Shuri - a reply to Sujan Paik

[Sujan Paik]

I just wanted to say that with your reply I can understand where your
criticisms are coming from.
Yes, I agree with you that it is a blockbuster action film.

The criticisms that I hear about the film is in two ways.
One, focused on the typical action layout. (in lines with your view)
Two, focused on the progress of South Korean Film.

I have seen much better films that are more sophisticated--at the moment "my
ugly twisted hero" comes to my mind.
It was my personal view that I did not pay much attention to the action
part, rather gave more generous credit to the main characters dilemma.
Although, as you mentioned it is not highly sophisticated drama, containing
many complexity. (maybe understanding Korean is more helpful, but than many
people who understand Korean also view the film as an action one.)
Probably I stand more positive about the film, because I lived in Korea in
the 80's and did not realize that things that I heard and learned were
extremely biased until I moved to Canada in 1987.

Since, there was criticism that the list only serves as giving award
credits, and other commercial purposes, I would like to recommend even those
who are undergrad like me to speak out.  Although, Shiri was a Korean film,
I think this discussion was really useful and interesting.


Sujan Paik
St.Michael's College
University of Toronto
Asia Pacific/Political Science Specialist