A worthy example of a classic Korean film about the life of the criminal world.
Tense and cruel scenes alternate with contemplative. Minimum dialogue, all played with glances and eye expressions. In some films, the lack of dialogue leads to the fact that what happens on the screen looks boring and drawn-out, but Friend 2 is completely different.
Excellent staging of scenes of mass massacres is impressive in scope and imagination of the directors. The question involuntarily arises: can people really be so cruel, is the sight of spilled enemy blood so intoxicating? In Korean cinema rarely use firearms, but the “original” use of a whole range of improvised means in fights leads to amazement. Friend 2 is no exception. Knives for cutting fish, chopsticks, baseball bats, sickles and axes, and even an electric saw – it seems that the Korean criminality is ready to use everything in the world to release more blood from the enemy and scare him harder.
But the cruelty does not lose the main idea of the film. The depth of the plot, a strong emotional message are in complete balance with action scenes, complement each other.
I really liked the storyline with flashbacks from the past. Chu Jin-Mo as Big Boss is very organic, a real mafia. The viewer is used to seeing modern Korea in the cinema - with skyscrapers, chic highways and neon advertisements. But in films like this, you can see the poverty and devastation of this country 50 years ago. And what a magnificent color in such an environment flourished criminality. The division of spheres of influence with the Japanese yakuza, the establishment of “family” relations in the gang environment – all this is very interesting.
But life changes, and bandits change.
The new generation of the criminal world, represented by Song Hong (Kim Woo Bin), openly declares that young gangsters no longer need all this “family”, joint dinners and “one spirit”. They're only interested in money. But is that really true? Can a violent, young, strong thug be sentimental and emotional? The film also answers this question.
The ensemble is excellently selected.
But most of all, I was pleased with Kim Woo Bin, whom I had only seen before in the series Heirs. This young actor perfectly coped with the role, he is very organic in fight scenes and sometimes it seems that he does not play, but lives on the screen. I think he has a lot of interesting roles ahead.
So, Friend 2 is a Korean movie we love. Smart, subtle, bloody, cruel, forcing to think and empathize.
It is no secret that now came the time when filmmakers willingly revive previously successful projects by means of sequels and remakes, rather than willingly take on new, but risky ideas and it is interesting that in this case the continuation of the former hit “Friend” was made only 12 years later. Which in general is extremely rare for Korean cinema, but bribes in this tape one thing.
If usually the producers willingly trust the production of new faces, then Kwak Kyung Taek himself returned to the picture, who once successfully debuted the first part of the picture and even years later shot a multi-part drama on it. The picture was returned to the one who began to tell this gangster epic and this alone inspired a certain confidence.
Obviously, this film is in many ways inferior to the original tape, but the interesting thing is that in some aspects it surpasses. Frankly speaking, this film is very difficult to call a sequel. Kwak Kyung Taek has put the film in such a way that it feels like it is absolutely original. Deeper, more dramatic, deep from a philosophical point of view and piercing. As if everything that happens on the screen looks straight into the soul and leaves an indelible mark there.
Largely due to the luxurious plot, which not only continues the events of the first tape and allows you to see the “legacy” of all the actions committed by the heroes, but also plunge into the distant past. When it all started. The creators of the tape perfectly withstood the smooth transitions of the plot from the past to the present, without losing integrity in the narrative.
Moreover, if the first film explored the theme of friendship from different angles, then this film is interesting because, not wanting to repeat the same trick, he went on. This film is entirely about human choice. After all, no one is born with the stigma of a criminal and it does not matter what family you were born into, what parents you have or whether you are poor. Only a person’s choice can make him better than he is now, and sometimes worse. No one is to blame for what you have. Since everyone is responsible for their actions and this fully forms the moral base of the picture.
The base that allows you to plunge into the world of criminal gangs, in which today you are at the top, and tomorrow you fly from the top of the Olympus to the bottom. Only reflecting once again how power and money corrupt people, and friends are sometimes able to betray and put a knife in the back at the very handle.
