on April 29, 2014 followed by a Blu-Ray on January 27, 2015.[2][3]. There are also some other surface changes to the film that, really, dont affect as much as they probably should. I thought all of the fighting and firefights of the movie were incredibly unique and interesting as far as movies go, the setting was also something that I enjoyed. Taken on its own, its a decent action movie with a little near future science fiction flavor. In 2029 an elite police squad combats a terrorist group that opooses the reunification of the two Korean states. Contents 1 Summary 2 Plot 3 Cast and Characters 4 Awards I am a big fan of Korean films and still possess vivid memories of my reaction to Jin-Roh back in college. The Japanese preview of the film took place on June 19 in the Roppongi 20th Century Films theater. The film picks up five years later, as conditions have drastically worsened. Im late to this, but I just wanted to add my thoughts. An unfortunate misfire, Kim Jee-woon's latest is also his weakest film to date. Outside of this small fleshing out of the world, the Korean setting and backdrop really arent utilized to affect the films story all that much. Fuse is horrified at his action, but now having sacrificed his humanity, he has no other choice but to remain part of the pack. Then over an hour of nothing and confusing story. Anyone that has seen the original master piece before would find dissapointement in the last 15 min. The special unit is able to track the fleeing members to the sewers and hunt down some members there. Set in the distant future where both North and South Koreas agree to establish a joint government, which has been in preparation for a duration of 7 years, the plot focuses on political upri Set in the distant future where both North and South Koreas agree to establish a joint government, which has been in preparation for a duration of 7 years, the plot focuses on political uprisings on opposing sides which grow fierce when a special police unit is formed to stop the Set in the distant future where both North and South Koreas agree to establish a joint government, which has been in preparation for a duration of 7 years, the plot focuses on political uprisings on opposing sides which grow fierce when a special police unit is formed to stop the chaos. Also, Illang is based on a Japanese anime " The Wolf Brigade (1999)" of Mamoru Oshii . Overall, though, if you have heartbreaking memories of the original, this one does not deliver the same emotional punch the original possessed. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? We are told through a 5-minute-long prologue that fears of an impending war over a territorial dispute between Japan and China caused the two Koreas to launch preparations for unification. All Rights Reserved. The film proceeds as the two develop a peculiar relationship. I'll call it resonance for now, but Jin Roh definitely has it. Even worse, Kim Jee-woons decision to give away with the original films bleak ending in favor of a happy and commercially friendly ending betrays the only interesting themes in this underwhelming Korean sci-fi thriller. Now we do get the live action version of it. I went into this film not quite sure what to expect, but with a lot of high hopes. Anime adaptations are rarely a good idea in the first place. 2023 GAMESPOT, A FANDOM COMPANY. Terms of Use and That just eluded me. The main male protagonist, Im Joong-Kyung played by Gang Dong-won, is your usual super-competent combatant, and theres never really any tension about whether or not he will succeed in overcoming the obstacles in front of him so much as how he will do it. The show started out fairly slow and then took off with some really fantastic action. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Epoxy Flooring UAE; Floor Coating UAE; Self Leveling Floor Coating; Wood Finishes and Coating; Functional Coatings. A remake of the acclaimed japanese anime Jin-roh this new movie somehow fails to make the impact that one might expect from this director. Released October 19th, 2018, 'Illang: The Wolf Brigade' stars Gang Dong-won, Han Hyo-joo, Kim Moo-yul, Jung Woo-sung The R movie has a runtime of about 2 hr 20 min, and received a user score of 63 . CA License # A-588676-HAZ / DIR Contractor Registration #1000009744 She also cannot blame Lim for her death. Illang: The Wolf Brigade is a 2018 South Korean science fiction action film. Kim and lead actor Gang Dong-won were set to attend the event. The ending being the most disappointing part. [10][11] The film competed in the San Sebastin International Film Festival for the Golden Shell, becoming the second South Korean film to do so.[12]. damn. Based on Mamoru Oshiis Kerberos Panzer Cop manga whose 1999 anime adaptation, Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade, serves as a direct blueprint for this films stunning opening and climax Illang transposes the story from Japan to Korea, where political and economic pressure have forced the divided country to consider reunification. That concept alone ought to make for a fascinating science-fiction parable, although its barely dealt with in any practical terms, other than to explain a wave of demonstrations that turn tragic on what comes to be known as Bloody Friday, when peacekeeping forces accidentally murder 15 schoolgirls, mistaking them for terrorists. While it's better paced and isn't as boring, it doesn't make its characters any more emotionally involving, and I don't think it takes full advantage of the world it tries to portray, instead relying