Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002) Reviews
- Starring:
- Shin Ha-kyun
- Director(s):
- Park Chan-wook
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Category:
- Mystery & Suspense, Foreign, Independent Films
Member Rating
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful I rented this after watching Oldboy and the directors short film in 3...Extremes. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance isnt quite as good as either of those films but it was still better than 90% of American ... Read More I rented this after watching Oldboy and the directors short film in 3...Extremes. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance isnt quite as good as either of those films but it was still better than 90% of American films. If you can understand and stomach Oldboy then you need to watch this one. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful Staying close to the thematic elements of revenge and transformation that made 'Oldboy' such a wild ride 'Sympathy for Mr. Vengance' is an engrossing meditation on the more sublime nature of vengance ... Read More Staying close to the thematic elements of revenge and transformation that made 'Oldboy' such a wild ride 'Sympathy for Mr. Vengance' is an engrossing meditation on the more sublime nature of vengance and how even the best intentioned actions can effect drastic consequence. The moving, often disturbing screenplay along with Chan-Wook's signature direction add layers of dimension and atmosphere to the already outstanding performances given by the cast. While 'Sympathy' never reaches the gut wrenching level of on-screen violence 'Oldboy' it far outshines the latter in terms of story, humanity and moral. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful Sometimes, circumstances changes people... No.2 of Mr. Park revenge trilogy, eventough it's not as brilliant as Oldboy, it's still brutal and thought-provoking as ever. Can't wait to see how Lady ... Read More Sometimes, circumstances changes people... No.2 of Mr. Park revenge trilogy, eventough it's not as brilliant as Oldboy, it's still brutal and thought-provoking as ever. Can't wait to see how Lady Vengeance's gonna be... Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful I cant recall any movies that handle the theme of revenge better--neither from the perspective of story nor of filmmaking technique--than SYMPATHY FOR MR. VENGEANCE. Director Chan Wook Park's sense ... Read More I cant recall any movies that handle the theme of revenge better--neither from the perspective of story nor of filmmaking technique--than SYMPATHY FOR MR. VENGEANCE. Director Chan Wook Park's sense of composition and color, his ability to capture so much in a single shot, is remarkable. Yet what really stands out is how he makes us care about and understand all his main characters and their needs. No one becomes a villain, even though each does stupid and terrible things. The director communicates the gnawing feeling that we are about the see the worst that could happen. And then he escalates, brilliantly. Because, by the finale, we better appreciate the enormous waste of life and its possibilities that revenge wreaks, I stand with those Park-lovers who insist that this director is not exploitative (a la Tarantino and his ilk) but highly responsible, moral to the core, and a great filmmaker. If you haven't yet seen them, rent his wonderful "Old Boy" & "Joint Security Area," too. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful This movie definately picked up near the last hour, but that meant i had to sit through a whole hour of nothing prior to that. The story and the characters just weren't that interesting to carry the ... Read More This movie definately picked up near the last hour, but that meant i had to sit through a whole hour of nothing prior to that. The story and the characters just weren't that interesting to carry the movie for an hour, before the real meat of the story begins. Oldboy was much better. Stick to that one. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
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