The Good the Bad the Weird (2008) User Reviews (111)

Hilarious eastern western

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 11 November 2009]

As a fan of "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" I was intrigued when I saw a film entitled "The Good, The Bad, The Weird", when I saw it was a Korean western set in the deserts of Japanese occupied Manchuria I just had to see it even though I was sure it wouldn't be as good as it sounded... thankfully I was wrong, the plot may have been slight but the action was relentless and frequently very funny.

While it was obviously inspired by "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" it was not a remake, the main similarities where the three main characters; Once again The Good was a bounty hunter, The Bad was a sadistic killer and The Weird replaced The Ugly as the comic relief. The plot involves The Weird robbing a train, amongst the items he steals is a map... a map The Bad was planning to steal as well although he is interrupted when The Good arrives with the intent of collecting the bounty on him. In the confusion The Weird escapes and the rest of the film follows the attempts of The Bad, a group of bandits and the Imperial Japanese Army trying to get their hands on the map.

The action is spectacular and well done with numerous gunfights, knife fights and chases on foot, horseback, motorbike and car. While there is a focus on action the characters are fun too, especially The Weird who stole the show. While it is a comedy it does feature a few violent scenes which some viewers expecting only laughs might not like, I know I winced when one character tried to cut off another's finger with a knife.

I'd definitely recommend this to fans of westerns who are looking for something different as well as to fans of Asian cinema.

barely deeper than a footprint, but so much fun you'll forget you care

[gstoo513 · 8/10 · 12 September 2009]

This movie is fantastic, exhilarating and fun. High dramatic art it is not.

It's a movie about a chase for treasure, and it holds onto that and never forgets. In the pursuit of creating a chase, everything is crafted carefully. The cinematography is breathtaking, with huge elaborate sets that are used to their fullest. Most of the stunts and effects are real, CGI being kept to a minimum. It is an action movie with actual action instead of pixels, a rarity in movies from the past 10 years. Stunning candy for all the senses, it gets your adrenaline pumping! As far as acting goes, it is excellent. Korean comic actor Song Kang-Ho fills the "Weird" role of Tae-Goo, pulling off a combination of humanity and quirkiness. Lee Byung-Hun is the 'bad' character, brutal and insane as gangster Chang-Yi. Filling out the main three is Jung Woo-Son as the cool, collected and more than a little arrogant bounty hunter Do-Won. While Jung is eclipsed by the other two, his character ultimately became my favorite during the climax. The supporting cast is none-too-shabby either, playing everything from military dropouts to ninjas, all well. Particularly entertaining are the leaders of a group of Manchurian gangsters, who watch insanity take place and calmly discuss it from horseback.

Now, while the acting is good...there is not a lot of it. I don't think anyone is going to try to pretend this is a character-driven piece. It could have been, maybe, but it wasn't try to be. It was trying to be fun. There is enough character development so that when the climax rolls around after two madcap hours of amazing action, you care that the characters lives are being threatened. That's...all.

But the action is extremely well done, with a heart-pounding score that makes it all the well fun. For entertainment, you aren't going to get much more well-done for this. Supremely fun, with scenes shot with people, horses, cars and real pyrotechnics in the middle of the Gobi desert (too much CGI and spectacle just becomes yawn-worthy, I often fun). So get the DVD, get some popcorn, turn the sound WAY up and prepare for a beautifully-crafted action movie. Not for a complex character-driven masterpiece.

"The Good, the Bad, the Weird"

[colinrgeorge · 6/10 · 20 April 2010]

Off-kilter Korean neo-western "The Good, the Bad, the Weird," is a frenetic genre mash-up packed with visceral, loopy violence. That isn't a complement so much as it is a description.

Suffice it to say, if you're into a modernist, freewheeling foreign take on Leone's "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly," with cartoony characters and outrageous action, you're going to have a blast; if you're looking for a substantive or meditative reflection on the period or the original film, you're in the wrong line.

Personally, I'm caught between the two perspectives. I appreciate the pure Peckinpah punch of the gunplay, but was in equal parts bored and bewildered by the overall film. Perhaps the principal flaw in writer/director Ji-woon Kim's script is that he indulges in too much of a good thing. His action sequences are a lot of fun, and the über-stylized retro/modern aesthetic delivers bizarre and inventive visuals like a gunslinger in a deep-sea diving helmet.

But the deafening sound effects and quick cutting style wear thin if not appropriately paced, and "The Good, the Bad, the Weird," is almost relentless in its drag race to the final showdown. I'm loathe to draw a comparison to "Transformers" here, but Kim proves that even good action has a threshold, and there are times in his film where it's easy to let your eyes glaze over.

In its more quiet moments, the story, a very loose retelling of "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" follows a band of misfit thieves who come into possession of a treasure map sought by both Chinese thugs and the Japanese military. What's maybe most interesting about the film is seeing the conventions, chronology, and geography of the western customized to fit eastern ideology, and China's Taklimakan desert stands in for Manchuria circa 1940.

The tone is played as loose as the history, however, and Kim is never bogged down by self- seriousness or the oft-stringent requirements of a period piece. "The Good, the Bad, the Weird" is closer to a gleeful "Kill Bill" in tone than South Korea's own operatic, ultraviolent "Oldboy," and benefits from it. Kim easily leapfrogs from hard-hitting shoot-outs to charming comedy, a phenomenon that has everything to do with his incredible cast. Each of the title characters, Park Do-won (Good), Park Chang-yi (Bad), and Yoon Tae-goo (Weird), brings with him a distinct tonal octave that lends the film some much-needed variety. My lone gripe in this department is that it would have been nice to get to know them a little bit better. As it stands, their rifles seem to have far more to say.

