Open City (DVD) (2-Disc) (Korea Version) DVD Region 3

Son Ye Jin | Shim Ji Ho | Kim Myung Min | Kim Hae Suk

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Customer Review of "Open City (DVD) (2-Disc) (Korea Version)"

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Average Customer Rating for All Editions of this Product: Customer Review Rated Bad 6 - 6 out of 10 (3)

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Rhoda
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June 18, 2008

This customer review refers to Open City (DVD) (DTS) (Limited Edition) (Korea Version)

Good Customer Review Rated Bad 8 - 8 out of 10

Son Ye Jin is a pretty actress actually although for me she that very good in her acting. Never theless this film is a nice movie. The betrayal of trust to avenge the loss of a mother. Its a good movie over-all so think its worth watching.

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numinair
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April 21, 2008

This customer review refers to Open City (DVD) (DTS) (Limited Edition) (Korea Version)

4 people found the following helpful

SYJ picks a pocket or three! Customer Review Rated Bad 7 - 7 out of 10

Not too long ago I watched an English subbed interview video of Ye Jin mentioning her part in this film, and considering her femme fetal character of Jang Mi Baek being somewhat akin to Sharon Stone's "Basic Instinct" character, Ye Jin confessed that she didn't feel she was as pretty as Sharon and Nicole Kidman. ????. Well, I put my hand over my forehead to check that she was 'okay' in saying that, as it was certainly unfounded words. I mean, Ye Jin is one of the most loveliest women in cinema and equally as beautiful (inside and out) as Sharon and Nicole, so all I can say is " Ye Jin, sip that Soju and relax gal, you're nothing to worry about there". Likewise, Ye Jin mentioned a lot of fans could be freaked out by her more colder and sinister role here (which it certainly is!). But again - "chill out, YJ, fans will be there no matter what part is performed! - and especially if you preform more versatile and enriching parts". Some roles must be tough, surely, but the upside of acting (I'm speculating of course), is the unique way an actor can understand the many facets of real people through the colours and grey shades of life, that can be portrayed in this profession; adding to that performer's life and skill. So, in a way, its the theatrical version of the University of Life! And Ye Jin here can only benefit from this role in the long term.

Still, although its easy for me to say 'par for the course', "Open City" is quite an icy film and could be a difficult watch for some. Its certainly a nasty and brutal film, not necessarily in the ultra hard edgeness of a Park Chan Wook, but more in its empty and quite feeling less execution. Ye Jin's character Jang Mi is the proverbial ice maiden, and the overall coldness of this film, I think, is how this one will get judged. But as with most Korean movies, high quality film making, acting and editing are all evident in this crime thriller gangster movie, and having a slick if somewhat commercially orientated style - is furnished with enough thrills and spills to make this a fairly decent action movie. But the overall plot is quite basic. You get a gang of nasty pickpockets who cause trouble for Korean middle class wallets and purses, along with a rough FBI type police man getting involved with Jang Mi and having his own mother problems - due to the fact that she was also a pick pocket herself. From there on, its pretty much the same scenario. But as mentioned, I think the cold and empty feeling of the emotion in all of this, will likewise leave you a bit cold yourself. The characters leave very little for your heart to sympathies with, and you certainly don't get any cuddly characters here. Action films, although violent, do have at least some 'humanness' and reasoning about them, but the absence thorough malice in this, is too lacking in any reasoning or emotion. The gangsters themselves, albeit looking a bit goofy, are mostly violent. I mean, I realize that these are pick pocket thieves and not a bunch of afternoon tea drinking flower arrangers, but even so! Where's a little mirth? Most gangster flicks have some human element where there is at least some credence to the reason's of their circumstances, or they are a comedy type (like in "My Wife is a Gangster), that give you some light relief amongst the biff bash bong! But this band of pick pockets don't have either, and it feels contrived. No camaraderie to offer the viewer, or befitting backgrounds to who they are.

Mainly it all starts with police man, Dae Young Jo, who disliking pick pocket thieves, due to his own mother being one and jailed when he was a child, finds himself having to trail and catch a new pick pocket gang (the thorn in his side), by the pressure of his superior. Dae Young is a bitter and brittle man, due to his loathing of his mother's criminal past, and even when she is released, he remains constantly in denial and rejection of her. As far as Dae Young is concerned, his mother 'died' when she went into jail, and in his heart fools himself that he has no mother. So, ironically, with his loathing of pick pockets, ends up trailing this new gang led by Jang Mi, which brings sensitive issues and increasing bitterness to his heart.

