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1. • CommentAuthorSamael
   • CommentTimeMar 2nd 2006

    
   This is actually Chan Wook Park's first movie- coming out before "Old Boy."
   It's basically the first part of a thematic triology dealing with- obviously enough- the concept of vengence/revenge.
   
   Old Boy has gotten a lot of publicity and a lot of acclaim in the foreign/indie film circles, and with good reason- it's a fantastic film from an up-and-coming director. His films are already being ripped off and copied across the globe (a Bollywood director is under investigation right now for stealing and remaking Old Boy, and rights have already been purchased by an American studio to do remakes of his movies as well). So, how does Mr. Vengence stack up?
   
   Rather well, I'm pleased to say.
   
   First- the story.
   
   The main character is Ryu- a deaf mute who lives in a run-down apartment with his sister. Ryu works at a factory full time, and tries to take care of his sister, who suffers from kidney problems and is in need of a transplant. Unfortunately, Ryu gets laid off, and can't afford a transplant when one becomes available. Ryu and his "revolutionary" girlfriend eventually come up with a plan to get the money by kidnapping Ryu's ex-boss' daughter.
   Of course, nothing ever goes the way it should, and things rapidly get out of control, with revenge coming in waves.
   
   This is one of those movies where the story unfolds like a train-wreck. There are times when you know exactly what is going to happen, but that's not really a bad thing. You know what's going to happen, but you can't look away anyway. That's not to say that there aren't some surprising turns- I was definitely caught off-guard by some of the turns that the movie took. They weren't unpleasent turns, just unexpected. Park is dealing with a lot of heavy story elements here- the line between protagonist and antagonist is clearly blurred by the events unfolding, and the layers upon layers of revenge being planned and executed are- as many other reviewers have commented- almost Shakespearean in scope. This is truly a tragic movie, with many of the characters having those startling moments of revelation perhaps just a little too late.
   
   The rest-
   
   Visually, this is just as impressive as "Old Boy." Park has a great eye, and makes very good use of the camera. His style may not appeal to everyone, but he knows how to set up a shot, and he captures some very unique and beautiful images, even in a setting as grimy as the city in Mr. Vengence. Abandoned buildings, busy streets, run-down apartments... Park gives them all lives of their own. As with many other works in the genre, colors tend to be washed out and muted, and lighting can be quite stark at times, but that's par for the course, and Park makes good use of the light and shadow at times, to create mood and tension.
   
   The sound in the movie is quite well done. Dialogue is rather sparse and minimal, with long stretches of film untouched by voice. This is a bleak world these people live in, and many of them speak through their body language or actions as much or more than with their words. We are occasionally treated to things from Ryu's perspective with moments of silence amid the chaos of his world. A nice effect, used sparingly to great effect. The music won't have you clamoring for a soundtrack, but it does exactly what it should- sets mood.
   
   Over-all-
   
   Make no mistake, this movie is not for the squimish. It's a revenge movie, and blood is spilled. That being said, this is not a slasher-flick or a "fight movie." There are some scenes that will really pull on your heart-strings, just as there are scenes that will punch you in the gut and leave you gasping. Park puts his characters in a vice, and keeps on turning, tightening it far past the point of pain. One of the great things about a Park movie is that you'll find yourself cringing as much from what you can see as what you can't. He knows that sometimes the mere suggestion of something horrible can make you feel ill- the sounds of violence can sometimes be as powerful as the actual violence.
   
   Another great thing is watching characters change through the course of the film. You may not agree with what they do- but you'll understand why they do it, and you'll believe that things could play out this way.
   
   All in all, a flim I'd highly recommend to anyone with an interest in Asian film. Park is clearly a master of his craft. If you haven't seen any of his films yet, get this, and then get Old Boy. Even if you're not particularly interested in Asian film, if you're interested in a really good revenge flick, you can't go wrong with either of these. I'm very excited for Lady Vegence (the third in the trilogy) now.