New World [Blu-ray]

The Best Gangster Film Since The Departed
Since The Departed, what has Hollywood given us in the realm of quality gangster films? American Gangster? That's a good flick. Public Enemies? Okay. Lawless? Eh, alright. Gangster Squad? Oh, wait, what? It just appears to keep getting worse in Hollywood. Not so much in South Korea. Between A Bittersweet Life, A Dirty Carnival, and now New World, these guys are on fire.

The film opens with the brutal dispensing of a rat within Goldmoon, the biggest crime syndicate in Korea. It is a cold, not-so-subtle warning of what happens to a rat and undercover police officer Ja-sung knows it. After 8 years, he's successfully infiltrated Goldmoon and become the right hand man and "bro" of Goldmoon's 2nd in command, the half Chinese Jung Chung. The stakes are as high as he sees they can get, and for that reason, he wants out.

Meanwhile, after successfully being acquitted of all charges due to lack of evidence, Goldmoon Chairman Seok Dong-chul is killed in a mysterious car...

Greek tragedy come to life
You recall old myths, legends, or history that talks about power struggles? The old guy having poison poured into his ear? Well, this is an updated version of myths that show no matter where we are as a species, the same need to stay in power is there.

I enjoyed this movie because I saw a lot of corporate politics taking place. The kind of politics that seems to have gotten worse since the early 2000's when corporations stopped developing people and have turned a blind eye to bully a-holes.

Watched it twice, and more than likely will purchase the film. I especially enjoyed the character development between Ja Sung and Chung, b/c they were friends, but power and friendship don't really mix when push comes to shove.

I recommend it.

Powerful film about the bad side of the world!
This is a well-done movie about people you REALLY don't want on your bad side! Though not shown in explicit detail, these bad guys know how to make their enemies "feel the pain!" Even the supposedly "good guys" have their bad side, when it comes to fighting crime, but this story is more believable than the typical what you might be expecting. Entertaining and thought-provoking film, but definitely not for the kids.

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