AniInterview Sorry, this movie sucks

Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Cheryl A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

Dana An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

plsletitrain The film gives you that heavy, unexplainable, load after watching. There's not much child-friendly scenes going on, and that's what made me love this. There's cruelty and profanity everywhere, with the injection of, on its face, irrelevant scenes which were either intentionally placed to stir our brains, or were unintentionally left by a director who lacked ideas. I have to believe its the former.The Isle actually made me laugh, because the scenes were just so explicit, overt and straightforward that I can't help but be amazed at Kim's confidence. I honestly can't believe he had the guts to do all those stuff. He takes the risk to employ moral and social taboos in his films and that's what I like about him. He doesn't hold back just to please everyone.The story isn't messy, too. There's room for interpretations but the movie still gave away its own essence. Actually, if you were to summarize the story, you can do it in a sentence or two. What made the movie complex is Kim's approach. I think he failed on his approach in 3-iron but he was successful this time. Perhaps because he coursed through the more understandable route--hit what you wan't to say in your movie without lingering, but do it painfully straight to scar the viewer--that's what he did! I think any social and moral controversy you can think of can be found in this movie..rape, prostitution, poverty, animal cruelty, torture, lust, murder, name it. It's all here.I can totally understand how some scenes probably scared and scarred a lot of viewers. And I can totally understand how some might view him as a provocateur. I, on the other hand, believe otherwise. The movie might not be accommodating to those who have weak stomachs, but there lies the beauty of this film.The Isle won't bore you, because its either the explicit sex scenes will hold your attention, or the previous metal-eating, vomit-inducing, scene still consumes your thoughts. This for me, is a timeless masterpiece.

Rich Wright You won't believe what people get up to with fishing hooks in this movie... it's safe to say, you'll never look at cod the same way again. Mind you, the entire premise, based around little floating huts which double as miniature brothels in the middle of a lake is pretty weird too... who would hire one of these potential death traps would be my first question. Particularly as the only staff on duty in the event of an emergency is a mute young woman prone to violent mood swings and popping up where you least expect her. Nope, a hotel room sounds like a much safer and comfortable option for a quickie. And if you MUST have that nautical experience... make sure it has a water bed.Aside from scratching my head every few minutes, I didn't know quite what to make of this curiosity from South Korea. It has a few scenes which will make you wince, but it's not really a horror. As a romance, it showcases a relationship so whacked-out and off the curve that it's impossible to relate to either party. I suppose you could classify it as a sort-of drama, but what transpires is far removed from any interpretation of life I know, I have a hard time doing even that. For me, the best explanation is it's an experimental work, with plenty of neat ideas which fail to mesh into a cohesive whole. The ending especially is all kinds of WTF?Still, the talent is there... even if the storytelling aspect is lacking. I look forward to perusing the rest of this director's filmography... 5/10

modmax "Seom" is definitely not a film for everybody but surely is a film that will not leave anyone untouched. It's calm and cruel at the same time. The movie is mostly known for its disturbing scenes: you can see, among the others, fishing hooks stuck into a man's throat or in a woman's vagina, or a fish partially eaten alive, but you can also admire some of the most poetic images ever filmed. The film is photographed in a beautiful way (Kim Ki-duk was a painter before being a director), some shots of the lake are stunning and anticipate the ones of "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring". The plot is about an apparently mute girl who works in a fishing resorts, she rents floating houses to fishermen, sell food and provides prostitutes for them, occasionally she sells her body too. A man arrives at the resort, he is a fugitive running from police. A strange bond starts between the man and the girl. After some suicide attempts and some murders the couple will leave the resort on a floating cabin. The narration is slow, but are the images and symbolism to be eloquent The film is superbly acted, especially by Jung Suh who carries on his role credibly without speaking a word. "Seom" is the movie that made me know Kim Ki-duk and I consider it a masterpiece.

markbeardslee Is this the same Kim Ki Duk who directed the poignant, life-spanning testimonial of "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring"? The same Kim Ki Duk who directed the exquisite, nearly silent, heartbreaking longing of "3 Iron"? The same Kim Ki Duk who dazzled us with the staggering tragedy of "The Coast Guard" and made us squirm about the ugliness of nonchalant teenage prostitution before returning to his almost patented nature motif to allow us all (characters and viewers alike) to experience redemption in "Samaritan Girl"? I just cannot seem to find him in this film.Oh, sure, Kim's nature motif is still present. The film takes place entirely on a lake surrounded by mountains and on fishing floats resting placidly on the surface of calm waters. Yes, it's Kim Ki Duk, all right. Kim even describes the film as "beautiful" in an interview included in the DVD's special features. But I'm not sure anymore what that means after viewing this putrescent presentation.What is beautiful about angry, potty-mouthed prostitutes, lustful, violent and potty-mouthed fishermen, a covetous mute merchant, explicit animal torture, sequences of self-mutilation and a pace that swings nauseatingly between bestial carnality and mindless brutality? These are the only elements of humanity that present themselves in this utterly confounding and ultimately pointless film. If it is based on a fable or intended as a parable or is meant to be symbolic of something greater, this reviewer is unfamiliar with the source material. It has been favorably compared to "Audition" by Japanese director Takashi Miike (much to Kim's satisfaction), but aside from some astonishingly good performances, especially given what they had to work with, by lead actors Seo Jung and Kim Yoo Suk, I find little reason to recommend this film. I have not seen "Audition," but I doubt it would alter in any way my view of "The Isle." Its violence is pornographic and senselessly sadistic. Its sex is not pornographic, but passionless and masochistic. Characters behave on irritating impulse because there is no plot. Its point is either non-existent or, I will admit, lost amidst Korean cultural quirks that I fail to understand.The only beauty is in the cinematography, which is classic Kim: fog-shrouded boats lapping slowly across a serene lake, mountainous terrain dominating the background, and an imaginative and playful use of color. At times it seems as if viewers are locked in a big Kim Ki Duk romper room. Some touches, like the mysterious and seductive mute merchant played by Jung and the pleasantly odd use of motorbikes, are intriguing. But as a film, this effort is downright confusing and, in the end, offensive to the senses, not necessarily to sensibilities. One hopes that Kim will leave this kind of film-making in the trash heap of his past, for we know he is capable of so much more.