It hasn’t been too long since Chloé Zhao’s upcoming Phase IV entry with Marvel’s The Eternals added to any and all filmgoing fervor between now and November 2020. It’s especially given South Korean cinema powerhouse, actor Don Lee, a greater international spotlight which no less looks to cash in with local audiences now looking toward his big screen return in September.
Enter Bad Guys: The Movie, Lee’s latest South Korean feat based on the original OCN television drama from which the film follows through on; That series tells of a world-weary, albeit vengeful detective whose off-the-books grouping of criminals specially chosen to help foil crimes and catch larger-than-life criminals stands only as part of a greater scheme of things. A second series spun-off a few years later with an entirely new cast.
The Deal helmer Son Yong-ho directs from a script by Han Jung-Joon who also wrote the 2014 series, Bad Guys: The Movie. This time, another newly-formed team of badasses is assembled to hunt down criminals when a prisoner transport vehicle overturns, allowing its occupants to escape, and that objective eventually leads to a confrontation with a new major criminal organization in the midst.
Upon learning that bit of info, I wouldn’t be surprised if there was another startling twist in the works. I saw both seasons earlier this year during the colder months to pass the time at work – The format, acting and drama were great while the action was nothing short of made for TV with no real focus on the mechanics of shooting action, save for some nicer moments.
It’s all about story from there though, and with Lee reuniting with actor Kim Sang-Joong and Gang Ye-Won for the first time in five years, it’ll be interesting to see how this unfolds.
Also starring is actress Kim A-Joong and Chang Ki-Yong, and again, I would advise not falling asleep on Don Lee for the foreseeable. Not even the slightest.
