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Assassination
암살
2015 140 min South Korea 18+
★7.4
Action, Thriller, Drama
Director: Dong-hoon Choi
Trailers
Description
In Japanese-occupied Korea, three freedom fighters are assigned a mission to assassinate a genocidal military leader and his top collaborator. But the plan goes completely awry amidst double-crossings, counter-assassinations, and a shocking revelation about one of the assassins' past.
US Gross:
$1.9M
Worldwide:
$96.12M
Starring
Jun Ji-hyun
Actor
Lee Jung-jae
Actor
Ha Jung-woo
Actor
Awards
Asian Film Academy 2016
— Best Supporting Actor
Asian Film Academy 2016
— Best Cinematography
Asian Film Academy 2016
Key opinion
Assassination is a visually polished historical action spectacle that successfully blends genre tropes with resistance themes, though it divides viewers on its narrative cohesion. While many praise the high-energy production and strong ensemble cast, others feel the complex character dynamics and tonal shifts create a disjointed experience.
| Production | The production design, including period-accurate costumes and atmospheric decor, consistently earns praise for its vivid historical recreation. | |
| Acting | The ensemble cast, led by Jun Ji-hyun and Ha Jung-woo, delivers compelling and technically strong performances. | |
| Direction | The film functions as a highly polished, stylish historical blockbuster that effectively executes large-scale action sequences. | |
| Editing | The opening act is frequently criticized for being confusing and poorly edited, making it difficult for audiences to track the numerous characters and plot threads. | |
| Pacing | The film's pacing is polarizing; some find the long runtime engaging and well-maintained, while others describe the mid-section as sluggish or burdened by melodrama. | |
| Screenplay | The script draws criticism for its reliance on clichéd twists and tonal inconsistencies, with some viewers finding the shift between serious history and over-the-top action jarring. |