Ballerina

The psychedelic trailer had me expecting something grander, but Ballerina ends up being one of the more average entries in South Korean cinema. I definitely enjoyed the visuals. The creators put a lot of effort into the formal aspects, with the diverse and extravagant colors having their charm. The slimy villain, portrayed brilliantly by the actor, was also a highlight. However, other aspects aren’t as impressive. There aren’t many action sequences, but that’s not the main issue for me. I was more bothered by the chaotic editing (which immediately shows that the lead actress isn’t experienced in this genre), making it hard to understand what’s happening on screen. At least the stylized environment and brutality (e.g., the torn-up shards) helped salvage the action. The ending with the flamethrower was also a pleasant surprise. Overall, it’s worth a single watch and neither offends nor excites. I’m giving it 5.5/10. (10/11/2023)

Ballerina had the potential to shine much brighter, but the Korean creators seemed to get lost in meaningless scenes instead of injecting more wild action, a livelier pace, and better camera work. While the story didn't break new ground – revenge journeys are a dime a dozen – I found the main heroine likable in her laconic demeanor, and the decent kill count kept things interesting, despite the often sluggish pace. Still, these elements weren't enough to earn a rating higher than three stars. However, I was pleased by the absence of unnecessary melodrama. In that regard, the creators made a wise choice, making it all the more disappointing that they faltered in other areas. / Lesson learned: Don't go running down corridors with a chainsaw revving. (05/01/2024)

Another Korean Revenge actioner with a female protagonist has arrived on Netflix, but the result is less than satisfying. Lee Chung-hyun shocked us three years ago with the brilliantly intertwined thriller The Call, so I believed him, but is better in mystery thrillers than action movies, as he doesn’t deliver much action. The plot is quite simple, unusually for Korea (this is typical of US productions): an ex bodyguard is going to get revenge for her best friend who had a last wish. Since the plot is less than two sentences long, it's a wonder the action takes up less than 15 minutes of the running time. It's admittedly shot well, it's brutal, with great cinematography and decent choreography, it's easy to watch and manages to raise the adrenaline which is important – though it was more about the shootouts than the fights. The heroine is a total badass and technically the film is traditionally good – they stick to the classic Korean proprieties – but it’s quite boring. It definitely needed a more interesting plot when there’s so little action. 5.5/10. (10/10/2023)