Right off you suspect the pulp movie Manchurian Tiger is going to be a sadistic affair. One man gets face-stomped by a wooden clog; another is mercilessly whipped on the floor. Neither puts up much resistance. Whether we watch these acts as bemusedly detached as the cigarette-smoking hotelier Wang (Kim Wun-ju) and the combover mastercriminal Sasaki (Bae Su-cheon) is a matter of taste. When it comes to martial arts B-movies like Lee Doo-yong's Manchurian Tiger, you can either giggle or groan at the grotesque fights. In this instance, I'd suggest the latter. For these Japanese and Chinese villains are about to learn their imported brutality is no match for the Taekwondo mastery of Mr. Lee (Han Yong-cheol).I've seen Han before — specifically a memorable performance in the more entertaining The Korean Connection a.k.a. Returned Single-Legged Man. And while he's no Dragon Lee in terms of charisma, Han does have his own particular appeal. Lithe and limber, he kicks with elegance and tosses his hair like a true teen idol. He also radiates innocence despite his character's debauchery. So while he may be able to triumph over a sea of challengers, he also comes across as insouciant more than dangerous. His ability to cause a sales boom for the casket-maker (Choe Jae-ho) has little meaning for him. Same for the one woman (Woo Yeon-jeong) who throws herself in his path only to get disciplined with a snap. ("Chastity is a woman's life.") I'm not implying his tan leather vest signifies anything significant. If only it did, I'd happily serve a matchmaker on his behalf. For payment, he can give me one of those smuggled bars of gold.
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