The Age of Shadows stands out from the typical period drama, offering a South Korean twist that’s packed with action and suspense, leaving cinema-goers utterly captivated.
Breaking away from the traditional Western-centric narratives, The Age of Shadows is a 2016 cinematic masterpiece by Kim Jee-woon, set against the tumultuous backdrop of 1920s Shanghai and Seoul. The film delves into the intense struggle of Korean resistance fighters as they attempt to smuggle explosives from Shanghai to obliterate Japanese facilities in Seoul, all while being hunted by relentless Japanese agents.
A Rotten Tomatoes critic praised the film, stating: “Graphic and gritty, thought-provoking and realistic, The Age of Shadows is not for the faint of heart. An amazing choreographed and executed historic film that places viewers in a believable early 1900s setting and delivers on all counts.”
One viewer was captivated by the film’s intensity, commenting: “This is quite a gripping and tense watch; certainly not one for the particularly squeamish, though, it has to be said. It doesn’t appear especially violent (more so than many other action films) in the first half of the film.”
They continued, highlighting the film’s darker elements: “But there are torture-related scenes in the 2nd half of it, which I found a bit hard to watch once or twice. Still, it’s a relatively atmospheric watch, with some good cinematography.”
Surrey Live reports that viewers are left spellbound by the meticulous attention to detail in The Age of Shadows, with its set designs and costumes vividly resurrecting the 1920s. Achieving historical authenticity in period dramas is no mean feat, yet this film has been lauded for its convincing portrayal, with one viewer commenting on its “incredibly authentic” feel.
They penned: “A stylish spectacle. It’s a pretty familiar tale; not much in terms of narrative innovation here. Not much actually surprises here. Despite being a rather mediocre story, it’s told really well. It’s a really solid spy adventure. The production is pretty much perfect.
“The sets, the costumes, the locations. Everything looks incredibly authentic and sharp. They didn’t cut any corners while making this. It’s also very beautiful to look at. Sharp visuals, very competent cinematography, and plenty of picturesque scenes. The action was very well done. All these points felt like genuine quality.”
Despite not yet becoming a mainstream hit in Western markets, The Age of Shadows enjoyed remarkable success in Korean cinemas, dominating the box office for three consecutive weeks. Its acclaim was such that it was chosen as South Korea’s submission for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards that year, although it did not secure a nomination.
An enthralled viewer commented: “Huge and impressive set pieces that radiate a distinct atmosphere, lots of details, and some decent camera work. Downside: All of the characters were either good or bad, but the ‘whose side are you on?’ theme worked nevertheless.”
Dive into the gripping narrative of this Korean period drama by watching The Age of Shadows, now available on Amazon Prime.