Illang: The Wolf Brigade[3] (Korean:; also known as Inrang) is a 2018 South Korean science fiction action film directed by Kim Jee-woon and starring Gang Dong-won, Han Hyo-joo, Jung Woo-sung and Kim Mu-yeol. Alright, well why would Korean take on remaking "Jin Roh: Wolf Brigade"? All stories are accompa. Significant tariffs are imposed upon both countries, creating an economic depression for both, and weakening public support for reunification. It was Kim Jee-woon's second film to compete at the festival after I Saw the Devil in 2010. A Rare Dud From Kim Jee-woon. Suffice it to say, there is an elaborate conspiracy afoot to disband the Special Unit which is strange, since they seem pretty effectively disbanded 15 minutes into the movie. South Korean police launches a special unit, known as "Illang" (The Wolf Brigade), in response to the rise of an anti-reunification domestic insurgency called "The Sect". Behind all of this, frequently peeking through to the forefront, is an almost political thriller of two government agencies trying to discredit and overpower the other. In particular, the part where he jump-kicks the guy through the car window. 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. Unfortunately the 139 minute lenght is also way too much, hopefully the new cut (soon to be released on Netflix) will make the movie somewhat tighter and more exciting. Perhaps not being aware of its background helped. site . Some okay action and fighting scenes. This was not the movie that I ended up watching. 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. Add to that the complete change of medium, and I was intrigued to see what the end result would be. The project was originally pitched as a six-episode OVA as he knew Bandai Visual was interested in having him do a series for them and his original Kerberos Panzer Cop manga was formed by six chapters. I guess we can just say this movie stories is base in another world or dimension. Out of all world cinema I have to say Korea may well be the one I've always had the best relationship with. Summary: In 2029, an elite police force combats a terrorist group opposing Korean reunification. (Original title: "Inrang") Production: (S.. 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. Rafael Motamayor The action scenes and practical effects are all quite enjoyable. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. [27][30] After five days of release, Illang: The Wolf Brigade earned a total of US$5.29 million. However, mostly the change just allows for a more fully rounded explanation of why there are protests and how the anti-terror unit came to be formed in the first place. [8], Hyper commends the film for its "art direction and character design which are beautiful examples of hand-drawn animation and the music fits the action (or lack thereof) brilliantly. 3. This movie missed the whole point of the original like alot. The film stars Gang Dong-won, Han Hyo-joo, and Jung Woo-sung, and was released on July 15, 2018. Starring: Gang Dong-won, Han Hyo-joo, Jung Woo-sung Watch all you want. Lots of netizens are surprised by union between super-hot actors and super-skilled film directors. 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. At one point, I really wanted to find out what's playing behind the scenes politically, as we see the special unit troops storm a building and nothing else after that. Mamoru Oshii had wanted to do what ultimately became Jin-Roh several years prior. I'm glad I wasn't the only one looking for where North Korea fit into the plot. Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos. From his friend Han Sang-woo, Lim receives a diary that is said to have belonged to the deceased girl Lee Jae-hee. Like why can't you just flim everything the same as the originals? 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. When Lim leaves, Han from State Security seeks out Yun-hee. Han Hyo Joo is pretty. Secondary characters like Cheol-jin and Mi-kyung get thrown into the story and exit without adding any substance. I am so glad that betraying sonovabitch Henmi ate shit. A much-anticipated reunion between director Kim Jee-woon and Jung Woo-sung, featuring Minho from K-pop group SHINee. In 2029 an elite police squad combats a terrorist group that opooses the reunification of the two Korean states. In the end, everyone remains alive. Also, Illang is based on a Japanese anime " The Wolf Brigade (1999)" of Mamoru Oshii . GitHub export from English Wikipedia. However I really enjoyed this movie, yeah the romance part might a bit long but also has some purpose in building the final climax. Actually, they come off like college art-house films, which is probably why these films aren't well regarded. The director of this movie is one of my personal favourites who previously made such