More from the London Korean Film festival, Collectors is a slick, entertaining action-thriller from Park Jung-bae; if you think foreign cinema means art-house, Collectors is the kind of film that’ll make you think again. Referencing both Indiana Jones and National Treasure franchises, this is a fun, glamorous film that’s easy to relate to; subtitles aren’t hard work in this kind of propulsive package, a big box-office hit in the homeland.
We’re talking grave robbing, or tomb raiding to be exact. One of the interesting twists of Park’s film is that while yes, we we’re talking drones, laser beam protection and swish Seoul locations, there’s also a general air of credulity expressed about the provenance and power of the artefacts being sought; there’s no point in searching for the lost ark unless you believe in the power within. The royal sword of Yi Seong-gye, ‘the Excalibur of Joseon’ is the target; cutting about South Korea in an open topped car, thief Kang Dong-goo (Lee Je-hoon), a collector (Song Young-chang), a curator (Shin Haesun) and an archaeologist (Jo Woo Jin) named Dr Jones, as in Indiana.
Of course, liberating the sword in question can’t be easy; it’s held in an underground vault in the Gangham area of the city, so the professional services of Shovel Leg (Lim Won-hee), an expert on tunnel construction, are required. The details of the heist make up the second half of this film, and are constantly engaging; requiring a heavy downpour to flood the tunnels is only one of the imponderables the gag need to get absolutely right to have a chance before the nefarious double-crosses set in.
While some of the switcheroo action has a Guy Ritchie feel about it, Collectors wisely stays away from anything too grimy; this is a deliberately mainstream, commercial film that should work for heist aficionados worldwide. Park Jung-bae’s film doesn’t aspire to be anything other than light entertainment, and isn’t out to change the world, but Collectors is the kind of romp that passes the time easily, Gangham style.
The London Korean Film Festival 2021 takes place from 4 November – 19 November and tours the UK thereafter. See koreanfilm.co.uk
So are you in London now?
I am everywhere, and yet I am nowhere. But when you least expect it, I will be there, like Frankenstein’s monster on your wedding night.
You must still be at home because somebody has to feed the ducks.
When you hit the big leagues as a critic, you’ll find that the films come to you.
That sounds so cool! And nobody deserves it more! Let me know when it finally happens.
Great, I’ll let you know as soon as I can get my library ticket renewed.
I thought a fox killed all his ducks?
Sigh. Check out Masters of Ironing for the latest. Pics to prove it happened.
Thanks for that. This is what happens when rumors start flying…. (instead of ducks and chickens)
Have you got Ducks as well?
♪ooooooo♪
♪Rumor has it♪
that Dix has got ducks….
There’s a whole family of them at the faraway pond. Little cygnets.
Ooh swans? They’re not ducks, but they’ll do.
Great, I’ll let them know.
This sounds like fun. Prime used to carry a lot of K-drama/etc but I was looking last month and they seem to be down to some medieval era dramas and nothing new. Which is too bad because the koreans can tell a darn good story and focus on it.
Yes, this is fun, and I think you’d dig this for a Saturday night caper; was a big hit last year and should be an easy sell worldwide.
Everything you describe sounds right up my alley 😀
Finding it is usually the issue with most movies you review. I’m too cheap to pay for anything besides prime, hahahahahaa.
Fair enough; all good things come to those who wait.