The Outlaws: Superheroes Without Capes

Although you'd hardly find The Outlaws listed under fantasy films, Kang Yoon-seong's energetic crime pic has a superhero of sorts at its center despite being based on a true story involving Chinese-Korean gang warfare circa 2007. Detective Ma (Ma Dong-seok) can outmaneuver, outmuscle, and outthink any crook on his beat, and anyone who doubts that is about to get a serious schooling. Small surprise his boss (Choi Gwi-hwa) constantly defers to his judgment while a local busboy pretty much idolizes him. He's got his weaknesses — broads, booze, and bribes — but you get the feeling he's always respectful of the first and generally mindful of the second. As for the money he extorts on the street, in The Outlaws, it's all in good fun. (I know. I know.)

Ma isn't the only character who comes across as a smarter, stronger humanoid from another world. His nemesis Jang Chen, (the fabulously wigged Yoon Kye-sang) is equally next-level — albeit on the evil side which always has a better stylist. As the new bully in town, Jang exudes the inhuman confidence that can accompany being a sadist willing to inflict pain for the pettiest of reasons. His primary backup boys share his cruel streak so when push comes to shove, it often involves sledge hammers or other tools of destruction. My main quibble with this 2017 blockbuster is that the women are basically hookers and hostesses. I count on Korean films to deliver strong female roles. When they don't, I'm sad. Perhaps Kang had Hollywood biases on the brain.