Look at me – J. Egan
Cloud Atlas – D. Mitchell
Human Stain – P. Roth
Enduring Love – I. McEwan
Old School – T. Wolff
칼의 노래 – 김 훈
Pastoralia – G. Saunders
I think Park CW is greatly overrated. His films have occasionally brilliant imagery (also self consciously showy), but beneath the visual pyrotechnics, his story lines are built on gimmicks and shocks. Truly great Korean film making in recent years, imho, should be found in Chang Dong Lee. (Peppermint candy, Oasis, Secret Sunshine) These movies touch on deep, human issues, and the executions are meticulous and flawless. He generally touches on painful subject, but if you are patient, his films leave long lasting resonance. Compared to Lee, Kim ki duck is also a paper tiger, depending on intellectual counterpart of Park CW’s shallow gimmicks.
Another great korean film maker is Bong Jun Ho, who recently made a hit movie called “the Host”, although his earlier film (Memories of murder) is far superior. The trouble with these films (Bong and Lee’s) is that great acting and verbal nuance of Seol Kyung Koo and Song Gang Ho is lost in translations. It is as if you are asked to watch the scenes in Pulp Fiction by just reading poorly translated subtitles with sound mute. No wonder directors like CW Park and KD Kim are more popular with their pseudo philosophy and extreme imagery which easily survive translation….
“Take care of my cat” is another excellent Korean film by an unknown director, which is along the line of movies such as Yi Yi and other introverted films. The pinnacle of Korean melo-drama may be “Failan”. “One Fine Spring Day” by Hur Jinho is also excellent, but not available in the West. Both, exquisitely made. Most of these movies appeared during the last few years, but sadly, the Korean film industry seem to head downhill at the moment in a mad mad pursuit of $,
Who do you read? over 3 years ago
Look at me – J. Egan
Cloud Atlas – D. Mitchell
Human Stain – P. Roth
Enduring Love – I. McEwan
Old School – T. Wolff
칼의 노래 – 김 훈
Pastoralia – G. Saunders
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What do you think about Park Chan-wook? over 3 years ago
I think Park CW is greatly overrated. His films have occasionally brilliant imagery (also self consciously showy), but beneath the visual pyrotechnics, his story lines are built on gimmicks and shocks. Truly great Korean film making in recent years, imho, should be found in Chang Dong Lee. (Peppermint candy, Oasis, Secret Sunshine) These movies touch on deep, human issues, and the executions are meticulous and flawless. He generally touches on painful subject, but if you are patient, his films leave long lasting resonance. Compared to Lee, Kim ki duck is also a paper tiger, depending on intellectual counterpart of Park CW’s shallow gimmicks.
Another great korean film maker is Bong Jun Ho, who recently made a hit movie called “the Host”, although his earlier film (Memories of murder) is far superior. The trouble with these films (Bong and Lee’s) is that great acting and verbal nuance of Seol Kyung Koo and Song Gang Ho is lost in translations. It is as if you are asked to watch the scenes in Pulp Fiction by just reading poorly translated subtitles with sound mute. No wonder directors like CW Park and KD Kim are more popular with their pseudo philosophy and extreme imagery which easily survive translation….
“Take care of my cat” is another excellent Korean film by an unknown director, which is along the line of movies such as Yi Yi and other introverted films. The pinnacle of Korean melo-drama may be “Failan”. “One Fine Spring Day” by Hur Jinho is also excellent, but not available in the West. Both, exquisitely made. Most of these movies appeared during the last few years, but sadly, the Korean film industry seem to head downhill at the moment in a mad mad pursuit of $,
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