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Three out of Five stars
Running time: 130 mins

Kim Ji-woon's Sergio Leone-inspired Korean Western is riotous, stylishly directed and frequently funny but it's also at least 30 minutes too long and runs out of steam before the end.

What's it all about?
Directed by Kim Ji-woon, The Good, The Bad, The Weird (or Joh-un Nom Nappun Nom Isanghan Nom, original language fans!) is an affectionate homage to Sergio Leone's westerns. Set in Japanese-occupied Manchuria in the 1930s, it stars Jung Woo-song as bounty hunter Do-Wun (The Good), Lee Byung-hun as bandit leader Chang-yi (The Bad) and Song Kang-ho as portly, accident-prone but ridiculously lucky thief Tae-goo (The Weird), each of whom is trying to get their hands on a treasure map that Tae-goo discovers while robbing a train.

However, as well as out-witting each other, they also have to stay one step ahead of both the Japanese Army and a group of Asian bandits, who are also chasing the map.

The Good
Essentially, the film is one long, action-packed chase sequence, complete with gorgeous desert scenery (courtesy of Lee Mogae's stunning cinematography) and as many Sergio Leone references as the script will allow, from the Once Upon A Time In The West-style dust coats, to the moments of jet-black humour and, of course, the three-way duel. The film is also the most expensive Korean movie ever made and it's easy to see where all the money went, as the production design is sumptuous throughout.

The three actors are superb, but it's The Host's Song Kang-ho who steals the show, nabbing all the biggest laughs along the way.

The Bad
Ironically, the non-stop action actually becomes rather exhausting after a while, to the point where you start to lose interest about halfway through. The film is also a good 30 minutes too long and wears out its welcome long before the end.

Worth seeing?
The Good, The Bad, The Weird has flashes of brilliance and is frequently funny, but the non-stop action isn't quite good enough to sustain its length running time.