Beat

Beat

Release Date : 1997
Director : Kim Sung Su
Writer: Huh Young Man

Cast:
Jung Woo Sung ... Min
Ko So Young ... Romi
Lim Chang Jung ... Wan



Reviewed By : xtkpx

Beat deals with something that isn't new. It's essentially a coming-of-age story wrapped around in traditional korean gangster genre. Then why is it that so many Koreans in their age 25-35s claim this movie as the movie of their generation?

Min (Jung Woo Sung from Musa, A Moment to remember, Sad Movie, etc) is an exceptional fighter but an outcast. He has just recently switched school because of his mom. TaeSoo (Yoo Oh-Sung from Friend), Min's bestfriend is lured into the world of Jopok and gets himself a sentence of 3 years for killing a gangster...


This movie made Jung Woo Sung into James Dean status in Korea when it first opened. Jung Woo Sung portrayed a normal young adult that was coherent and relatable to anyone of that age. It also introduced the audience to the exceptional and diverse actor, Yoo Oh Sung as well. His gritty portrayal of TaeSoo got some people questioning if he really is a Jopok. Lim Chang Jung (singer/actor, Wet Dreams, etc) plays a supporting role and he brings the grittiness and realness of growing up as a young adult in Korea.

The cinematoraphy of this movie, however is somewhat questionable. Many of the action sequences are packed with jump cuts and dragging effects which makes it difficult for the audience to see what actually is going on. (the director later commented that it was to show the state of character's mind, hectic and chaotic)

Running just about 2 hours, this is a good movie to watch and learn from.