A Bailarina (2023)

Watch for the action

I didn't realize Jeon Jong Seo and Kim Ji Hoon were in this when I added this to my list, but oh my god what a pleasant surprise! To be honest I didn't really have any expectations going in, I'd watched the trailer when it popped up on Netflix and it seemed like my kind of thing to see a woman inflict damage in the way typically reserved for guys. On if that's all you're there for, this delivers perfectly.

This is a pretty simple, straightforward plot. We're given the basics and hints of a greater, undeveloped backstory, but for a Netflix production restricted to an hour and a half, that's somewhat expected. It's nothing groundbreaking in terms of storytelling, characters, or tropes, but it was still a very enjoyable mindless watch with pretty kick ass action.

My favorite bits:
- the opening, no notes (but I will remember that cans are great for blocking knives!)
- the guy with the chainsaw... that's on you dude
- stealing his car!? lol
- shooting the CEO before he's done talking, hahaha, this should happen more often to monologuing villains
- the flame thrower, you KNOW it had to make a comeback

tl;dr: a fun, enjoyable watch that likely won't make a lasting impression (do heed the warnings though) except perhaps for some action scenes which were the highlight for me

Leia Mais

Hell hath no fury....

Nov 2023

TW: Sexual assault, suicide references

Very fast paced, violent, bloody, with a couple of real "OH!!!" moments.

The background story is provided whilst playing out in the present. The character of the Ballerina in question, Min-hee, is sweet, quirky and never came across as weak, but an incident in her relatively young life proved too much.

I got a strong feeling that the seemingly lonely girl she befriended, Ok-ju, actually loved her. There was just something in the way she looked at her at times.

That friend, an ex bodyguard with no ties and seemingly nothing to lose, takes up a challenge left by her friend and, basically, WW3 breaks out not long after!

At its heart this is purely an action thriller, not deep or realistic. However, the seedier side of life that Min-hee gets tangled up in, over the last few years in S.Korea (and elsewhere), has proven to be all too real, in one form or another. That makes for a very uncomfortable and quite sickening watch at times.

In many ways it's also quite a satisfying watch, especially when the main characters are women who take no 5hit, are tough, capable and exceptionally determined.

My brain didn't even have time to register when things got OTT, because it was too busy being stunned!

Jeon Jong Seo, as the Best Friend, Jang Ok Ju, was superb. God she must be fit, as it was a very physical role. She rarely smiled, wasn't noisy or overly emotional, yet neither was she miserable, depressing or emotionless. Her immediate reaction to loss was very real to me.

Kim Ji Hoon, as Choi Pro, is an actor I've come to love. He is so much more than his looks and unlike many actors, isn't typecast, so when he appears, one doesn't know if he's friend or enemy. He has no qualms taking on really unpalatable characters, or sweeter, fluffy roles.

Whilst adding a little dark humour to proceedings, which I like, at the same time I found the weapons dealers suggested to Ok-ju by her ex-boss, to be a bit daft in terms of what they were offering; was her ex-boss trying to get her to fail?! It didn't sit right, even though it was amusing. Great supporting role for Kim Young-ok, however. I love this senior actress.

There were references to corrupt police and powerful people in this, but they were not seen or, more annoyingly, held accountable, as is too often the case in K-dramas and film. That, as usual, irritated me.

Overall, it felt like a very quick watch and, I felt, quite different in its story and vibe; but it certainly won't be for everyone.

Leia Mais

omfg THIS FILMMMM

TOP TIER. SHE'S JUST THAT GIRL.
The starting point with the robbery in the convenience store hooked me from the start. I was so interested on the female lead since I saw her.
After that scene, I admit is was kind of difficult to get the hang of the plotline but it was worth the wait.
The exploring of a human trading network plus other mafia business is really good, it was well reflected, and I really liked the antagonist's behavior. The antagonist was antagonisting.
The VFX and the action scenes are so well produced and it was so realistic, and the skills of the female lead are REALLY GOOD. The kid who was a slave also worked, but I have a problem. She didn't influence much on the film and her role could've been more useful if it had more thought, and if we didn't do any changes, I would've left her aside from the film.
The fights between the protagonist and the antagonist are the best, and the finishing scene just added more to the score, burnong hom was such a good idea, even more about what he mentioned about the ballerina's body. And her finishing phrase was the cherry on top.

The entirety of the film gets a 9/10. It would be a 10 if in the start I didn't loose the plot, and the music is improvable, but it has to do with the theme. The revenge is there and it makes sense. And those who say that she has no motive, that means you didn't get the film. She was taking revenge on her friend's side, and the female lead did so well while so. I do not get the ones who hate this film.
I never wrote a review this long. This says a lot about how much I loved this film.
And, sorry if you find any typos.

Leia Mais

Ballerina is a perfectly adequate female-led South Korean actioner.

Korean revenge. Another one. I'm this close to making a list!
_________________________________________

Stunts - 79/100 | Some fine stunts in there, but the actual award here would go to the sound editing in this movie, which was really on-point.

