Movie: A Dirty Carnival (18)Rating: 4.5/5To be straight and honest: A DIRTY CARNIVAL by director Yoo Ha is a masterpiece of its genre. The film's very well made, and there's a lot more than what you would've expected. Yes, it was a little slow burning in places, but the overall impact made by the film was quite a strong one. Jo In-sung is a terrific actor, and I'll look forward to more of his movies. The screenplay is the real hero of A DIRTY CARNIVAL. Not for a moment does it let go of the grip on the viewer. The film has, apart from this, a lot more things to admire. The director has depicted everything very well. The character development is quite good, and it's quite easy to be connected to the lead character played by the very talented Jo In-sung. He's superb throughout the entire film and he rules alone with his act. Rest of the cast does a great job but he's alone enough to impress the viewers.The action scenes are extremely well choreographed, and quite realistically executed on screen. The cinematography is also very good, and the production values are quite good. The film, however is quite long and doesn't really justify this long duration. It could've been trimmed a little bit, almost close to 10 or 15 minutes for a better experience. But still, the film is a delight to watch. It had me excited to know what would happen in the end. The end was really very astonishing as well as impressive at the same time.A DIRTY CARNIVAL is a well made action drama with a lot of offer as a treat to the viewers. You don't really need to have a very strong heart to watch this film. What all you need...is to watch this film!

One of the quote in this movie describes and sums up this movie "You just need to know two things to be successful. Who you need and what he needs" and that basically sums up the gangster world. The movie really does show the nasty and dirty parts about being a gangster and trying to move up in the world. But the thing is the movie just have anything that really immersed you and can get a bit tedious at time. However the way it did not pull any punches was well done. This is a depressing gangster movie that shows the progress of a gangster who has morals but his direction causes conflict for his loved ones, although that is not his intention. This isn't really a movie that glorifies the gangster life but it doesn't really bash on it either but it does show that it's a sad life full of hurting others and backstabbing. Even when they constantly spout things like family. I think the actor Jo In Sung is alright but he fits right into this role and his character is very believable. Overall it's a good Korean gangster flick but could have been better if it had more elements to get immersed into. And the romance between Jo In Sung's character and the girl he falls for took up a bit of screen time but didn't seem all that crucial to the story. If it had bits that made it more crucial to the plot it would have added more to the movie. Still it's simply very watchable.6.7/10

The movie is bittersweet, reminding me of "Blow" and "Casino". I refuse to say that it is the Asian counterpart of the above-mentioned movies because I think that does not do Yoo Ha or In-Seong Cho justice.The cast acted as though each role was made just for them and the accordion laced soundtrack simply added to the irony and hard, cold truth of the subject matter.But most of the kudos have to go to In-Seong Cho, for letting viewers live through his character (Byung-Doo). Whether it's laughing at his karaoke rendition in the car and club.; his intense, awkward yet realistic fighting skills or the boyish charms oozing when he sees the woman he loves ~ if I knew nothing of the actor I would have thought he was cast to play himself. It is extremely well done so just watch it and find out for yourself!

Very realistic in tone but with the film makers perspective tacked on, this gangster flick doesn't take itself too seriously. It sure seems like it could be happening somewhere in Korea right now and that's what may be the gimmick that will hook you. Imagine a hungry, low level gangster on the rise and the murders and betrayals that go along with it. Throw in an old friend, who happens to be a scriptwriter, who picks the gangster's brain for authenticity for a script he is working on and there you go. After watching it a second time around, I was impressed by the portrayal of the Gangster Byung Doo. When he kills it kills him inside, when he fights he unleashes a fury and when he plots he is quietly cold. He is loyal to his boys to a fault; but those who stand in his way, no matter what their position or rank may be, better watch their backs. Watch the story of the gangster on the rise and then see the consequences unfold before your eyes. The clean cut killer has his day in the sun and his heart of gold is stained with blood. The backs he stabbed return to him in a "novel" way in this one, literally. "What goes around comes around," so they say. The fight scenes are chaotic and violent instead of ultra stylish. Pace is a little slow and of course there is the obligatory love interest and sad upbringing back story that tries to garner sympathy for the tragic anti-hero. "Running Wild(Ya-Soo)" is more intense a drama and "Bittersweet Life(Dalkoman Insaeng)" is better in the action department. Those two movies had me pumped throughout but this one required a bit more patience. This is more of a brooding type of film that comes at you with the unique angle of the film maker as an actual character who is pivotal to the story that unfolds.