On this latest episode of the podcast in which an overrated and underrated film within the same genre, style or tone are pitted against each other, the hosts of Over/Under Movies take a look at two examples of the Asian action picture. I made the picks this time, and couldn’t resist this genre which is chock full of great stunts, bloodshed and visual grandeur. As usual, I’m joined by fellow Playlist writers Oktay Ege Kozak and Ryan Oliver.
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Hong Kong action director John Woo made his bones on ’70s kung fu films, but it was in the ’80s when he codified his distinct, dove-filled style of balletic action choreography. With 1989’s “The Killer,” starring his favorite leading man Chow Yun-Fat, his status as perhaps the most daring and bold director of action really began to take hold (“Hard Boiled” in 1992 would be his peak). But it’s my pick for the overrated — I argue it’s not aged well and often unintentionally goofy — and this week we’re comparing it against a more modern work from South Korea, “A Bittersweet Life.” From Kim Jee-woon (“I Saw The Devil” and “The Good, The Bad, The Weird“) and starring his most frequent leading man Lee Byung-Hun, “A Bittersweet Life” is an absolute jolt, employing age old noir/gangster tropes against a fresh background that mixes quite well with a “Taxi Driver“-esque violent retribution. The film has never received proper U.S. distribution and beyond singing its praises, we all hope that can change soon so more of you can find it easier.
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