Review of Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002) by Oaks B — 13 Jul 2009
A competent though characteristically unpleasant tragedy of a film from Korean director Chan-wook Park, this is the first of his Vengeance trilogy, to be followed by Oldboy and Lady Vengeance. Sympathy For Mr.
Vengeance is the most somber (read: least exciting) and least emotionally involving of the three films (despite extended scenes of characters crying uncontrollably), and while Park's visual flair is certainly notable, the film's ponderous slowness and occasional dips into arty incoherence can frustrate.
Typical of Park's work, expect some serious gore, a little torture and a dead child here and there. Not for everyone? You got that right; not for many. Still, like the rest of Park's work, images from Sympathy For Mr.
Vengeance may brand themselves into a viewer's mind, for better or for worse. Unpleasant, and unforgettable.
This review of Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002) was written by Oaks B on 13 Jul 2009.
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance has generally received positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
