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Poll

Where do you stand on the directing talent of Park Chan-wook?

Can't wait to see more.  He's definitely Great.
3 (17.6%)
He certainly makes my list, but I can think of many who are better.
1 (5.9%)
I've seen enough to say he's really good.
5 (29.4%)
I've seen some of his films, and he's okay.
4 (23.5%)
I've seen some of his work and I don't care for him.
1 (5.9%)
I haven't seen enough of his work, but I hope to.
3 (17.6%)
I have never heard of him before.
0 (0%)
I've heard of him, but I'm not that interested.
0 (0%)

Total Members Voted: 17

Author Topic: The Top Directors Working Today: Park Chan-wook  (Read 3704 times)

1SO

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The Top Directors Working Today: Park Chan-wook
« on: September 29, 2008, 01:08:33 AM »
A couple of years ago, I heard much about the Greatness of Park Chan-wook, but had only seen the Oldboy trailer (which looked awesome.)  My good friend called me to say he had DVD's for Joint Security Area, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Oldboy.  We were going to watch one a night and let them digest, but ended up watching all 3 back-to-back.  It was a great night to be a film geek.

JSA (too often skipped over, but one of the Best from South Korea) is so confident and well crafted, it's hard to believe the film is the work of a still novice director.  It's not as complex as Park's other work, but combines an entertaining mystery with a heartbreaking emotional story.  (The final shot lingers for a long time.)

It was the perfect appetizer for Mr. Vengeance, the main course of the evening.  I love a good revenge story, but I often long for the avenger to feel and be eaten up by the revenge.  Well no film does it better than Mr. Vengeance.  I have 2 minor flaws with the film (involving a photograph and a handicapped character), but the overall impact of the unfolding events is unshakable.  It takes the opposite approach to revenge from the fantasy that is Kill Bill and shattered my nerves into little pieces.  Park Chan-wook is a Great Director for this masterpiece alone.

After a needed break, we dove into the evening's dessert, Oldboy.  Very little I need to add here, an amazing story brilliantly told.

Park Chan-wook has yet to reclaim the heights of those three films.  His recent output has taken a more surreal bend, and as his visuals become increasingly stylish, I think he's beginning to lose some narrative focus.  Still, he's one of the freshest new voices in cinema and I'm up to watching whatever he chooses to make.

Basil

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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Park Chan-wook
« Reply #1 on: September 29, 2008, 01:10:06 AM »
Didn't like the first half of Oldboy. Found it repulsive enough to ignore the man's other work, in fact.
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sdedalus

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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Park Chan-wook
« Reply #2 on: September 29, 2008, 01:11:40 AM »
I've seen some of his films, and he's okay.

Oldboy was alright, but I don't want to see the sequels.  I thought his android movie sounded interesting.
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roujin

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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Park Chan-wook
« Reply #3 on: September 29, 2008, 01:34:23 AM »
Didn't like the first half of Oldboy. Found it repulsive enough to ignore the man's other work, in fact.

I still don't get this.

The vengeance trilogy is pretty good. Oldboy is oddly rewatchable for me.

I tried watching I'm A Cyborg but always got distracted (it's also kinda disturbing in its faux-cuteness).

chesterfilms

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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Park Chan-wook
« Reply #4 on: September 29, 2008, 01:35:20 AM »
Can't wait to see more.  He's definitely Great.
What? What are you talking about? It's girls and spaghetti. We love girls and spaghetti.

skjerva

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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Park Chan-wook
« Reply #5 on: September 29, 2008, 02:17:14 AM »
no option for i've not experienced?  cuz that would be my pick :)
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arcnyc

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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Park Chan-wook
« Reply #6 on: September 29, 2008, 06:29:06 AM »
I haven't see enough of his work, but I hope to.

I've only seen Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and wasn't terribly impressed by it.  I didn't dislike it but with all the praise lavished upon it, I was expecting something better.  I am still interested to at least see the other two in that trilogy.

karlwinslow

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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Park Chan-wook
« Reply #7 on: September 29, 2008, 10:47:52 AM »
Can't wait to see more.  He's definitely Great.

what he said.

only seen oldboy and lady vengeanceoldboy is great, and lady vengeance is pretty good.

maņana

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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Park Chan-wook
« Reply #8 on: September 29, 2008, 10:52:59 AM »
no option for i've not experienced?  cuz that would be my pick :)

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chesterfilms

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Re: The Top Directors Working Today: Park Chan-wook
« Reply #9 on: September 29, 2008, 10:57:43 AM »
Oldboy
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
Lady Vengeance

Oldboy is one of my favorite movies from the past ten years.
What? What are you talking about? It's girls and spaghetti. We love girls and spaghetti.

 

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