Overall rating is lower because of the graphic violence; otherwise it would have been a 10.
What I liked:
So many different fascinating characters in the insane asylum, including the asylum staff who work there and how they perceive and try to relate to - and help/treat - the inmates.
The relationship that develops between the two main characters is super-sweet. He totally understands her and is clever in finding ways to help her without being judgmental.
The thefts - I found it fascinating which particular items were stolen, and the effects the thefts had on the "victims." Worth a re-watch just to pay more attention to this after seeing the end.
What I didn't like:
I felt that the violence was too graphic and over the top.
Bottom line:
Watch "I'm a Cyborg but It's Ok" for a gasp-worthy, heartbreakingly sweet romantic story if you can overlook the horrifying, over-the-top graphic violence of some of the scenes.
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This review may contain spoilers
This story is, simply put, magical.It is not, nor is it meant to be, an accurate depiction of what it's like to live in a mental hospital or have a mental illness. Instead, it looks at those who suffer from mental illness through a kinder, much more gentle lens, presenting their way of seeing the world as simply unique. The story is never disrespectful towards those who suffer with mental illness, and there is an understanding throughout the film that our lead character is never going to leave the hospital, but it is very much a story of joy and hope and even love.
It is in my top ten favorite romantic comedies of All time and on my list of films I believe everyone should see at least once in their lives.
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Original story quite fascinating but odd pacing and ending
I really enjoyed the concept and the scenario, it is quite innovative and leave for sure a lasting impression on the viewer. I did not found the story super well-paced and the ending felt a bit too rushed though. I think the movie could have been a bit longer to better flesh out the ending and the message of the film.The ensemble cast was pretty good. More specifically, I really enjoyed Rain performance, with his goofy, cool but also more crazy and mad sides. Im Soo Jung did also a great job in her very particular and erratic role. It is a bit of a shame that despite the quite good acting, I did not find myself emotionally invested in the characters. It might be linked to the script, but I felt more like a "cold" external observer trying to understand what was happening rather than candidly rooting for any of the protagonists.
I quite enjoyed the directing choices to represent the various mental illnesses faced in the mental hospital. There are quite a bit of memorable scenes and the cinematography for some of them was really cool. Even so, the visual FX regarding some of the cyborg aspects did not age very well, it is still impactful for sure but a bit cringy at the same time. The music did not really stand out to me, except one specific song with some yodelling.
I would recommend this to people that enjoy movies by acclaimed director Park Chan Wook. It is not the most well-known of his filmography but it is worth a watch for its interesting concept. Strangely enough, even though both pieces are very different from another, it made me think somewhat to "Squid Game" as a comparable recommendation.
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The character development was consistently good throughout the film with the two leads. The ML was extremely adorable, and I liked how the FL grew as a person throughout the movie, but that's really all I would say. There's not much of a story line and it seems to jump around a bit, so I wouldn't recommend this to anybody who doesn't know what they're getting into.
The romance was well slotted in, there wasn't a lot of it but when it was there it was well written and acted. Park Il Son made me swoon, and the FL naivety was well placed too.
One thing I will say is that the acting was really good, they characters were complex, and it looked like they would have been difficult to portray, but it was really well done. Throughout the movie I forgot that the man I was looking at was Rain, and started the think of him as Park Il Son.
Overall I would say, yeah, totally go watch this movie, but go into it with an open mind. I won't criticise it because in theory it was a good movie and I liked most parts, but it just was not to my taste.
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이상하게 귀여운 영화. 내가 제일 좋아하는 박찬욱 영화 중 하나.
"Please, steal my sympathy. Like Thursday."화려한 영상미와 캐스팅은 차치하고라도 두 정신병원 환자가 각자의 독특한 소통 방식을 찾아가는 이야기는 마치 내가 한번 다시 세상을 발견한 것 같은 느낌을 준다. 분위기가 유치하고 성숙해서 소중하다.
"I didn't come with an instruction manual or a label on me anywhere. I still don't know what my purpose is. What was I made for?"
I was only 2 y.o. when this movie was released. To this day I have no idea what was I made for, but at least I know what a great time it is to be alive.
주목적은 핵폭탕이 되는 거 아니라 행복하게 사는 것이다.
Yesterday was 78 years since the bombing of Hiroshima, and we as individuals should not succumb to self-destructive behavior, we should not become our own nuclear bombs, and we as humanity must not destroy. We all should live, love, and help people around us become happier like Il Soon helped Yeong Goon.
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So because of that I cannot remember absolutely everything about it but I liked it a lot and would rewatch it if I had the chance.
It is very well done visually, great colours and filming overall done beautifully. The ideas / concepts that are brought up are very fascinating also and I think it’s one of those films where you can find new things and meanings on rewatching it!
