MovieChat Forums > Ah-ga-ssi (2017) Discussion > Pretty good, but not the best Park has t...

Pretty good, but not the best Park has to offer

posted 8 years ago by alain-kapel5
12 replies | jump to latest

I'm a bit tired to elaborate much right now, but I will say this is a pretty good movie that you should definitely watch if you liked Chan-wook Park's prior films.

The Handmaiden looks and sounds fantastic, is rich with character backstory, loaded with eroticism and has plenty of confidence - enough to not back out from some almost pornographic sex scenes between the two main actresses. But I feel like it needed to offer more to be the best Korean movie this year; I've already seen The Wailing and I think it does almost everything better than The Handmaiden does (no matter the different genres). I just wanted to point out that Park is a certain type of director who tends to prefer style over substance or get lost in lurid details of the script; much like Tarantino. Don't get me wrong, I do love most of his filmography but The Handmaiden "amplified" the importance of sudden twists and nudity so much that I felt like I was watching someone's sexual fantasy wrapped up in a neat film noir package.

Overall, I gave it a 7 because I expected more, although it kept me seated for the whole time. What did you think of the movie?

Oh, and definitely check out The Wailing if you still haven't. My thoughts keep frequently coming back to it because it's just so *beep* great! :)

[–] C_h_r_i_s_t_o_p_h_e_r 8 years ago

I thought it was good but I also was expecting more. I'd still give it an 8/10 overall. I watched the BBC adaptation of the novel just last week and I actually preferred that version to this one. (Obviously this one is better directed and looks better visually). The BBC version's third act is pretty different and I'd argue better. You might want to check it out: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0423651/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Speaking of The Wailing - that's easily in my top 3 films of the year list so far but I feel it's hard to compare the 2 films besides them being Korean. They are very different. I don't see any Korean films topping The Wailing this year but maybe Kim Jee-Woon's The Age of Shadows possibly. I hope to see it at Toronto Film Festival this year.

[–] alain-kapel5 8 years ago

I'm usually not interested in historical dramas but I might check out the BBC version to see how it holds up compared to The Handmaiden. Thanks for the suggestion!

And the comparison between The Wailing and The Handmaiden is a bit silly, you're right. It's just that I was hoping The Handmaiden would leave a similarly lasting impression since it's made by one of the more interesting directors working today and it had already received a lot of praise from critics worldwide.

[–] Lexx911 8 years ago

I mean I totally love Oldboy. The twist was fantastic. I totally enjoyed The Handmaiden. Probably would have rated it much higher and love it even more if it wasn't for the BBC series "Fingersmith". The twist felt kinda flat because you I knew it was coming.

[–] n-der 8 years ago

Finished the movie 2 min ago. Of course its exceptionally well made. But really, i wasnt hooked and felt nothing in the end. I just didnt care about anyone and anything. Was excpecting too much as everyone else. Stil believe Chan Wook will surprise in the future. Wailing is the best korean2016 for now. Maybe i missed something genius in korean cinema this year, any suggestions guys?

[–] Ichi-San 7 years ago

Not recent, but I consider these pretty good Korean movies if you haven't seen them: Musa, Untold Scandal, Forbidden Quest, A Bittersweet Life, Oldboy, The Servant, The Face Reader, Fists of Legend, Masquerade, No Tears for the Dead.

[–] GeneticSugarKane 7 years ago

I've loved all of his films I've seen, but this one is neck and neck with Oldboy for first place. I thought it was absolutely wonderful.

My IMDb lists: http://www.imdb.com/user/ur5570856/lists?ref_=nv_usr_lst_3

[–] marinkobg 7 years ago

Curse of expecting more, I am not saying you should lower your expectations, but you definitely would enjoy things more in general. This movie is masterpiece, especially if you take into consideration ocean of mediocre movies nowadays.

[–] Od1n 7 years ago

I think i'm too old to rate movies exactly like this is 6.85 and that is only 3.5.

Korean cinematograph is not my cup of tea, all these violence, perversions and magical "twenty years in basement" kind of things is a stretch to me.

But I enjoyed this movie, and more than Oldboy.

I liked how delicate it describes dichotomy of human nature: rationality vs sensitivity.

In the end latter is a winner. I found it elegant.

[–] Grethiwha 7 years ago

In terms of visuals and music, well, it's a Park Chan-wook movie; it's great. But it never really built to anything much special; I was disappointed. And surprised at all the acclaim its gotten - like you can just throw some 'boundary-pushing'/'taboo-breaking' lesbian sex scenes in and that's all Park has to do now to win over all the horny 'art-film' critics... haha okay I'm sure that's an unfair assessment. But that's kind of how it felt to me. Admittedly the subtitles on the copy I watched were pretty bad, and confusing sometimes, which might've taken away from how compelling the film was to me. But I'm pretty 'meh' on the whole experience, and I consider myself a fan of Park Chan-wook...

The Wailing I liked, though I loved the Bong-esque darkly comic murder mystery stuff at the beginning and wasn't as into all the supernatural stuff in the second half, though it was interesting and compelling the whole way.

--- grethiwha -------- My Favourite Films:
http://www.imdb.com/list/Bw65XZIpkH8/

[–] loepark 7 years ago

Nah man. This is Chan Wook Park's best film since Oldboy.

Raging Bull = Best movie

[–] huwdj (4562) 7 years ago

7 seems about right to me. It was an expertly made film and the cast was very good. I particularly enjoyed the cinematography which was almost manga-like at times. But overall a little predicable and disappointing. I've not read the book or seen the BBC production yet it all seemed a bit familiar - perhaps it's the original victorian-british story line that made it so.