And for many, that won't be an issue. I've no question that there exists a very appreciative audience for this film—I'm just not it. Nevertheless, I'm only too happy to report that everything basically works. The cinematography is frequently gorgeous, the performances are stellar, and the action is kinetic—There's just too much of it. By the end of the two-hour engagement, what should be a satisfying, visceral finale comes off as extravagant hoopla.

As viewers we shouldn't be conditioned to expect non-stop action, because once you pass the threshold, there's a diminishing return on adrenaline, impressive as any sequence that follows may be. "The Good, The Bad, The Weird" gets all its forward momentum right, but could benefit from applying the brakes more frequently.

Then again, maybe that reckless pace is what made it such a fast, fun ride to begin with.

Korean Mad house

[valleyjohn · 7/10 · 8 February 2011]

Of the few Korean films i have seen , the best word to describe them all is eccentric and The Good The Bad & The Weird certainly lives up to that. This movie looks fantastic , almost epic like and you can see a lot of money was spent on the set . It really does have the feel of a western and the three main characters are all very interesting in their own right. The story is a simple one , three men ( and their cronies) are after a treasure map and they will do anything to get hold of it. The minus points of this film are that its half an hour too long and that at times it's to frenetic. Because of the constant action you get a little bombarded with it after a while. On the whole i enjoyed this film but im not too sure i would ever watch it again.

Good Lord, this is fun.

[ChungMo · 9/10 · 21 December 2008]

The Manchurian desert in the 1930's has become the Asian cinematic version of the American West. A number of action films have been set here but this is the first to make an outright reference to a classic western that I've seen. While taking off from Leone's "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" this film goes in it's own direction although the mix of horses, trains, motorcycles, Chinese and Western costumes and some very odd characters makes this film resemble the Mad Max films more than anything else. An extended chase scene towards the end really seems influenced by the George Miller films.

Influences aside, the ingenuity in crafting the action scenes in this film makes it a joy to watch. Photography is great. The lead actors are good and the story while a little daft is easy to follow for the most part.The music is good but nowhere near the Leone films. The violence is typical for Korean action and might be a little hard to watch at times. Long but pure fun for the most part.

This is probably the best action film I've seen in a while.

Reworking of the Leone theme

[Beginthebeguine · 25 August 2012]

This is a stunning visual film to watch. The cinematography is exceptional through-out the movie. The framing, the lighting and the colors are outstanding. This alone makes the movie a joy for me to see.

The problem with the film is that it lacks depth. The director uses archetypes from the Italian Westerns of the 1960s and 1970s. Some of the dialogue and action is lifted directly from Sergio Leone's "man without a name" opus. Most obviously The Good, The Bad and the Ugly; but also a heavy splattering of the others. The problem is not the reworking of Leone's work, but I do not think the director quite understands how to work subtext into his script. In fact, the director leaves far too much exposition to the end which makes the movie drag at the end of the epic battle scene (I thought this might be a cultural issue, but I do not know if it is).

Another thing that bothers me (and here comes my western sensibilities), I know stunts.... and there were horses hurt during the filming of the battle scene. The reason I say this is that I could see trip wires. So for the photography I give this film 6 points out of 10. I also suggest that the director rent some of the Ford Westerns. As good as Leone was Ford was better.

Too much action and not enough plot in a get the treasure map race across Asia

[dbborroughs · 7/10 · 22 February 2009]

Korean western set in 1930's Manchuria. The plot basically goes like this a Japanese official sends a treasure map off to one of his agents in China. He also sends a hired killer (the Bad) after the agent to steal the map so that he can get paid and keep the map. Unfortunately the map is stolen when a bandit (the weird) robs the train. Meanwhile a bounty hunter (the good) gets caught up in the mix.(I'd try to explain more but it would reveal too much and take up too much time.) Nominal homage to the Clint Eastwood/Sergio Leone films, this is a huge epic film that never stops moving. Its one long chase as the three leads dance around each other as well have to contend with Chinese and Russian Bandits, the Japanese, and other interested parties. The film just goes and goes and goes as the revelations come fast a furious. And its all done to a catchy flamenco score.

The problem for me is that the plot, for as convoluted as it gets, is much too threadbare to sustain so much motion. The plot is basically get the map while we learn a bit about the characters, but not so much that the never ending chase and blood bath is really allowed to pause. It has enough motion for easily fifteen other films. In all honesty I looked at the clock at one point and was shocked that the film wasn't even half over. I was exhausted. To put it another way the problem is that the film pretty much is form over content and had the film not spun out so many bits that go really nowhere I wouldn't have minded the frenetic pace, but as it stands now the film seems to be promising more of a pay off then it gives us. I was going "is that it?" at the end. (I do understand the map is purely an excuse for the action, the MacGuffin of this film, but at the same time the film shades in details that are never finished) This isn't to say that film isn't spectacular. The set pieces are great and the action is amazing, the opening train sequence is one of the best train sequences on film. The film was filmed to beautifully use the wide screen so the idea that this is going to be seen on a small TV is frightening (and don't even mention pan and scan). You really need to see this as big as possible to really enjoy it.

