For The Emperor (Review)
Park Sang-jun/Lee Min-ki/2014
Where To Watch:
Netflix Streaming
Amazon Prime
"The sheer lack of originality in this
film leaves so much to be desired."
Lee
Hwan (Lee Min-ki), a man with a promising baseball career, loses it all
when he's caught in a match-fixing scandal. As he hits rock bottom,
Hwan is recruited by Jeong Sang-ha (Park Sung-woong), a loan shark with
his own criminal organization...
For The Emperor is your basic
rise-to-power crime film. The film follows Lee Hwan – the always grave
and ultra-cool young gangster looking for riches. (He's so cool, he
doesn't crack a single smile throughout the film! That's dedication!)
Hwan is recruited by Sang-ha, who basically seeks to groom Hwan into his
right-hand man; Sang-ha is like a boss, a mentor, and a big brother
rolled into one to Hwan. Together, their crime syndicate begins to rise
using brutal force and typical strategy – knife fights and legitimizing
business. Of course, with copious money and large egos involved, people
were bound to clash. So, a power struggle ensues with Hwan and Sang-ha
caught in the middle. There are some turns, there are some twists, but
it ultimately leads exactly where you expect. The finale is very
predictable and forgettable.
For The Emperor is not necessarily a
bad film. The movie is stylish and engaging. It really nails the noir
atmosphere. There are some well-choreographed, brutal fight scenes
scattered throughout the film. If you love those raw, bloody fight scenes
we've seen in films like A Dirty Carnival, then you'll enjoy these. And, who
doesn't enjoy a cautionary tale of ambition a la Scarface?
Unfortunately, when it comes to the plot, that's really all it is – a
rise-to-power, Scarface-type film. The sheer lack of originality in this
film leaves so much to be desired. It feels like you've already watched
several iterations of the same scene over and over. It doesn't help that there is a
severe lack of interesting characters. Sang-ha is at least somewhat
interesting, but Lee Hwan is a walking cliché with little strength.
The
acting is decent. Lee Min-ki plays the cool and suave character well –
he's mostly expressionless. Is this a good thing? I really don't know.
Maybe his performance is strong, but his character brings him down to a
forgettable level. (Actually, I just realized Min-ki practically plays the exact same character in Monster.) Park Sung-woong is much more charismatic in his role,
stealing the show with a composed performance. The film looks great –
it has the blue tints we've come to expect from Korean noir movies.
(Think: No Tears For The Dead) The lighting was a little odd when
connected to the story, which you'll notice from the first action
sequence in the hallway. (How are the lights moving so consistently when
they're flashlights?) The music was good – it has a nice retro-vibe.
The screenplay is written by Lee Yong-soo and the film is directed by
Park Sang-jun. Aside from the crippling cliches and a lack of character
development, the film is crafted well. Sang-jun knows how to direct his
cast and craft action scenes. Unfortunately, the film's more significant
problems are embedded in the foundation.
Overall, I enjoyed For
The Emperor. The story and characters are utterly cliché — it's
undeniable. However, the film's quality is also indisputable. It is a
well-made film, from the performances to the action sequences. Sure,
it's the same old rise-to-power tale we've been told for decades, but it
still managed to entertain. It doesn't leave a strong impression, but
it's not a bad popcorn flick – especially
for fans of the genre. I recommend a rental or cheap purchase; if you have Netflix, stream it there if you're interested.
Score: 6/10
Parental Guide: Strong violence and blood, graphic sex and nudity.
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