Narrative - 71/100 | It's pointless to try and reinvent the wheel in the revenge genre. Martial arts movie lovers want their martial arts movies to end in a fight scene. Revenge movie lovers want their movies to be about revenge and to end in revenge. That's just how it is. In this one, we've got both, but the movie didn't excel at either.

Fight Choreography - 70/100 | The ending fight scene, although a bit brief, was delightfully chaotic. The rest was messy but still managed to be decent. This is an example of how you can still have good (but definitely not great) fight scenes even if they're over-edited. We can follow what's going on through the cuts.

Enjoyment - 70/100 | If my job as a Producer was to hire a director to make a Korean revenge story that's representative of the genre as a whole with decent action and visuals and a story that's engaging enough, I'd hope and hopefully expect to receive about this in terms of end product. And I'd be fine with it and consider it a job well done and money well spent.

So, basically, thumbs up

Leia Mais

just a bad ass woman being a bad ass woman to avenge her friend

a lot of the reviews bring up the lack of plot but i didn't see it as being an issue. its a simple story about a woman who avenged her friend who was done wrong. the action scenes are amazing choreographed and shot. the cinematography was amazing. the colouring was beautiful. i realy enjoyed this one and would watch again on a day i wanted a female led action film.

p.s.
i do kind of get the ick that the fl and the director are dating. it just feels weird to me. the actress held her own and was absolutely amazing so it definitely doesn't take away from the job she did. i originally tried watching this film when it came out but stuff came up and i never finished it. i came back to it because i have become interested in the actress through her work in wedding impossible. i went through her list of work and saw she was in this so i decided to give it a go again and i do not regret it one bit.

Leia Mais

Powerfully Jang Okju

Ballerina is a film that tells about Jang Okju, who is a bodyguard with an incredible history in martial arts, swords and even rides a motorcycle. She's wonderful. Then her friend, who is a dancer, hires her to carry out revenge on Choi Pro.

Choi Pro stars Kim Jihoon, and what about him as a villain? This is a perfect role for him. Cunning, perceptive and evil. A sexual predator. He lures his new victim to a hotel, but he doesn't expect her to be someone like Okju.
The action scene is incredible. Full of electrifying movement, blood and eloquence. We get to see how brilliant Okju is in his work.

Choi Pro wants revenge on Okju too. Men think they are the center of the universe, so he thinks he is right to take revenge on someone after what he did. While Okju is hiding until he can gather his strength to fight Choi Pro again.
Is she right to do all this? No. But here in this profile we always side with women.

The ending was worthy of a Targaryen.

Leia Mais

BADASS???

AHHHHHH! I LOVE HER so much! Her acting skills are just phenomenal. The way she expresses her emotions and her actions scenes. I’ve been a fan of her and seeing her as the main lead here is just perfect. I love the sequence of the MONEY HEIST members. Two of my favourite members in the show; Money Heist.
Anyway, this movie is just immaculate.
Perfect revenge for her best friend. The dedication and perseverance she put through to avenge her best friend is so inspiring.
It truly shows how much she cares about her. Her bestfriens also indeed changed her life which is why she is willing to do anything to avenge her.
I just love it.
It's gruesome yet perfect.
Kinda shocked about the bed scene. Damn. Did not expect to see that.
Cuz ykow Korea... Conservative.
Definitely worth watching!
3:54pm 10/9/23

Leia Mais

Ballerina: A Stylish Revenge Story with Uneven Execution

Ballerina is a South Korean action film that blends the grace of ballet with the grit of a revenge thriller. While the film boasts stylish action sequences and a compelling central performance, its narrative and overall tone might leave viewers wanting more.

A Ballerina with a Bloody Past: The film follows Elise, a young woman seeking revenge for the death of her family. Trained in the art of dance, she uses her skills and grace to become a skilled assassin, infiltrating the world of high society to get closer to her targets. This unique blend of ballet and brutal action creates a visually striking and intriguing premise.

Stylish Action and Strong Lead Performance: Ballerina shines in its action sequences. The choreography seamlessly combines elements of ballet with hand-to-hand combat, creating a visually stunning and exhilarating display of skill and agility. Jeon Jong-seo delivers a captivating performance as Elise, portraying her determination and emotional depth with nuance.

A Simple Plot with Room for Improvement: While the film's premise is intriguing, the narrative itself can feel predictable and underdeveloped. The focus on style sometimes overshadows character development and emotional depth, leaving some aspects of the story unexplored. Additionally, the film's violence, while not gratuitous, might not be suitable for all viewers.

A Visually Striking Experience with Reservations: Ballerina offers a unique blend of action and artistry, making it a visually captivating watch. However, its simple plot and focus on style might leave viewers wanting a more emotionally resonant and well-rounded experience. If you're looking for a stylish action film with a unique premise, Ballerina might be worth checking out, but keep in mind its limitations in terms of narrative depth and emotional weight.

Leia Mais