on a more expanded yet overplotted story. JUNG_E. He then surprises Yun-hee by informing her that Lim is not only a member of the special unit, but belongs to the notorious sub-organization Illang, the Wolf Brigade. To be fair, part of my partial disappointment may be that the movie was more or less advertised as a full-on actioner, and that is what I was expecting. Netflix and third parties use cookies and similar technologies on this website to collect information about your browsing activities, which we use to analyse your use of the website, to personalise our services and to customise our online advertisements. I felt entertained. Kim Jee-woon knows how to frame an action scene. The main plots complexity makes early portions a bit sluggish but sets up for a lot of twists and betrayals later on. While the movie has wholly adopted Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade, it does have parts of the Kerberos Saga included in does as part of giving it some . With the exception of Kim Mu-yeol, the cast are about as stiff as boards, and I think it's because they have so little to work with their characters. Entertaining and quite intelligent combat and action sequences throughout the movie; however, remarkably dumb reasons provided by the plot to explain the purpose of this combat. There's certainly a lot going on plot-wise, and the movie doesn't juggle the material well. He knows about Yun-hee's true identity and has expected that the state security would lead them to her. A really good action movie with an intriguing setup. That concept alone makes for a fascinating science-fiction film, but unfortunately, its all setup that is immediately abandoned. By Illang: The Wolf Brigade Photos View All Photos Movie Info. poorly it was received in Korea this summer. After reluctantly giving up the directorial role, Oshii originally thought on Patlabor 2: The Movie animation director Kazuchika Kise, but he had no interest in chief direction at the time. In 2029, after the governments of North and South Korea announce a 5-year plan to reunify the country, strong sanctions by the world's powerful nations cripple the economy and lead to a hellish period of chaos. "[28], Jason Bechervaise from Screendaily wrote that the film "contains moments of stylistic brilliance through some compelling set-pieces. Yes, Scream VI Marketing Is Behind the Creepy Ghostface Sightings Causing Scares Across the U.S. David Oyelowo, Taylor Sheridan's 'Bass Reeves' Series at Paramount+ Casts King Richard Star Demi Singleton (EXCLUSIVE), Star Trek: Discovery to End With Season 5, Paramount+ Pushes Premiere to 2024. As the credits were rolling, I realized what I had really wanted was to see a Korean take the Jin-Roh idea, the extrapolation from the same starting point but divergent from the original in a way that the new film would only make sense to set it in South Korea. That wouldn't be so bad had the dialogue been interesting or thought-provoking, but for the most part it comes across as really dull stuff you've heard in many other movies before. While I enjoyed the film, I found myself caught between the contradictory feelings of wanting the film to have changed more while also wishing the film had adhered more to the original. Three Crows Magazine Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazine, REVIEW: The Game Weavers by Rebecca Zahabi, Tamsyn Muir Interview: There is a lot of blood on my dance floor., REVIEW: Moon Witch, Spider King by Marlon James, Marvel Presents Northstar Vs the Straight Gaze by O F Cieri, Screenplay: Kim Jee-woon, Jun Chul-hong, Lee Ji-min, Park Jong-dae (based on the oriinal story written by Mamoru Oshii and its animated feature Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade directed by Hiroyuki Okiura), Main cast: Gang Dong-won, Han Hyo-joo, Jung Woo-sung, Kim Mu-yeol, Han Ye-ri, Choi Min-ho, Heo Joon-ho. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. The opening sequence is straight out of the 1999 anime, with a confrontation between the Sect and the Special Unit inside sewer tunnels. I just hate Anime live series. If they had kept the original ending that preserved the nature of the main quote, I would have easily given it a 9/10. Ive been living in South Korea for near a decade now, and I had a lot of expectations that the movie would feel more Korean than it ended up being. [4][5], The film is set in 2029 where South and North Korea prepare for a unified government after a severe economic depression slams both countries. Get our latest news, giveaways, free subscriptions and more. This wasn't originally in Bandai's plans for the film, but Oshii expected Kazunori It, his usual screenwriter, to reject their offer as he had previously told him that he didn't want to write a story involving dogs following his work for Jin-Roh live-action prequel The Red Spectacles, and after he did so he was offered the role. The incident damages the reputation of the unit and Fuse is reprimanded. Better simply to go with it, trusting that Kim can take whatever situation that arises as an opportunity to stage an exciting fight, chase, standoff or shootout like the one atop Seouls Namsan Tower, where an elaborate plan to capture and/or kill Lim goes awry, leading to a dazzling escape whereby our hero jumps out the window of the observation deck, scales a scarlet red fire hose the 440 feet to the ground, and proceeds to bash his way out of the parking lot in a stolen Mercedes. Yes they've changed the setting but it's almost a shot to shot homage to Jin Roh in some