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Action! - Panning Into Jee-woon's Visceral Solitude

Leaning more into the quirky and offbeat humor, Kim’s follow-up film to his directorial debut sees him entering the ring as we follow up Song Kang-ho as an incompetent bank clerk and nobody who takes up a career in professional wrestling.

The humor wasn’t to my liking this time around, a bit too offbeat and silly for my taste, but there were still plenty of very amusing moments, a lot of them set in the ring where we see the director displaying his love for violence and blood, resulting in some scenes involving stabbing with everyday utensils and making me squirm a bit on my seat. Also, the scene where we see our…

12

I tried to write a song for Song Kang-ho,
a lilting and sweet refrain.
What was wrong with the song, was that just like Song,
mere words just couldn't contain
the length and the breadth of his talent and charm,
to amazing to be put on some shelf.
So now, I just smile as I watch him on screen,
and I just sing the Song to myself.

Do you like underdog stories? Do you like wrestling? Do you like physical humor? Do you know the muffin man? Do you want to build a snowman? Do you know Da Wae? Do you believe in life after love? Do you really want to hurt me? Do you hear what I hear? Doooo you, feel like I do? Do you want to be my friend?

This is a good movie. I like to pretend it's the script for the wrestling picture that Barton Fink wrote.

Review by {Todd} ★★★½ Liked

"You still want to wrestle?" - Coach,

Song Kang-ho's face!

This movie is actually quite funny. Although I believe it's probably about twenty minutes too long it's got an engaging story that is relatable despite being so specific. Song Kang-ho is so well suited to comedy that he really sells stuff that maybe wouldn't work with a different actor.

For fans of comedy.

8

The Abdominal Stretch of Anticipation

"I knew it would happen ever since you got the real one and prop confused...."

I never liked wrestling as a youth, I can clearly walking into a convenience store at six and watching in stunned horror as two adults raged about Hulk Hogan getting screwed over by the Million Dollar Man. This was my brief filtration with small town living, shocked that no one had clued these grown-ups into the facts of life. Those facts being that (SPOILER ALERT) wrestling was scripted. (YOU'RE SAFE NOW) The point is, I was born a judgemental, pretentious, condescending, snobbish old man - and while I've taken measures to correct for that base personality over the decades,…

Review by Jaime Rebanal 🇵🇸 ★★★★ Liked

It's easy enough to ire how Kim Jee-woon was a director who could find a perfect way to adapt his style to whatever genre he wished, but with making a film like The Foul King there's also a whole lot of heart that can be found here. In telling this story of a lack of productivity in the mundane daily life versus the feeling of tapping into something one loves most, Kim Jee-woon embraces the absurd to deliver lots of great laughs from start to finish.

And Song Kang-ho is just as great as ever, but how can you ever doubt him?

1

A nice movie about trying to achieve everyone's ultimate dream (suplexing your boss)

8

Can't you just show me how to get out of a head lock?
-Dae-ho

One step closer to seeing Kim Jee-woon's complete filmography and maybe further proof that he had very little control on his Hollywood debut The Last Stand, or maybe that's just what he thought North American audiences wanted. Not sure. I still like Last Stand a great deal, but after seeing The Foul King, I would still rank the Schwarzenegger actioner as Kim's weakest film.

Song Kang-ho has easily become one of my favorite Korean actors as he has starred in a good majority of my favorite films from his country. It's his range I find most impressive and the fact that you can rely on him…

Review by Ragnar ★★★½ Liked

Grade: GOOD (3.5 out of 5)

Director Kim Jee-woon has a knack for comedy. Combined with Song Kang-ho physical comedic acting skills, and the pair can really make comedy gold. The two were born to make films together, and The Foul King is a great example of that chemistry.

The only thing holding back The Foul King is the film's uneven pacing and focus. The movie builds up an interesting cast of characters and develops them to a point, but then abandons some of the character momentum in favor for extensive wrestling match scenes. Some of the wrestling is entertaining, but nowhere near as interesting or funny as the character stuff.

These set backs do not stop The Foul King…

8

Asian Cinema Challenge, week 24: Korean New Wave
progress: 5/52 (oof)

One of the things I miss most about pre-pandemic life is going to wrestling shows. It's hard to explain how much fun it can be to anyone who hasn't done it, but if you go to local and regional shows, you see the same wrestlers all the time — and you feel like you know them. As wrestlers, sure, but also their personalities, their sense of humor, what they're like IRL. After all, at that level there isn't like, a staff. Before the shows and at intermission, the wrestlers all sell their own merch — they sit at tables in gyms and hang out and talk like actual…

Review by Moresbi ★★★★ Liked

M(a)y Korea 2024 #30 - Male Personality - Song Kang-ho from M(a)y Korea 2024

Progress: 24/31

Just for context, Song Kang-ho is one of my (if not the) favourite actors and, in my mind, one of the "greatest" of all time. If you haven't yet, feel free (I'll even strongly invite you) to explore his filmography, it's totally worth it, filled with top movies (and performances!) and ultra-enjoyable.

"Banchikwang" aka "The Foul King" was (potentially) hilarious, quite entertaining but somewhat underwhelming in a few aspects.
I've been wanting to rewatch it for a VERY long time and the challenge just made for the perfect time and place ^_^

Can't seem to track the awards for this one lol

The plot…

3

Korean New Wave Cinema - Criterion Channel

The second feature film by Kim Jee-woon and the first starring role by Song Kang-ho as Dae-ho, a disgruntled bank clerk who masquerades as a wrestler.

The film shines when the focus is on the wrestling and Dae-ho's struggles to overcome his ineptitude in his job and his personal relationships. The problem lies in Kim trying to juggle his critique on the Corporate world with a subplot of Dae-ho's co-worker that doesn't go anywhere.

The wrestling match that is on display at the end is fantastic and is the best one that I have seen so far onscreen. The impressive part is that Son Kang-ho did all of his stunt work for this…

Review by Justin Decloux ★★★½

A little too half-baked and episodic for my taste, but Song Kang-ho is one funny dude.