Spy action 'Phantom', the spy is not good, the action is a success

≪Choi Ji-ye’s Some Stars≫
Reporter Choi Ji-ye of Ten Asia rates the movies she saw before their release and leaves a one-line review. Be sure to check before purchasing movie tickets. Because your time is precious!

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How many stars does ‘Ghost’ have? = ★★★☆☆
'Ghost' one-line review = Don't lose your energy while looking for ghosts, action comes later

Gyeongseong during Japanese colonial rule in 1933. In Joseon, whose sovereignty was usurped by Japan, there is an anti-Japanese organization, the Black Brigade. Among these, the spy who went into hiding at the Japanese Government-General of Korea was called a ‘ghost’.

When a serious incident occurs in which the inaugurated governor is almost killed by a ghost, the new head of the security guard, Kaito (played by Park Hae-soo), summons five people who are prime ghost suspects to a hotel on a dead-end cliff. The main characters are Junji (played by Sol Kyeong-gu), supervisor of the communications department at the Government General, Park Cha-kyung (played by Lee Ha-nui) in charge of encrypted text records, Yuriko (played by Park So-dam), secretary to the General Secretary for Political Affairs, Cheon Gye-jang (played by Seo Hyun-woo) in charge of code breaking, and Baek-ho (played by Kim Dong-hee), an employee of the communications department. .

The first half of the movie begins with a search to find out who the ghost is. For some reason, the ghost is revealed openly from the beginning. The traces of the person we follow along the angle leave us with the belief that he is a ghost. This confidence is not wrong. The ghost is busy trying to figure out how to get out of the hotel to carry out his absolute mission of ‘assassination the governor’.

Kaito is also eager to hunt down the ghost, but since the identity of the ghost is already obvious, the plot is loose and without tension. For a story that unfolds in the style of a secret mystery, the process is loose and the structure is loose. If you were expecting intellectual tension in a tightly designed design, you are bound to be disappointed. The characteristics of each character are simply listed, and there is no foreshadowing to guess who the ghost is.

The scene that left an impression in the first half of ‘Ghost’ was the bare-chested fight scene between Junji and Park Cha-kyung. Because it was a fight scene between a man and a woman with a clear difference in weight class, at first I thought, 'Will that happen?' I thought so, but I was immersed and persuaded by Cha Kyung's tenacious persistence in spite of being pushed away. Through this sequence, the movie conveys the message that the fight between these two is not a battle of power, but an irreconcilable confrontation of ideologies.

Then, the trigger pulled by Kaito instantly changes the question mark centered on 'Who is the ghost?' into an exclamation point, opening the second half of the spectacular action. The presence of a ghost hitting you in the back and a fierce gunfight offset the thirst of the first half. Fast-paced cider action scenes unfold one after another, giving cinematic pleasure. As the existence of the ghost, which there was no hint of, is revealed, the narrative, which had been lost, also heads towards a clear destination.

Director Lee Hae-young's special skills, mise-en-scène and use of color, are fun to watch. The Golden Crown, which is the base point of the Black Order, and the hotel where the ghost hunting takes place are both luxurious and mysterious, as they seem to be filled with secrets. The colors of the characters' clothing, which stand out in contrast with complementary colors, imply the character's status and conflicting structure. The production elements and elaborate props scattered throughout the film also steal attention.

The actors' acting is flawless. Lee Ha-nui, who leads the play, shows signs of trying to portray Cha-kyung, whose emotional highs and lows are extreme, in a consistent tone. Sol Kyeong-gu is mysterious until the end, but in the public hall speech scene, he reveals his true feelings and shows his presence. Park So-dam clearly expresses Yuriko's damnable personality as her own. Park Hae-soo is heavy and vicious, and Seo Hyun-woo plays his role by stimulating laughter.

Here, the powerful action of another ghost that reveals its presence in the second half is a definite delight that will fascinate the audience.

Released on January 18th. Suitable for ages 15 and up. Running time 133 minutes.

Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr