Recent Reviews for A Bittersweet Life (Dalkomhan insaeng)
Recent Reviews
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MCT:June 30, 2008though his facial expressions seems to rarely change. lee byung-hun is extremely watchable i love his intensity in this role. this is a great noir film. -
MCT:June 25, 2008La historia era buena, pero por la mala actuacion de la chica y lo poco que se profundizo en los personajes se convirtio en otra pelicula mas de persecuciones, peleas y mafiosos
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MCT:June 21, 2008Had some strong moments and a cool photo. I was very sleepy when I saw this, therefor it felt very slow but I'm sure it's not. Seems like one of those revenge-movies that actually has some brains in it.
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MCT:May 15, 2008definitely more bitter than sweet. the visual inventiveness of this was my highlight. some great action sequences and killer sound would be the main drawcard here. not entirely sold on the plot or charcters but survives with out excelling in these fields.
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MCT:April 14, 2008
A nice one. Some compare it with Oldboy which I think is far better.
Another movie dedicated to revenge. I think a little more filosophy would make the movie far better. -
MCT:April 14, 2008I can see why many people would dismiss a film like a Bittersweet Life so easilly in a first view. Claiming is nothing but a recopilation of cliches from everything to John Woo to Tarantino to Scarface and back. A Pure "style over substance" in the worst possibly way, etc etc. After all, there are dozens of crime/gangster films that are made every year that follow that path in the laziest way possibly.
Thankfully, A Bittersweet Life is the exact opposite of cheap knock off in the crime/gangster genre. The film that mostly resambles in terms of mood and character would be Jean Pierre Melville's "Le Samourai". Just like Alain Deloin's silent killer, Kim Sun-Woo is a hard faced-cold-as-ice tough guy that seems to be devoid of any emotion. He works as a hotel manager, but at the same time, as the right hand of an important mobster.
His boss gives him a task, to watch over a young mistress he jealously treasures. If Sun Woo happens to catch her with another guy he must kill both in the act. Sun Woo starts following the girl, but something starts to happen. Little by little he begins to feel something, is not love, after all he has never experienced that. What he starts to experiment is a feeling of comfort, of inner peace. The girl lives a normal and simple life. She likes to go to discos, to decorate her house with colorfull stuff. She enjoys life in a way Sun Woo has never enjoyed his own, even while having plenty of luxuries.
Sun Woo decides to hide from his boss that the girl was having an affair with another guy, and that he spared her life. After all, in his mind, he did the right thing, like his boss told him earlier, she was different from men like them. Neverless, this decision proofs to be fatal for Sun Woo, but for his boss as well.
Another user here, Jundaman, say it well, of course ABL touches familiar film-territory, but is the "how" and not the "what" that makes the whole difference here. The way the movie truly dedicates time to develop the main character, how we see a transformation in him, sets ABL way apart from other entries in the genre. When the action occurs it actually has a meaning, it feels like a consequence of the acts of the characters and not just like mindless thrill fillers to distract the audience.
ABL deserves every bit of praise it can get. This is the type of films that define genres and create tendencies, it might be too soon to see that, but the sooner you know, there will be other crime films trying to emulate the mood of this film. -
MCT:April 10, 2008
I honestly don't wee what all the hype is about. Yes, this is a violent crime drama, but when all is said and done it feels just like any other REVENGE film.
Like many other films this one starts out fairly well. Carousel music is playing in the background when all of a sudden there is a quick spurt of action. Good martial arts action too. Unfortunately, after these first few minutes the pale story kicks in and the slow pace becomes boring. The first 45 minutes or so is basically Sun Woo following a young woman around. Yes, it does lead to the revenge factor for the second half of the movie, but the events of the first half make the second half feel excessive, unlike Oldboy or even Soo.
As far as the action is concerned, it isn't anything special. The martial arts sequence in the beginning is misleading because that is it. The rest of the violence comes in straightforward shootings and typical brawls. There is a good amount of blood here, but I have seen much more violent and bloody films.
The strongest aspect of this film has to be the cinematography. Director, Ji-woon Kim serves up some nice camera work. During the action scenes there are multiple shots as if the camera is resting just above the actor's shoulder. Excellent stuff.
The acting isn't anything spectacular. The lead, Byung-hun Lee is quite bland and so are most of the supporting cast. At least there isn't any noticeable overacting flaws.
If you like these types of films, then this one will probably be enjoyable. It is not better than Oldboy, but it is just a hair better than Soo.
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MCT:April 3, 2008saw half of it and i really liked what i saw...before i could watch the 2nd half my computer crashed...really want to finsh watching it
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MCT:March 23, 2008
God I love Asian cinema! It had a fairly straight forward plot and lots of amazing action and fight sequences. It also brought to mind a few of my other favourite films, including- 'Oldboy' and 'Taxi Driver'. Which can't be a bad thing?
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MCT:March 18, 2008A revengeful crime/gangster film with deep moralizing in regards to life via an elegant enforcer. The 'bittwersweet' concept is handled well as we see the score, the protagonist's emotions, the opening and closing statements having dual sentiments. We even see a reference to one of Fellini's films (Guess which one).
Its only flaw is its unrealistic characteristics which are mostly present in Sun-Woo. This might be because of the strong, vengeful emotions that he gained, but when a film containing such prefaced realistic elements beguiles you, you might as well give the main character a cape and some overlapping underwear.
Other than that, the film is pure subtle adrenaline. I enjoyed this more than I should have, and if every crime/gangster film had the talents of Lee, I'd probably watch more of them. -
MCT:December 30, 2007
A very well-made crime action/drama. I really enjoyed it. It didn't blow my mind or anything, but it's a fantastic example of good Korean cinema. This basic story has been done over and over and over, but this is what happens when it's told right. Definitely recommended highly... I'm torn between giving it 4 and 4.5 stars... so close. I suppose it loses a fraction of a mark for lack of originality, but really this film is pretty rad.
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MCT:December 6, 2007Another good one from the korean world of action , simple story very well told watch it !! you wouldn't be disappointed..!!
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MCT:December 4, 2007
Directed by: Ji-woon Kim.Starring: Byung-hun Lee, Jeong-min Hwang.
I still can't believe how long it has taken me to finally get into Korean cinema, it started with their horror films, now I have expanded because of so many other amazing films that easily tread on hollywood any day....and A Bittersweet Life is another one.
The story follows Sun-Woo, a hotel manager and the right hand man of an underworld boss named Kang. Sun-Woo has climbed his way to the top for 7 years and he is Kang's most trusted man, when Kang gives Sun-Woo a simple assignment to follow his young girlfriend to see if she is cheating on Kang, for some unexplainable explanation on his part, he doesn't do it. Ultimately the film is a revenge flick and a love story blended into one, but it is a little one sided when it comes to the love story as it is never quite developed enough to have an emotional core when it is needed. But such a small flaw can't put this amazing film down. The plot is very simple and a majority of the time, predictable....so what grips us onto this simple tale? Ji-woon Kim, who became a favourite of mine after the masterpiece 'A Tale of Two Sisters' delivers here. With A Tale of Two Sisters being highly complex, this is the opposite, but it never needs to be twisted to catch our attention, Ji-woon Kim directs with a dazzling visual style reminiscent of early John Woo and Quentin Tarantino, he has a dark humour about his bloody violence and a great control over his action sequences. The gun fights are spectacular and not to mention the amazing choreographed fight sequences, its all so amazingly well done. Byung-hun Lee, who I have only ever known as a martial arts expert is outstanding in his leading role. In the slightly weaker points of the love story, he has such engaging eyes to help us believe how he is feeling and in his action scenes, he is so amazingly controlled and trained that I can't wait to see more of his films....and he can act too!
Another classic from a leading country for films at the moment, the plot may be straight forward and simple, but our attention is gripped from the very first scene with beautiful cinematography, stunning set design, an amazing score, a hard hitting visual style and a strong lead. -
MCT:December 3, 2007
I had been looking for this film everywhere trying to find a copy of it because after a few friends on here seen it and wrote reviews I was dying to see it. I finally found it on Amazon and bought it. Not only did I want to see it because I have been on the Asian cinema journey but it's also a gangster/revenge flick as well and I love those. This film was everything I thought it would be. It was kick ass in every way. Asian films continue to amaze me the more I watch. This is definately one of the best I have seen and at the same time it's so much easier to understand and less confusing than the other Asian films I have watched. Not to say I haven't enjoyed any of the other ones because I have absolutely loved every one I have seen but this one was so much simpler than the others.
The movie has a lot of really kick ass fight scenes in the film. This film decides to use more gunfights and actual fighting than torture. Some of the hand to hand combat scenes were kick ass and I enjoyed watching them greatly. Probably the most bad ass character of the movie, Sun Woo, is played by Byung-hun Lee. An actor that I know about but had only seen one film of his previously and it was 3...Extremes so you can't really use that as a judge of how good he is. After watching this film and seeing the performance he gave in this one I will definately be getting a hold of more of Lee's movies. He's an amazing actor that I enjoyed watching. I bet the ladies enjoy looking at him too. ;)
This film is definately a must for anyone that enjoys Asian cinema and if you are just getting acquainted with Asian cinema you should give this one a shot because it's a damn good film and you will get an early look at how amazing Asian cinema is. I'll even get some of my friends that haven't seen many or any Asian films to sit down and watch this film because of how bad ass it is. This film is highly recommended. -
MCT:October 24, 2007
Great acting by Hwang-hun Lee, great directing by one of my favorites - Ji-woon Kim. Stylish, cool, tragic. We need more movies like this.
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MCT:October 24, 2007
Violent, elegant, tragic, and haunting. Don't expect an action movie. This is an art film set in the gritty world of Seoul's gangland. Like many of my favorite stories, it features an existential hero on a tragic quest. And it has an amazingly beautiful soundtrack.
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MCT:September 10, 2007
I think my revenge films will now come only from Korea. First Oldboy and now A Bittersweet Life have made me a fan of Korean revenge films. I had no doubt I was about to watch a special movie from the beginning where the narrator tells the tale of a master and his apprentice. From then on, it is one wild ride of how this one man can overcome the odds. Not to ruin the movie or anything, but the title is very fitting to the movie. The actor that plays Sun Woo is very very good and I would really like to see him in some more stuff. The story is not completely original, as most revenge films, but it is the execution that counts. When this movie ended, it was definitely a bittersweet experience for me.
"A disciple asked his master, 'Do the leaves flow or is it the wind?' His master replied, 'No, it is the heart and the mind.'" -
MCT:August 21, 2007
(Dalkomhan insaeng )
We can't turn back time, can we.
I am quickly becoming a Korean film addict. I have a strong feeling that I am about to embark on a long neglected quest for a deeper understanding of my paternal heritage.
If I could give this movie more than five stars, there would be no hesitation on my part to do so. This film is one for the cinematic ages. There is evidenced here an historical linked legacy of tribute to films that have come before. Yojimbo stands as the foundation for this chain. Although there are surely other films which could be mentioned, for me a clear line of homage to Yojimbo runs from Leone's Per un pugno di dollari (A Fistfull of Dollars) , to, as my flixster buddy Sabina points out, Melville's Le Samourai, to Scorcese's Taxi Driver, to this masterpiece by Kim Ji-woon. Each pays tribute to the ones before, yet each is its own unique masterpiece.
If you have not experienced this Korean actor, Lee Byung-hun (Sun-woo), you must do yourself the entertaining favor of seeing him in action. And when I say action, I mean full-bore head-cracking action. His martial arts style is fluid and sharply crisp. His acting is very good as well, especially in that he is able, through facial expression alone, to communicate great emotion. And those eyes! Although I must say that I've noticed a degree of ability for doing this in not a few of my father's family. Maybe it's a Korean thing : ) As Sabina points out, his close resemblance to Alain Delon in Le Samourai is uncanny. The acting is solid throughout, but Kim Roe-ha as the somewhat socially clueless Mun-suk is particularly fine. There is a stronger bond between Lee and Kim, and their combined acting talents shine in their final meeting, a scene straight out of Taxi Driver, where whatever that affection is that they do feel for each other comes across most poignantly. It is the only killing, I believe, that gives Lee pause, perhaps tugs at his heart and/or conscience, in his final march to the end.
And speaking of killing.
No doubt about it, this movie has been accurately billed as a Korean revenge film. It is indeed bloody, flixster friends, but it is not the kind of repulsive violence you might find in, say, Natural Born Killers. The violence here is purposefully and pretty darn artfully choreographed and filmed. I always appreciate a little humor with my gore, so I give huge points to the gun instruction scene. Ever experience road rage? Go home and watch this. There is a road rage vengeance scene that will make you feel so much better :)
A key, for me, in determining the difference between violence that has purpose and violence which is presented for the sake of violence is motivation. While it is true that Lee is a no nonsense ass-kicker from the start, he is not a natural born killer. Live burial scenes in literature, where the victim does somehow escape death, can symbolize a kind of rebirth. At the moment Lee emerges from his grave, he is indeed reborn. It is then that he becomes the stone-cold killer bent on revenge.
It would be unfair, however, to say that A Bittersweet Life is only a revenge movie. It is also a love story, and these two motifs are inextricably entwined. Of course, it is not a happy love story, since Lee's love is unrequited, but it is a moving love story nonetheless.
