Bummer. It fails to become really gripping, let alone thrilling. What's the cause that this movie stays a bit bland? I blame the leading actor, who is lacking charisma.
I mean, come on, when a character is a spy, then he has got to have SOME mischievous, manipulative AND likealbe character treats. But this leading actor is quite dull.
Not any good? The story by itself is interesting. But the execution is lacking. That's a real pity, because this movie was (partly) based on horrific real events. Therefore it is even more of a disappointment that this movie turned out to be so lukewarm. Missed opportunity...
100% - Critics
94% - Audience
7.3Keywords: based on true storybased on a true storyspy1990sundercover agent
Plot summary
In 1993, former military officer Suk-young Park is recruited as a spy by South Korea's National Intelligence Service, and given the code name "Black Venus". He is then sent to infiltrate a group of high-ranking North Korean officials based in Beijing, with the ultimate goal of acquiring information on the North's nuclear program. After becoming close to Myong-un Ri, a key power broker, Black Venus succeeds beyond his wildest dreams of gaining the trust of North Korea's leadership. But political machinations on both sides of the border threaten to derail his accomplishments.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Jeong-min Hwang as Suk-young Park
Tech specs
720p.BLU 1080p.BLU 1.23 GB
1280*534
Korean 2.0
NR
Movie Reviews
Reviewed by
I expected more from this director...
Reviewed by
Reminded me of Le Carre
THE SPY GONE NORTH is a literate and mature piece of filmmaking which follows a South Korean spy as he finds himself making contact with the North in China. It has much in common with the John Le Carre novel adaptations of the 1960s: glacially paced, ultra realistic and centred on political complexity rather than gung-ho action. Hwang Jung-min, having a good year what with this and THE BATTLESHIP ISLAND, is fine as the lead, well supported by an able cast of experienced Korean actors who really invest you in their characters. I particularly liked the film's resistance to presenting conflict in terms of black and white, instead going for the murkier greyscale throughout.
Reviewed by
good spy thriller
This is a korean spy thriller drama about, a true incident of espionage on north korea from the southern sister, via channals in mother china. its an exremely complex plot, but the very good acting by the main actors make this as seeworthy as the east west spy thrillers of the 70's and 80's made by usa , european and soviet filmakers.
its very well worth a thought that the korean issue is a still ongoing conflict, and every time a film like this is put on the market, their northern counterpart usually creates skin attacks and mortar shelling on the DMZ, or starts some navy maneuvers that usually are not announced, or burns up some fireworks that USA and japan gets der untergang spasms from, south korea are doomed anyway if some dirt like that should happen.
one might critizice the slow pace of this film, but its done with a cause, and well worth waiting for. the filmography are true fantastic in all aspects, with the punch of a feinsmeaeckers finrgerspitz, it brings us through great aerials to excitingly focused dialouges.
a darn good thriller thinks the grumpy old man, with recommendations.