The Berlin File (2013)

Ok, this is not easy to watch... The story is there... but it's entwined with the action, that just a simple blink can make you lose track of everything you are watching... This is an action thriller all the way, with lots of twists and turns, well done action sequences and some good acting itself. Korean directors and actors know how to do it well (perhaps Hollywood should learn?)... The only downside to this movie, is really the way the story unfolds... it relies too much on the little things... and it's easy to lose it, and then, the movie starts to feel a little weird... I had to watch 2 times, so that I could understand it, and a third time, to really appreciate the small details here and there. 8/10, solid.

Fmovies: I don't even know where to begin to describe how awesome this movie is! Korean cinema IMO is the best out there when it comes to making movies these days, there's a reason Hollywood buys up all the rights to a number of Korean films, but unfortunately they are just wasting their time remaking these films! The originals are AMAZING, no need to remake them! Same goes for the films coming out of the Scandinavian region, amazing films no need for remakes! The action in this film is some of the best I've seen, as is the storyline, it keeps you on the edge of your seat, and keeps you guessing as to what is really going on. A masterpiece!!!!!!

This film taught me a lesson. Trust the rating more than the reviews. After reading all this positive reviews I really looked forward to see it. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. From the beginning to the end I just stared at the screen with an puzzled , disoriented expression on my face that read : What is going on?!

Trying to hard to be all action-ey and fast paced , Berlin Files doesn't bother to introduce the viewer to the story AT ALL. OK , there is apparently some conspiracy plot going on but everything is so rushed that the legitimate question arises , WHAT actually is rushed. Why are the characters dying , why is this happening , why that?! This case is an example of a film can be ruined with trying to hard to be fast paced. All in all it's style without substance. And in this case it's bad. A conspiracy spy-thriller without substance is just an collection of fight scenes , gunplay and chases. Speaking of which , whoever was responsible for the action is a genius. The 5 stars go entirely to them. The action scenes are so well executed and bombastic , Hollywood has to lie down in a fetus position and cry...

Long story short: If you don't mind watching without knowing what is going on and enjoy superb action-watch it. On the other side , if you like conspiracy thrillers with a good plot-don't waste your precious lifetime.

The Berlin File fmovies. I frequently complain against the espionage films which sacrifice intrigue and suspense in favor of the action. That's why I'm glad to say that the film The Berlin File combines both aspects with a remarkable expertise, offering us an interesting and complex screenplay, accompanied by solid action scenes overflowing of energy. Besides, the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the European settings increments the realism of a story which gets more complicated with every new scene. And I would also like to applaud the political subversion of the film, financed by the studio CJ Entertainment (the biggest one in South Korea), but with a North Korean main character. I don't know whether that might have been a mere political correction, or a genuine call to the cooperation between both nations... after all, what matters is the dramatic richness that that "small" detail brings to the narrative. Some people compared The Berlin File to the Jason Bourne saga, but it reminds me more of the TV series The Americans (even though it has more shootouts and martial arts), because it also handles an interesting moral disjunctive, putting us on the side of the "evil ones" in order to point out the fact the "good ones" might not be as much so as we had thought. And both also portray the tense family dynamic between spies who, besides of everything, also have to deal with the difficulties of marriage. Some couples discuss about financial matters; the husband and wife from The Berlin File talk about putsches or betrayals to the motherland. Anyway, the combination is very satisfactory. My only complaint against The Berlin File is that the intelligent screenplay occasionally employs clichés which feel a bit out of place, such as the talkative villain, and the convenient "don't kill him yet", when there's no valid reason to wait... except for creating the opportunity to the hero to escape. Nevertheless, that's a minor complaint, and it doesn't avoid me from enthusiastically recommending The Berlin File as an excellent espionage film.

What do you get when you mix the Bourne movies with a North/South Korean spy story? This film.

A North Korean spy in Berlin finds himself in a whole world of trouble, involving betrayal and lots of action. The complicated story is something that makes sense for a political based spy thriller, but can get pretty convoluted at times. I would say that I know more about North/South Korean relations than there average person, and i'm no expert, but I still found myself lost at times. Lot's of different characters interact and double cross and it can be hard figuring out who wants what and who did what. But I think at the end of the film I kind of got the main idea. I can certainly see this being a problem with some audiences.

The action is this is pretty great. The fights and shootouts are tightly shot and well directed, making it feel like a Hollywood film, in a good way. Nothing feels cheap or cheesy. It's gritty and hard hitting, just how I like my action.

I guess at the end of the day, there was just something missing for me. I can't quite pinpoint it, which is useless in terms of me giving a clear opinion in this review, but I can't help it. I enjoyed it, but I don't know if it's under rated and recommendable in the way that a film like The Man From Nowhere is. Perhaps the confusing plot just kind of took me out and had me less connected, leading to the big twists being less hard hitting. Either way, I would say watch this if you're up for the challenge or figuring out a highly political and twisting plot. It's entertaining and well made, which is great to see. It also sets itself up for a sequel, which would be interesting to see. Another example of good Korean film making.

This is one of the best movie I have seen in recent years and I don't think it is less than Skyfall..... specially the cinematography is awesome and special effects are so amazing that we see rarely and only in big production house movies.

The main characters are smart and beautiful.. and Director didn't forget to put an emotional touch of unspoken love in the movie.... the background music is impressive and go along with situations and action sequences and at several points it charge you specially towards the ending.

Movie will keep you entertained and busy.. with duration of around 2 hours, you won't feel losing interest at any point.

Above all, the Director Mr. Seung-wan Ryoo really knew the art of making a true entertainer.

I have become a true fan of characters and of course South Korean Cinema too!