Lady Vengeance
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Movie Reviews of Lady Vengeance
Movie Review: A tale of revenge and redemption for Lee Gum-Jaa
Summary: 5 Stars
Lady Vengeance is the third and final installment in Park Chan-Wook's revenge trilogy that began with Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance and Oldboy, and to me, the best in the series. And all thanks to Lee Young-Ae as Lee Gum-Jaa, exuding a calm, sad, but elegant beauty. Love that red eyeshadow, long black coat and boots! The vengeance is justified, plotted more strategically, created like a cake per the wondrous artistic opening sequence, and the emotional poignancy more than that of Park's first two films. And the mostly melancholy music, highlighted by the theme "Mareta Mareta" adds to the film's ambience. But this movie makes more of a case for justified revenge and killing than the other two films.
In the story, told with recurring flashbacks, Lee Gum-Jaa has finished serving a thirteen and a half year sentence for murdering a 5-year old boy. Turns out though that she was forced to take the rap or else her own daughter would be murdered. During her incarceration, she spends her time hatching up a scheme against the actual killer, Mr. Baek, the elementary school English teacher who took her in when she was pregnant, and blackmailed her by threatening to kill her daughter if she didn't take the rap.
For her grand scheme, she does favours for or uses certain people. She gives a kidney to an inmate suffering from chronic kidney disease. She also slowly poisons the Witch, a horrible, obese predatory inmate who has a penchant for chubby females and is a terror among the other inmates. Creating a wonderful cake out of some pathetic ingredients wows the baker Mr. Chang, who gives her a job at a bakery after her release. And becoming Christian is just a way to reduce her sentence to show how reformed she is. Indeed, her cold response to the warm welcome given her by the preacher who "converted" her at the train station is, "Why don't you go sc--w yourself?"
She finds her cute daughter Jenny living in Australia with foster parents. Jenny can't speak a word of Korean, but nevertheless wants to go to Korea--check out the brief scene where she forces Lee Gum-Jaa to take her there. Jenny though is a bit disgruntled, wondering why she was dumped.
The turning point in the film is when Gum-Jaa is about to kill Baek and discovers he has killed other children. It's not now a point of personal vengeance but giving the parents of the murdered children their bit of vengeance to this serial murderer.
There are highly emotional bits, where Lee Gum-Jaa explains her past to Jenny, with Mr. Baek translating at gunpoint. More disturbing is the scene where the parents of the murdered children react after seeing videos of Baek killing their offspring.
It's not only the search for revenge that's key but also redemption. Although Lee Gum-jaa's life stemmed from a great mistake she made in her youth, she perceives this pessimistic indelible brand of a sinner. My sins are too great and deep She says of Baek, "he made a sinner out of me," and when Jenny asks if she wasn't happy to meet her, Lee tearfully says "Too happy for a sinner like me." She tells an inmate in her "Christian phase" that "Prayer is like a scrubbing towel. It scrubs off all your sins, then your skin will become as new as a baby's a**." Seems she didn't take her own advice, because she is too hard on herself.
Lady Vengeance is the most stylish of the three revenge films, although maybe with some over-elaborate and indulgent bits. The pistol made for her only shoots at very short distances, but the double barrels and ornate carvings are clearly for aesthetic purposes, but in one scene, she has enough wits to run and shoot the hand off the knife-wielding thug who's abducted Jenny. Why not use an automatic?
Symmetry: at the beginning, the Christian preacher waiting for her encourages to eat the block of white tofu so she won't sin again. At the end, she holds a cake with white frosting and tells her daughter to live white. Falling snow symbolizes purity, a new start, and makes for one poignant ending to a film I've watched over and over again.
Movie Review: Another Great Film from Park
Summary: 5 Stars
If you're reading this, odds are that you've seen some of Park Chan-Wook's other films, particularly 'Oldboy'. Suffice to say, if you liked 'Oldboy' I can't imagine why you wouldn't like 'Lady Vengeance' as well, nor do I believe that this movie will convert you if you aren't already a fan. A few people will try and tell you that this is actually quite different from Park's last film, but I really don't know where they get this conclusion. 'Lady Vengeance' has unusual, stylish and artfully composed shots, surrealist inserts, skewed chronology and storytelling, themes of revenge, loss, family and reunification and an unpredictable mix of abrupt violence, black humor and surprising pathos. In short, it has all the stylistic trademarks that defined 'Oldboy'. It does, as the film moves along, eventually venture into more purely bleak pastures somewhat reminiscent of 'Sympathy...' in tone, but overall it still reminds far more of it's direct predecessor than of that other film. Arguably, it isn't much of a step forward from `Oldboy' in terms of style or content, but few people can pull off a film like this the way that Park can, so he's allowed to spin his wheels a bit if he so desires.
