Viewer Comments:Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance
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I read enough hysterically positive reviews for this film to really want to see it myself. After having done so, I must say that it is a good, solid piece of cinema, though--in my humble opinion--no masterpiece by any yardstick. The film is, no doubt, dark; but director Park Chan-Wook has shot it in bright, vivid colours to perhaps offset the bleakness of the theme. This certainly helps in making the film more palatable and thus more accessible to a greater audience. It's the tale of a crime gone wrong and the brutal revenge that follows. There is gore, but it is not as gruesome as many reviews would have you believe. Performances by all are very competent and the direction by Park is uncompromising. Basically this is recommended for film aficionados or those seeking an alternative to the mind-numbing mainstream movies that we all keep subjecting ourselves to ever so often.
| How many great kung fu films climax with a bloody fight, only to have the words "The End" pop up within seconds of delivering the deathblow to the lead villain? Answer: most of them. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it shows that the vast majority of action pictures are primarily concerned with depicting violence. Almost never do they meditate on the repercussions of the violence on display.
Not so with "Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance", the first film in Park Chan-Wook's "Vengeance Trilogy". Some people might not like the film's initial slow pace, but in exhaustively setting up all the characters and getting to know them intimately, we are more powerfully affected by the emotional devastation they face. This movie spends lots of time building up to the violence, and the violence itself is fairly brief, and is never glamorized; it is brutal, ugly and efficient. Then there is lots of time spent as the various characters are forced to deal with the physical and emotional consequences of their vengeful acts. It is precisely because the movie spends so much time getting to know both the killers and victims, that you care enough about the characters to want them to get their revenge, and understand why they feel they deserve it. When they finally do get it, you know the characters intimately enough to realize (as they do) that their vengeance is empty and ends up destroying them. Powerful filmmaking, and for my money, it's Park's best. |
This movie has an intensity to make others seem tame by comparison. A great study on rippling effects of revenge.
-THREEFOLDDADO (see my profile)
My favorite of Park Chan-Wook revenge trilogy. While "Oldboy" is kind of in a league of its own, I connected with this one a lot more. It's grittier and less polished for sure, and that helped to absorb me a little more. I don't want to give too much away, but some of what happens out at the river is done in such a calm, quiet way that it hits you like a sucker punch in the gut. The end didn't affect me as much on the second viewing, but I can remember seeing it the first time and just being blown away. I was moved, and honestly felt bad for just about all the main characters. A confident and pitch perfect film from one of the best filmmakers out there today.
| Human responsibility may lead to failure, failure may lead to psychotic behavior, and psychotic behavior may lead to death and violence. Damn, what a crazy world we live in. Just watch the news and see for yourself...kidnappings, rapings, school shoot-outs and digit-old beauty contestants found dead...and that's just the tip of the ice berg. Let's not forget global terrorism, even though we'd like to. The thing is, there is an untold story behind every little/big crime or wrong doing, some of which are misunderstandings - then you got the fools that are getting away with murder. I guess my point is simple: this is one fucked up world we live in.
I don't watch the news unless something big happens. Believe it or not, the last time I was actually glued to the news or TV was during 9/11/01, who wasn't? As far as watching the news daily, no way. I refuse to sit there and let those media people fry my brain with all the bullshit happening. So if I don't watch the news, what exactly triggered my mind to start thinking about this joyful world we live in? The answer is simple, a Korean flick called "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance". Nice title eh? If you've read the plot description at the top of this page, there's not much more I want to say in that aspect. Let me give ya some production insight...It's directed by Park Chan-Uk, the stud responsible for making "JSA" - and if you've seen that, you know the guy can make one helluva film. "Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance" stars Song Kang-Ho ("Foul King", "JSA", "Shiri"), Shin Ha-Gyun ("Guns & Talks"), and Bae Doo-Na ("Barking Dogs Never Bite" and "The Ring Virus") - all of which give magnificent performances, and that's an understatement. Unlike "JSA", Park Chan-Uk's debut feature, "Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance" is less mainstream and definitely not intended for all audiences. It has an underground-feel to it, even with the familiar cast. Downbeat, disturbing and at times, very violent. There's hardly any dialogue due to the film's plot-structure (Shin Ha-Gyun plays a deaf-mute) and a soundtrack is almost nowhere to be found. For sure, it'll give any viewer a strange, but satisfying experience. Highly recommended. That's all you need to know. See it, buy it, kill someone for it. No, don't do that. Footnote: In comparison to "JSA", "Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance" did not fare well at the box-office. The unsettling subject matter coupled with audience' expectations of a film similar to "JSA". Park Chan-Uk is far from a sell-out. :) |
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