GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site. But there's always one guy whose conscience can't be stomped out and Lim is that soldier. I liked every aspect of this movie minus all the times that anyone was in the combat suits it was so rigid and didnt add any value to the characters. The film picks up five years later, as conditions have drastically worsened. That was satisfying! Film Review: 'Illang: The Wolf Brigade' Reviewed at Busan Film Festival, Oct. 6, 2018. Summary: In 2029, an elite police force combats a terrorist group opposing Korean reunification. Man I wish someone did a writing check on this bad boy film. In return, she is promised remission of her prison sentence and an operation for her sick brother. First, they get a chance to track down and all-but-eliminate a terrorist group called the Sect (although its never quite clear what these rebels oppose, or whether were supposed to be rooting for or against them), before an incident involving an underage suicide bomber forces the authorities to pull the plug on the program. This generates significant backlash from the region's powers (the U.S, Russia, China, and Japan) who oppose reunification. It had the chance to take the core concept of the original and remake it with more Korean influences and depart into a similar, but uniquely different, film or to recapture the original with live action and a few more action sequences. Read our extensive list of rules for more information on other types of posts like fan-art and self-promotion, or message the moderators if you have any questions. I was 100% on-board with this movie until about the last 15 minutes or so. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. It certainly holds together better than other Netflix anime adaptations I've watched recently like FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST. Learn more about our use of cookies and information. Korean director Kim Jee-woon's latest offering is another anime adaptation, this time in the form of ILLANG: THE WOLF BRIGADE. And the fact that they put in a special fight at the end that wasn't in the original was really cool, especially since it was the first time a member of the Wolf Brigade fought someone on their level in skill. A remake of the acclaimed japanese anime Jin-roh this new movie somehow fails to make the impact that one might expect from this director. Kei embraces Fuse and sadly recites the dialogue of Little Red Riding Hood, describing the grotesque appearance of the wolf disguised as a loved one. A Rare Dud From Kim Jee-woon. Very Stylish ( South korean A+ Movie) My Ratings 10/10, what a piece of work it is a tour de force work from the director (just watched couple hours ago_. However, the intelligence service Public Security, which sees its own influence drop, hatches a plot to annihilate the Special Unit. An unfortunate misfire, Kim Jee-woon's latest is also his weakest film to date. It has been relicensed in North America by Discotek Media, with a DVD released on April 29, 2014 followed by a Blu-Ray on January 27, 2015.[2][3]. When Lim leaves, Han from State Security seeks out Yun-hee. The Warner Bros logo is bright red against a black background. Fuse is horrified at his action, but now having sacrificed his humanity, he has no other choice but to remain part of the pack. The raw and "bestial" ending was changed for a more "humane" one. It tries to keep that core, though it approaches it from a slightly different angle that, if this movie were an original, would probably work. Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos. The main male protagonist, Im Joong-Kyung played by Gang Dong-won, is your usual super-competent combatant, and theres never really any tension about whether or not he will succeed in overcoming the obstacles in front of him so much as how he will do it. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. This could explain why Jin-Roh is much more grounded and easier to follow than The Red Spectacles and StrayDog: Kerberos Panzer Cops, which don't really feature the iconic armor. Set in the distant future where both North and South Koreas agree to establish a joint government, which has been in preparation for a duration of 7 years, the plot focuses on political upri Read allSet in the distant future where both North and South Koreas agree to establish a joint government, which has been in preparation for a duration of 7 years, the plot focuses on political uprisings on opposing sides which grow fierce when a special police unit is formed to stop the Read allSet in the distant future where both North and South Koreas agree to establish a joint government, which has been in preparation for a duration of 7 years, the plot focuses on political uprisings on opposing sides which grow fierce when a special police unit is formed to stop the chaos. As a Korean critic, I should have gave it a 10 but on a second thought If you were looking for some scrappy, tense fight