MovieChat Forums > Madeo (2009) Discussion > Anyone else disappointed? (Spoilers)

Anyone else disappointed? (Spoilers)

posted 15 years ago by vasanth6009619
11 replies | jump to latest

Before anyone starts reading, let me warn you that my English sucks.

Maybe I was just having very high expectations after The Host and Memories of Murder(one of my favorite films of all time), but I did not enjoy the movie as much as I thought I would.I am not saying it is bad, it still is a very good film just not on par with Memories of Murder, which it was being compared to.

A few of the "co-incidences" in the story and the fact that the character of Ah-Jung was sleeping with anyone who gave her rice, even a homeless guy and the mentally incapacitated JP was just too hard for me to believe.
I understand that the girl was supposed to be "damaged" enough to not care about who she was having physical relations with but I just was not convinced to the point where I would agree that her having sex with crazy JP or a trash-collector was possible.

http://ghostintheinvalidgerty9000.blogspot.com/

[–] Frankenlotter 15 years ago

I'm sorry, but your post is almost unreadable because of your incredibly bad English.. Sorry.

Seriously, though, I loved the film, but it's no Memories of Murder (one of my all-time favorites, as well), that's for sure.

DO NOT ENTRY

[–] vasanth6009619 15 years ago

Sorry about my first post. I will try to re-phrase the main point in my first post to the best of my abilities.

My main problem with the film was that I was not convinced that the character of Ah-Jung would have sex with anyone who gave her rice, especially Crazy J.P and the trash collector.

I hope this helps.

http://ghostintheinvalidgerty9000.blogspot.com/

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Frankenlotter 15 years ago

Yes, the first part of my post was meant as a joke, as your English is actually really good.

I guess Ah-Jung did what she had to do to survive... She WAS sort of like a prostitute, after all. I guess she couldn't "afford" to turn down any "customers."

DO NOT ENTRY

[–] Dragon_Eye_Morrison 15 years ago

Ah-Jung was getting rice wine, not just rice, and this wine was for her alcoholic abusive grandmother. Also, this movie takes place in a rather small rural town, this is quite obvious considering how the movie shows that most of the characters know each other in one way or another, and how the rumors quickly spread. Ah-Jung's death was the talk of the town, and a lot of people knew about her.

Mother is a very good film, Memories of Murder and The Host are fantastic too, but Mother diggs even deeper in a lot issues regarding moral choice.

''Never trouble trouble till trouble troubles you."

[–] conranp 15 years ago

It's allegorical. All of Bong's films are woven together with metaphors that deal with Korea as a nation of collective trauma. I just Mother last night and was very taken with it. I would say that it is my favorite film of 2009, although a shade behind Memories of Murder.

There's always more than meets the eye in his films, that's why they're so good. Everything he does, he does for a reason which makes his films, in my opinion, extremely cohesive and atmospheric (less so with The Host, where he probably attempted too much, although still one of my favorite films of 2006).

[–] emidredogg 14 years ago

As for the trash collector guy, I don't think she slept with him. Even though she took pictures of the guys she slept with, there is a possibility she took pictures as a hobby. During the incident the old man couldn't recognize the girl when she entered the empty building. This shows that the girl took his picture without him realizing it, probably on the street collecting junks. As for the JP guy, I'm not too sure, but JP could have been one of Ah Jung's friend. Whether she had sex with him or not, just because she took picture of the person doesn't necessarily meant that they had sex with the person.

[–] iand247 14 years ago

I thought this movie was just alright. His other two are much better in terms of tension and relatable
characters.
Would you happen to have any... Ovaltine?

[–] Herminefan 14 years ago

I disagree. We get to see this scene from his PoV when he tells the mother about it. Okay, it was dark, so maybe he couldn't see her face or something, but it's more plausible that he did recognize her, because she was there to meet him. He was on her phone because he was a customer. He was there that night because they had arranged another meeting, hence the sheet we saw him preparing. He was very avoiding and vague when telling the mother about why he was there. Of course he didn't want to tell her that he was there to buy sex from a minor. I can't remember the whole scene now, but if he said that he couldn't see who the girl was or didn't recognize her as you say, did you think about the possibility of him lying? Easier to say you didn't recognize her, than saying you did, and then having to explain how you know her.. Well, that's my opinion, atleast. ^_^

[–] hilaryjrp 14 years ago

We get to see this scene from his PoV when he tells the mother about it. Okay, it was dark, so maybe he couldn't see her face or something, but it's more plausible that he did recognize her, because she was there to meet him. He was on her phone because he was a customer. He was there that night because they had arranged another meeting, hence the sheet we saw him preparing. He was very avoiding and vague when telling the mother about why he was there. Of course he didn't want to tell her that he was there to buy sex from a minor. I can't remember the whole scene now, but if he said that he couldn't see who the girl was or didn't recognize her as you say, did you think about the possibility of him lying?

This is a very interesting interpretation, and not at all impossible...UNTIL the word is repeated that earlier in the film brings out a similar reaction. (I'm speaking vaguely because I don't want to spoil the movie.)

[–] 14 years ago

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