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2
Exit Through the Gift Shop
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2
Die Hard franchise
12
In-depth film reviews
16
The Artist
18
Garden State
20
Comedy genre
26
Oldeuboi
30
Poster art
34
Soundtrack reviews
40
Exit Through the Gift Shop Released 2010
The master of conjuring up public discussion and debate, Banksy doesn’t disappoint. Exit Through the Gift Shop is an account of
disguised Banksy, giving their recollection of
the life of Thierry Guetta, a French filmmaker
the events that took place. Not only is Exit
who becomes entranced by the world of
Through the Gift Shop filled with hilarious
street art. His obsession leads him to working
one-liners from Banksy but it also introduces
with some of the big names in the industry
the audience to the culture of street art and
such as Invader and Shepard Fairey, following
the skill involved, although this is questioned
them around at night when they are creating
throughout by the analogy of Mr Brainwash.
their work, documenting every moment on
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film. Rapidly his tape collection grows, as
Despite the masked face and altered voice,
does his desire to meet the top name in the
after years of being completely personality-
business, Banksy. Finally his dream comes
less, Banksy is finally shown as an individual,
true as by chance he is hooked up with him
‘real’ person, with his sense of humour being
and continues to work with the anonymous
not only displayed through his voiceovers
artist. Guetta later becomes involved in
but also through the plot and direction of
the business himself under the name of ‘Mr
the film itself. Brilliant publicity for not only
Brainwash’ and much to the others annoyance
Banksy himself, with him coming across a
becomes highly successful selling his work
likeable character, who is easily warmed to
for thousands. It is filmed in a documentary
with his humble attitude about the work he
style with the artists involved, including the
produces, but for street art itself. Packed
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with real footage of what art goes on at
his message at the same time. Whether
night in worldwide cities, the documentary
you are a fan of this modern art form or not
manages to accurately put across why people
quite understanding the hype behind it, Exit
get involved with street art and crushes any
Through the Gift Shop is well worth the watch.
skeptics without turning it into an hour long
Not only do you feel as if you’ve personally
lecture, the images speak for themselves. Of
tapped into a world that is so far away from
course no Banksy piece comes without room
the 9-5 job lifestyle, but is an interesting story
for debate and this is no exception.
about ambition and greed.
The questions surrounding the authenticity
It is a cleverly crafted piece of film, with the audience being drawn into this somewhat unreported world of street art.
of Mr Brainwash came through fast. Some described it as a ‘mockumentary’, it all being a grand hoax used in order to mock the money making business of the art industry and lack of originality within modern art. Thierry Guetta symbolizing the ordinary man who too believes they can crack the art world just by copying the work of others. Whether it was all a hoax or if Guetta and Mr Brainwash really
If you choose to watch it as a documentary or a mockumentary it doesn’t matter, Banksy has managed to produced a thought-provoking entertaining film for the masses.
do exist, it doesn’t matter because Banksy achieved what he wanted, to once again spark debate and controversy whilst presenting
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4 out of 5
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Director:
Banksy
Starring:
Banksy, Space Invader and Mr. Brainwash
Trivia:
The New York Times movie reviewer Jeannette Catsoulis coined a new term for this kind of film: prankumentary.
Die Hard
Witty, action packed and plain cool. With a 5th installment planned for 2013, we look back at the franchise so far. 8
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Die Hard Released 1988
5 out of 5
Officer John McClane (Bruce Willis) leaves
the never ending ammo and the ability to
New York to spend Christmas with his family
talk coherently with a cigarette perched
in LA. However, soon after arriving at his wife’s between his teeth. Action-wise, this movie is work, Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) takes over
outstanding — it is the perfect genre film.
the building with a group of terrorists and seals off all contact with the outside world.
If you were introducing someone to action,
Holding the workers hostage, he plans to steal start here. Something we’ll refer to a lot is $640 million stored in the buildings vault.