I like the film, I don't love it. I can recommend the film, but at the same time I wish it was better. If you can get past the plot problems and just concentrate on the action you're going to have a great time.

Between 6 and 7 out of 10

I spent half the time with my mouth agape and rest with a broad smile

[christopher-underwood · 10/10 · 30 October 2008]

This is a real blast. A London Film Festival viewing this afternoon and my jaw dropped during the opening. This may have the most stunning opening of any film, I certainly can't think of any other contenders at present, with crazy music, a landscape out of a dream, soaring birds of prey and a great big steam train. The camera and hence the audience are everywhere, this side, that side above, below and even in the smoke from the engine. Previously there has been some set up to accompany the credits and then we are away. This film does not let up so if it is not non-stop action you are after you had best avoid. For all sensible folk this is a mind blowing exercise in action cinema. Loud, violent and stunningly shot this is awe inspiring stuff and with a comic edge too. I spent half the time with my mouth agape and rest with a broad smile. I have heard some criticise this for lack of storyline and certainly there is minimal narrative flow here as we are sped on by sheer excitement and amusement. Fantastic entertainment on a massive scale. Large screen viewing recommended.

Movies with lots of gun fights are....

[sitenoise · 7/10 · 7 May 2009]

My expectations for this film were through the roof. It's basically a Korean all-star game: directed by Ji-woon Kim, he of A Bittersweet Life and A Tale of Two Sisters fame (not to mention The Quiet Family), and starring three of Korea's finest (or at least most popular) actors, Woo-sung Jung, Byung-hun Lee, and (one of my favorite actors, Korean or otherwise) Kang-ho Song.

The production values are top notch, the direction creative and self-assured, the special effects worth the time and money spent on them. I love the kill scenes as directed by Kim, especially one of the first ones where a guy is running from train car to train car, bursting through doors like they don't exist and then BAM! He's five feet behind where he was. You have to see it to appreciate it, I guess. The timing and the focus on the result instead of the impact makes the impact seem more impactful. Whoever edited this film did a great job.

Woo-sung Jung plays the Good, and he's a cute guy who oozes goodness, so that's good. His character is perhaps a bit under-played/under-developed but that's the nature of Good, isn't it? Byung-hun Lee as the Bad has a little bit too much contemporary in his swagger and look. He's more arrogant than Bad, but we're supposed to dislike him so that's good too. Not surprisingly, it's Kang-ho Song, as the Weird, who steals the show. He runs through this movie like a chicken or a turkey with its head cut off but never misses a beat. He's having a good time and makes sure that we do too. He's able to do things that many other actors are incapable of like delivering predictable lines with equal parts sincerity and irony so that we won't even think of groaning out loud. He's so adorably slightly plump and likable that even when ... well, I don't want to give it away ... we like him. We really do.

Caught up in all the fun and excitement I almost forgot that, with very few exceptions, movies with lots of gun fights are stupid.

There's Good, little bad and plenty of weird...

[stefankorea · 9/10 · 18 August 2008]

I was lucky enough to see this film in a big cinema complex in the centre of Seoul, South Korea, yesterday. It is surprisingly difficult to find big Korean releases with English subtitles, so seeing Jin-Woon Kim's new film, which i have been looking forward to for well over a year, was a pleasant experience. Unfortunately everyone in the west will have to wait a little longer...

As with all of Jin-Woon Kim's films i have very little criticism to give this film, from its fantastic and totally relentless action opening to the suspenseful ending, i was completely entertained.

The cast, as expected from three of South Korea's most most talented actors were superb with in my opinion exceptionally notable roles from Lee Byun Hun and Song Kang-Ho. Lee Byung Hyun pulls off a villain superbly and fills this role with style and terror without fault. Song Kang-Ho in my opinion is the main force of the film, pulling it along with humour and perhaps the most interesting story as the film progresses. Woo-Sung Jung plays his 'good' role well but feels like the character with least depth. The film contains fantastic make-up and costume design, notably in my eyes, Lee Byung Hun's character, who looked fantastic and the on screen presence of this smart darkly dressed character set against the sandy desert was stunning.

The cinematography in this film was superb with plenty of great flying panoramic desert shots, high octane action camera maneuvers, fast cuts and perfect editing as expected from the director of such fantastic action/thriller films.

The soundtrack is fun and reminiscent of old western films with a new, modern twist to keep things up to pace. Although the story has been noted as being weak, the film really does not offer itself as an in depth period drama in the first place. The film is exactly what it calls for... Fun, fast and funny entertainment and what you can expect from some of the finest noted stars and workforce in South Korean cinema.

One damned thing after another.

[allenrogerj · 6/10 · 30 October 2008]

An avowed homage to Sergio Leone (with references to quite a few other westerns, martial arts films and other films thrown in), with Morricone-imitating music, the film goes on for much too long, despite some beautiful shots and well-directed action scenes- which go on for too long as well. The central characters just aren't interesting, original or convincing enough to carry the plot- such as it is- and the final revelation about one evokes neither astonishment nor comprehension. All the same, if you just sit back and let it wash over you without thinking except to count the thefts, references and clichés you'll have an enjoyable couple of hours.

Some good, some bad, some weird - kind of like PotC with no plot

[paper-revolution · 8/10 · 28 July 2008]

Okay, I've just seen the movie yesterday and I think I've had a fair amount of time to digest it. As of now in Korea, opinions about this movie are almost completely divided. Half of the people love this film, despite its errors; others are rather disappointed by its lack of plot. Me? I'm dwelling somewhere in the middle.

