Top tier movie 10/10

This movie is a poem that MESMERIZES the audience with realistic abstraction, STUNNING visuals, and a storyline that actually feels FRESH. It’s not afraid to tackle mature themes, including a few scenes with unnecessary nakedness—let’s be real, it’s not just for the “art.” As the movie unfolds, it gets a hold on you and won’t let go—dare you move your eyeballs. And what’s acting worth if you become the character?

I hate long movies, but I didn't realize Burning was almost 2 1/2 hours until I read it here. Admittedly, at times the story seems a bit disconnected from its very grounded premise. But anyone who likes the Cohen brothers will also like this movie. Nothing is pre-chewed or served up on a silver platter. The fact that “nothing” happens is actually the point of this movie. In the same way that Hayao Miyazaki incorporated intentional “nothing” into his films with “Ma” (emptiness) in order to give the characters space for reflection, Lee Chang-dong has outsourced this reflection and interpretation entirely to us viewers. Whether you appreciate it or not, the actors' performance is a masterpiece of “subtle acting” and an accomplishment for international cinema. Chapeau!

A second viewing confirms, this is a complex masterpiece by one of the few great directors in the world. Wending together all kinds of threads--societal, literary, character based--the viewer gets to absorb all of these many elements that Chang-dong Lee brings together to weigh upon his lead character. Artfully shot, astutely set decorated, and beautifully acted. I resist writing more specifically because it's up to the viewer to experience this movie first hand for him or herself. I can only say in one word: "do." And be patient, too, because the film only gradually brings its threads together in an artfully offhand way before it coheres to register its impact. To repeat, a masterpiece.

Beautifully acted but boring. Two and half hours, maybe the length it took to give the lovely actress a boob job half way through the movie.

Low key, expertly made, observation film with layers and layers. You're almost in the frame with them. Were taken on a ride, expertly led, gently, to just watch him go along for the ride with the others, the ambiguity makes you curious z expectant, then slowly things start to change. So very different. And now I've seen a few Korean movies, as stellar as the others. Satisfying, slow cooking.

Emperor's new clothes. It keep promising to deliver what the critics say and never does.

There appears to be two camps here. We have those that love this film, for it is a brilliant metaphor, superbly acted, and subtle in delivery until the climax of the film. And then there are those of us that found it so boring, we just weren't sure we could finish it, and yet, we did. Maybe we even vowed to stop listening to critics reviews altogether. This movie was well acted, and attractively filmed. But so, very, boring. There was one scene in which we all literally watched the sunset, and as it got darker, I thought they must have left the camera on and went out for dinner. And to those pompous reviewers who say we just didn't understand that it was a metaphor-yes, we do know what a metaphor is, but I demand that even my metaphorical flicks have a story, and present itself in an entertaining way.

Slow burn, at times too slow, with a persistent chill and aching discomfort, as well as a solid amount of ambiguity. Most importantly, Steven Yeun is 🔥incredible🔥 - clearly a villain but also funny, mysterious, and infuriatingly arrogant, but I found the other characters lacked sufficient definition. Also, at times it jumped around a bit and there were things introduced but not explored. I struggled with rating this and haven’t fully made up my mind - somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars. “I make my own offering and consume it”

Lots of subtle symbolism in this mysterious drama with some real surprises . . . very well-directed! "Slow Burn' could also have been the title. Even the cat is named 'Boil' for an extra touch of cynicism.

Patient. Dark. Gritty. Intense. Lee Chang-dong delivers an enthralling drama mystery that'll leave you feeling broken inside, but also with so many questions. Steven Yeun is deliciously good in this.

It's not brilliant, or anywhere near as good as the critics think it is. Kind of one of those films that if it was shot in London / NY with English dialogue, probably a 7 or 8 out of 10 job at best. But it's South Korean and sub-titled, so gets an additional score from the critics. But hey, it's a decent film. A little bit draggy at times. Leaves quite a lot of questions unanswered. But worth a watch.

the best directed South Korean movie I've seen. I really expected & hoped it would become more of a "thriller" earlier. My only criticism is I think they waited too long for the ending climax instead of basing an entire act to it. the director is brilliant, it's beautifully shot & I'd love to see him make another Thriller in the future that includes more suspense throughout. still, it's a thoughtful movie.

Ostensibly this is three kinds of movies in one (a character study, a mystery, and a revenge thriller) and yet each of these classifications fail to adequately describe all or even part of "Burning" as Chang-dong Lee continually undermines or subverts your expectations. It's a haunting enigma

In this motion picture, Burning, 2018 film...there are many good scripts to show how Yoo Ah-in loves his girlfriend, Jeon Jong-seo, her feature debut...and a villain, Steven Yeun, a Korean American has a wonderful performances...

Elegantissimo film in cui, grazie alla grande qualità della sceneggiatura tratta da un saggio breve di Murakami, nonostante i ritmi lenti e i pochi dialoghi, l'attenzione resta altissima e il desiderio di conoscere il destino dei personaggi aumenta con il passare dei minuti. Curioso ed originale è l'aspetto per cui numerosi elementi del film restano dubbiosi, senza una spiegazione definitiva che dia certezza, con una cura maniacale nel restare enigmatico nel racconto. Una menzione speciale va naturalmente alla sequenza che spacca in due la pellicola. Una scena onirica, in cui i colori del tramonto si mescolano con la povertà della campagna coreana e con la bellissima protagonista che si spoglia letteralmente e metaforicamente per dare vita ad un ballo allucinogeno e di una bellezza strabiliante; per poi lasciare spazio ai due caratteri maschili e alla conversazione più importante del film, che risulterà però chiara veramente solo dopo l'epilogo; perchè "la serra da bruciare è molto, molto vicina".

One of the most appallingly overindulgent and meandering films I have seen. It embodies all of the negative stereotypes associated with "art" films.

Cinematography of Burning, take the audience to a visually stunning journey. While the countryside is more calm, city life gives more chills. Speaking of chills, narrative suddenly shifts and voila its a thriller. Yet, thriller never becomes the main theme. Director, wittily manages to keep this theme very low key. This not only gives depth to the story but also makes audience to keep a distance to judge every action. Despite these liberating artistic decisions, director is following up Haruki Murakami's patriarchal language that sadly overshadows what cinematography actually was achieving.

Full of tension yet still so subtle. It leaves lots of up to interpretation and has an extremely grounded feel to it. Incredible performances, gorgeous cinematography and scenery. Yoo Ah-in did a phenomenal job as the lead role. I loved the narration. The slow pacing left me time to sponge up all the emotion and beauty that was captured on screen.

It starts quite slowly but the really captivated me and left and left me with an feeling for days afterwards