While it's not much worse than its predecessor, Friend 2: The Legacy has none of the bromantic charm that made Friend, South Korean writer-director Kyung-Taek Kwak's 2001 gangster drama, the highest-grossing film in Korean history.
Like his original autobiographical hit, Kwak's sequel frequently devolves into chest-thumping hysterics, as when one mobster chucks another into a bookshelf for joking "I'll fix your mama's trampy ways." But the most compelling thing about Friend 2 is its trifurcated plot, a structural gimmick borrowed from The Godfather Part II.
Set in Seoul in 2001 and 2010, and Busan in 1963, the film follows three generations of mobsters: Lee Joon-seok (Yu Oh-seong), the big boss; Lee Cheol-ju (Joo Jin-mo), his father; and Choi...
Like his original autobiographical hit, Kwak's sequel frequently devolves into chest-thumping hysterics, as when one mobster chucks another into a bookshelf for joking "I'll fix your mama's trampy ways." But the most compelling thing about Friend 2 is its trifurcated plot, a structural gimmick borrowed from The Godfather Part II.
Set in Seoul in 2001 and 2010, and Busan in 1963, the film follows three generations of mobsters: Lee Joon-seok (Yu Oh-seong), the big boss; Lee Cheol-ju (Joo Jin-mo), his father; and Choi...
- 12/10/2013
- Village Voice
Friend 2, Director Kwak Kyung-taek’s much-anticipated sequel to the highest-grossing South Korean film of all time Friend was released in South Korea on Nov 14.
It stars Yu Oh-seong, reprising his role as Joon-seok, Kim Woo-bin as Sung-hoon and Joo Jin-mo as Joon-seok’s father, Cheol-ju.
Joon-seok is released after serving 17 years in prison for ordering the death of his childhood friend, Dong-su (played by Jang Dong-gun in the original film). He reclaims his position in the Busan-based crime syndicate and aligns himself with Sung-hoon, the grown-up son of Dong-su. Interspersed are scenes of Joon-seock’s father, Cheol-ju’s gangster past in Busan in 1963.
Friend 2 has gotten off to a rip-roaring start as it drew over 300,000 admissions on its opening day. Reportedly, distributor Lotte Entertainment announced sales to the Us (Dreamwest), Japan (Nikkatsu) and Taiwan (Av-Jet).
“The delicate direction of Kwak stands out in the film with much color of authentic gangster film.
It stars Yu Oh-seong, reprising his role as Joon-seok, Kim Woo-bin as Sung-hoon and Joo Jin-mo as Joon-seok’s father, Cheol-ju.
Joon-seok is released after serving 17 years in prison for ordering the death of his childhood friend, Dong-su (played by Jang Dong-gun in the original film). He reclaims his position in the Busan-based crime syndicate and aligns himself with Sung-hoon, the grown-up son of Dong-su. Interspersed are scenes of Joon-seock’s father, Cheol-ju’s gangster past in Busan in 1963.
Friend 2 has gotten off to a rip-roaring start as it drew over 300,000 admissions on its opening day. Reportedly, distributor Lotte Entertainment announced sales to the Us (Dreamwest), Japan (Nikkatsu) and Taiwan (Av-Jet).
“The delicate direction of Kwak stands out in the film with much color of authentic gangster film.
- 12/6/2013
- by Jane Youm
- AsianMoviePulse
Kwak Kyung-taek directs sequel to his 2001 gangster story Friend.
South Korea’s Lotte Entertainment has announced a trio of sales deals at Afm on Friend: The Great Legacy, director Kwak Kyung-taek’s sequel to his 2001 hit gangster story Friend. The film has sold to Dreamwest for the Us, Nikkatsu for Japan and Av-Jet for Taiwan.
Friend: The Great Legacy stars Yoo Oh-sung from the original, Joo Jin-mo from A Better Tomorrow and A Frozen Flower, and Kim Woo-bin from TV’s Gentlemen’s Dignity and School 5.