Die Hard Science. It is essentially the science
McClane manages to get into maintenance
that exists in the world of Die Hard, but not
areas of the building and tries to alert the
in reality. For example, one man may be shot
police about the situation. The police, apart
in the head and just crumple, another’s head
from Sgt. Al Powell (Reginald VelJohnson),
may explode. Rickman was also superb. He’s
are useless.
such a perfect antagonist. He’s creepy but isn’t aggressive unless he really needs to be.
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This is Bruce Willis at his very best. He
He’s menacing and powerful without being
is the epitome of cool. He has the pout,
loud or violent.
Director:
John McTiernan
Starring:
Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman and Bonnie Bedelia
Trivia:
Richard Gere was considered for the role of John McClane
One thing that is particularly great about this movie is the location. Despite the film only taking place in one building, this is a forty story building; there’s more room in a forty story building than in a forrest. This allows for the sense of claustrophobia, but still has the ability to create grand scale action. Bombs, tanks and abseiling with a hose pipe — this movie had it all.
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Die Hard 2 Released 1990
3 out of 5
John McClane, once again wishing to spend
communication so that they can crash them
Christmas with his wife, is waiting for her
at their will. McClane steps into save the day.
plane at the airport when he notices some
Once again, Willis proves that he is the coolest
suspicious behavior. Upon investigating,
man alive. More pouting whilst shooting, more
he gets shot at, destroys a mans head, and
talking with a cigarette, and more throwing
almost gets arrested. The complete lack of
metal painting towers over. He even plays
help from airport security leads him to turn to
chicken with a plane! Once again, he’s helped
his old pal Al Powell (via a new creation called out by a friendly black guy, Leslie Barnes (Art ‘a fax machine’) who informs him that one of
Evans), who is great fun.
the men that shot at him, was dead according to records.
Exactly what John McClane needs, a wise cracking, good willed, black guy that stands
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Cue evil plan to keep plane’s circling until the
up to his superiors in order to help McClane.
demands of the terrorists’ have been met,
And the antagonists of this film are brilliant.
despite all aircraft being low on fuel. Oh, they
I don’t just mean the outstanding Col. Stuart
also take over all the planes’ computers and
(William Sadler), I also mean the not-quite-
Director:
Renny Harlin
Starring:
Bruce Willis, William Atherton and Bonnie Bedelia
Trivia:
This is Bruce Willis’s least favorite film of the “Die Hard” series.
baddies-but-you-really-want-to-punch-them
covered completely in snow. This film does
baddies. This includes Capt. Carmine Lorenzo
require complete suspension of disbelief. That
(Dennis Franz), in charge of airport security
being said, it’s still great fun and 100% worth
who tries to over power McClane at every
watching, especially with a good crowd of
turn and, reprising his roll as the selfish and
friends. It’s a bit sillier, a lot bigger, and twice
ignorant journalist, William Atherton is brilliant as action packed, with twice as many as Richard Thornburg. This is a typical sequel. It’s bigger and more ridiculous. That Die Hard Science we mentioned earlier plays a huge part in this film. Plane’s crash, with no fuel, and yet explode into an unbelievable fireball. The brilliant aiming of the bad guys suddenly disappears when they shoot at McClane. Several planes can fit onto a very small runway despite it being
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plot twists.
Die Hard: With a Vengeance Released 1995
4 out of 5
Five years after the second Die Hard was
want answers, McClane has to complete the
released, a third installment came out. Then
tasks Simon tells him to. Task one: Wearing
it’d be another 12 years before we’d see
a rather offensive sign in the rough part of
anything Die Hard related in the cinemas. How town. Fortunately for McClane, Zeus Carver did they keep a franchise going despite the
(Samuel L. Jackson) steps in to protect him
massive gap in time? How did they adjust?
from a group of thugs. Not so fortunately for
Lets have a look, starting with Die Hard: With
Zeus, this means he is now involved in Simon’s
A Vengeance.