parts, when Grace Omega started playing I immediately got frisson! If you have, I'm sure this will be less of a discussion and more reminiscing about how dropped our jowls were by the end credits. Action Drama Sci-Fi Set in the distant future where both North and South Koreas agree to establish a joint government, which has been in preparation for a duration of 7 years, the plot focuses on political uprisings on opposing sides which grow fierce when a special police unit is formed to stop the. [17][22][23], The film was selected to compete at the 66th San Sebastin International Film Festival, which was held from September 2129, 2018. Director Kim Jee-woon transplants the Japanese anime to a unified Korea, where steel-plated super-cops make a strong impression, then disappear for most of the movie. Even if the film managed to balance the romance, sci-fi, action, and political conspiracy, it wouldnt change the fact that the two have the least amount of chemistry in a couple since Anakin and Padm in Star Wars. As a Korean critic, I should have gave it a 10 but on a second thought In the end, everyone remains alive. The movie tries to go about the ending differently, but I just rolled my eyes at it because it doesn't add anything meaningful. From here on out, Illang: The Wolf Brigade devotes much of its remaining runtime to a pointless attempt at inflating the runtime and creating intrigue when you dont care about the mystery. No country needs a Special Unit as scary as this, but its a compelling starting point for an action movie that promptly disbands the group one scene after theyre introduced. Visually, I get that director KIM JI HOON had deliberately or not payed a successful hommage to its Japanese predecessor albeit bit of twist in scenario to make it more Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade is the third film adaptation of Mamoru Oshii's Kerberos Saga manga, released in 1999. Korean director Kim Jee-woon's latest offering is another anime adaptation, this time in the form of ILLANG: THE WOLF BRIGADE. The goal of /r/Movies is to provide an inclusive place for discussions and news about films with major releases. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Or maybe no new cars were made, buildings modified or fashions introduced after 2018. Indeed, those hulking red-eyed soldier-cops disappear for nearly 90 minutes, until such time that Lim puts his own uniform on again and faces off against corrupt Public Security honcho Han Sang-woo (Kim Moo-yul, the films most charismatic actor), who may also be a Wolf Brigade member. Fullmetal Alchemist The Final Alchemy. Still had a good time watching it, mostly because of where it came from but unfortunately this pretty much murdered any chance to see Jin-Roh content ever again. With the help of the Wolf Brigade's battle suit, he manages to kill everyone, including his former friend Han. You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos. They then are not bulletproof when he shoots from the inside. I think I prefer the wolf ending over this, but was hoping for something more substantial to tie it all together. The use of light and shadow to build suspense as the sewers suddenly go dark and multiple red eyes start to glow will send chills down your spine. Yun-hee is a former member of "The Sect" who is supposed to trap Lim for the State Security. A talented young street-food cook pushes herself to the limit after accepting an invitation to train under an infamous and ruthless chef. In particular, the part where he jump-kicks the guy through the car window. In those finals moments, they manage to seemingly invalidate the rest of the film; it's quite literally the complete opposite of the anime. The sci-fi bit of the plot is merely veneer over the very Asian politicking. There, it may find a cult following, considering that the sharp-looking film boasts some of the most spectacular set pieces including a stunning climactic showdown in which a steel-clad killing machine blasts his way through sewer tunnels crawling with dirty cops that audiences are likely to find on the streaming service this fall. + : [31], The film was made on a US$17.0 million budget and targeted to attract around 6 million moviegoers. The whole movie takes place in South Korea, and I was wondering when the North would be involved. His short fiction has been previously published in Three Crows Magazine, Black Denim Lit and Trigger Warnings: Short Fiction with Pictures. The movie mentions at the beginning that the two Koreas are slowly pushing toward reunification and earning the ire of other countries, and then quickly explains what's going on internally. Either one of these, dedicated to complete, I think would have made a fantastic film. That whole movie. Furthermore, Illang is not a direct remake of the animation and is rather an adaptation that borrows heavily from the original. The only bright spot is newcomer Kim Moo-Jeol as the villain wearing a badass leather coat who manages to breath some fresh air into the mean economics of the movie. The original isnt great but the script is thight and know exactly what it is and how to tell it but the new one is just a mess. . Human-Wolf; also known as Inrang) is a South Korean science fiction action movie directed by Kim Jee-woon and starring Gang Dong-won, Han Hyo-joo, Jung Woo-sung and Kim Mu-yeol. Then he meets Lee Yun-hee (Han Hyo-joo, also wooden), who claims to be the dead girls sister. This movie missed the whole point of the original like alot. Yun-hee turns on the tracking device through which