“Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance” is the first film in celebrated Korean filmmaker Park Chanwook’s “Revenge Trilogy.” Observant Asian cinephiles will note, however, that the second installment, “Oldboy,” was released prior to “Vengeance” in the U.S. “Oldboy” is a superior, intelligible action drama. “Vengeance” is a real mess, splattered with blood and out-of-place social commentary.
Billed as a modern day Greek tragedy, “Vengeance” features two men who’ve wronged each other and are hellbent on revenge. Ryu (Shin Ha-Kyun) is a deaf mute who is fired from his menial job and is therefore unable to afford a kidney transplant to save his dying sister’s life. In desperation, Ryu and his girlfriend Yeong-mi (Bae Doona) hatch a plan to kidnap the daughter of wealthy former boss, Park Dong-jin (Song Kang-ho). When Ryu’s plot goes awry, so does Park’s movie. Entire scenes seem to be missing and it’s difficult to determine not only what’s going on, but why as well. (Rated R for strong gruesome violence, strong sexuality. Running time: 129 M)
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 19, 2005. Read the original PDF.