There are some good parts of the movie ...

• The desert scenery. Magnificent. Whoever was in charge of the cinematography did a really good job.

• Sets & props (particularly costumes). Also with the cinematography, I think the people who built the set and came up with costume ideas deserve some serious credit. The sets and props really added to the movie's visual appeal.

• The actors, particularly Lee Byung-Hun. All three actors were pretty good in their roles, and Jung Woo-Sung looked ridiculously good looking, but Lee really shined in his new "change of role". There was a strength in his eyes that almost literally jumped off the screen, and his character was chillingly convincing.

• Did I mention Jung Woo-Sung was hot? I'm a heterosexual guy in his 20's, but even I couldn't deny how ridiculously good looking he was. Despite all of his character's insane, ridiculous stunts (which I, for those of you who understand Korean, would like the refer to as "gae-pom"), I eventually ended up with the same conclusion: "Man, that guy look COOL!"

• The action scenes were pretty decent as well. Had to put that in.

Then there's the bad ...

• It's complete lack of plot. I mean it, not much plot.

• I'm kind of tired of seeing Song Gang-Ho in the same role AGAIN! I mean, I know the guy's a decent actor, and he really did a good job in his role, but didn't we see this guy in the "The Host"?!

• Violence does not equal comedy!! Not saying that the movie is really violent, but ... Ugh, you'll get what I mean after watching the movie.

Which leads me to my weird overall impression of the movie:

I'm quite PERPLEXED. I was pleased while watching the movie, and the film is rather enjoyable to watch, but leaving the theater, I was sort of like "Um... okay..." An odd, WEIRD feeling of satisfaction mixed with a sense of being robbed.

To give you a sense of what it was like, it's kind of like a Western Korean version of "Pirates of the Caribbean". There's a lot of action, nice characters, cool setting, rather enjoyable, but you leave the theater a bit perplexed. And while PotC leaves you perplexed and confused because of its abundance of plot, "The Good, the Bad, and The Weird" leaves you perplexed and confused because of its lack there of.

To sum it up, I think it's a decent, fun-to-watch movie (Nice effort, to say the least!). Good to kill time or just watch on a Friday night. But if you want something more serious or concrete, I'd recommend something else.

An Eastern Western

[JoeytheBrit · 7/10 · 14 August 2010]

There are few things more enjoyable than watching a film made by a filmmaker who clearly has a passion for his subject - especially when he seems to determined to pass that enthusiasm on to his audience as Ji-woon Kim does with The Good, The Bad, The Weird, a kind of cockeyed homage to Sergio Leone's The Good, The Bad and the Ugly.

Ji-woon goes for all out action, forsaking any romantic involvement or depth of plot that might slow the full-on action that begins with a chaotic shootout on a steam train and culminates with a madcap, full-on chase through the desert involving the good guys, the bad guys and a few hundred red army soldiers in jeeps, motorbikes and on horseback. Ironically, because of this the film's main weakness is that we seem to be moving from one shootout to another with a few minutes of padding in between to allow the audience to catch it's breath. And while the action set-pieces really are breathtaking, it does feel as though something is missing at times.

Nevertheless, the exuberance of Ji-woon's direction will sweep you up and keep you watching (and enjoying), and given that the final Mexican stand-off drags in comparison to the original on which it is based - and which lasts two or three times longer than Ji-woon's version - it's perhaps for the best that he didn't try to emulate Leone's genius for creating tension out of seemingly endless set pieces. Either way, this is a film you're not likely to forget in a hurry.

The Entertaining, The Admirable and The Down Right Frustrating

[benjamin_lappin · 5/10 · 26 July 2009]

With a film title such as this, it is unavoidable that Ji-Woon Kim's latest foray will be compared to Sergio Leone's epic masterpiece that is "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly", and while the comparison is not entirely necessary to write a critique without bringing it up is ignoring the obvious. In 2005, Ji-Woon Kim released the highly lauded and severely engaging film "A Bittersweet Life", in which he took the reformed gangster plot device and twisted it wonderfully to create an intelligent action-thriller. It is evident that in the aftermath of his unprecedented international success, Ji-Woon Kim was given free reign to create any film of his choosing, spawning the genesis to his latest endeavour "The Good, The Bad and The Weird".

We all have films that we classify as being in our "top ten" or even "top five", films that speak to us on a level that we are so incredibly immersed within the story being told that we connect on a subconscious level to create unbound admiration. Ji-Woon Kim has a passion for the spaghetti western, and climax to the "Man With No Name" trilogy, "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" and with his free license has not intended to copy, parody or pastiche Leone's creation but to attempt to create an Easternised Western using the fore-mentioned film as a template. Inevitably, the director has had to update the story and transplant the time line for a completely new audience and to maintain historical plausibility which is admirable but his nature as an action film director proves to be the films Achilles heel.

