By Ben Wright (@iamzavagno | www.xgeeks.co.uk)
This review is spoiler-free.
Synopsis:
Ex-bodyguard Jang Ok-ju seeks to take out a sex trafficking ring that caused the death of her best friend.
What happens if you take Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and mix it with John Wick? The end result is Ballerina, Netflix’s latest action-thriller offering from South Korea.
Written and directed by Lee Chung-hyun (The Call), Ballerina is a tension-filled action-thriller that is a visually striking, John Woo-inspired movie, resulting in a vibe that screams Girl with the Dragon Tattoo meets John Wick.
The movie’s colours and visuals are one of its biggest assets, and the film boasts a neon-noir vibe that really gives Ballerina its distinctive edge. The camera work and shot choices are visually striking and enhance the action scenes tenfold. While some of the direction is lacking during certain portions of the storytelling, the John Woo-esque gun fights and action scenes more than make up for these momentary lapses. Gray’s distinctive soundtrack brings another positive addition to the movie, positively enhancing the visuals and story beats.
As for the cast, Jeon Jong-seo (Jang Ok-ju) is exceptional in the lead role and does a phenomenal job of carrying the movie on her shoulders. Jong-seo handles the complexity of Ok-ju with finesse and ferocity in equal measure. She handles the action scenes perfectly, and her “cold as ice” approach to the portrayal of this hardened, and well-skilled former bodyguard, is exceptionally realistic. As for the antagonist, Kim Ji-hoon (Choi Pro) is incredibly unlikeable, in a good way, which is a testament to the power of his performance. Park Yu-rim (Choi Min-hee) is another positive addition to the cast, with the only downside that her role wasn’t more expansive – but what we got, was very good.
In terms of the negatives, I would say that the predictability of the story is the main reason for stopping Ballerina from reaching greatness. The plot beats and direction are all signposted too obviously at times, which was a little disappointing, especially as there were so many other positive factors. If the story was just a little more unpredictable or had a few more twists and turns, then Ballerina would have been perfect! I would also argue that a little more development of the relationship and dynamic between Jang and Choi Min-hee would have been beneficial.
Overall, Ballerina is an enjoyable and entertaining ninety-minute action-thriller that is well worth your time!
With its distinctive soundtrack, great visuals and imaginative use of colour, Ballerina is an entertaining action-packed revenge thriller.
X-Geeks 