Lack of good storyline.

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

The cover of The Berlin File DVD I purchased depicts Jung-woo Ha in the center of a metropolis as explosions take place around him, choppers taking to the air as crippled vehicles block the roads. This particular image does not do the film justice, which is far subtler in its portrayal of spies in alien environments suffering the repercussions of being betrayed.Rather than providing the viewer with environments tourists would often venture towards (with the exception of a couple attractions), the Berlin File is often set in locations including backstreets, maintenance areas, government buildings, highrises, hotels and the countryside. There are very few flashing, gorgeous attractions because the world of espionage does not take place in the eye of the public, but covertly, and the film generates this feeling perfectly.Ha plays North Korean ghost Pyo, who, after a weapons deal goes inexplicably wrong, finds himself questioning the loyalties of those around him in an attempt to discover who could have possibly set him up. The list of suspects not only includes the North Korean Ambassador (Lee Geung-young), but Pyo's wife Ryeon (Jeon Ji-hyun), a translator at the North Korean Embassy. The lacking passion in their relationship is well portrayed, with Pyo's love and dedication been firmly placed with his country, unable to realize the strain living in another country is doing to Ryeon.Initially it proves difficult to ascertain the loyalties of even the most enjoyable characters, the feature efficaciously building a story of suspense and intrigue where nothing is ever as it seems. The situation quickly escalates as South Korean agent Jung (Suk-kyu Han) attempts to find out who was involved in the failed weapons deal, alongside investigations by Mossad and the CIA, all of which begin converging upon Pyo. As the tension mounts, North Korean agent Dong (Seung-beom Ryu), is sent to fix the situation, and offers Pyo a solution. His decision, to accept or refuse the proposal, shapes not only the directionality of the story, but will lead to ramifications even he cannot escape.Part The Suspect, the Bourne Films and Mission Impossible, The Berlin File is not heavily reliant on explosions, instead providing the audience with a number of excellent close quarter combat scenarios that are as well choreographed as they are entertaining. Unlike in some films where the action is incredibly quick, it is easy to gauge what is transpiring during the confrontations.Ji-hyun portrays the only lead female in the entire film, originally her screen presence been limited, the story focusing on other events. Although the feature begins to focus more on her as it progresses, and despite there been enough information to understand the history she and her husband share, I would have appreciated the opportunity to see more of her character. Furthermore, with the majority of the film occupied by male cast members, I believe that the few female characters should have had a larger role, with other South Korean spy thrillers, such as Iris, often providing men and women alike an equal presence on screen.Ha is a great lead to build a film around, his acting, alongside his professionally gifted co-stars, and the achievements of the fights, proving to be an entertaining experience. The final battle will potentially remind people of fights that transpired in the Bourne Identity, Mission Impossible 2 and Flashpoint, and though very enjoyable, occasionally the film could have pushed for far greater originality.The film's conclusion could provide the assumption that a sequel might possibly bless our screens, however I personally have my doubts. If this is not your first foray into South Korean cinema, then you will know that not all movies from this part of the world end conclusively. Often, this isn't achieved so a pointlessly unnecessary sequel, the kind America often churns out, is created, but so the audience will have something to ponder about after the credits, causing them to think long after about what may hypothetically occur.Entertaining, intelligent and constantly causing the audience's head to spin with the many twists and turns, The Berlin File blends action together with drama and thrills to create a very enjoyable spy film that emotionally demonstrates the hardships of living a double life.

This century, many Korean films have gained both reputation and good box office in the West as well - as providing another approach and arrangement than English-speaking films with often recurring/hackneyed elements. Bereullin is another fine example of this, with tensions between Koreas and with Arabs were brought into a German city (towards the ending - into Latvia, what was odd). Apart from usual intelligence issues, we see another dimension of betrayal concept, and how greed for money and hollow slogans can have the same origin (also visible in present Russia, for example). Although the plot has some flaws, especially explanation-related, the events alternate smoothly, there are some twists and skilfully accomplished action scenes. Performances are also good, particularly the leading antagonists (well, as for supporting actors, it was sometimes difficult to identify them, but it is common vis-a-vis non-Caucasians).Thus, a good action, rather different than usual US/British ones because of different action solutions and inclusion of Cold War breath into contemporary world. The big Iron Curtain is broken decades ago, but a small one still exists in North Korea.

Be prepared to invest sufficient attention into an arduous story of North- and South-Korean secret service affairs. Mostly North-Korean, because they are the main characters of the story."Chekism" (see Wikipedia for definition), triggered in North Korea by the USSR intrusion, is a sort of state-mediated robbery and state-provided terrorism in favor of Pharaoh's family and a narrow circle of his guards and buddies. Having being deprived of usual and legal economical levers, chekist state can only evolve through criminal activities of any kind. Consequently, all people, engaged in these activities, are criminals by definition - by the very fact of their participation, whether it is conscious or not. Nature doesn't care if something happens consciously or not, it just records the instances. The resulting outcome is equitable on a large time scale: those, who participate in crime, have no further chances to participate in evolution. This simple (though not evident) law of nature is not declared explicitly, but in many South-Korean films it's pronounced rather distinctly. And this is what makes them always sensible, yet often unexpected.

This spy movie had me on the edge of my seat many times. This is a good fast-paced action, thriller, and drama with subtitles. The fight scenes were excellent, the stunt driving was top-notch; there was so much that was great about this movie. What I found so refreshing in this Korean movie, was the lack of blood and gore that Hollywood uses by the truckload. The subtitles sometimes moved too fast though. Ten lines of text about a movie is too much to say about a movie especially since one will give spoilers away. I choose not say what is in the movie but to say it was good. If one knows ahead of time what one will see then it will no longer be a surprise. That is wrong with all of the movie trailers because they give the movie away before we even pay to see it.