Well… I’m glad it was mentioned last week that we can feel free to critique the films, because this is the first one we’ve watched in class that I very firmly disliked. In all fairness, I realized about halfway through that I was lacking the appropriate political/historical background necessary to understand or enjoy the film. Retrospectively I’m starting to wonder whether I just watched the film with the completely wrong expectations, but even so there were some serious fundamental shortcomings I can’t imagine being able to overlook.
The symbolism was overkill. Did they really have to call the chemical “Agent Yellow” to get the point across? Or make the monster’s mouth look exactly like a vagina? And then, if you didn’t catch it the first time, have Hyun-Seo pulled head first out of its mouth by her father…? To me, hitting the audience over the head with these kinds of blatant references ruined the effect, turning what could have been a subtle social critique into a joke. Maybe it was supposed to be a joke… I’m not sure, but I don’t generally enjoy films that pull you by the hand and tell you what to think about politics: it feels more like propaganda than art. Moreover, characters were used as symbols and their development was heavily compromised as a result. I don’t know if it was just me, but I had almost no emotional attachment to any of the characters and didn’t even care whether or not they died (with the exception of Se-joo, and that’s only because they exploited his cuteness). Anyway, I don’t even know what to discuss in terms of some of the more obvious points of the film (bad white people tear apart traditional Korean values with their evil chemical warfare; the Korean government doesn’t care, technology is destroying the world; then in the end soju saves the day, the monster is defeated, and Gang-du gives up on his terrible blonde hairstyle, etc).
I do want to address the role of women in the films we’ve watched so far, because it seems like there is a consistent contrast between the oppressed woman seeking revenge and the neglectful/absent mother that keeps coming up. “The Host” is interesting because there’s a female monster but a man created her (more specifically, an American man. American women are mysteriously absent in the film). Therefore, I think it can be read through a similar “female revenge” lens through which we see Sadako from “Ringu” or the doctor from “Cure.” In this context, though, I’m not sure how to deal with the neglectful/absent mother (both Hyun-Seo and Gang-du from “The Host” have no mothers, while Reiko in “Ringu” is a virtually absent mother). Gang-du’s father even blames his psychological “problems” on not having a mother. I’m not sure how to reconcile these characters or what these films are trying to say about women in general. Are women vengeful monsters that are victims of Neo-Confucian oppression? Or is their own neglect/absence to blame? Do men create female monsters, or do women create male shortcomings?
Monster movies typically have actions scenes within the movie, mainly in the form of chasing, escaping, and attacking the monster. In the movie, the audience is engaged in these types of action scenes by panning shots. In the beginning of the movie when the monster first attacks the people on the shore of the Han River and people are running away, the camera follows certain characters and moves along with the people running. It takes the audience and puts them in the middle of the action. By engaging the audience in the scene, it allows them to better understand the fear that comes with seeing the monster, similar to a 3D ride, where the audience is fully engaged. Within the panning scenes, there are also close ups of the monster, which would be similar to when someone who is running away would turn around and see how close the monster is to them. The camera movements in the “action” scenes in the movie seem to be analogous to what humans would do. It moves the same way a person would (running and looking closely at the monster). It effectively engages the audience in the movie.
One thing that I found interesting is the use of comedy in the film. Monster films typically don’t contain any funny aspects as people are usually getting attacked but this movie purposely includes comedy. The characters themselves are over the top in certain actions and that alone serves as a base for the comedic aspect of the film. I thought it was pretty interesting how funny parts would be sandwiched between serious scenes and how certain scenes that would normally portrayed in a serious matter were done so comically (ie. escaping the hospital).
Oh, and this movie creeped me out more because that monster was DISGUSTING!
I've actually watched part of this movie in another class before, but again the anti-American sentiments just left a bad taste for me. The film made the Americans out to be unsympathetic anti-environmentalist cheats who like to experiment on human beings. While America has had a past in which lobotomy was prominent as a psychiatric treatment, the scene in which the military doctor pokes at Gang-du's head and proclaims that the virus is in there just portrays Americans in a bad light in which we are monsters. Not to mention not to be trusted because Americans lie as inferred where the military doctor mentions that there is no virus. The same goes for the scene in which "Agent Yellow" is released and the protesters holding up a picture of Gang-du succumb to the yellow fog, showing American insensitivity towards environmental damage as well as human life. These scenes together depict American oppression of the South Korean people by expressing a negative image in the way they operate.
In translation, this movie expresses huge anti-American sentiments that probably has to do with America's military post in South Korea. I felt that this movie overall hinted that American military occupation in South Korea will lead to its devastation. While I can understand that South Korea wants to be in charge of its own government and affairs, which isn't what happened in the film because the "US and WHO found S.Korea to be inadequate in handling the creature, thus they had to send in Agent Yellow"; it doesn't seem fair to put all the blame of what happened in the movie on Americans. While the beginning sequence in which the mortician told his employee to pour the embalming fluid into the Han River is actually a true story, I felt that South Korea should take more responsibility on its behalf to exercise stricter regulations as well as investing in better waste filtration systems considering how they are environmentally friendly. Manyi Xu
In my other class we focused a lot on the historical and societal contexts that made this film so attractive to the Korean audience, so to avoid beating a dead horse, I'm going to write about how Bong Joon-Ho showed the theme of misinformation through the scene of the monster's first attack.
Misinformation and confusion in the context of government and US intervention was a very obvious theme throughout the film. I believe the first truly clear example of this is when the man in the yellow hazard suit turns on the news to give all the "contaminated" people the information they are requesting, but nothing was on. In the monster's first attack, the chaos that ensued also included a lot of clueless people who didn't seem to register what was happening, even though it was literally right in front of them. When the monster is first running on land and Gang-Du is looking at it, there are people leisurely walking, completely unaware of the giant mutated monster only a few yards behind them. Another example is a cut from a shot of people running and screaming, to a woman sitting on the grass peacefully digging the dirt out of her nails while listening to some relaxing music. You can see blurred people running in the background and she has no idea what is going on until it is too late and the monster tramples her. This provides comic relief, but it also shows a complete lack of awareness. The last shot I want to include in this example is the view of the old woman from the train that is passing by. She is watching the monster chase dozens of people and she adjusts her glasses, but doesn't have any kind of strong reaction to what she sees.
I believe these shots of people in complete ignorance of the giant monster in front of them is correlated to the overall theme of ignorance and misinformation that is prevalent throughout the film. There are arguments that the true monsters in the film are the United States' intervention in South Korea and the inept domestic police and military. Even when the corruption is right in front of their eyes, they just sit back and accept what they're told. "The government says there's a virus, so we have to believe them. What can we do?"
