This review may contain spoilers
that sub plot is most definitely gay
I know that there is a lot of controversy when it comes to North Korean stories being told by South Koreans, but as someone who isn't Korean at all I can't comment on it. With every twist and turn I was able to stay surprised (as long as I was able to hold up my suspension of belief). Like any movie that involves guns there are scenes where people don't shoot when they could've brought someone down, but once you get to the end you sort of understand why. I didn't look at the casting beyond the two leads so I was very surprised with how many well know actors there were. With such a great cast of course the acting was good and I have no complaints. I really enjoyed the soundtrack especially the inclusion of zionT's song. I had not heard it before watching but it was a very impactful addition. I can see myself watching this again once it goes to streaming, but I highly recommend seeing it in theaters if you have the chance. I would recommend seeing this.When it comes to the *potentially* queer subplot, I don't care what the director says. "The Bastard I Loved" says it all. My thoughts were summed up really well by an article on the IndieWire by David Opie and I recommend giving that a read if you are interested.
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Must-watch -- esp. on the big screen
As a fan of both of the lead actors, I had high expectations for this film, especially given that Lee Je-Hoon and Koo Kyo Hwan felt so confident in it that they jokingly offered to refund anyone who did not feel entertained, or like they got their money's worth (unless you purchased an IMAX ticket, of course). Despite my high expectations, I was not let down.The film was thrilling. The story was well written, well-executed, and (importantly) well produced. The trailer does a great job of giving you a sense of the pacing for the story. It is an action-packed thriller, with twists and turns. While the story is mostly linear, it also relies on viewers understanding some subtext (e.g. the pre-established & hierarchical, but amicable relationship between the leads, and the changes in beliefs), it is well acted.
This movie is a GREAT watch and is *worthy* of watching on the big screen.
I'd venture as far as to say that it's the best movie I've seen all year. I'll be surprised (and disappointed) if Je-Hoon or Kyo Hwan don't win any awards for the film. As my biggest critique is that the end felt a bit rushed; nonetheless, I really enjoyed the watch, and I felt like I was still rooting for all the characters in the end.
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Acting range of Lee je hoon
Lee Je-hoon delivers an exceptional performance, showcasing his remarkable range as an actor. From the moment he appears on screen, he pulls you into the emotional and psychological depths of his character. His portrayal is intense, yet nuanced, allowing the audience to fully connect with the desperation and determination that drive his actions.What stands out most is Lee Je-hoon’s ability to balance the high-octane tension of the film with moments of quiet vulnerability. His facial expressions and body language convey so much more than words ever could, making each scene he’s in deeply impactful. Whether he’s navigating the chaos of the escape or reflecting on the personal costs of his journey, Lee Je-hoon brings a level of authenticity that is both compelling and heartbreaking.
This performance is a testament to Lee Je-hoon’s talent and his ability to elevate any role he takes on. Escape is a gripping film, and Lee Je-hoon’s performance is undoubtedly one of the key reasons it succeeds so powerfully.
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Imaculate Cast
Lee Je Hoon being one of my favourite actors, I simply could not resist watching this movie. I loved Koo Kyo Hwan in DP and this is similar role except on the North Korean side of the tale. There were also a few actors that have worked with LJH in Taxi Driver so that was a fun discovery! I was also surprised to see Song Kang. So the cast in this movie are another plus point.The plot is quite simple. It is about a man's planning involved in defecting to South Korea. The main thrill lies in how difficult that plan actually is to execute. There are some predictable moments and a few that feel unbelievable. But the movie is engrossing despite that. It does have some incredible moments and a few comical ones.
I also liked the message behind the movie about having the freedom to choose. That is something everyone can connect with.
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Unrealistic but interesting
I couldn't fully enjoy the movie. It has a lot of great elements, but also a lot of stupid, illogical and unrealistic details. I won't reveal spoilers but I will at least mention the first scene where we see the main character Im Gyu-nam mapping the way through the DMZ. The scene is full of tension and looks attractive, but it is completely unrealistic. The whole movie is like that. They don't represent the realistic view on North Korean regime but an anecdotal exaggeration of it. The events in the plot are so "extra" that until halfway through the film I kept asking myself: "Is this really happening?", and later I came to terms with the fact that the film is based on impossible plots and even more impossible instant resolutions. Maybe modern audience likes that, but to me it was a bit off putting from what is generally very engaging and interesting story.Life in North Korea must be very difficult, and the film develops the theme of free will and choice well. Is it better to live in obedience-slavery but in security or to live in freedom but in uncertainty? The two main protagonists each answer this question in their own way.
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This review may contain spoilers
It's a good movie!
First of all i didn't like the gruesome scenes with the animals, i dont think it was necessary to add them. Though the movie is still amazing, i was rooting the whole time for the main lead to be able to safely escape although i also didnt like how he bashed out on the younger solider and even hit him when all he wanted was to escape and go to his family as well.For me personally it was obvious from the beginning that the younger solider would get hurt and die, its just unrealistic that both of them would make it successfully. I liked his character but not his decisions, it felt like he was holding the main lead back the whole time with his impatience. I'm sorry to say this but it was so dumb of him to get the necklace in such a risky situation and then dying because of exactly that. He should have kept hiding, he could have just got another necklace later on after escaping like even if it had some sort of special meaning to him dont put an object over your life? I dont like how he gave all the burden to the main lead by telling him to give the necklace to his family. How would he even find them? What would he say to them? "Oh yes here your son lost his life so you can have this necklace instead" just so ugh in my opinion.
Now to the main leads crazy ex, this guy seriously needs some therapy. He is so obsessed with his ex to the point he wanted to have him in a different section thingy so that he can be closer to him. He didnt accept a no either from the main lead, ge is so forceful and obsessive. It was also so unnecessary of him to shoot him so many times at the end, it actually shows that it wasnt real love but really just obsession and about power, well no wonder our main lead broke up with him. I'm just glad it was a happy end, the end almost made me cry. Definitely a movie worth watching.
