O Agente Faixa-Preta (2024)

I just finished watching this and I don't know how I feel about what I just saw.

I'm a martial arts fanatic. I will watch any and everything martial arts related. The title got to me and of course the fighting previews reeled me in.

The main character gets introduced as not having a life. He's easily bored if he's not having any kind of fun from winning what he thinks are challenges. He stumbles upon a person getting beat and he winds up helping that person with his martial art skills which gets told to someone in the ankle monitoring department of the police station. He learns the person he helped will be out of commission for 5 weeks and with his martial art skills, the ankle monitoring department could use some help with dealing with the difficult ones who won't obey the ankle monitoring rules. He then takes the job because he thinks it's fun. He then realizes the job he'll be doing isn't so fun because most involves sexual assault crimes against children. This right here could be a trigger for some which is why I think this movie treaded very lightly on the subject.

Now that I'm thinking about how I felt what I saw, the word 'light' explains it. This movie was very light. It only told the crimes of the ankle monitoring perps. Only two actors showed a light dusting of why they had to wear their ankle monitors.

The main bad guy hardly had any back story. We just know he's a horrible person that shouldn't be around kids. He gets out of jail only to pick up where he left off. This happens to be the heart of the movie but again, it was lightly done.
You get a few sprinkles of fighting scenes thrown in. The guy recruits his best friends to help capture the bad guy.....and that's about it.
He faces the bad guy again after the bad guy and his goons manage to injure the first MML and the other ML 's.

It ends with the hero saving the day...as usual...and that's it.

I usually gripe about Korean movies being a lot of fluff with no explanations on a lot of things and this one was like that. Luckily it wasn't drawn out and wrapped up in a news segment like a lot of Korean movies tends to do.

If you want a light hearted crime movie with some fighting thrown in, here's your movie.

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Worth the wait!

Like for real! Its been a long time since ive watched anything starring Kim woo bin and when i heard the news and saw the poster about this movie i was anticipating to watch it and really it was so worth it. Starting from the story, the characters, the acting, plot everything was really nice. Story with the anklet thingy was new for me so it was refreshing. (as it wasn't a cliche)
There are moments when it make you laugh with the humour and times it make you cry with their words and certain situations...
The cast was what pulled me to watch the movie but really, it was so satisfying. Anything starring Kim sung kyun is loved and with Kim woo bin it just became even more lovable and amazing! Loved it!
Spoiler included down:
There's one thing i am really sad about, taht the sergeant Cho died by the hands of those thugs, like he didn't deserve it at all!!

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A pretty face its all that matters, right?

I admit myself that it was Kim Woo Bin that made me want to watch this.
He and Kim Sung Kyun gives a wonderful synergy through the story.
Imho, it ends here. All the good bits.
The entire movie there were several things I just couldnt get my head around:

1. So.. anyone can become an officer and authority if they have the martial art skill?
2. Low level drones giving Ace quality nightvision (facepalm).
3. Ankle devices being able to be cut with scissors....
4. Regardless where they were, what dire situation they were in, they never ever called for police backup nor did they seem to work with the police force,,,
5.Bodywest that does not cover the entire torso...

Tbh, my list can go on. Normally I can ignore those details, but for me this time, it destroyed the story, as these details were the story. It feels they just wanted to showcase KWB's athletic skills but even that was kinda poorly executed.

When the end came I just felt utterly disappointed, what a waste of time.
The only reason it doesnt get a 0 in rating is because the acting of the actors was really good. It felt they did the best of the situation...

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Worth watching

December 2024
A unique setting of the S.Korean Probationary Service, which was interesting, if very likely far from reality (but, I have no real idea).

I found the feel of this film to be a little odd, in that at times it came across quite tongue-in-cheek, whilst at others it was far more serious. It was like some kind of Super Hero movie, but then at other monents more like real life. I think dry humour rather than some of the more unsubtle stuff, would have worked better, imo.

But.... I so enjoyed it! KWB was great. His gentle character (Lee Jeong-do) matured no end and for someone who tried to feign disinterest and detachment... well, he failed. Watching the character learn, find a purpose and grow from it, was very feel-good.

