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New World

Play trailer Poster for New World Released Mar 22, 2013 2h 14m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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63% Tomatometer 16 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Undercover officer Ja-sung (Lee Jung-jae) infiltrates the biggest crime syndicate in Korea and spends eight years rising in the ranks. When the head of the organization is killed, Ja-sung becomes torn between his loyalties.

Critics Reviews

View All (16) Critics Reviews
Linda Barnard Toronto Star New World tries to expand the genre with nods to The Godfather but can't escape the over-the-top acting, expansive violence and overdone story typical of Seoul-made crime dramas. Rated: 2/4 Mar 22, 2013 Full Review Jeannette Catsoulis New York Times "New World" is both less bloody and more thoughtful than most of its genre, the shifting-alliances plot becoming more engrossing as it progresses. Rated: 3.5/5 Mar 21, 2013 Full Review Andrew O'Hehir Salon.com No one in American movies has made a crime opera this good in years. Mar 21, 2013 Full Review Nicholas Bell IONCINEMA.com There's the nagging feeling that there's nothing innately new and fresh about where [director Park Hoon-jung] takes the narrative. Aug 9, 2019 Full Review Panos Kotzathanasis Asian Movie Pulse Park Hoon-jung directs an agonizing crime thriller, which contains the usual violence, anti-heroes, impressive action sequences, and stylish gangsters in their suits, along with the much-loved plot twists. Apr 6, 2019 Full Review Jennie Kermode Eye for Film Ultimately ... it's Jung-jae Lee's portrait of a man gradually being reshaped by his environment that makes this compelling. Rated: 4/5 Jan 11, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (105) audience reviews
Sebastian M one of the best korean movies Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/19/24 Full Review JJJJJJ J Very sloppy. Way too much going on, and the film could hardly handle it. Too many untidy strings and half-baked plots. Still they did have an interesting idea at the heart, and it to some extent worked. I just think this film needed closer to 3+ hours to tell the story it wanted to, and unfortunately it would have been excruciatingly boring if it had that time. The beginning was already weak picking up stem as it went but with extended time to lay the ground work it would have been unbearable. Was okay though just could have been more. I'd say its a skip but some may find it enjoyable. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 12/11/23 Full Review Pattamaporn P Slow breath. Turn and twist. Intense and raw action scene. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/21/23 Full Review Audience Member The best Korean movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review yase m Although it's not the type of genre I usually watch, this movie is still captivating and entertaining. I don't know if the acting can get any better. Especially the chemistry and interactions between Hwang Jung- Min and Lee Jung-Jae are the main reason this movie works so well. It's a decently told mob flick but the story at it's core is about two men who share a deep brotherly bond which is overlooked by the supporting agendas and leads to their downfall eventually. The memorable OST is on par with Nino Rota's legendary Godfather OST, adding immensely to emotional highs. A must watch! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a well made, engaging, and gripping movie that is worth seeing. Like many of the modern Korean films it centers on the criminal underworld and the police pursuit of corruption. The film heart deals with the struggle for power within a Korea criminal syndicate, but more deeply with the conflicts of an undercover agent caught between his duty and his survival. The film reminded me very much of the American Film, Donnie Brasco. Great characters. Great action and violence. Worth seeing, for sure. Subtitled. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews
New World

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis Undercover officer Ja-sung (Lee Jung-jae) infiltrates the biggest crime syndicate in Korea and spends eight years rising in the ranks. When the head of the organization is killed, Ja-sung becomes torn between his loyalties.
Director
Park Hoon-jung
Producer
Kim Woo-taek, Park Min-jung
Screenwriter
Park Hoon-jung
Distributor
Well Go USA
Production Co
Sanai Pictures
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
Korean
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 22, 2013, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$291.0K
Runtime
2h 14m