'Damo' is a series a lot of people will know. Being quite a popular title and undoubtedly one that helped Ha Ji-won rise to fame, it is an important piece of Korean television for many reasons. 'Duelist' has some things in common with it. Both movies are based on the same manhwa and both star Ha Ji Won as the female lead. However, that might very well be where their similarities end. The format is different, one being a drama and the other a movie, but 'Duelist' being a work by Lee Myung-se means it is also an unapologetic art film. This makes it more of a fusion sageuk, as many elements, from wardrobe to the music, take creative liberty and are simply not consistent with the era the movie is set in.
'Duelist' opens with Namsoon (Ha Ji-won) and Detective Ahn (Ahn Seung-ki) investigating a money counterfeiting case that points to political corruption and plotting against the king. A mysterious assassin, only known throughout the film as 'Sad Eyes' (Kang Dong-won) is their only lead. Through their conflicts, Namsoon and Sad Eyes find themselves drawn to each other in a way a detective and a suspect should not be.
Full Article: [HanCinema's Film Review] "Duelist".
