The Host

This movie has been really hyped by various reviews in the newspapers & magazines. The trailer also looked quite decent. So, I decided to give it a shot, despite it being a Korean film.

Before talking about the movie, just a few words about the cinema. I finally decided to go to The Cathay cinemaplex to see how the new cinemas are. Well, it's a pity the whole mall is still not ready. So many empty shops. Quite sparse and boring. They have 2 ticket counters on the ground floor. When I arrived, there was a short queue and only one counter was open. There weren't any signs giving any directions. The queue moved really slowly so I decided to see if there are more counters upstairs. Found the cinema on level 5 and there were many more counters there... all empty. There really should have been signs at the counter on the ground floor. The cinema lobby was ok. Strange thing was that the ticket counters were all the way towards the far end away from the lifts and escalators. Thought it was a weird, out-of-the-way kinda place. The snacks counter was quite large and they tried to sell a variety of stuff. But I don't think it was quite popular. How to bring a salad into the cinema to eat? And behind the counter, I saw some sad looking chicken wings (the middle part only) drying under the hot lamps of the food warmer. Finally made my way into the cinema (hall 2) and ok lar, the chairs were not bad, but I didn't think they were very special. They were in fact quite similar to the chairs in Shaw cinema at Century Square, Tampines. One point to note, it was nice that after the movie, we exited through a proper carpetted exit which led directly back to the main lobby. I absolutely hate the cinemas that exit through dingy, smelly stairways. Unfortunately, GV is most guilty of this. It's like, 'Thanks for your money, the movie's over, you can now exit through the smelly corridors.."

Ok, on to the movie.

The Host is a weird movie. At times, they try to make it a monster horror. But then, very often, there are scenes which are just outrightly silly. So as I sat there, I couldn't decide if the director wanted me to be scared or happy. I mean... it's a bit difficult to be scarily happy right? Then at times, it also seems that they are trying to satirize politics and also laugh at their own korean people. There were attempts to mention SARS, birdflu, etc and also make fun of Americans. But then, later on, there is also an american who sacrifices himself. It's all quite confusing.

The monster effects were not bad. Done by WETA, same company that did Lord of the Rings, so quite decent lar. Basically, it's like a huge mutated... hmm... tadpole? with feet? It's not all CGI. Quite a few scenes were with an actual model (I think it is lar).

The movie is about how this father (together with his brother, sister and father) try to rescue his daughter. Again, at times, there are attempts to be hardwarming heartwarming. But then, there are times when the scenes are slapstick funny. If you watch this movie, tell me what you think about the funeral scene. I just couldn't decide whether to feel sad or laugh at that scene.

So, does this movie live up to the hype? Personally, I don't see what's the big deal. Dunno how this movie can be like a top-grosser in Korea. Must be a korean-thing. Can watch lar. But be prepared to be confused.