ARAHAN

Alternate Title: ARAHAN:URBAN MARTIAL ARTS ACTION
Country: South Korea
Release Year: 2004
Genre: Martial Arts / Comedy
Language: Korean
Running Time: 114 mintues

[Cast]
Seung-beom Ryu
So-yi Yoon
Sung-kee Ahn
Doo-hong Jung
Ju-sang Yun

[Writer / Director]
Seung-wan Ryoo

ARAHAN is sort of like a korean HOUSE OF FURY(2005)
It's a light-hearted actioner with awesome fight sequences.
The comedy without sounding too cliche' is very anime-ish if you will.

ARAHAN actually is like a cross-hybrid of SHAOLIN SOCCER(2001), IRON MONKEY(1992), and WHASANGO a.k.a VOLCANO HIGH(2002) I know it's sounds kinda wierd, but that's how I felt when watching ARAHAN.

It's a story about 7 martial arts masters whose job is to guard the key that can unlock powers beyond anyones' imagination. 2 of the masters has already fallen, four are still alive, and continuing to guard the key. One of the masters Ja woon(Sung-kee Ah) is taking care of his beautiful but feisty daugher Wi-jin(Soo-yi Oon)whose also a skilled martial artist herself.

Wi-jin uses her extraordinary fighting abilities to the test by pummeling down two-bit thieves, and purse-napping riff raffs. Along the way she meets Sang-hwan(Seung-beom Ryu)a brave but bumbling beat cop during one of her skirmishes.
She accidentally hits Sang with one of her wild, uncontrollable 'hadokens' [Gamers, you know what I mean!] a ball of energy that she unleashes with both her palms.

Sang gets hit with this ball of energy, and knocks him down cold. Wi-jin takes him to be healed by her father Ja woon and the 3 other masters, when they unexpectedly find out that Sang has a very rare, and strong form of 'chi'. Right away he wanted to train him to become a fighter, but because Sang woke up terrified he got up, and ran away.

Meanwhile, during his duty as a beatcop walking the streets. Sang comes across a couple of gangsters who beats the living crap out of him. Feeling sorry for himself he quickly remembers Wi-jin throwing that ball of energy, and him getting hit by it. Now comes an idea, why don't he study what she knows in order to learn how to throw those balls of energy. So that he can use what he learns from her, and use it unto the gangsters who beat him up.

Sounds simple right? Well...yeah!

Safe to say he went back to see Wi-Jin asking her if he too can learn such a trick! Soon, Wi's father Ja woon admits him, and started to teach him by assigning him different chores ala KARATE KID(1984) That's pretty much the story of how he became a excellent fighter. It turns out that the special 'chi' is a sort of power that helps Sang learn fast, and become a skilled martial artist.

So guess what?

The seventh master suddenly awakens and desires the key that will give him vast supernatural powers that will enable him to rule the world. So he unleashes death, and chaos to anyone that stood in his way. So who do you think he goes after???

Well I'll leave it up to you. It's very exciting especially during the scenes showing Sang finally getting the chance to show what he's learned. Like I said, the martial arts action in this flick undeniably ultra-cool!!!

It's fast, fluid, and truly looks painful. The only thing that kind of bothered me was during Wi-jin, and Sang's training. Their movements are'nt as graceful as they should have been. But it won't in any way spoil your enjoyment of this awesome flick.

So the plot is pretty simple to follow. The comedy is hilarious, there are some scenes in the movie where you'll just find yourself laughing hysterically.
However you will be watching ARAHAN for the sheer amount of martial arts action.
There are plenty especially when you get towards the middle, that's where all the action really takes off.

Yes, it could've used more intense fighting action in the beginning but, it's also good that director Seung-wan Ryoo paid close attention in the character development. It truly worked to perfection because, we were able to know who Sang, and Wi-jin as a person. Therefore, whenever they would get in to intense fight scenes, we feel for them. Especially when both of their lives are threatened.
It really was a great choice to include a nice plot, and backstory for the characters in ARAHAN.

I guess you can already tell what I'm about to write huh? It's okay.
I love movies like ARAHAN. It's why I watch these movies in the first place!
Everyone has to see this flick. It's an awesome ride in the urban streets of Seoul.
It's always a good thing to see a martial arts movie that is properly done, and well executed that is ARAHAN:Urban Martial Arts Action.

One Word: AWESOME!!!