I personally also find it iconic that in the song there is a line about taxi driver - which lee jehoon played in and is definitely worth watching too!
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This review may contain spoilers
Carries depth!
As you might have guessed, this is no light watch at all. It can gets quite heavy but it is extremely thought provoking and touching towards the endI throughly enjoyed the show- especially the ending- the bromance definitely gave it an added touch- love the plot twist after plot twist
What I love the most is the part where Lee Je Hoon said "At least I can fail all I want"- something along that line. It's really DEEP. When we live in a society with freewill, one of our greatest fear is fear of failure and yet he was coming from a perspective where his whole life was dictacted as such that failure wasn't even an option coz he simply has no freeodom, not even to fail, let alone to dream.
That really makes us think about the little things we might take for granted, and to an extent, to give us the courage to live our life fully. Also the quote that Piano Bro gave him is amazing and I'm glad he got reminded of his quote himself.
I mean the show isn't anything new, it is a portrayal of escape- literally thats what the entire show is about and Lee Je Hoon delivered a stunning performance. The emotions portrayed throughout is really felt by audience- it wouldn't have been the same without him.
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One-off roller coaster ride
Great setting for a political action movie, but it limits its scale towards more of a one-off roller coaster ride instead of a full fledged heavyweight storyline. Characters design are kept at surface level only, some of the escaping plot also felt like fictional gimmicks to purposefully drive suspense, not necessarily a bad movie but it's just not a very deep premise itself, though acting performance is one of the strongest aspects here.Was this review helpful to you?
Exciting adventure thriller with excellent performances
All the Hollywood action thrillers want what this movie has. The plot starts mid-action and always keeps moving, the tension never lets up, the fight sequences are nail-bitingly visceral, and the soundtrack balls out the whole time. Pair these with layered leads plus some scene-stealing side characters, and you have a winning addition to the North/South Korean political action drama pantheon. Besides, in this era of bloated scripts, Escape deserves extra points for its refreshingly trim 90 minute runtime.Not sure why this only has 8/10 on here; it deserves at least a 9 in my book. Go and watch it!
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English and Portuguese Review
𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠At first, I thought the film would follow a completely different idea, but I ended up really liking the way the story is told. The plot follows a North Korean soldier who tries to desert the army and cross into South Korea, something that is already extremely risky on its own.
What caught my attention the most was the courage involved in all of this. North Korea is no joke, and the film makes it very clear how any wrong move can come at a high cost. We follow this tense journey, with situations where the protagonist needs to think fast to survive, and he does that very well. He is an intelligent character, and it’s satisfying to watch how he tries to get through the chaos.
The acting is impeccable and really keeps you anxious to know whether he will make it or not. I also found his relationship with officer Ri Hyun Sang very interesting. It’s clear that there is something more going on there. The film confirms that Ri Hyun Sang is homosexual, and there are several tense moments between the two that give the impression that he has feelings for the protagonist. Maybe that’s exactly why he hesitates to kill him when he has the chance.
For me, the film isn’t a 10/10 because in some scenes the protagonist’s plot armor is very noticeable, with things that probably wouldn’t happen that way in real life. Even so, it’s a very gripping film, tense from beginning to end, and definitely worth the experience.
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𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞
No começo, eu achei que o filme seguiria uma ideia completamente diferente, mas acabei gostando muito da forma como a história é contada. A trama acompanha um soldado da Coreia do Norte que tenta desertar do exército e cruzar para a Coreia do Sul, algo que, por si só, já é extremamente arriscado.
O que mais me chamou atenção foi a coragem envolvida nisso tudo. A Coreia do Norte não é brincadeira, e o filme deixa bem claro o quanto qualquer passo em falso pode custar caro. A gente acompanha essa jornada cheia de tensão, com situações em que o protagonista precisa pensar rápido para sobreviver, e ele faz isso muito bem. Ele é um personagem inteligente, e dá gosto de ver como ele tenta se virar em meio ao caos.
A atuação é impecável e te deixa realmente ansioso para saber se ele vai conseguir ou não. Também achei muito interessante a relação dele com o oficial Ri Hyun Sang. Fica claro que existe algo a mais ali. O filme confirma que Ri Hyun Sang é homossexual, e há vários momentos de tensão entre os dois que passam a sensação de que ele tem sentimentos pelo protagonista. Talvez seja justamente isso que faça com que ele hesite em acabar com ele quando tem a chance.
Pra mim, o filme não é nota 10 porque em algumas cenas fica claro o peso do protagonismo, coisas que talvez não acontecessem assim na vida real. Mesmo assim, é um filme muito envolvente, tenso do começo ao fim, e que vale muito a experiência de assistir.
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The simplicity of the plot makes it for me
I was delighted to watch this movie. Aside from seeing familiar faces, I just really loved the simplicity of the plot itself. Most of the North Korean-themed movies I've watched are too complicated or too heavy to understand adding the fact that it's just a movie so usually I just end up confused but this one is so simple, you know what's going to happen, what's happening, and stuff. I kinda wanted to know more about the nomads in the story rather than them just being a device plot. Some might say it is predictable, but it definitely is but I guess this is my cup of tea.Was this review helpful to you?
Intense and heart-pounding escape
Escape (2024) brings us along on the journey of a North Korean defector attempting to escape to South Korea. It was already so thrilling to watch this as a movie, so how terrifying and thrilling must it be for the North Korean defectors themselves while trying to escape from this hell? One really has to remain calm, act with confidence, and think quickly and strategically to overcome each obstacle they face.Was this review helpful to you?