modern classics as Tale of two sisters, Bittersweet life and I saw the devil. However, Lim sees through the fact that State Security agents are present. Writer/director Kim Jee-woon clearly has an eye for intriguing thrillers and electrifying action, but he doesnt seem to know what to do with the movie's bad actors, and his idea to take a relatively simple story and add 4 different subplots was misguided. That was satisfying. Warriors of Future. Learn more about our use of cookies and information. The old sergeant solemnly compares Kei's fate to the demise of Red Riding Hood and the triumph of the wolf. A lot of changes to the story made it worse. People just want to the see the armor suit fighting. I felt entertained. The film proceeds as the two develop a peculiar relationship. [13][14][15][16][17][18], Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival, "[Review] Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade (Blu-ray)", "Warner Bros. and KIM Jee-woon Team Up Once More on JIN-ROH Remake", "KIM Jee-woon's Sci-fi Action INRANG Starts Shooting in August", "Jin-roh: "The Wolf Brigade" Set for Unexpected Korean Remake", "Korean Live-Action Jin-Roh Film Aims to Cast Actress Han Hyo-joo", "KIM Jee-woon's Sci-fi Action Drama INRANG Completes 8 Months of Filming", "YUBARI INTERNATIONAL FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL 2000", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jin-Roh:_The_Wolf_Brigade&oldid=1136119828, International Fantasy Film Special Jury Award, Ryuichi Horibe (Ron Halder in the English version) as. The new instruction is to go into the sewers together with Yun-hee. Since Lim was the last to see the girl alive, Han asks him to give the book to her sister. [24][12], A red carpet and showcase event for the film was held on July 18, 2018 at Times Square Mall in Yeongdeungpo-gu with the attendance of the director and cast. Kim knows how to direct and edit frenetic chase sequences but the narrative here is so unconvincing and bland that it is just not enough. 6 min read by Alex Khlopenko With Decay of Logos, Dark Souls affirms its role as the Diablo of 2010s. The goal of /r/Movies is to provide an inclusive place for discussions and news about films with major releases. Public Security agents follow a tracking device in Kei's bag and make their way into the tunnels. Kim Jee-woon knows how to frame an action scene. Illang: The Wolf Brigade [3] ( Korean : ; also known as Inrang) is a 2018 South Korean science fiction action film directed by Kim Jee-woon and starring Gang Dong-won, Han Hyo-joo, Jung Woo-sung and Kim Mu-yeol. He knows about Yun-hee's true identity and has expected that the state security would lead them to her. They then are not bulletproof when he shoots from the inside. The training part in the building was also lackluster, the action was more over the top but there was no strategy to it, no teamwork and we didn't get to see Fuse (Lim) get re-trained like he did in the original. Being a huge Kerberos fan (went as far as spending two whole month salaries to buy a full size set of armor back in the day) my expectations were really high Later, Kei reveals her role in the deception and suggests they leave together, but Fuse decides to stay. Some of the same setups are in Illang, but they lost the threads throughout the film, and the payoff doesnt arrive with as much force. [33][34], San Sebastin International Film Festival, 66th San Sebastin International Film Festival, "KIM Jee-woon's Sci-fi Action INRANG Starts Shooting in August", "(Yonhap Interview) Director Kim Jee-woon: Che Guevara inspires me to constantly challenge myself", "Warner Bros. and KIM Jee-woon Team Up Once More on JIN-ROH Remake", "Summer box-office preview: the 5 most highly anticipated Korean movies", "KIM Jee-woon's Sci-fi INRANG Arms Up for July Release", "Director Kim Jee-woon's 'Inrang' unveiled to media", "Hotshots in film industry team up in sci-fi-themed 'The Wolf Brigade', "Korean cinemas earned more despite fewer admissions this summer", "How 'Illang' went from blockbuster to major box office flop: Warner Bros. Korea's summer release failed to please audiences", "Kim Jee-woon's 'Wolf Brigade' advances to San Sebastian film fest", "The English Cast and Crew of Illang: The Wolf Brigade, the South Korean live action remake of #JinRoh, now available English dubbed on Netflix", "Rookie Ok Ja-yeon to star in "Illang: The Wolf Brigade", "Netflix Picks Up Kim Jee-woon's 'Wolf Brigade', "KIM Jee-woon's Sci-fi Action Drama INRANG Completes 8 Months of Filming", "S. Korea's largest film studio opens doors to support 'hallyu', "Korean special makeup artist works for 'Darkest Hour', "MOSS, INSIDE MEN Writer Pens ILLANG: PREQUEL Webtoon", "Netflix Picks Up Kim Jee-woon's Action Thriller 'Illang: The Wolf Brigade', "Netflix acquires