The pairing of character LJD with that of Kim Sun-min was excellent. They complimented each other so well and there was nothing in KSM not to like.

I also liked LJD's relationship with his father; a character who was quite layered.

LJD's 3 friends were amusing and all quite different. Nerds united, but so likeable.

Some of the felons were, as expected, awful, and I admired Sun-min's ability to stay impartial. Doubt very much I could!

This film has plenty of action and it's all very nicely packaged.

As a footnote, I rather liked a slightly rough, bleach blonde, black roots Woo-bin, too ;~)

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A swirl of emotions

I have seen so many dramas and movies of this genre and I have to say that this is the one of the best I've watched. Watching this movies brings out all the emotions. Joy, sadness and anger. The cast was amazing!! Kim Woobin never disappoints! Even the support casts did an amazing job! The three friends joining him in the end to catch the criminal was just the cherry on top for one of the best movies ever. I watched this movie just for Kim Woobin but fell in love with the entire storyline and the cast. The team leader and his care for his team members, the innocent officer who died on site but left a great impact on viewers with his loyalty towards his captain, the three friends who didn't hesitate for a second to help their friend catch the bad guy, the dad who was worried for his son but wholeheartedly supported him catching the criminal and the little girl who went through one of the most traumatic experiences ever but overcame it strongly, everyone did a great job at bring out the reality of the world these days. Watching this movie made me really wish the world was a much better place for children.

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A solid watch

Officer Black Belt, billed as an action comedy, is the latest in Netflix catalogue of movies from South Korea. It follows the 'adventures' of a martial arts - sports enthusiast as he volunteers for a position on the parole officers team.
Clocking in just under two hours, the movie aims to be a coming-of-age story covering a fair bit of ground as the protagonist matures over the course of a few weeks on the job. It is medium paced with very few boring or dragging sequences and the earnest performances by the cast - including the bad guys - hold the viewers attention admirably.

I'll start with the bad with is not too many
1. The screenplay is a little immature. The bad guys are purely evil and the good guys are completely good. There are no grey characters.
2. Our hero is an epitome of all values - best friend, honest worker, upright citizen, filial son, never doubts himself or others, eminently likable etc etc. The only slight 'flaw' - if you can even call it that - is that he wants his job to 'fun' but this quirk is written out very quickly.
3. Lee Jung Do looks a little old for the part - keeping the ages of his friends in mind he should probably be in early-mid twenties but he looks older. And you start to question why this older dude is living with his dad and having his dad prepare meals for him.
4. The tone of the movie shifts from goofy, cute, buddy cop story to dark quite suddenly. In the second half the movie is darker and then abruptly there's a goofy sequence where the hero's friends buy equipment.
5. The bad guy is 'boss - like' invincible. He just doesnt die or even break after a savage beating. After a point, it gets annoying to see the protagonist unable to prevail during the fights.
6. Some might find the action sequences to be a little longer than necessary - I did. There are four major fight sequences. At least 5-6 mins could have been cut down to reduce viewer fatigue.
7. Keeping the subject in mind, I would not classify it as a comedy though there are a few light-hearted scenes. Dont go in expecting to laugh.

The good
1. The movie has its heart in the right place. it tackles the very serious issue of law enforcement unable to 'act' against paedophiles, quite hampered by the laws. This is probably the same situation in most countries around the world and you can feel the frustration of the characters when they are helpless.
2. It never gets into 'exploitation' by having gratuitous scenes of sexual assault. There is one sequence but it is filmed well, so the character was never even in the same frame as the other guys. The movie makes you uncomfortable but to provoke righteous anger not titillate.
3. There is no romance forced in. It would have been completely out of place given the story.
4. For an action movie the action takes a while to start. On the bright side, when it does, it is brutal. The scenes are shot well.
5. Everyone has performed acted very well. Lee Jung Do could have been corny but he comes across as likable and reliable, the sort of guy you'd want to be best friends with. Lee Hyun Kul is one of the scariest characters on-screen at the moment, a proper evil character. He did so well, that I felt bad for him to have to play the villain.

