Kill Bok Soon (2023)

I didn't think it would be a good movie because of the bad comments

I didn't think it would be a good movie because of the bad comments my friends made about the movie, but it wasn't like this at all.
First of all, the greatest strength of the movie was the excellent acting of the actors, all of whom did a really good job, especially Jeon Doyon, who played the lead role.
The director and stage design were also good and had a new and interesting script (the main character staying between being a mother and being a murderer was very interesting)
The movie could have been really good in its genre, but it's like a bunch of friends were looking for special valuable concepts in this movie, but they couldn't find it, and some of them got too immersed in a certain side.
I don't recommend it to those who don't like crime and action movies. The movie is full of action and bloodshed scenes, not too much, but I don't think it's tolerable for those who don't like it.
But those who like this genre will probably like it. I'm not saying the movie was great, but it will be acceptable and attractive to them.It also had a good ending.
I liked it and I don't regret seeing it

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Could've easily become Jeon Wick, but ultimately ended up being Just Weak

When a well-known, brutal, 100% target- rate female assassin does not eliminate her target due to personal circumstances, she becomes the target herself.

Kill Boksoon (길복순) is a movie that is very much the love child between the action, dark comedy, and a little bit of art-house genres of cinema. The opening confrontation was just pure art, as with the other action scenes. The cinematography was not just top-notch, but its spontaneity and fluid flow was really able to capture the essence of what the action scenes were all about. Added with spanish background music element, the production team was really able to infuse moments that I would never forget for the rest of my "watching movies as a hobby" time.

Furthermore, Jeon Do-yeon was, as expected, exquisite in her role as the titular Gil Bok-soon. The wordplay of her last name to be incorporated with the english word "kill" was very witty context-wise. Fresh from watching her play as a single mom on CCiR, and another in this movie, I am glad that she picked this project despite playing very similarly at her last role. For this movie, she was able to show another, yet secretive side of motherhood that will do anything for her child. But her also being secretive here resulted to another problem, a quite common one in the parent-child relationship dynamic - often miscommunication.

As mentioned earlier, this movie has some art house film elements. There were 2 specifically. One was underexplored (LGBT subplot), while one was unneccesary (incest subplot). The former might be understandable given the nature of youth and it is progressive actually in Korean standards, but the latter did not gave substance to the story. It was questionable at best, cringe at worst.

Outside the captivating action scenes and great cinematography, the movie was dull. It's quite interesting to see a fast-paced action scene, followed by a slow-paced dialogue that takes too much screentime. This movie's quality could've been improved had it focused more on the action rather than the "mind games".

Morality was also tackled here, albeit grey. The concept of an "agency" handling "shows" for these trained assassins was unique. But the case that was the catalyst for the main lead to rethink about her chosen profession was rather forgettable. It would've been more impactful for her had the case itself be closer to her child's situation, rather just because the target was just close to her daughter age-wise.

It is already expected that Korean movies also explore the human side of a story, or the point of view of a character/s. In this case, it is about Bok-soon's duality as an apathetic killer and an overempathetic mother. But I was just disappointed that it wasn't executed properly here. One might think that was subtle and had to be given a deeper meaning, but given this movie's long screentime, it just ended up as incoherent, if not messy.

The ending was quite sufficient, but it was lacking of a climax. How was I to know whether this part of the movie is to be its most exciting part, when there was little indication to it. And the littlest of clue was already predictable story-wise. Good thing, it was filled-up with nice action scenes. The action itself could've been more appreciated if there was better lighting. A shocking plot twist could've added more flavor in this story. There was an attempt though, and the answer to said twist was even vague.

Nevertheless, the trailer with that spontaneous and seemingly effortless (but actually was done with utmost effort, production-wise) action scene made me excited about this, but the outcome turned out to be the opposite. Still, there were some positive aspects that deserves to be praised.

It has the similarities as John Wick, and this movie could've easily become Jeon Wick, but ultimately ended up being Just Weak.

