Sympathy for Lady Vengeance

The extremely successful climax to Park’s trilogy (or tetralogy, if we include his short in Three... Extremes) about revenge. As in the preceding movies, we look at revenge from various points of view and completely differently. But what stays the same are the brilliant actors, the great technical aspects, especially the camerawork and the music, and more than one scene that remains ingrained in your memory for long after. But why sing the praises of Park Chan-wook over and over if it is absolutely redundant to do so? Because this “episode" is no better or worse than those that came before it. With such constant quality, it is up to you which episode you think is the best. This one doesn’t happen to be my favorite, but so what? (15.01.2006)

The idea and the premise of the whole movie is great, but some scenes didn't really appeal to me. The female performances didn't work for me as much as I had expected. The film lacked a certain kind of toughness and masculinity from the start. I didn't expect it to reach the standard of Old Boy, but in some ways I didn’t think it even came close. On the other hand, the acting, the music, and the originality of the ending have no limits. As a whole, unfortunately, only a weak 4 stars. (13.09.2011)

Has Lady Vengeance matured and/or not matured beyond collective guilt? In any case, it managed to sell out, so things can’t be that bad. South Korea vs NinadeL: still hasn't landed even a single aspect. (22.06.2011)

Finally, I experienced what I was looking for the third time around! For the first time in Chan-wook Park's entire vengeance trilogy, I can say that this film offers not only style but also substance, and for the first time, I can give out a pure 4 stars. I must be honest, I personally regard Park as a visual genius. His extraordinary work with the camera, his knack for selecting the perfect soundtrack, and his top-notch editing all contribute to an ultimately perfect viewing experience. So how did the story fare? The final act of vengeance felt the most cathartic of the three. The reunion of all the family members who lost their young child to the hands of a ruthless killer, and the subsequent decision on what to do with the captured murderer, left me stunned. It’s undoubtedly the strongest possible ending, which deeply affects you emotionally. What kept it from a full five stars was the slower pace, but I understand that isn't Park’s style. Otherwise, it’s fantastic. For me, it’s an 8/10. (11.08.2022)