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Untold Scandal (2003)

tomatometer

82

Average Rating: 6.7/10
Critic Reviews: 11
Fresh: 9 | Rotten: 2

No consensus yet.

audience

65

liked it
Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 2,110

My Rating

Movie Info

Writer/director E J-Yong transposes Choderlos de Laclo's novel Dangerous Liaisons to Korea during the repressive 18th century Chosun Dynasty for his costume drama, Untold Scandal. Lady Cho (Lee Mi-Suk, who also starred in Yong's debut, An Affair) decides to get revenge on her husband when he procures the services of a young, virginal concubine, Lee Soh-ok (Lee So-yeong). She asks her womanizing cousin, Jo-won (Korean television superstar Bae Yong-Jun, in his first starring role in a feature

Jun 7, 2005

Kino

Cast

All Critics (34) | Top Critics (11) | Fresh (26) | Rotten (4) | DVD (3)

Adds a vibrant cultural framework to a familiar story, and it turns out nothing becomes a legend like an Asian makeover.

January 7, 2005 Full Review Source: Denver Post | Comment
Denver Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Pictorially sumptuous and sexually provocative.

December 24, 2004 Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | Comment
Chicago Tribune
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Of all the Liaisons adaptations, this may be the most sentimental.

November 12, 2004 Full Review Source: Boston Globe | Comment
Boston Globe
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Choderlos de Laclos' novel has survived this long for a reason, and Untold Scandal shows us exactly what that is.

October 22, 2004 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | Comment
Los Angeles Times
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Every attempt I have seen to adapt it on film -- Dangerous Liaisons, Cruel Intentions, even the trashy 1959 Roger Vadim version -- has resulted in an entertainment of agreeable nasty elegance. Until now.

October 20, 2004 Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | Comment
Entertainment Weekly
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Korean director Je-yong Lee puts a compelling cross-cultural spin on a familiar plot in this erotic, Eastern adaptation of the Chodelos de Laclos' 1782 French novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses.

October 15, 2004 Full Review Source: New York Daily News | Comment
New York Daily News
Top Critic IconTop Critic

If you've never seen another version and love costume drama, this is the one to see. If you have, you'll probably find it frustrating.

December 7, 2007 Full Review Source: Eye for Film | Comment
Eye for Film

Untold Scandal, the latest screen adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos' novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses is a stylish, cool and detached interpretation of an overworked text.

October 27, 2005 Full Review Source: Film Journal International | Comment
Film Journal International

Handsome production values, solid ensemble performances and explorations of Far Eastern civilization.

April 15, 2005 Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | Comment
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

Among the many movie versions of this tale, Untold Scandal is one of the most visually arresting.

April 15, 2005 Comment
Salt Lake Tribune

A Frenchman may have thought of the story first, but this Korean film pays tribute to the original while perfectly standing on its own.

March 25, 2005 Full Review Source: Miami Herald | Comment
Miami Herald

A gorgeous setting and ferociously charming cast add unexpected depths to this scalding saga of manipulation.

February 26, 2005 Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | Comment
Shadows on the Wall

An elegant yet unassuming variation [Les Liaisons Dangereuses].

February 4, 2005 Full Review Source: Seattle Times | Comment
Seattle Times

Doesn't have anything new to add to de Laclos' text, but it is an interesting and worthwhile cultural variation on his immortal theme.

November 13, 2004 Full Review Source: Boston Herald | Comment
Boston Herald

Anyone coming to the tale for the first time will not be disappointed--the fierce emotions and devious plot machinations are every bit as effective here as in either the Frears or Forman films.

October 24, 2004 Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | Comment
Boxoffice Magazine
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Untold Scandal

Dangerous Liaisons...Japanese version. Much better than the American version. Beautifully done.

September 5, 2010
itsjustme2004

Super Reviewer

A marvellous adaptation of Les Liaisons Dangereuses, the best so far. Steady assured direction and brilliant performances help to elevate this Korean version very highly. Also the only one that really slashes deep with regards to the characters' despicable, but wholly human, motives. Advised viewing.

October 4, 2006
guttersnipe28
Antony Stubbs

Super Reviewer

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