Master: reviews

What the critics say average 6.0 from 14 outlets

• 8.0 The New PaperRachel Chan It is no wonder the movie was such a hit when it premiered in South Korea. Also, props to the screen direction and commendable CGI. Read
• 7.0 easternKicksJames Mudge This helps to make Master entertaining, and though flawed it’s a solid piece of commercial Korean cinema, and fans of anti-establishment thrillers should find plenty to enjoy. Read
• 7.0 HanCinemaPanos Kotzathanasis "Master" is an impressive film that will satisfy all fans of action thrillers, and a clear indication of the path commercial Korean cinema is taking at the moment, which is quite similar to the one of Hollywood blockbusters. Read
• 7.0 The Straits TimesJohn Lui A competently made but generic copy of a twisty Hong Kong-style crime drama, the details that elevate this from the pack are its references to the politics and culture of South Korea. Read
• 7.0 movieXclusiveMorgan Awyong A slick production with choice actors give this crime thriller a needed boost to its conventional story line. Read
• 6.3 Slant MagazineChuck Bowen The film is seemingly terrified of boring us, offering one elaborate montage of catch and release (or of survey and flee) after another. Read
• 6.3 Roger EbertBrian Tallerico Cho finally delivers in these scenes, twisting and turning his plot, while also giving us the car chases and gunfire we’ve been waiting for. The only question is if you’ll still be awake by the time he gets there. Read
• 6.0 PopMattersArgun Ulgen Master, while highly entertaining a good portion of the time, ultimately falls short of the title’s promise. Read
• 6.0 Heroic CinemaElizabeth Kerr It’s a shame his latest money-in-the-bank performance is trapped inside a mediocre film that had the potential to be a Korean Wolf of Wall Street. Read
• 5.0 New York TimesBen Kenigsberg Slick production values can’t disguise the lack of imagination. Read
• 5.0 The Hollywood ReporterJustin Lowe The film is often so deterministically plotted that a sense of creative detachment hangs over far too many scenes, leaving an impression that the filmmakers may sometimes be more interested in making grand statements than in engaging interest. Read
• 5.0 South China Morning PostJames Marsh But beyond the glamour, action and exotic locations, it’s a shallow, superficial endeavour, lacking the dramatic weight or political claws to make much of a statement with its material. Read
• 4.0 Film Journal InternationalDaniel Eagan Flashy but paper-thin, Master lets its stars ham it up in crowd-pleasing turns, but drops the ball when it comes to plotting. Read
• 4.0 View of the ArtsMaggie Gogler Lee Byung-hun’s performance as the sophisticated, rich, ominous and greedy Jin is sublime; there is no doubt that Lee can deliver well. Read