Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Third time's the charm..., 13 May 2006
Why is it today, that all films have to come in trilogy form? Whatever the reason, film trilogies are everywhere in this day and age, so praise the Lord for Park Chan-Wook's third instalment to his brilliant Vengeance Trilogy, Lady Vengeance. Coming after the 2003 releases of Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Oldboy, Lady Vengeance is perhaps the most stylish and charming (sorry, but Lee Young-Ae is slightly more attractive than Choi Min-Suk) of the three films that all stand alone in their own right.
We begin with Gueum-ja's release from a thirteen-and-a-half-year stint in prison for a kidnap and murder she took the blame for. Bitterly determined, out heroine is now a far cry from the charming 'Gueum-ja the kind-hearted' that touched each of her cellmates like an angel. Not losing her appeal, however, Gueum-ja now seeks revenge on the man who took her heart and soul away from her.
Starting her journey by visiting her old cellmates, Gueum-ja begins to plot her revenge, pulling in favours from all her ex-con buddies. Park's direction here quite literally shines, as we see the stories of all she has touched played out. Powerful, her angelic metaphor is brought to life. But, how she has fallen? She is now Hell-bent on revenge, and the reunion with her now adopted daughter only adds to her pain and anger.
Gueum-ja is no angel; not entirely innocent; and must feel some guilt. This is the film's charm. Like in Mr. Vengeance and Oldboy before it, the hero, or in this case heroine, is by no means perfect and has made their fair share of mistakes. The ability to empathise with the characters and live their journeys is what makes Park's films so beautiful. it's not just the aesthetically-pleasing weaponry!
Like the beautiful Gueum-ja, this film is by no means perfect, but does its best, nonetheless. The choice of music fits Gueum-ja's story with ease and, despite a slightly flawed and at times ending, the irony has a similar impact to that of Oldboy. A charming ending to an excellent trilogy. 9-out-of-10 falsely convicted felons would agree revenge is bittersweet.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sweet, touching vengeance, 9 Dec 2006
Having seen "Old Boy" and read some plot summaries of this movie, I was expecting something outlandishly gory. It is, in fact, anything but and all the better for it. I see a lot of our own Peter Greenaway in Park's film, the use throughout of haunting barroque music, of carefully composed scenes and symbolic, colour combinations, especially red and white. It also deals with an important moral dilemma, if your child had been killed and you had a chance to mete revenge personally on the murderer or turn him over to justice what would you do? This is the choice Lady V offers to the grieving relatives and their different reactions are essential to the film's impact. Last but not least, the film is shot through with a deep, sad yearning for unattainable spiritual purity and clenliness.
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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This vengeful dish is so icy cold you'll get frostbite!, 19 May 2006
This movie is simply unbelievably good. The story is about a woman framed for killing a young child. Whilst in prison, she takes on a saintly persona and becomes a model prisoner, making many friends (and a few enemies). Le Guem-ja helps prisoners and on her release calls in the many favours to track down and get revenge on the real child killer!
This film is a must see especially for any foolish person who thinks being in prison makes them appear 'hard'. Trust me, if I ever had the terrible misfortune of ending up in a Korean prison and was subjected to one of the most cringe-making scenes I have ever witnessed - I would surely die!
The film was excellent at portraying how far a person is prepared to go, to ensure that vengeance has been achieved.
To sum up, you know the scene in Pulp Fiction, when Samuel L Jackson's character recites that piece of scripture, this film is all about that!!!!
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