In all it is a solid watch and will stay with you for some time.

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An All-rounder Movie!!!

Omg- Kim Woo Bin totally caught my heart on this one! It's one of his best performance so far!

If you've watched way too many detective/prosecutor show like I do, then this would be something to your liking =but with a twist! Since it's about probation officer, it shows a side that's very important which are often neglected

It's full action-packed, with a touch of comedy- mainly because the main character is a funny guy.

He is like a small kid in a buffed body which matured into a matured man towards the end

I love the character development, the action, storyline and everything.

So many touching moments- especially the last scene. This is really a meaningful and exciting show!!

I also love the team spirit among the officers. It's really welldone. been a while since i watched such a great Kmovie! Thank you!

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Pedofile Busters

When theres a sexoffender in the neighbourhood, who you gonna call, Pedo busters...

An action filled movie that goes beyond the individual secoffender and shows it in a larger context, While I am not really sure of how close this actually is to reality and I am pretty sure peoples abiltay to heal in this is extraudanary. The pacing, and flow of the story where pretty good. Acting is top as they casted Koreas A list actors even for the minor roles.

The villains are trulley evil... probably as evil as it gets. The good guys are chamring, fun a cross between ghost busters and armageddon type of crew... Saving the world from pedofiles and sexoffenders.

I want to say that it is an easy movie to watch, but at the same time the issue in hand is pretty dark so I am conflicted about what to say about it... But I guess just like a spoon full of sugar makes the medicin go down ... an oppa and a dose of freindship can make the darkest story go down...in true korean style but without the slapstick....

Ps, there are no annoying over the top characters in this, so if you are in the mood for some darkness, evil and blood this is not a bad place to find it.

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Officer Black Belt Korean Movie Reviews

Officer Black Belt marks Kim Woo Bin's triumphant return to action-packed cinema, blending thrilling martial arts sequences with social commentary.

The film follows Lee Jung Do, a seemingly ordinary man who works at his father’s chicken restaurant but secretly possesses exceptional martial arts skills. His life changes when he steps in to save a probation officer, leading him to temporarily join the ranks of law enforcement, tackling dangerous criminals and reevaluating his life choices.

The movie is not just about fast-paced action; it delves into significant societal issues, including South Korea’s lax sexual assault laws and child safety concerns. The plot critiques the justice system while delivering an emotional narrative about duty and morality. However, some narrative elements, such as the ease with which Jung Do navigates law enforcement, may feel a bit unrealistic.

Kim Woo Bin shines in the lead role, bringing emotional depth and physical prowess to the character, making his martial arts scenes particularly gripping. The dynamic between Woo Bin and Kim Sung Kyun (playing probation officer Kim Sun Min) adds further emotional weight to the story, making it more than just an action spectacle.

While Officer Black Belt has some narrative flaws, including the handling of sensitive topics, it succeeds in offering a thrilling watch with timely messages about justice and protection

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One of the Best Movies I've Seen

Honestly, it's widely known to many that Kim Woo-bin never misses with anything he acts in. But this movie is not only one of the best pieces of work he's taken part in but also genuinely one of the best action movies I've seen. The plot is engaging; first capturing your attention with the ML being an adrenaline junky. He spends most of his days practicing, sparing, or playing video games while also making deliveries for his father's restaurant. Maybe doesn't sound great at first but the way it's filmed makes you (at least it made me) almost feel the adrenaline too.

The ML is almost innocent in his lack of knowledge about the criminal world but he's got a good heart. Never turning away from a challenge and not turning his back on anyone in need. And I could feel the growth he experienced throughout the film as he went from someone who was just in the job temporarily because he thought the concept of fighting a bunch of "ex-cons" all day/night was fun to someone who found purpose in what they were doing. The ML captured my heart in a way that I could feel his pain when something went wrong or someone got hurt. He cares and he makes you feel it with him.

I'll definitely rewatch this and recommend this to anyone wanting a great action film that really gets you invested in what happens on screen.

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