`Lady Vengeance' follows the exploits of Geum-ja, a convicted child-killer who is just, as the film opens, released from prison after 13 years. She seemed to undergo a miraculous transformation in prison, converting to Christianity and earning herself the nickname, `The kindhearted Geum-Ja. This proves not to be a ruse, however, and upon her release Geum-ja immediately begins a quest for vengeance against one Mr. Baek, calling upon her various prison `friends' for help. Needless to say, it gets a lot more specific than that, but I don't want to give it away, even if it is more impressive in how it is shown, rather than the particular story which is being told
`Lady Vengeance' is strikingly well made and slick, particularly for a non-Hollywood film. It's just gorgeous looking, with strong performances all around and a fine, seemingly inappropriate score which is alternately ironic and legitimately emotional. Though it's often violent and bleak, `Lady Vengeance' is simply a ton of fun to watch, particularly for the first hour or so. It has so much energy, style and humor that it's irresistible, and more flat-out watchable and entertaining than just about anything else I've seen this year. Furthermore, when they later go for a more serious, emotional tone, Park and company pull it off beautifully, and with out totally abandoning the flash and humor which made the first 2/3 of the movie so entertaining. Many people will tell you that Park's films are hollow and devoid of humanity, but I don't agree. I suppose I can see their position, as so many of his characters are far removed from anyone in the real world, but I don't have much trouble relating, and I think many of the later scenes are genuinely moving.
Well, I'll just cut myself off here, I think. This is just a great movie. Best one released in American theaters yet this year, in fact. Check it out.
Grade: A
Movie Review: **Justice and choices** There are no spoilers in this review. Dvd Features below.
Summary: 5 Stars
I would give this more stars if I could, I've made a list of "great movies" here on Amazon and when I see something I love I add it to my list, After this review this movie will be added, I believe I have it in some pretty amazing company.
Director Park Chan-Wook's conclusion to his vengeance trilogy is an amazing film. Out of the trilogy I have seen Oldboy (Three-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition), which i liked very much, i found this to be superior in every way, a masterpiece.
I will not go into any detail or spoil anything this movie is a rare treat and I wouldn't want to spoil any minute so I will give you the basic premises a beautiful woman Geum-ja Lee played perfectly by Yeong-ae Lee is wrongly imprisoned at the age of 18 for 13 years, so begins her plan of 13 years for revenge on the real criminal.
I believe this movie is all about choices and what is right and wrong. Are gods laws right? Are mans laws right? Lady Vengeance let's you analyze and decide that for yourself well after the credits roll.
On the cover it says "The best revenge thriller since Kill Bill." Kill bill was very good and entertaining movie, this movie goes deeper like all great movies it stays with you, you experience this film, it seeps into your subconscious, becomes one of your memories. I also enjoyed the Kill Bill's and as a drama and a thriller i believe it is better than both of them combined, however Kill Bill is superior on the action side of things.
This film is something you could debate and analyze it has deep meanings but it is also just a great story which keeps you guessing and at times can shock you while others make you laugh.
The score is beautiful to match the movie, the cinematography, and the transfer. Geum-ja Lee is referred to as an angel i believe she was an angel of vengeance and wrath. There is a beautiful shot at the end we get a god's eye view camera angle as snow falls onto three faces 2 open there mouths as if to receive communion from the white pure snow, but who doesn't? Was justice served? I think so.
Lady Vengeance was also on Reel's website on their top 10 of 2006, Was also on one of the editors at IFC's. It also has me rethinking which movie to drop from my personal top 10 of 2006 to make room for this gem.
Thanks for reading, share any thoughts.
DVD Special features (from the back of the dvd)
-Interview with director Park Chan-Wook
-The making of Lady Vengeance
-Audio Commentary by Director Park Chan-Wook
-Audio Commentary by Director, Cinematographer, and art dirctor
-Audio Commentary by Richard Pena- Program Editor, film society of Lincoln -Center, and associate professor of film, Columbia University
-International and U.S. theatrical Trailers
-English and Spanish subtitles
Movie Review: A height of Park's powers
Summary: 5 Stars
Park Chan-Wook has been exploring the ramifications of vengeance and its ability to tear people apart as they quest to heal past wrongs in four films now--from _Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance_ to _Oldboy_, to "Cut" (his contribution to _Three Extremes_) and finally this one, full title _Sympathy for Lady Vengeance_.
