The Host

Director : Joon-Ho Bong
Starring : Kang-Ho Song, Hae-Il Park, Du-Na Ba, Hie-Bong Byeon
2006

This movie looked really cheesey from the cover. It was rated 4 stars on netflix and looked like a monster movie so I checked it out. Two hours later I was blown away. Instead of watching a bad contemporary Godzilla movie like I was expecting, I was a story about a family fighting to save a girl against tall odds. Seriously I don't know whats going on in South Korea but some of the best movies of the last 10 years have come from there.

The opening scene takes place in a morgue on a U.S. army base. A Korean dude is cleaning up when some general comes in and complains about dust on the formaldehyde bottles. He instructs the Korean, against his will, to pour the bottles down the drain which will of course dump into the Han river. Four years later we meet our main character. Gang-Du is passed out on the counter of the food stand he works at. His dad comes by, wakes him up and orders him to go cook an order. While delivering the octopus he notices something jump off the bridge into the river. Some other people just hanging out throw food at it. Next thing you know, after looking away for a second, a giant lizard/eel looking thing is charging down at them. Panic breaks out and people start dieing. The beast makes his retreat and snags Gang-Du's daughter, Hyun-Seo on the way out.

Police quarantine everyone who came in contact with the river monster. Gang-Du, along with his dad, sister (Nam-Joo), and brother (Nam-Il), are grieving pretty hardcore for the departed Hyun-Seo. While at the hospital that night Gang-Du gets a phone call from Hyun-Seo who says she is in a sewer somewhere. The next day the family breaks out of the hospital where they have been kept because it is believed that river monster transmits a deadly virus. From here on out, its just them on the run trying to save Hyun-Seo. I won't say anymore because I want you to watch this!

Rating : 5 stars. Maybe I am being a little generous but I loved this movie. Every aspect of it was great. The acting was wonderful. The lead more or less was in a panic or crying throughout the whole movie. Dude knows how to play emotional. The sister did a great job being emotional as well and showing off her characters fault. The dad was someone that they all looked to and the actor showed off strength while adding a little comic relief. The brother was probably my favorite character because he was so multi-dimensional. The score was awesome, as it is with all the korean films. Cinematography was some of the best I've seen in a while. I really liked the ending. The director showed it snowing symbolizing how their trails have been finished and covered and the white goodness is now what shows (ya that is some serious analysis I just dropped, thank you movie class). With all of that it was still a crazy monster movie which only adds to the fun.

Quotes : "Have any of you heard it? The heartbreak of a parent who's lost a child... When a parent's heart breaks, the sound can travel for miles. So I really need to say this to you. Be as nice to Gang-du as you can. Don't scold him, okay?"

Park Hie-bong: "Kids, wait a minute. Sit down. In your view, is Gang-du really so pathetic?"
Park Nam-il: "Yup."
Park Nam-Joo: "Yes."

"The Han River is very broad, Mr. Kim. Let's try to be broad-minded about this. Anyway, that's an order. So, start pouring."

"You are dimwits, right to the end. I'll see you in hell."

Favorite Scene : The four of them bawling in the beginning together was pretty great. When they are all eating together and a vision of Hyun-Seo is just chilling with them is really well done too. Nam-Il escaping from the police in the phone building was equally awesome. All three are quality scenes.

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Trailer