"Strength and a beautiful sound like in the tautness of a bow. I want to live like this until the day I die."

An old man finds a 7 year old girl and raises her on a boat in the sea. He plans to marry her when she comes of age at 17. Almost 10 years have passed, and in those 10 years she has never seen the world that lies outside of the boat. They live a very calm and quiet life renting the boat to fishermen, and telling fortunes. Everyday was the same as the other until a teenage boy with a group of fishermen catches the girl's eye.

Well... I always feel intimidated trying to review a Ki-duk Kim movie. It's impossible to explain how beautiful his movies are. One thing you need to know before watching a Ki-duk Kim movie is that they are more works of art than movies. Don't expect everything to be explained, hell, don't expect anything to be explained. He leaves it open for you to interpret. Don't think logically, think past that. Ki-duk Kim's movies have many unrealistic events that happen, but the overall effect is more real than any other movie. He shows sides of humanity that people hide, ignore, and don't understand.

Now that you have that understood, let me try to review The Bow. I had to watch this movie twice to fully appreciate it. I had really high hopes for it when I saw it the first time, a little too high. I don't know what it was that I didn't like, or if I ever didn't like it. It just didn't awe me like most of his movies. But, the second time... I couldn't believe I wasn't awed by this movie.

Like a lot of Ki-duk Kim movies, the main two characters never talk to each other. Most of the movie has no dialog, except for the foul fishermen who board the boat. Although there is no dialog, that doesn't mean there was nothing said. You can read everything between the two characters through they're eyes and their actions. Throughout the movie you can see the changes in the old man and girl's relationship. After seeing the teenage boy her attitude changes towards the old man. I found the old man's angry faces while she smiles at him amusing. She begins to go out of her way just to piss him off.

The movie didn't have much of a plot, but that's not bad. It just flowed through the events, and you watched. There were weird things at first I didn't quite like. The fact that when the old man 'played' the bow, he couldn't have gotten anything as beautiful as what the movie had playing out of that bow. Not to mention his motions did not go with the music. But, I forgot the most important thing you should remember in a Ki-duk Kim movie... It doesn't matter. Who cares if he's actually playing the bow, or just making the movements. In his mind, and her's, the music that is playing through the bow is as beautiful as what we're hearing. As for the ending... I understand it, but I don't. I could not explain it to you even if it wasn't a spoiler. Symbolically... it makes sense. And believe me, it's not nearly as bizarre as the ending to some of his other movies.

Well, I want to explain the movie more, but I won't. For one, it'll be too long, and two, I want YOU to analyze it in your own way. I want you to watch the movie not knowing what to expect, not knowing what to feel.

The score, cinematography, directing, everything was beautiful. The Bow had this calming, relaxing effect. It pulls you into the movie, and keeps you there. The score was this nice melody played by the bow throughout the movie. Now, I doubt it was an actual bow used in the music, but in the movie that was the sound the bow was supposed to produce. I guess it won't make too much sense until you watch the movie.

The actors in The Bow were dead on. Yeo-reum Han (the young girl) did a beautiful job. She also played Jae-yeong in Samaritan Girl, and is obvious if you have seen it. You just cannot forget that smile. She was wonderful with her emotions. Very innocent, but mischievous. Seong-hwang Jeon (the old man) was very effective. As with Yeo-reum Han, You could read everything he said in his face. I was irritated at him for keeping the girl for 10 years, but also felt so sad for him. The old man had nothing left in life, and the girl was his only reason for living. Man, I don't want to grow old. Si-jeok Seo (the teenage boy) did a fine job as well. He was very innocent, but had that 'outsider' feel to him. Someone who invaded the peace the old man thought he had with the girl, but also someone who only wants to do what is right for the girl. Although he had more dialog, you begin to see everything through his face as well.

I really liked The Bow. It's not one of my favorites, but it's still a masterpiece of its own. It was more straightforward than most of Ki-duk Kim's movies. If you don't like any of his movies (especially the more recent ones) then don't watch this movie. It has an overall calming and peaceful feel to it. Words just cannot describe it.

Acting:
Wonderful, everyone did such a great job.

Directing:
It's Ki-duk Kim, and it's GORGEOUS!

Score:
Beautiful, nice and serene. Gives the film such a calming atmosphere.

Action:
None, cept a bit of slapping that made me hurt inside. Oh, and random arrows being shot at the people who piss off the old man.

Gore:
Lil blood at the end, I won't say how, or why. Not that I even COULD explain how or why....

Scares:
None.

Boobage:
Old man boobies! Once, at least.

Chicken Smacking:
Once, but once was enough. Damn that was funny.

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