To say there is little plot in this film is to say there is too much, for after the films introductory, and satisfactory, skirmish the story descends into the chase of a map which is about as flimsy as the glue that, allegedly, holds the plot together. The story hops gleefully, and unashamedly, from one action scene to the next, and while the criticisms that the sequences are fifteen minutes in excess of what they should be are accurate, it is the overwhelming lack of perspective or objective that infuriates the viewer. It is all well and good having a twenty minute battle royale in the middle of a desert, incorporating all the warring factions within the story but to have nothing more than a simply cut and one of the protagonists to be miles away in complete isolation without one of the hundreds chasing him in sight is nonsensical and irritating. Perhaps though, the most frustrating is the lack of development in the three most important pieces of this puzzle. For example Woo-sung Jung, who plays "The Good", has studied the Clint Eastwood films thoroughly mimicking his stance, tone and style in his attempt to recreate the feel of his character, yet lacks the aura and gravitas of Eastwood to pull off the anti-hero role sufficiently. Not simply this, but at this stage in Leone's trilogy the "Man With No Name" while still fixated with obtaining his fortune had softened as an individual making it easier for the audience to connect with him come the final confrontation. With Ji-woo Kim's version it is unintentionally the case that the character traits of all three interchange at varying junctures making it nigh on impossible to sympathise enough with one individual character to make us care about the film in anything more than two hours of mind numbing action.

As not to completely eviscerate the film there are notable plus points which must be mentioned as the score overlaying the film is perfect for a film of this sort carrying along the action elements with a slight undertone of Morriconne's iconic creation. Ji-woon Kim shows he is still a director worth worrying over as there are some luscious landscapes in his rich and vivid cinematography, showing he knows how to capture a film while Kang-ho Song shows his versatility as he adds zany charm to a list of roles which include his undoubtedly iconic revenge driven "Park Dong-jin" in Chan-wook Park's "Sympathy For Mr Vengeance". These noted exemptions aside, one cannot help but feel that "The Good, The Bad and The Weird" is an ultimately hollow experience, a concept which had all the tools to be a success yet escapes into the comfort of an action genre all too frequently. It leaves me personally wishing Ji-woon Kim would have shown the characteristics of his earlier work "A Bittersweet Life" and taken the arguably more pretentious but the more rewarding route of jettisoning some action and slowing the pace of the story down so as to allow the characters the time to develop and flourish and not be the mere cutout clichés that they occasionally turn out to be. What sums this film up perfectly is its ending sequence which utilises the same dramatic tension that Leone so wonderfully created, before shattering that illusion and choosing the most clichéd, ridiculous and unfortunately laughable of all the available alternate endings. "The Good, The Bad And The Weird" goes down in history, as of 2009, as being the most expensive South Korean film made, yet if Hollywood has taught us anything it is that bigger and more expensive does not always mean better. While "The Good, The Bad And The Weird" is unintelligibly watchable you do wonder if this, or another of South Korea's plethora of talented directors could have created a grander cinematic experience for a few dollars less.

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE WEIRD is more the latter than the former

[YohjiArmstrong · 13 March 2011]

Plot: A bounty hunter, an assassin and a bandit in 1930s Manchuria chase a treasure map, also pursued by nomads and the Japanese army.

This is essentially a Western set in 1930s China, clearly derivative of the spaghetti Westerns, yet leavened with Asian oddness (a standout scene features a gunfight involving the giant bronze helmet from an antiquated diving suit). It's visually interesting, with the gunfights demonstrating a (clownish) humour and complexity rarely matched in the West. Unfortunately it falls down on the characters who are little more than archetypes - which would be fine if the movie didn't go on too long (the secret to exploitation cinema being not to over stay your welcome or else the cracks will show). There is also a problem of pacing - this being a nearly non stop chase movie - because of the lack of highs and lows in many scenes. Too many of them are just one action moment after another (notably the final chase in which all the warring factions come together) which only serves to exhaust the viewer. A lack of emotional connection with the protagonists and a too-long running time undermine what is otherwise a rather fun and wacky adventure with an unusual setting.

Worth one viewing.

The Vidiot Reviews...

[capone666 · 7/10 · 7 July 2011]

The Good, The Bad, The Weird

The best thing about being a Korean criminal is that after police get a description, they'll put out an APB for a Japanese guy.

And while the outlaw in this action movie isn't Japanese, he does steal a map from someone who is.

Manchuria, 1930 – an assassin aboard a train, The Bad (Lee Byung-hun), attempts to pinch a priceless map from a passenger.

However, a thief, The Weird (Song Kang-ho), procures the parchment before he can.

What follows is a chase through the desert with: The Weird being pursued by The Bad; The Bad being stalked by a bounty hunter, The Good (Jung Woo-sung); and the Japanese army hot on their tails.

With the grit of an Italian western and the kinetic shootouts of Korean action cinema, The Good, The Bad, The Weird is a scrumptious fusion of the two genres.

Much like their food equivalent: Spaghetti and Dog Meatballs. (Green Light)

Outstanding Western and action movie

[abisio · 9/10 · 11 April 2009]

Considering that the best Western's movies came from Italy; it should not be a surprise to find an excellent one coming from Orient. Remaking "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly " was a risky task; the beloved classic, packed three extremely efficient and loved actors (Eastwood, Wallach and Lee Van Cleef), Ennio Morricone's music and a legendary director Sergio de Leone; however the Korean director, Ji-woon Kim took the risk and accomplished it gracefully; sometimes even better than the master itself. The story is different than the original (there is some homage to "A Fistful of Dynamite "also ). Instead of focusing on the Good, this time is the Weird who gets protagonism (though Eli Wallach carried most of the original movie too). There is a map (really a MacGuffin ) after which the three main characters plus other thieves, opium dealers and Japanese army are after; thus becoming an spectacular and very violent chase over Manchuria. There is some political innuendo about Korean freedom but never flights too high. Aside from the non-spot action with bullets, knives, hammers and a little of martial arts the cinematography is outstanding. There are takes requiring craftsmanship and preparation that recent USA movies only do through computer generated imagery but almost never with cameras. This quality makes the action far more believable and involving. The acting is very good. Most of the movie is carried by Kang-ho Song (The Host) as The Weird but Byung-hun Lee as The Bad creates a very interesting psycho; Woo-sung Jung as The Good gets what he can with an underwritten character and the rest of the cast if above average; far from the overacting in typical Oriental movies. In brief, pure entertainment; and if you have problem with subtitles; do not worry because dialogs are of little importance here.

