Video: Il Lim’s ‘Acts of Violence’

News | Film News | by Mark Pollard

In 2006, news came out that Leelee Sobieski and Ron Perlman were set to star along with newcomer Il Lim in a horror/comedy about a man who goes on a murder spree to avenge his wife’s death. Either the film went through major re-writes prior to shooting or the information was faulty because in 2008, a teaser trailer for the completed film looks more like a dramatic martial arts thriller.

$\'Acts of Violence\'$

Based on this footage, I’m going to give three reasons why ACTS OF VIOLENCE looks promising and three reasons why it also looks like a potential dud.

On the bright side, it’s written by, directed and starring a new Korean-American actor with obvious Taekwondo training. That’s good. It has semi-A-list supporting talent in the beautiful Leelee Sobieski (88 MINUTES) and cult favorite Ron Perlman (HELLBOY 2). That’s also good. It has an OLD BOY/Korean film vibe in the way that the gritty screen violence is handled. That’s even better.

What doesn’t look so exciting are the inconsistencies in production design, dodgy line delivery and some stagy legwork that looks like it belongs in a pure martial arts movie and not a gritty thriller.

I’m hoping the positives outweigh the negatives because I’d like to see a little movie like this be a success. Also, Lim looks like a star in the making and I’m excited to see him headlining his first real movie. The only other credit I could find in relation to him is a small role in the HBO original feature DOUBLE BANG. To have hooked Sokieski and Perlman for his first movie means he’s doing something right.

As for release news, all I have is a tentative 2008 date and no distributor. With Perlman on board, it shouldn’t be too much of a challenge to get DVD distribution. Hopefully, we’ll get more information soon.

Official site
http://www.actsofviolencemovie.com/

Tags: taekwondo, upcoming

Reuben N Amber Hernandez

Amazing Work here,
looking to see ILL Lim rise to the top very soon...

johnmiii

It's so good to see Il finding success in the movies! His father is one of the best teachers not only of martial arts but of life that I have ever had the honor of learning from. How odd to watch this and think to myself how cool it is that I have been kicked by a movie star, hehehe.

I'll definitely see it!

-3 dan, 1993, Layton, I was 13 when we moved away and regrettably I gave up on it, but I'll never forget the important lessons they taught me.

Il and his father are as 'real deal' as life can produce.

Ryan W

I, trained with Il and his father as well. I earned my 2 dan in 1989, wow that was
a long time ago. I still have photos of Il from our belt advancement tests we would have
at Weber State.

Brian C

I, too, trained with Il Lim at his father's studio in Layton, UT. I remember sparing with him and he always easily beat everyone. If I remember right his father served with the Korean special forces. I worked myself to a 2 dan black belt and then life took over. It is good to see Il finally breaking through with this film and I wish him the best...good luck, Il!

Brian

My best friend who is a fifth degree blackbelt in Hap Ki Do in SLC Utah trained with Il Lim for ten or more years. Il is the son of my friend's senior instructor, a Korean immigrant who has had a Hap Ki Do school in Layton Utah for 25-30 years. I can tell you that Il Lim is the REAL deal as far as a martial artist. He went to Hollywood several years ago and opened a martial arts school there. He got to know many in the movie business and further trained himself by going to film school. He has worked hard from every angle to succeed in Hollywood and I think Acts of Violence is just the beginning for him.
One story my friend recounts is a trip Il made to South Korea in the nineties where he met and sparred with many members of the South Korean Olympic Taikwondo team - apparently he beat several of them handily.