“The Host” is a movie that reveals director’s point on its surface as movie began. Director Bong, Joon-ho is sending a message to audiences by showing them a scene of pouring chemical toxic substances into the sink which is directly connected to Han River. This beginning scene implies that how human beings have abused the environment and disregarded warnings from the environment. When the creature first appeared, citizens threw their food into the water without thinking about the pollution of the river which indicates their curiosity and poor environmental awareness overcame the fear of unknown subject. Director Bong points out that humans do not reflect on themselves but instead, they utilized stronger chemical substance to eliminate the creature, by showing the last scene where “Agent Yellow” appears. Agent Yellow made more progress on creature’s deformity and affected on human’s body such as bleeding noise and ears. The consequence is that humans pay what they owe to the nature and suffer to learn a lesson. Another trait that I recognized was movie’s slow-motion effect. Since the movie is composed of active scenes, slow-motion effect amplified the sense of urgent and fear. As well as, audiences could deeply link into actors/actresses’ emotion. When the creature was destroying Han River, both creature and people’s movements were in slow-motion. Also, camera angle was very distinctive. Director Bong tried various angles such as shooting from the top when Gang-du was running into the bridge to find his daughter. Face-close takes were used to deliver actor/actress’ emotion and anticipate the future story.
There were some elements of this movie that I did not really understand. FIrst of all, if Agent Yellow was supposed to kill all biological beings, why were none of the main characters killed when they came in contact with the chemicals? We see some people in the crowd throwing up blood and coughing, but that's about it. Another thing was when Nam-Joo was knocked into that deep trench by the monster; how was she able to just climb out of there? It seemed like just a straight, deep drop without much to aid her escape. Also when the kids, Hyun-Seo and Se-Joo, are hiding in the little tunnel of the sewer, how is it that they are screaming in fear in one scene while trying to fend off the monster, and in the next scene they are sleeping? Did they just fall asleep because they were tired from fighting off a vicious monster? These things may be very trivial and not worth pointing out, but they made the movie feel very cheap to me. (I would also like to point out when the TV just happened to be in the middle of the grieving room after the attacks for the people to watch the news, which in a way goes back to the concept of the the answer to the solutions just magically appearing).
Despite these trivial complaints, I thought the movie was somewhat entertaining. This movie was an unconventional horror movie, in the sense that a lot of humor was involved. I found myself thinking whether this movie was intended to be a thriller or a comedy. Maybe the contrast of seriousness was intended to make the action/horror scenes more intense and scary. Another thing I noticed in this movie that is different from a lot of others is in the scene with Nam-il and his "friend" when they are in the elevator going up to the office. There was a dialogue between the two, and as the speaker changed, the camera just swiftly went across to the next person, as opposed to quick cuts. I just thought it was interesting, and that it made less room for error in the takes because it was like a longer cut (sort of like the long cuts in "The Cure"). I know that my response is all over the place, but these are the elements of the movie that really stood out to me.
Jin Ah Kim The Host by Bong Joon-ho has a lot of elements and factors that are debatable such as the acts of Americans in the film, the government’s role, society, etc. However one thing that I found extremely interesting in this film was the way how family relationships were portrayed. This film begins with a man pouring chemicals down the sink. Then the scene changes to show a family owning a small store in front of the Han River. This family is (in a way) an unordinary family; the head of the family Hee-bong, oldest son Gang-du, younger son Nam-il, daughter Nam-joo and granddaughter Hyun-seo. In this family, neither a typical mother figure nor a fathers’ power/authority is present. One thing that is in fact present is the fathers’ instinctive love towards their children. It is important to point out the ‘space’ that this family shares. They often stay in their small store which is very confined with only liminal space is allowed for each person. During the film, the family having supper in that space gets shown. The fact that they’re eating fast food with the imagination of Hyun-seo being there with the rest of the family members symbolizes the fantasy and their social class. The sharing of space bold out the family relationships and also the forming of new relationships. For example, after the Monster takes Hyun-seo away, she protects herself by hiding in the round space in the sewer. When the little boy arrives, Hyun-seo shares this space and protects him. Like Hee-bong dies while protecting his children, Gang-du (also Nam-il and Nam-joo) do not stop themselves from risking their life to find Hyun-seo. Hyun-seo herself also passes on this ‘love’ in a family relationship before she dies by protecting the little boy who in the end meets Gang-du forming a new relationship. This family in The Host cannot be seen as a typical family however it seems as if the family members themselves do not see the absence of mother figures as unnatural. In fact, each and every family member is even more valuable to each other.
After three viewings of The Host, it still has not gotten any better to watch. The first time I watched this film without any back knowledge I found it a bit stupid. After acquiring some understanding about the historical significance behind the happenings on screen, it makes a bit more sense, but that does not change the fact that I just do not like this movie as a whole, mostly on account of nuances with the characters and script. The Host broadly covers issues with Korea-US relations, domestic affairs, and the power (or oppression) of the ordinary citizen, all with a nationalistic undercurrent. However clear these motifs are, without proper knowledge of historical events, these themes are as broad and as thinly spread as the mortician in the opening scene’s reason for dumping formaldehyde into the sink. It is understandable that sentiments towards US foreign policy is questionable, with the US playing the world’s police and taking little to no responsibility for its mistakes. However Director Bong Joon Ho overplays the “bad cop” US and gives its American characters power but no purpose other than to instigate trouble by giving orders that make no sense. Meaningless antagonists with no function other than existing just for problem’s sake is dull, and one of the many reasons I do not enjoy this movie. Hand-in-hand with the anti-US sentiment goes the “westernization” of the country. The younger brother of the dim-witted protagonist, characterized as the alcoholic college graduate says “I gave my youth to the democratization of our country, and those f***ers won’t even give me a job.” This goes to speak about the Korea that is changing and becoming more democratic, more “American,” and how that system is failing its citizens. Falling in line with other typical movies, The Host shows the ordinary citizen/family’s rise as they overcome obstacles which are bigger than themselves, in this case the monster and the government. The film ends unconventionally with the captured daughter’s death and subsequent adoption of the little homeless boy, so it is fairly creative in that respect. And the fact that much of the movie was shot in medium to close-up shots, you were able to feel the actors’ emotions better than you would have through primarily long shots. I personally found these, as well as a couple of other uncommon facets such as the comedic bits inserted here and there to be the film’s only redeeming characteristics.
Political circumstance, distortion of mass media and ruthless society. These are main factors that the director want to criticize through this movie, 'The Host". At the beginning of the movie, American scientist told Korean scientist to trash all chemical toxics that might make huge environmental pollution. Korean Scientist refused at first, but did not strongly oppose commision and followed what he said. There are two issues we need to mention in this point. If the country they threw away those toxical liquids was America not Korea, is the American scientist will dare to tell Korean scientist to trash it? And Korean scientist does not agree with the American scientist's decision, but he still followed it without argument. This situation is pointing out our real modern political circumstance between Korea and America. United States's unfair treat which caused great damage to many of poor Korean people's means of living. And Korea government was not making any solution for them and ignore what they need and want. I was also able to find strong family bond that all family members who were not concerning each other gather up together to revenge for their family member's death. It was very touching.