This is a fun movie, primarily if you watch the correct version.

[theanomaloushost · 7/10 · 14 April 2021]

There are two cuts of this film, the Korean version, and the International version. The biggest difference between the two is the ending, where some of the theme and meaning is interpreted differently with each. The Korean version has an extended ending with more revelations. The International version ends more nihilistically by comparison. The International version left a bad taste in my mouth compared to the Korean version, so the Korean version is the way to go if you had to choose between the two.

Other than the ending, there are a few bits added in to the Korean version that make the film a little more fun and lighthearted. Plus more backstory is given on "the good" character. You see and understand more of his motivation.

Other than all that, this is a much different beast than The Good the Bad and the Ugly. There's considerably more action throughout. Plenty of shootouts to make anyone happy, with the finale being the best of it all when there's this desert chase with several groups chasing after one individual. If you love shootouts with old western guns, you'll have a ball with this film. Shootouts in trains, small towns, deserts... And, of course, the three-way duel that the original film is famous for.

It gives several nods to the film it's inspired by. But this doesn't try to be or replace TGtBtU. It does plenty to be it's own thing. And it's a fun time throughout (especially if you see the Korean version).

A Nutshell Review: The Good The Bad The Weird

[DICK STEEL · 8/10 · 14 November 2008]

It's not difficult to see why The Good, The Bad, The Weird is number 1 at the Korean box office this year, given that the titular roles are handed over to some of the heartthrobs such as Lee Byung-hun and Jung Woo-sung. But the real scene stealer here is Song Kang-ho as The Weird Yoon Tae-goo, with some of the best lines and given the moral ambiguity of his character, rather than being the Good Park Do-won (Jung) and the Bad Park Chang-i (Lee) which is cast in stone, simply endears himself to the audience, and not to mention the extended screen time devoted to him too.

But those aside, this film trounces plenty, and I mean plenty of bland, generic action adventure types cooked up by Hollywood in recent times, and having a Korean flavour in what would essentially be a Western, it adds plenty of spice to a genre that most wouldn't want to touch with a ten foot pole. The storyline's pretty straightforward, with everyone (the titular characters, the Japanese army, the Korean freedom fighters, and plenty of rival Manchurian gangsters) after a treasure map that points to some age old Chinese dynasty goodies buried deep within some desert land in Manchuria, and having the map stolen and in the possession of The Weird, this makes it one hell of a chase movie from start to finish, offering plenty of set action sequences from massive chases, to awe-inspiring gun play.

The references and inspiration from Sergio Leone's classic spaghetti western The Good, The Bad and The Ugly is undeniable, but this is its own movie. Making its debut at the Cannes Film Festival, director Kim Ji-woon crafts a tale that is full of rip-roaring fun, finding some good balance between comedy and stylized action. It tries though to plant many elements and characters into the story, but these are rather forgettable as the spotlight falls firmly upon our titular three. Positive elements of the movie include the excellent cinematography and camera work, which packages the action scenes like a video game, offering the audience a close up third person perspective following through the characters in their execution of maneuvers and moves, while the eclectic soundtrack is just plain music to the ears.

Jung Woo-sung perhaps got the shortest straw of the trio, with his limited screen time devoted to looking good and cool with his double barelled shotgun. As The Good bounty hunter, he's requested by the group of Korean freedom fighters to assist them in the retrieval of the map, which also gives him an opportunity to apprehend The Bad. His character doesn't say much or do much other than to dispatch the bad guys, and frankly speaking, he falls squarely into the strong and silent mold for the movie.

Lee Byung-hun on the other hand, in reuniting with the director since their A Bittersweet Life days, brings forth quite convincingly his role as the chief baddie. Ruthless and highly skilled, he doesn't flinch an eyelid when dishing out punishment, and has through this role, told the world that he can be equally adept at being the bad guy. Kudos go to the makeup artist in trying to make him look really nasty, with plenty of facial scars that try to disguise his naturally good looks. Female fans in the audience looking for eye candy would be gleefully happy to note that he was sans shirt in one scene, and I thought it'd put to shame plenty of guys out there when they see Lee's rock-hard six-pack (time to hit the gym, guys!)

But in all honesty, this film firmly belongs to pudgy looking Song Kang-ho for his charismatic role as The Weird. The first Korean film that I ever watched in the cinemas was Shiri, and Song had a memorable supporting role to play there. From then on I've become a fan of his, and followed Song through his roles in Park Chan-wook's Joint Security Area, Bong Joon-ho's Memories of Murder and The Host, and Lee Chang-dong's Secret Sunshine. Having seen him backstage last year when he won Best Actor for his role in The Host at the inaugural Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong, was nothing but a thrill. Here, he single-handedly stole the show from the other two pretty boys with his sheer presence, and I felt that he'd probably had a field day with this free spirited role.

