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Koma
Rating: 
- Average Hong Kong Thriller: Will Appeal To Some
Directed by Chi-Leung Law, "Koma" boasts a fine supporting cast. The film begins with a wedding party, and one of the brides' friends Ching (Angelica Lee) discovering the bleeding body of a woman who has had her kidney removed. Angelica Lee gave a wonderful performance in the horror film, "The Eye," which is highly recommended. Also starring in this film, is the antagonist and sometimes protagonist (Kar Yan Lam) whose character Ling, is not all that she seems. Kar Yan Lam gave wonderful performances in the horror films "Inner Senses" and "Silk," which are also highly recommended. The film basically is a long drawn out drama, in which the police are trying to find the person or persons responsible for the theft of kidneys.
Moreover, caught in the midst of this drama, is Wai, who is the boyfriend of Ching---yet he also has a connection to Ling. I did not find this to be a very satisfying film. The drama was stretched out way too long, and the police who are investigating these organ thefts are left in the background. This film seemed more like a drama than a thriller or a suspense film. Almost tame in nature. I am not into gore, so for me that was a plus in the film. I thought the film could have used a lot more suspenseful moments and what little there was did not appeal to me. That is not to say that some viewers will not like this film. It will appeal to some viewers and not to others.
Although not suspenseful enough for me, this is how the film is presented, therefore, I must take it for what it is. It's not that it is a bad film, it just isn't that good either. The focus of the film is for the most part the interaction between Ching (Angelica Lee) and Ling (Kar Yan Lam). Both of these actresses are great performers, and with such talent you expect the film to be much better than what it was. Once again, I am not into gore, and that is one of the positive points of the film. However, I also like good suspense which this film lacks. I own the film, and would not discourage others from viewing it, just don't expect too much, and you will not be disappointed. Rent it first.
Rating:
- be careful whom you make friends with...
I thought that *Koma* was an interesting foreign thriller. *Koma* is based on the popular urban legend of one waking up in a bathtub of ice with a kidney surgically removed.
Ching is a beautiful woman who is drunk while celebrating her friend's wedding. After the wedding, she accidently stumbles into a hotel room where a woman is pleading for help, after her kidney has been removed. She is questioned by the police and comforted by her strict traditional family and her boyfriend, Wai.
Surprisingly, the movie moves at a reasonably quick pace. Almost immediately, Ching is being stalked...obviously, for her kidney. Predictably, she is captured and drugged for the surgery. However, things changed at the last minute and she is spared from surgery. We soon find out that she has a kidney disorder and is in dire need of a replacement or she'll soon be on dialysis.
Meanwhile, she befriends a woman named Ling. Ling has a past with Wai. In fact, she still has some connections with Wai. Wai has been giving her money to help Ling with her dying mother's accumulating medical bills. However, Ling reveals to Ching that they've been having affairs the whole time.
In the midst of Ching's confusion, hurt and revenge, Ching has to determine who is the actual kidney thief. This is where suspense builds up and it is good. But that's not all. Ching gets an offer that she cannot refuse. This is when things really get complicated but interesting.
Rating: - You Can Harvest My Organs, But You'll Never Win My Heart--"Koma" Is An Urban Legend Courtesy Of Hong Kong
Having seen so many Asian horror films recently with a supernatural bent, I feared "Koma" might be more of the same. I have nothing against supernatural horror, per se, I was just in the mood for some variety. Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised by the very real, yet delightfully over-the-top, world of "Koma" by Hong Kong filmmaker Chi-Leung Law. This lurid revenge film about illegal organ harvesting may not qualify as "art," but it embraces its delirious plot and brings a classic urban legend to life. And while I loved the macabre silliness of the film's central plot, its gruesome treats are somewhat hampered by inconsistent pacing and far-fetched story twists.
"Koma" begins innocently enough with Kar Yan Lam, as the film's meek heroine, attending a wedding reception. Stumbling drunkenly through a hotel, she happens upon a grisly scene. A young woman, bleeding profusely, has just awoken in a tub of ice with her kidney removed. While the victim is flailing on the floor for help, Lam herself narrowly escapes being murdered. We flash forward to the police station, Lam identifies another woman who she saw suspiciously lurking around the scene of the crime. This lady, played by Angelica Lee, may or may not be involved in the amateur surgery--but one thing is for sure, she has had an affair with Lam's fiance. This coincidence propels the remainder of the film as the ladies engage in some psychological headgames.
Without spoiling too much of the plot, it does evolve in rather unexpected ways. The relationship between the women (and the fiance, for that matter) is complicated. It changes in ways that I will not mention as the film does attempt some level of clever character development. The women may have more in common than it first appears. However, the film's "clever" revelations sometimes strain credibility. This is not an insurmountable problem for a briskly paced thriller, though--but "Koma," while always interesting, is not what I'd call fast paced. Therefore, the plot inconsistencies can be glaringly apparent. For example, there is a dream within a dream sequence that results in a real life tooth extraction--but it doesn't pan out logically and nor is it ever mentioned again. Our heroine is also in the stages of renal failure, but that doesn't stop her from partaking in excessive drink (a medical improbability).
