Phantom ~ It’s Hard to Aim a Weapon at a Ghost

“Phantom” is a 2023 Korean movie. The film is categorized as historical period, historical fiction, costume and period, Action, Spy Thriller, Thriller, and Suspense. Inspired by real-life events during the Japanese colonial period in Korea (from 1910 to 1945). This film was based on Chinese author Mai Jia’s 2007 novel Feng Sheng.

SUMMARY: “Phantom” strikes fear in the hearts of the Japanese occupiers in Joseon. But aren’t the Japanese supposed to be a mighty military force? Yes. But does one aim a weapon at an invisible target? it’s hard to see “Phantom”. They’re like ghosts. Those unwelcome and unwanted foreign occupiers BETTER BE SCARED!

♦ Nothing is More Precious Than Freedom

In “Phantom”, the year is 1933 and Korea (or Joseon) is been under Japanese occupation which began in 1910. Because of the cultural suppression, economic exploitation, and oppressive education policies inflicted on the Korean people under Japanese colonial rule, there were many secretive Resistance Movements comprised of patriotic Koreans who fought fiercely for their independence. In Gyeongseong, several people are suspected as being members of an anti-Japanese organization regarded as “Phantom” spies. But they have yet to be captured.

Kaito Takahara is head of Japanese security forces and his job is to find the “Phantom” spies. They made an assassination attempt on the life of a high-level official and almost succeeded. The female assassin was shot and killed as she tried to escape. It’s better to die than be caught by the Japanese forces. She knew the risk and was willing to take it. Park Cha-Kyung watched helplessly from a distance and saw her fall. She got away from the scene before the Japanese soldiers spotted her.

Because an assassin was able to get close enough to take a shot meant that Kaito Takahara had been negligent in performing his duties. “Negligent?”, his superior asked. It’s a polite way of saying HE FAILED TO PROTECT THE HIGH-LEVEL OFFICIAL. But his superior showed him mercy and gave him a chance to catch the “Phantom” spies. However, if he failed again …

Of course, the Japanese did not have enough intel to know the names of all of the members of the various Resistance Movements. But they had narrowed it down to a list of five (5) key figures.

1. Junji Murayama

2. Park Cha-Kyung

3. Yuriko

4. Lee Baek-Ho

5. Section Chief Cheon

Kaito Takahara spearheaded a special operation, captured all five of them, and locked them up. But capturing them is one thing. They are only “suspects”. He needs PROOF! That won’t be easy because the five (5) have gone into “protect mode”. They don’t want to:

• confess their involvement,
• give the others away,
• expose other operatives in the field, or
• divulge any plans or information about “Phantom”.

While Kaito Takahara is trying to prove their guilt and hopefully get information about others in the Resistance Movement, the five (5) are all trying to figure out how to escape imprisonment. Something’s gotta give!

Main Characters:

• Junji Murayama (played by Sul Kyung-Gu, “The Whirlwind”, “The Book of Fish”, “Yaksha: Ruthless Operations”, “Cold Eyes”, “Lucid Dream”, “Kingmaker: The Fox of the Election”)
• Park Cha-Kyung (played by Lee Ha-Nee or Lee Honey, “The Rebel”, “Fiery Priest”, “Knight Flower”, “One the Woman”, “Alienoid 1 and 2”, “Immortal Classic”, “Shine or Go Crazy”)
• Yuriko (played by Park So-Dam, “Special Delivery”, “Death’s Game”, “Parasite”)
• Kaito Takahara (played by Park Hae-Soo, “By Quantum Physics: A Nightlife Venture”, “Narco Saints”, “Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area Part II”, “Squid Game 1 and 2”)
• Section Chief Cheon (played by Seo Hyun-Woo, “Juror 8”, “Spiritwalker”)
• Lee Baek-Ho (played by Kim Dong-Hee, “Extracurricular”, “Itaewon Class”, “SKY Castle”)

Where to Watch

Viewership and Rating:

• IMDb: 6.2 out of 10 stars
• My Drama List: 7.7 out of 10 stars
• Viki viewers -No rating yet – just added to the database
• Letterboxd: 3.4 out of 5 stars

My personal rating is 10 out of 10 stars.

“Phantom” got put on my watch list as soon as it was released. However, it was not available to the USA audience (at least, not on the platforms I subscribe to). But it is now and it was WORTH THE WAIT! Everything about this Korean film is praise-worthy! The scenery, the recreation of times past, the costumes, the storyline, the cast.

I rarely give a perfect rating. Only four (4) movies have been released during my lifetime that are a perfect 10. “The Guns of Navarone” (1961); “Enter the Dragon” (1973); AND “Gladiator” (2000). Now there are four. The South Korean actors and actresses brought their A-game for this movie.

The group called “Phantom” reminded me of that group called “Nameless” in the series “Six Flying Dragons”. Except, with “Nameless”, sometimes I didn’t know if they were the good guys or the bad guys. But the “Phantom” spies are awesome good guys! HEROES OF THE PEOPLE! I love a good hero. Don’t you?

LINKS OF INTEREST:

Film Review: Phantom (2023) by Lee Hae-young | Asian Movie Pulse

[Herald Review] ‘Phantom,’ a colorful, classy spy action film set in 1930s | The Korea Herald

2023 New York Asian Film Festival Review: PHANTOM | the WORD

Phantom: A South Korean Thriller Unmasks the Fantasia Film Festival’s Greatest Strengths | MovieMaker

(Movie Review) ‘Phantom’ features stylish spy action with distinctive characters | Yonhap News Agency

Freedom Is Worth The Fight In The Korean Film ‘Phantom’ | Forbes

TRAILER/TEASER:

CJ ENM. “PHANTOM Official Int’l Main Trailer.” YouTube, 26 Jan. 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAkyPwk1_Pk.

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Other K-Drama Reviews PopGeeks set during the Japanese colonial era:

• The Vertex (2011)
• Bridal Mask (2012)
• Assassination (2015)
• Love, Lies (2016)
• Battleship Island (2017)
• Mr. Sunshine (2018)
• Gyeongseong Creature (2023)
• Song of the Bandits (2023)
• Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938 (2023)

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