Commitment (2013)

Another Korean thriller with spies from the north in the main role? Or something more? This movie is the directorial debut of Park Hong-Soo (previously gained some experience as an assistant director of Jang Hun'a at Rough Cut (2008), The Secret Reunion (2010) and The Front Line (2011)). So far, it is difficult to assess whether the movie was a commercial success or not. Premiered in early November, and so far it has been viewed by just over 1 million viewers, which resulted in a ~7mld won profit (~$6,5mln). Most viewers were attracted by, playing a main role T.O.P (previously outstanding role in 71: Into the Fire (2010)). The rest of the cast is, climbing up the career ladder, child star, Kim You-Jung (mostly known from The Chaser (2008) and Tidal Wave (2009)), and forever (except for a very few and little-known exceptions) playing supporting roles Han Ye-Ri (excellent roles in, among others As One (2012) and South Bound (2013)) and Yoon Je-Moon (Antarctic Journal (2005), The Show Must Go On (2007), Mother (2009), Dangerously Excited (2012), Boomerang Family (2013)).

The story is the new incarnation of known from other movies, old solutions. North Korean spy (Park Sung-Woong) will commit suicide by proxy, rather than let agents of the South Korean NIS capture him. The superior of the deceased agent, Colonel Moon Sang-Chul (Cho Seon-Ha) pulls his children from the criminal labor camp. He proposes teenage son, of the disgraced spy, Ri Myung- Hoon'owi (T.O.P) to, after intense training, go south as the "technician" (assassin) and finished what his father could not accomplish, while his sister Hye-In (Kim You-Jung) pretty much ends as a hostage.

Myung-Hoon disguises himself as a high school student and gradually befriends bullied student Hye-In (Han Ye-Ri), who aspires to become a professional dancer. However, to ensure the safety of his sister and to return home safely, Myung-Hoon must eliminate the other "technician" (Jeong Ho-Bin) who works for the opposite faction of the government, and ultimately deal with the betrayal of Colonel Moon Sang-Chul.

Following in the footsteps of Secretly Greatly (2013), hoping to repeat its great commercial success, Park Hong-Soo adapts the same idea of casting "pretty boy" in the role of a North Korean spy. While Secretly Greatly (2013) uses the whole scheme to create gags and ridicule ultra-consumptionist (yet strongly hierarchical) Korean society, Park Hong-Soo goes towards romanticism and wounded masculinity, seasoned with tears and melodrama. Fortunately, he don'w exaggerate with all this, so the movie does not end up as dull production about lonely and damaged teenager, but on the other hand, he could not overcome the predictability of the plot and "genericness" of characters.

Fault for predictability lies not with the actors. Employment in the role of Hye-In, Han Ye-Ri,was a very good idea (helped by the fact that she is a well-trained dancer) because of her unusual appearance and refreshing acting (she does not belong to the beautiful actresses, and yet she has a unique charm that makes her pleasant to watch), provide a good counterbalance to the reserved and brooding, acting presented by T.O.P. The rest of the older actors presents a solid act, but Yoon Je-Moon deserves special attention thanks to playing role of, rare in his career, positive hero. As for T.O.P, without any major problems, he manages to play the role of an emotionally wounded teenager without exaggeration and with the appropriate degree of sensitivity, and is complemented by the charisma he emanates. He not only pleasant to the eye, but additionally pleasant to the ear.

The Commitment (2013) is a movie decently made movie, without any major defects, but unfortunately it too closely sticks to the canon. There are a lot of interesting, and somewhat innovative elements that appealed to me (very good choreographed fights, nicely balanced romantic thread of Hye-In and Myung- Hoon), there is something missing in this movie. The story is the sum of standard solutions, and because of that nothing really surprise the viewer. It was slightly disappointing experience for me, after a good beginning, it all ended in a way that I've seen so many times.

In summary, this is a movie that is quite fun to watch (and listen, thanks to T.O.P), but this is not a movie that is in any way exceptional. Good for anyone who likes action movies, and likes to look at pretty faces.

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Firstly, I recommend finding a good version before you judge a movie on the subtitles (which quite honestly is stupid) also understand the genre of film you're watching, if you're looking for cheesy romance or more 'physical parts' then go watch a drama.

I waited a while to watch this and it didn't disappoint.

I found myself watching through my hands in parts, close to sobbing in others... the story grips you from the beginning.

You feel everything he feels - the loss for his sister, the growing feelings for his friends and comrades, and the other actors don't fail to get across their emotions either.


9/10 because -nothing- is perfect right?

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