scenes, though, Illang probably wont do much for you. [4] The production eventually evolved into a feature film following the international success of Ghost in the Shell as Manga Entertainment wanted a similar hit and saw potential in Kerberos Panzer Cops as the manga had been published in the United States. Entertaining and quite intelligent combat and action sequences throughout the movie; however, remarkably dumb reasons provided by the plot to explain the purpose of this combat. After the attack (and the fun), the film starts getting complicated. Each of them is a one man army, with heavy duty machine guns, steel shields on their forearms capable of resisting hand-grenades, and German war helmets with gas masks covering their faces. As such, this movie exists in a sort of limbo. Netflix and third parties use cookies (why?). I liked the quality of the movie action scene, simple and without CG. The story breezes over the main conflict (special unit vs. public security) without really making it keenly felt. He ultimately still found the experience frustrating both through the tiping ("The moment you write, you want to direct") and after realizing the result would unavoidably be much different from what he pictured in his head. [4], Okiura favored traditional animation, and thus the film was almost completely drawn by hand, requiring 80,000 cels. The film was financed by Union Investment Partners, with production being announced in 2013. While the movie has wholly adopted Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade, it does have parts of the Kerberos Saga included in does as part of giving it some . The main problem with it is that two and a half hours it's much too overlong and could have done with some judicious cutting, but other than that this is a solid effort. Two things right off the bat: Wow. That concept alone ought to make for a fascinating science-fiction parable, although its barely dealt with in any practical terms, other than to explain a wave of demonstrations that turn tragic on what comes to be known as Bloody Friday, when peacekeeping forces accidentally murder 15 schoolgirls, mistaking them for terrorists. Together they go to the bookstore that Yun-hee owns. However, Lim sees through the fact that State Security agents are present. You can also change your preferences at any time by clicking Cookie Preferences in the footer of each page. So I can't really compare the two versions, I just remember that I liked the animated version and I can say the same thing for the live action version. The Korean police forces quickly become overwhelmed with the size and violence of protests in the regions, prompting the government to create a new, elite police force called the "Special Unit." The human weapons who are called wolves, "Illang" (The Wolf Brigade). There's certainly a lot going on plot-wise, and the movie doesn't juggle the material well. Warriors of Future. See production, box office & company info, Chief Presidential Secretary Park Jeong-gi. Certainly, Illang has some random explosions that dont make sense outside of a movie universe, but the fight sequences are mostly easy to follow, while still being dynamic and exciting. As a live-action anime adaptation, I'd give this a 9/10. The main characters, of course, are caught up in, and pivotal to, this inter-agency conflict. [17][22][23], The film was selected to compete at the 66th San Sebastin International Film Festival, which was held from September 2129, 2018. Yes they've changed the setting but it's almost a shot to shot homage to Jin Roh in some parts, when Grace Omega started playing I immediately got frisson! There are also some other surface changes to the film that, really, dont affect as much as they probably should. The ending theme (Grace Omega I think it's called) is rolling in the background even as I type this. The unit is characterized by their futuristic military gear, and respirators containing glowing red lights. But, it really feels as if the actions of any character become pointless, especially during the third act of the movie. From here on out, Illang: The Wolf Brigade devotes much of its remaining runtime to a pointless attempt at inflating the runtime and creating intrigue when you dont care about the mystery. It's not their job to care if the people are innocent or should have a voice in their country's future. