By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2 cats
Director: Chan-wook Park
Starring: Hye-jeong Kang | Ji-tae Yu | Min-sik Choi
Original language title: Oldeuboi
Country: south_korea
Year: 2005
Running time: 120
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364569/combined
Thom says: “I’m really quite curious why this film has been so lauded. With Quentin Tarentino having long established the
hatred and insidiousness of the ‘revenge’ film, this had the dubious distinction of trying to go one step further. This gruesome,
brutal film is disturbing in the extreme, frankly I had hoped never to witness someone cutting out his own tongue, among other grotesque visions. The film had sparkling photography, evocative acting, dreadful lighting, and a plot that moved right along. I wasn’t bored but I’m so tired of watching such totally unsympathetic characters that are not even grounded in reality. There were no lessons to be learned, no uplifting dénouement, no grace, no fun. I did admire the scene where our protagonist beat up an entire gang, but it had no point. I’m so tired and disillusioned with life after seeing one of these hideously depressing efforts. 2 CATS”