The Host 2006  R, 119 min.
Genre: Comedy / Horror / Fantasy
Director: Bong Joon-ho
Cast: Song Kang-ho, Byeon Hie-bong, Park Hae-il, Bae Dun-na, Ko Ah-sung, Oh Dal-su, Brian Rhee, Paul Lazar, David Joseph Anselmo, Park No-shik, Scott Wilson
In his late 60s, Park Hee-bong (Byeon Hie-bong) lives a peaceful life with his sons Park Gang-Du (Song Kang-ho) and Park Nam-il (Park Hae-il), daughter Park Nam-Joo (Bae Dun-na), and 13-year-old granddaughter Park Hyun-seo (Ko Ah-sung). The family runs a snack bar on the banks of Seoul's Han River. One day, a slimy monster–the product of toxic chemicals that were tossed in the river six years ago–appears and spreads panic. It grabs Hyun-seo and drags her beneath the murky river. But, miraculously, she is not dead and uses a cell phone to contact her family. The government refuses to help, so the family members set out on their own to rescue her.
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Memories of Murder 2003 N/R, 132 min.
Genre: Foreign / Drama
Director: Bong Joon-ho
Cast: Song Kang-ho, Kim Sang-kyung, Byeon Hie-bong, Song Jae-ho, Kim Roe-ha, Ko Seo-hie, Jeon Mi-seon, Park No-shik, Park Hae-il, Choi Jong-ryol
In South Korea during 1986, rural policemen (Kim Sang-kyung and Kim Roe-ha) investigate a series of murders and do not hesitate to use their own methods of brutality during interrogations. They are joined by a detective (Song Kang-ho) who does not approve of their methods, but the investigation continues and in the process takes its toll on the lives of suspects and investigators as well.
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Shiri 1999  R, 124 min.
Genre: Foreign / Action
Director: Kang Je-gyu
Cast: Han Suk-kyu, Choi Min-sik, Kim Yun-jin, Song Kang-ho, Derek Kim
Espionage and special effects highlight this action film about North Korean Special Forces terrorists who plot to prevent any plans for reunification of North and South Korea. The "shiri" is a freshwater fish native to both Koreas that can survive only in clear seas and swims against strong currents to spawn–symbolic of the hoped-for reunification.
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Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance 2002 R, 129 min.
Genre: Foreign / Drama
Director: Park Chan-wook
Cast: Song Kang-ho, Shin Ha-kyun, Bae Du-na, Lim Ji-Eun, Han Bo-bae, Kim Se-dong, Lee Dae-yeon, Jeong Jae-yeong, Lee Kan-hie, Oh Kwang-rok
Unemployed, deaf mute (Shin Ha-kyun) is determined to find a kidney for his ailing sister (Lim Ji-Eun). After he loses out on a deal with a human organ salesman, his girlfriend (Kim Se-dong) hatches a kidnap plot to get the needed money. Everything goes wrong, and disaster ensues.
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| 1. The Host (2006)
2. Joint Security Area (2000)
aka: J.S.A. - Joint Security Area
3. Memories of Murder (2003)
4. Shiri (1999)
5. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)
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