[FILM REVIEW] Unstoppable: When Love Knows No Boundaries

Just a week into its official release and “Unstoppable” has already surpassed over a million ticket sales in Korea. Is it because of the exciting plot? Or is it thanks to the well thought out casting? With my life on the line, I would say it’s thanks to both and more!

This is one film you should definitely watch this year-end because I can say with confidence that the 115 minutes spent on this film will fly by in the blink of an eye.

With a star-studded lineup full of well-known faces, this movie is a great film to watch with your friends and family. “Unstoppable” marks Ma Dong-seok’s (Don Lee) 5th time headlining a film this year after successfully starring in hit films, “Champion”, “Wonderful Ghost”, and more. Known for his big physique and excellent acting chops, this bulky actor surely integrated his role as ex-gangster-turned-loving-husband really well!

Another familiar face to the small and big screens is Song Ji-hyo, who has shown us a new side to herself through her role of Dong-chul’s loving wife, Ji-soo. After watching the film, it was apparent that each and every character were cast well as they seem to seamlessly fit into their characters, it was as if the script was written with their personalities and physiques in mind. All the expressions and emotions were well exhibited, and the added realism gave the movie a whole new dimension that us viewers can look forward to.

Just how far will the power of true love take you to? When Ji-soo gets taken hostage by human trafficker Ki-tae (played by Kim Sung-oh), Dong-chul drops everything and runs to save the love of his life using whatever means he can get his hands on.

Don’t be deceived by his fierce appearance though, because on the inside, he’s honestly a little softie for his wife. Accompanied by 2 sidekicks, the trio set off on a relentless maze to get to Ji-soo but as they uncover more about the kidnapping, mystery begins to shroud the case and they find themselves in a bigger mess than what they initially expected.

This film touches on various aspects. In particular, “Unstoppable” showed us just how greedy humans can be in the face of money.

The general storyline was simple albeit with a lot of twists and turns added to it for extra excitement. So much so that every time Dong-chul delivers a punch to the enemy, I find myself cheering for him more and more. Furthermore, the antagonist’s psychotic acting was on point even though he eerily reminds me of the Joker from DC Comics with his brightly colored suits and maniacal laughter (That’s a good thing!).

Thanks to the two sidekicks that stuck with Dong-chul throughout the journey, the film had a slight comedic touch to it, a good way to keep the crowd entertained.

All in all, there was a good balance of all the essential elements such as suspense, action, comedy, and etcetera that were needed to make a film fantastic and thus, “Unstoppable” is definitely a very enjoyable piece to watch!

For first-time director Kim Min-ho, I would say that almost everything, from the plot to the location planning, were flawless but there are some downsides to this show. While Song Ji-hyo was listed as one of the main characters of this film, the number of lines and scenes she had did not do her justice. It was apparent that she had some of the hardest portions to film but it somehow felt as if she was just a supporting cast with the amount of screen time she had.

Furthermore, Ma Dong-seok seem to always play the same role – The tough on the outside, fluffy on the inside type, so the film would have been even better if they had expanded on his character so that he could show more of his distinctive charms. But this, of course, doesn’t stop the film from being amazing. If you have time, hit the theatres soon to catch this movie, you will not regret it!

Actor’s Appeal: ★★★★☆
Plot: ★★★★☆
Cinematography:★★★★☆
Sense of Satisfaction: ★★★★☆

Total: 4/5

“Unstoppable” opens in Singapore cinemas from 6 December 2018. Watch the official trailer and find out more about the film here:

[K-MOVIE] Ma Dong Seok Plays the Unbeatable Beast in “Unstoppable” – In Cinemas 6 December

(Photos: mm2 Entertainment)