games. Simon gets McClane and Zeus to run around town trying to stop bombs that
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John McClane, (Willis) now almost a full-
he has rigged. However, Simon is planning a
blown alcoholic, is on suspension from the
little more than he’s letting on. By adopting
NYPD. However, when a bomb goes off in a
a slightly more I-don’t-care attitude, Willis
department store and the police are stuck
provides a better performance than his
for answers, a mysterious man named Simon
second outing as the character. He brings
(Jeremy Irons / Graham Greene) phones and
the same wit that he’s brought for the first
asks for McClane. He states that if the police
two movies but this time they it comes with
Director:
John McTiernan
Starring:
Bruce Willis, Jeremy Irons and Samuel L. Jackson
Trivia:
Although Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson had both appeared in Loaded Weapon 1 and Pulp Fiction, this is the first movie where the two appear on-screen together.
a fresh dowsing of pessimism. However, the
My least favourite aspect of the movie is not
stand out performance of the movie comes
the slowly sinking realism but the incredibly
from Jackson as Zeus. The antagonists,
annoying choice of music. Throughout
Jeremy Irons and Graham Greene are superbly dramatic moments of the movie, we are dark and smart. Their plots provide more
treated to an instrumental version of ‘The
twists than either of the first two movies and
animals went in two by two hurrah hurrah’.
they create such a tense atmosphere which
(Technically known as When Johnny Comes
makes the film extremely exciting.
Marching Home). Something about it doesn’t fit.
The Die Hard science begins to get a little bit out of control in this movie. There’s ridiculously high and yet survivable falls, surfing on giant dump trucks, and goons with even worse aim than ever before. But all of this only helps to make the movie all the more fun to watch.
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Die Hard 4.0 Released 2007
3 out of 5
So the plot of the last movie is slightly more
Q). Unfortunately for McClane (and in some
nerdy than the others. This time, the terrorists
ways, fortunate for Farrell), Lucy Gennaro
are hackers and they’re developing a system
McClane (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), John’s
that can systematically shut down the entirety daughter, gets caught up the whole ordeal of the United States, one bit at a time.
and despite her disliking of her father and his attitudes to things, she relies and trusts in him
McClane (Willis) gets involved after he is sent
to stop the terrorists.
to bring internet hacker Matt Farrell (Justin
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Long) to Washington. Soon after he arrives at
In the twelve years that John was absent
Matt’s apartment though, unknown assailents
from our cinema screens, a lot changed in
begin shooting at Matt and McClane. After
his life. He lost all his hair, stopped talking to
getting him out safely, McClane turns to
his ex wife and daughters, became a much
Matt to gain some insight from his hacking
angrier and older man. Willis continues to
knowledge and together they plan to bring
develop and adapt the character we’ve grown
down mastermind Thomas Gabriel (Timothy
to love but still sticks to his roots. The years
Olyphant) and his assistant Mai Linh (Maggie
have aged him, and he shows us that. Also
Director:
Len Wiseman
Starring:
Bruce Willis, Justin Long and Timothy Olyphant
Trivia: This is Bruce Willis’s least favorite film of the “Die Hard” series.
a brilliant performance from Justin Long.
above the other three movies. Probably the
Admittedly it’s a role that he plays more than
most silly out of all four movies but also one
any other, the awkward nerdy teenager. But
of the easiest to watch. There’s lots of action
the contrast between Willis and Long is so
and lots of explosions to keep your eyes busy.
perfect it makes the movie great fun to watch. Die Hard science goes to a whole new level in this movie. Death seems to become a thing of the past, or at least all of the characters have developed super strength. Cars are driven into helicopters, people are run over but able to continue fighting and fighter jets will destroy half a city on a very vague order. However, being a more modern movie, the special effects, camera work, and general appearance of the entire film is a league
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In-depth Film reviews
Twitter reviews by Simon Harrison
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Tron Legacy
Sunset Blvd.
Like eating a coconut flavoured jelly Sublime yet disturbing. bean when you were expecting toasted marshmallow. (I don’t like coconut)
Stolen
The Avengers
Taken - Liam Neeson + Nicolas Cage = Stolen
An abundance of superheroes and one liners. Lacking in plot.
Looper
Seeking a friend for the end of the world
Good. Worth watching again.
Really long title. Average movie.
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Tron Legacy
Sunset Blvd.
