ATHENA GODDNESS OF WAR THE MOVIE DVD (2011)

SYNOPSIS: Jung-Woo, an NTS (National Anti-Terror Service) agent is assigned on a mission in Italy while he was getting involved with Hae-in who works at the NIS (National Intelligence Service) but in the public relations department. The South Korean president's daughter is kidnapped by terrorists when Korea develops a new nuclear technology that will shake the world energy market. In a situation where it can become a national emergency, U.S. shows its support by dispatching their head of East Asia at DIS (Department of Information for Security) named Son Hyuk. But most surprisingly, Jung-Woo finds a 'black agent' joining them, a top secret organization within NIS that only takes on impossible missions and that it is no one other than Hae-in. And there, the three make their fateful encounter. With Hae-in's remarkable help, NTS rescues the president's daughter and having revealed her identity, she is assigned as Jung-Woo's partner while Son Hyuk is ordered by the U.S. government to supervise any further developments of South Korea. As South Korea gets closer to completing the new nuclear reactor, numerous terrors begin against them. Jung-Woo discovers that there is a secret society called Athena that has great power over the world energy resources and that they are the ones behind them. But as he gets closer to finding out the truth, mysterious events unravel and he finds evidence that indicate that both Hae-in and Son Hyuk are involved with Athena.

MOVIE REVIEW:

Like its predecessor “IRIS”, “Athena: Goddness of War” is a slick, lavishly produced action drama by the Koreans. While the spinoff allows some characters to crossover, it’s best to watch “Athena” on its own without worrying too much of IRIS universe. This movie version of Athena makes a good condensation of the original 20 episodes TV series and seriously for the production values alone, it already surpassed most of the current Asia theatrical releases.

In a nutshell, Korea has developed a new energy technology and new terrors have emerged endangering the completion beginning with the kidnapping of the President’s daughter and the inventor Professor Kim. When a mysterious organization headed by a group of influential people named Athena starts to unleash more threatening actions, NIS (National Intelligence Service) agent, Jung-Woo (Jung Woo-Sung) must discover the truth behind his ex-girlfriend, Hye-in (Su Ae) and a double-crosser within their camp, Son Hyuk (Cha Seung-Won).

If you can brushed off the numerous mind-boggling acronyms liked NIS, NTS and DIS mentioned, “Athena” is one hell of an easy movie to follow. With action sequences liked shootouts, car chases, explosions, fist fights happening every 15 minutes or so, “Athena” to sum up is basically an encyclopaedia on how to shoot an engaging action thriller. While it remains pretty formulaic and predictable, you can’t help but get yourself absorbed into all the mayhem and thrilling aspects of it. As a result, much of the back stories and flashback of the leading characters are sacrificed receiving only fleeting appearances not that I’m complaining since this is precisely why this movie version exists in the first place.

Jung Woo-Sung might not be as internationally well-known as Lee Byung-Hun but the man who has appeared in movies such as “Daisy” and “The Good, The Bad and The Weird” is more than capable portraying Woo-Sung, the dauntless agent who fires in style and looks as good as Chow Yun Fatt in “A Better Tomorrow”. Leading girl Su Ae (Midnight FM) is equally convincing as the ass-kicking Hye-in and Cha Seung-Won is serviceable as the movie’s anchor villain.

With a breath-taking, globe-trotting location shoot around the world including Japan, Italy and New Zealand, “Athena: Goddness of War” impresses one with its excellent production values and for action fanatics, this is a surprisingly good entry if you still aren’t sold on Korea cinema.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

NIL

AUDIO/VISUAL:

Visual is fair enough for the most part with dialogue and sound effects remaining audible and clear throughout the duration.  

MOVIE RATING:



DVD RATING :

Review by Linus Tee



Back