The monster movie “The Host” directed by Joonho Bong was successful in both commercial and critically. For me, this movie clearly shows anti-American sentiment. The hazardous chemical waste which was dumped by scientists from US ARMY facility was the reason for creation of the host. Also the scene that the American doctor says there is no virus even though the virus is the reason of why they are in Korea. However, the director shows not only anti-American sentiment but also humanity. All the family member of Gang-du fights against the host although the society was chasing after them. Hyunseo tried to protect a kid even risking herself. I think traditionally in American film, the monster is imaginary creature such as dragon and unicorn. In this movie, the host is imaginable creature from mutation of the fish. In fact, there was big issue about Han-river’s mutant fish that its back was crooked several years ago. I believe that the issue was before the movie made and the director illustrates this abnormality fish to create the host. Also traditional Asian film can be compared with the host. The monster or creature like ghost in traditional Asian movies usually have story but the host only have reasons of its existence.
In the movie The Host, directed by Bong Joon-ho, the depiction of the role of the United States is more negative than positive based on the social aspect. It could be said that the United States was the one that created the monster in the Han River because of the order to pour dirty formaldehyde in the sink, which goes into the river. Although the United States have intervened and tried to help, the situation seems to get worse with misinformation and deaths of civilians from Agent Yellow.
I learned from another class that this movie could be seen as an allegory of Korean history and it also show the bad relationship between the U.S. and South Korea during the early 2000s. The opening scene is actually based on a true story about the McFarland Incident, but the movie had toned down the language of the American’s order. Also, the death of Hyun-seo can be a reference to the death of the two school girls, Mi-seon and Hyo-seon, in 2002, where an American tank had ran over the two girls. These two incidents have deeply affected the Koreans and caused them to protest the presence of U.S. military in Korea. This movie can see as a product of the bitterness that the Koreans felt during that time frame.
Furthermore, there was one scene that still confused me. This doesn’t relate to the previous paragraphs, but I wanted to add this because I can’t understand the message from this scene. When the Park family was sitting down to eat noodles, Hyun-seo suddenly appeared and started eating. Each family member started to feed her some food. None of them seem to react to her sudden appearance, nor do we get an explanation to why she was there. What is the significance does this scene to the movie?
The movie The Host, talks about a monster, which lives in Han River, has taken a girl into a sewer. When the family of the girl thinks that she has been dead, her father receive a phone call from her knowing that she is still alive, and the family decide to go fight with the monster and save the girl’s life. Monster in this movie is not a main character; instead, the movie is focus more on the family. The family represents love; father’s love, family’s love, and love of caring. Father’s love comes from the grandfather and the father. The Hyun-Seo is the girl who gets taken by the monster. Her father, Gang-Du, loves her so much; to him, his daughter is everything in his life. In the scene where Gang-Du is sleeping in the store, he only raises his head up when he thinks his daughter is calling him (however, that girl is not his daughter). Also, when the monster is chasing the people down, the first thing Gang-Du does is to grab his daughter’s hand and run, leaving his father in the store by himself. Another way to show Gang-Du love his daughter is that he always try his best to escape from the hospital and go save his daughter in the sewer. Also, Gang-Du’s father, Hee-Bong, is the one who show father’s love in this movie. There is a scene where the whole family (except the girl) stays in the store and eats ramen; Hee-Bong is putting hot water into the ramen cup for his children. In Korean culture, serving the elder first is young adults’ job. But in this scene, Hee-Bong is actually filling up the hot water for his children, and when the hot water gets to him, the hot water is went out. As Asian, we all know that ramen does not taste good if water is not enough; however, Hee-Bong does not care. Another scene where Hee-Bong tries to kill the monster himself, Hee-Bong is telling his children to leave, and he is going to “take care” of the monster. When Hee-Bong has found out that the gun is out of bullet, he turns back and wave at his son. To me, the wave means that “I am not able to kill him, hurry up and leave, do not stay here.” Once again, Hee-Bong is doing something that the young adult should do, to protect the elders; however, Hee-Bong rather chooses to face the monster by himself than let his children to face the danger. Family’s love show where the family get unity together and fight with the monster in order to get Hyun-Seo out of the sewer. Finally, Hyun-Seo is the one who shows the love of caring. In the movie, Hyun-Seo is protecting the little boy all the time. She always hugs the little boy into her body, which is a way of showing protection of the boy, and she choose to take a risk on her own (run onto the monster’s body and grab the clothes chain) rather putting the little in a risk. Also, The Host has a sense of criticizing the government, telling the audiences that the government is useless. When the guy, (officer??) who wear the yellow protection clothes, walk into the gym, he falls on the ground, he cannot answer people’s questioning about what is going on in Han River, and he does not know how to operate the TV, shows that these people who work for the government are useless, which reflects that the government is useless too. Another scene to show the useless of the government is that no one actually tracks down the phone call for Gang-Du. It is easy to track down a phone call, but no one is helping Gang-Du to do so. Also, when Gang-Du hostages a doctor and walk out from the lab, the military people are doing BBQ. The Military at that time should searching for the monster, but not doing BBQ next to Han River and enjoying their lives.
In this monster movie, the camera movement supported the creation and movement of the monster. The scene that was shown in the beginning of the film where a scientist was dumping all of the toxic chemicals down the drain showed the creation of the monster by the panning of the camera. The camera moved to show all of the bottles that have been drained and the scene then smoothly transitioned into the Hans River. This revealed that the chemicals have polluted the water in a great amount and thus created a monster. There were several scenes where the monster was moving around in the water. How the camera moved around and captured the water’s surface showed the monster’s movements and at the same time, created some tension since we could not see the monster.
The camera also takes several close-ups of the characters throughout the film. This helps display fear of the characters. The scene where the protagonist daughter was about to attempt to get help by climbing out of the sewers was taken as a close-up by the camera. This reveals her fear and determination to the audience and the homeless boy. Close up shots of the monster was also taken which was meant to show its gruesome characteristics to the characters and audience. This supported the character’s fear. Another close-up of the rope that was to help the daughter escape gave it significance to the character.
Social irregularities in “The Host” The monster was in the movie to catch interest from people but the main point in this movie was to make a bitter satire on Korean society. The monster symbolizes irrationality of society that a family composed of what society considers as failures faces. In the movie, people in the position of suppose to protect the family (such as a doctor, police man, government, friend, and etc.) actually drives them to the edge of the cliff, in the end the family had to solve the problem by themselves. The family had to sacrifice many to put end of the problem, and live in fear that the monster might come out again even after its death. The movie is telling us by the decisions people from high degree makes underdog of the society suffers; the underdogs have to stand up and fight against such irrationalities to solve the problem.
