The Policeman's Lineage(경관의 피) Korean Film Thoughts

 

   The Policeman's Lineage is a 2022 South Korean film that was based on another original plot by Joh Sasaki. The Korean screenplay was directed by Lee Kyo-man and stars Cho Jin Woong along side Choi Woo Shik of Parasite fame. As of this year, the film was the ninth highest grossing film in Korea. 

   A new cop teams up with another cop, who has been said to use any means to find a criminal. He's like a gangster in a police uniform that will bulldoze through anyone to get what he wants. Will the pure intentions of the new rookie be tainted? Or will he change the bad to good? 

     I don't have much to say about this film that other people haven't said already. You can look up the reviews to see that most of them aren't very favorable. I believe that a lot of people had an idea of what this film was going to be like based off the trailer. While the trailer is misleading, Lineage does a good job adding the peak tension of action scenes into the film at the right moments.This film is still more of a drama/thriller than anything at the end of the day though. However, Both leads hold this film up by it's coattail and leads it to a clean cut conclusion we as constant Korean cinema viewers have seen many times before. Lineage has a plot line that's easy to follow once you get over all the ping pong ball back and forth display with past events. A fight for a balance between good and evil was more interesting to me than the actual fight scenes. The Policeman's Lineage shines most bright when a discussion involving the main characters is being had about what is right or wrong in crime law. It's a film that does the job if you're looking for a Choi Woo Shik follow up project after Parasite and The Witch....... 

    Like I stated above, The two leads are the bread and butter of this film. They both are like the lifejacket that kicks in the help right as you're about the drown. The scenes of them together with their good feel of rhythm for each other's characters is cinema gold. I wouldn't want this film any other way. 

   The Policeman's Lineage does nothing to reinvent what South Korea as done for the crime genre. Unless you want to count a trick trailer that promotes the wrong idea about a film. I'm glad that I still watched it for the performances at least. 

Hyperventilation(과호흡) Korean BL Manhwa Thoughts

 

   Hyperventilation is a Korean manhwa written and illustrated by Bboong Bang Kkyu, who is a a well known BL animator. This short story was actually an animation first and most people have seen the story in that formate first. The original story was also released years ago online. It's just that now manhwa is becoming more popular internationally, hence the English printed release. 

   Two men haven't seen each other since they were eighteen but they suddenly reunite at a high school reunion. One man has loved the other since High School. While the other's feelings are unknown.... Or are they?! 

     Hyperventilation is a quick read that can be either enjoyable or confusing depending on how one comprehends comics. I for one am an art person, who strives to find the best visual aid to enhance a good story.  So, this manhwa was everything to once I real digested the overall atmosphere and underline message. My biggest question going in was why was this manhwa titled this way? Was it because of the sex scenes or was it a deeper reasoning? I noticed that many people wrote off this story are something that looks pretty without much substance. These people normally aren't good at comprehending a story unless it's spoon fed to them in detail - Which not every comic book will be like that. Bboong choose to tell the progress the story using art deprived of words. Much of the story also goes back and forth between the present as well as the past. In this way, you learn about the two character's motives for their actions. You also learn the real reason this story is titled Hyperventilation to begin with. I thought the plot was solid while leaving room for the future of the two men. Korean culture is taken into account for the last ark of the plot. Many Korean gay man live in a more underground world in fear that they will lose their jobs or be outcasted from their families. A lot of down low men even get married just to abide by societal norms. 

   There's a couple beautiful moments that are shown just as full page art with on words, that I think are amazing parts of the story. If I didn't mention it already, the manhwa is in full color. I don't believe that they story would have had the same effect on me in black and white. 

Baby Assassins(ベイビーわるきゅーれ) Japanese Film Thoughts

    

   Baby Assassins is a 2021 film that was directed by young twenty something year old: Yugo Sakamoto. The film stars Akari Takaishi, Stunt actress Saori Izawa, and many more upcoming young talent. The film has received praise from critics and film festivals for the plot's youthful charm. 

   Two high school girls are forced to live together as roommates. One is a quiet girl who struggles with social interaction while the other is a psychopath. Both must decide what to do with their lives as they near close to graduation. 

    One big thing that you will notice about this film right off the bat, it the fight scenes. These scenes look and feel very realistic. They don't give off a choreographed vibe but, instead are bloody and raw. It's really easy to get carried away with the action that transpires in Baby Assassins. However, this film isn't about these two girls's strong ability to kill people at the drop of a dime. Not to mention the comedic quality that's added to the two leads stupidity to only know how to kill and that's about it. These two must go into society in order to survive adulthood, even though they are already committing "adult" crimes. Inside all the added layers of the plot is a core definition of these two just trying to figure themselves out. Then there's Yakuza lingering in the background, waiting to start trouble. I honestly don't think the motivation for fighting the villain in this film was the strongest, nor do I find this film to be the best action film ever made. Baby Assassins actually sets out to tell it's viewers something about the growing pains of having to take responsibility for yourself. You may not like all the things you have to do so you can survive in society.... Though, Some jobs just must be done to earn a pay check. 

    It's more so the cast's performances that carry the film more than the action or story. Those small moments of the two girls working a part time job or living under the same roof are the highlights of this film. The assassination scenes are funny because the girls kill like they are doing something so simple. I guess it's just another day in their lives. 

Kamikaze Girls(2004)

  I was reminded of another occult Japanese film from the early 2000s called Kamikaze Girls when watching Baby Assassins. Both films have that theme of going into adulthood, that's portrayed with comedy and action. I defiantly see Baby Assassins as an occult film already. 

Shibuya Goldfish(渋谷金魚) Japanese Manga Thoughts

    

   Shibuya Goldfish is manga series that was written and produced by Hiroumi Aoi. Square Enix Gangan Comic magazine publish the manga until it entered it final ark. 11 volumes were published independently. Yen Press licensed the series in English but later volumes of the series are harder to find in bookstores. 

   A guy who is down on his luck, takes a trip to Shibuya one day. As he arrives, man eating Goldfish appear out of nowhere....  They surround the city, stopping anyone from leaving by tearing them to shreds.

   Goldfish that eat people seems like a silly concept at first. I thought so but, this still didn't stop me from giving this series a chance. I'm glad that I did because I was hooked volume are volume even though the series wasn't super popular. Each volume gives you a piece to the puzzle of how the Goldfish became this way, In fact, one of the driving factors to keep you reading is the horror mystery element that's presented in the plot so well. These Goldfish are scary enough just eating people. You would think that the terror would stop there. Nope. The fish start to mutate as they eat people. First stage just have the fish speaking a whole lot of random words. Things from only just get worse. I've never been so chilled to the bone by Goldfish in my life. Aoi creates a pretty solid cast of characters that all have their own goals for making it out alive.... Some of them will jeopardize plans for their own  gains. Others are actually alined with the fish. Readers will become invest in the story just to see if these characters will die or not. Believe me when I tell you that many of the people who try to fight back come to the edge of death many times. It's nail bitting series that you didn't know you needed until you start reading. 

   That art feels very much like early 2001 series that I would have read. The character models aren't extraordinary since all the effort seemed to have gone into the Goldfish. Most of the fish in the panels and on the covers look great. I like how the horror is captured in their poses. The city looks like an exact replica of Shibuya.... landmarks and all. 

   I don't want to give away all the secrets of this series. Especially since I already kinda gave away a little bit. If you're into Junji Ito's Gyo then, you will like this more tame dive into horror. Enjoy everyone...