Stream Classics to Latest K-Movies & Shows at OnDemandKorea

[HanCinema's Film Review] "The Strong and Mini Special Forces: The Attack of a New Villain"

Have you spent your whole life wanting to see a cartoon that combines cute small things, cool armored heroes, transforming cars, and the plot structure of Super Sentai? If the answer to that question is yes, then you are probably a small child. Do your parents know you're reading my reviews? I write about some pretty messed up stuff. Oh sure Korean film seems like fun and games now but just wait till you get to the more serious work and people actually die when they get killed...

Advertisement

...Uh, anyway. "The Strong and Mini Special Forces: The Attack of a New Villain" (say that three times fast!) isn't really a movie so much as it is a few episodes of a children's cartoon taped together. I've never watched the cartoon, so I can't tell you for certain whether the opening portion, where the characters exhort all the children watching to be really loud, is also in the television show. But if your kids are not the type who need encouragement to be loud, don't show them this movie.

Also don't show them this movie if they're the more tasteful, discriminating type. There's very little logic in the fights. While all four of the lead characters have clearly defined special abilities, these powers are never used consistently in a combat situation. The worst of this was the pink one- her whole ability is making shields, but I only ever saw her use them to block an attack once. Otherwise they all just get hit, and then get back up again.

The jokes are reasonably funny. It embarasses me to admit this because the jokes are actually really dumb. Like, we're talking fart joke quality. Silly voices. Characters just behaving like all-around dorks. That kind of thing. The kind of jokes you laugh at because the alternative is sitting in a theater watching a child's movie just staring at the screen with a serious unfunny look on your face. Let's not make this any more painful than necessary, you know?

Still, there are some positive points here. In contrast to "Jungle Shuffle", I never at any point became actively angry upon watching this movie. The storylines are too simplistic to really qualify as stupid. And even if you happen to hate one, just wait for a moment and another will start up. Even so, I was surprised to find that the total runtime is only about sixty minutes. It certainly felt longer than that.

But to parents who are used to this kind of thing, "The Strong and Mini Special Forces: The Attack of a New Villain" probably ranks at about either average to above-average children's entertainment. While I could beg and entreat you to show the kids something with a bit more refined taste instead, the overall viewing experience probably won't psychologically scar them in any way. So by that bare minimum standard, I can recommend the movie. Just to be clear though, in terms of aesthetics, don't watch this. Childless adults have zero excuse.

Review by William Schwartz

"The Strong and Mini Special Forces: The Attack of a New Villain" is directed by Lee Yeong-joon and voiced by Um Sang-hyun, Jeon Tae-yeol, Shin Yong-woo, Lee So-young-I, Seong Wan-gyeong, Yang Jeong-hwa.

❎ Try Ad-free