Athena Goddess of War (2010)

[Drunk Monk]

This was originally a K-TV show but it was condensed into one 2+hour movie and that's probably a good thing because I doubt I would have made it through the series. It made for a tight yet slightly confusing film. It's a spy romance - a hot stoic kick-ass operative is playing both sides, or is she? She's got a hunky agent on both sides - one a terrorist turncoat that originally recruited her, the other, in the anti-terrorist agency. It's got great K-style, everyone looks great, sexy and stylish in black designer suits and polished black SUV Kias. It's got some great locales too - the Seoul architecture is fascinating (as I've mentioned many times before, K-flix have a fascination with architecture), the Italy segments are as scenic as a Bond film. The lead actress Soo Ae carries the role quite well with her monstrous doe eyes - she keeps that stoic mask of an operative, yet betrays just enough emotion peaking out of the corners of her eyes. But where this film really shines are the fire fights. There's some excellent gun play - all of the gun fights are ballistic, tense and engaging. Digital squibs, but not overused. No swordfights although lots of good ultravi. No dance numbers or dogs. No sets of note, save some of the stuff that explodes.