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. Soldier Lim Joong-kyung of the Special Forces encounters a girl carrying a bomb and wants to make her give it up. 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. The endingwell you will have to watch and decide for yourself. 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. To be fair, part of my partial disappointment may be that the movie was more or less advertised as a full-on actioner, and that is what I was expecting. 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. This was not the movie that I ended up watching. The sci-fi bit of the plot is merely veneer over the very Asian politicking. Genre: . [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. 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. In 2014, a plane with 239 people aboard vanishes from all radar. A South Korean live-action remake titled Illang: The Wolf Brigade directed by Kim Jee-woon updates the setting from Japan to a dystopian South Korea, where the plot revolves around plans to unite the two Koreas. 4 min read Rebecca Zahabi sets her gripping debut in a future Britain of much darker times. Movie was alright but nowhere near as good as the original. As the filmmaker wasn't able to produce two films in the same time but didn't want someone else to direct his final episode, Oshii decided that the third episode would be an anime instead. We are told through a 5-minute-long prologue that fears of an impending war over a territorial dispute between Japan and China caused the two Koreas to launch preparations for unification. She also cannot blame Lim for her death. Kim Jee-woon knows what the hell he's doing when it comes to staging and shooting action, and the action sequences here are fluidly shot and feature some really neat choreography. It is a live-action adaptation of the Japanese animated film Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade. Even the action scenes all feature some guy thinking a lot before getting shot stupidly a second later. He meets a woman claiming to be the girls sister, Lee Yun-hee (singer-turned-wooden-actress Han Hyo-joo), and theyll soon find themselves at the center of a conspiracy to disband the Special Unit--despite them already been disbanded after the opening scene. It was Kim Jee-woon's second film to compete at the festival after I Saw the Devil in 2010. It was not to hard to follow but could have been a bit more solid. 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. The ending theme (Grace Omega I think it's called) is rolling in the background even as I type this. In 2024, when "political order in the Korean peninsula is shaken," following territorial disputes between China, Japan, and South Korea. This movie missed the whole point of the original like alot. Also, Illang is based on a Japanese anime " The Wolf Brigade (1999)" of Mamoru Oshii . Even if the film managed to balance the romance, sci-fi, action, and political conspiracy, it wouldnt change the fact that the two have the least amount of chemistry in a couple since Anakin and Padm in Star Wars. I thought the escaped Sect leader would play a major role in this story, but that gets quickly wrapped off at the end (on a news channel scene). I was very excited for this film, but what a let-down! Its only use is during the prologue to explain why the government would launch a Special Unit force to put an end to Sect. Learn more about our use of cookies and information. 2. 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. While I am (sort of) glad I watched the movie, I can say with confidence that it isn't for everybody. Quite a number of problems, but the biggest is the anime it is based on is flawed with great ideas but poor execution in the plot. Anti Slip Coating UAE I'd only recommend it to those who are deeply into Asian and Korean cinema, and who also have a lot of patience. After the attack (and the fun), the film starts getting complicated. Honestly, being released on Netflix is its best hope for reaching a wide audience. Think of the T-60 Power Armor from the Fallout series, but make it 100 times scarier and more evil, and add terrifying round red eyes that glow with the intensity of nightmarish soldiers from hell, and you get the Special Unit soldiers. Kim Jee-woon knows how to frame an action scene. + : The acting is decent, the effects and suits are quite good and the plot flows smootly until the end. 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. But, it really feels as if the actions of any character become pointless, especially during the third act of the movie. Yun-hee sits down with her brother as the train departs. The human weapons who are called wolves, "Illang" (The Wolf Brigade). Amidst this bloody struggle between two ultra-powerful institutions, rumors emerge of a secret "Wolf Brigade" being formed within the Special Unit. I hope he makes a truly great film again, because I was disappointed despite going into it with lowered expectations. If we cut off the narrations intro, the film could still be set in Japan and nothing would really need to be changed. If you are someone who has only a passing knowledge of Jin-Roh (or better yet, no knowledge at all), you are set up to enjoy this film the most. He knows about Yun-hee's true identity and has expected that the state security would lead them to her. As a Korean critic, I should have gave it a 10 but on a second thought Im late to this, but I just wanted to add my thoughts. (Source: KoBiz) Edit Translation, 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's not their job to care if the people are innocent or should have a voice in their country's future. 