What bothered me the most about “The Host” was the amount I laughed and the guilt I felt afterwards. Not only is this film a paradoxical genre combination of tragedy and comedy, it is also science fiction and family drama. However, its trait as a comic tragedy stood out the most. Right before the impending disaster, amused passer-bys who caught sight of the monster were throwing food into the Han River as if they were at the zoo hoping to get some entertainment from this “Amazon river dolphin”. In the funeral hall scene, Hyun-seo’s family members ended up in catfights and rolled around on the floor, not to add the announcement to move a parked car in the background and the man in yellow disinfectant coat who fell and hurriedly stood up pretending nothing happened. And of course, nobody will forget the moment when Gang-du miscounted the number of bullets that led to the death of his father and the way he alternated between begging and swearing in the operation room. The urge to laugh in a supposedly tragic scene gives one a sense of absurdity, and this seems to hint that there is something very wrong with society in the context of the film. This is further amplified by the chaos caused by the monster, which is in itself a form of distortion, and the dysfunctional protagonist family.
In addition, this is one of the films that impressed me the most with its cinematography. The political satire at America’s influence in South Korea was obvious throughout with the contrast of how Gang-du and Donald White were treated, but I felt that the starting scene was most successful. It was a symmetrical shot of a room, with an American military pathologist on one side and a Korean pathologist on the other. The neat symmetry seemed to hint that these two men were of equivalent rank, but this was later overturned when the American took off his cap and said, “that’s an order”, and commanded Mr. Kim to pour the formaldehyde into the sink. Later on, the dissolve technique was used to create a superimposition of the bottles of formaldehyde that were fading out and the Han River that was fading in. The use of computer-generated imagery for the monster with the backdrop of Han River successfully blends the surreal and real together. The relationship between the surreal and real was further explored by crosscutting between the archery contest on television and the disaster that was happening outside the house, the capture of the girl who was listening to music and was hence in her own surreal world, the use of overcrank to create a slow-motion effect and the sound block-out (I couldn’t find the cinematography term for this, it was like there was a filter between the sounds and our ears) when Hyun-seo was captured by the monster, the fantasy scene whereby Hyun-seo appeared and ate together with the family etc.
Even with the usual aim at summer, this movie talks about ideas that reflects typical fable a variety of Korean society upside down once. Eventhough some might critique about movie's tempo and CG the director 'Bong' pointed about what he wanted to talk about in the movie
'Bong' wanted to point out typical Kroean society problem movie 'The Host'. For example, Korean society is dependent upon strong and weak. In this movie, KangDo's family symbolizes the weak in society, when he confronted that the monster's blood was splashed on his face the government people took him away like he did something wrong. Not only that, but also when KangDo got the call from his daughter, nobody believed him and just concluded that he was crazy. Even though KangDo is brave enough to stand up and fight for his daughter, because he was not powerful, no one listened to him.
In addition, the host in the movie swallowed people and suck out everything and spit out bones, I think this symbolizes the power upon the weak. I do not think that this actually is anit-american movie, in my opinion the formaldehyde that americans dumped symbloizes Social, cultural, political product of some from America. I think that 'Bong' wanted to address the host as some powerful people who does not authoritly use their power over people.
'The host' is the korean movie that the most people watched in a theatre. A mutant fish in the Han river and the touching scenes by a family to save their daughter from the host is evaluated as a fresh material and this new topic attracted many people into the screen.
In my opinion, the director of the host not only tried to criticize the irresponsible and immoral act committed by U.S army but also blame the Korean goverment's fault. In 2002, two femal middle school students were squeezed to death by the U.S military's armored car. Those two U.S soldiers, who killed the girls, were found not guilty and left for home without any apogize or compensation. We can see the U.S forces' ridiculous deed through the movie. At the beginning of the movie, the 8th army of the U.S force secretly ejected toxic substance into the Han river, which was actually happened in real. As the result, the host was created and it led to a serious siuation. Also, they fettered Gangdu and forcily investigaed his condition. Moreover, they hided the cause of death of the U.S sergeant died of shock during the operation. Thus, the host represents the U.S force's viciousness and their irresposibility. Another thing that does not make any sense is that the korean government did not show any effort to eliminate the host but just focused on catching the family and securing the virus. Since the past accident, the korean government has shown disappointing action of it and gotten condemned from the nation. Overally, this movie externally showed many action scenes and touching moments and internally denouneced the U.S force's inhuman act as well as the korean government's fault.
The Host is a 2006 monster film directed by Joon-Ho Bong. The film does a good job at achieving comedic drama. The main character, Gang-du Park, is already seen as a goof-ball when he is first introduced, but when the monster first attacks, the film takes on a serious tone like any other disaster or monster movie. The chaos goes into a slow-motion sequence where Gang-du is running away from the monster with his daughter. The two fall down and frames change while Gang-du pulls his daughter back up by what appears to be her hand due to the rest of her image being in the offscreen direction. Gradually, it is revealed that Gang-du got hold of someone else’s daughter as a new face of a confused girl is carried away by a concerned father. The whole sequence takes advantage of the slow motion showing expressive faces and creates an unexpected twist on a traditional trope that ends up being pretty funny.
Another sequence like this happens also in slow motion when Nam-il is tossing Molotov cocktails at the monster and he drops the last one that will burn the monster. This scene grants a laugh as well, but returns to the seriousness of the situation with Nam-joo taking up the burning cloth with her arrow and finishing the job. Overall, Bong executes well on the scenes, but it is a bit difficult to tell whether he is making fun of such films that use sequences like these or just putting his take on it.
The composition of scenes in the film helped to convey a message of the characters’ state of mind. It is interesting to note that chaos of the environment and how each character survives in it. The composition flows throughout the film and there is almost always no middle ground. The first scene is grey with equipment in complete disarray. In fact, the American scientist describes it as being completely coated in dust. He then tells his, what we assume to be his assistant, to dump the contents of the bottles, down the drain. The empty bottles are then very neatly placed on the tables. Why is it that there is an extreme contrast of safety (the toxic contents are in the bottles, though they may be dirty and haphazardly stored) to one of danger (the contents have now been dumped). Though simple, the scene seems to echo that ignorance is not bliss and the unknown can indeed cause harm. The use of composition to highlight chaos is not a unique task. What is unique, however, is the bubble of safety that is created by certain characters as chaos in the environment ensues. One of the most obvious bubbles that is seen is that of the woman listening to music whilst all around her people are running and screaming. She is seen surrounded by her belongings neatly arranged. Her bubble is both physical and mental. When she realizes that something is wrong, the bubble bursts and she is caught up in the surrounding chaos. Another truly physical bubble is that of Hyeon-Su. She is trapped in the sewer but unbeknownst to her, is that she is that she is safe from the chaos of the outside world. The message again echoes that the unknown can be harmful. The sewer is a drab grey just as the lab in the first scene was. To her, it is suffocating and represents imminent death. The idea behind the film’s scene composition may not original in that the scenes are reflective of the characters but the extremes that it takes by not showing transitional stages such as, Gang-du being messy and unreliable in the first portion and after Hyeon-Su’s death, becoming neat and responsible, does cause the viewer to really ponder the significance of composition.
