Movie Review: Mujeokja (A Better Tomorrow)

On October 14th, the most viewed movie during the 2010 Chuseok holiday, Mujeokja,�opened at the CGV Cinemas in Los Angeles.�Mujeokja retells the story of John Woo's 1986 Hong Kong action film, A Better Tomorrow. Starring two of Korea's 20 hottest male celebrities in�Joo Jin Mo and Song Seung Hun, the Korean remake stays true to the spirit of the original film, while placing it in a Korean context with a new twist to the ending. The movie revolves around a noble yet guilt-ridden older brother, Kim Hyuk (played by Joo Jin Mo), his resentful younger brother, Kim Chul (played by newly wed actor�Kim Kang Woo), and Hyuk's loyal and trustworthy best friend, Lee Yong Choon (played by Song Seung Hun). Hyuk and Yong Choon are riding steady as partners in crime at the top of an arms trafficking gang. However, things change when Hyuk finally meets with his long-lost younger brother, Chul. Although Hyuk is overjoyed to be reunited with Chul, Chul sees his brother as an enemy for abandoning him and his mother while escaping from North Korea, and blames him for his mother's death. Hyuk decides to clean up his act and quit gunrunning after one final job in Thailand. Unfortunately, Hyuk finds himself in a set-up plotted by the ambitious and greedy newbie,�Jung Tae Min (played by the recently enlisted Jo Han Sun). He manages to escape the scene, but eventually surrenders to the Thai police and is imprisoned for 3 years. Back in Korea, Yong Choon hears the news, seeks revenge and kills the Thai gang involved. In the process he gets shot behind the knee, leaving him permanently crippled. Chul, on the other hand, becomes a cop and continues to hold a grudge against his older brother. Upon Hyuk's release from prison, he returns to Korea to find that Tae Min is now the head of the gang, and Chul in charge of Tae Min's case. The first two thirds of the movie dragged out and failed to captivate, but the epic action packed emotional final third of the movie made up for�deficit. A story of love and betrayal, loyalty and abandonment; it may not be a blockbuster hit like The Man From Nowhere, but Mujeokja is sure to please fans of the original Hong Kong film. Mujeokja is currently playing at the CGV Cinemas in Los Angeles. While it currently does not feature English subtitles, they will be added this weekend. Check out the CGV Cinemas�website or Facebook page for more details. Check out the movie posters, movie stills, movie trailer, and music videos below! [gallery columns="4"] Official Movie Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6u0Jxrqek4 "A Better Tomorrow" by Chemistry http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81TqoSzHIQo Kim Hyuk (Joo Jin Mo) Theme Song: "Forgiveness" by Tei http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGkx8kEQJhQ Kim Chul (Kim �Kang Woo) Theme Song: "Timeless Memory" by Shin Hye Sung http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xfzzwwv68Ec Lee Yong Chun (Song Seung Hun) Theme Song: "Road" by Kang Sung Min http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgMFHbXd5p0 Photos: Naver Videos: Youtube