Les insurgés

(Note: the 2 stars is for the Spectrum DVD version.)

I really can't say if this is a good movie or a bad one. It is visually masterful, but the Spectrum DVD (with the "Les Insurgés" subtitle) had the most appalling English translation that I've ever seen. I have tolerated imperfect English before -- but this hampered my understanding so that I had a hard time telling, at first, who were the Christians and who weren't -- and what all the commotion was about.

For Shim Eun Ha fans, she's practically unrecognizable, she hardly appears and her character offers nothing to the story.

I would like to view a better version of this film some day, but I won't be rushing to do so.

This is a the story of an uprising against the Christian factions backed by France in the Cheju island region of Southern Korea. The scenery is quite beautiful and it's very educational from a historical standpoint but the storytelling leaves something to be desired. The characters were never really developed too well and you will probably be checking you watch during the last half of the film.

I watched this film not more than 2 hours ago, from the point of writing this review (23.56pm - 15.03.2012) and I'm still unable to make head or tails of it.

Incomprehendable English subs at the worst and Hilarious translation at its best prevent me from even gleaming at inkling of the film plots. In fact its synopsis offers the only clarification any potential viewer is likely to get.

Cinematography in the film focal selling point, but a convoluted and frankly baffling plot had me, giggling at random point (mostly at the dismal subtitles) and glance at my watch for what seem like hours.

I was aptly aware of being at lost and having to hope of reconnecting with the film 1/2hr in. The film seems to be broken into scenes rather than flowing smoothly towards an ultimatum.

I went in with low expectations and was dutifully rewarded. Not Park Kwang Su finest.