Typhoon (2006/Korea/Genius DVD)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: B-     Extras: C-     Film: C

 

 

In one of the more explicit and unfortunate attempts to emulate Hollywood, the Korea actioner by  Kwak Kyung-Taek called Typhoon (2006) is not another natural disaster film, but an attempt to do something like Michael Bay’s The Rock as terrorists threaten the country with stolen nuclear waste.  Throw in some of Jan de Bont’s Speed and you have an effort as recycled-feeling as its U.S. equivalents.

 

However, this became too repetitious that it eventually started to trip over itself and event he action sequences became silly.  That is a shame because the Korea Cinema has had so much to offer and we can only hope this is an exception of what is to come, because it never worked.  Points go for ambition, coherence and some likable actors.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 2.35 X 1 image is slightly soft and a bit darkened to be “serious” or the like, but the look lands up being one of the less distinct-looking Korea films we’ve seen to date.  The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix has a good soundfield, especially where the fighting and music are concerned, but dialogue is again not always as consistent.  The only extras are long making of piece and four-part featurette.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo