With his depiction of Gilgamesh in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Eternals, South Korean actor Ma Dong-seok is the most recent in a line of well-known Asian actors to gain popularity in the west. His Hollywood debut came after two fruitful decades in South Korean cinema, during which he participated in more than 50 titles. He is also known as Don Lee. Ma has established himself as one of South Korea’s top action performers throughout that time, and he is adored for his unique screen demeanour.
His background in boxing and fitness makes it simple for him to play the rugged action hero; before breaking into acting, he served as Mark Coleman’s personal trainer. Ma’s parts increasingly seem to be created just for him since they frequently feature him as a gruff, no-nonsense figure with a commanding screen presence. His characters also possess a strong moral compass, which frequently prompts them to act morally. Ma also possesses an uncanny sense of humour and is adept at playing comedy parts. He has developed into one of South Korea’s most bankable stars as a result of this combination, which for audiences never seems to get old.
Ma frequently pairs with a high-octane style of action centred on intense battle scenes, making many of his films feel like an entire genre unto themselves. At the same time, his films frequently offer a full entertainment experience that includes comedy, drama, and action. Below are 10 action films starring Ma Dong-seok that represent a distinct genre.
Along with the Gods (2017 & 2018)
A grand fantasy epic, Together with the Gods, dazzled the audience with its breathtaking action, world-building, and CGI effects. There are two films in this series: The Two Worlds, which peaked at number three on the Korean box office, and its follow-up, The Final 49 Days. The films follow the activities of three afterlife guards as they lead spirits through challenging afterlife trials. Ju Ji-hoon, Ha Jung-woo, and Kim Hyang-gi play the guardians. Ma plays the God of the Home in a few movies, but his regular acting persona fits this supernatural role like a glove. In Together with the Gods, Ma is a senior guardian who was in charge of bringing the main protagonists to prominence. In the second film, where he plays a bigger part after volunteering to restore the three guardians’ lost memories, his brazen and carefree demeanour provides the movies with some wonderful comedy relief.
Champion (2018)
Ma has a gentle charm that has won over followers despite his bulky build, earning him the moniker “Mavely”—a combination of his name, Ma, and the word “beautiful.” The actor has a miraculous capacity to bring life to subpar writing thanks to this magnetism. One such film where Ma’s on-screen persona as a rough but lovable brute combines with the feel-good narrative to produce wonderful outcomes is Champion. He makes an appearance in the film as a former arm wrestling champion who reconnects with his birth mother’s family after she gave him up for adoption as a child. He is motivated to return to arm wrestling by his attempts to establish a relationship with his stepsister and her children.
Start-Up (2019)
In the action comedy film Start-Up, Next Entertainment World Ma makes a cameo as a silly-looking chef with a shadowy past. The film chronicles the adventures of two young people, played by Park Jung-min and Jung Hae-in, who are attempting to provide for their families and navigate life. While the other gets work at a loan company, one of them obtains job as a delivery boy at Ma’s restaurant. Their relationship is put to the test when they unintentionally come into conflict over their employment. They learn the value of friendship and life via the difficulties they face. In the meantime, Ma’s character develops into a vital companion for them and takes centre stage in the closing scenes of the film when ghosts from his criminal past resurface to haunt him.
The Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos (2019)
Action comedy The Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos has a plot that is comparable to Suicide Squad. Ma plays a gangster doing time in prison in the film, which is based on the well-liked Korean television show Bad Guys. In exchange for a decrease in his prison term, his character is given the chance to join an elite police team. To track down a fugitive Yakuza member who is scheduled to testify in a significant criminal case, the character is compelled to work with a diverse assortment of criminals. The squad, which also comprises Jang Ki-yong, Kim Ah-joong, and Kim Sang-joong as the police officer in charge of the special unit, works well together, and Ma’s character fits in well with the others. The odd character interactions amongst this uneasy team contribute to many of the movie’s chuckles.
The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil (2019)
The Gangster, the Police, the Devil, a South Korean action thriller classic, combines Ma Dong-usual seok’s themes with elements from the genre. He plays a mafia leader in the film who works with a policeman to find a serial killer. The film may be regarded as a must-see in the Korean action subgenre because several of Ma’s moments went on to become instantly recognisable following its premiere. His well-known tough-guy image and dominating on-screen presence are the ideal complements to his portrayal as a mob boss. This is one of his best characters to date because he perfectly captures the darker aspects of the role as a cunning, Manipulative gangster who will try any trick in the book to succeed. The movie successfully holds your attention throughout thanks to a strong narrative and compelling performances from the main characters. Ma himself will star in a Sylvester Stallone-produced Hollywood version of the film that is now in the works.
The Roundup Film Series
In South Korea, the Roundup film series is quickly taking off as an action movie phenomenon, capturing everything special and endearing about Ma’s on-screen image. He plays the starring part of a terrifying police officer in Seoul’s Crime Unit who is well-known both within the force and among neighbourhood gangs. The Roundup has become a renowned action film franchise in South Korea thanks to its gritty action, intriguing narrative, spot-on humorous moments, and unforgettable villains. The second installment broke numerous box office records there. The franchise will release two further motion pictures in 2023 and 2024.
The Soul-Mate (2018)
Ma plays a single father and judo instructor in the action comedy The Soul-Mate. He is paired in the film with Kim Young-kwang, who plays a police officer who is killed while conducting an investigation. The only person who can see Young-ghost kwang’s is Ma’s character because of his proximity to the crime scene. He reluctantly agrees to assist in cracking the case of the police officer’s murder after being harassed by the ghost for a prolonged period of time.
The Villagers (2018)
In Ma’s filmography, The Villagers is an underappreciated action thriller. He plays a former boxing champion turned PE teacher in the film who struggles to keep a job because of his righteousness and propensity to fight against neighbourhood politics. He relocates to a rural area of the nation for a new job at the start of the film. As he arrives, he learns that a teenage student who was attending the school suddenly vanished. But the police don’t seem eager to look into the matter, and it appears like the whole town is keeping something from them. Ma’s character is compelled to look into the issue on his own and ends up on the trail of perilous figures with connections to both politics and the criminal underground.
Train to Busan (2016)
Before to Eternals, Ma’s first significant western hit was Train to Busan. It was improbable that this zombie horror movie would become so famous on a global scale. But thanks to its novel approach to the genre, it succeeded in doing just that. The movie Train to Busan uses a cast of well-rounded characters to take viewers on an emotional rollercoaster while taking place in the cramped setting of a train station. Several well-known Korean actors, including Gong Yoo, Choi Woo-shik, and Choi Gwi-hwa, were featured in the film’s ensemble cast. Ma plays a kind husband who frequently takes steps to safeguard his wife while she is pregnant in the film. His enormous build is one of several well-developed characters in the film, and the movie frequently makes use of it to give his actions strong emotional undertones that draw viewers into the scenario.
Unstoppable (2018)
Ma plays a former mobster with a famous reputation in the action-crime-comedy Unstoppable, another beloved classic in his career. In this role, Ma leads a tranquil life as a seafood distributor. He joins up with two silly buddies to rescue his wife when she is abducted by an unknowing trafficker. Unstoppable makes effective use of his character as a one-man army and features action-packed battle scenes. The comedy and action in the film are well-balanced, and Kim Min-jae and Park Ji-and hwan’s Park Ji-respective hwan’s portrayals of Ma’s friends’ comedic antics and conversation contribute significantly to the film’s appeal.
