Son Ye Jin's highly anticipated comeback on the big screen has generated hot debate among Korean fans despite attracting international critical acclaim.
Her new film "No Other Choice," directed by celebrated director Park Chan Wook and co-starring Lee Byung Hun, opened at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on August 29.
The movie received accolades from global critics and was subsequently premiered at the Busan International Film Festival on September 17 followed by its local release in South Korea on September 24 (KST).
In only 24 hours since its release, "No Other Choice" achieved a 100% rating on the Tomatometer of Rotten Tomatoes, based on critic opinions only.
As per Koreaboo, the exceptional mark soon became a hot topic online, with most fans of the movie complimenting the film's craftsmanship — but not all the critics were in agreement.
One critic wrote in the qoo , "I thought it was worth watching. I think the story metaphorically represents modern society." The viewer commented positively about the film's themes.
Others had less positive responses. One netizen commented, It just wasn't really my taste. Something felt awkward and exaggerated. It didn't feel like it was set in Korea, but it didn't feel foreign either. It felt kind of detached, like it was floating."
This view expressed unease with the tone and setting of the film.
Another viewer commented, "Critic reviews and audience reviews are always different...."
The comment refers to a prevailing impression that critic and public views are usually disparate.
One commenter speculated about possible shifts in viewpoint: "When something does well overseas, domestic opinions tend to change too. I wonder if that'll happen with this one."
The film's characteristic style, which was to a significant extent due to Park Chan Wook's own directing style, was also noticed by a few.
"As soon as I saw it, it felt exactly like Park Chan Wook. I figured international audiences would love it." This was indicative of the director's global renown.
The film "No Other Choice," despite the polarized reception, sparked enormous conversation, and many were curious to see how it would continue to perform both critically and commercially.
