SYNOPSIS:
Food-stall owner, Gang-du walks out to the crowded Han Riverbank
when he suddenly sees a never-before-seen "something",
hanging from the Han River Bridge and moving. The fascinated
crowd around him start taking shots with their phones and
digital cameras..until the "thing" climbs up onto
the riverbank and begins to slash into the crowd. Gang-du
has just enough time to witness the Creature snatching his
daughter away and disappearing back into the river.
Chaos reigns over Seoul. The Han River area is under quarantine.
Gang-du receives a phone call from his daughter Hyun-seo,
frightened but very much alive. Against all odds, with the
help of his remaining family members, he plans to infiltrate
the forbidden zone near the Han River and rescue his daughter
from the clutches of the horrifying creature.
MOVIE
REVIEW
As
advertised, The Host is a film worth waiting for. Helmed by
a confident director, great kinetic cinematography; excellent
choreography and roundly assisted by a Hollywood A-team of
illusionists, it is indeed a production that Koreans should
be proud of.
The
first 30 minutes of The Host is really the buck: the introduction
of main characters and the dramatic appearance of the monster
is top-notch film-making. However, the story struggles slightly
in the aftermath, weighted down with its brave mixture of
horror/ slapstick comedy/ political satire. But director Boon
Joon-Ha did not disappoint though. His touch was sure but
delicate and there was never a moment where the film’s
political insinuations and emotional crescendos felt pedagogical
or heavy-handed.
The
Host lurks in the rolling waters of the Han River, a metaphor
for the evil banality that belies us humans – and it
provides the backdrop for the real freak show: the Park family.
Put through ridiculous situations and a whole lot of grief,
the audacious Parks capered and careened their way right into
our hearts. Sit back and enjoy.
SPECIAL FEATURES :
Extras include two movie trailers, two TV spots,
a making-of documentary (including cameos by various Korean
celebrities and Tsui Hark) as well as the really superfluous
“character stories” and “highlights”.
Stick to the making-of if you are running short on time.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The Host offers smooth visual transfer and a choice of Dolby
Digital 2.0 or 5.1 in Korean or 2.0 in Mandarin.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD
RATING :
Review
by Lim Mun Pong
|