The sequel continues from the original Friend where childhood friends Joon-seok and Dong-soo are members of rival gangs and Dong-soo is killed by a member of Joon-seok’s gang. Although innocent, Joon-seok takes the blame and goes to jail for 18 years. While there, he meets Dong-soo’s son Sung-hoon, who has grown up to become a gangster, too, and upon his release takes him on as a dangerously close right-hand man.[p...
South Korea’s Lotte Entertainment has announced a trio of sales deals at Afm on Friend: The Great Legacy, director Kwak Kyung-taek’s sequel to his 2001 hit gangster story Friend. The film has sold to Dreamwest for the Us, Nikkatsu for Japan and Av-Jet for Taiwan.
Friend: The Great Legacy stars Yoo Oh-sung from the original, Joo Jin-mo from A Better Tomorrow and A Frozen Flower, and Kim Woo-bin from TV’s Gentlemen’s Dignity and School 5.
The sequel continues from the original Friend where childhood friends Joon-seok and Dong-soo are members of rival gangs and Dong-soo is killed by a member of Joon-seok’s gang. Although innocent, Joon-seok takes the blame and goes to jail for 18 years. While there, he meets Dong-soo’s son Sung-hoon, who has grown up to become a gangster, too, and upon his release takes him on as a dangerously close right-hand man.[p...
- 11/13/2013
- by hjnoh2007@gmail.com (Jean Noh)
- ScreenDaily
A Better Tomorrow 2012
Stars: Jin-mo Ju, Seung-heon Song, Kang-woo Kim, Han Sun Jo, Kyeong-yeong Lee | Written by Hing-Ka Chan, Suk-Wah Leung | Directed by Hae-sung Song
A Korean remake of John Woo’s original film, A Better Tomorrow 2012 tells the story of Hyuk (Jin-mo), who lives the fast life as a high-ranking mobster in Busan, South Korea with his closest pal, fellow mobster Lee Young-Chun (Seung-heon). Hyuk is haunted by the memory of leaving behind his younger brother Chul (Kang-woo) and mother as they attempted to flee into South Korea from North Korea. Hyuk is set up by the police and jailed. Three years later, he is released and travels back to Busan to find his younger brother Chul now a high-ranking police officer. Hyuk tries to earn back the trust of his brother, but rejection and betrayal are hard to forget. Things come to a head when Young-Chun pulls Hyuk into doing one last gig.
Stars: Jin-mo Ju, Seung-heon Song, Kang-woo Kim, Han Sun Jo, Kyeong-yeong Lee | Written by Hing-Ka Chan, Suk-Wah Leung | Directed by Hae-sung Song
A Korean remake of John Woo’s original film, A Better Tomorrow 2012 tells the story of Hyuk (Jin-mo), who lives the fast life as a high-ranking mobster in Busan, South Korea with his closest pal, fellow mobster Lee Young-Chun (Seung-heon). Hyuk is haunted by the memory of leaving behind his younger brother Chul (Kang-woo) and mother as they attempted to flee into South Korea from North Korea. Hyuk is set up by the police and jailed. Three years later, he is released and travels back to Busan to find his younger brother Chul now a high-ranking police officer. Hyuk tries to earn back the trust of his brother, but rejection and betrayal are hard to forget. Things come to a head when Young-Chun pulls Hyuk into doing one last gig.
- 6/10/2012
- by Phil
- Nerdly
Well Go USA have posted their brand new Us trailers for their November home video releases. First up is the Korean remake of John Woo's acclaimed A Better Tomorrow, available November 8th:"A remake that's on the money." - The Hollywood Reporter"A classic unto itself." - Film Critics UnitedBrothers. Enemies. Killers.A Better TOMORROWFrom Executive Producer John Woo Comes the Stylish Action Drama Starring Jin-mo Ju and Seung-heon Song, Debuting on Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo Pack and DVD November 8Bonus Materials Include Deleted Scenes, a Photo Gallery and a 30-minute Interview with John WooPLANO, Texas. (September 20, 2011) - The accent is on action when Jin-mo Ju (A Frozen Flower, The Warrior) and Seung-heon Song (So Close, Ghost) star in the remake of John Woo's 1986 cult...
- 10/25/2011
- Screen Anarchy
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