I Saw the Devil while meeting people

Today Korean's revenge movie 'I Saw the Devil' became for sale in the dvd-shops in the Netherlands. I rushed to the shop and before I knew it I was in a deep conversation with another customer about Korean revenge movies and the actor Choi Min Sik. Isn't that one the beauties in life? You can find people with the same preferences everywhere and you don't have search for them.

Now the only thing I still have to do is watch the movie, heard great things about it!! Someone seen it already?

Ip Man (Hongkong, 2008)

Ip Man is a rather well constructed martial-arts film. Maybe the acting sometimes is a bit below good, but the fighting scenes are really well done. Though I often love the big choreographic, almost like ballet fighting scenes of Zhang Yimou films a bit more, the fighting in Ip-Man is more 'casual' marial-arts fighting and works perfectly for this film.

The story is about fighting for yourself and your country, which reminded me a bit of Jet Li’s fearless. Maybe it is not as good as Fearless, but it gets close. What I will remember is one brilliant scene, a battle scene where Ip Man’s kid suddenly enters the room on his little bike with a great announcement ('if you don't attack, he will break everything in the house') during a fight. A very nice touch of showing how to put some humour in this film.

In its genre it is one of the best.

Innocent Steps / Daenso-ui sunjeong (South-Korea, 2005)

To be honest, I had some doubts about this movie. I was afraid that it would be a bad Korean adaptation of Dirty Dancing. Well yeah, it is about dancing and some scenes reminded me of that movie but I have to say I had to revise my thoughts after I had seen this one. Innocent steps is in fact a pretty good film, way better than to be expected! A romantic comedy with enough drama involved to keep being interesting.

The story, of course, is not too complicated but where it starts very funny and not really refreshing the second part of the movie shows the competent acting in a rather dramatic storyline, it even gets a bit unconvential. Though such movies always have their happy end, it is a different happy end than I suspected. I was really amazed by the acting in fact, you can feel the emotion between the main characters (Geun-yeong Mun, A tale of two sisters, and Keon-hyeong Park) and only in a very few scenes the acting seems a bit forced. Great to have seen such honest acting!

I have to say that the director, Young-hoon Park, did a great job with this film! The scenes were intense, beautiful and sometimes heart wrenching. The dancing scenes were pretty believable and honest. The music in it is great as well, I never expected to hear The Cardigans’ ‘Rise and Shine’ in a Korean movie!

A simple story about love, but nonetheless a very good one!

In Bruges (United Kingdom, 2008)

In Bruges is directed by Martin McDonagh and stars Bendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes and Colin Farrell... and ofcourse I immediately noticed our Dutch actress Thekla Reuten it it as well.

In Burges is a story about two Irish hitman who has to hide in Bruges but most of all it's a dark comedy. The conversations between Gleeson and Farrell are often hilarious and be prepared for oneliners like 'they are filming midgets'! The story has its serious moments to when Farrell is morally challenged by one of the outcomes of his shootings. The first half of the story is very different than the second half. Where in the first half it's mostly humour, in the second its more like an action-drama movie and deals more about human nature and the choices we make.

Sometimes Colin Farrell makes me a bit nervous with his acting, he just seems to overact sometimes but in this movie he is really great I have to say! Brendan Gleeson is acting brilliant like ever!

And Bruges.....well what to say? Our Belgium neighbours sure have a wonderful city!

I am Legend (USA, 2007)

This film directed by Francis Lawrence stars Will Smith.

The story is about a remedy for cancer, this remedy is in fact an modified measles virus. Nothing really goes the right way and it mutates into a virus which kills most of the people and turn other in light-phobic monsters.

Will smith thinks he's the only survivor in New York City and he tries to make an antidote for this virus.

The first part of the film is maybe most interesting when we see will Smith walking through an empty city where the only sound is heard by him putting some music on or talking to dolls or his dog. Or.... when the mutants attack. The world is a place of fear and loneliness.

The story evolves in a battle between mutants and Will Smith. It looks like Will Smith feels more confident in these action scenes than in the scenes where he is a doctor, though he acts pretty good in this movie!

An interesting movie about the outbreak of a virus and a lonely world, but remind yourself it's a blockbuster and there will be action in it too. I agree with most people that it could have been a longer movie, 90 minutes is a bit short for this one.

...ing (Korea, 2003)

...ing Is a beautiful melodramatic movie (director: Eon-hie Lee) about love, sorrow and pain. It's a pure one that shows the beauty of love together with the greatest pain it can bring. In general ít deals about a girl(Gang Mina-a, played by Su-jeong Lim known for her lates role in I'm a cyborg, but that's okay) that is very ill and that keeps her away from making friends easily. Her mother (Misuk, played by Mi-suk Lee) wants to see her have fun and asks her often if she doesn't want to have a boyfriend.

A young photographer (Yeong Jae played by Rae-won Kim) moves in the appartment below theirs and faals in love with her, Mina slowly becomes more open to him and begins to enjoy the beauty of life. She fiends a friend in Yeong Jae and a friendship blossoms. But remember, Mina is very ill so this film has its emotional parts too, it probably will hurt your heart as well.

It's also very funny with small word jokes that are one of the best I ever seen. For example: A woman talks about noodle models while she means nude models. Just hilarious.

Don't expect a very difficult story, it's a pure lovesong which is at the same time truelly heartbreaking. It's almost impossible to not feel touched by watching this movie. Another wonderful thing is the cinematography, it's beautifully done. How subtle Mina's illness is shown is remarkable and most shots are wonderful. For those who don't like Asian cinema because the fact that they often introduce to many characters (which for some westerns are difficult to distinguish) you can be relieved. This movie only deals about a handful of people.

Wanna try something different than Western commercial cinema? Watch ...ing!! And the title...well it explains itself.

In the mood for love

The prequel to 2046, in the mood for love, is directed by Wong Kar Wai. Maybe this one of the best movies ever made. It has the power to find beauty in every little thing in life. You will be stunned by the beauty how two people can pass eachother. Beauty will be found in the cigarette smoke (if you want to get smoking of the screen you must be complete crazy or an American), the way she seeks shelter from the rain, even in holding a phone. Well there would be 1000 or more examples to give. Every frame of this movie could be eternalized in a poster or a painting. Only the really brilliant directors can achieve this.
The clothing makes it even more beautiful, every dress is so extreme gorgeous. Those typical Shanghai dresses from the sixties are probably the most fantastic dresses ever made, so much colour, so beautiful design. It's the same with the Japanese Kimono's, you wish people would still wear them.
Well last but not least I have to say a few things about the actors. Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung act fantastic. Those two beautiful people really bring the movie alive. Even it's a sad story they give you a feeling of 'in the mood for love'. Love can be so beautiful, love can be so sad. Their acting is so intense, it's catches you and doesn't let you go till the very end.

Some people may think this movie is a bit broing, but in fact it is the opposite. If you are ready to let this movie grab you and take and swirl you in a world of melancholy, beauty and pure emotion you will end up with the one perfect feeling in your heart. the feeling of true beauty.