The Moonlight of Seoul (2008) User Reviews (5)

Gritty drama set in the host-bar industry of Seoul.

[A.P. · 6/10 · 13 December 2008]

This film, also known as "Beastie Boys", is a rather frank depiction of the host/hostess industry in Seoul. We have a big brother and little brother relationship in the two main characters as they "entertain" wealthy, older women in Seoul. As we follow these leads, they start off charming, if flawed. They're cool. They flirt with women, wear expensive clothes, and seem to not have a care in the world as they smooth-talk their way into the lives of their clients. Their shallow and materialistic lifestyles eventually catch up to them, however. We eventually get to see the uglier and more violent side of these men. One is addicted to gambling and lies. The other begins a rather unhealthy relationship with a call girl. Eventually, both of these stories come together.

While Korean dramas can possibly be seen as melodramatic to Western audiences, this film delivers a strong, emotional punch that never seems forced or unrealistic. At the same time, the movie can be slow in spots, but it is certainly worth a rental.

Regular film

[jose_moscardo · 5/10 · 5 March 2012]

This is the story of two gigolos, both young but one a little older than the another one. The elder one has also relationship with the sister of the younger one. He is that kind of guy always gambling, telling lies and owing money to everybody. The youngest one is new in the business, in his twenty some and handsome. He makes the mistake of falling in love with a girl involved in the same business, so he becomes dangerously jealous soon. That's essentially all, not much for more than two hours of length. The movie is sometimes pretty real and sometimes over the top. The setting and description of archetypes are realistic but the actions and reactions of main characters, specially the protagonist, aren't at all convincing. Not a big conclusion after more than two hours, either. There are worse Korean films as there are much better ones. Acting is OK the same as technical aspects (until now I haven't watched a Korean movie that fails in that) but script should be polished. The result is so aesthetically brilliant as conceptually incomplete. Not a mess but unsatisfactory.

Disappointing movie on interesting field

[peter07 · 6/10 · 18 October 2008]

I saw this movie on DVD, and I have to say it took an interesting topic like the world of male hosts who entertain women clients, usually workers in the sex trade.

Jae-hyun is too predictable and too black-and-white as the chronic shyster, while Seung-woo starts to take a rather unrealistic turn toward the end of the movie. I think the director sped up the action too fast (surprising since the movie is more than two hours long) and the plot simply moved in all the wrong directions.

I also think the role of dissatisfied rich women was underplayed in the movie, since they can be major customers of hosts.

a sad realistic story

[kriszti-39900 · 6/10 · 9 December 2020]

I can't remember seeing a movie where the poster of the movie was in such a huge contrast with the content of the movie. On the poster there are two good-looking guys who look a bit like the kings of the night. Two very confident guys who are aware of their good looks and also use it. Well, in the story they didn't have one glorious moment where they could have said that they achieved something. It was not clear at the beginning of the movie whether the story goes somewhere or it just shows aimlessly some days of their lives. Both or to be more exact: pretty much every character struggles with his / her everyday life. The somewhat older main character has debts and gets harassed by a local gangster who wants his money back. He is pretty much a parasite who tries to lure money out of everyone he can. The younger guy starts a relationship with a woman who does the same line of work and he is constantly jealous of her. It becomes an obsession that ends very badly for both of them. By the way (just a small additional remark) if ever a man reads this, I just would like to clarify that in case of 'woman - man' quarrels, regardless of the topic, if a woman smiles at some point, that doesn't necessarily mean that the woman laughs out her opponent. I think in many cases it is just a smile of desperate frustration that shouldn't be rewarded with punches from the guy. (This movie has a similar scene and I also ran into a lunatic some time ago. For a moment I smiled at the outrageous stupid things he said and he thought instantly that I made fun of him - but not. I was just irritated and couldn't believe that I ended up in such a stupid situation). So dear men, please don't give punches if you experience the same because in a lot of cases it is not mockery from the woman's side. Thank you in advance!

Raw and realistic, but that is the only thing that pretty much stands out about this one

[KineticSeoul · 3/10 · 2 August 2013]

The only thing that stands out about this movie for me, is the raw realism when it comes to how selfish, vile and manipulative people can be that works in the red light district. I first thought this movie would be interesting since it has to do with two guys working in the host club. But disappointingly it has more to do with the two characters outside issues. Which is different from both when it comes to individual conflicts they face. But yeah, if your expecting the movie to delve more into the host club side of things in Korea you will be left disappointed. This movie has realism, but it's just mostly compact with people constantly using profanity, cheating, manipulating and hurting one another. In another words it's the complete opposite of a feel-good movie. And when it's finished, it just seems overlong, tiresome and not very satisfying. I don't like the moral of this movie either, which seemed to me is "be a complete utter scumbag and you will win in the end" or something like it.

3.9/10