Anyway, I enjoyed seeing this particular urban legend come to life. The more graphic scenes are well staged, and the actors are appropriately malleable to the largely unbelievable plot twists. "Koma" is still a lot of fun and I'd recommend it to fans of the genre. Ultimately, though, the film asks you to suspend disbelief and stick with it--even, when at times, I don't think it earns it. Not a total failure, "Koma" is an interesting film worth a look--but maybe not repeated viewing. KGHarris, 03/07.
Rating: - original interesting thriller victim of a poor DVD treatment by Tartan...
This movie is remarkably engaging. Some lunatic is stealing people's kidneys bringing terror to a young girl in particular. She suspects her boyfriend's former fling is behind all these gruesome mutilations.Some kind of personal vendetta theory that proves to be wrong in the end.
Filled with twists and surprises, the storyline is entertaining and original to the eye.
Nevertheless, Tartan made a poor transfer of this movie.White speckles are ever present throughout the picture and a lot of the scenes present shaky and jumpy images.it becomes annoying and you would expect these flaws from older movies, not movies made recently.Tartan needs to do better transfers if they wish to be considered a serious studio,the same transfer problems are present in Wishing Stairs for instance.
Rating:
- An amateur effort all around
This movie is utterly unremarkable -- actually, scratch that. This movie is actually VERY remarkable -- because of how BAD it is. First of all, the protagonist is pathetic: it's impossible for the viewer to sympathize with her because she is just a pitiful, weak person who does absolutely nothing to try and solve her problems; all she does is cry and moan. Second, the actors are some of the most wooden and stiff performers I've seen in any movie. Third, there are some plot gaps and questions that never get answered, which disrupt the movie's flow and continuity; for example, the protagonist gets hit head-on by an 18-wheeler truck, and her car is absolutely mangled, but she walks away without a scratch. Someone care to explain how that's possible?
I probably would have stopped watching this piss-poor excuse for a movie if I wasn't at a friend's house (and there's the fact that it's his movie): I sat through it just to be polite. When all is said and done, this movie just isn't worth your time. I'm glad I'm not the one who actually paid my hard-earned dollars to buy this piece of dung.
- Average Hong Kong Thriller: Will Appeal To SomeDirected by Chi-Leung Law, "Koma" boasts a fine supporting cast. The film begins with a wedding party, and one of the brides' friends Ching (Angelica Lee) discovering the bleeding body of a woman who has had her kidney removed. Angelica Lee gave a wonderful performance in the horror film, "The Eye," which is highly recommended. Also starring in this film, is the antagonist and sometimes protagonist (Kar Yan Lam) whose character Ling, is not all that she seems. Kar Yan Lam gave wonderful performances in the horror films "Inner Senses" and "Silk," which are also highly recommended. The film basically is a long drawn out drama, in which the police are trying to find the person or persons responsible for the theft of kidneys.
Moreover, caught in the midst of this drama, is Wai, who is the boyfriend of Ching---yet he also has a connection to Ling. I did not find this to be a very satisfying film. The drama was stretched out way too long, and the police who are investigating these organ thefts are left in the background. This film seemed more like a drama than a thriller or a suspense film. Almost tame in nature. I am not into gore, so for me that was a plus in the film. I thought the film could have used a lot more suspenseful moments and what little there was did not appeal to me. That is not to say that some viewers will not like this film. It will appeal to some viewers and not to others.
Although not suspenseful enough for me, this is how the film is presented, therefore, I must take it for what it is. It's not that it is a bad film, it just isn't that good either. The focus of the film is for the most part the interaction between Ching (Angelica Lee) and Ling (Kar Yan Lam). Both of these actresses are great performers, and with such talent you expect the film to be much better than what it was. Once again, I am not into gore, and that is one of the positive points of the film. However, I also like good suspense which this film lacks. I own the film, and would not discourage others from viewing it, just don't expect too much, and you will not be disappointed. Rent it first.
Rating:
- be careful whom you make friends with...I thought that *Koma* was an interesting foreign thriller. *Koma* is based on the popular urban legend of one waking up in a bathtub of ice with a kidney surgically removed.
Ching is a beautiful woman who is drunk while celebrating her friend's wedding. After the wedding, she accidently stumbles into a hotel room where a woman is pleading for help, after her kidney has been removed. She is questioned by the police and comforted by her strict traditional family and her boyfriend, Wai.
Surprisingly, the movie moves at a reasonably quick pace. Almost immediately, Ching is being stalked...obviously, for her kidney. Predictably, she is captured and drugged for the surgery. However, things changed at the last minute and she is spared from surgery. We soon find out that she has a kidney disorder and is in dire need of a replacement or she'll soon be on dialysis.
