Review:

Sympathy for Lady Vengeance

Music Score [5*****]

To start with, the music for Sympathy is quite simply: moving. And in just the way required for a revenge movie. Perfectly places and with a depth of emotion that fits exactly what the film calls for. There is no denying the score's role in this movie. Brilliant, moving, and pleasure.

Revenge [5*****]

Easily the best revenge-themed movie I had ever seen. Sympathy makes Kill Bill look like a child's cartoon. It's power, motives, reality, and complex web of emotions put it over the top as a portrayal of revenge as passion and reason combined.

Acting [4****]

Excellent acting on nearly every part. Parts that could have easily been made cheesy are kept very serious by the looks on the main characters' faces and expressions. In fact, it can almost be funny in how serious they are in a strange situation. But that's a side note.

Cinematography [5*****]

Wow. There were so many new things that were done in this film, or at least that I'd never seen done before. Park Chan-Wook is still an innovative genious (I plan to get into more of his films, as I have only seen Oldboy). From upside down cameras, actors walking around the camera, and just extremely different, yet all-the-more effective usage of his shots. Lighting, sound, position... everything is just so good.

Overall [5*****]

I'd have to say, this is probably the best film of those like it, and probably the best film of 2005. This film is so powerful. My eyes had watered during it, which is quite a rarity for me. This is also the first film that has literally left me with chills for 20 seconds into the credits. Not chills from horror, but from sheer power of the passion given in this film. Anyone who likes film and especially asian film, MUST see Lady Vengeance