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The Good The Bad The Weird
A quirky take on a western classic, The
Good, The Bad and the Ugly, The Good The Bad The Weird combines most of
the enjoyable elements of the Serge Leone opus with the fantastic
sensibilities of asian cinema. Directed by Kim Jee Woon, we are taken on
a roller coaster ride with three men all after treasure with quite a
variety of different reasons for doing so. I guess before I get into the
review proper I will throw at you the fact that it's claimed that this
is one of the highest budget South Korean movies made. It certainly
broke box office records in it's native country and has done well around
the world both in takings and also reviews for very good reason.
The premise behind the tale is that there is a treasure and a map
pointing to said treasure. Our main protagonists are a crook, a killer
and a bounty hunter that is tracking them both down! Add to that the
Japanese army, the Korean Independence Group and a whole bunch of other
ne'er do wells. Whilst they all have their own stories and agendas, all
will have to face off as they get closer to their aims. The film is
tightly written and the cinematography is something that has to be seen
to be believed. There is many a nod to films that have gone before
before we are plowed on with gleeful abandon to our next scene.
One of the most compelling elements to the movie is the fact that it
doesn't take itself too seriously despite the high quality of the
production. Over the top sequences are sure to propel this to a cult
status movie, even over here in Australia. All the little extra things
that make asian film so great are here, including shots taken by
cameramen hanging from wires at the request of director Kim during some
of the chase scenes shot in the Gobi desert. In fact so much time and
effort was put into the making of this epic that as you will see on the
extras on the disc, there are a more than one possible ending for the
film as well and you get to check them out and make the decision for
yourself which one you would have gone with. I am not going to wreck
anything but I personally think the vision of the film was best served
with the ending actually chosen.
The plot will not bog you down, the thrill of an excellently put
together movie will thrill you as it did me, and the performances from
some of South Koreas arguably finest actors will enthral you all the way
to the movies boot stomping', tobacco champion' conclusion. The Good The
Bad The Weird is a must see "Noodle Western" that is worth every penny
you spend on it and deserves every penny that it makes for it's creators
and then some. This is some wonderful entertainment and a real credit to
the South Korean film industry. Fans will also delight in the cast and
crew interviews and also taking a peek at what did not make it into the
film. But for young and old, saddle up and get ready to ride! Yeeeehaw!!!!
Extras
Behind the Scenes
Cast and Crew Interviews
Deleted Scenes
Alternative Endings
Theatrical Trailer |
