The Host
Finally found, rented & watched The Host. Its a South Korean creature flick that has gotten very good reviews. After seeing Cloverfield, I wanted to try and get into the genre.
Very good movie. Different than what I was expecting - deeper, more psychological, and even philosophical. Not just a creature running amok.
I liked the intense bonds of the family in the film, even if it is an Asian stereotype. But I guess a true one as the film is completely Korean produced etc. The characters bonding and emotions was fantastic. I can't remember the last time I've seen a similar portrayal of family in an American movie. On a technical level the film had some very striking shots. The battle at the end was fantastic.
The film was an interesting little microcosm of Korean culture, which I only have tangential exposure through via Ball. The tight knit family, the fact that it seemed like a good percent of the population is not too wealthy, but still highly concernred/preoccupied with the latest technology, the food, the little details of an otherwise unknown culture that the movie depicted were strangely engrossing. I also thought their portrayal of Americans was very intriguing. I always am curious how other countries view and portray us. But, really, there was a pretty good measure of similarity between how we portray our military and government coverups and how they did. Had a disctinctly X-Files-y flair.
Koreans apparently do not necissarily spare children like Hollywood. I have some mixed feelings on this in this particular film. But the demonstration of another stereotypical Asian value of self sacrifice was also a very interesting thing to see on screen.
And whenever a character makes a very deep, profound, provacative statement, it appears that it is international law for them to die in the next 10 minutes of the film, not just a law of the Whedonverse. Upon hearing this particular speech I my suspicions that grandpa would bite it were sealed. I'm also slightly suprised that the killed him off giving the stature of elders in Asian cultures. Maybe the younger generations influence? Who knows.
All in all, fantastic film that I'd highly recommend to pretty much everyone on my flist.
Very good movie. Different than what I was expecting - deeper, more psychological, and even philosophical. Not just a creature running amok.
I liked the intense bonds of the family in the film, even if it is an Asian stereotype. But I guess a true one as the film is completely Korean produced etc. The characters bonding and emotions was fantastic. I can't remember the last time I've seen a similar portrayal of family in an American movie. On a technical level the film had some very striking shots. The battle at the end was fantastic.
The film was an interesting little microcosm of Korean culture, which I only have tangential exposure through via Ball. The tight knit family, the fact that it seemed like a good percent of the population is not too wealthy, but still highly concernred/preoccupied with the latest technology, the food, the little details of an otherwise unknown culture that the movie depicted were strangely engrossing. I also thought their portrayal of Americans was very intriguing. I always am curious how other countries view and portray us. But, really, there was a pretty good measure of similarity between how we portray our military and government coverups and how they did. Had a disctinctly X-Files-y flair.
Koreans apparently do not necissarily spare children like Hollywood. I have some mixed feelings on this in this particular film. But the demonstration of another stereotypical Asian value of self sacrifice was also a very interesting thing to see on screen.
And whenever a character makes a very deep, profound, provacative statement, it appears that it is international law for them to die in the next 10 minutes of the film, not just a law of the Whedonverse. Upon hearing this particular speech I my suspicions that grandpa would bite it were sealed. I'm also slightly suprised that the killed him off giving the stature of elders in Asian cultures. Maybe the younger generations influence? Who knows.
All in all, fantastic film that I'd highly recommend to pretty much everyone on my flist.