P.S. It still funny to think that the flashback and current Nam Haeng-seons were together in this movie. Their action scene was just art, and the camerawork there was chef's kiss.

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Good Enough

Korean Movie " Kill Bok Soon " is an action drama about an assassin who wants to protect her daughter.

The movie has nice premises, with the story taking some dark alleys when it came to Bo Soon's story and her whole personality. However, her dark, sinister world came at odds with her relationship with her daughter, which was, more or less, a normal mother-teenage-daughter relationship, with its ups and downs, frictions, rebellions, and secrets.

However, the overall result is just okay. The action scenes were nicely handled, the political drama was interesting but predictable more or less, and the pace was messy. The story in general was half baked.

The performances, at least, were all great, especially by the leading lady that nailed her fighting scenes.

So, overall, five out of ten.

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it's just okayy

It's a good movie, but it lacks some stuff.
First, it is unclear what kind of relationship boksoon and Min-hyuk have. We will never know who Jae-young’s father is. May be its Min-hyuk but at the end, sending that iPad isn't something a father does.

And boksoon sure loves her daughter, but when Jae-young reveal she is homosexual and tells her about issues, boksoon leaves her alone and doesn't pick up the phone at all. and before that, when boksoon went to kill that student Jae-young calls her saying she was sorry and her voice was shaking. If it were me, I would run to Jae-young thinking she was gonna do something like suicide assuming the issues she had been facing recently. and who wouldncall that much just to say her GF broke up with her. It just doesn't make sense. It's true she is facing some issues, but in my opinion, it doesn't make sense.

Despite flaws like this, and if you are looking for a good action movie the film is enjoyable to watch.

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Ready your weapons as you dive in to assassins' world

It was such a great movie for me. The story is very interesting and logical. I love how it was portrayed and executed. All the scenes that led to one another makes sense. I felt like I'm watching an outcome of the outcome which means it felt natural. The trivial details is also a part of a bigger picture. The mother-daughter relationship is also relatable.

I love how BokSoon was perfectly casted. She really had that assassin aura and mother aura at the same time which made it more realistic to watch. Although it is a bit far-fetched, I want to see sequel for this movie.

It was an unexpectedly great watch. I haven't seen a movie this good in a while. I just loved it.

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Do yeon deu seu nome, talento!

Que filme incrível! Depois de conhecer o trabalho da Do Yeon em Crash não podia perder ela em um filme de uma assassina né? Parece até que eu tava lendo um livro ou não sei, pra mim o melhor do filme foram os personagens com toda certeza e com certeza a Boksoon QUE ESPETÁCULO DE MULHER eu tô em choque que ela aceitou sem o roteiro estar finalizado e que ficou preocupada com as cenas de ação, essa mulher arrasou e já estava como uma das minhas atrizes favoritas, agora então!!! A filha dela também arrasou e eu amei como trouxeram um filme tão natural e realistico nessa questão de se aceitar e ser você mesma, amei! Os personagens conhecidos eu simplesmente amo, a química deles e as interações muito boas e claro "amigos, amigos, negócios a parte" haha
O Jae wook como ele mais novo, dei um berro enorme aqui em casa.
Será que ela continuo como assassina? Porque o pai do menino lá morreu, pode ter sido ela. Fiquei super triste que a estagiária morreu, a bixinha ?
E espero (ou não) que a filha não siga os passos da mãe kkkkkk
Enfim, um ótimo filme, gostei das cenas de ação mas principalmente os personagens (Do Yeon)!

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I Can Feel The Female Empowerment

I don’t know if the purpose of this movie was to empower women or to give a woman a role that is normally gatekept for men but wow was this great. I love action movies especially those involving assassins and this has to be my favorite so far. Having a female lead who is the assassin adds a layer to it that makes it not like the rest! Bok Soon having to grapple with what it means to be a mother on top of her not so ordinary job made this super unique. I loved watching the mother daughter dynamic grow as well as the sapphic daughter being included! As a sapphic person myself that has dealt with my issues with my mother during teenage years it brought a new perspective to me while making it very relatable. I loved this movie and I would highly recommend the watch!

