Title: 브이아이피 | Beuiaipi | V.I.P.
Genre: Action | Crime | Thriller
Distributed: Warner Bros. Korea
Release Date: August 23, 2017
Synopsis:
Kim Gwang-Il, the VIP, is the son of Kim Mo-Sul, an influential and powerful politician in Pyongyang, North Korea. Kim Mo-Sul lost his power and Kim Gwang-Il, escaped to Hong Kong with the help of the CIA, then, hidden in Russia . He is treated by the US through the CIA a VIP because he holds the key to the information of his father’s bank account information in China. However, Kim Gwang-Il has a predilection of raping and killing women. The CIA has been trying to hide him from one country to another, but, Kim Gwang-Il run away from the CIA and 2 years ago through the help of the National Intelligence Service in South Korea that was led by Park Jae-Hyuk enabled Kim Gwang-Il to hide in South Korea. Kim Gwang-Il didn’t stop his evil ways even in South Korea that Chae Yi-Do, a South Korean police detective and Lee Dae-Bum, a previous agent of Bureau 35 of North Korea formed an alliance to bring Kim Gwang-Il and his cohorts pay for what they did. But, Park Jae-Hyuk of the NIS needs to protect Kim Gwang-Il and deliver him back to the CIA due to political reasons and even if Park Jae-Hyu is against this situation, he has no choice. It seems Kim Gwang-Il will escape and be free again from being brought to justice for all the horrendous deeds he did unless someone stops him.
Characters:
- Jang Dong-Gun as Park Jae-Hyuk
- Kim Myung-Min as Chae Yi-Do
- Park Hee-Soon as Lee Dae-Bu
- Lee Jong-Suk as Kim Gwang-Il
- Peter Stormare as Paul
- Joo Jin-Mo as NIS Senior Executive
- Oh Dae-Hwan as Detective Kim
- Jo Woo-Jin as Prosecutor
- Yoo Jae-Myung as Senior Manager of North Korea Ministry of People’s Security
- Park Sung-Woong as NIS Executive
- Jung Woo-Rim as Girl
- Choi Jung-Woo as Police Executive
- Tae In-Ho as Agent Tae
- Son Jong-Hak as Chief Prosecutor
- Song Young-Kyu as Attorney
- Lee Won-Suk as Chinese Restaurant Delivery Man
- Hwang Byeng-Gug as NISI
- Hyun Bong-Sik as Detective 2
- Park Jae-Woong as Detective 3
- Bae Yong-Geun as Detective 5
- Park Sang-Hyun as Detective 6
- Jung Jae-Hun as Detective 8
- Lee Joo-Won as Detective 9
- Kim Jong-Hoon as Agent 4
- Park Sang-Hoon as Agent 7
- Lee Si-Won as Female Agent 1
- Lee Seo-Joon as Kim Gwang-Il Gang Member
- Lee Jung-Hyuk as Kim Gwang-Il Gang Member 3
- Kwak Jin-Seok as Security 1
- Kim Tae-Hyun as NIS Agent
My Review:
I watched this film because it seems the premise is interesting. I like to watch Korean films because they have more edge and don’t have a lot of restrictions like the Korean dramas. I get to see Korean actors and actresses from Korean dramas who plays clean cut and conservative roles become totally different from their roles in films. This film is no exception.
So, What do I Like About this K-Drama?
(1) Lee Jong-Suk is such a revelation on this film because his character here is the total antithesis from the good guy “boy next door” leading man he normally plays in Korean dramas. In this film, he is evil as one can get and he successfully pulled it off. I really forgot that I’m watching Lee Jong-Suk and got immersed of hating his character, Kim Gwang-Il. Lee Jong-Suk was able to showcase his acting chops in a role that’s quite challenging especially with the goody two shoes image he has in Korean dramas. He became a real actor here rather than the lame roles he generally portrays in romcoms.
(2) Although, due to language translation, there are some parts at first I didn’t fully understand especially the timeline, but, since the film is so graphic and visual, one can get what’s happening immediately as the film moves along. I was impressed with the way it was directed and written.
(3) Jang Dong-Gun as Park Jae-Hyuk, Kim Myung-Min as Chae Yi-Do and Park Hee-Soon as Lee Dae-Bum were such great actors. Their characters, though all are not perfect in their duties as law enforcers, at the end of the day, rose above on their duties upon witnessing the horrendous crimes committed by the character, Kim Gwang-Il.
(4) It was fast pace and very realistically done. Politicians who are in power allowed Kim Gwang-Il to roam freely and do his evil deeds because of money, as it can buy almost everything and everyone which is often true in real life.
What I do Not Like About this K-Drama?
I don’t have much bad things to say on this film. It was well done and quite compelling in depicting how cruel a world can be. Truly proves the saying “Evil flourishes when Good Men Do Nothing”
Would I recommend this K-Movie? Yes
My Rating to this Korean Film
( See My Rating System: ) 5/5 Stars