The Host

[Salsashark]

http://www.apple.com/trailers/magnolia/thehost/trailer/

I just saw this movie and it def. is need of a thread. It was (typically) playing at an "art house" theater because it's in Korean, but it is the kind of thing most big budget Hollywood movies aspire to be but never are.

It's a monster movie where the biggest problem for the heroes is other stupid people. It's really funny too. Not in a "Chris Rock cracks jokes as a monster eats people," kind of way either, but it is actually a funny, sad, thrilling movie with something of a message to go down with the high entertainment. I guess it isn't that odd for a contemporary Korean movie to be mixing taboo genres like this, but, where something like Save the Green Planet veered inapporpriately from one emotion to the next, The Host strikes a brilliant balance between all of its elements.

The movie is maybe a little bit long in the middle, and even though it's 10 times better than any recent Hollywood outing, the budget was probably 1/10th that of those horrible wastes, so the monster, while a valiant effort, doesn't always look real.

Still, great movie. It has a 92% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is the highest grossing South Korean movie of all time, if you care about that stuff. You should see it if it's playing in your area.

[Klonoa]

I bought in to the hype and after watching, felt a bit disappointed. Wasn't a big fan of the ending either.

This should be playing at the Philly Film Festival this year, if it is I'll check it out on the big screen.

[Compass]

I went in having heard very little hype and enjoyed myself, but found it heavily flawed. The movie is just way too long, and way too stupid at times to really take it seriously. It could've used more gore too. BUT...

Some of the monster scenes are freaking awesome, and worth the price of admission alone. The first main scene of mayhem and destruction set to pounding music is truly a thing of beauty. The CG still doesn't look entirely convincing most of the time, but it's about the closest anyone's come yet, and has a uniquely cool look about it all the same. The monster's movement, whether it's lumbering and slipping about on land, or swinging from girders like a skilled acrobat is a sight to behold.

[EvilMog]

I watched this on dvd a week ago and thought it was crap. Its WAY to long and the editing is so fucking all over the place you feel that scenes are left out. And the monster was just so so. The movie also had no scares.

[Dyne]

i read the ign review and acquired it from netflix. i fell asleep 15 minutes into it.

[magnifiedplaid]

Yeah, I got this as a blind buy on Blu-Ray. I'm a victim of the hype. The movie is a 3 out of 5 at best, but it seems like one that will be better on a second viewing.

[Compass]

I think it is a 3/5 at best like you say, and people are doling out some extra credit due to its country of origin. I must admit it's nice for once to see this type of blockbuster summer action effects-laden movie not be from the US. Gives the experience a new, tangy, not altogether unpleasant flavor.

[J2d]

Yeah, I got this as a blind buy on Blu-Ray. I'm a victim of the hype.

Sounds familiar, got it today but haven't watched it yet.

[Some Stupid Japanese Name]

I rented this on the recommendation of a monster loving fag I know who works the theater I usually go to.
Only watched about half of it, then fell asleep. Based on what I did see and hear ( i went the dubbed route) I'm not going to try to finish it. Monster looked cool in a 1997 CG kind of way, but the dialog (granted going the subtitle route probably would have been the smarter move) was just horrendous.
I'd give it a 1/5.

[YellerDog]

I dug this, but it definitely loses its way when the monster isn't on screen.