Like eating a coconut flavoured jelly Sublime yet disturbing. bean when you were expecting toasted marshmallow. (I don’t like coconut)
Stolen
The Avengers
Taken - Liam Neeson + Nicolas Cage = Stolen
An abundance of superheroes and one liners. Lacking in plot.
Looper
Seeking a friend for the end of the world
Good. Worth watching again.
Really long title. Average movie.
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The Artist FROM HILARIOUS TO HEART BREAKING, THIS FILM HAS IT ALL.
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It’s 1927 in Hollywoodland. George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is a star actor of the silent movies. The camera loves him and the ladies love him. Along with his dog, Jack, he makes hit films and is always greeted by the press and a swarm of screaming ladies. One woman ends up being pushed past a policeman and into George Valentin just outside the theatre. He laughs it off and poses for the camera with his fan. The next day, the papers are covered with the question ‘Who is this girl?’ That girl is Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo), aspiring actress. She auditions as a dancer soon after her encounter with Valentin and ends up on set with the man himself. A spark develops between the two but they end up going separate ways. Then the ‘talkies’ are introduced. Peppy Miller works her way up the silent trail and into talking movies. Valentin, however, claims that it’s a gimmick and fights to preserve his silent films. But what do the audience want?
The acting in this movie is some of the best I’ve seen for a long time. Both main characters are up for Oscar nominations and both are very worthy. While it could be argued that Bérénice Bejo deserves a Best Actress nomination rather than a Best Supporting Actress nomination, she has a far higher chance of winning in that category and she truly deserves high recognition. But Jean Dujardin really steals the show. Without any form of vocal expression, he shows every emotion and thought going through Valentin’s mind. his use of facial expression borders perfectly on exaggerated and realistic; it makes everything stand out more without seeming odd. He definitely has a very realistic chance of winning the Oscar. I can’t remember the last time I was so absorbed by a performance. Certainly one of the most likeable characters in recent cinema with a brilliant character progression.
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Also, the dogs, Uggie, Dash, and Dude (mainly Uggie) were better performers than any of the cast of a Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer movie. In fact, they were the best animal performers I’ve ever seen. This movie should seem completely alien to contemporary cinema. Black and white, no sound, these sort of things evolved and became the cinema today.
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However, here we are with one of the most captivating films of recent years. Some part of this is due to the incredible score that acts adds character to the entire movie. It tells you how to feel. It tells you how to respond. It touches your soul... (Too much?) Whether it uses cues from Vertigo’s soundtrack or not, it literally
makes the movie, as, I suppose, all silent movies’ scores should. The delicate silence in certain moments when there is no tinkering piano are made all the more effective. Strangely enough, the rare use of sound in the movie, seem like the largest and most empty silences. It’s almost deafening. The camera work, at points, is absolutely incredible. From grand shots of theatres or stairways, to close, intimate shots of one the protagonists. It is also edited together wonderfully and includes some of the most surreal moments of film around. A completely absorbing piece of cinema. From hilarious to heartbreaking, this film has it all. Some
of the most talented actors, one of the most compelling scores, and one of the most well structured plots of recent years.
5 out of 5 25
Director:
Michel Hazanavicius
Starring:
Jean Dujardin, BĂŠrĂŠnice Bejo and John Goodman
Trivia:
Jean Dujardin said in an interview that the movie was shot in just 35 days.
Garden State Released 2004
The movie is a wonderful representation of life. A particular life, but a real one. Not all of us have millionaire friends who
almost inspiring. Her unique attitude to life is
invented silent Velcro or go to parties where
a joy to watch. Peter Sarsgaard also throws in
a lot of drugs are involved but we can
a great performance as Mark, Large’s friend,
appreciate what it be like if we did; this film
who helps him to experience life more despite
is that life. The emotions are really felt and
his friend, Tim (Jim Parsons) sleeping with his
that can be put down to both the writing
mother. Parsons, despite being on screen for
(we’ll talk about that in a bit) and the brilliant
less than ten minutes, helps to create one of
performances.
the most amusing scenes in the movie as the Klingon speaking, fixed jousting champion
This is a completely new direction from
and plain out right nerd ‘mummy’s boy’ as it
the comedy TV star. Large is a completely
were. This also leads to one of my favourite
different character from JD. He’s awkward, shy lines in the movie: “Mark: The motherfucker..” and afraid of the world. Until he meets Sam.