It’s very eccentric and unusual. I sometimes dislike series or films that are extremely unrealistic or in a way not related to life / but mostly I find this annoying in fairy tale style romance settings, so this wasn’t the case here.
In this film things are very over the top, but in a good way. There are lots of dreams, hallucinations, seeing things from the state of mind and emotions of a person. But this was so well done and actually very related to life and experiences that are very human rather than superhuman.
I would add that this film is also not for the faint hearted. There is some violence and the setting is a psychiatric hospital so that could be hard for watchers depending on your background.
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So basically, what if Park Chan-wook decided to try his hands on One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest... but without the incredible story developing throughout the runtime?
Not really my groove, this movie is just too weird and idiosyncratic, but I must admit that the ending was really sweet. It's mostly just a series of oddball events shining light on the setting and colorful characters until the inevitable happens.
I need to gush over Park Chan-wook's directing abilities, yet again. Amazing framing and cinematography as usual. Odd of him to make a romantic comedy, but don't take it to mean that this is a usual romcom, as it couldn't be further from the truth. He heavily injects his own style into it, a style I usually love but here only found serviceable.
By virtue of the quality of his filmography this is, as such, my least favorite film of his, but it's not a bad movie. It was decent. Well at least Stoker isn't at the bottom anymore.
I'll be eagerly waiting for his next movie!
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This review may contain spoilers
Another Sympathy for Lady Cyborg "Granny Tell Me What Is The Purpose of Existing.."
"I am a machine, but... I didn't come with an instruction manual or a label on me anywhere. I still don't know what my purpose of existing is. What was I made & born in this world for?""The vending machine says hi!" & "It's a life time warranty."
Ilsoon Sets The Bar The Way Too High & Worth for Younggoon. Younggoon Must Be Proud Having Him. Man Doesn't Make You Rice Megatron & 2 Static Gloves, Is Him Even Worth It?
Tips nonton : turn off your braincells, pakai sudut pandang ODGJ, menjadi 'tidak waras' untuk menonton ini, harus nggak waras, dulu. Ini film anehhh. Udah..nggak usah susah2 melogiskan film ini. Kita harus sama kayak mereka biar paham film ini mau dibawa kemana. Dan film ini menceritakan tentang apa tentunya harus jadi 'ga waras/insane' dulu seperti mereka.
Tips to watch : Turn off your braincells until the movie ends, Apply/use mentally ill person's pov as mentally deranged as them to understand, to comprehend, to get what this movie tells about. We have to turn off our braincells & we have to be mentally ill-ed, deranged, mentally sick, insane like them. Very unlikely psychological movie in general which mostly be serious. Throw your logic away!
*Warning, Disclaimer : This movie contains of TRIGGER WARNING : Eating Disorder.
As someone who is a devoted romcom series/drama/movie-s. I am sold into it! I love how the perfect Mr. Director Park Chanwook told a story from mentally deranged people's perspective without misinterpreting, misrepresenteing the characters. Anyway the pschyaters, psychologists here were really lovely & endearing hearing their patients, served them as their most beloved bestfriends. It really crossed the thresholds by delivering deliriously unique absurd surrealistic daft romantic comedy movie story that definitely eccentrically very unusual. I think, it seems that Mr. Director Park Chanwook's take on the romantic movie couldn't stray away more from the norms of the genre, as he managed applicating, implementing his style even in this category. Mr. Director creates unusual & very brand new stereotype of the genre by using, applicating, using humour & exhibiting his subject with his peculiar sense of irony. Best of him, he could managing balancing all the elements, basic essential foundations between the serious-ness of the subject, object & humour is truly elaborated & veeeeryyy synchronized! The film's twee comedy mixed with the occassional burst of sci-fi, or violence a highlight. As ever, it looks enchanting! it looks endearing! Quite high quality from film which came 16 years ago, as ever it looks pretty, enchanting, pastel looks as expected from the direction from Mr. Director Park Chanwook & regular DOP, Mr. DOP Jung Junghoon.
Post 'Vengeance' Trilogy, Mr. Director Park Chanwook released, presented this movie tells about 2 mentally deranged people whom they were institusionalized into psychiatric ward, movie tells about extremely surrealistic & absurd mentally ill-ed people with their unique character + behaviour their each. Younggoon's grandmother suffered, got a schizophrenic illness, imagined herself as a mouse, that rubber waistband xD! Younggoon herself as the filial granddaughter, heired, inherited the schizophrenic illness, suffered the delusional illness as imagining herself as a cyborg, which led into her refusing to eat with usual human's foods then licked the battery to produce the electrical, electricity energy as her imagining herself as a cyborg.
