Too much about the plot just didn't add up, the writing was bad, some of the scenes were cringey and awkward,

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

A Seoul detective returns to his hometown to attend his childhood friend's funeral ceremony, remaining to seek out the one responsible for his death. The "City of Violence" is Onsung where Taewoo(Doo-hong Jung)returns to discover that childhood pal Pil-ho(Beom-su Lee), operating as President after taking over the reigns from slain Wang-jae(Kil-Kang Ahn) who allowed him to become the powerful leader due to his desire to get out of a life of crime, has become positively maniacal due to his position. Pil-ho was the kid of their gang often looked down on(..or so this is how he saw it as a child)by the rest and so being in charge has gone to his head. In fact, Pil-ho is borderline insane, and so drunk with his power that he has commissioned gangs throughout Onsung to do his bidding, and that includes giving Taewoo a hard time. Taewoo joins forces with fellow childhood chum, Sukhwon(Seung-wan Ryoo)to get revenge for their fallen comrade, watching as those that threaten Pil-ho's goals of securing a land contract for "Casinoland", a desired tourist attraction promising big monetary possibilities, die at his fanatical command. Taewoo and Sukhwon will go the extra mile, no matter the amount of men they'll have to obliterate, to get their hands on Pil-ho.Director Seung-wan Ryoo's City of Violence offers plenty of style and action choreography, with flashy camera work and bloody violence. Two phenomenal action set-pieces include Taesoo defending himself against four street gangs coming from all angles and the grand finale where Taesoo and Sukhwon must work their way through armies of thugs(..most equipped with machetes or ginsu knives)in order to achieve the ultimate goal of getting a hold of Pin-ho. I felt the film is about the deterioration of a group of friends thanks to jealousy and greed. Pin-ho's obsession of attaining the top of the hierarchy no matter the cost fuels the erupting graphic violence ending in tragedy. The filmmakers pull out all the stops and we see how our heroes tire of the endless stream of enemies they must dispose of in order to finish their quest of vengeance for the friend they lost by nefarious means. We see the depths of cruelty Pin-ho is willing to go in order to become a success. While straining credibility, the climax as the two skilled fighters engage their adversaries is exhilarating.

Two films for the price of one, THE CITY OF VIOLENCE: STAND BY ME by way of DUEL OF THE IRON FIST. The director's cinemanship (my term for "cinematic craftsmanship") is topnotch: he does the "gutwork" (laying the emotional groundwork that any movie worth its salt must evince) and delivers, in the end, a side-by-side/back-to-back toe-to-toe throwdown the likes of which we've rarely seen (and, like a John Woo "gun fu" classic at its best, THE CITY OF VIOLENCE does indeed deliver). The matter-of-fact murderer delivers the best line: "Your sense of right... was all wrong." If you like all-out action when it comes to on screen fight scenes, you'll love THE CITY OF VIOLENCE.

The film was decent I guess. The action sequences were okay but at times it felt like I was watching a bunch of guys who had been trained to be ninjas from early infancy. The film has almost the same set-up, roles, themes and outcome as one of Korea's great hits "Friend" (2001). The movie Friend had serious undertones and was filled with nostalgia and great action. The movie City of Violence seemed to just take the coloring and ideas of Friend and then fill in the voids with over the top action.A few minor good points: (spoilers following)The boss (I think he was a boss, the guy with the dyed gray hair) who had travelled to Osung from Seoul was a very competent actor but he was seriously underplayed with little screen time. Also, one of the key characters from the Korean film Oldboy (another great) played as one of the friends. He didn't particularly shine, but he wasn't bad. And lastly, cinematography gets an A for effort.

We can say it is a Kill Bill kind of movie, but it is more an Asian 70-es kind of movie. Kill Bill is more City of violence kind of movie, although I'm sure everyone will be comparing it with Kill Bill when it reaches America - probably next year.This is not a masterpiece, but still a very good and simple movie. And there are many reasons why i liked it and only a few why i didn't. It was short, but not too short. Fighting in the movie is incredible, realistic and unrealistic in the same time. I mean it is unrealistic that a man defeat so many deadly enemies and stands after receiving so many punches, but kicks alone are very realistic. The fighting is a real thing, without special effects or ropes, and all you gotta do is sit and enjoy the fight.The best fighter in the movie is well known Korean actor Jeong Du-hong who plays a roll of a police officer Tae-su whose friend has been killed. He decides to find the killer and gets help from other friends from the past but he will soon realize that the killer is actually one of his friends - Pil-ho. That fact is obvious from the beginning of the movie but don't spoil the movie. In fact, it is interesting to watch the game of Pil-ho who is now a gangster and wait for his end as we have waited for Bill to die in Kill Bill (now I'm comparing them myself)Five friends are main characters in this movie which tells a story about their showdown in present and friendship in past. Drama part of the movie is not done perfectly but everyone should get the point. The Director Ryoo Seung-wan also did Crying Fist, more dramatic and longer movie but there must be something the same about this two films because i love them both very much. And the next thing to do is to find other Ryoo Seung-wan movies like No Blood no tears, and Die bad and see if this is really another great Korean director as Chan-wook Park and Ki-duk Kim.As for City of Violence, if you like fighting you shouldn't miss this one.