distribution rights of South Korean action-thriller", "Gang Dong-won and Han Hyo-joo to make public appearance next week after dating rumors", "Despite star power, 'Illang' can't meet high expectations: Local adaptation of a Japanese hit film fails to satisfy movie critics", "(Movie Review) 'Illang: The Wolf Brigade' eventually loses its way", "[fn ] "'', .. ", "Korea Box Office: 'Mission: Impossible' Beats 'Wolf Brigade', ""'' "..7 10 ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Illang:_The_Wolf_Brigade&oldid=1135526482, This page was last edited on 25 January 2023, at 05:34. They encounter the fully armored Fuse, who slaughters them all. It's not like it is not competently made, it just lacks that excitement off all those earlier movies. Contents 1 Summary 2 Plot 3 Cast and Characters 4 Awards Either one of these, dedicated to complete, I think would have made a fantastic film. The events prompt Japan to remilitarize, and the U.S. and Russia to ramp up military interests in the area. 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 . Inside, Lim discovers a poster of Little Red Riding Hood. that betraying sonovabitch Henmi ate shit. Press J to jump to the feed. Two things right off the bat: Wow. 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. [4] Still the celwork was subsequently processed through the Animo software in order to enhance some visual effects, textures and camerawork.[7]. You can also change your preferences at any time by clicking Cookie Preferences in the footer of each page. Floor Coatings. Just wow. But Illang: The Wolf Brigade isn't an addition . There is action in the movie, and the action scenes are (reasonably) well done, but there are large chunks of the movie where there's no action at all. From the very beginning the audience is thrown into a plot which is rather vague and confused. [17][22][23], The film was selected to compete at the 66th San Sebastin International Film Festival, which was held from September 2129, 2018. It seems the movie didn't work well in Korea, and I remember watching the Jin roh anim as a kid and didn't like it that much. [8] It was subsequently shown in Cannes' March du Film, which presumably netted its early French theatrical release on November 17. [4][5], The film is set in 2029 where South and North Korea prepare for a unified government after a severe economic depression slams both countries. IPv6 Ready. 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. (Also in San Sebastian film festival.) The only one good thing are the action moments of shooting and fights which keep the audience awake. Also, there is so much talk, the movie runs for about 139 minutes, which is way too long for this particular story to be told. 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. After the event, significant opposition to the Special Unit forces the group to utilize their iconic gas masks, to hide their identity as well as provide use in case of bio-hazardous threats. A must-watch! [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] Pamphlet from DVD. [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. The story is set in alternate-history Japan in the 1950s following the atomic bombing and subsequent occupation (by a victorious German Reich, rather than the Allies) of the country at the end of World War II and the post-war recovery. . He praised it for the beauty of its animation and character designs and the "subtle and crafty twists" in the story, and commented that the differing approaches to production meant directors were freed from needing to appeal to a wide target audience and allowed have a much greater creative control than in Hollywood animated features, favoring the sophisticated productions anime was known for. The opening sequence is straight out of the 1999 anime, with a confrontation between the Sect and the Special Unit inside sewer tunnels. However, he refuses, seeing no need for her death. 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. And it's a shame because the initial idea was not bad. About that car and the rest of the surrounding production details: Despite all the energy spent establishing how much Korea has changed between now and 2029 (a vision that calls for customized cars and tanks early on), about half an hour in, Kim either forgets that the film takes place in the future, or simply assumes that audiences will just carry on believing that premise, reverting back to what looks indistinguishable from the present day. Fantastic and brilliant, with an intense and memorable ending. 