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Well, on my way to my last screening of the day I pretty much literally ran into a cast member of North Country. Only problem was, it was the wrong one: Woody Harrelson. Why can't I just randomly run into Sean Bean, I ask you? Sigh.

Title: Duelist
Director: Lee Myung-se
Country: South Korea
P's Rating: Highly Recommended
This film was everything I'd hoped Seven Swords would be: an epic, historical swordplay film with engaging characters, stunning visuals and amazing choreography. It follows two detectives in some unidentified Korean past as they try to unravel a plot to destabilize and take over the country through counterfeit coins. Namsoom is the younger of the two, an impetuous young woman and vicious fighter winningly played by Ha Ji-won. Her older, though not always wiser, partner Ahn is played by Ahn Sung-ki. As if they don't have enough problems, Namsoon falls in love with Sad Eyes, a sword fighter and the chief henchman of the plotting Minister, with the passion between them manifested by several stunning swordfights. This is one film in which a fast cutting aesthetic really works for me, because director Lee really knows how to use light, editing and choreography to produce scenes of uncommon beauty.