Excellent, Without a doubt!!

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

This is one of my favorite obscure Asian films. Dark, Beautiful and Unique. South Korea has some very talented filmmakers. Respect.

***SPOILERS**** I usually write reviews which are very simple and basic for people like me with not a lot of technical know how of cinema would understand.Various other aspects of cinema only critiques and hardcore movie buffs tend to comprehend are not our cup of tea.That does not mean, we do not understand a good film. Quite honestly, i do not know what to make of this film,especially the ending.Its too deep and very ambiguous for my liking.A fishing resort owner,a lady who apparently loses her husband looses all sense of belonging and living merely in existence finds hope and solace in a guest who has his own story.(left for countless other interpretation)A concoction of two disturbed minds with masochistic tendencies. A lot of people out there might think the girl is really a mute. Mind you She is not.She chooses not to speak.It is just one of kim ki duks trademarks.Say nothing let the expression and the sound track do the talkingI rate this movie a 6.5/10.It takes you on a never ending tube to a persons disturbed psyche.I reiterate Never Ending..Not recommended if you are already stressed.

I really can't understand how could someone give this disgusting film more than 1 star... How can you like such a retarded film, where all the animal abuse scenes are real? I don't even want to imagine the excruciating pain those innocent and defenseless living beings felt in those horrific moments... Jesus... What kind of ''human'' would torture them like that for no reason, or just for money? I tell you, that director is either mentally retarded, or he's just a monster with a ''heart'' of stone. Or both. He truly deserves to get his hands cut off and burn alive.It contains various horribly barbaric scenes that may cause shock, especially to sensitive persons and children: a real frog is skinned alive, fish are sadistically mutilated and thrown back into the water, a dog is beaten, birds are thrown into the water...This movie is more than awful; it has to be the worst and most retarded film ever made, along with another one, called ''Cannibal Holocaust'' or something like that. I'll never watch or buy any film directed by this heartless monster. No one should waste their time watching it, especially when there are a lot of TRULY great movies out there, in which all the animal abuse scenes are staged.Fortunately, only a few people liked this - which is natural, since it's the worst film ever -, so it wasn't successful. I hope this will make the retarded director realize that such unjustified barbaric acts of extreme cruelty and violence to REAL animals will NEVER be praised, and that he will stage all the animal abuse scenes in his following films. I truly believe that everyone receives but what they give! There will be a day when all the retarded and cruel ''humans'' will feel the same pain they once inflicted to others.This, however, is probably my only ''negative'' review. I usually don't comment on a movie if I dislike it, but this time I just couldn't shut up. I had to speak the truth, because animal abuse must stop!

Not sure how to begin this, but I'll start off simply by saying, "I liked it." After the movie finished I was happy with what I saw. And now a day later, I'm even more satisfied and actually anticipating my next viewing of it. I barely ever repeat movies so soon, but with this film, I feel I need to.The story is about a young woman who seems to be an owner/caretaker of a lake resort rental service. She takes her paying customers out to little floating shacks on the lake (a great idea which delivers a fantastic unique setting), where she caters to their needs. Well, one day a suicidal young man comes to the lake and rents out a shack. Well the two young adults almost immediately sense something special in one another. The story revolves around these two and their evolving relationship. The movie also intertwines other small side-plots with other shack inhabitants, and even pimps. The movie is a slow-moving film, but it delivers on many entertaining levels. Though, I can easily understand some people not liking this movie in the slightest bit. But for people who do enjoy a bizarre tale, this will be right up your alley.The Isle aka Seom is my second venture into Ki-Duk Kim's work, and again, I came out satisfied. Bad Guy the other, is also recommendable, but this speaks to me much more, from the awesome setting, the great cinematography, to the intriguing story. Also the acting from all actors was very well-done. And I have to mention that the ending is something of a head-scratcher. You can look at it from many different angles, and I love that. The Isle was a very pleasant surprise for myself and I'll be sure to rec it to as many open-minded movie lovers as I can. A solid 8 outta 10.