I SAW THE DEVIL (9)

I first avoided this film because of how violent and sadistic it is. I mean, it’s controversial enough that only after the *third* cut the Korean Ratings Board granted it wide release. After gaining enough courage... I can tell you that I SAW THE DEVIL.

PRE-TRIP

Out in stores, on Netflix, reviews, “ top foreign movies list” etc., I’ve come across this film so many times but never get down to watch it. While it sounds like a conventional thriller, agent exacts revenge after his wife is murdered by a psycho women serial killer, the similarity ends there. Other than that, many have agreed that the film is brutal, gross, scary, horrifying, beautiful, psychological, badass, controversial, “I can’t help but look” and similar terms. The trailer is tense and well-edited, yet showing none of the bits that make I SAW THE DEVIL the talk of the town. Still don’t think I’ve prepared for what’s in store but what the heck, let’s have an adventure, even though it might not be so pleasant. Gulps.

8 out of 10.

POST-TRIP

A word or two about the director, KIM JEE-WOON. One of the top dogs of Korean cinema, I begin to take note of him after delivering the best horror film I’ve ever seen called A TALE OF TWO SISTERS. DREAMWORKS eventually remakes the film - THE UNINVITED - and while not bad, is no match in terms of acting, atmosphere and artistry seen in the original by JEE-WOON.

And all of that are on display again in I SAW THE DEVIL.

I just can’t stress this enough: the film is *sick*, slang and literal-wise. Thanks to LEE MO-GAE’s stunning camerawork, this has got to be one of the prettiest and atmospheric thriller I’ve seen recently. Slow-tracking and predator-like movements, along with MOWG’s strangely soft and acoustic-heavy  score, act as a warm-up for all the *very* disturbing and depraved things that lie ahead. The killing sequences are brutal, the action bits relentless and the drama parts affecting - all thanks to brilliant acting from the two lead actors.

Choi Min-Sik

Both men (G.I. JOE’s LEE BYUNG-HUN and CHOI MIN-SIK of OLDBOY fame) are at war - and it is their conflict that drives the film forward. However, whatever differences both men have are blurred as the film reaches its climax, and like the gorgeous-but-soon-will-turn-nasty winter backdrop, viewers get to see how cold both of them are.  Despite ages apart, possibly ‘acting generations’ apart as well, both BYUNG-HUN and MIN-SIK invest 100% in their roles, even though the script seems to favor MIN-SIK as the psycho killer by giving him more opportunities to display different mannerisms. BYUNG-HUN, however, has the most expressive set of eyes in recent memory.

Lee Byung-Hun

Could this be true? A perfect movie?! Only almost. By the third act there is one sequence where suspension of disbelief is required. Pity because most of the movie is quite realistic up to this point. Get past this part though and you will be treated with a thought-provoking ending. Yes, I said it, a thought-provoking ending after all the bloodshed.

In short, I can say revenge is served at its coldest in I SAW THE DEVIL, a gorgeous, disturbing and highly satisfying thriller.

9 out of 10.

MOMENTS THAT LINGER

- First body recovered. All the elements are spot-on - acting, music, photography and pacing.

- In-taxi assault. You will wonder how did the director do it. Try not to squirm though.

- That ending. It will stay with you.

PACIFIC RIM (9)

First movie for the blog is really important. PACIFIC RIM from WARNER BROS. will receive the honor.

PRE-TRIP

Giant mechs clash with equally giant monsters when the latter emerge from beneath the Pacific through a mysterious portal. Hmm, finally, a film that is not a sequel, reboot or about a superhero - instead a tribute to anime of a Gundam n Wait, GUILLERMO DEL TORO is at the helm? What, there’s RINKO KIKUCHI from BABEL, IDRIS ELBA and RON PERLMAN, aka HELLBOY? A definite audiovisual treat, but one should be prepared for cheesy action flicks scenarios/speeches in store. 

8 out of 10.

POST-TRIP

No stranger to cinephiles, DEL TORO is famous for designing his own creatures (or robots) with extreme attention to detail. It shows here. Beautiful effects work, you could certainly feel the weight and scale. At times, you’ll definitely want to reach out to touch the screen. Photography legend GUILLERMO NAVARRO’s camerawork is simple but, as always, effective and mesmerizing. Music and sounds explode, boom and blast, making sure you remain on edge. Think IRON MAN mix with THOR.

Now the idea is good but the writing is not. The dialog is top-of-the-line cheese with bad-boy one-liners, dramatic before-the-final-battle motivational speech and exceedingly simple phrases to convey either urgency or care. Acting-wise, IDRIS ELBA and RON PERLMAN shine, while the main man - CHARLIE HUNNAM - is as lifeless as the robot he controls. RINKO KIKUCHI, CHARLIE DAY and BURN GORMAN are fun, but not really memorable.

In short, what is digitized on screen is better than what is not.  PACIFIC RIM is a step, only one step, above your usual lights-and-explosions fare, thanks to megatons of eye candy deliver by the sights, sounds and scale. 

Oh, and the abs too, for the ladies. 

9 out of 10.

MOMENTS THAT LINGER

- Alaska fight - a breathtaking 18 minute prologue which shows off the good stuff of PACIFIC RIM

- Mako Mori (RINKO KIKUCHI) chasing the ‘white rabbit’ - lost in the neural drift while operating a robot

- Hong Kong battle, which takes up the whole of Act 2

SIDENOTES

Screenwriter TRAVIS BEACHAM got the idea for the movie during a morning walk along the foggy California coastline. As the pier looked like a giant creature emerging from the sea, he imagined a robot waiting to fight it. (IMDB)

WELCOME!

WELCOME!

Helloooow!

So, I have finally made it - after a lot of pondering, planning, forgetting, returning to square one and more pondering - a playground for my movie-crazed self. Presenting... CINEMATIC TRAILS - where each movie is a journey and the feelings it creates are documented.

Two things are still missing: my blog posts and you, reader of the blog posts.

At CINEMATIC TRAILS, you will get to read:

1. THE PRE-TRIP - feelings after seeing the movie's trailer, from the brain straight to the blog.
2. THE POST-TRIP - a praise or a rant, then a grade at the end; short and concise is the name of the game.
3. THINK! - an opinion piece about movie-related news; no, there won't be anything about celebs, I will leave that to TMZ or People.

Well, I shall keep the introductions short to save it from entering cheesy land. It might have already. But who cares.

Once again, welcome to CINEMATIC TRAILS. May the posts entertain you.