Synopsis
There is a familiarity about Arahan. It is like the steady diet of urban action spectacle, with the struggle between good and evel, seen in many a Hollywood blackbuster. An unhandsome hero gifted with tremendous natural potential and through its discovery fighting evel is rule number one of that embodies martial arts films. Inside this familiar frame, what new ideas and concepts can director RYU Seung-wan hope to deliver? The answer lies with the unique visual space of Seoul as a backdrop and the reinterpretation (or maybe the correct interpretation) of the comic character Maruchi Arachi. The Seoul portrayed in Arahan is a sterilised one. Yongsan was once the place where the dragon's power would shake the ground, but now those divine powers have vanished. Taoist masters congregate and kill time in an almost empty temple and appear on TV variety shows to make ends meet. If the existence of evel spirits and energy teeming in the ground is unavoidable, then our hero, the rookie cop Sang-hwan (RYOO Seung-bum), wants to punish the bad guys with his own strength. Who are the villains in Arahan? A gang leader, corrupt enterpreneurs, dishonest politicians and so many more crooks. However, the absolute evil in Arahan is the Black Cloud character that moves the film into a more metaphysical world. Maybe that is why the battle between evil and good in Arahan, the thrill of eradicating of everyday villains, is so vivid and the fight for world peace and order is so gruesome. One reason this film is so enjoyable is the naiveness and dexterity of RYOO Seung-bum's acting. Calling to mind Jackie CHAN's Snake in the Eagle's Shadow, RYOO Seung-bum's brutal final battle has an indomitable spirit. Watch out for the unforgettable line: "Are you in the broadcast room?" (KIM Hyung-suk)