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Reminder: Skip the convoluted plot and jump to 01:05:00 to watch the gunfight scene. Illang tries for a slightly different emotional tug, but it didnt quite take the time to build it up for me the way the slower, more plodding Jin-Roh managed. Read all Director Jee-woon Kim Writers Even worse, Kim Jee-woons decision to give away with the original films bleak ending in favor of a happy and commercially friendly ending betrays the only interesting themes in this underwhelming Korean sci-fi thriller. They encounter the fully armored Fuse, who slaughters them all. The human weapons who are called wolves, "Illang" (The Wolf Brigade). She also cannot blame Lim for her death. The end "battle" for me was a bit over the top and needed to be toned down some otherwise the action was all very well done and enjoyable. Failing to follow an order to execute a frightened young girl only to see her commit suicide by detonating an improvised explosive device before his very eyes, Fuse is put on trial and sent back to the training camp for re-evaluation. The stories focus on the aftermath of one of the units members who froze when confronted with a particularly young terrorist and couldnt perform his duty of killing her. As he proposed the project to Bandai Visual at a meeting they instead asked him to direct Ghost in the Shell but green-lit the series for pre-production. Illang: The Wolf Brigade does have fantastic action sequences, especially the one involving the steel-clad unstoppable soldier killing his way through sewer tunnels filled with corrupt cops. I highly recommend this film for action lovers, asian cinema enthusiats. Starring: Gang Dong-won, Han Hyo-joo, Jung Woo-sung Watch all you want. In-between the action, there is a lot of talk. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. Although currently living in Korea having served in the national army as well. If they had kept the original ending that preserved the nature of the main quote, I would have easily given it a 9/10. Both are able to escape and are instructed by the special forces instructor Jang Jin-tae to go into hiding. EDIT: cause I screwed up my numbers, apparently. Interesting what the Korean Scriptwriters think about Super Powers meddling into Reunification of the Republic of South Korea and the Democratic People's Nation of North Korea. Running time: 138 MIN. Korean director Kim Jee-woon's latest offering is another anime adaptation, this time in the form of ILLANG: THE WOLF BRIGADE. Actually, the meaning of Wolf Brigade changes midway through the movie, by which point audiences will have learned that its best not to spend too much energy attempting to follow the plot. My excitement dimmed after I read about how poorly it was received in Korea this summer by both audiences and critics. Epoxy Flooring UAE; Floor Coating UAE; Self Leveling Floor Coating; Wood Finishes and Coating; Functional Coatings. I can't explain it, but it hit it's marks and hit them perfectly. This movie just damn. Its only use is during the prologue to explain why the government would launch a Special Unit force to put an end to Sect. [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] The music video brings together the best moments from Kim Ji Woon's fantasy action movie "Illang: The Wolf Brigade" (Inrang) of 2018. Later, the Wolf Brigade meet in a junkyard and Fuse is ordered to kill Kei to ensure she is never recaptured by Public Security. An incident involving the death of innocent teens causes the Special Unit to become ruthless killing machines, hiding their faces--and the last traces of their humanity--behind elaborate steel-plated armor and helmets. While I enjoyed the film, I found myself caught between the contradictory feelings of wanting the film to have changed more while also wishing the film had adhered more to the original. The thing is like a wolf. Ive been living in South Korea for near a decade now, and I had a lot of expectations that the movie would feel more Korean than it ended up being. Soldier Lim Joong-kyung of the Special Forces encounters a girl carrying a bomb and wants to make her give it up. 2023 Variety Media, LLC. Didn't feel anything for the characters or their romance. They are able to arrest the terrorist Gu Mi-kyung, and ask her to track down the leader of the sect so they can have evidence. This wasn't originally in Bandai's plans for the film, but Oshii expected Kazunori It, his usual screenwriter, to reject their offer as he had previously told him that he didn't want to write a story involving dogs following his work for Jin-Roh live-action prequel The Red Spectacles, and after he did so he was offered the role. However, due to negative reviews from both critics and audience members, the film screened for only three weeks, and ended up attracting a total of 897,254 moviegoers, grossing US$6.2 million. I just hate Anime live series. But it's been quite a while so I don't remember it that fondly. site . Meanwhile, the special unit has already gathered evidence that the sect was financed by the State Security and is planning a coup. [21], Illang: The Wolf Brigade was released in South Korea on July 25, 2018. This docuseries delves into one of our greatest modern mysteries: Flight MH370. [Edit: typo due to puppy paws hitting my keyboard]. During a large demonstration at Gwanghwamun Square, the sect shows itself by bombing the police. The state security wants to disband the special unit. The main problem with it is that two and a half hours it's much too overlong and could have done with some judicious