I watched this movie and then read the reviews and the plot summaries and it seems many people missed a lot. The Emperor reference on the title is for the old man, the Chairman, a Chaebol. He is the owner of the chessboard. As the movie goes on it is revealed that Cutter used to be the Chairman's enforcer, replaced by Sang ha, whom he calls "my boy", and both Cutter and Sang ha were at the funeral of Hwan's father. The chairman isn't only playing against other powerful families, he is sacrificing his own pieces and keeping them from gaining too much power. Then you have the prosecutor, who delivers one of the best lines in the film, when he says he should get popcorn after the Chairman is arrested. Every police raid in the movie was paid for and orchestrated by someone, the first one by Sang ha to get rid of Cutter, and since the Prosecutor delivers the ledger to Hwan, it would seem Hwan orchestrated the second and third raids, on Sang ha and the chairman, in retaliation for what they did to Madam Cha. This is why the relationship with Cha is important. It's also important to note that Hwan doesn't drag Cha back into the game once her debt is clear and she is forced out. Sang ha takes out the prosecutor, and he isn't supposed to go save Hwan, but he tries anyway. All in all a fascinating movie with a lot of twists and turns.

I had thought the Korean studios had turned the corner a year or so ago and started to produce intelligent action crime/thriller films, but this title is a throwback to the old days. Robotic and stereotyped acting (and appearance) for everyone from criminals, to hookers, to cops; to storyline; it's like they were uncreatively formed from a mold of typecast characters of previous similar films. Disgraced former baseball pitcher, Hwan, accused of throwing games for money turns into an enforcer for organized crime including, of course, sports betting as well as the other standard crime-of-the-day activities. Hwan, despite being skinny and probably having spent most of his young life playing baseball suddenly acquires the skills to turn into a martial arts beast taking multiple baddies down (most much bigger, with knives, and practiced at their art) - in other words incredulity follows Hwan for the remainder of the film. He does have a badass stare down though. The film is basically knife stabbing and martial arts' throw downs (e.g through windows, tables, the usual). Suggestion: If looking for crime/action film that puts films like this to shame I suggest checking out the "Justified" series. LIke comparing junk food to the highest Michelin rated restaurant, "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey".