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Cast: Jin-mo Ju, Seung-heon Song, Kang-woo Kim, Han Sun Jo
A new take on the Hong Kong action classic that launched Chow Yun Fat to international stardom, director Song Hae-seong's remake of A Better Tomorrow features an all-star class including Seung-heon Song, Kang-woo Kim, and Jin-mo Ju. In the treacherous world of the black-market weapons trade, honor and vengeance go hand in hand. Adapted from writer/director John Woo's original screenplay.
With John Woo on board as Executive Producer to the Korean remake of his classic film you have to think it's worth a watch even if you're not a fan of remakes of any kind. In recent years Korean cinema has really taken major strides in Asian cinema, the production values alone have sky rocketed them to the top especially in the action genre and their remake of "A better Tomorrow" is just one example of the quality films they are making nowadays. They kept all the memorable moments of the original in tack without being a frame for frame remake, the ending is different than the original and there's other scattered differences throughout the film as well but the basic themes are all here.
The story is filled with action and suspense and the character development couldn't be better. By the time the third act comes around you find yourself invested in one way or another to each and every one in the film. True fans of Asian cinema might have a hard time buying into any remake of a John Woo classic but you have to remember He himself is part of this film as well so give it a chance, in the end you are going to be glad you did.
I am not going to sit here and go into plot details because many of you have already seen the original and what is written above is about all you really need to know going into this one. I'm not going to tell you all that this is as good a film as the original either but it comes pretty damn close and if taken for what it is and judged solely on it's own this is a pretty damn good and exciting action thriller that will have you inching closer and closer to the edge of your seat as the story moves along. "A Better Tomorrow" is available as a single DVD and a DVD/Blu-ray combo pack. Both come with Bonus Features that include:
Making Of
Interview with John Woo
Director and Cast Interviews
Trailers
Language: Mandarin Chinese
Subtitles: English
You can order the DVD HERE and the Combo pack HERE.
Released by Well Go USA
*** 1/2 Out Of *****