Title: 괴물
Also known as: Gwemool, Monster
Genre: Science Fiction, Horror
Release Date: 2005-Jluy-27
Runtime: 119 minutes
Director: Bong Joon-Ho
Rating:
Summary:
The Host is based off of a true story, where the US Military dumped gallons of formaldehyde into the Han River back in 2000.
In 2005, on one of the banks a monster attacks. Mass terror breaks out among the people as the monster chases them down. One of the on-lookers, Park GangDu who runs a small convienance store by the Han River, tries to help a boy about to be eaten and gets some of the monsters blood on him. As he runs away from the monster with his daughter, Park HyunSeo, he trips and loses her. HyunSeo is taken by the monster and thought dead while GangDu and the rest of his family are taken to a hospital for treatment from the virus the monster had. While GangDu is in the hospital he receives a call from HyunSeo and is convinsed she's still alive, yet no one but the family believes him. So they escape from the hospital and become wanted criminals as they attempt to fight off the monster and save HyunSeo.
Now all though this movie is considered horror, I didn't find it all that scary at all. It had moments that where suspenseful and made me jump, but other than those few instances it was definitely more Science Fiction than anything. This actually made me like it more, because I'm not that big of a fan of horror movies, so it was a delightful surprise. Also because of the family and their differing personalities gives the movie a light-hearted feel at moments.
Fun fact really fast, when The Host came out it killed the box office; over 1 million people went to see it in the first two days. And it proves itself one of the best movies of all time. The plot was flawless, the undertones were well thought out and the characters were great. All I can say is that the Park Family is so amusing and yet such a strong family as well. I was cheering for them though the whole movie. Each of them had their weaknesses, but the others made up for it with their strengths. And HyunSeo was amazing, I love when there are strong children characters in movies.
Characters:
Song KangHo as Park GangDu
Byeon HeeBong as Park HeeBong
Park HaeIl as Park NamIl
Bae DooNa as Park NamJoo
Ko AhSung as Park HyunSeo
Park GangDu is a pretty pitiful character through most of the movie, even when the others start to develop he still has his moments where you have to slap your forehead. He’s very lazy and constantly making mistakes, which results in him getting slapped around by his father or his younger brother, and even his own daughter verbally makes fun of him. Though he may be slow, but his heart is clearly in the right place, he really wants HyunSeo to be happy and have a better life. GangDu’s strength really comes out when HyunSeo is involved; he takes on doctors, the military, and the monster to try and rescue her.
I absolutely loved GangDu! He proves that normal people can accomplish things when it comes to the people they love and if they put their heart in it. And Song KangHo did a great job playing GangDu. I’ve never seen Song KangHo is anything else before, but I loved his performance, he was very true to GangDu’s personality, there was never a moment I disbelieved him. I’ve watched a few other of his movies with him since this and I suggest watching them. He’s a wonderful actor.
Park HyunSeo is in middle school and because her father is not very reliable she is very mature for her age. She is actually very smart and brave too. Of all the victims from the monsters attack on the bank of the Han River, she is the only one to survive. She is able to out-smart the monster and stay alive along with protecting a small boy who also managed to survive the monster. And for being so young she also has a very motherly side as she takes care of the boy.
At first I didn’t really like HyunSeo, she was a little to bratty, it was her response to her useless father, but I still didn’t really care for her attitude. But later on in the movie I really started to like her as she became a protective character for the boy. I always like finding children actors that can actually act well and Ko AhSung was really good!
Park NamIl and Park NamJoo are GangDu’s younger siblings. NamIl is a college graduate who can’t find a job and is pretty much a drunk. He’s very smart and calculating, good at getting out of tight spots. While NamJoo is very good at archery, she comes in third at the National competition. But other than that she’s not very smart or good at anything else; she can’t even run well, they have to go back for her while being chased by the police. Both of them dote on HyunSeo. And when they come to her funeral they both blame GangDu for losing her while running away. Throughout the movie NamIl is constantly ragging on GangDu and giving him a hard time.
I think NamIl might have been my favorite character. He was funny and all though he didn’t really have anything nice to say about any of his family, other than HyunSeo, he did whatever he could to save them all. He also does this crafty trick to blow the power in a building - that makes his super awesome. Park HaeIl did a great job in this, I wish he was in more things. I’d love to see more of him.
As for NamJoo I liked her more than most female characters in movies like this. But she still was a bit of a week character; one knock and she’s out while most of the male characters get thrown all over the place and are still up for more. But her and NamIl make a great pair, where one messes up the other is there to pick it up and make it better. Bae DooNa is wild and spunky. And she does a great job acting very unfeminine.
Park HeeBong is GangDu’s father and owns the store where he and GangDu work. He is strict with GangDu, but stands up for him when NamIl keeps criticizing him. He’s also a very doting grandfather to HyunSeo. He’s also willing to do anything for his children, he gives up pretty much his whole life savings to get them the equipment they need to save HyunSeo.
I thought HeeBong was a sweet old man, but also a pretty awesome when had his face-offs with the monster. I’ve seen Byeon HeeBong in a few things and I really liked him in this a lot.
There are actually a lot of other characters in The Host, but none of them really have much of a role, the Park family is pretty much the focus of the whole movie.
Theme Song:
There wasn’t really a theme song to this. BUT, and unfortunately this was how I was introduced The Host, this music video is a parody of The Host. Epik High is a hip-hop group that has some amusing MVs. This is for their song Wanna Be. It does a great job of portraying the movie is a very humorous way!
I really recomend watching this, but if you don't want the movie given away/messed up, I wouldn't watch this before you see the movie.
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