As a fan of "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" I was intrigued when I saw a film entitled "The Good, The Bad, The Weird", when I saw it was a Korean western set in the deserts of Japanese occupied Manchuria I just had to see it even though I was sure it wouldn't be as good as it sounded... thankfully I was wrong, the plot may have been slight but the action was relentless and frequently very funny.

While it was obviously inspired by "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" it was not a remake, the main similarities where the three main characters; Once again The Good was a bounty hunter, The Bad was a sadistic killer and The Weird replaced The Ugly as the comic relief. The plot involves The Weird robbing a train, amongst the items he steals is a map... a map The Bad was planning to steal as well although he is interrupted when The Good arrives with the intent of collecting the bounty on him. In the confusion The Weird escapes and the rest of the film follows the attempts of The Bad, a group of bandits and the Imperial Japanese Army trying to get their hands on the map.

The action is spectacular and well done with numerous gunfights, knife fights and chases on foot, horseback, motorbike and car. While there is a focus on action the characters are fun too, especially The Weird who stole the show. While it is a comedy it does feature a few violent scenes which some viewers expecting only laughs might not like, I know I winced when one character tried to cut off another's finger with a knife.

I'd definitely recommend this to fans of westerns who are looking for something different as well as to fans of Asian cinema.

THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD is an effective and fun-loving remake of the Sergio Leone classic THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY, ably transplanted to early 20th century Manchuria and featuring a cast of lovable rogues. It tells a sprawling and elaborate, almost fairy tale, about the hunt for buried treasure and the bizarrely diverse characters caught up in the chase.

Of the central threesome, Jung Woo-sung bags the least interesting role as 'the Good'; he reminded me of the bounty hunter from MILLIONAIRE'S EXPRESS, and has little to do other than point and shoot. As 'the Bad', Lee Byung-hun (A BITTERSWEET LIFE) fares better, playing up to his role as a slick character you love to hate. Inevitably, though, acting honours go to Kang-ho Song as 'the Weird', who is once again unrecognisable and completely compelling. Song is an actor who screams entertainment value whatever kind of film he's in, the camera loves him and his eccentric character is by far the most engaging part of the entire movie.

On the whole, the whole eastern-western storyline works well and Kim Jee-woon's (I SAW THE DEVIL) stylish direction adds immeasurably to the experience. The movie is action-packed with lots of elaborately staged shoot-outs and crazy chase sequences that really work, none of them disappoint. And even if, come the end, you realise it's all been an entirely lightweight and inconsequential affair, then so what? THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD sets out to entertain and it does that in spades.

It's the wild desolate Manchuria in early WWII. Chief of Japanese Imperial Bank Kanemaru is on a train with a map to find a Qing Dynasty treasure. Yoon Tae-goo, The Weird (Song Kang-ho) holds him up and steals the map. Park Chang-yi, The Bad (Lee Byung-hun) has been hired to steal the map and stops the train to find Yoon escaping with it. Park Do-won, The Good (Jung Woo-sung) is a bounty hunter tracking Park Chang-yi.

This has crazy action and the desert spaghetti western style. Song Kang-ho is fun as always. The action is outrageous. It does get a bit confused with so many people coming after the map. Confusion aside, this remains a fun action-packed weird western.