The Secret Reunion

Works both as a fun buddy comedy, spy thriller and political comment on the South/North Korean conflict. I especially enjoyed Song's boorish but strongheaded agent and his handcuffs scene.

Very Hollywood. Not a good thing.

The juxtaposition of cold sociopathic violence and a silly tone is jarring. As always, Asian melodrama is in full effect, and the film becomes more ridiculous as it goes on. A certain stabbing scene is absurd. Still a watchable movie though.

Hun Jang is known as protegé Kim Ki-duk, yet his cinema style has nothing to do with arthouse. Buddy cop films are very popular in Korea since Tukabseu franchise in the 90's and this one follows the laid-out formula pretty closely, well except it's with spies. Kang-ho Song totally steals the show, like with every movie that he is in. Lightweight, formulaic, but fairly entertaining movie for guys.

If you want something completely different, this is it. It deals with the tensions between North en south Korea, and the agencies involved doing their cold war stuff. Don't expect anything heavy, it is a lighthearted buddy comedy with some fighting action sequences. The ending is a bit Hollywoodish, but good entertainment nonetheless.