A stunning cast develops and tells the story magnificently. Yu O Son once again returned to one of the best roles in his career and impressed with the unique ability to turn into his character on the screen. The role is played as always strongly and convincingly. Damn good and Chu Jin Mo, who perfectly got used to his image and perhaps even eclipsed all the others despite the obvious secondaryity of his character in the framework of the plot. I was pleasantly surprised and young Kim Woo Bin, once again proving the title of one of the most talented young actors of modern Korean cinema and creating the best image in his career, which I think he probably will not be able to surpass later.
10 out of 10
Friend 2 is not just a continuation of the sensational hit of its time, but a separate and independent film. Deeper, more meaningful, stronger and piercing. So much so that two hours of screen time fly by in moments, and to break away from what is happening on the screen there is not the slightest desire.
Jung-sook is in jail for killing Dong-soo. The final footage from the first film migrated to the second, the film begins with the scene of the court, during which Jung-suk takes responsibility for the murder of Don Soo. The judge prescribes Jung-suk (yu) seventeen years of free medical examination in a Korean prison, during which time a lot has changed in the wild. Deputy Jung-suk took over the power in the team entrusted to him, and the late Don Soo found a son - a hefty scumbag with insolent faces and habits of the port gopnik. Jung-sook must solve both problems after he is released, despite seventeen years in prison, little has changed in his methods.
If the first part of the film surprised with its sincerity, energy, boyish enthusiasm, then in the second everything is already grown-up, Jung-suk got rid of boyish illusions and rigidly bends everyone who tries to resist him, he takes on the knife only once, but believe this moment is worth waiting. The main confrontation takes place between Jung-suk and his deputy, additional tension is created by Song-hon, he is dangerous, unpredictable and knows how to unconventionally use chokkarak. Song Hong still does not know what he owes to Jung Sook, the ending of the film allows us to hope for a continuation, perhaps we will see Friend -3.
Director Taek managed to harmoniously distribute combat scenes, flashbacks (mainly tell about the valiant struggle of father Jong Sook for money in the confrontation with the Japanese yakuza), lyrical scenes and even humor - a guard who stuffed himself with a tattoo with the image of Pikachu.
- What have you got?
Well, I agree he doesn't look very ferocious.
The result was a rather rattling mixture, which should come to the taste of both action lovers and those who are interested in psychology. As in the first film, I will note the camera work (especially the scene in the hospital) and a great soundtrack. Special thanks for the innovative use of the chainsaw, for a reason its name is Friendship.
Yu O Son - the performer of the role of Jun Sok stingy on emotions, plays with dignity and perfectly conveyed the inner state of the hero. Young Kim Woo Bin used to star in TV series, despite this, he coped well with the task - Song Hong turned out to be a tough, unpleasant, devoid of charm ass.
Resume: harsh, but sentimental, waiting for the continuation.
“A brother may not be a friend, but a friend may become a brother.”
The picture is shot in the best traditions of the genre. A real man's movie, no romance. Right off the go, I want to note the scenes of fights, of which there are many in the film, and they are staged simply chic, very naturalistic, for an unprepared viewer quite rigidly.
The story. There is nothing beyond the genre here. For the integrity of perception, you need to watch the first film too. Friends, once by the will of fate were on different sides. As a result, distrust of each other, the death of one of them and the remorse of the other, the division of territories and power, and of course, revenge. I like that kind of movie.
The cast. To the older generation of claims and can not be, after all, one of the best actors of Korean cinema, I believe. Stunning works Yu O Son and Chong Ho Bin. Their characters are revealed very clearly, which indicates their unconditional talent and skill.
The debut of Kim Woo Bin on the big screen turned out to be very worthy. You won’t see either Che Yong-do of the Heirs or Park Hyun-soo of the 2013 School in the film. The new character Che Seong Hoon, the son of Don Soo, who was killed in the first film, played by Kim Woo Bin is very colorful. Desperate, daring, fearless guy, from his youth has embarked on the path of criminal showdowns, who in life has only good memories of his father. Separately about the scene in the hospital at the end of the film, it's just gorgeous, the tension is so hard to describe in words, you have to see it! Good Kim at Bin, he's just made for a big movie.
I would also like to note the operator's work, it is at the highest level.
Of course, as many people, as many opinions, in my opinion, the film was a success, although from the first time many viewers, I think, may feel that “the puzzle did not work out”. I've been reviewing.
10 out of 10
P.S. The song from the final credits is simply gorgeous, both in sound and content.