"The Host" movie directed by Joonho Bong. It started by showing a scene of two scientists are arguing about toxic chemicals whether to pour or not. American scientist forced to dump the chemicals to sink and result in creation of the host in Hans River. This scene criticized the government and the relationship with American. It showed the government is nothing but useless that only expect the American to solve the problem. Also when American scientist said there is no virus even they came for treatment and plan, their only "way" was releasing "Yellow Agent" which only deteriorates the host but harms people's health and environment. However, Korean government has responsibility of the host too. The government ordered to imprison all the citizen and threw people into chaos by using media. Again, Korean scientist has responsibility too in first scene. He knew it would be a huge problem to Hans River and pepople's lives. Joonhoo Bong Director took close up shot through the film. It made the more emotional weight of people. When people were scared of the host and death, the camera brought people face closer to show the tension and fear. He also took the close up shot of the host how this monster is enormous and hideous monster to us.
The Host was a movie that brought a very hot issue, during the meantime movie was out. It was evaluated variously as an social criticism movie, an humanity report of ideology, and a philosophical and theological meaning by the movie fans, but I estimate the movie as an typical commercial movie with high tech graphics and visuals. Although the movie was full of quality detail installations based on Director Bong's auteurisme, it was dredged by the hollywood style typical story plot that made the details worth just as parts to laugh on.
As a Korean and Korea citizen, I do like the details that Director Bong used such as reminding the true event of Hyosun and Misoon, who are driven to death by US Army, and taking the images from the student demonstration(Cocktail bomb), focusing on the petit-bourgeois life, I still am bit dissapointed about the simple and typical hollywood monster movie story plot and how the Monster was so weak and has lack of existence. If there were more specialty in the story just as the details Director Bong concerned, it might have been a greater movie.
Bong Jun-ho usually satires society in his films has done a great job in 괴물, ‘The Host’. In ‘The Host’, which was made in the very sensitive period of U.S-Korea relationship, mainly portrays the ‘negative’ political role of the United States in Korea. Bong Jun-ho captures actual historical events that had happened in Korea due to U.S. army and remakes them into fictional, yet realistic scenes in this movie. From the very opening scene, the movie depicts U.S. as a culprit and a bystander. This incident is based on a true story where McFarland, a mortician working for U.S. Forces in Korea, ordered his Korean employee to dispose toxic embalming fluid to Han River in July 2000. Also, the death of a school girl and her portrait picture resemble the death of Mi-Seon and Hyo-Soon in 2002; these two high school students were run over by a U.S. military tank, and many South Koreans were outraged at the non-guilty verdict over tank drivers, which ignited mass protests. As far as I know, there still are number of people who do not want the existence of U.S. army bases especially in Seoul. However, Donald White, a U.S. soldier who has a Korean girlfriend (or wife) seems to be the only remaining hope of America and Korea relationship. He is portrayed like a super hero figure who is courageous enough to sacrifice himself to protect the innocent Korean citizens. These small details that Bong Jun-ho put in this movie might mean that U.S. has done wrong to Koreans, but the U.S. also cannot be viewed 100% evil to Koreans.
Another interesting character in the Host is Nam-il. When Nam-il first appears in the movie, there is a close-up shot of soju bottle instead of his face. He seems to be an iconic figure of student protest, representing student democracy movement in 1980s. He is a college graduate who does not have any job and says “he sacrificed himself for the democracy party, and this is the result.” Also, he seems to know how to make the soju bottle bombs while he was moving to Won-hyo Bridge. These evidences tell the audience that he might have participated in some type of movements or riots while he was in college, and it might have been the reason why he could not get a job. We can also see the usage of “agent yellow” being similar to tear gas that was commonly used in order to stop riots and political movements majorly created by students and civilians back in 1980s.
The director Bong Jun-ho has talent in turning tragedy to comedy, which can be seen in many scenes in The Host. (dad grabbing a random girl’s hand when they were trying to escape, family fighting in the public funeral, no bullet left for the grandfather when fighting the Host, and so on). The movie also uses smart transition from scene to scene For instance, the smoke from air-purifier transits to smoke from a truck. Another example is shown when the two homeless boys trying to escape from the Host to the food stand. When the older brother grabs the door knob to open the door, the scene changes to the grandfather opening the door to the food stand.
After watching "The Host", the first comment came to my mind was that this film could be barely classified into any single category of cinema. In the respect of plot, in "The Host" we can see that so many elements were mixed together, such as how the family united together after Hyun-Seo was captured, how this normal family fought against the monster, the political issues involved between Korea and United States, and the reactions of human beings facing sudden disaster, etc. In the respect of cinema technique, we can easily recognize the tremendous use of CG effects in order to depict the monster and the disaster, as well as the normal cinematography like close-up to depict trivial change of emotions. The mood of the film was frequently switched among frightening horror, humor, sentiment, and tension. The mixture of all these elements provided us a highly entertaining film, also left me too much comments to write here. To be more concise, I would write about one scene to which I was most impressed with. When the family came to the Han River area to rescue Hyun-seo, they went to one abandoned store for food. At first, they were very depressed and obviously lacked the interest in eating. However, when the three siblings and the father got together and ate, they naturally created a strong atmosphere of home, even under this dangerous and depressing situation. Moreover, the family felt that Hyun-seo was eating together with them, which can be interpreted as that the atmosphere of eating together reminded the whole family that Hyun-seo needs food as well. They realized that they had to pull themselves out of depression and save Hyun-seo. It seems that by the end of the dinner, all the family members somewhat regained the courage and confidence. Throughout the dinner, nobody spoke a single word at all. However, this scene not only depicted a strong feel of family connections but also reflected how strong the strength generated within a family could be. Interestingly, after the dinner scene, the worry of the family was confirmed by cutting to the scene in which Hyun-seo was drinking water drained down into the sewer. Another issue I want to bring up is the political metaphor in this film. I believe that almost every person who watched this film would notice the political implications reflected through this story. However, the part that I feel most interesting is the disinterest of Park family in all these political issues involved. In fact, all the Park family's attempts to get help from the public and the government were rejected. This led to their detachment on the outside politics. I feel that this part of the film is trying to let us know that the gap between politics and normal people's everyday life would lead to the loss of trust between the government and citizens.