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Great entertainment but not quite a Masterpiece

I love a strong female lead, and one that kicks ass is even better. One that kicks ass and has to play the role of a mother, pretty intriguing. While i thoroughly enjoyed the fight sequences, which were beautifully choreographed (fatal and feminine) and athletically executed, the movie lacked a sense of its own universe.

With the movie title, genre and timing of its release in contemporary times, it's inevitable that it gets compared with the likes of Kill Bill and John Wick, both cult faves. Although it narrowly manages to differentiate itself from the rest by focusing on the relationship between mother and daughter, and it was beautiful to witness how their relationship deepened and evolved within a very Asian context, the movie did not quite capture me as much as John Wick did. It was a waste that insufficient effort was spent building up an interesting universe around the characters as it had so much potential; i.e. developing the social structures of this world of assassins, and that could've captivated audiences more. Unfortunately, the characters stayed floating on the surface and didn't quite draw audiences in further.

That said, the casting was impeccable, right down to the choice actors for the younger characters of Minkyu and Boksoon. Jang Doyeon was and is a helluva femme fatale and Sol Kyunggu's voice just devours your soul. Some of my favorite moments include the last fight sequence (when Boksoon simulated the outcomes of the fight) and the moment Minkyu realised Boksoon was his soul mate. The ending was also subtle but appropriate, so people who enjoy embedded subtexts and symbolism in films would appreciate it.

Overall this was an entertaining watch, great actors, gorgeous fight sequences and great production, but I probably would pass if a sequel was made.

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once a watch

Most of the movies about killers/assassinators would be about the revenge of betrayal cause they lose something beloved. KILL BOK SON is different cause the rich have made killing into a business. Drama World can make anything into a high-profile business
and she is an ace worker who wants to quit and focus on parenting. But the company doesn't want to let her go. And the teenage daughter has her own story who eventually opens up and her insecurities, likes, and questions. It is nice to see the mother-daughter talking by the end.

It felt like watching a female replace John Wick, for its more action sequence and light family story. The many probabilities of the fight scene flowing in the head of Bok Son were nice but that created confusion in the end. She always thinks ahead which actually doesn't happen but it's represented in front of the camera so it feels real.

I don't like the minors kissing scene. was that necessary for to camera shoot, it could have been angled. maybe I am freaking out but yeah I am. This scene ruined my mood to rewatch it.

It is not boring but not excellent to make me want a rewatch it.

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i watched this on a total whim. i saw the fl and jaewook's scenes going all around my insta so i gave in and watched it. it wasnt bad but it wasnt awesome too
bok soon is an assassin. she is known and feared in the industry for being the best of the best. she has a daughter too and it looks like she isnt on as good terms with her daughter as she is with her work. the movie showcases how bok soon's contract with her current company would be expired so she is thinking on whether or not to renew it while on the other hand trying to handle her rebellious teen daughter.
the acting was amazing and the plot was decent too. but was ot awesome? not much. it just shows bok soon and her daughter starting to bond and their vision of the future becoming clear for each other.
i enjoyed the action scenes sm i have almost all of them recorded lmao. however some deaths were really uncalled for like i get it u killed them for the plot to thicken but was it really necessary but then again this IS an assassin movie so who am i to speak.
all in all good for a quick watch but dont have high expectations other than the action scenes

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To be true to oneself

It should not be any difficult to be true to yourselves but the world we live in is not so kind.

Think about it... a person liking same sex as them has to hide it from the world and is expected to "come out" just like a person who is hiding the fact that she is a murderer. It is not blown out of proportion as well. You see this in everyday life, news and everywhere.
It is just sad as fuck that we choose to almost force our philosophies as human beings onto other human beings not knowing what they have been through. Not everyone sees the world through the same lens.

Just open your eyes and be kind to each other.

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