With well designed action designed to exhilarate, and being cheeky without qualms, The Good The Bad The Weird deserves to be highly recommended with its fusion of gun play, knife play and comedy in large doses, despite some forgivable inconsistencies. The last act did seem quite indulgent in trying to achieve spectacle that it might have become a little repetitive, but the finale face off more than makes up for this minor disturbance to a very enjoyable movie.

One of the best 'Westerns' I've seen in a long time!

[ajs-10 · 7/10 · 14 June 2010]

I can't say I'm the greatest fan of the Western, maybe I watched too many in my youth, they were the only films on TV in those days. I do, however like a good Spaghetti Western. So, to come across a South Korean Spaghetti-style Western, I was more than intrigued. Here's a very short summary and then my thoughts.

It's all about a treasure map, Park Chang-yi (the Bad) is sent to steal it, but is beaten to the punch by Yoon Tae-goo (the Weird). At the same time, bounty hunter Park Do-won (the Good) is out to get both of them. Throw into the mix a gang of bandits and the Japanese army all against the backdrop of the 1940's war in Manchuria and you've got a pretty good powder keg ready to go off. I won't go too much into the plot, it's pretty long and involved, but needless to say there's plenty of excitement along the way to the place marked 'X' on the treasure map.

This is a very well made film with really excellent fight scenes, shoot-outs and chases all expertly done. I also liked the soundtrack; the music fitted the pictures perfectly in most instances. Great performances from all three of the major cast; Kang-ho Song as Yoon Tae-goo / The Weird, Byung-hun Lee as Park Chang-yi / The Bad and Woo-sung Jung as Park Do-won / The Good.

The plot was quite involved and a bit dialogue heavy, I felt, which for a foreign language film isn't exactly an advantage. But if you can stick with the subtitles you are rewarded with a pretty good story. There are several plot holes in it, so it's not perfect by any means, but it is still very entertaining with a few comic moments thrown in for fun. Over all, it's certainly a different take on the Spaghetti Western, it has the look and the feel, but with a bit of South Korean spice. Recommended.

My score: 7.1/10

Once Upon A Time In The East.

[BA_Harrison · 8/10 · 25 February 2010]

Set in the wastelands of Manchuria circa the 1940s, 'The Good, The Bad, The Weird', a bonkers oriental western from Korean director Ji-woon Kim (A Tale Of Two Sisters), opens with a spectacular train robbery in which thief Yoon Tae-goo (Kang-ho Song) makes off with a valuable treasure map that is seemingly sought after by every other outlaw, shady character, and opportunistic gunslinger in the area, including ruthless killer Park Chang-yi (Byung-hun Lee) and bounty hunter Park Do-won (Woo-sung Jung). Oh, and the Japanese army too!

What follows is a violent, madcap adventure with the gun-crazy characters pursuing each other through the desert landscape, engaging in frenetic shootouts, well orchestrated chases (think Mad Max, but with horses), and flawlessly choreographed punch-ups, pausing only occasionally to allow the viewer to pick their jaw up off the floor and draw a breath. Sometimes, the blistering pace and chaotic action becomes so intense that it's hard to keep track of who is shooting at who and why, but with so much fun to be had, this is a minor quibble and it certainly doesn't detract much from one's overall enjoyment of the film.

The Good, the Bad, the Weird

[jboothmillard · 6/10 · 25 February 2014]

I saw a short trailer for this Korean film at the time it was released, and then I heard it was formerly an entry in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, it was certainly a Chinese film I was intrigued to see, from director Kim Jee-Woon (The Last Stand). Basically set in the 1930's in the desert wilderness of Manchuria, bandit and hit-man Park Chang-Yi aka The Bad (Byung-Hun Lee) is hired to board a train and steal a treasure map a Japanese official travelling on it, but before he can thief Yoon Tae-goo aka The Weird (Kang-Ho Song) steals it and gets away during the derailment of the train. Eagle-eyed bounty hunter Park Do-won aka The Good (Woo-Sung Jung) shows up the scene to claim the bounty on The Bad, but after the action he catches up with The Weird and they form a near partnership, Machurian bandits will also want the map to sell on the Ghost Market, The Weird meanwhile hopes to follow it and find what could be gold and riches gathered before the collapse of the government buried by the Qing Dynasty. The map possession becomes a battle as the various characters try to reclaim it, with bounties placed on heads and the Imperial Japanese Army apparently wanting "save the Japanese Empire", and following many chases and shoot-outs, the final battle takes place the army, the Manchurian bandits, The Good, The Bad and The Weird all gathered all at once. Most of the bandits are killed by the Japanese army, many of the troops of the army are killed by The Good and an explosion drives the rest away, and the gang members of The Bad are slowly killed off while the leader himself kills the rest who try to get away, and after all this only The Good, The Bad and The Weird remain to find the "treasure", which turns out to be nothing more than a boarded over hole in the desert. The Weird is recognised by The Bad and the "Finger Chopper" who cut off his finger off five years ago, The Good assumed The Bad was this criminal, in a final act of vengeance on each other for their slights the three characters turn on each other in a prolonged Mexican standoff, and other their guns fire they all lie in the sand dying, after a few moments this "useless" erupts with valuable crude oil, The Good and The Weird survive, but a new bounty is put on The Weird and a new chase is on. Also starring Seung-Su Ryu as Man-Gil, Zhang Qi as Deligeer, Yun Jae-Mun as Byeong-Chun, Sohn Byung-Ho as Suh Jae-Sik and Song Young-Chang as Kim Pan-Joo. The three actors playing the title characters were all chosen well and look the parts, the story is perhaps a little less thought out as the fight and chase sequences, but it doesn't matter, this works as a really cool and amusing homage to the classic Sergio Leone Spaghetti western trilogy, put in a new scenario and culture, with more explosions and stunts, and the finale obviously works best, overall it's a fun period action adventure. Good!

