Search - The Foul King on DVD

Buyer Beware

Robert E. Fyler | Marietta, GA | 01/19/2005

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I ordered this movie and it is a Chinese dubbed version of the Korean movie. Now that is great for someone who speaks Chinese, but if you are looking for the Korean version Amazon is defrauding you. For those of you who like foreign films, you need to urge Amazon to do the right thing and tell us what we are getting."

Witty & Fresh!

K. Brown | Walnut, Ca USA | 06/22/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Being a huge admirer of Asian cinema and pro wrestling, I picked up "The Foul King" with few expectations; I was curious how a comedy about pro wrestling in South Korea would play out, especially years after South Korea's glory days of the pop-sport have come and gone.For many of us Americanos who love Asian flicks are aware, comedy can get lost in translation and/or different cultural tastes. I found the comedy in The Foul King outright funny, with no humorous blockades or borders. The actors have a unique spontaneity, delivering physical humor that doesn't go too "over the top." The comedy is just shy of being typical sophomoric humor, but they pull in the reigns before they cross the line from comedic to buffoonery. Good dramatic performances are an effective contrast to the silliness, and these element make for one of my favorite DVD surprises in the past year.We have seen similar premises since the silent movies: Dae-Ho is a mediocre performing office worker in a mediocre office, brow-beaten by an abusive supervisor, and pretty much a loser outside the office. He chances upon a pro wrestling gym, suffering in both the talent pool and the economic side, and whose owner is looking for potential students. Dae-Ho dreams of following in the footsteps of Korea's wrestling icons like Kim Il. The road to his fantasy has multiple snags & bumps, with organized crime and day-job conflicts jumping into the mix to keep this a fresh comic caper.I recommend this DVD whole-heartedly. The protagonists are refreshing, the heels are loathsome. An age-old plot, yes...but an irresistible age-old plot!"

Had Me Laughing Out Loud

DK | Gilbert, AZ United States | 06/09/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Foul King is a Korean comedy about a [guy] stuck in a dead end job. He constantly daydreams about becoming a professional wrestler and manages to fulfill his dreams. You don't need to be a wrestling fan or Korean (or both) to enjoy this film. Even with the subtitles, it's funnier than most Hollywood "comedies" of recent years. I consider myself very picky when it comes to films..very few I like..esp comedies. But this one had me laughing out loud."

Where's the ending?!

GunSmoke101 | Chicago | 06/24/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Ok, Kim Jee-Woon is no doubt talented and the film has a style and whimsy that seems to transcend cultural boundaries. Yet none of the film's plot strands coalesece into a coherent ending... well, because there is no ending! I find it interesting that not a SINGLE review mentions this, perhaps because the glossy exterior keeps us from pinpointing some of the glaring structural problems. Still, before everything leads to the inevitable and cliched final battle, FOUL KING is a rarity-- a comedy that is actually funny."