Kundo: Age of the Rampant (2014)

Instant Favorite.

Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

''Kundo: Age of the Rampan'' is a South Korean period film which has become one of the country's highest grossing movies ever upon release. It has also won eight awards in five different film festivals. The movie is primary an action movie and costume drama in authentic locations. The film has a sinister atmosphere filled with tension due to a charismatic acting by Kang Dong-won who is playing an ambitious villain and Ha Jung-woo who portrays a sympathetic antihero who becomes an inspiration for oppressed citizens. The fight scenes are filled with both brutal tension and elegant aesthetics. Despite the coherently dark mood, there are a couple of more amusing and emotional scenes that keep the movie dynamical over an epic length of nearly two and a half hours.The story takes place during the late Joseon era and is partially inspired by authentic historic events. In a time of aristocratic tyranny, an illegitimate son strives for power and hires a poor butcher as assassin. Since the butcher is unable to complete his mission, he is terribly punished but manages to survive. He decides to change his life in order to protect those he was supposed to kill and fight those who have punished him. He changes identity and becomes a ferocious swordsman who helps the poor, persecuted and helpless people until the time is come to challenge his worst enemy to a final duel.The only negative points about this movie are the fact that the story itself is quite predictable and standard for its genre despite a couple of good conspiracies and intrigues and the exaggerated final fight that feels incoherent if compared to the rather realistic fight scenes in the rest of the movie.Still, ''Kundo: Age of the Rampant'' is a highly entertaining movie with lots of action and drama, great actors and characters and stunning locations and settings. Fans of historically inspired action movies can't get around one of last year's best Asian movies.

I personally thought this movie was alright and what standout about this movie the most is the cast. In a way the story is sort of similar to "Robin Hood" except there is no love interest between the protagonist and someone else. And it puts quite a bit of emphasis on the sword fighting martial arts sequences. There isn't many standout action sequence, except maybe on scene where the vicious nobleman takes on a group of bandits by himself (which is probably the best scene in the movie). Overall, this is a rebellion movie about peasants that got pushed around too far by corrupt officials and they decide to stand and fight. When it comes to the core, it's basically a story about a butcher that lost everything going up against nobleman who has father issues. In fact more than the butcher who is basically the hero or anti-hero of the story is one of the least interesting characters. And the most interesting one in this flick being the pretty boy nobleman who is also and elite swordsman and his back-story and what makes him tick. Overall this is a alright watch, with few decent scenes but when it comes down to it, it's actually quite forgettable. And just didn't have much meat to it. Sometimes simple story can really work, but in this case I just didn't really care.6.2/10

A great Kung Fu flick made by Koreans. Or should I say an Eastern, as the filmmakers used a lot of, what looked like American western tricks, like with the music and the sudden close ups, to give it that Western vibe. At the same time, cinematically it reminds me of a back in the day Kung Fu film like what the Shaw bros. would do. What an excellent martial arts flick this turned out to be, jumbled with everything you except to see from a film by the likes of Tarantino paying homage to the Kung fu genre. I've always been a fan of Korean Cinema and this movie just increased my fandom. This was a great movie I recommend everyone to see.

I have to admit that I am not well versed in Asian action films, nor Korean history but I love this film. YOON Jong-bin's "Kundo"is the story of a bandit clan that take on the tyranny inflicted on the peasant population during the Joseon Dynasty. The film is a Korean period piece, set in 1859, and brings together a modern vision to classic Asian action-fantasy with tradition dramatic passion. "Kundo" tells a very powerful saga between the impoverished people suffering at the hands of the ruling nobility. It is a tale that rings, not only in historical record, but in modern time around the world. Similar to the legend of Robin Hood, "Kundo" creates a wonderful narrative of one group of individuals standing up to the oppression, taking what they can from the rich, and handing it out to the poor. Something that is universally recognizably as true human heroism. Yoon brings the story to life in epic style, filled with both visual and emotional power that captivates. The special effects in "Kundo" are restrained and by no means rise as the star of this film. The story, with all its raw intensity, personable emotion, and hypnotizing sound effects are of equal status in this one. The choreographed fighting style is every bit as entertaining as Hong Kong's action films that match this type of film. However the character that develops in "Kundo" balances that fantastical ability of Asian martial arts and war with true passionate story telling that hits at the heart. It is relatable on so many levels. At times the film reminds me of the American westerns of the late 60's and early 70's that tried to give an honest voice to the First Peoples plight.Over all I have to say the "Kundo" is an affective film-creating a strong atmosphere than pulls you into the story completely. Yoon is brilliant in his ability to make a historical picture relevant to modern audiences while honoring the past. Elements of Western bravado show at certain moments, without spoiling the film I can only say that the film is truly entertaining, giving moments of Kevin Reynolds' "Prince Of Thieves" dramatically-Hong Kong styled fighting and action reminiscent of Tsui Hark's "Once Upon A Time In China". Ther is also a bit of wild west attitude in "Kundo" that reminds me of Christopher Cain's "Young Guns". And yet Yoon manages to keep a unique signature style that is what must be totally Korean, all the elements that make "Kundo" such a stellar film are balanced perfectly with out being overstated. It is a true cinematic gem.