The movie host is one of the most popular Korean movies by the most popular director, Joon-Ho Bong. This movie begins with the brief summary scenes in which the audience could get to know about the behind story for the cause of the host. Beside the action scenes with the monster, funny scenes over the story all of sudden appear in order to people relax of laughing, but to give tension to the audiences on horror or actions scenes more effectively. For example, Gangdu's silly actions including the scenes of barely speaking 'no...virus?' at the hospital or his yonger brother, Nam-Il's way of speaking swear words grant a laugh to the audiences. Also the way of describing American scientists as greedy who are the cause of the host in overall involves the Director's idea of criticism on American including the scenes of how Gangdu was tested for his brain by force at the hospital. Moreover, as the daughter who was captured and escaped at the end plays a significant role in the movie, the actions and efforts of the family to save Hyun-seo describe sympathetic family affection to the audiences. Lastly, as the movie is basically horrific monster movie, the last scene of how the monster gets burned by Nam-joo's arrow decorates the end of horrofic action movie after the failure of Nam-Il's throwing to the monster which grants a laugh to the audiences as well.
I found The Host to be full of contradictions in plot, themes, and executive film style decisions. As mentioned by several other students, the theme of US-Korea relations is very prominent in this film, with most students suggesting that it portrays the US in a negative light. I actually thought that the film made fun of the inadequacies of Koreans and Americans, rather than focus exclusively on the Americans. The film alluded to several historical interactions between the two countries, but frankly the failures of both countries were continuously pointed out, and I don’t think that either country was necessarily praised more than the other. The film was not quite what I anticipated in regards to the stereotypical “monster genre film” as I found myself laughing at seemingly serious scenes. I found this comedic relief to be both distracting and entertaining, because it didn’t always seem to take place at the most appropriate times. The director frequently utilized “slow motion” to emphasize and dramatize the chaotic nature of certain scenes, such as when the monster initially attacks people at the park and Gang-du grabs a different girl’s hand instead of his daughter’s. However, he also applied this technique in scenes that start off as serious, but then he incorporates a comedic instant, such as when Nam-il drops the final Molotov cocktail when he’s attempting to fight the monster and in the aforementioned scene, when the viewer realizes that it’s a different girl, that too is entertaining. I found the director’s choices of comedic moments to be questionable, because I felt that they detracted from the genre’s typical objectives of instilling fear and being supernatural. Perhaps the director was trying to create a comedy-monster film, in which case he succeeded, but I found much of the film to be overwhelming, as it tried to do too much.
The movie appears to mock the Korean government and Koreans. Rather than hosts of true viruses, it appears to taunt mankind that they are actually hosts to stupidity and blind follow-ship. It begins when the Korean scientist follows the American’s orders to pour formaldehyde into Han River despite his own misgivings. It sets the scene for the rest of the film – Americans are to be revered, while Koreans are to follow; superiority is to be revered, while the rest should just follow. When the American doctor appeared to comfort Gang-du but later pointed that the problem is instead in his head, it feels like a huge betrayal. It is as if Americans, who are supposed to solve problems, are actually just as clueless as Koreans, thus appearing to mock the American government as well. By pointing out that the problem is in Gang-du’s head, the film also conveys that the real problems lie in people’s thinking, it is mankind’s stupidity that creates problems. In the last scene where Gang-du and the boy were having dinner, the boy says that nothing is interesting on the TV, and Gang-du uses his foot to switch off the TV. This again, represents a sign of disrespect and perhaps a tint of contempt for the American government.
The film also pokes fun at the vocational and academic hierarchy of Korean society. A bronze medallist (Nam-joo), an unemployed university graduate (Nam-il), and a slow-witted man (Gang-du), all possess different statuses and respect in the Korean society, but in the end, all of them strive for a common goal, and lead common lives. At the end of the day, it is also the underdogs of society (the ‘infected’ family and a homeless guy) who defeat the monster and save the rest of mankind, instead of people who hold ‘superior’ positions.
In this movie, I like the idea of ‘Seo-ri – a right of the hungry’. It seems to point that the monster is right in eating people, as it is simply hungry. At the same time, it also points out that principles in this world can be very simple – what one does not have, one borrows; there is no right or wrong, only a necessity. It is something that is so simple to understand, yet is often regarded as theft or as something negative by mankind. In a way, this appears to mock the selfishness and unnecessary complexity of mankind as well. I also like the idea of using a monster film as a parody to showcase mankind’s misgivings, instead of directly pointing out man’s sins. However, perhaps Bong Joon-ho was a tad too ambitious in trying to stitch together a tight plot, computer graphics, and in incorporating morals. It appears as if he has touched all these points, but has not developed each point to their finest. Thus, the end-results are acceptable, but not great.
Christina Ho When I tried to describe "The Host" right after I watched it, I was unsure of what genre to classify it under. It was a monster movie, and it was somewhat of a tragedy because the main child and main grandpa figures die. Yet it was very funny, and even the most serious scenes of the movie had humor behind it. How quickly the movie managed to create comedy out of very tragic or serious scenes was disturbing to me at times. The first example of this is shown when the monster first surfaces and starts its rampage. The camera shifts to a close-up of someone cleaning her dirty fingernails with a bobby pin. Soothing classical music plays, and the camera shifts and you see a clear side picture of a woman sitting on the grass, her headphones on listening to the music. As she idly cleaning her fingernails, she's completely oblivious to the people (and animals) running in panic in the blurry background. The audience knows whats going to happen, and we think to ourselves that she probably deserves it. And sure enough, when she finally does look up, it is to see the monster grabbing her face violently, and she most likely dies from this attack. It's uncomfortably funny how she died because she was so absorbed with her mundane (and slightly disgusting) task that she was unaware of the huge monstrosity that was right behind her. A second example of this humor-horror pairing is seen the way Hongseo gets captured by the monster. We see her dad, Park Gang-du, grab her hand, and then the camera shows mostly only slow-motion close-ups of his face as he runs, falls, grabs someone's hand, and runs again. By the way the camera doesn't show whose hand he grabs, the audience already has a feeling that this loser of a father has probably made a mistake. And yes, we find that he has grabbed the hand of another man's daughter, who gives him a dirty look as he grabs his daughter back. The scene is hilarious, but then the camera faces Hongseo as she slowly gets up from the ground, and the monster is charging right behind her, and we are horrified when we see that she has no escape. Again, the camera shifts to the side and stays mostly still as the monster's tail wraps around Hongseo, violently snatching her away from the scene, and we are left with an empty gray picture, and a small bird flying away in fright. The movie plays with emotions quickly, from humor to horror. Some shorter examples. From sorrow to laughter: When the family gathers for the mass funeral and mourns for Hongseo. At first this scene actually made me tear up from sorrow, but soon I was laughing as the family made a pantomime of their mourning, and from a somewhat bird's eye view, we see them scrambling about and crying wildly, and it's pathetic to the point of comedy. From laughter to sorrow: Gang-du inadvertently lets his father die pitifully because he accidentally miscounts the number of bullets he had left in his gun. This scene is funny for a split second, but then the monster grabs his father and smashes him into the concrete. His father is a dead, bloody mess on the ground. These kind of scenes happen again and again. Though I'm sure it was purposeful, I'm still not sure why the movie chose to repeatedly pair these types of emotions besides for entertainment purposes. As a message, the movie seemed to loosely be a commentary about the unity Korean families and the involvement of the American military in the Korean government. The girl was so close to living, but she did not survive. Gang-du's father did not have to die. Gang-du himself was so pitiful, that it seemed like a sin that he was allowed to live while his daughter, "an accident" was allowed to die. At the end of it all, I felt pretty hollow.
