Lady Vengeance
2005
Another tale of revenge from the creator of OldBoy. Lee Guem-ja has been released from prison having served 13 years for the kidnapping and murder of a child. A seemingly unassuming prisoner, Guem-ja has in fact been plotting her revenge on the man who was responsible for her incarceration. With the help of some of her fellow .. Read more
| Starring | Lee Young-Ae, Choi Min-Sik, Kim Si-Hu, Kwon Ye-Young |
|---|---|
| Director | Park Chan-Wook |
| Run time | 115 mins |
| Genres | Thriller, World Cinema |
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Critics' reviews (4)
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Theres a moment in Lady Vengeance when the central character commissions a bespoke firearm with the stern... read more on Time Out
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All hail this saviour for a jaded post-Tarantino generation.
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Most helpful member's review
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41 out of 46 people found this review helpful
Park is a genius
I was waiting for this movie for a long long time having been suitably impressed a few years ago with both JSA and Sympathy For Mr Vengeance, then in 2004 Oldboy just blew my mind.
The third and final installment of Park Chan-Wook's vengeance trilogy is a much more subdued affair. It doesn't have the grand scale and twists and turns of Oldboy nor the stomach churning violence of Mr.. but it is probably the most mature work of the 3.
As with Oldboy, Park builds the tension and mystery in this film by not revealing the reason for vengeance until the last part of the film - and when it comes it is suitably evil and worthy of such a cunning plan as builds in the first 2/3rds.
Yeong-ae Lee is good as the troubled Lady Vengeance and Choi Min Sik shows why he is one of todays great actors with a truly evil performance.
The last part of the movie is brilliantly made, full of tension and both the vengeance and the reason are suitably horrific, but the entire film is filled with glorious camera work and clever imagery and while the movie is mainly following (with flashbacks) the plan for revenge and those who plot it, without letting on what that plan is, or the reason for it, it's always gripping and wonderful to look at.
There are people who loved Oldboy but never really had the same feelings for ..Mr Vengeance. I would have to say the movie is closer in style to ..Mr than to Oldboy.. in terms of pacing and being much less grand and operatic in terms of plot.
It should definetley be checked out if only to see one of todays most daring and brilliant directors at the top of his game. Watch out for cameos from the leads from Park's earlier films too! -
Most recent members' review
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7 out of 8 people found this review helpful
A tale of two halves
Lady vengeance starts off in the same vein as the directors previous hit, Oldboy, a whimsical tale of a loner looking for revenge, and whilst being very violent it has a blackly comic sense of fun,and even elements of magic as the heroine sets about planning her revenge on the scumbag who forced her behind bars.
But into the second half of the film a dark secret is revealed that sends the storyline into more of a discussion on the nature of revenge and whether inner peace can be attained by violent retribution, leading to some very unpleasant scenes.
now both halves are interesting and entertaining but as a whole the complete shift in style and content stops the flow of the narrative.
there was potential for two great films, but instead were left with a bit of a mess. -
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