Soo (film)

Infobox Korean Film
name = Soo


director = Choi Yang-il
producer = Sin Beom-su
Hwang In-tae
writer = Lee Seung-hwa
Lee Joon-il
Choi Yang-il
starring = Ji Jin-hee
Kang Seong-yeon
Oh Man-seok
Mun Seong-kun
music = Lee Byeong-woo
cinematography = Kim Seong-bok
editing = Lee Eun-su
distributor = Cinema Service
released = March 22, 2007
runtime = 122 min.
country = South Korea
language = Korean
budget =
admissions = 218,314
gross = $1,275,162
website = http://www.cinemaservice.com/soo/
kmdb_id = 08168
imdb_id = 1137481
hangul = 수
hanja =
rr = "Su"
mr =

"Soo" is a 2007 South Korean film directed by Choi Yang-il.

Plot summary

Tae-soo tries to steal from a gang. The gang catches, Tae-Soo's brother, Tae-Jin instead. The incident causes the brothers to separate. Tae-Soo becomes a mob fixer and an assassin. Tae-Jin becomes a police detective. When a call brings the brothers together, they get ready for brotherly bonding, but Tae-Jin gets killed. Tae-Soo decides to get revenge on his brother's killer.

Theatrical release

"Soo" was released in South Korea on March 22, 2007, [http://www.koreanfilm.org/films2007.html#boxoffice Box-Office Admission Results (2007)] , "Koreanfilm.org". Retrieved on July 11, 2008.] and was ranked fifth at the domestic box office on its opening weekend, grossing $795,086. [ [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/korea/?yr=2007&wk=12&p=.htm South Korea Box Office March 19–25, 2007] , "Box Office Mojo". Retrieved on July 11, 2008.] In total it sold 218,314 tickets, and as of April 15, 2007, had a gross revenue of $1,275,162. [ [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/korea/?yr=2007&wk=15&p=.htm South Korea Box Office April 9–15, 2007] , "Box Office Mojo". Retrieved on July 11, 2008.]

Critical reception

Kevin Ma of "Lovehkfilm.com" reviewed the film saying, "Soo's concept is somewhat successful on paper because it doesn't take the easy way to revenge. In execution, Soo is wildly uneven, moving between slow exposition scenes of plot development and raw, brutal fight scenes dominated by chaos. However, it remains a compelling and violent action film thanks to Sai's fluid camerawork during the action scenes and the performances of his actors. Special kudos go to star Ji Jin-Hee, who sheds his romantic leading man reputation to become a believable killer who can stab and punch his way out of a fight. Sai also sheds the expectations put on him after Blood and Bones by delivering an arthouse spin on a straightforward revenge film. Still, the film's ultimate effectiveness remains highly debatable." [Kevin Ma, [http://www.lovehkfilm.com/panasia/soo.htm "Soo" review] , "Love HK Film". Retrieved on July 10, 2008.]

Derek Elly of "Variety.com" reviewed the film saying, "A onetime killer hits the road to self-redemption by tracking down his brother's killer in "Soo," a coolly told, often brutal yarn that remains strangely involving despite its flaws. High-concept idea -- a twin brother takes on his dead cop brother's identity to solve a crime he's also been hunted for by the cops -- has strong remake potential. Pic itself, which bombed on South Korean release in March, is more ancillary or film week fare." [Derek Elley, [http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/4527/53/ "Soo" film review] , "Variety", October 5, 2007. Retrieved on July 10, 2008.]

A reviewer of "KoreaTimes" reviewed the film saying, "Soo is a memorable film. In Korean, "soo" means water, the very essence of life. Throughout the film Soo seeks to free his brother from "han" or spiteful grudge, as well as his own soul from staggering guilt. Even the Bad Guy wishes to spare his father the fires of hell. Choi's lasting imagery of water washing away blood suggests the pervasive human instinct to survive and the desire to purge oneself of one's impurities." [Lee Hyo-won, [http://www.hancinema.net/-soo--revenge-redemption-9016.html 'Soo': Revenge, Redemption] , "The Korea Times" (duplicated at "HanCinema"), March 22, 2007. Retrieved on July 10, 2008.]

References

External links

* [http://www.cinemaservice.com/soo/ Official website] ko icon
*imdb title|1137481|Soo
* [http://www.kmdb.or.kr/eng/md_basic.asp?nation=K&p_dataid=08168 "Soo"] at the Korean Movie Database
* [http://www.hancinema.net/korean_movie_Soo.php "Soo"] at HanCinema