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Jeong Du-hong, Beom-su Lee, Kim Seo-Hyeong, Ahn Gil-gang, Ryu Seung-wan ... see more see more... , Doo-hong Jung

Martial-arts pro Jeong Du-hong stars as Jeong Tae-su in notorious Korean action director Ryoo Seung-wan's The City of Violence (aka Jakpae). A former punk and brawler-turned-police detective, Tae-su r... read more read more...eturns to his hometown for the funeral of a buddy, Wang-jae (Ahn Gil-gang). Once there, he reconnects with members of the "old gang," including the tough but loyal fighter Ryoo Seok-hwan (played by the director) and the gang leader, Jang Pil-ho. Tae-su suspects foul play in Wang-jae's death, and instinctively ties it to Pil-ho, now a scuzzy slimeball with a massive inferiority complex and hordes of armed men. His instincts, it seems, are correct -- Pil-ho indeed had Wang-jae rubbed out. Thus, Tae-su and Seok-hwan ultimately take on Pil-ho at an abandoned Korean restaurant, fighting myriads of his henchmen with bare knuckles, blades, and Korean martial arts, and accompanied by a rousing Leone-style score. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

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71% liked it

4,117 ratings

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100% liked it

8 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 32 min.

Directed by: Seung-wan Ryoo

Release Date: May 18, 2006

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DVD Release Date: September 4, 2007

Stats: 464 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (464)

  • garyX
    September 3, 2009
    garyX
    A Seoul cop returns to his hometown for the funeral of a boyhood friend but when he finds that one of their own is responsible, the remaining two friends unite and declare war on those responsible. City Of Violence looks like a gangster thriller on the surface, but its lack of de... read morepth and grittiness in the story and characterisation, combined with virtually non-stop fight sequences mean it is actually a pure martial arts film. The narrative is a little too reliant on montages and flashbacks, and we know little about the characters apart from the fact that they look cool and are hard as nails. The action is actually brilliantly handled and the direction is very stylish, the final showdown (which is very similar to that of Kill Bill Volume 1) in particular is supremely exciting and well done. The emaciated script means it will never win any awards for high drama, but its a fun ride for those who enjoy slickly choreographed, bone-crunching martial arts mayhem.
  • kiriyamakazou
    April 3, 2008
    kiriyamakazou
    What seems like it may be a cross between Stand By Me and any number of revenge films underminds itself by being too lighthearted. A serious plot and wonderfully characterised friendships are ruined by the music video style editing. The fight scenes are spectacular but don't make... read more too much sense, which wouldn't matter in a balls out action flick. The film is short and considering the last 20 minutes is an epic showdown the story moves fast and furiously. Of course like so many martial arts films it's a good job everyone knows martial arts or the fights would be dull. Very entertaining and certainly worth a watch.
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    February 16, 2008
    DragonEyeMorrison
    I have to say i was expecting a bit more from this one, especially after seing such a character-driven film like it was Crying Fist, the previous film from the director. Here the characters are hardly explored, the friendship of the five main characters and what motivated their f... read moreuture actions are left a bit in the dark. Considering what a vital role their relationship has in the plot i wish the director would had included a bit more about them, especially about the 3 main characters. Seems that Ryu just exhausted himself too much while making this (he's writer,director, co-star, edited and what not)

    Of course, some would say the character development in a film focused in martial arts will always be limited, but i truly disagree on that one. There are several MA films that contain enough character development to sustain themselves, and more importantly, to real make you care about what's happening to them. Because at the end that's what can make or kill an action film, the characters. No matter how flashy the action is, if you don't care at all about the characters then it's a total waste of time.

    That said The City of Violence is not a total waste of time at all, Ryo Seng Wan's direction is good in the right places, the soundtrack is groovy as hell and fits perfectly, and the fight sequences are well coordinated. Maybe this film needs some rewatching, still, i can't help to feel it could have been much more. Neverless, a safe watch to any action fan.
  • skactopus
    September 14, 2007
    skactopus
    This Korean action movie was somewhat what I was expecting, but it wasn't enough to be considered a really great movie.

    The story starts out pretty interesting and is told really well. The back story and the jumps in time is done quite nicely and with the help of some interest

    ... read moreing scene transitions this film is hardly boring. Unfortunately, the rest of the movie doesn't stay this way. By the middle of the movie the story becomes a little choppy and this is where the action starts to come in. The movie then continues in this direction to the end where the story is pretty much fizzled out and it is all action.

    The acting is OK at best. Most of the characters showed little emotion, but that could have been in part to the way the story was going.

