THE HOST
Korea, 2004, 120 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Bong Joon- Ho.
This is a pretty nonsensical monster movie from Korea. This is the kind of thing (albeit with modern setting and modern technology) that they used to make fifty years ago, the kind of almost amateurish B or even C grade science fiction with some corny thrills and an attempt at an ecological message.
This one is rather farcically ‘acted’ (for want of a better word) except for the little girl who does provide some tense moments towards the end. The monster itself, a result of formaldehyde being poured into the river by an overbearing American authority – who else? – and is a rubbery all-swimming, all-leaping, all-girder-hanging, rather unfrightening, teeth-baring and human swallowing something-or-other who is like a latterday Godzilla on rather a small scale. Oh, and the solution is Agent Yellow brought in by the Americans to the protests of environmental groups.
In the meantime an oddball family goes in pursuit of the monster, escaping from authorities, escaping from brain surgery with little effect and performing as if they were in a cartoon version of the story.
Regressively silly – though it has pleased the Saturday matinee audience and some highbrow critics.
1.The response to the film? Popular? Critical acclaim? Critical criticism as a silly film, old-style science fiction dressed up for the 21st century?
2.The traditions of the old science fiction films, the variation on the Godzilla theme? The environmental background, ecological issues, the poisoning of the environment, the monstrous consequences, the effect on humans? How well did this film do the variation?
3.The use of Seoul, the city itself, the buildings and streets, the rivers and bridges? A realistic atmosphere?
4.The special effects, the monster itself, its artificiality, B-budget style? Movement, terror?
5.The prologue, the getting rid of the chemicals, the reluctance of the Korean officer, the strong commands of the American on the base? The film’s comment on Americans, their recklessness, their orders, their disregard of the ecological effects, the authoritarianism?
6.The transition to 2006, the river, the monster emerging from the river, the fishermen, the picnickers, the kiosk and the family? Park Gang and his sleeping, his father, wanting to watch the football, serve the customers? Running with his daughter, her background at school, age, personality? The football match, Park and his losing his daughter?
7.The US military, the quarantine, getting people who have been exposed to a virus? Park and his call from his daughter on the mobile, her being chased by the monster, in the lair, the sewers, with the young boy?
8.The authorities refusing to believe, thinking he was mad? The rest of the family arriving, the father, the daughter, the brother-in-law? The family clashes? Their being quarantined? The decision to escape? Going to the sewers? Lack of success?
9.The perfunctory characterisation, Park and his eccentricity and stupidity, the heroics of the brother and sister? The sudden death of the father – a noble figure?
10.The girl, the orphan in the monster’s lair, the confrontation, the military capturing Park again? The Americans thinking Park has the virus in his brain, the operation? His ultra-rapid recovery? The Americans, helping the Korean government, the criticisms of the government, Agent Yellow? The resulting mass protests?
11.The brother, his being knocked out, his niece’s phone call, his friend pinpointing the lair? His being arrested by the authorities and betrayed by his friend?
12.Park escaping again, Agent Yellow, the monster attacking the protesters, the soldiers? The sister and her skill with the arrows – the previous presentation on television, her hesitation, her firing the arrows, this time destroying the monster?
13.Park and his saving his daughter, her death?
14.Time passing, winter, the kiosk opening again, Park and his adoption of the young orphan?
15.The end of the monster – or would there be somebody as a host for a future monster?
