The Good, The Bad, The Weird [DVD]

Well, blow me down with a feather! Just when I start feeling clever and think I know almost all there is to know about westerns, something yet again comes along to emphatically remind me that 'I dont know nothin'. A Manchurian western! Surely someone is having a joke! You cannot be serious! A quick check on the internet with Korea film archive, proves that there was indeed a Korean sub-genre of films called 'Manchurian westerns' which were made in the 60's and early 70's. They were set along China's border with Korea in the 1930's, during the era of Japanese occupation that made the area ripe pickings for outlaws, carpetbaggers and any opportunist on the make. In short the sort of characters you find populating your average western. Although many of these films were successful in Korea they never made it onto the global stage.

Good on director Kim Jee-Woon for reviving interest in a lost little piece of Korean film history. But in so doing he has also managed to create both a commercially successful and critically acclaimed film. Something nobody thought possible in the Korean film industry. The director of course openly plagiarises Sergio Leone's epic Spaghetti western, "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly", the title itself inspired by that great film. The story follows three outlaws as they battle for possession of a treasure map, in where else but thirties Manchuria. The Good (Jung Woo-sung), is a sharpshooting bounty hunter. The Bad (Lee Byung-hun, is simply very very bad indeed, and oozes bad from every pore. The Weird (Song Kang-ho), is a charismatic and eccentric thief, who happens to get his hands on an extremely valuable map. The stage is set for an almost non stop fun filled action fest. Who will get the treasure? The 'games afoot' between our three protaganists, the whole Japanese Imperial Army and a host of assorted bandits.

The film moves at the velocity of the bullet train and is unrelenting. Filmed on location in China's Gobi desert the film has a vast scale to it. The cast have clearly worked hard in an area that would have ensured trying conditions. Filmed over ten months this would have been no simple task. I was very impressed with the lead actors who all looked and played their parts well, with the right comic book sense of fun. Song is particularly good as the quirky thief, in the Eli Wallach role, and gets perhaps the choicest role. His poorly educated oddball is also both a resourceful and skilful thief, who manages to keep one step ahead of his hunters for much of the time. The film is imbued with a great sense of fun and is filled with countless laugh out loud moments. It also has a moment of magic when the Weird has the opportunity to shoot the Good as he sleeps. This was the first Manchurian western in nearly 40 years, and on this showing I sincerely hope it is not the last. Hopefully the next will be in the hands of a director as skilled as Kim Jee-won. The film deserved all the plaudits it got, and is even included in the latest edition of "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die". I do wish they would give that book a more cheery title, as I am still looking for an escape clause! I enjoyed the blu-ray version of this film which was gin clear. A fairly generous five stars for a truly innovative film. Well impressed!

I was fortunate to see this at a film festival in 2008 and was blown away. The opening credits are amongst the best ever made and the film ends with a blindingly epic chase scene. However the that said the bits in between can be a bit silly at times.

It is intended as a tribute to The Good, The Bad and The Ugly which it does very well (albeit without the same beautiful storytelling). Even the most dedicated spaghetti western fans should watch this film without prejudice and enjoy the references to Sergio Leone's classic films.

It's big budget enjoyable fun (think the first Pirates of the Caribbean film) and very like-able. I hope you enjoy it.

Kim Jee-Woon`s The Good,The Bad ,The Weird owes more than a passing nod to the influence of the great Sergio Leone. As in Tarantino`s Kill Bill homage to the Master, the style & mood of this movie has paid it`s dues. The story is a simple one, 3 men competing with eachother for the posession of a treasure map that will make the lucky owner rich. Western mythology has been transported to 30`s, Japanese occupied Manchuria, which seems entirely populated by bandits, cut-throats & thieves. When, in turn, they all learn of the map`s existence, the screen is filled with hundreds of desperate men hurtling across the sun scorched desert wastelands in hot pursuit. The movie is skilfully directed with exceptional cinematography & utterly original in it`s quirky, off centre humour & slant on the western genre. Action & violence are copious, as just about every weapon in the arsenal-and then some- is used to increase the sky high body count in just about every way possible & impossible. The Blu-ray picture is pin sharp, giving a vibrant,detailed & impressive colour scheme.Audio is crisp & clear with plenty of muscle in the bass which will give the speakers a good workout.There are a large amount of impressive & informative extras on just about every aspect of an outstanding production. Everything you wanted to know about the movie is there.It`s a wild, funny action packed movie which has taken from it`s influences & twisted & turned them into a highly original, visually beautiful & well acted film. It`s an outstanding disc in every way which I highly recommend.