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. I would argue that the conflict between the special unit and the public security division isn't well established, as we just see this illustrated in people talking and a few shootouts. The film does include a few scenes that were faithful recreations of scenes from the original animation, and they were quite interesting to see and can really get a fan of the original excited. This page was last edited on 28 January 2023, at 21:03. Based on Mamoru Oshiis Kerberos Panzer Cop manga whose 1999 anime adaptation, Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade, serves as a direct blueprint for this films stunning opening and climax Illang transposes the story from Japan to Korea, where political and economic pressure have forced the divided country to consider reunification. 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. [4] [5] That concept alone makes for a fascinating science-fiction film, but unfortunately, its all setup that is immediately abandoned. 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. 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. JUNG_E. Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade is the third film adaptation of Mamoru Oshii's Kerberos Saga manga, released in 1999. Illang: The Wolf Brigade 2018 | Maturity Rating: 16 | 2h 19m | Action & Adventure In 2029, the elite police squad Illang combats a terrorist group opposing reunification of the two Koreas. By clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's Even $1 helps keeps us afloat. The production values are top-notch with excellent cinematography and fight coreography but the final product somehow feels like an unremarkable and hollow action movie without that spark that made Bittersweet life such an unforgettable experience. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. The number of South Korean film admissions in July 2018 was the lowest since 2008. 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. 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. I thought all of the fighting and firefights of the movie were incredibly unique and interesting as far as movies go, the setting was also something that I enjoyed. 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. 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. The film stars Gang Dong-won, Han Hyo-joo, and Jung Woo-sung, and was released on July 15, 2018. The premise was funny in the beginning about reunification. Five years after The Last Stand Korean director Kim Jee-woons one-off attempt at American filmmaking, a throwaway shoot-em-up co-starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Johnny Knoxville Kim is back home, applying what he learned in Hollywood to anime adaptation Illang: The Wolf Brigade. An obsidian-black sci-fi thriller all but consumed with corruption of the state and of the soul, the film opens stunningly enough, reminiscent of such late-80s comics-to-screen transfers as Tim Burtons Batman and the original RoboCop in its darkly atmospheric depiction of a grim near-future, but it gets confusing quick and never quite regains the promise of its first half-hour which accounts for a disappointing local performance (Illang did fewer than one million admissions last summer in South Korea). The special unit is able to track the fleeing members to the sewers and hunt down some members there. Just wow. Her death as she recited the story of little red Riding Hood stuck with me for a long time, and having it altered here didn't sit right. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] However, they can't get there because the soldier who was supposed to take them there was caught and killed by the state security. In those finals moments, they manage to seemingly invalidate the rest of the film; it's quite literally the complete opposite of the anime. A much-anticipated reunion between director Kim Jee-woon and Jung Woo-sung, featuring Minho from K-pop group SHINee. Visiting the grave of the suicide, he meets Kei, the girl's sister, who does not hold him responsible for her demise. 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. The show started out fairly slow and then took off with some really fantastic action. Deep. "Frontiers of Total Filmmaking: Mamoru Oshii Creator of Jin-Roh." EDIT: cause I screwed up my numbers, apparently. I liked the quality of the movie action scene, simple and without CG. Failing to create any sense of intrigue about its futuristic world, The Wolf Brigade is one disappointing mess that carries bits n pieces of brilliance scattered here n there but the overall product is too weak & uninspiring to sustain the interest and leaves the viewers feeling rather indifferent in the end. JOIN NOW Submissions should be for the purpose of informing or initiating a discussion, not just to entertain readers. [7][8][9] Distributed by Warner Bros. Korea, the film had cost 19 billion won (US$17.04 million) to produce. 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. However, the film's "slow, deliberate pace" is criticised. I can't explain it, but it hit it's marks and hit them perfectly. The unrest generated by the political tension in Asia, economic depression, and opposition to reunification results in a domestic terror group known as "The Sect" to form. 