http://www.beyondhollywood.com/the-untold-scandal-2003-movie-review/ Hollywood, Indie, Asian, Foreign, Horror, and Genre Movie Reviews and News Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:28:44 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 http://www.beyondhollywood.com/the-untold-scandal-2003-movie-review/comment-page-1/#comment-76871 josephine Mon, 11 Aug 2008 07:33:14 +0000 http://www.beyondhollywood.com/?p=1360#comment-76871 "Untold Scandal", the Korean hermeneutic interpretation of the French novel "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" of Choderlos de Laclos, which also has a Hollywood interpretation in the adult rendition of "Dangerous Liaisons" and the teenage remake of "Cruel Intentions", is perhaps the best appropriation of the French novel in this modern/postmodern times. The appropriation into the Chosun era of the 18th century Korea with its strict Confucian ethics, manners and etiquette is simply a sublime and beautiful experience, both intellectually and sensually. The interweaving, parallelism and tension between character revealment/concealment, and plot development, contextualized in a sensuous and sensual environment of makeup, costuming, menu settings, flower gardens and oppulent palaces is incredible. The acting of Bae Yong Joon (The Kinng is human after all!), the consistent excellence of Do Yeon Jeon and, of course, the inimitable Mi Suk Lee are award winning performances. So is the sensitive and intelligent direction of Je Yong Lee. "Untold Scandal" may not become a commercial or financial success because of its tragic ending. But it will remain a classic film of all times. “Untold Scandal”, the Korean hermeneutic interpretation of the French novel “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” of Choderlos de Laclos, which also has a Hollywood interpretation in the adult rendition of “Dangerous Liaisons” and the teenage remake of “Cruel Intentions”, is perhaps the best appropriation of the French novel in this modern/postmodern times.
The appropriation into the Chosun era of the 18th century Korea with its strict Confucian ethics, manners and etiquette is simply a sublime and beautiful experience, both intellectually and sensually.
The interweaving, parallelism and tension between character revealment/concealment, and plot development, contextualized in a sensuous and sensual environment of makeup, costuming, menu settings, flower gardens and oppulent palaces is incredible.
The acting of Bae Yong Joon (The Kinng is human after all!), the consistent excellence of Do Yeon Jeon and, of course, the inimitable Mi Suk Lee are award winning performances.
So is the sensitive and intelligent direction of Je Yong Lee. “Untold Scandal” may not become a commercial or financial success because of its tragic ending. But it will remain a classic film of all times.

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