ebiros2
I understand that there is supposed to be an element of comedy in this movie, but I failed to see the humor in it all. In fact, lot of what was supposed to be funny was disgusting and nauseating. I didn't like the husband character at all. He really looked out of place. Many of the other characters had no class at all. Although they're gangs, and supposed to look no class, they weren't acting in this case. Humors were of violent sort, and somehow wasn't funny, but gross.I liked "My wife is a gangster 3", so I tried to like this one as well, but I couldn't. Lady who played the wife wasn't pretty or charming. It's also wasn't a story driven plot either. So I failed to see anything good in this movie. This is my review, and I'm putting down what I felt. I don't care what others have opinion wise about this movie.It was a horrible viewing experience. I felt like doing what people were doing to each other in this movie to the people who made it.
nyx_420
The movie started out great. Eunjin was a awesome character, a real gangster. I loved her character; she was strong, she knew what she was doing and she knew what she was after. She wore sensible shoes and dressed like a gangster! Woot! When her husband tries to rape her (twice), she totally beats him down and tells him never to touch her without her permission.Then it goes downhill.They did what every Hollywood movie does to a strong female character: even though Eunjin is the gangster and the one with the experience, it's her husband who 'saves the day' so to speak. He gets revenge for her even though he's slow and stupid. Why oh why can't a movie just let a strong woman be without a man getting even for her? Does it wilt the cocks of the directors and male viewers? Is that it? The 'get married for your dying sister' premise was really weak and not believable. Why not just pay someone to get 'married' to her? Or better yet, demand one of her subordinates 'marry' her? He'd be forced to pretend they're happy. Problem solved. It'd make for a far more interesting movie.The guy is a fat, ugly, rapist man-child. We're supposed to be cheering for him? Why would a smart, good looking woman go for a man without who is ugly, stupid and has the personality of a spoiled child? For dog's sake, it's the 21th century. Hollywood does this trope all the time and I'm disappointed to learn that Korea does as well. If Eunjin was ugly as well, it'd make total sense. But Eunjin is conventionally pretty.She finally falls for him because he's just sooooo nice. Barf. The movie tries to make Eunjin seem rough and mean and her husband seem nice. Yeah, who's the once getting married and getting knocked up even though it goes against all she is and believes in for the sake of someone she hasn't met in years? That's really nice. Making soup for a cancer patient and going to see your SIL in the hospital isn't as nice as that. He has NOTHING going for him. Oh, wait. He has basic courtesy. Mmm. Any man with basic courtesy and manner deserves a hot, smart chick! Pander to the ugly male audience! Yeah! The sister only appears to start and validate how good! the husband is.The scene towards the end with Eunjin in the apron made me groan.When Eunjin ends up in the hospital, I was okay with it. Better dead than with that ugly, idiot, man-child rapist. Alas, the ending was not so happy.Could you just imagine a movie being made with the roles reversed? HOT SMART GANGSTER MAN: Yeah, I'm good looking, smart and people who work for me respect me. Sure, I'm a little rough around the edges but underneath it, I'm a good person. I need to get married because of BS circumstances. :( UGLY FAT STUPID WOMAN: I'm the only one who will ever take you because of your one flaw of being mean! HOT SMART GANGSTER MAN: You're right! I should settle for you! UGLY FAT STUPID WOMAN: And fall in love with me because I'm so nice! Just ignore those times I tired to put things in your orifices without your permission. And then acted offended when you said no. As your wife, I have complete right over your body to do as I please! Who says a rapist can't be a good person? HOT SMART GANGSTER MAN: *swoon* *blubber* You're so nice. <3 <3 <3 UGLY FAT STUPID RAPIST WOMAN: Yup, and wouldn't you know it, I evened the score for you while you're in the hospital. I don't know the first thing about being a gangster or killing. But yeah, it's so easy that I take out 46 people in one go. And you haven't even killed one of 'em! Must be my awesome lady bits.
Enchorde
Recap: The second in command of a local gangster organisation, Cha Eun-Jin, doesn't live the typical life of a lady. So when her terminally ill sister asks her to find a man, she is really out of her normal environment. Lethal with knives, she is totally incompetent when it's about meeting a future husband. But with the aid of her henchmen she manages to marry the unsuspecting Kang Su-il. But being married to Eun-Jin isn't really all that Su-il expected...Comments: The rental-box put this in the romantic-genre. I really wonder about the sense of romance whomever wrote that really has. The first scene, for example, shows two men beaten with bats and knives, one of them executed with an axe, before Eun-Jin comes to the rescue with knives and martial arts. There are some red roses in the movie, but I really think bats and knives outnumber them. This movie is much more of a action-comedy. And as that, it is pretty successful. More than a few scenes are drawn to their edge with Su-il just wanting a good marriage and ordinary wife, and Eun-Jin trying to clean up in her criminal world and at the same time granting the wish of her sister by staying married to Su-il. Except for Eun-Jin's martial skills, they're not very good at it. And that's about it, and that's about all there has to be.But it's not very romantic. Not in any sense I know anyway.6/10
FilmFlaneur
***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** My Wife Is A Gangster is an uneven Korean crime comedy, which nevertheless has some interesting things to say about the role of the sexes in general, and the place of women in particular. Eun-Kyung Shin, mostly familiar in the West from her appearance in the weird fantasy Uzumaki and Ring Virus (1999), plays Cha Eun-jin, alias Mantis, also nicknamed 'Big Brother'. She's a fearsome number two in a crime organisation, in charge of 50 men. Normally seen in blue business shirts and trousers, she is a ultra cool, deadly fighter, feared and admired by those over whom she has control. Her unyielding side is fatally compromised however when she discovers her sister dying of cancer and who, as a last wish, asks her to get married and have a child. Meanwhile an opposing gang is causing trouble, while S***boy, a raw recruit to the gang from the country, has to be shown the ropes...
