Regardless of the "origin stories" and what the straw grabbing naysayers may target to diminish this movie, this is indeed an awesome movie. Beautiful, poignant, suspenseful and oh my gosh, the drama. While some scenes seem to drag a couple seconds longer, than we are used to, the final 10-20 minutes made the other couple hours worthwhile. This movie doesn't have a twist ending and the little "surprise" is almost logical. But if you are really into the movie, you will get a rollercoaster ride. When you, after holding back tears, are finally wiping them out, there comes another shot to the heart that re-open the floodgates.

If you like mystical tales and spiritual slants on everyday life then set yourself up to enjoy this gem of gems for you are in for a treat. Its a story that takes place on the edge of life with people trying to make a living and getting by but then again, so is nature and animals too. What happens when those three all come together to share, explore and respect each other and if asked, to give all that they have for the other? What then? This movie captures that theme and takes us to places that are extra-ordinary and worthy to explore. Humility, simplicity and appreciation is what the lead actor communicates to us via living his humble life and being content in it. In a far away place, where survival of the fittest is mandatory, without a discipline and moderation for yourself and others make it less than what it is or can be. This movie teaches us to live and let live in the fullest meaning and sense of the words. Much going on here that is beyond words so let yourself go and let this movie do its work and serve you not just entertainment but a slice of quality time with a bonus thrown in; A nice reflection sort of an afterglow when the movie ends. I am speaking literally and figuratively too. Tear-jerker in more than one place so do not hold back the tears but instead let them out. The music compliments the deeper points and the elements in this movie while fierce can be lived with for a short time until they claim us all. This movie is a good reminder to appreciate and respect the moment and circumstances one is in and realize others are about that too. I like to munch while watching. This movie is worthy of a nice snack, a tasty drink, finger foods and just about anything that brings you pleasure. Haunting the movie Tiger is.......

The epic South Korean blockbuster ''The Tiger: An Old Hunter's Tale'' is a mixture of a historical drama and an action-adventure movie. To fully understand this movie, you have to be aware of the fact that the tiger is a symbol associated with Korean people and their resilience to keep their culture, identity and values alive despite the hardships this people has gone through and is still going through today. That's why the obsession of the Japanese invaders to exterminate the peninsula's last tiger is related to the fact that if they achieved that goal, it would mean that the resistance of the invaded country would finally be broken. This context also explains why many Koreans despise the Japanese, fear the consequences of the hunt and respect the tiger by calling him the Mountain Lord. Still, some of the Korean characters want to see the tiger dead as well for many different reasons: reputation, revenge and wealth among others. If the tiger were to die, it should at least die at the hands of a Korean hunter. The movie introduces us to three different groups that end up hunting the legendary tiger: Japanese soldiers, Korean hunters and the lonesome main character.Obviously, this philosophical movie doesn't only deal with the symbolism related to tigers but also touches profound topics such as dealing with forgiveness, honor and loss as well as family values. The story of the old hunter and the old tiger has a lot of parallels as well. The tiger almost seems human in this movie and one can somehow identify with the majestic beast. Most people will probably end up rooting for the tiger's survival. In my opinion, it's quite an achievement from the makers of this film to make us feel this way without making this movie too melodramatic. It also helps that the CGI of the tiger is surprisingly dynamic, majestic and realistic. Despite a lot of screening time for the true feline hero of this tale, the initial first impression never really lets go. In addition to this, the landscapes on and around Mount Jirisan are truly impressive. The calm camera shots that never shake unnecessarily, the rich classical soundtrack and the contrasting lighting techniques add to the atmosphere of the movie.I must also point out the numerous fight scenes between the tiger and his enemies. In contrast to the movie's overall rather calm pace, these action sequences aren't only fast and powerful but also quite gory without ever getting gratuitous. They make the tiger's desperate fight for survival even more realistic in my book. The acting performances are overall quite good. Main actor Choi Min- sik is authentic, entertaining and intense as always and proves once again that he is at least one of the very best contemporary Asian actors. I only thought that the villains of the story could have been a little bit more detailed, diversified and present in this film.The only other issue I have is the movie's slow-paced storytelling. This film could have been about half an hour shorter and it wouldn't have taken anything away from the character or story development at all. Patient fans of Korean cinema are already used to the smooth development but those who aren't familiar with this style might find the movie's introduction somewhat pointless, overlong or even boring and they might have a point this time.In the end, ''The Tiger: An Old Hunter's Tale'' is an atmospheric, epic and sophisticated film that mixes contemporary action sequences with slightly patriotic historical fiction and philosophical topics that never feel too dry. Fans of Asian cinema will like this release and it's definitely a welcome change to the hollow superhero movies in our Western world, so you might as well give this movie a fair try.

Hoon-jung Park (New World fame) is a director who seems really keen with details. As we watch The Tiger: An Old Hunter's Tale (2015), we witness a haunting tale of suppression and agony.An old hunter Chun Man-duk (Min-sik Choi) lives with his 16-year-old son and takes care of him. Kingdom of Korea is rules by Japanese and they are hunting for the tigers in the mountains in extreme cold. Due to some events and turns, Man-duk has to return for hunting.The screenplay is written perfectly and narration is astounding, however, one could deduce that movie is little long and some of the scenes could have been chopped easily to make it more crisp. It packs the real punch and throw it to the audience, we have a lot of tense moments which are truly crafted.Technically, the movie is impeccable, the CGI is mesmerizing because scenes with animals never looked like CGI, a lot of attention has been given to the details.Cinematography is exhilarating, each scene has been captured beautifully, the horror of wilderness and harshness of icy terrain will be in your mind even after long.We cannot comment on Min-sik Choi acting skills as he has been there and done that effortlessly, here he again leaves an impression on our hearts as an anxious father. The casting is just incredible; everyone is a perfect cut-out for the role, they did it wonderfully.A good movie with few shortcomings.7.5/10