Gansin

I was expecting to look bad due to the budget, but the acting, special effects and quality was amazing, the gore/violence scenes were the best I've seen, the sexual stuff was very questionable and often times really hard to digest (subjective to everyone), but sometimes its pretty comical, pretty good movie overall.

If your an audience member that wants to see a historically accurate film about one of the most sadistic and tyrannical King in Korean history. This film will not be for you. However this is a color, vibrant and super erotic and sexual film. Sometimes the plot just didn't seem all that focused at times and I just didn't really know what direction this film was trying to go. Is it a vengeance movie or is this suppose to be an exploitation film like "Caligula". However it's a uncomfortable movie to sit through, because the cinematography and the design of the setting and costumes is done really well. So when it comes to the really uncomfortable sexual parts it can really grab the audiences attention. It's quite obvious the director wanted to arouse and shock the audiences and that is clearly the direction it was going despite the super oppressive elements of this movie. However there is porn for that, except this sometimes seemed like a really high quality porn with really good acting. Overall if you are looking for a fantasy like movie that takes place during the Joseon dynasty. And has a lot of uncomfortable sexual and erotic elements in it, this might be for you. Also nothing against the up and coming actress Lim Ji-Yeon that is hitting the big screen, but her acting just wasn't impactful enough to carry the climax. I say this since it would be nice to see Lim Ji-Yeon making other movies that doesn't revolve around her exposing herself to sell tickets. I give this movie a 6 because I didn't feel bored all the way through, and because of the good costume design, setting, acting and cinematography.

6/10

I didn't know anything about this being a true story, as some reviewers have said here, before watching this. As a narrative story I found this a little all over the place. I was never sure who was who and whose side they were all on, although I think that may be lost in translation and more of a 'me' thing.

The acting of the king was simply ridiculous, crazed one minute and crying the next.

The sets, the cinematography and the costumes are wonderful and although the story may be difficult at times, the film is always a delight to look at.

References to this being the Korean Caligula on the right track. This is not a film for the feint of heart.

The overall feeling is on the third level. I'm not familiar with the history of the stick, I don't know what exaggeration is. The whole film reflects the political characteristics through red-picking and coup. As long as the wind turns fast, it will always be a winner. The rhythm and pictures are good, but the plot always feels very fast, and there are always some inexplicable background sounds in the source of the movie, which seriously affects the viewing.

This film is not an erotica for me. The mood is dark and morbid. The characters are not redeemable and most of the film is extremely violent. It was a difficult watch for me and I would not recommend this to someone seeking erotica. The story itself was intriguing and makes you want to finish the movie but curb your expectations.