The full title is aptly reminiscent of the first of this series, for while its style seems to continue ideas like_Oldboy_ and "Cut," _Lady Vengeance_ definitely takes its issues and pathos from the first film. _Oldboy_ and "Cut" are more of an examination of the victimization vengeance creates, as well as the psychological drives towards vengeance, especially when there is no great cause to rectify. In those films, the drives for vengeance are based more in psychological deficiencies rather than a righteous sense of justice. In _Oldboy_, Oh is kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years, and the movie then examines what this plan of vengeance against him is and what it does to his life. The crime he supposedly committed is, in the end, small, and so the concept of vengeance is handled in that film as a conduit to outwardly express other psychological needs. "Cut" is much in the same vein, with a famous pianist subjected to an elaborate plan of revenge for a relatively insignificant crime. Both films are very fancy in their cinematic approaches.
But _Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance_ takes a much more pared down and immediate route of relating to events, and the plot involved more righteous vengeance, if you will. And more than that, it explored the relationships among several people who all have reason to want to take vengeance on each other, which makes that film one of the more superior takes on vengeance, and _Lady Vengeance_ follows much in this vein. Geum-Ja is incarcerated for 15 years for kidnapping and killing a young boy, but claims she is not truly guilty and instead has someone to take vengeance on for her prison time. While in prison, she fashions together a network of supporters who will help her carry out her plan when free.
But of course, her plan proves to be much more complex and intricate as the movie continues. It turns out that Geum-Ja had a daughter who was given away for adoption, has met a boy who is of the same age as the boy she was jailed for killing, and her target has a lot more people who would like to get their licks in as well.
While very stylized in its approach, with some intriguing visual effects, _Lady Vengeance_ takes a page more from the first of its series, where resolution is not so easy, and characters are wonderfully troubling in how they are justified in action but troubled and punished for their righteous action. The two _Sympathy_ movies are clearly the height of Park Chan-Wook's powers for exploring a theme as old as _Hamlet_: the intricacies and problems with vengeance.
Movie Review: Another Outstanding Film In The Trilogy!
Summary: 5 Stars
Having seen all of the films in the Park Chan-Wook's vengeance trilogy, I must write that this one is another great gem of a film by this remarkable director. The film centers on the life of Geum-ja (Yeong-ae Lee); who has been convicted and sentenced to prison for murdering a child. However, there is more to the story than meets the eye. The usual unpredictable storytelling of director Park Chan-Wook has weaved another masterful revenge film. This film cannot, and should not be compared to the other two films in the trilogy. Each is different and diverges into the dark recesses of the human soul in its own way. I happen to think that this film deserves praise for its originality, and the depth of the characters in the film. Many of the actors you will recognize as those who portrayed both the protagonist's and antagonist's in the other films of the trilogy, "Oldboy" and "Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance."
When Geum-ja is finally released from prison after 13 years, she has appeared to have gone through a transformation in her life by converting to Christianity and earning the nickname 'The kindhearted Geum-ja." However, while in prison she has had only one thought in her mind: REVENGE. The object of her obsession for the past 13 years has been Mr. Baek (Min-Sik Choi). Furthermore, it is her friends from prison that she enlists in her quest to seek vengeance. Yeong-ae Lee gives a tremendous performance in the film, and the films success is due in great part to her great acting. Although this film is not as violent as the first two, the story itself is very good. However, the films nuances are great, and both Geum-ja, and the rest of the characters in the film pull off great a performance in their respective roles.
Also, the cinematography in this particular episode is magnificent. The array of colors and beautifully shot scenes are just terrific. Moreover, the film is more subtle than the previous two films of the trilogy, and this works well within the film. As this film has a different sort of twist on those seeking revenge, than the other two previous films had. I don't wish to spoil the film for those of you who have not seen this great film, however, its is a great film, and if you liked either of the other films, or any film with great suspenseful dramatic acting, then you will definetly like this film. However, do not go into this film expecting an "Oldboy"' type film, this one is different. I know many who do no like "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance" [even though it had a more realistic and plausible plot than "Oldboy"] and as a result, they wound up disliking that particular film. Each of these films is a gem in its own right. I like ALL of them, each has a different story to tell, and each is uniquely great. The film is highly recommended. [Stars: 5+]