New World
(2013/Well Go USA
Blu-ray)
Picture:
A+ Sound: B+ Extras: C Film: B+
After the
death of the head syndicate, all the mob bosses, leaders are scrambling for the
next head, either legitimately or by force. Ja-sung (or Ja-seong, played by Lee Jeong-jae)
secretly is a long term deep cover cop spying and influencing on the syndicate.
After the death of the boss. he thought
his job would be finished, but the police chief wants him to stay in longer
...for a cop's chance of a lifetime, to bring the entire syndicate down. Ja-sung is then caught between his loyalties
and the mob bloodbath, will his final mission come to an end or cost him his
life?
Park
Hoon-jung’s New World (2013) is a
film of mobsters and police offers us Ja-sung is a high ranking lieutenant for
the mobsters, respected and feared a made man, but this secret police mole is
tired of being in the world of violence and wants out. Unfortunately for him, the police chief is as
ruthless as the mob bosses themselves, he forces Ja-sung to stay in the mob by
threatening to blow his cover. The Section
Chief Kang (Choi Min-sik) believes that the police can secretly influence and
control the syndicate. Ironically,
Ja-sung's only true friend is a loyal mob member, and Ja-sung's only way out
alive maybe taking control of the syndicate for himself.
This
movie was great, at first it reminded me of the Internal Affairs series, but then it was different in the fact the
police was just as ruthless and immoral as the mob, they were willing to break
rules, laws, and accept the loss of life to get the job done. The police used paranoia and fear within the
organization to create in-fighting and kill one another, and even willing to
sacrifice other undercover cops to keep their advantage. The irony lies in the fact that the mobsters
had more loyalty and friendship than the police, at least they didn't try to
screw one another (until the police got involved). It was very karma retribution when the main
character decides he had enough and to kill off both police and mob, and then
create a new world for himself. No
oversimplification or spoilers intended, the idea of the Goldmoon Korean crime
group is totally convincing and the casting, acting, directing and action fit
together extremely well.
The 1080p
2.35 X 1 digital High Definition image is shot on a RED ONE camera with 4.5K
capacity by Director of Photography Chung Chung-hoon (Stoker, Lady Vengeance,
the original Oldboy; all reviewed
elsewhere on this site) and is a top rate work that is just amazing throughout,
while the DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) Korean 5.1 mix may have its share of
dialogue often, the mix is impressive all the way, well recorded, integrated
and impressive. Extras include making of
the film, photo gallery and trailers.
- Ricky
Chiang
