The Swordsman

THE SWORDSMAN Review: Choi Jae-Hoon’s Feature Debut Sets The Stage For Jang Hyuk’s Rising Starpower

2022 has been a banner year for actor Jang Hyuk who just recently toured his latest action thriller, Choi Jae-hoon’s The Killer, in Los Angeles, as well as in New York City where he donned his best charm upon receiving the Daniel A. Craft award for Excellence In Action Cinema at the New York Asian Film Festival last month. In good company, Jang and his team also managed to bring along another celebrated title to mark the occasion at the NYAFF with a screening of Choi’s 2020 feature debut, The Swordsman. Choi garnered a few notches on his belt in the field of art direction and production design on films like Detective Mr. Gong, 2007’s The Cut and Kim Cheol-han’s Outlaw in 2010. I haven’t seen these films yet myself, but they’re worth highlighting for those who may still be new to Choi and his work, particularly as he becomes […]

Enjoy A Quartet Of Historical Hit Movies This Month For Free With KOREAN MOVIE NIGHT AT HOME: HISTORICAL FILMS SERIES

Lee B. Golden III

I didn’t get word of this until the morning after, but today is actually day two of Korean Movie Night at Home: Historical Films Series, a new program this month being hosted by the Korean Cultural Center New York (KCCNY), a branch of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) of the Republic of Korea. The program launched on December 3 and runs until December 19, so that’s plenty of time to head over to the official website and check these titles out for free for the program’s duration. As for the short-but-sweet line-up, it’s a total keeper, one of which is Kundo: Age Of The Rampant starring Ha Jung-woo. This was actually my first Well Go USA screener at the time of its release, and so it’s got a special place in my heart along with the handful of Korean movie titles that inaugurated my interest more than […]

THE SWORDSMAN Swings For The UK This May

Lee B. Golden III

Anyone within reach of Trincity CineAsia’s distribution map these days can certainly expect something fun to watch in May with the release of Choi Jae-hoon’s period actioner, The Swordsman. Jang Hyuk leads the based-on-a-true-story sword thriller which centers on Tae-yul, a 17th century sword progeny rendered reclusive following the residual effects of an injury he sustained in a failed effort to prevent the downfall of the 15th king Gwanghae. After years of living in the mountains with daughter Tae-ok, Tae-yul soon finds himself thrust into the upheaval of the Ming-Qing transition, and back into battle when Tae-ok, after vying for a position in a noble family to help pay for Tae-yul’s eye treatment, is taken by Qing slave traders, led by the vicious Lord Gurutai (Joe Taslim). The film also stars Kim Hyun-soo and Jeong Man-sik, and will release in the UK on DVD & Digital from May 17, and […]

THE SWORDSMAN: Win A Copy Of The Bladed Period Action Epic From Well Go USA

Lee B. Golden III

Well Go USA is currently rolling out some very choice titles from its library to start the year, one of which includes The Swordsman which introduces actors Jang Hyuk (Empire Of Lust), Kim Hyeon-soo (Be With You), Joe Taslim (The Raid: Redemption, Fast & Furious 6), Jeong Man-sik (Beasts Clawing at Straws), Lee Na-kyung (Battle for Incheon: Operation Chromite) and Lee Min-hyuk (A Love to Kill). The film is proudly getting a release very soon on DVD, Blu-Ray and Digital on February 12, and we’re giving away two copies for those who aren’t blinded by a little trivia: The Swordsman action director, Hong Eui-jeong, shares the same credit on a 2014 movie that earned its lead star four Best Actor wins within multiple awards and nominations two years in a row. Name the actor AND the movie. Re-read that question VERY carefully, and if you’re confident, shoot the answer over […]

THE SWORDSMAN Unsheathes With A Vengeance In February From Well Go USA

Lee B. Golden III

Choi Jae-hoon’s newest period actioner, The Swordsman, took quite a while to arrive before reaching a local release a few months ago. Alas, leave it to Well Go USA to take the mantle with the smartest choice ever of acquiring a film prominently headlined by Volcano High and Empire Of Lust star Jang Hyuk, and The Raid and The Night Comes For Us star Joe Taslim. What’s more is the film is set for a Digital, Blu-Ray and DVD release beginning February 16 and for that, an official trailer was released by the company as well as official stills and key art. As for the meat and potatoes, well, Hyuk stars as Tae-yool, billed as Joseon’s greatest swordsman to the king’s command, who is blinded during a coup in a failed effort to prevent the King’s downfall. He then exiles into the mountains to live with his only daughter, Tae-ok, […]

THE SWORDSMAN Unsheathes Its First Teaser With Jang Hyuk And Joe Taslim

Lee B. Golden III

It’s been three years since production launched for Choi Jae-hoon’s feature directing debut, The Swordsman. The film is finally set to release in Korea on September 17 and judging by the first official teaser trailer, the film looks like it’ll be worth the wait! The Swordsman takes place after the dethronement of Gwanghaegun, leaving Joseon in chaos amid the conflict between the Ming and Qing Dynasty. When his daughter, Tae Ok (Kim Hyun-Soo) is kidnapped by the subordinates of the imperial Qing family’s best warrior, Gurutai (Joe Taslim), vanished, half-blind swordsman Tae-yeul (Jang Hyuk) re-emerges and picks up the sword once more to confront the army, led by a man who vows to become the best even in the Joseon Dynasty. The film also stars Jeong Man-Sik, Lee Na-Kyung, Lee Min-Hyuk, Jang Hyun-Sung, Kim Yun-Tae and Choi Jin-Ho.

FIVE-A-DAY COUNTDOWN: The Swordsman, Kesari, Gundala, Sangkar, and The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil

Lee B. Golden III

Day 4 commences this week as we continue our daily grouping of five titles for the next several weeks comprising 100 movies to keep an eye out for in 2019. 15 down. Here are five more: The Swordsman: Volcano High star Jang Hyuk is all grown up and missing an eye while trying to find his missing daughter in Choi Jae-Hoon’s new period action epic from Opus Pictures and United Pictures. Hyuk’s is one of three key cast roles centering the story on three swordsman from different backgrounds who converge on one another for their own reasons. Also starring are Jeong Man-sik and The Night Comes For Us star Joe Taslim. Date pending. Kesari: Anurag Singh is setting forth a Spring date to tell his own iteration of the central hero of the Battle of Saragarhi. Akshay Kumar stars front and center from the Dharma Productions release which sofar only […]

THE SWORDSMAN First Look Teases A Glimpse At Jang Hyuk And Joe Taslim

Lee B. Golden III

If you’re still on that Joe Taslim swag after The Night Comes For Us, be sure to look out for him in The Swordsman opening next year. Volcano High star Jang Hyuk leads the cast front and center, joined by Taslim and reuniting with fellow Ordinary Person cohort, Rampant co-star Jeong Man-sik. Tae-yeul (JANG Hyeok), a swordsman in his thirties goes out to find his only daughter after losing one of his eyes. MIN Seung-ho(JEONG Man-sik), The Joseon Dynasty’s best swordsman chooses an ordinary simple life after perceiving the transient nature of power. Gurutai (JOE Taslim), the best swordsman in Qing Dynasty aspires to become the best even in the Joseon Dynasty. There’s no release date yet for this latest outing from feature debut director Choi Jae-Hoon who previously served in the art departments for Pang Eun-jin’s Princess Aurora and Gong Jeong-shik’s Detective Mr. Gong. The film hails from Opus […]