the state security can track them. Due to civil unrest within South Korea (Japan in the original), an elite anti-terror unit is formed. He likes writing about horror despite being the most scary-cat person he knows. However, he refuses, seeing no need for her death. This leads to the emergence of a terrorist group named Sect, which opposes the joint government of South and North Korea. I am so glad that betraying sonovabitch Henmi ate shit. During a large demonstration at Gwanghwamun Square, the sect shows itself by bombing the police. Lacking any creative control on the process, he chose to distance himself from the animation production while looking forward to the final product. The windows in the car he hijacks are obviously easily smashed, but bulletproof when he reverses and gets shot at. Illang: The Wolf Brigade is a (Korean: ; Hanja: ; RR: Illang; lit. sorry to be that guy, but does anyone who has seen the movie know what is the origin of the art from the Red riding hood scene, I am fascinated by the artwork and am looking for prints of it and was wondering if they are original to the movie itself or from an outside source? A Rare Dud From Kim Jee-woon. (Source: KoBiz). But his greatest enemy proves to be his own pride. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Jin-Roh is the third film in Oshii's Kerberos saga and is primarily based on Oshii's manga Kerberos Panzer Cop. I've been waiting almost 20 years for this and thankfully it was not a whitewashed Hollywood disaster! You can change your cookie preferences. Inrang: A feast for the eyes, but not the mind. The film was financed by Union Investment Partners, with production being announced in 2013. But there's always one guy whose conscience can't be stomped out and Lim is that soldier. The balance between the realistic locations and the futuristic technologies like iron armor and diverse guns was very impressive. Why do so many Korean movies feel like they're in slow motion. Rafael Motamayor (@RafaelMotamayor) is a recovering cinephile and freelance writer from Venezuela currently freezing his ass off in cold, grey, Norway. With the appearance of an armed anti-government terrorist group called The Sect which opposes reunification, the President creates a new police division called the Special Unit which amasses significant political power. Fullmetal Alchemist The Revenge of Scar. The movie looks great, from the cinematography to the locations, so there is some eye candy to savor during the slower moments. I would argue that the conflict between the special unit and the public security division isn't well established, as we just see this illustrated in people talking and a few shootouts. Talk about the film. But everything feels like it's in slow motion: the predictable love affair, the speech patterns, they way everybody has to make weird faces to show how important their emotions are. [Edit: typo due to puppy paws hitting my keyboard]. A good movie if you don't know about Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade, Could've been so much better if it wasn't for the convoluted plot. Actually, the meaning of Wolf Brigade changes midway through the movie, by which point audiences will have learned that its best not to spend too much energy attempting to follow the plot. Netflix acquired the international distribution rights of the film. A lot of changes to the story made it worse. Good production value [21], Illang: The Wolf Brigade was released in South Korea on July 25, 2018. Action comes easy to Korean director Kim; its actors that he doesnt always know what to do with. But another enemy may be lurking nearby. All stories are accompa. Thankfully, though, this is not something they abuse, and Illang does look different, though perhaps someone not well versed in the differences between Korean culture and Japanese culture might easily overlook a lot of the small nuances. Behind all of this, frequently peeking through to the forefront, is an almost political thriller of two government agencies trying to discredit and overpower the other. Later, Kei reveals her role in the deception and suggests they leave together, but Fuse decides to stay. Aside from the blackouts and the demonstrations at the beginning, I didn't fully get a sense of the effects of the reunification process. [10], The following month the film shown in Cannes' March du Film, where Variety's Derek Elley noted it for pushing cel animation to its limits in the action scenes and for Okiura's focus on stillness in between while considering it a less complex work than its predecessor Ghost in the Shell lacking its "stomach-churning, visionary moments". Significant tariffs are imposed upon both countries, creating an economic depression for both, and weakening public support for reunification. Illang: The Wolf Brigade 2018 | Maturity Rating: 16 | 2h 19m | Action & Adventure In 2029, the elite police squad Illang combats a terrorist group opposing reunification of the two Koreas. Pretty good not great. One agent tries to kill Yun-hee, whereupon she joins Lim. The ending theme (Grace Omega I think it's called) is rolling in the background even as I type this. [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] Out of all world cinema I have to say Korea may well be the one I've always had the best relationship with. I can't explain it, but it hit it's marks and hit them perfectly. The main problem with it is that two and a half hours it's much too overlong and could have done with some judicious cutting, but other than that this is a solid effort.