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. Of all the Kim Jee-woon films I've seen (The Quiet Family; The Foul King; A Tale of Two Sisters; The Good, the Bad, the Weird; I Saw the Devil; The Last Stand; The Age of Shadows), this is firmly his worst. However, the film's "slow, deliberate pace" is criticised. Director Kim Jee-woon transplants the Japanese anime to a unified Korea, where steel-plated super-cops make a strong impression, then disappear for most of the movie. This page was last edited on 28 January 2023, at 21:03. I give it a B-. While it's better paced and isn't as boring, it doesn't make its characters any more emotionally involving, and I don't think it takes full advantage of the world it tries to portray, instead relying on a more expanded yet overplotted story. Outside of this small fleshing out of the world, the Korean setting and backdrop really arent utilized to affect the films story all that much. I'll call it resonance for now, but Jin Roh definitely has it. [32] The number of South Korean film admissions in July 2018 dropped by 21.4% from 2017, to 5.39 million, due to the sluggishness of this film and the absence of intermediate films to replace it. 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_. Good production value Han Hyo-joo sure tries hard to make Yoon-hee work, but I think to really make that character come alive, Joong-kyung needs to be more dynamic, and by design, he's not. The endingwell you will have to watch and decide for yourself. But there's always one guy whose conscience can't be stomped out and Lim is that soldier. While there are some franchises that I have completely abandoned because I dont want to watch another origin story and meet the same cast of familiar characters all over again, a twenty-year gap between the original incarnation and a remake seems like a fair enough deal. I liked the quality of the movie action scene, simple and without CG. As more soldiers join in, the girl detonates the bomb in her hands. However, another enemy may be lurking nearby. "[27], As per Yonhap review, the film "spent so much time trying to recreate the world from the animated movie and remakes it into a big-scale action blockbuster that it never got the simple things right the film falls short of properly delivering the intense inner conflict felt by Joong-kyung. Best PS5 Headset In 2023 - Top Options For PlayStation, The design of the Special Unit is the stuff of nightmares, Too many unnecessary factions to keep track of, Convoluted conspiracy that amounts to nothing, Threads and characters get dropped out of nowhere, A central romance with zero emotional depth. I was very excited for this film, but what a let-down! 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. This is a film about political machinations and twists and turns in how people betray each other. This leads to the emergence of a terrorist group named Sect, which opposes the joint government of South and North Korea. Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade is the third film adaptation of Mamoru Oshii's Kerberos Saga manga, released in 1999. Though the plot gets convoluted with interagency disputes, leading to a few slow scenes where people are mostly sitting and talking to ensure we understand what exactly is going on, the aforementioned actions scenes do enough to break this up. He uses mostly tracking shots, following each of the players involved, highlighting the fear and desperation in the eyes of the terrorists (though the film never makes it clear if we should feel bad for them or not), and the cold, heartless dedication behind the cyborg-like the Special Unit. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? The world seems to be overwhelmed by wars and political forces but during the moie none of them are desplayed or even implied a little. I genuinely enjoyed it. They changed huge plot points that destroyed the original theme and made it feel more Hollywood. Lacking any creative control on the process, he chose to distance himself from the animation production while looking forward to the final product. Nice action scenes. Some rebel fighters try to prevent it but are outmatched by an army of gas mask-wearing armoured super-soldiers who cut through anything in their path. Cast: Gang Dong-won as Lim Joong-kyung Han Hyo-joo as Lee Yoon-hee However, fans of the original might find that there are either too few changes to merit watching this over the original, or they might feel that there were too many changes and the film moved too far into action and away from the emotional core that made the original so memorable. However, they can't get there because the soldier who was supposed to take them there was caught and killed by the state security. As interesting as perfectly remaking an old anime into a live action movie might be, I was more intrigued by what changes would be implemented and how the lens of a Korean movie team would affect the narrative. 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. 