Large: “Pun intended?”
Like many movies, Portman’s performance
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is the backbone of the movie. Her
The film is the directorial debut from Braff
characterisation of the hyper, enthusiastic and
and he appears in every scene. It should
outgoing Sam is mesmerising to watch and
feel a bit self involved but it doesn’t. It feels
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humble. The writing is incredible. The dialogue And the occasional camera shot glimmers changes from terribly awkward to exciting
with brilliance but unfortunately it doesn’t
and uplifting without any difficulty or lack of
carry on all the time.
confidence. One scene in particular stands out While the majority of the plot is wonderfully as an example of this. The first confrontation
written and, at times, brilliantly unique, the
between Large and his father is so well
ending is littered with cliches. While touching,
written that, when combined with Braff’s
sweet and with occasionally original dialogue,
brilliant timing, the viewer feels awkward just
the concepts of the last scene are overplayed
watching it.
and over worn. Never set a romantic scene in an airport! Not unless you’re Up In The Air. I
Some wonderful touches make even the little
promise, we’ll have seen it before.
things stand out in Braff’s directorial style. Things like automatic taps turning on one at
My only other criticism is the acting of
a time as Large walks past, a totally white
Ian Holm who plays Large’s father. His
bedroom or even screaming into an infinite
performance just seems a little hollow.
abyss. The range of different genres and styles Confrontations between Large and him are
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of music on the soundtrack is excellent and
held up by Braff. It just seems like we should
includes such artists as Colin Hay and Imogen
expect more from Bilbo Baggins, ya know?
Heap. Each song, hand picked by Braff, is
(But then again, Frodo was in Spy Kids 3-D so
perfect for the situation they are placed in.
who am I to judge?)
The film is hilarious, sad, touching, inspirational and moving. With laugh out loud moments and times to make you cry, there’s something for everyone. Some moments, in my mind, have become almost iconic.
4 out of 5 29
Director:
Zach Braff
Starring:
Zach Braff, Natailie Portman and Peter Sarsgaard
Trivia:
This was Zach Braff’s directorial debut.
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Why aren’t funny movies considered great movies?
Comedy is one of the biggest genres in the world of film and has spawned almost every sub-genre possible. With more comedies than you can shake a stick at hitting the big screen every year for the last two or three decades, why do so few find spots on lists of the greatest movies?
Is there really a difference between comedy and quality? 31
With Empire’s Top 50 Funniest, we began
Whilst not completely lacking in laughs, it
asking ourselves ‘Are these really considered
is understandable that this would force it
the funniest movies ever?’ Despite the list
lower down the list than a movie that focuses
being voted for by the readers, the comments
entirely on making its audience laugh such as
section was full of negative statements. No
There’s Something About Mary or Superbad.
Chaplin? No Keaton? Are the classics not as
Surely this then raises a question: can a full
funny in today’s society as they once were?
scale comedy also be one of the greatest movies or does trying for laughs take some of
The point was raised that a great movie
the quality away?
may not necessarily be the funniest. Take In Bruges as an example. It is recognised by
On IMDb, the first comedy in the top rated
critics worldwide as a masterpiece of modern
250 is Doctor Strangelove or: How I Learned
cinema and black comedy. However, as the
To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb and
movie progresses, its tone becomes darker
that falls in at 34. Like The Apartment, which
and more intense.
is at 12 on Empire’s top 500, these comedies are considered some of the best movies ever
Can a film really be thought to be the funniest and top of its genre, but not be considered alongside the greatest movies of all time?