"I have my reasons for stealing. I am afraid I will be vanished. I am anti-vanishing."
Then in psychiatric ward then Younggoon met Kleptomaniac Ilsoon who used to brushed his teeth, as he could be vanished such a dot, such a dust. Ilsoon here were written to help & encourage Younggoon to make her eat normal human's food again as usual as it should, as it should properly be human's food. Non cohesive plot, not cohesive story, messed arranged plot, with unique premise, nevertheless the excecution is immaculately fabulous as expected Mr. Director's master-craft hands. Comedic, whimsical, goofy, & quirky. I was funny without purposely in fun purpose of the characters & slipping into problematic notions especially because of the topic. The movie tells us that all our feelings are valid & it's always right to feel & acknowledge them. Ilsoon & Younggoon's love journey, love story depicts cute, not forced, natural, naturally funny quirky goofy petite cute & very adorable relationship. From what all I had learned from the movie, what I had learned from them is despite all of the circumstances, you just need one great support system which, who, that will always believe, believes you & believe what you can, believe what you believe, can respect, can understand you walk forward every step the way ahead.
Mr. Director Park Chanwook crafted a lovely little piece about mental illness awareness, mental illness, introducing mentally deranged-ill-ed people's perspective to the audience, taboos, grief, trauma, delusion, schizophrenic delusion. It had its moment of delightful humour, sweetness. The movies is absurd & abstract in terms of premise & presentation. a bit sci-fi genre whether the sci-fi genre, sci-fi elements were literal. The comedic, zany scenes bordered the absurd-ness were quite awesome. The unexpected moments of compassion were & are totally my type favourite, my liking! What a wholesome movie! Overstyled to the point of being grosteque in some parts. It could be that, It can be that, It can either leave the viewer wondering about what the heck they just watched or hit them straight to the heart. Many scenes were subtle as genuinely filled with much plenty emotions. It is tough bet to make a light-hearted movie carrying the issue of mental illness awareness, showing & introducing us the taboo of mentally ill-ed people's perspectives. Obviously seems Mr. Director Park Chanwook seems handled the situation well & best as expected, with his distinctive, unique, different, special as his style & passion.
Love the creativity, innovations, creations involving the design elements, her faithfully cyborg-ian self & set design. Pulls off the way beautifully merging with heightened style & surrealism stuff. I like & I find interesting, the quiet understated love that grew out of acceptance & understanding the sympathy-ness for one another, for each other. I got into the film, I really appreciated what this movie tells about. Ilsoon (Played by Rain) was very willing in the first place, he was very willing to make, to do anything, to do everything the best for Younggoon (Played by Lim Soojung) by making her a kinda rice megatron kinda. Ilsoon protected & loved Younggoon so much (with the rice megatron, the wine bottle cork which he placed on the top of the aerial on the lightning storm) without exposing her vulnerabilities or trying to change her. He even got her back, He kept encouraging, helping, supporting him, supported her back, that what is the meaning of, "quiet understated love that grew out of acceptance & understanding sympathy for one another."
Deliriously daft bizarre absurd psychological romantic comedy movie. Aggresively, derangedly, passionately, frankly my type of movie. Not cohesive, gritty, quite odd whimsical odd bizarre zany peculiar absurd strange wildly illogical type of movie. Took me fast to get fully warmed up to it, got its scoring & footing. All its eccentric charms, goofy madness really works fully, it really worked to me! , it really works to me! Even though the story is too meandering. I love it as deliriously daft most surrealistic masterpiece! I'm A Cyborg But That's Okay is full of technical flourishes which are pleasing, satisfying, gracing personally!
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Young-goon que recebe ordens de uma estação de rádio educacional acredita que é um cyborg. Após tentar se recarregar cortando seu pulso e inserindo cabos nele recebe uma surpresa: um encaminhamento para uma clinica psiquiátrica, onde conhece alguns personagens interessantes. Com Il Sun que acredita ter o poder de roubar as características das pessoas.
Eu gostei muito da apresentação das diferentes pessoas que Young-goon encontra na clinica e do desenvolvimento entre o suposto casal em que Il Sun aceita Young-goon da forma que ela é sem julga-lá de maneira alguma.
Caso você espere que o romance seja algo principal talvez esse filme não seja para você pouco, mas isso não significa que o filme é ruim, muito pelo contrário. O ponto principal apenas não é romance, e se você ainda esperou isso provavelmente terá um pouco do que quer apenas lá para 1h20 do filme.
Teve algo que me chamou a atenção e não é algo do roteiro e sim da introdução aos pré-créditos, com quase certeza a maneira que apresentaram não foi algo inovador - talvez fosse para a época tendo em vista que o filme é de 14 anos atrás.
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