    The action, or should I say martial arts, comes a plenty depending on your point of view. As I said earlier, most of the fighting comes in the second half of this film, with the last 20 minutes being the non-stop, bloody grand finale. Long action sequences are good, but I would have enjoyed this film more if the fighting was spread out more throughout the film. In fact, I would have liked more if it, considering this is The City of Violence.

    All the action in this film is pretty much all martial arts fighting. I don't even think there were guns in this film. Anyway, the fights are better than you would think. Doo-hong Jung of Arahan, once again, shows me why he is one of the greater martial artists to come out of Korea. Fast and furious.

    Its just too bad that this film couldn't keep the great storytelling from the beginning and incorporate it with the action from the end. This really could have been a great action film. Nevertheless, martial arts fans will want to check this out.
  • lesleyanorton
    August 16, 2010
    lesleyanorton
    Four childhood friends reunite at the funeral of the fifth, and 50% of them start to uncover the truth. With lots and lots and lots (and lots) of fighting including an amazingly choreographed two men v's a shopping centre. of basball bat- , BMX bike-, hockey stick- toting teena... read moregers

    .
  • jonnycrumley
    January 10, 2012
    jonnycrumley
    Great action movie from Korea. The City of Violence is about a pair of high school friends who reunite to investigate the murder of one of their own.
    The action in this movie was spectacular, fast paced, and beautifully shot, with plenty of memorable fight scenes. And even the st... read moreory was a little predictable, it was well acted and always watchable.
  • threefolddado
    April 3, 2008
    threefolddado
    When they say the stunt work in this is "eye-popping", they ain't kidding. The stunt work in this makes any film in recent memory pale in comparison, but surprisingly enough, the story is good and the direction stand their own also.
  • cacutshaw
    December 3, 2007
    cacutshaw
    Fun film with a great story. The fight scenes are fantastic and the characters are cool. I've heard people complain about this film not being "all that" after seeing Ong Bak and The Protector, but that's like saying Jaws sucks because it's not Psycho.
  • ualush
    July 2, 2007
    ualush
    Maybe I let myself down thinking maybe I'm about to watch the next Exiled or Bittersweet Life? Again, that wasn't the case, but...City of Violence is still a good movie. A good story, but the way it is told is weak at times. But, if you are watching a movie called "The City of Vi... read moreolence," odds are you aren't in it for the story, you want the "violence" or should I say action? Well, this movie does do that, not as much as I thought it would though. The city-wide fight though did some things I haven't seen a fight sequence do before and well, break dancers can be lethal apparently. The big fight of the movie is a good one and nicely shot. I do have to say I felt at times during this fight I was watching a Tarantino movie, little Kill Bill-ish at times, not a bad thing though. I would say this is just your standard action movie and fans of this should check out Kill Zone and vice-versa.
  • chickenjackson
    February 21, 2012
    chickenjackson
    i just cant quite put my finger on the great work of this director and these actors...it just kicks @$$! the action packed fight sequences in this film have so much tooth and nail intensity that i can almost feel the pain...esp. the sequence with the hall of gangsters with knives.

View All The City of Violence (Jjakpae) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Felix Vasquez Jr.
June 9, 2010
Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed

A pure show with a tight story, great acting, and fantastic action scenes you can't miss... Full Review

Anton Bitel
June 8, 2007
Anton Bitel, Film4

Knowingly derivative, Ryoo's action-driven elegy is nevertheless full of surprises - not least of which is its relative restraint. Full Review

Johnny Vaughan
June 8, 2007
Johnny Vaughan, Sun Online

KOREAN cinema's answer to Quentin Tarantino, Ryoo Seung Wan lives up to his all-action reputation with this bone-crunching, chop-socky revenge thriller. Full Review

Jonathan Trout
June 8, 2007
Jonathan Trout, BBC

There's not much below the surface, and it does take time to get up to speed, but the jovial, high-energy approach and the endless charisma and athleticism of the leads makes for a superior slice of h... Full Review

June 8, 2007
Daily Mirror [UK]

You might have seen it all before but you probably haven't seen it done with this much style. Full Review

Trevor Johnston
June 8, 2007
Trevor Johnston, Time Out

Roly-poly comic Lee Beom-su's terrific performance as the oleaginous villain is another plus, setting the seal on a no-nonsense action flick delivered with skill and conviction. Full Review

June 8, 2007
Total Film

It's not polished or ambitious enough to be another Old Boy but there's no doubt that it's ready to rumble: think Get Carter meets The Warriors with bone-crunching tae kwon do and you're nearly there. Full Review

Kat Brown
June 8, 2007
Kat Brown, Empire Magazine

Humorous with some decent action sequences. Full Review

Derek Elley
February 23, 2012
Derek Elley, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

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