Sorry to do this, but the final four sequences of the film, Lee near death, the flashback to his watching the woman he loves play her cello, Lee's death, and the amazingly moving, seemingly non sequitur cut to a still living Lee, somewhere in the near past, shadow boxing with his reflection in a window, all help reinforce the bittersweet nature of his life. I am not fluent in Korean and cannot vouch for the English translation of the title. I, however, love the title because it emphasizes the fact that this is not a tragic end. A man who, finally, fights with himself, and even seems to enjoy that struggle against his own person, is a man for whom life cannot ever end in tragedy. The killing and the longing for love commingle in Lee's last conscious moments, and make "bittersweet " a very apt word to describe his end.
To quote one of my friend's favorite lines: I cry not because I had a bad dream, but because the dream was so good, I know it has no chance of coming true.
True love, as I've said before, can literally kill you.
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MCT:August 10, 2007
As a follow-up to 2004's excellent A Tale of Two Sisters, South Korean director Kim Jee Woon decided to deviate toward mainstream appeal with the release of this outstanding though unoriginal gangster film. Similar to Chanwook Park's superior Oldboy, Woon siezes the oppertunity to convey the profound effect to which the Korean film industry has been influenced by Japanese Yakuza films. Indeed, the film is rife with the heavily stylized, ultra-violent pulp feel to which the genre has become accustomed, whilst throwing in some distinctly Korean martial arts sequences to add a varied flavour. What causes A Bittersweet life to take second place from Oldboy is that these cultural aspects are two few and far between. Whereas in Oldboy much of the Manga source material was adapted to fit the Korean cultural way, the overall feel of Woon's film is too generic and lacks much of the distinction and charm which made A Tale Of Two Sisters such a masterpiece. That is not to say that these charms are not there at all. The scenes between main character Sunu and femme fatale Heesu resonate the same unspoken bliss which Tale fans saw between Su-Mi and Su-Yeon, but ultimately there are far too few of these scenes and this stops the film from achieving an essential emotional core. The most striking difference between Tale and Bittersweet is the level of violence apparent in the latter. When one considers that A Tale Of Two Sisters had almost no violence at all. It is a shock to the system when the drama and chopsocky of the first half of the film becomes abdicated for gun violence. This shows obvious renonance to Robert Rodriguez, however, rather than finding it a breath of fresh air one is left feeling cheated and instead yearning for more romanticized martial arts. Regardless of these niggly little nuances, one still can not deny that the film is still very well made. Once again; Woon produces a unique outlook on the world through thoughtful set design which heavily emphasises reds and white in relation to passion and gore, a soundtrack that mixes orchestal meloncholy with the works of Ennio Marricone (once again drawing parrallels between the gangster film and the western) and cinematography which pays as much homage to Dion Beebe as it does to more conventional gangster directors. Ultimately, A Bittersweet Life's major flaw is that it tries to be too many things. Instead of being content with calling it a Yakuza film, a martial arts film or an action thriller, Kim Jee Woon attempts to make his film all three and only half succeeds. If you only ever see one Korean gangster film, it should be Oldboy, otherwise this should definately be second in line.
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MCT:August 9, 2007
This is one of the more high class Korean movies i have seen in recent times. the movie just simply 'oozes' style and the action scenes are great.
This is a worthy addition to Korea's growing Gangster/Revenge library of movies.
A must watch! -
MCT:August 7, 2007
This is a beautifully directed and bloody action/revenge thriller from South Korea. The cast give solid performances, the cinematography is outstanding and the action scenes were well staged. The story is simple and predicable but that does'?t really matter too much because it knows exactly what it is and it succeeds at it. If you are looking for an entertaining action film in the vine of John Woo's early works, than check this one out!
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MCT:July 28, 2007
This blew me away. My favorite film of 2005. It's one part John Woo, one part Melville, one part Michael Mann, and one part...well, Ji Woon Kim. :>
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MCT:July 25, 2007
Straight-forward but thrilling tale of revenge amongst Korean gangsters. The build-up is slow but totally engrossing, while the climax is an intense bloodbath. Beautifully shot, this really packs a punch.
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MCT:July 10, 2007
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MCT:June 29, 2007
oooooooohhhhhhhhh melts in your mouth... love this film think its so beautiful, one of the best films ive seen.. made me smile so much due to the philosphy, the martial arts and the amazing acting.. so well written. stil after my fifth viewing find more in the final scene. its amazing how his expressions explain so much, that final last word means so much to me now.... its beautiful, really special more than just about love and a guy who can kick arse.. its about about life in general.. About your life and mine how we can never have everything we want,to me its states that 'happyness hits us at the most unexpected times' i think what i really learnt from this film is that you have to do what you want not what other people expect you to do or what people want ou to do..........
