Joint Security Area 2000

This is Chan-Wook Park's "Reservoir Dogs." First movie, independent, low budget, amazing actors, original storytelling, perfect directing. And aside from the few English lines (they're real bad), a perfect movie. The biggest difference between him and Tarantino is that Park wasn't trying to be cool with his movie, he just went for holyshitamazingmovie. 10/10

Watch this movie. Then watch all of Park's other movies. Seriously.

(first viewing)
2 / 2 directing & technical aspect
1 / 1 story
1 / 1 act I
1 / 1 act II
1 / 1 act III
.5 / 1 acting
1 / 1 writing
.5 / 1 originality
1 / 1 lasting ability to make you think

1 / 1 misc (amazing)

9.5 / 10

(second viewing (10 years later))
2 / 2 directing & technical aspect
1 / 1 story
1 / 1 act I
1 / 1 act II
1 / 1 act III
.5 / 1 acting (English lines were horrible)
1 / 1 writing
1 / 1 originality
1 / 1 lasting ability to make you think

1 / 1 misc (amazing)

10.5 / 10

Hidden gem...maybe the best bromance of cinema?!

Despite some obvious issues with the acting, this is great. Lots of stylistic and structural experimentation, all of which pays off. Maybe he’s leaning a little hard on his Tarantino influence, but overall it feels like its own beast. The entire middle section is really something special, and the reveals of the mysteries are all interesting and satisfying. The cinematography, as expected from Park Chan Wook, is very meticulous. There’s not a whole lot to complain about. Alright, some of the slow-mo hasn’t aged well, which is like a couple of shots. Besides that, this is the kind of debut feature that’s so well realized that it’ll ensure cinema lovers will check out anything the director makes in the future.

8/10

An excellent film in the early years of a brilliant director.

Look, I know this is one of Park Chan-wook's early films (2000), so I enjoyed this one as much as all the other critics who gave it rave reviews. I didn't find the set design amateurish, the acting wooden, and the story rehashed. So, I definitely would give this an 8 or whatever like everyone else and definitely wouldn't have 5 Fs to give out of a possible 10.