The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008)

Sorry, this movie sucks

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

A Masterpiece!

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

This is the kind of movie that brings up tension and releases it only in the end. The weird is the character i liked the most because he adds more of a funny part in the movie being yet a serious character. This movie really surprised me: i usually don't like western movies, but this is totally different. I haven't seen the good, the bad and the ugly yet, but i know they have some themes in common. I really liked the fact that you tend to be in the point of view of the weird making it difficult to see the good really as a good character. I recommend this movie to everyone that wants to enjoy some hours of adrenaline and plot twists!

I normally wouldn't feel the need to leave negative comments on a film, but the fact that this is so highly lauded makes me feel the need to ask....what the hell are people smoking?? I watched this film several years ago at a Korean film festival, on the big screen, and I remember how furious I was that I wasted my time with this piece of crap over something far more worthwhile.First of all, the plot is basically non-nonsensical. Looking back, I can remember something about a train, a guy on a motorcycle, a cowboy...and that's about it. Now, I'm totally fine with a film that highlights character, atmosphere, style, action - whatever - over plot. But this only works if the aforementioned things are actually engaging. But alas...all we are left with is simply a mess.Which brings me to the action. This movie is very much in the anti-physics style of Michael Bay wherein we have no idea where or how things are happening. They. Just. Do. The average shot length seems to be about half a second. I found it all incredibly lame and dull. There's simply no continuity of action. It's like taking random words from a novel and mixing them up. It doesn't make a story.As for the acting, the soundtrack, etc., I honestly can't remember a single detail.Don't make the mistake I did. There are so many great films in the world to watch instead of this pile of crap. 1/10

If a movie has the title 'The Good, The Bad, The Weird', it seems almost doomed to fail right? Wrong. This "spaghetti eastern" is one of the most outrageously, consistently entertaining foreign films ever made. Set in the 1940's (during World War II) in Manchuria, three men (a bounty hunter, an outlaw and an idiot) attempt to gain the possession of a treasure map. A Simple plot, very similar to the idea that Sergio Leone's classic western takes, but with a completely different feel to it. Unlike 'The Good, The Bad and the Ugly' neither the Good or the Weird (stepping in for the ugly) work with the Bad at any stage. Of course The Good and The Weird are bound to form some sort of alliance, but no bond is met with the Bad. As well as this, all of the events are different, its an eastern crossed with a western, and the fight sequences are closer to Tarantino's 'Kill Bill' crossed with Rodriguez's 'Desperado'; then they are with Leone's original. The entire experience is Ridiculously Entertaining! Woo-sung Jung's 'Park Do Wan' (The Good) isn't the focal point of the story, like Clint Eastwood's 'Blondie'. Although he is entertaining as the stern faced gun-slinging bounty hunter, the real focus of this story is on Kang Ho Song, who plays 'The Weird' (or specifically Yoon Tae-Goo). Whilst the other characters convey the usual action/adventure tone in a film like this, Ho Song's character adds the most outrageous comedic aspect to it. Playing what I will characterise 'An Idiot', Ho Song's character gains possession of the map near the beginning when he is robbing a train. A train which also seems to be stopped by 'The Bad' himself (played by a very evil and destructive Byung Hun Lee) as well as his crew. In this near-opening scene, the three meet, and the excitement straight away kicks off.Costume design is another aspect that really stands out. The Weird has the goofiest-dumbest-best costume composed of a long-eared hat, life-jacket material coat and at one point, a diver's helmet. The Bad spends most of his time kicking ass in a suit and the Good remains true to the western genre. The confliction between the 'Western' and 'Eastern' aspects are often considered to be a put off with this film, but the confliction is more like a collaboration! It really works! Camera work, and cinematography, is always awesome (Korean cinematographer's are usually a standout, look no further than Oldboy's cinematography). In terms of directorial style, Kim Jee Woon appears to be paying homage to other directors (Tarantino and Leone) more than creating his own original style. But then again, 2013's 'The Last Stand' proved that maybe his original style isn't the very best (Arnie's comeback was a bit of a disappointment). The shoot-out scenes are constructed with fine tracking scenes, editing and camera shots that zoom in and out (which seems to occur throughout the film). Finger chopping, physics flying, Dynamite blowing and Bamboo Flinging. This film is Korean action heaven.It's surprising just how lovable this film is. The screenplay never holds up and the storyline always flows along, brimming with continuous action as well as comedy. The frequent action may get to some people, but if you are an action/adventure junkie (i.e. Indiana Jones fans) this film will not disappoint. It should receive more attention then it has and should be seen by everyone to get their opinion out. <8 out of 10> A spaghetti-eastern that holds its own genre, with three decent performances and not one boring moment! The best foreign film of 2008.

This self-dubbed "kimchee western" wears its inspiration on its sleeve, throws caution to the wind and just goes for it. And, unexpectedly, it's an almost-unanimous success. Although it's spiced by a fresh, eastern sense of direction and a series of "did they really just try that" camera angles, the mood feels right, the scenery looks right and the cast is right at home on horseback with their weapons drawn, cocked and pointed. It's much gorier than the Leone classics it tries to emulate, which makes it a bit less serious, but the three leads make up for that with their performances. Woo-sung Jung (The Good) is the standout, channeling Lee Van Cleef's lawful bounty hunter in Fistful of Dollars, but Kang-ho Song (The Weird) keeps him in good company with his impersonation of Eli Wallach's smarter-than-he-seems rogue from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Byung-hun Lee (The Bad) seems more like Prince in cowboy boots than a western gunman, but he does more to make the role his own than the others. A fine blend of big-budget action and last-generation western ethos, it's just a bit long and the constant winks and nods to The Man With No Name trilogy occasionally wear thin.