Meanwhile, she befriends a woman named Ling. Ling has a past with Wai. In fact, she still has some connections with Wai. Wai has been giving her money to help Ling with her dying mother's accumulating medical bills. However, Ling reveals to Ching that they've been having affairs the whole time.
In the midst of Ching's confusion, hurt and revenge, Ching has to determine who is the actual kidney thief. This is where suspense builds up and it is good. But that's not all. Ching gets an offer that she cannot refuse. This is when things really get complicated but interesting.
Rating:
- You Can Harvest My Organs, But You'll Never Win My Heart--"Koma" Is An Urban Legend Courtesy Of Hong KongHaving seen so many Asian horror films recently with a supernatural bent, I feared "Koma" might be more of the same. I have nothing against supernatural horror, per se, I was just in the mood for some variety. Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised by the very real, yet delightfully over-the-top, world of "Koma" by Hong Kong filmmaker Chi-Leung Law. This lurid revenge film about illegal organ harvesting may not qualify as "art," but it embraces its delirious plot and brings a classic urban legend to life. And while I loved the macabre silliness of the film's central plot, its gruesome treats are somewhat hampered by inconsistent pacing and far-fetched story twists.
"Koma" begins innocently enough with Kar Yan Lam, as the film's meek heroine, attending a wedding reception. Stumbling drunkenly through a hotel, she happens upon a grisly scene. A young woman, bleeding profusely, has just awoken in a tub of ice with her kidney removed. While the victim is flailing on the floor for help, Lam herself narrowly escapes being murdered. We flash forward to the police station, Lam identifies another woman who she saw suspiciously lurking around the scene of the crime. This lady, played by Angelica Lee, may or may not be involved in the amateur surgery--but one thing is for sure, she has had an affair with Lam's fiance. This coincidence propels the remainder of the film as the ladies engage in some psychological headgames.
Without spoiling too much of the plot, it does evolve in rather unexpected ways. The relationship between the women (and the fiance, for that matter) is complicated. It changes in ways that I will not mention as the film does attempt some level of clever character development. The women may have more in common than it first appears. However, the film's "clever" revelations sometimes strain credibility. This is not an insurmountable problem for a briskly paced thriller, though--but "Koma," while always interesting, is not what I'd call fast paced. Therefore, the plot inconsistencies can be glaringly apparent. For example, there is a dream within a dream sequence that results in a real life tooth extraction--but it doesn't pan out logically and nor is it ever mentioned again. Our heroine is also in the stages of renal failure, but that doesn't stop her from partaking in excessive drink (a medical improbability).
Anyway, I enjoyed seeing this particular urban legend come to life. The more graphic scenes are well staged, and the actors are appropriately malleable to the largely unbelievable plot twists. "Koma" is still a lot of fun and I'd recommend it to fans of the genre. Ultimately, though, the film asks you to suspend disbelief and stick with it--even, when at times, I don't think it earns it. Not a total failure, "Koma" is an interesting film worth a look--but maybe not repeated viewing. KGHarris, 03/07.
Rating:
- original interesting thriller victim of a poor DVD treatment by Tartan...This movie is remarkably engaging. Some lunatic is stealing people's kidneys bringing terror to a young girl in particular. She suspects her boyfriend's former fling is behind all these gruesome mutilations.Some kind of personal vendetta theory that proves to be wrong in the end.
Filled with twists and surprises, the storyline is entertaining and original to the eye.
Nevertheless, Tartan made a poor transfer of this movie.White speckles are ever present throughout the picture and a lot of the scenes present shaky and jumpy images.it becomes annoying and you would expect these flaws from older movies, not movies made recently.Tartan needs to do better transfers if they wish to be considered a serious studio,the same transfer problems are present in Wishing Stairs for instance.
Rating:
- An amateur effort all aroundThis movie is utterly unremarkable -- actually, scratch that. This movie is actually VERY remarkable -- because of how BAD it is. First of all, the protagonist is pathetic: it's impossible for the viewer to sympathize with her because she is just a pitiful, weak person who does absolutely nothing to try and solve her problems; all she does is cry and moan. Second, the actors are some of the most wooden and stiff performers I've seen in any movie. Third, there are some plot gaps and questions that never get answered, which disrupt the movie's flow and continuity; for example, the protagonist gets hit head-on by an 18-wheeler truck, and her car is absolutely mangled, but she walks away without a scratch. Someone care to explain how that's possible?
I probably would have stopped watching this piss-poor excuse for a movie if I wasn't at a friend's house (and there's the fact that it's his movie): I sat through it just to be polite. When all is said and done, this movie just isn't worth your time. I'm glad I'm not the one who actually paid my hard-earned dollars to buy this piece of dung.