Christina Ho As for the title of the movie, since it was revealed that the virus did not exist, it seems that "The Host", or mankind itself, is the virus. Because the American scientist does not listen to his Korean inferior's protests, and because the Korean scientist eventually follows his orders despite knowing that his actions were wrong, the monster is created. Because Gang-du looks and acts like a loser, no one but his family will believe him when he says his daughter is alive. Nam-il asks a friend to help him find his niece, and his friend is ready to sell him out for money. The American government first falsely announces that there is a virus, and after discovering and knowing about their mistake, they continue to proceed with Agent Yellow anyway, perhaps out of pride. Ears bleed, mouths bleed, and it's like no one can hear or speak the truth.
But if pride, betrayal, and carelessness is the poison to mankind, teamwork and yes, love would be the remedy. After all, the monster dies, not from Agent Yellow and government intervention, but from the teamwork of the surviving family members. The movie does not end on a hopeless note. Hungseo's bravery and self-sacrifice results in the survival of her friend. Gang-du gets another chance at being a good father, and mankind gets another chance to redeem itself.
I really wish that I could have come into the movie not knowing as much as I know from my Korean culture class, but I will try my best to go from what I first knew about certain elements of the film and what I said in that class.
That being said there were many things that frustrated me about this movie. I knew from the start of the movie that there was a backstory that I didn’t fully understand. Being one of the older people in the class I thought of things that I had heard had happened in Korea and remembered several things, but nothing about a scientist. The part that really bothered me was after the death of the girl the funeral was turned into a comedic scene that I could not comprehend. I had a friend in the Army who told me the story of the two Korean girls being run over by American soldiers and he was very upset about it. After seeing the image of the girl in her school uniform I knew that it had to do with that. I’m actually greatful for the comedy because otherwise I would have cried. Sadly since the girl ultimately dies I know that it was saying that no matter how much the US tries to interfere it has ultimately killed S. Koreans. The facts are in that there was no virus at all and yet they still kept the main character locked up to be tested on. Yes agent yellow did help a little but it took the perserverence of Korean people to ultimately take care of the problems that faced their country. Also what was with the end and the Americans standing and watching?
I couldn't exactly figure out the purpose of this film's critical humor, but I'm not sure that really matters; it was fun to watch, and that may be purpose enough. An obvious target may be US/Korea relations, another may be the monster subgenre of horror as a whole, but what I took away was the originality inherent in constructing a monster film around parody, comedy and absurdity. Someone mentioned they didn’t feel any sympathy for the characters, but I don’t think that was an accident or mistake on the part of the filmmakers. When they family first thinks Hyun-seo is dead, for example, their exaggerated grieving and weeping felt like it was supposed to be funny. Or maybe not funny, exactly, but definitely not sad. At one point in that sequence, the camera shot the four of them from above, with the photographers hounding after them in a circle. The brother is cursing, the family is writhing all over the floor, and the whole scene feels over-the-top in its portrayal of grief. While all that absurdity did get me to laugh a few times, it never seemed focused or clever enough to make a salient criticism of any of its comedic targets. Watching the scene with the American doctor and his translator, I was thinking, “Okay, here’s the part where they make fun of the Americans again,” or, “here’s the film poking fun at the people in charge with saving everyone,” but it didn’t really strike me on a deep enough level to really resonate as successful humor or political commentary.
A favorite aspect of this film has got to be the insistent humor that occurs during the film. It is worthy of noting that the humor even strikes at odd (and even awkwardly inappropriate times, such as during a death scene). The humor is very clever and tends to pop up when humor is the furthest thing from your mind. The lightness of the beginning of the film was well-appreciated and appreciation continued throughout the film as it provided relief from some of the more serious scenes. Clearly humor is an important aspect of this film and it's obvious that removing or heavily altering the humor would greatly impact the feeling and general impression of the work.
A topic of criticism must be the technology that is implemented during the film. For a film that was released a recently as 2006, I must say that I am thoroughly disappointed in the computer simulations generated in the film. I have confidence that the level of technology at that time was at a much more advanced place than the film demonstrated. This bothered me from beginning to end. For a film that seems so highly acclaimed and successful, it surely was riddled by poor graphics rendering, design, and physics (such as the physics of the movement of the beast and how it, say, jumps into the water). This was a constant frustration for me.
Technology aside, how about symbolism? There was one particularly clever bit of symbolism that I noticed used a few times throughout the film -- the use of hanging objects. To briefly describe this, we first see the monster hanging upside down, like a bat, from the bridge over the Han River. At the very end of the film, when it comes to the destruction of the monster by use of "Agent Yellow," we see that device used for the distribution of the chemical gas is in a very similar shape to that of the beast when we see it hanging throughout the film. Lastly, just as the final "fighting" scene concludes, we see an "Agent Yellow" banner that is ripped and torn hanging upside down (much like the Agent Yellow mechanism and the monster) but set aflame, perhaps symbolizing the destruction of the burning monster.
Another part of criticism would be how terribly cheesy the roles of the main characters were and how predictable their role in the final fighting scene was. For example, Nam-joo using her bow and arrows as well as Nam-il, being an "alcoholic activist", using Soju bottles set on fire (a common demonstration technique) to conquer the beast. This cheesiness and predictability was almost too much to bear.
It's also worth noting the subtly in the music during scenes with the monster. The music in most of the film is very normal and tonal, but in each scene that the monster is present, it is not only dark and ominous, but it also serial and atonal -- even further depicting chaos and loss of control mixed with the presence of terror. This atonality, clearly different in style from the tonal music, was a clever yet subtle touch that I really appreciated. To contrast more clearly, the composer could have just written the "monster music" as just dark and aggressive, but, instead, he chose to lose almost all sense of tonality (in most instances, at least).
Lastly, I must say bravo to the ending of the film and the overall story. The entire experience was immensely touching and I enjoyed how things seemed to end somewhat "happily" (despite the fact that so many people [namely important characters] tragically died).