made, and surely that makes them the best comedies? Yet, according to Empire’s list, there are still 16 funnier films than Strangelove and The Apartment is not even in the top 50. So maybe they are just the best received. And then, on the other side of the spectrum, what about Airplane!? A film that constantly tops
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‘Funniest Films’ lists and yet is nowhere to be
Whether you go for a gag-a-minute type
seen on IMDb’s top 250 and is all the way at
film like Airplane! or something a bit more
368 on Empire’s top 500.
sophisticated like The Big Lebowski, the truth of comedy is as long as it makes you laugh,
If you handed me the Empire’s top 50
it has done its job and it doesn’t matter how
Funniest Films list and asked me to pick
highly it is rated on its other merits.
my favourite film, I would have no difficulty selecting In Bruges. However, if you asked for my favourite comedy, I would probably read the list several times before throwing it across the room and complaining over the lack of Burn After Reading, O Brother Where Art Thou, The Guard, Submarine, and Little Miss Sunshine, despite none of those being my favourite comedy. Whether or not it is possible to create a comedy that is worthy to be considered alongside the likes of The Godfather, Shawshank Redemption and Fight Club, there is one certain fact. It is not hard to make something that will make your audience laugh more than those films.
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A comedy is only truly a failure when it fails to make you laugh.
Oldeuboi (Oldboy) Released 2003
Oldboy has been hailed as one of the greatest inter-national films ever made. This movie has been hailed as one of the
He begins to train, build up his strength, and
greatest international movies ever made and
find a way to escape. He swears vengeance on
it stands at number 92 on IMDb’s Top 250
whoever trapped him and when he is finally
films and isconsidered the best film in the
out of the room he goes on a journey to find
loosely connected ‘Vengeance Trilogy’. The
the truth. With help from Joo-hwan and Mi-do
movie opens with a mysterious man dangling
(Hye-jeong Kang) he begins to unravel the
another man over the edge of a building by
mystery surrounding his capture.
his tie. When asked what his name is we cut away to Dae-su Oh (Min-sik Choi) in a police
All performances in the movie are
station, very drunk and out of control. He is
outstanding. Min-sik Choi is outstanding as
picked up by No Joo-hwan (Dae-han Ji) but
Dae-su. His emotions are gritty and raw. It’s
soon lost at a phone-booth.
absolutely captivating to watch him from start to finish. Not only is his tantrum in the police
Dae-su Oh wakes up in a room. He has no idea station one of the funnier scenes I’ve seen
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who has trapped him here and he has no idea
for a long time, his brutality which verges on
why. He spends the next fifteen years trapped
insanity is horrible to watch yet impossible
in his little room with only a tv for company.
to look away from. At some points you’ll like
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him, some points you won’t, and some you’ll
the fight down the side of the corridor. It’s
just be shocked by him. It’s brilliant. As an
incredible to watch. The use of sound in the
antagonist, Ji-tae Yu is fantastic as Woo-
film is also brilliant. Often music (or more
jin Lee. He has a perfect balance between
often silence) will juxtapose what’s happening
psychotic and plain evil. He’s got enough of a
on screen. It creates a really eerie atmosphere
human side to develop a tiny bit of sympathy
that works wonderfully with the explicit
for him but mainly he’s crazy and cruel. What
nature of the film.
really stood out for me in this movie was the technical side of things. Chan-wook Park
Overall, this film is definitely not for the faint
really knows what he’s doing as a director.
hearted. While it has funny moments, they are completely outweighed. There’s even a tooth-
Everything is perfectly timed. Everything
pulling scene, something that really makes me
looks perfect. Everything is perfect as far as
wince. However, it is a great movie and well
the technical aspects are concerned. The fight
worth a watch... if you can stand it. And pay
scenes, particularly the long corridor fight, are attention. It twists more than a roller coaster. spectacularly shot. The corridor fight scene involves a huge number of guards against one man. The first camera shot shows us how small the corridor actually is. The next one is a an extremely long single shot that follows
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4 out of 5
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Director:
Chan-wook Park
Starring:
Min-sik Choi, Ji-tae Yu and Hye-jeong Kang
Trivia:
This is the second of director Chan-wook Park’s “Revenge Trilogy”. The first is Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance. The third is Lady Vengeance.