[Mashiro]

15th November 2020

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance / 2002 / South Korea / 7.6 out of 10 Rating on IMDb

Plot

In Seoul, Ryu, a deaf worker has a sister who needs a kidney transplant. He tries to donate his own kidney to his sister, but his blood type is not compatible with hers. When Ryu is fired from Ilshin Electronics, he meets illegal dealers of organs, and the criminals propose that he give them his kidney plus ten millions Won to obtain a kidney suitable for his sister. Ryu accepts the trade, but he does not have money to pay for the surgery. His anarchist revolutionary girlfriend Cha Young-mi convinces him to kidnap Yossun, the daughter of his former employer Park, who owns Ilshin Electronics. However, a tragedy happens, generating revenge and a series of acts of violence.

A really great south Korean movie that you should watch if you like Asian movies. It portraits the great despair of a deaf young man with a sister that is seriously ill, the insane idea to extract money for a solution to the illness and the devils spiral of rage, violence and veangence.

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Battle in Seattle / 2007 / USA / 6.7 out of 10 Rating on IMDb

Plot

In late November 1999, masses are descending upon Seattle for the World Trade Organization (WTO) Conference, the first ever held on American soil. Beyond the several delegates, career protesters are also coming to Seattle, they who believe the non-elected organization only exists to support corporate interests at the expense of the poor, working class and the environment among other things. Before the conference, the lead known protesters vow that their demonstrations will be peaceful, while Seattle Mayor Jim Tobin promises that if that be the case that no arrests will be made and no aggressive action, such as the use of tear gas, will be issued. On day one of the conference, tensions on both sides escalate the confrontation between police and protesters, with many innocent people caught in the crossfire. As such, what was promised ends up not happening during the remainder of the conference, where many on both sides work not for the greater good of their side, but rather for their own personal interests because of their experience on day one. These battles outside the official conference are not the only ones happening in Seattle, as many of the conference delegates, such as Doctors Without Borders and those from some of the poorer nations, try to get across the point of many of the protesters - albeit in a more diplomatic method - while seemingly ignored by those in the upper echelon of the organization.

Police brutality, anarchists, demonstrations that drift into absolute insane orgies of violence? Sweet home Alabma United States.

Watch it once at least.

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City on Fire / 1987 / Hong Kong / 7.1 out of 10 Rating IMDb

Plot

Ko Chow is about to resign from the police force when he is asked to take on one more case. He is to go undercover in a gang that is robbing jewellery stores. He accepts the task and successfully infiltrates the gang. It is a very dangerous mission, not just because the gang might discover his true identity but because many of the police suspect he may well be a criminal.

A classic die hard Hong Kong police action movie with Yun-Fat Chow (Hard Boiled).

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Escape From Pretoria / 2020 / USA / 6.8 out of 10 Rating on IMDb

Plot

Based on the real-life prison break of two political captives, Escape From Pretoria is a race-against-time thriller set in the tumultuous apartheid days of South Africa.

A really interesting movie about apartheid days of South Africa. Worth a watch for sure! Take a look.

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Apocalypse Now / 1979 / USA / 8.4 out of 10 Rating on IMDb

Plot

A U.S. Army officer serving in Vietnam is tasked with assassinating a renegade Special Forces Colonel who sees himself as a god.

Who doesn't know about this movie? If you don't you should watch it right now or as soon as possible. It's a real classic.