Seoul Vibe

1988 serves as the travel date of Seoul Vibe, also known as Heavy Rain in the same year. The film lets viewers tag along with the most battered cyclone through Seoul, South Korea. Sue Shin's script not only gave the film vehicle chases and street race scenes, but also 1980s nostalgias, which were directed by Hyun-Sung Moon. The characters of Sanggye-dong Supreme Team were the street racers of the 1988 Summer Olympics and among them, the leader was Dong-wook (Ah-in Yoo) who aspired to lead the way in the struggle for returning to the old days.

Seoul Vibe Movie Explained

At the time in 1988, Seoul is on the eve of a new era. The city preparing for the Summer Olympic Games is a symptom of its political transformation from a military regime to a more democratic society. The street gang that the character Dong-wook leads—Woo-sam (Ko Gyung-pyo), Joon-gi (Ong Seong-wu), Bak-nam (Lee Kyu-Hyung), Yoon-hee (Park Ju-hyon)—is the same group of youth which is very passionate about street racing and is fighting for a better lifestyle in the United States since they are highly influenced by the hip hop and that culture in which they have grown.

They not only want to see the economic giant "fall" but are considering aggressively penetrating the military-industrial complex which is responsible for the brutalities that have made people suffer worldwide. Being the special team hired by the government to perform a sending job, at the beginning, the members are hesitant to carry out this task, thus their plan is not without its cons e.g. if by any chance they stick it through, they will have to abscond, The City of Angels.

As time goes by, they learn that Kang is complicit not only in the criminal stuff but also is encroaching with the government to kidnap people without the consent of the Natives. The team will have to, given the proximity of the Olympic event, tackle the rampant corruption and danger and fight tooth and nail to unveil the truth and save the city.

Seoul Vibe Movie Reviews

One thing that should be pointed out is that the critics have not yet come to a unanimous decision regarding Seoul Vibe. 'An Overly Long and Occasionally Thoughtful Car Chase Action Movie' is the title of the movie, according to Common Sense Media, which assigned it a 2 out of 5. Additionally, the film's exaggerated car chases and slow-motion drifts will attract those who like the genre and make the movie tolerable to them; however, the majority of the audience might feel them to be excessive (overthrust).

Ready Steady Cut, however, looked at the movie with a positive eye and described it as 'joyful, energetic, and rich in memories'. But the review also highly praises the interaction between the actors and the accuracy in capturing the 1980s-Soul spirit of the movie in the heart of Seoul. The critic goes on to state that the film has some shortcomings, like being 20 minutes longer than it should be, but the film is too engaging to pass by (to be ignored).

And in the end, even the New York Times admitted that the movie 'is not as fun as it alleges,' though it is 'amusingly wild' during the last thirty minutes of the chases. The film's clear setting and the chosen place are the things that foil the plot in not the best way, and this is what causes some dips in the plot.

Seoul Vibe Movie on Netflix

Through the Netflix platform, Seoul Vibes will be easily accessible and the viewers worldwide will get to enjoy it. Not to mention that the action, humor, and nostalgia elements have sparked the fondness of the people particularly those who are fans of 80s culture and those who have watched the making of it in Seoul during the Olympics in 1988. Furthermore, the movie is too visually lively and too musically alive with the anthems of the 1980s to merit an exciting and engaging second look.

For more prospective film reviews, check out our take on Jigra - Jigra

Is it Good?

This is a matter of taste and whether Seoul Vibe is good or bad is all about your own preferences. In the case of you being fans of action-packed movies which also are characterized by a good grip of nostalgia that comes with a good, bright location, then you are highly likely to find the film intriguing. Including the great chemistry with the actors, quick vehicle chases, and the historical context of 1988 Seoul have been cited as elements that lend depth to the movie. However, those who look for a little more pointed plot and better writing in general would easily find the picture overly long, and some of its tongue-in-cheek, over-the-top moments beyond their liking.

On the whole, we may say that Seoul Vibe is an amazing journey into the Seoul of 1988, action-packed, nostalgic, and humorous, accompanied by action, fun, and an indication of the hows and whys of things. It’s a film that represents the spirit of a city that is about to transform in the most suitable way. While the storyline, full of interesting incidents, humor, and action, seems to be the greatest strength of Seoul Vibe, at the same time, the story may be a little weak in the beginning and in the middle. However, even though there are a few imperfections, it can still be considered amazing.

• Director

  : Hyun-Sung Moon

• Casting

  : Yoo Ah-in, Go Kyung-pyo, Lee Kyoo-hyung

• Production

  : Kwon Oh Hyun, John Yoo