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11-29-2019, 08:02 PM
(This post was last modified: 11-29-2019, 08:04 PM by Drunk Monk.)
The latest from Bong Joon-ho. Won this year's Palm D'or. cf & I were imagining this director would get there eventually. He has arrived.
It's a thriller with some very dark humor. There's no monster (the host http://www.brotherhoodofdoom.com/doomFor...hp?tid=721) or post-apocalypse train (snowpiercer http://www.brotherhoodofdoom.com/doomFor...p?tid=3130), or friendly monster (okja http://www.brotherhoodofdoom.com/doomFor...p?tid=4126). There are dogs including a pom but they don't suffer (barking dogs never bite http://www.brotherhoodofdoom.com/doomFor...p?tid=4254). This is like a modern-day Hitchcock, a twisted tale of schemes gone awry. There's a smattering of commentary on class, North Korea and climate change, but those are more observations that preaching. Good pacing, good storytelling, and some solid mcguffins.
It won me over quickly with the first scene - the family searching for an internet signal to coattail upon, something I can relate to way too much lately, and it was sealed with the pom.
Packed theater at the Nick. The audience was pretty rocked on the way out, all stunned by the style and story. I was very amused being more familiar with Bong's work and pleased to see he succeeded in making a film that delivered his quirkiness in an even digestible way. I still lean towards The Host being his strongest film, but maybe because that was the first film of his that I saw so it resonated more deeply. I should revisit that maybe. Parasite was a close second for sure. If not his best, it's certainly his most appealing.
There's somewhat of a sword bit in it. I don't want to spoil it. The final dark humor twist got a chuckle out of me.
DOOM recommended.
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Afterthought - in all of Bong's films, he has a good eye for poverty and Korean architecture. That's a huge part of his stylistic appeal for me.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
I was careful not to read, see, or hear anything about this beforehand, so when LCF and I went to see it over a week ago (yes, negligent in reviewing it promptly), I was expecting a horror story. So in the early scene with the pissing/puking vagrant, I thought, Okay, here we go, the start of some rampaging parasitic pandemic. But it was a fake-out, and afterwards I got a bit paranoid, thinking that director Bong Joon-ho did that scene just to fool me.
But then at the end of the movie -- and we did stay for all the credits -- there it was, proof that I wasn't paranoid after all, because listed almost at the bottom and in small print was: "Pissing/puking vagrant red herring specifically for cranefly"
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(12-01-2019, 03:45 PM)cranefly Wrote: But then at the end of the movie -- and we did stay for all the credits -- there it was, proof that I wasn't paranoid after all, because listed almost at the bottom and in small print was: "Pissing/puking vagrant red herring specifically for cranefly"
damn. i should've stayed for that.
but i had to pee...
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(12-01-2019, 03:45 PM)cranefly Wrote: negligent in reviewing it promptly
hold the phone... so that's your review?
come on now. it's bong. at least review the poster.
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I went by myself after work one day to the "new" theater in Mtn. View across from where the Old Mill used to be (where I saw Star Wars when it first came out), and adjacent to the now closed Milk Pail Market.
I had no idea what to expect, so I just rolled with it. The cinematography of the various architectures stood out: the basement apartment, the posh house on the hill, nestled in the twisty streets. Interesting story/characters.
Good flick. I didn't stay for the CF specific credit, so I'm not sure if there was one for me as well.
--tg
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wow
ftw
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That was an upset. No love for Tarantino.
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm
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Right? Actually, I'm glad Hollywood is getting over QT. I like his stuff but he's such a poacher and overrated for that. Maybe Hollywood admires his poacher-ness.
I'm shocked Parasite took both Best & Foreign. I didn't know you could do that. I did enjoy this though and stand by my DOOM rec, even though now it might not live up to all the buzz. I'm reminded of when Crouching Tiger took 4 Oscars, but they didn't get Best pic. Nevertheless, I'm happy Bong is getting recognition, especially because I've been touting him as a great director for years, and I'm very eager to see what he does next.
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Never really like Tarantino myself. I always get the feeling like it's just a style exercise, and that he really doesn't care about the story itself.
the hands that guide me are invisible
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I have to say that Doom introduced me to quite a few awesome S. Korean movies: The Good, The Bad and The Weird, Save the Green Planet, The Host, the Vengeance trilogy. I enjoyed Parasite. I hope by winning big, it helps bring a wider audience.
--tg
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(02-10-2020, 04:54 PM)King Bob Wrote: Never really like Tarantino myself. I always get the feeling like it's just a style exercise, and that he really doesn't care about the story itself.
Agreed. QT kinda bugs me in the way he manipulates controversy. Most all of his best scenes were poached form other films.
(02-10-2020, 11:27 PM)thatguy Wrote: I have to say that Doom introduced me to quite a few awesome S. Korean movies: The Good, The Bad and The Weird, Save the Green Planet, The Host, the Vengeance trilogy. I enjoyed Parasite. I hope by winning big, it helps bring a wider audience.
--tg
Our work here is done. 
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It occurs to me somebody should be making a Bong Joon-Ho Bong.
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Perhaps a new cartoon movie starring El Kabong?
In the Tudor Period, Fencing Masters were classified in the Vagrancy Laws along with Actors, Gypsys, Vagabonds, Sturdy Rogues, and the owners of performing bears.
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Now, I've seen it. And it was......WTF? Oscar winner?
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm
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