In order to provide a reasonably objective film score, I've broken down each element so the reader can see my thought process and assess whether a movie is worth their time. A lot of reviews seem to operate on emotional reaction rather than strict analysis and this is my attempt to provide a decent alternative to the consumer. The final scores will be shown at the end of the review.
Film: I'm a Cyborg but That's OK (Saibogujiman kwenchana)
Year: 2006
Country: South Korea
Language: Korean
Format Reviewed: DVD
Rating: Unrated/Not Rated
Story Basics:
"A girl who thinks she is a combat cyborg checks into a mental hospital,
where she encounters other psychotics. ...She (befriends) a man
who thinks he can steal people's souls." - IMDBEach score is between 1 and 10.
A score of 1 is fatally flawed.
5 is creatively unoffensive yet mediocre.
10 is perfection.
Family Tree:
The writer/director, Chan Wook Park, also wrote/directed Oldboy and produced Snowpiercer.
The lead actresses, Lim Su-jung, was also the lead in the incredible A Tale of Two Sisters.
Story Grades
Coherency: 7.5
The story is clear enough but some of the backstory given means little to the overall plot.
Given the subject matter of mental instability, the narrative doesn't always progress linearly which may throw some viewers for a loop. Overall though, the narrative voice is clear and coherent.
Emotional Depth: 8.5
There's some deep mechanisms at play here and the film never once stoops to the level of picking low hanging fruit. For example: the brutality and harshness of some psychiatric treatments are shown without any softening yet the doctors are not depicted as antagonists, they are shown as deeply-caring people who are doing their best to help those in their charge.
This level of emotional depth and tenderness is present at nearly every level of the film, from individual character arcs to overarching themes. Such balanced restraint and attention to detail make the payoff of the culmination of our lead character's emotional revelations extremely rewarding when all is said and done.
Originality: 9.5
A violent romantic comedy set within a mental hospital that never once uses it's theme/setting for cheap laughs? I've never seen anything like it and probably never will again. This is a unique and special film.
Visual Grades
Visual Effects: 6.5
Special Effects: 7
There are some really pleasing visual effects, but some of the cg will read as being pretty dated. Technology has come a long way since 2006. In terms of physical special effects, there are some explosive elements and blood hits that read quite nicely without seeming particularly feigned. Nothing incredible, just what is necessary.
Cinematography: 9
The framing in this film is both beautiful and unusual. Constantly playing with compositional ideas and creating striking images, this is a films whose visuals will not leave the viewer after watching them.
Sound Score
Music: 7.5
General Sound: 6
The score is beautiful and grand while occasionally lilting into a fairy-like, music box sound and tempo. This not only allows the soundtrack to stand out while complementing the surreal visuals and color palette, but makes for a memorable score.
I didn't particularly notice much about the rest of the sound. This could mean one of two things, that the fx and foley were so complementary and perfect that they disappeared completely into the narrative, or that they were so mediocre that absolutely nothing stood out.
Performance and Flow
Acting: 8
With such a large cast and so many vignette portions focusing on each of the secondary characters, this film ran the risk of being dragged down by a single terrible performance. Fortunately, nearly everyone here is at the top of their game. The leads are utterly convincing and effortlessly draw the audience into their performances while the secondary actors turn in performances ranging from slightly-better-than-hammy to incredibly nuanced and interesting.
Pacing/Editing: 6.5
The film's overall pace stutters in a few areas and takes some unexplicable detours that never end up adding to the overall narrative, but these issues can be explained away as being an additional layer of representation for the themes of mental instability shown. That said, the pace won't resonate with everyone watching.
Subjective Modifiers
Passes Bechdel Test: + 0.5
Intelligent Mind-Bender: +0.5
No Exploitation: +0.5
Extremely Odd/Quirky in Nature: +/-0.5
Moderate Gore: +/- 0.5
Final Grade: 7.6 out of 10
Take all the scores except the Subjective Modifiers and average them, we have our final score.
An overall, super entertaining and original film that most people will greatly enjoy!
Subjective Grade: 10.1 out of 10
This is where the Subjective Modifiers factor into it. Take the average score before modifiers and then add or subtract them exactly as they are, anything that is +/- is a positive as I am personally a fan of horror and a feminist.
For someone like me, this film is beyond perfect. Everything I want to see in a movie is here and I can geek out about it on both aesthetic and intellectual levels, a rare treat indeed. Films like this are rare and to be treasured!
Squeamish Grade: 6.6 out of 10
Same process as the Subjective Grade but only factors in the +/- modifiers and counts them as negatives. This score is aimed at those who are turned off by violence, high tension situations, and anything out of the ordinary.
Even if you strongly dislike when a film veers off into the absurd or are put off by violence/gore, this film will still come across as a quality, above average viewing experience.
IMDB: 7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
Metacritic: N/A
Hope this helps you decide whether you want to give I'm a Cyborg, but That's OK a viewing!
Thanks for reading,
Josh Evans
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