The Host (2006)

The Host is a 2006 South Korean monster film, directed by Bong Joon-ho and starring Song Kang-ho, Byun Hee-bong, Park Hae-il, Bae Doona and Go Ah-sung. According to the director, his inspiration came from a local article about a deformed fish with an S-shaped spine caught in Han River. The Host had set a new Korean box office record by reaching 10 million tickets in just 21 days. In addition, it was ranked one of the top films of 2007 on Metacritic with a score of 85. In November 2008, it was announced that Universal Studios would be remaking The Host. It won several awards including Best Film at the Asian Film Awards and at the Blue Dragon Film Awards.

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Host_(2006_film)

A monster emerges from Seoul's Han River and focuses its attention on attacking people. One victim's loving family does what it can to rescue her from its clutches.

source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468492/

F: This movie starts really strongly, the action in the first part is exhilarating and it's awesome to see everyone running away from that giant river creature. The year is 2006, and the special effects are amazing. Then, at mid point, the momentum is lost only to reappear briefly in some scenes, like in the lobotomy scene, the back stabber trap and the jump on the monster's back. Apart from those scenes, I was left yawning.

K: Fuf, I survived after this film. Freddy's phrase while we were having lunch was "We will watch a Korean film today, it's called The Host". Somehow he didn't leave me suspicious. So, guys, if you are sensitive human beings, don't watch this film straight after you have finished eating your meal. What can I say about this experience... too long, I got bored by watching this poor family trying to save Hyun-seo and the rest of society doing nothing about it.

F: The humor is very good at the beginning and the quirkiness of the Park family made me laugh out loud, especially in the part where they are mourning the loss of little Hyun-seo. But then again, it starts to get boring. Only that failed cocktail molotov in the end made me laugh again. One thing that doesn't work for me in this movie is the drama. Tears don't come where they are intended. Anyway, monster movies are something supposed to suck nowadays and this one manages to keep things interesting for a while, worth a watch.

K: This film, for me, is about ecological problems. What we humans do for our planet and how we pay for it later. About government blindness and power, they close their eyes on real problems and feed people with useless information... the episode with the man coughing and spiting in a puddle while waiting for the green line to cross the street, and the reaction of the people next to him is a wonderful example of this.

K: The actors did their job at a high level. You believe the despair in the father (infant and irresponsible) who's trying his best to find his daughter. Sometimes, especially in the beginning, the emotions are so exaggerated that I ask myself, whyyyyyy???? The director tried to do a mixture of comedy, science fiction, drama and horror all in one film. So check it out to see if his experience is good enough for you. As for me, I can say the movie is not that bad, just not my genre.

F: Now check this interesting fact related to the movie: "The event described in the beginning of the film is based on an actual event. In February 2000, at a US military facility located in the center of Seoul, a US military civilian employee named Mr. McFarland was ordered to dispose of formaldehyde by dumping it into the sewer system that led to the Han River, despite the objection of a South Korean subordinate. The government attempted to prosecute Mr. McFarland in court, but the US military refused to hand over custody of Mr. McFarland to the South Korean legal system. Later, a South Korean judge convicted Mr. McFarland in absentia. The public was enraged at the government's inability to enforce its law on its own soil. In 2005, nearly five years after the original incident, Mr. McFarland was finally found guilty in a court in his presence. However, he never served his current prison sentence, and there have been no sightings of a mutant creature in the Han River - yet."

Krasnaya score: 66/100

Freddy's score: 64/100