cutting, but other than that this is a solid effort. Netflix and third parties use cookies and similar technologies on this website to collect information about your browsing activities, which we use to analyse your use of the website, to personalise our services and to customise our online advertisements. Trying to dip into both pools at the same time ends up with an enjoyable, but flawed, adaptation. People just want to the see the armor suit fighting. Fantastic and brilliant, with an intense and memorable ending. The events prompt Japan to remilitarize, and the U.S. and Russia to ramp up military interests in the area. A good movie if you don't know about Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade, Could've been so much better if it wasn't for the convoluted plot. But the fight ends quickly after a young girl detonates herself, and after spending the entire opening introducing us to this badass group of scary soldiers and showing how formidably effective they are, the film pretty much sweeps them under the rug for the rest of its runtime. From the very beginning the audience is thrown into a plot which is rather vague and confused. I can't explain it, but it hit it's marks and hit them perfectly. The movie looks great, from the cinematography to the locations, so there is some eye candy to savor during the slower moments. In 2029, after the governments of North and South Korea announce a 5-year plan to reunify the country, strong sanctions by the world's powerful nations cripple the economy and lead to a hellish period of chaos. It is a live-action adaptation of the Japanese animated film Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade. But the time we got to the bunker, the main character when from a vulnerable character we were rooting for into the predator. Netflix acquired the international distribution rights of the film. The sniper? While I am (sort of) glad I watched the movie, I can say with confidence that it isn't for everybody. [20], Webtoon writer Yoon Tae-ho penned a prequel titled Illang: Prequel, which took place five years before the events of the film. To make this more convoluted, he adds too many interested parties and secret organizations into his conspiracy (some of them appearing only in conversation and for 5 minutes), making it hard to keep track of who works for whom or what they want. While I am one of the first people to bemoan the seemingly endless cycle of remakes and reboots that seems to have seized the movie industry and would love to see that time, attention, and money diverted to new stories, ideas, and characters, I was still quite excited when I saw the first trailer for Illang: The Wolf Brigade, the live-action remake of the Japanese anime movie Jin-Roh. Kim and lead actor Gang Dong-won were set to attend the event. She detonates a bomb in front of him, but only kills herself. Fearing the possibility of war, North Korea and South Korea agree to re-unify for the sake of survival, with a five year interim put in place as preparation for the reunification. had to be impartial due to my upbringing in the States. 2023 GAMESPOT, A FANDOM COMPANY. The sci-fi bit of the plot is merely veneer over the very Asian politicking. Amidst this bloody struggle between two ultra-powerful institutions, rumors emerge of a secret "Wolf Brigade" being formed within the Special Unit. Box 4666, Ventura, CA 93007 Request a Quote: comelec district 5 quezon city CSDA Santa Barbara County Chapter's General Contractor of the Year 2014! He then surprises Yun-hee by informing her that Lim is not only a member of the special unit, but belongs to the notorious sub-organization Illang, the Wolf Brigade. A trap is set by the local police forces and the Public Security Division intended to discredit the Special Unit with Kei as bait to catch Fuse, intending to show a terrorist passing a satchel bomb to a member of the Panzers. Anyone that has seen the original master piece before would find dissapointement in the last 15 min. Anti Slip Coating UAE [6] Oshii, who characterized him as "allergic to computers", admitted that had he directed the film he would have relied in computer animation just as he did in Ghost in the Shell and no more than 30,000 cels would have been needed. This is a film about political machinations and twists and turns in how people betray each other. With the appearance of an armed anti-government terrorist group called The Sect which opposes reunification, the President creates a new police division called the Special Unit which amasses significant political power. Theatrical poster. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Submissions should be for the purpose of informing or initiating a discussion, not just to entertain readers. IPv6 Ready. I am so glad that betraying sonovabitch Henmi ate shit. Fullmetal Alchemist The Revenge of Scar. I am so glad that betraying sonovabitch Henmi ate shit. Ironically, that makes Illang a rather ideal project, at least on paper.