Assassination triumphs in delivering a captivating plot about history with its lavish action scenes and an outstanding cast.
Escaping from being prisoned, Yem Sek-jin (Lee Jung Jae) becomes an independence fighter and works together with Kim Koo (Kim Hong Pa). Kim Koo orders him to recruit “Big Gun” Chu Sang-ok (Jo Jin Woong), Hwang Duk-sam (Choi Deok Moon), and Ahn Okyun (Jun Ji Hyun) for their plot of assassination. As planned, he brings the three to their meeting point with Kim Won-bong (Jo Seung Woo). However, Yem also informs the Japanese of their plans of assassination.
Kim Won-bong assigns Okyun as the leader of the three, and they devise a plan for the assassination of Kang In-guk and Kawaguchi. Meanwhile, Yem also hires “Hawaii Pistol” (Ha Jung Woo) to kill the three independence fighters, countering the murder mission. Kim Koo begins to suspect Yem leaking information, and he orders Myeong-woo (Heo Ji-won) to kill Yem if ever he is a spy.
Okyun proceeds with their mission even with Sang-ok’s absence. Hawaii Pistol also keeps an eye on the group on their mission day. The assassination of Kang and Kawaguchi fails, and Duk-sam dies as he is shot. Okyun and Hawaii Pistol are arrested, but they find a way to escape. Hawaii Pistol decides to free Okyun, disregarding his assignment of taking down the three independence fighters.
A Wedding of Disaster
Mitsuko is set to marry Kawaguchi’s son, and she discovers her twin sister Okyun’s existence. She pays a visit to the place she is staying at, and Kang In-guk mistakes her for Okyun and shoots her dead. Witnessing that, Okyun acts as Mitsuko who is about to be married.
The butler at Misuko’s residence is strangled to death as he uncovers Okyun’s real identity. Sang-ok turns out to be alive and wreaks havoc on Mitsuko’s wedding day. Sang-ok, Okyun, and Hawaii Pistol join together to kill Kang and Kawaguchi. They succeed, but only Okyun survives. The day of Korea’s liberation comes, and Yem successfully clears the charges against him in court. However, he dies as he is shot to death by Myeong-woo and Okyun.
Marcie Line watched Assassination on Vivamax
Movie Rating: 
Assassination movie Peak Points
Noteworthy Tragic Story of a Family
In the beginning, viewers may see Kang In-guk siding with the Japanese, and he is not fazed by the idea of killing his own wife. With that, his twin daughters are separated at birth. He even kills Mitsuko, the daughter he raised on his own, mistaking her as Okyun.
Okyun is a fictional character and does not exist in the history records. However, her character still brings much relevance to the discussion of patricide. Hawaii Pistol takes down Kang for Okyun as he foresees the impacts of patricide. Kang is Okyun’s biological father, but it does not erase the fact that he betrayed his own nation and killed his wife and daughter.
Salutation to Independence Fighters
The movie combines real characters from history and also fictional characters that do not exist in records. Characters like Okyun and Hawaii Pistol are representations of independence fighters who are unnamed, and through this movie, those fighters are given glory. Their efforts to show that their nation is still fighting, despite the hopeless and dark reality at their time, are crowned through this movie.
Brave Female Representation
Okyun and the Anemone Madam (Kim Hae Sook) are female characters who are presented as brave and smart women. Okyun is a role model to others for having accurate shooting skills and quick-witted intelligence.
She is brave and unafraid to fight for her own country even with the waving risk of death. Her passion to fight for liberation is inspiring as she sees every mission meaningful for her country’s freedom.
The Anemone Madam may have only briefly appeared, but her contributions to the mission’s success are remarkable. She takes care of the three independence fighters in Seoul, and assists them with their plans. When she was about to be captured by Yem, she chooses to commit suicide.
All her acts are significant to their country’s fight for independence, and she is someone viewers can look up to for giving her substantial support to the independence fighters.
Assassination movie Musings
The movie is long-lasting for about two hours, but it has delivered substantial notes about Korea’s history of fighting for independence. Looking at the set and the action scenes, the production is commendable for bringing a clear picture of life during that historical period. Viewers may find some parts of the plot complicated, but with some reading beforehand, they may follow the plot and find it entertaining and informative at the same time.
With Kang In-guk’s family, we see a dark reality about betrayal even with connections by blood. He is a detestable character given that he coldly kills his own wife and daughter and betrays his own nation for money and position. Mitsuko may have seen him as a nice father, but it does not suffice as atonement for his own sins. Along with him, Yem Sek-jin is a character that brings disappointment for betraying his own comrades. He gave his pledge to the provisional government of Korea, but instead brings unrest even with his own group.
Jun Ji Hyun portrayed both Okyun and Mitsuko, and she has impressively given life to the characters. We see her in the movie playing as a brave Okyun and at the same time affluent Mitsuko. Her portrayal is praiseworthy as she has successfully presented a clear distinction between the two characters.
The cast has also contributed to making the movie entertaining. The brief encounters of Jun Ji Hyun and Ha Jung Woo prove their great chemistry and add flavor to the plot.
Overall, the movie is entertaining and informative. The characters in the movie inspire viewers to possess their positive traits, and also somehow delivers pertinent information on the dark history of Korea’s fight for independence.
The lives of the independence fighters, named or unnamed, are glorified through this movie. Moreover, it also encourages viewers to know more about Korea’s history. People who enjoy crime and history fused with heavy action scenes may consider watching Assassination.
Assassination is now available on Vivamax.
Photos: Showbox
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