not weird, but a lot of fun and some epic sequences

[Quinoa1984 · 8/10 · 26 January 2010]

The Good, the Bad, the Weird is a film that by its own title says 'there's something extra here', that there might be another twist on what Leone's masterpiece brought to us in film. From Ji-Woon Kim (director of the acclaimed Tale of Two Sisters) one would also think his first foray into an action spectacle would be bug-f*** insane. But as it turns out, this is really just another action movie, nothing too 'weird' enough about it (the 'Weird' character isn't even that weird, more just scum along the lines of his inspiration of Tuco in GB&U). Is this a bad thing? Not at all. It's a respectable, sometimes even really thrilling and alive, action western that could be described as a "noodle-western" with its setting in Manchuria and featuring Korean, Chinese and Japanese players in a setting with basically the same general plot of Leone's film, except this time featuring a treasure map with an undetermined amount of fortune, and set in the 1930's.

While it did shoot short of being really great and original - it's setting and variation on the characters is really the only change that Kim's homage to spaghetti westerns goes- it's a lot of fun seeing how the characters get where they go, and how the set-pieces do function as best they can. The opening train sequence has a lot of verve and some humor (more people in the screening were laughing out loud than I was, but it was always amusing), and there's one particular chase sequence out in the desert when 'Weird' (a very good Kang-ho Song) is driving in his cart from an entire army and tons of bandits, all firing guns (some machine variety) and put to the 'Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood' cover that was featured in Kill Bill Vol. 1. This is, at the least, a real breathtaker, where Kim just says 'f*** it' and goes all out with propelling the action forward, with anybody getting in the way trampled underfoot.

The film also boasts a few other goodies. One of these is the performance of 'The Bad', Park Chang-yi, who has a very crazed look in his eyes every other moment and is purported to be a notorious finger-chopper with his victims. His work makes it constantly watchable whenever he's on screen. And, as mentioned the actor Kang-ho Song (who we previously saw as the Priest in Park's 'Thirst') is tough as nails and goofy as hell in his part of the Weird. The other main player, Woo-sung Jung as 'The Good' is more the straight man, less a bad-ass than Clint Eastwood but more subtle and with a more obscure and interesting back-story that is only revealed in snippets. While Kim definitely verges from the usual Mexican stand-off just a bit in the climax, there's at least a sense of real love for his source material of The Good the Bad and the Ugly, and action westerns in general.

If only it could be a little more, well, weird. It's certainly no Sukyiaki Western Django, but if you're hankering for some bloody western fun and shameless action and characterizations (and a little jazz to boot), it gets good marks on all counts.

Truly eccentric cinema

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 19 November 2012]

THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD is an effective and fun-loving remake of the Sergio Leone classic THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY, ably transplanted to early 20th century Manchuria and featuring a cast of lovable rogues. It tells a sprawling and elaborate, almost fairy tale, about the hunt for buried treasure and the bizarrely diverse characters caught up in the chase.

Of the central threesome, Jung Woo-sung bags the least interesting role as 'the Good'; he reminded me of the bounty hunter from MILLIONAIRE'S EXPRESS, and has little to do other than point and shoot. As 'the Bad', Lee Byung-hun (A BITTERSWEET LIFE) fares better, playing up to his role as a slick character you love to hate. Inevitably, though, acting honours go to Kang-ho Song as 'the Weird', who is once again unrecognisable and completely compelling. Song is an actor who screams entertainment value whatever kind of film he's in, the camera loves him and his eccentric character is by far the most engaging part of the entire movie.

On the whole, the whole eastern-western storyline works well and Kim Jee-woon's (I SAW THE DEVIL) stylish direction adds immeasurably to the experience. The movie is action-packed with lots of elaborately staged shoot-outs and crazy chase sequences that really work, none of them disappoint. And even if, come the end, you realise it's all been an entirely lightweight and inconsequential affair, then so what? THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD sets out to entertain and it does that in spades.

Massively Overrated

[Jake_Flagrant · 1/10 · 15 February 2015]

I normally wouldn't feel the need to leave negative comments on a film, but the fact that this is so highly lauded makes me feel the need to ask....what the hell are people smoking?? I watched this film several years ago at a Korean film festival, on the big screen, and I remember how furious I was that I wasted my time with this piece of crap over something far more worthwhile.

First of all, the plot is basically non-nonsensical. Looking back, I can remember something about a train, a guy on a motorcycle, a cowboy...and that's about it. Now, I'm totally fine with a film that highlights character, atmosphere, style, action - whatever - over plot. But this only works if the aforementioned things are actually engaging. But alas...all we are left with is simply a mess.

Which brings me to the action. This movie is very much in the anti-physics style of Michael Bay wherein we have no idea where or how things are happening. They. Just. Do. The average shot length seems to be about half a second. I found it all incredibly lame and dull. There's simply no continuity of action. It's like taking random words from a novel and mixing them up. It doesn't make a story.

As for the acting, the soundtrack, etc., I honestly can't remember a single detail.

Don't make the mistake I did. There are so many great films in the world to watch instead of this pile of crap. 1/10