The plot them moves on to femme fatal gangster boss Jang Mi, who hid after being sprung in a pick pocketing theft in Japan, and reforms with a new gang back in Korea. She oversees this small band of pickpocket experts in their field, and orchestrates their missions. As a boss of street thieves, Ye Jin is probably the best looking Fagin you'll ever get, and by her cold demeanor and cigarette wielding struts, sexy legs in high heels and a fashion wardrobe bigger than Seoul itself, Jang Mi strikes a icy role that is far removed from any of Ye Jin's previous outings. Here with her gang, (and not being bovverd one bit) she masquerades as a tattoo artist as a cover, but mostly targets middle class people in shopping precincts, malls, markets and steals (by proxy of her 'lovely boys') their money and valuables. Her 'lovely boy's' come in various modes : a 'distractor' that gabs the attention of a victim, an 'antenna' who gives cover and watches the back of the thief, and the 'machine' who cuts into the bags and takes the valuables or money without the victim realizing it. (These 'names' make them sound like they stepped out of a sci-fi MMORPG game..."Star Craft" or something") Trouble is, any people who do cotton on to the thefts (like a woman at the beginning who nearly loses her hand), the 'machine', due to his cold and hard killer nature, cuts and injures the victims if ever they should retaliate. So, as you can guess, these aren't your comedy and bubbly gangster types at all. On top of that, numerous other pickpocket gangs also get hot under the collar when Jang Mi appears on their turf (and its nothing to do with her legs in high heels either!), and some nasty violent street ally way stand offs occur, even with Jang Mi getting some rough stuff in the proceedings. Dae Young of course comes across and rescues her (not on a white horse, but he has a big stick to hit her rivals with) from a turf war fight and gets to know her. The rest is, well, lots more pickpocketing, Dae Young having melodramatic encounters with his mother, and a number of sexy dresses to watch Jang Mi wearing.

As mentioned, this is quite a cold film and when its gets nasty, it certainly does. But you cannot always see 'why' or 'where' this film wants to go. Ye Jin's character, too, doesn't have enough substance to give you much sympathy towards her. She shrugs and struts, pouts and smokes, puts her high heeled feet up on the table and says that 'all men are annoying', with a couldn't care less for anyone nature. Jang Mi even says "Every breath I take is a lie". (So maybe she does care?) There's only a bit of credit regarding her past, by a quick mention about Jang Mi's mother being the original gang boss, giving a somewhat credence to her criminal vocation. But there's no real depth to 'why' she becomes calculative and nasty. Only an off the peg reason. Normally, an aloof ice maiden like Jang Mi, can reveal beneath the layered hardness, a more revealing and emotional person. She shows feelings at one point when a theft of a woman's bank withdrawal goes wrong, as the money is for the woman's sick son, and Jang Mi chastises the 'machine' for cutting into her bag and taking it. Not that he probably knew what she was going to do with the money. There is a bolted-on-the-end melodramatic bit, but this is more a 'typical' cause and effect situation. Jang Mi mirrors Dae Young in a way, as they both have mother trouble, and maybe this is what this film is angeling at.

There is some good acting credit here, though. Actress Hae Sook Kim who plays the ajumma of Dae Young as quite a varied and intense emotional role with her sickness and hand wringing, as she tries to win back the heart of her son. Myung Min Kim as the troubled cop is also decently performed in his exasperated and cold fusioned heart towards his mother. Ye Jin is lovely (although not quite in this I suppose), and is a creditable actress like many other amongst her Korean contemporaries, and although she played her role here to the requirement, probably won't win you over this time. Jang Mi can paint body tattoos, looks sweet and demure in glamorous dresses and shades, but is one really cold lady! But still, as a gang boss, this is a good and different part for Ye Jin to be in, and is interesting and valid. All roles must be necessary to move on and enhance for richer parts, that Ye Jin will get in the future, and Jang Mi bases the foundations for her. I really hope she performs in more varied and even gritty parts. But a little more human in future. Ji Hi Shim who plays the 'machine' guy Seong So in this is quite the anime looking gent, who I have to admit looked pretty good next to Ye Jin at times. But his character is such a nasty piece of cute, that he doesn't soften the hues though. If this movie had featured some ironic humor, like the 'machinist' making a cut that goes dire, and by cutting someone's trouser belt instead of the intended target, and that someone losing their trousers - a balance would have been met. I mean, that little bit of possible daftness could have 'humanized' the film more. But there isn't any humor here. No...Ha Ha! Or of there is, its all very cynical.

The DVD set is good and the bonus disk features quite a decent amount of extras especially with 16 deleted scenes that appear to be more fleshed out in the editing sense and worthy content. They aren't subtitled, but should be reasonably easy to access after watching the main film. This may be an average movie that won't be on the same level as maybe "Seven Days" or "The Chaser", but its worth looking at if you like action movies. Just don't expect the plot of dreams or much warmth though. If you want to see another film similar to this, try "Tazza : The High Rollers", which is very good.

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Yasir
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April 13, 2008

This customer review refers to Open City (DVD) (DTS) (Limited Edition) (Korea Version)

1 people found the following helpful

Steer Clear Customer Review Rated Bad 3 - 3 out of 10

The only thing going for this film is Ms. Son's bony body. If you're into stick figures who look all pretty but couldn't act their way out of a sock, then this film is definitely for you. On the other hand, if you'd like your movies to keep you involved, have good characterizations and a logical plot, then please stay away from this mess.

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