Feng Shui (2018) User Reviews

Geomancers and Politics in Joseon

[brucegyde · 9/10 · 23 February 2020]

Great movie that hinges on the use of Geomancy to establish future dynasties of the kingdom. The sheer scope of the idea that families vying for power in a country would bury and rebury their ancestors to overthrow the geomantic position of ruling families is a fresh one for Western viewers. This is an element of Feng Shui not fully understood and certainly difficult to prove. But given that traditional Feng Shui correctly measures Radon gas build up in structures, identified the impact of Saturn and Jupiter on our atmosphere, and correctly identified the true North Pole (what we call the South Pole) thousands of years ahead of Western Science - it is certainly not a very well understood science in the West. (Note I am referring here to the real stuff practiced not the mom and pop-culture feel good version where you put a bit of metal in the right part of your house to make it balanced.) One shy of a perfect movie.

Asian would understand better the story

[madbird-61243 · 8/10 · 10 September 2019]

I am seeing this because of Jisung, who is the second lead. His acting is up to my expectation. His role allows him to apply his excellent acting skills. He acts like a crown when in a scene he is humiliated by a powerful minister. But as the story develops he becomes an aggressive minister who successfully let his son to be the king.

The first male lead and the young king both are ok. The plot is quite rich and enchanting. Jisung's son surprisingly becomes the king. And it ends with the first male lead, a fengshui expert, giving advice to Korean fighters where to set up the military school. It makes me think of Mr Sunshine.

The movie is centered on fungshui, where the location of ancestors' grave determines the well being of descendants. Fengshui can hardly be understood by Westerners. Hence the low rating.