MovieChat Forums > Musa (2001) Discussion > 6/10 - Not very good

6/10 - Not very good

posted 10 years ago by ScorseseStan
12 replies | jump to latest

Can't believe I'm seeing thread titles such as "best war movie ever" on this board. Just watched it on Netflix and it was so average, nothing memorable whatsoever happened.

As a huge lover of Asian cinema and in particular South Korean this was pretty disappointing.

1) No compelling or interesting characters. The only one who had the potential to have a really interesting character arc was Choi-jung but it wasn't utilized. The rest of the characters were so uninteresting and generic. Ridiculously loyal or honourable. Quiet and deadly.

Biggest downfall for me. A film can get away with a straight forward plot if it has compelling characters or vice versa, but to have both being nothing original or special makes it a bore

2) The fighting was all over the place and too hard too follow. Nice and bloody which was great but there weren't any great fights or anything like that of note.

3) The soundtrack was dreadful. In films like Hero you have the beautiful For the World by Tan Dun, the music in Tae Guk Gi is crazy good etc I usually love them but this one was all over the place.

Korean thrillers (love these) and romance/melodrama are some of my favourites and rarely let me down but I think this is the only genre where Hollywood gets it right more compared to Asian cinema. Red Cliff was pretty average, as was Warlords.

[–] turk-41 10 years ago

This was a great, great movie. You have no taste.

[–] ScorseseStan 10 years ago

Good rebuttal.

[–] turk-41 10 years ago

Both statements were correct, and you deserve no further elaboration.

[–] ScorseseStan 10 years ago

LOL just realised you were the one that started the "My favorite movie ever" thread, I've got some bad news.

The amazing performances? What film were you watching.

[–] turk-41 10 years ago

It's a matter of taste and more. I have superior knowledge on the actual subject/time frame of the movie and therefor could see how accurate and powerful the actors portrayed their characters in the movie. You on the other hand are a clueless new age imbecile who couldn't sense quality if Scorsese shoved his academy awards up your sorry a$$. History and ancient warfare is one of my hobbies which is another reason I appriciated this movie more. You on the other hand are probably more into twitter and nuking your brain by watching crap like Jersey Shore every day, which is another reason you didn't like this movie. Lets just leave it at that.

[–] ScorseseStan 10 years ago

If you're going to type out such a pretentious post as least make it good and not full of ad homs, makes you look like a bit of an idiot.

How much of a difference do you think knowing the time period gives you? You put on Sophie's Choice for someone that knows nothing of WW2 and the Holocaust and they would appreciate Streep's performance. Put on The Last Samurai and tell someone with zero knowledge of the period if they weren't moved by Ken Watanabe's portrayal. The actors in this film only put in performances that people that know the subject and time frame will appreciate...awesome acting and storytelling that.

I can appreciate you find the time frame interesting and like the Historical accuracy, that's fair enough, but it's hardly a sign of a great film if it appeals to such a limited market, especially when it's fictionalised to try and appeal to a larger market.

Real life stories can make for some of the most interesting films around, this isn't one of them.

[–] ChazzJazz 10 years ago

this movie is great, it cuts a few barriers: race, cultural, ethnicity, class, even religion.

Not sure you can compare the Hollywood tripes: this is at the grass-roots of being human, not some fantasised reminiscence of past events.

Story of honor, sacrifice, allegience

PS. MUCH MUCH MUCH better film than Crouching Tiger

http://myimpressionz.tk

[–] ChazzJazz 10 years ago

Red Cliff was pretty average, as was Warlords.

From that quote of yours, it seems you dont like character driven movies, because both Red Cliff and especially Warlords are character driven with added action.

They are not Wong Kai Wai's of course, but the cinematography was great in those two and this one.

http://myimpressionz.tk

[–] ScorseseStan 10 years ago

I love character driven movies, the characters have to be compelling and interesting for that to work though, see point 1.

[–] lpaul01 9 years ago

From your post I am assuming that you have watched several Asian films and series. However, if you view this as merely a 'war' film then you have missed the whole point.

There is so much more.

Please watch it again with more of an open-mind. I can't type a long post in response but the wonderful elements of this film must be touched upon.

The Mongolians disappoint in not achieving the dream of The Great Khan;

The universal longing for home;

Loyalty to the Princess by the peasantry and then their disillusionment; the return of that love and loyalty;

The passion of Seeol; the class society in Koryo where the young father-to-be left his home to try and make a better life for his family;

The downfall and rise of the General;

The sexual jealousy between the General and Seeon.

I could go on but I can only type just so much before pain stops me.

Please watch it again, it will be worthwhile.

[–] lpaul01 9 years ago

Further, you must be an admirer of Scorsese. Did you know that his much lauded, Academy Aware film, The Departed, was an inferior re-make of the much superior Chinese film, Infernal Affairs?

He showed utter contempt for a discerning, knowledgeable audience.

Scorsese has been cruising along on his earlier reputation for about 20 years now.

[–] risingapple 8 years ago

What has this last statement to do with the movie Musa?