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! Illang: The Wolf Brigade (sometimes known as Inrang: The Wolf Brigade, which has been used at least once) is a 2018 Korean science fiction dystopian movie directed by Kim Jee-woon.It stars Gang Dong-won, Han Hyo-joo, Jung Woo-sung and Kim Mu-yeol. The Warner Bros logo is bright red against a black background. The animation is good for its time, and while it flirts with interesting ideas, it moves at such a slow pace and features such a dull main character that I found myself frequently bored. 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. Illang the wolf brigade explained | Illang the wolf brigade korean movie#shorts #ending_explained #Illang_the_wolf_brigade #youtubeshorts #korean_drama #act. Good production value That just eluded me. Out of all world cinema I have to say Korea may well be the one I've always had the best relationship with. Or maybe no new cars were made, buildings modified or fashions introduced after 2018. 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. Due to civil unrest within South Korea (Japan in the original), an elite anti-terror unit is formed. The stories focus on the aftermath of one of the unit's members who froze when confronted with a particularly young terrorist and couldn't perform his duty of killing her. [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. Film Review: 'Illang: The Wolf Brigade' Reviewed at Busan Film Festival, Oct. 6, 2018. 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. sorry to be that guy, but does anyone who has seen the movie know what is the origin of the art from the Red riding hood scene, I am fascinated by the artwork and am looking for prints of it and was wondering if they are original to the movie itself or from an outside source? 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. Netflix and third parties use cookies (why?). But I found it stylish satisfying and at times genuinely scary! Pamphlet from DVD. 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 thought all of the fighting and firefights of the movie were incredibly unique and interesting as far as movies go, the setting was also something that I enjoyed. I am so glad that betraying sonovabitch Henmi ate shit. Running time: 138 MIN. Released October 19th, 2018, 'Illang: The Wolf Brigade' stars Gang Dong-won, Han Hyo-joo, Kim Moo-yul, Jung Woo-sung The R movie has a runtime of about 2 hr 20 min, and received a user score of 63 . 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. Press J to jump to the feed. The original isnt great but the script is thight and know exactly what it is and how to tell it but the new one is just a mess. After hesitating to shoot the girl responsible for the blast, Lt. Lim (Gang Dong-won, the rare live-action star whos less expressive than his hand-drawn equivalent) is publicly reprimanded and sent to re-education whatever that means (other than a chance to feature a flashy training sequence in which he shoots his way through an abandoned building). Later, Kei reveals her role in the deception and suggests they leave together, but Fuse decides to stay. Visually, I get that director KIM JI HOON had deliberately or not payed a successful hommage to its Japanese predecessor albeit bit of twist in scenario to make it more Still had a good time watching it, mostly because of where it came from but unfortunately this pretty much murdered any chance to see Jin-Roh content ever again. 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. Due to civil unrest within South Korea (Japan in the original), an elite anti-terror unit is formed. To take a beloved classic and make it a big budget blockbuster and then add 40 minutes to the runtime is an even worse idea. All Rights Reserved. The action scenes and practical effects are all quite enjoyable. The movie doesn't deviate that much from a possible reality of a reunified north and south korea. The movie mentions at the beginning that the two Koreas are slowly pushing toward reunification and earning the ire of other countries, and then quickly explains what's going on internally. [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. But everything feels like it's in slow motion: the predictable love affair, the speech patterns, they way everybody has to make weird faces to show how important their emotions are. The raw and "bestial" ending was changed for a more "humane" one. 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. Jin-Roh is the third film in Oshii's Kerberos saga and is primarily based on Oshii's manga Kerberos Panzer Cop. [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. Now I never read the Manga, but I did watch the Anime (Jin Roh). [10][11] The film competed in the San Sebastin International Film Festival for the Golden Shell, becoming the second South Korean film to do so.[12]. "Werewolf"), also known as Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade in its American release, is a 1999 Japanese action political thriller[1] anime film directed by Hiroyuki Okiura (in his directorial debut) and written by Mamoru Oshii. Jin-Roh was first seen in the early 1999 film festival circuit, including the 49th Berlinale and the 19th Fantasporto in February. Sigh.. Hyo-Joo does a fantastic job bringing her characters confusion, conflict, and desperation to life, and her performance was by far the most enjoyable part of the film for me. I am so glad that betraying sonovabitch Henmi ate shit. Illang (2018 Film) Information The sequences are clean, and for the most part, dont fall prey to my biggest pet peeve of actions movies which are when theres a lot happening but I have no idea how to even begin to tell what is going on. [1][18][19], Costumes for the film were designed by Hollywood artist Vanessa Lee, who also worked on the special effects costume for the 2006 film Underworld: Evolution and superhero costumes in the Avengers film series. But thats not the end of the road for Illang, which will next head to Netflix in all other territories. The balance between the realistic locations and the futuristic technologies like iron armor and diverse guns was very impressive. Lim is ordered to kill Yun-hee for being a Sect member and spy for the state security. "[29], On the first day of its release, the film attracted 274,525 admissions. Illang: the Wolf Brigade is an enjoyable, if ultimately flawed, film. What is the English language plot outline for Illang: The Wolf Brigade (2018)? But it's been quite a while so I don't remember it that fondly. Inside, Lim discovers a poster of Little Red Riding Hood. 