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. The acting does no favour either as Gang Dong-Won and Han Hyo-Joo come off as boring protagonists. This is bright and vibrant action movie, filled with decent special effects and appropriately entertaining fight and chase sequences, mainly utilising super technology in the form of massive shoot-outs and the like. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. I've been waiting almost 20 years for this and thankfully it was not a whitewashed Hollywood disaster! The show started out fairly slow and then took off with some really fantastic action. Well unless you already know the Wolf Brigade because there was a Manga and an Anime. I never watched the anime so I can speak on how important those combat suits are other than looking super cool. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Ironically, that makes Illang a rather ideal project, at least on paper. There is also the weird use of the 2029 setting when the futuristic tanks and helicopters from the opening sequence are quickly abandoned in favor of modern technology. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. In 2014, a plane with 239 people aboard vanishes from all radar. All Rights Reserved. Im late to this, but I just wanted to add my thoughts. However, the intelligence service Public Security, which sees its own influence drop, hatches a plot to annihilate the Special Unit. Read all Director Jee-woon Kim Writers They make their way to the tunnels once more, where they are met by members of the Wolf Brigade, a secret, deep-cover unit in the Kerberos Corps led by Hajime Handa. Fuse is horrified at his action, but now having sacrificed his humanity, he has no other choice but to remain part of the pack. Even the action scenes all feature some guy thinking a lot before getting shot stupidly a second later. Illang: The Wolf Brigade 2018 | Maturity Rating: 18+ | 2h 19m | Action & Adventure In 2029, the elite police squad Illang combats a terrorist group opposing reunification of the two Koreas. Amidst this bloody struggle between two ultra-powerful institutions, rumors emerge of a secret "Wolf Brigade" being formed within the Special Unit. Fullmetal Alchemist The Revenge of Scar. JOIN NOW "Illang aka JinRoh: The Wolf Brigade " is going to start shooting in the end of July, 2017, and is released in summer 2018. 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. While I am (sort of) glad I watched the movie, I can say with confidence that it isn't for everybody. An incident involving the death of innocent teens causes the Special Unit to become ruthless killing machines, hiding. I was very confused regarding the motivation of each main character. Later, the Wolf Brigade meet in a junkyard and Fuse is ordered to kill Kei to ensure she is never recaptured by Public Security. 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. As the credits were rolling, I realized what I had really wanted was to see a Korean take the Jin-Roh idea, the extrapolation from the same starting point but divergent from the original in a way that the new film would only make sense to set it in South Korea. Overall, though, if you have heartbreaking memories of the original, this one does not deliver the same emotional punch the original possessed. Hachiroh Tohbe explains to Kei that the Wolf Brigade has used the Public Security Division's plan to flush out those who were most active in trying to eliminate the Kerberos Corps, and eliminate them in turn. The sci-fi bit of the plot is merely veneer over the very Asian politicking. There, it may find a cult following, considering that the sharp-looking film boasts some of the most spectacular set pieces including a stunning climactic showdown in which a steel-clad killing machine blasts his way through sewer tunnels crawling with dirty cops that audiences are likely to find on the streaming service this fall. That inexplicable something a story (in any medium) can have. [4], Oshii "begged" to at least be entrusted with the screenplay, the prospect of working with Okiura changing his previous reluctance about merely writing films. The majority of the story beats and the characters personalities, however, are lifted the whole cloth from the original. Three Crows Magazine Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazine, REVIEW: The Game Weavers by Rebecca Zahabi, Tamsyn Muir Interview: There is a lot of blood on my dance floor., REVIEW: Moon Witch, Spider King by Marlon James, Marvel Presents Northstar Vs the Straight Gaze by O F Cieri, Screenplay: Kim Jee-woon, Jun Chul-hong, Lee Ji-min, Park Jong-dae (based on the oriinal story written by Mamoru Oshii and its animated feature Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade directed by Hiroyuki Okiura), Main cast: Gang Dong-won, Han Hyo-joo, Jung Woo-sung, Kim Mu-yeol, Han Ye-ri, Choi Min-ho, Heo Joon-ho.