Hugely disappointed by film as story was unbelievably predictable -very early I could tell you how film was going to end-, production values are not on the good side and has a Kim Ki Duk playing with metaphors in perhaps his most commercial film to date. Film is very similar to many Hong Kong movies, the kind I see sometimes but mostly avoid as tell grim/dark tales in very unpleasant ways.
Vengeance is the obvious story but he presents us with metaphors to his vision of what money does to people; have to say that tragedy is not one of Kim Ki Duk fortes as also is not his filmmaking in close environments. For me he is a poet and nowadays there is not much poetry in films or at least like he masterly did in Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter … and Spring, Dream, Breath and The Bow. That’s the Kim Ki Duk that leave me breathless in total awe. In this film the poet is gone and just hope is not gone for good.
The impressive movie poster is just a poster with a clever image that is not in film. To me that’s kind of cheating viewers by offering a scene that they will not find in movie plus doesn’t reflect the filmmaking and storytelling style at all.
If you are not familiar with Kim Ki Duk this is NOT the film to see, no matter if has been honored in major festivals that probably celebrate more his body of work than this film. If you are a Kim Ki Duk fan, suggest to skip film as you probably will be as much disappointed as I was.
Sigh.
Watch trailer @MOC