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. A series of eerie events thrusts an unlikely trio (John Boyega, Jamie Foxx and Teyonah Parris) onto the trail of a nefarious government conspiracy. 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. The sniper? "[28], Jason Bechervaise from Screendaily wrote that the film "contains moments of stylistic brilliance through some compelling set-pieces. But Illang: The Wolf Brigade isn't an addition . The events prompt Japan to remilitarize, and the U.S. and Russia to ramp up military interests in the area. The action in this film is so intense and epic! [21], Illang: The Wolf Brigade was released in South Korea on July 25, 2018. As such, this movie exists in a sort of limbo. 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. Starring: Gang Dong-won, Han Hyo-joo, Jung Woo-sung Watch all you want. A man is convicted of a robbery he didnt commit and spends six years in jail. 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. site . The storyline was a little sketchy with some holes and jumps. GO AND DOWNLOAD WINZI NOW:https://winzo.onelink.me/gu8K/cbd64d7f#WINZO #ENMAY-----. 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. 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. The only bright spot is newcomer Kim Moo-Jeol as the villain wearing a badass leather coat who manages to breath some fresh air into the mean economics of the movie. Get our latest news, giveaways, free subscriptions and more. Since Lim was the last to see the girl alive, Han asks him to give the book to her sister. Mamoru Oshii had wanted to do what ultimately became Jin-Roh several years prior. [10], The following month the film shown in Cannes' March du Film, where Variety's Derek Elley noted it for pushing cel animation to its limits in the action scenes and for Okiura's focus on stillness in between while considering it a less complex work than its predecessor Ghost in the Shell lacking its "stomach-churning, visionary moments". 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. Aside from the blackouts and the demonstrations at the beginning, I didn't fully get a sense of the effects of the reunification process. The ending theme (Grace Omega I think it's called) is rolling in the background even as I type this. And it's a shame because the initial idea was not bad. Gustav Horn, Carl (2002). Email news@gamespot.com. Whatever. Fantastic and brilliant, with an intense and memorable ending. As more soldiers join in, the girl detonates the bomb in her hands. 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 film's musical score was composed by Hajime Mizoguchi. This. It focuses on Kazuki Fuse, a member of the elite Kerberos Panzer Corps, a metropolitan counter-terrorism unit. The film was financed by Union Investment Partners, with production being announced in 2013. That was satisfying. [6], The film was released on July 25, 2018. I just watched the movie, im just kinda curious who this actor is at the end of the movie, does anyone know? But another enemy may be lurking nearby. I highly recommend this film for action lovers, asian cinema enthusiats. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? It was released on Netflix on July 25, 2018. Go behind the scenes of Netflix TV programmes and films, see what's coming soon and watch bonus videos on. any information helps. The Wandering Earth. Action comes easy to Korean director Kim; its actors that he doesnt always know what to do with. I felt like the new happy ending didn't match up to the original ending in the anime movie. (Also in San Sebastian film festival.) 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. But another enemy may be lurking nearby. I felt entertained. [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. With the exception of Kim Mu-yeol, the cast are about as stiff as boards, and I think it's because they have so little to work with their characters. Actually, they come off like college art-house films, which is probably why these films aren't well regarded. Didn't get the emotional connection that Korean movies usually have. The ending being the most disappointing part. So not two minutes ago the credits rolled. It certainly holds together better than other Netflix anime adaptations I've watched recently like FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST. It's not like it is not competently made, it just lacks that excitement off all those earlier movies. From the very beginning the audience is thrown into a plot which is rather vague and confused. If you haven't, go watch this film. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Furthermore, Illang is not a direct remake of the animation and is rather an adaptation that borrows heavily from the original. Lim meets Lee Yun-hee at the Namsan Tower. They changed huge plot points that destroyed the original theme and made it feel more Hollywood.