Ballerina (2023)

Ballerina is a perfectly adequate female-led South Korean actioner.

Korean revenge. Another one. I'm this close to making a list!
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Stunts - 79/100 | Some fine stunts in there, but the actual award here would go to the sound editing in this movie, which was really on-point.

Narrative - 71/100 | It's pointless to try and reinvent the wheel in the revenge genre. Martial arts movie lovers want their martial arts movies to end in a fight scene. Revenge movie lovers want their movies to be about revenge and to end in revenge. That's just how it is. In this one, we've got both, but the movie didn't excel at either.

Fight Choreography - 70/100 | The ending fight scene, although a bit brief, was delightfully chaotic. The rest was messy but still managed to be decent. This is an example of how you can still have good (but definitely not great) fight scenes even if they're over-edited. We can follow what's going on through the cuts.

Enjoyment - 70/100 | If my job as a Producer was to hire a director to make a Korean revenge story that's representative of the genre as a whole with decent action and visuals and a story that's engaging enough, I'd hope and hopefully expect to receive about this in terms of end product. And I'd be fine with it and consider it a job well done and money well spent.

So, basically, thumbs up

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just a bad ass woman being a bad ass woman to avenge her friend

a lot of the reviews bring up the lack of plot but i didn't see it as being an issue. its a simple story about a woman who avenged her friend who was done wrong. the action scenes are amazing choreographed and shot. the cinematography was amazing. the colouring was beautiful. i realy enjoyed this one and would watch again on a day i wanted a female led action film.

p.s.
i do kind of get the ick that the fl and the director are dating. it just feels weird to me. the actress held her own and was absolutely amazing so it definitely doesn't take away from the job she did. i originally tried watching this film when it came out but stuff came up and i never finished it. i came back to it because i have become interested in the actress through her work in wedding impossible. i went through her list of work and saw she was in this so i decided to give it a go again and i do not regret it one bit.

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Powerfully Jang Okju

Ballerina is a film that tells about Jang Okju, who is a bodyguard with an incredible history in martial arts, swords and even rides a motorcycle. She's wonderful. Then her friend, who is a dancer, hires her to carry out revenge on Choi Pro.

Choi Pro stars Kim Jihoon, and what about him as a villain? This is a perfect role for him. Cunning, perceptive and evil. A sexual predator. He lures his new victim to a hotel, but he doesn't expect her to be someone like Okju.
The action scene is incredible. Full of electrifying movement, blood and eloquence. We get to see how brilliant Okju is in his work.

Choi Pro wants revenge on Okju too. Men think they are the center of the universe, so he thinks he is right to take revenge on someone after what he did. While Okju is hiding until he can gather his strength to fight Choi Pro again.
Is she right to do all this? No. But here in this profile we always side with women.

The ending was worthy of a Targaryen.

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BADASS???

AHHHHHH! I LOVE HER so much! Her acting skills are just phenomenal. The way she expresses her emotions and her actions scenes. I’ve been a fan of her and seeing her as the main lead here is just perfect. I love the sequence of the MONEY HEIST members. Two of my favourite members in the show; Money Heist.
Anyway, this movie is just immaculate.
Perfect revenge for her best friend. The dedication and perseverance she put through to avenge her best friend is so inspiring.
It truly shows how much she cares about her. Her bestfriens also indeed changed her life which is why she is willing to do anything to avenge her.
I just love it.
It's gruesome yet perfect.
Kinda shocked about the bed scene. Damn. Did not expect to see that.
Cuz ykow Korea... Conservative.
Definitely worth watching!
3:54pm 10/9/23

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Ballerina: A Stylish Revenge Story with Uneven Execution

Ballerina is a South Korean action film that blends the grace of ballet with the grit of a revenge thriller. While the film boasts stylish action sequences and a compelling central performance, its narrative and overall tone might leave viewers wanting more.

A Ballerina with a Bloody Past: The film follows Elise, a young woman seeking revenge for the death of her family. Trained in the art of dance, she uses her skills and grace to become a skilled assassin, infiltrating the world of high society to get closer to her targets. This unique blend of ballet and brutal action creates a visually striking and intriguing premise.

Stylish Action and Strong Lead Performance: Ballerina shines in its action sequences. The choreography seamlessly combines elements of ballet with hand-to-hand combat, creating a visually stunning and exhilarating display of skill and agility. Jeon Jong-seo delivers a captivating performance as Elise, portraying her determination and emotional depth with nuance.

A Simple Plot with Room for Improvement: While the film's premise is intriguing, the narrative itself can feel predictable and underdeveloped. The focus on style sometimes overshadows character development and emotional depth, leaving some aspects of the story unexplored. Additionally, the film's violence, while not gratuitous, might not be suitable for all viewers.

A Visually Striking Experience with Reservations: Ballerina offers a unique blend of action and artistry, making it a visually captivating watch. However, its simple plot and focus on style might leave viewers wanting a more emotionally resonant and well-rounded experience. If you're looking for a stylish action film with a unique premise, Ballerina might be worth checking out, but keep in mind its limitations in terms of narrative depth and emotional weight.

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Ballerina é um filme de ação sobre vingança com uma protagonista feminina forte. Não é nada mais que isso. Inclusive, acredito que por conta do tema, me lembrou Nigh in Paradise (2021) que assisti em junho deste ano. A cena da luta no laboratório de drogas, com a protagonista atirando em todos os caras, me lembrou a cena final de Nigh in Paradise. E, assim como Nigh in Paradise, a protagonista parece em estado apatia e desesperança (não exatamente pelo mesmo motivo), mas a vingança se torna o proposito de vida delas.

Acho que o filme falhou em explorar a relação entre a protagonista e a amiga bailarina dela. Aqueles flasback não foram muito convincentes. Fora que essa relação delas parecia muito mais que apenas amizade (pelo menos da parte da protagonista) e talvez por isso elas tenham se afastado e esse afastamento acabou levando aos eventos que catapultaram o desenrolar da história. No entanto, não é algo que fique claro.

Sei que a ideia era uma personagem meio misteriosa, boa de briga e deprimida. Mas o rosto sem expressão não ajudou muito a construir uma empatia pela personagem. Contudo, não posso negar que foi satisfatório ver aqueles nojentos apanhando muito.

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Nothing to the plot, but cool FL.

There's nothing to the plot; it's very shallow and one-dimensional. The movie focuses on showcasing action scenes with a cool FL. However, all actors and actresses are very capable; everyone fits their role and has done a good job in acting. I had watched a rom-com series featuring the same FL (Wedding Impossible) just before watching this movie. She did a terrible job in the romance/rom-com genre. Her deadpan expression is more suitable for solemn characters like her role in this movie. With only one facial expression, she can't convey complicated emotions, which doesn't suit a romantic series/movie at all.

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