Saw two revenge flicks named Ballerina over the weekend; a Korean one that recently hit Netflix and the American one that just hit theaters. No relation to each other, but they're both decent. The Korean one is a bit more artsy and lighter on the action. That action feels less practiced with lots of quick cuts obscuring things at times, but the film's excellent cinematography and sense of style make up for it. The American one is very much in the mold of the Wick films it's a part of. Flimsy in plot and lacking in substance, but the action was certainly better produced and creative at times. I liked that Ana's character has a different style than Keanu's; they fully acknowledge she's not as strong and so has to be more resourceful and clever. A box of grenades makes for an interesting sequence and I can certainly say I've never seen a pair of ice skates used like nunchucks or a (nicely shot) flame thrower duel before. That flame thrower might actually be a nod to the Korean film, come to think of it (which also has one). Wouldn't be the first time the franchise has referenced Korean cinema.
Last edited by TallSilhouette - on 09 June 2025