One could easily imagine this plot being remade by Hollywood, for instance with Steve Martin as the gormless husband selected by the gangsteress to promote her marriage and pregnancy, or Angeline Jolie in the title role. Many of the rough edges would undoubtedly have to be smoothed off in the process, as My Wife Is A Gangster is surprisingly violent, notably in the final scenes where the pregnant heroine is kicked in the stomach. As such, it works as a Long Kiss Goodnight scenario in reverse, as the non-nonsense action woman has to discover/re-invent her softer side. The action of the film is sandwiched between two major confrontations: the first, as the opening credit sequence roll, is a startlingly stylish fight in the rain, featuring the deadly flying knives of Eun-jin, and the last a revenge attack on those who have killed a popular henchman. In between there is another stylish knife fight, this time a matter of honour between Eun-jin and a Japanese martial arts expert, whom she succeeds in defeating and reducing to 'a eunuch'. This confrontation, set in long grass and rolling hills, whether deliberate or not, reminds one of the climax in Kurosawa's early masterpiece Sugato Sanshiro (1945). While not on that level, and influenced by the cool shenanigans of The Matrix (1999), the present film makes the most of a fairly limited budget in the action department, effectively conveying the casual violence of gangsterdom.In fact so insistent are the set pieces that the more frequent, quieter moments of the film require some adjustment on the part of the viewer. First-time director Cho Jin-Kyo has chosen a tricky property in terms of tone, and has trouble balancing the fault line between villainous combat and the social comedy surrounding it. Eastern cinema, of even the most serious genre kind, can have a slapstick manner that's disconcerting to Western audiences. Fortunately a lot of that distraction is absent here, although there is a peculiar scene in this film involving smelly feet, a resuscitated cat and a tense stand off between gangs which works uneasily. The subplot, featuring Shitboy and his mentor Romeo (a ultra-cool henchman), is more effective, although their occasional Laurel and Hardy antics hardly connects with the main predicament of Eun-Jin.It is Eun-jin's concern for her sister that gives the film its heart. At her instigation she has to act out a different lifestyle, softening her looks with make-up, which involves a dating agency, courting a man, entering into marriage, setting up home and eventually trying for a child. Having chivalrously - and unnecessarily - come to Eun-jin's aid during a street fight, Kang Su-Il is quickly selected as a prospective groom, being gullible and desperate for a mate. Proposing to the female gang leader with tender words from The Bridges Of Madison County, after the marriage he soon realises that he is only allowed to touch her with permission, that a Yakuza-type tattoo covers her back and his initial advances can be rejected with a kick to the groin. But once the need is felt to get herself pregnant then the process is reversed and, in scenes satirical of the usual meek role allotted to wives in Eastern cinema, she forces herself upon him at regular intervals. Much is very amusing parody, whether it the sight of such a independent, strong woman learning how to flirt and tease and even suck cock, (moments which recall those in Golden Chicken aka: Gam Gai, 2002), or just sitting demurely, cold eyed with fury, during the traditional romantic introductions. The excellently staged wedding scene, set in a chapel stocked with nightclub girls, gangsters and a punch up in a balloon-filled balcony, is a highlight. Eun-jin's henchmen make awkward witnesses to the happy event, but they are persuaded to follow through this, and her other increasingly bizarre lifestyle choices, by a fierce loyalty to their leader. Her most realistic suitor worships her from afar after she brought him out of a coma, but he is too intimidated by the debt to act upon his admiration.
Eun-Kyung Shin gives her difficult role suitable presence, and one is almost convinced of the punishment her slender figure gives out to those who transgress against her. As the unlucky husband, Sang-Myeon Park is also good as a man who gradually gains his self esteem and pride, although his transformation to avenger and then leather-clad hero at the end of the film is less persuading. A similar transformation overtakes S***boy who, with new hairstyle and cool dress sense, promptly steps into the shoes of the absent Romeo to introduce the new bumpkin to the gang. And, having been relieved of her responsibilities and promises by the death of her sister, for Eun-jin it's business as normal. But perhaps that is the point: in a film that plays with sexual roles and stereotypes, the changes and reversals we see in characters are often ludicrous, pointing up social and cinematic stereotypes in a broad but effective fashion. It's worth seeking out, although more accomplished, less formulaic, comedies are now emerging from Korea on DVD like Barking Dogs Don't Bite (aka: Flandersui gae, 2000) and Attack The Gas Station (aka: Juyuso seubgyuksageun, 1999).