In the opening of this movie, an American pathologist orders a Korean assistant to pour toxic chemicals into the Han River. This scene is very important because although the Korean doctor played a small role in the movie, to me he represented a subordinate who has to take orders from someone who is far more powerful. Even though he voiced out his opinion, he was ignored. This is similar to the social commentary that the director wanted to make about a similar incident in 2000. America is a powerful country and has always been able to go into a country and intervene whether locals like it or not. When the South Korean government lets the American military intervene with the issue of killing the monster and dealing with a “virus”, Koreans who wanted to object were ignored. The Korean government is also portrayed as being unhelpful and subordinating to what the American forces preferred. Thus like the doctor, they followed orders even when the existence of the virus wasn’t confirmed. When huge groups of people were quarantined and Hyun-seo’s family was not listened to, this expressed the frustration of citizens and the inability of the government to solve the issue at hand. I found it surprising that people who killed the monster at the very end were young adults, who were commoners in society. A homeless person even took part in the process of killing the monster. These people are the ones who are constantly neglected in society, but in this movie they are portrayed as the heroes. It’s almost like the director wanted to tell people not to underestimate the power of mass crowds or the average citizen.
The dinner scene where Hyun-seo appeared really surprised me. It was a mixture of the family’s imagination emerging with reality. I almost thought she really came back. This family wanted to believe that everything was okay and they were having a family dinner where everyone was feeding Hyun-seo. At the very end of the movie, there’s also a scene where Gang-du picks up the child who he imagined as his daughter but was actually a boy who was an orphan. Even though this is a movie about a monster with some social commentaries, I think the film also does a very good job of portraying the importance of family members when the whole family goes against so many obstacles to save Hyun-seo. When the little boy replaces Hyun-seo’s spot in the family, he was able to have a family to rely on. If Gang-du had not taken him in, the little boy would have just been another orphan on the streets of South Korea. An additional homeless that people ignore, but the society as a whole should also deal with.
I think the film, The Host, expresses the resentment that some South Koreans felt about the long United States military presence in South Korea. I learned in another class that this film actually has many references to real life events that occurred such as the opening scene of an American demanding a Korean soldier to dump toxins into the Han River. Hyun-seo’s death is a reference to two girls who were killed by US tanks in 2002. Also, Agent Yellow and the protesting from citizens is in reference to the 1980s Student Democracy Movement in which students protested against military dictatorship and were tear gased by the government in an effort to break up the demonstrations. Because of these events, many Koreans formed a negative opinion of the United States. I think it’s important to know about these events before watching the film because this film plays on some of those popular Korean opinions of the United States’ government and military during that time. I think the opinion expressed in the film is very clear. Many thought the US was incompetent and evil. The United States has come to South Korea and makes demands that Koreans do not agree with, but because of the US political power, they obey the commands anyway. This in turn has created problems in Korea that cause chaos and disorder not only amongst Korean people but also with the US trying to “solve” this problem they created. It seems that with these problems, the US even has difficulty coming up with a solution and takes unnecessary precautions (out of fear) and unnecessary steps in order to find a solution. For example, the soldiers went crazy after learning that Gang-du had been in contact with the host and had him go through a series of unnecessary tests until another character admitted that there was no virus. The ending scene even plays on an idea that the US does not admit to their wrongful actions and blamed the host on misinformation.
Overall, because of the inclusion of comedy, I think this film is a satire targeting the incompetency of the United States and the reactions of South Koreans in the situation. The unity of this unique family going against the authorities and fighting to save Hyun-seo, and also the protest to free Gang-du and stop the yellow agent leads me to believe that this film also sends a message that collective efforts of people from any class or background can defeat a “monster,” or change the political system. I thought it was an interesting film.
Rather than a classical monster movie, The Host could be more interpreted as a critique of how the corrupted place we live in. The label of the title "The Host," doesn't seem to point out merely on the actual character of the story, but the actual social media. In the film, when Hyeon-seo is found undead, none of the investigators, policemen, doctors, nor the citizens tried to listen or help. For an example, when Gang-Du, Heyon-seo's father was thrown to investigate, none of the doctors have listened to Gang-Du. Nevertheless, they have simply predicted that his reactions were result of the mental shock. The behavior of the policeman walking away from Gang-Du draws a bigger theme of the story, where the society neglects to help the weak individuals. Hyeon-seo was able to be found with no other help but the sacrifices of her family members. In fact, the media had continued to fail in attempts to kill the monster. The "yellow agents" did nothing but to cause the troubles in bringing the protesters and disappointments. In the last scene where the monster is being killed, the homeless person throws out the flaming oil to the monster, highlighting the idea that the citizens can only survive through themselves.
The host featured a monster that was created by the pollution in the Han River.I remembered that the host have had a lot of success in korean movie industry in 2006. At that time,the host, which sold just over 13 milion tickets. And the host may have been helped by it's large opening weekend,but it was able to have the success it did because people enjoyed the film and told others to go see it. I am also one of the person who saw this movie by friend's recommendation. In addtion, the director, jun-ho bong became most popular movie director in Korea because of the host's success.Moreover, I heard that jun-ho bong received the award for Best Director at 2007 Oporto International Film Festival and at the 2007 Grand Bell Awards for his film 'The Host.I think that the host has two success facts . First of all, the host's director; jun-ho bong's humanity and humor in movie. From the movie,there were lots of funny things. For examples, the main characters' funny husiness and swearing gave comic elements in the movie and the main characters' action was light,but it did not seem to be cheesy, so these facats could make humor during the movie. Therefore, the host is funniest monster movie I have ever seen, so this film gave me entertainning and humorous. Furthermover, The Host made great use of its ensemble cast. I think that Each of cast has interesting character and it was able to make higher quality films. Finally, the host have had a lot of success in korean movie industry in 2006 and the director, jun-ho bong became most popular movie director in Korea because of the host's success. two success facts are the host's director; jun-ho bong's humanity and humor in movie and made great use of its ensemble cast. I was scared of that hideous monster in the movie and it has made me think about the chances of a monster living in the Han River. However, I was really enjoy during the movie and it gaves me scientific imagination while I saw the movie
The host featured a monster that was created by the pollution in the Han River.I remembered that the host have had a lot of success in korean movie industry in 2006. At that time,the host, which sold just over 13 milion tickets. And the host may have been helped by it's large opening weekend, but it was able to have the success it did because people enjoyed the film and told others to go see it. I am also one of the person who saw this movie by friend's recommendation. In addtion, the director, jun-ho bong became most popular movie director in Korea because of the host's success. Moreover, I heard that jun-ho bong received the award for Best Director at 2007 Oporto International Film Festival and at the 2007 Grand Bell Awards for his film 'The Host. I think that the host has two success facts . First of all, the host's director; jun-ho bong's humanity and humor in movie. From the movie,there were lots of funny things. For examples, the main characters' funny husiness and swearing gave comic elements in the movie and the main characters' action was light,but it did not seem to be cheesy, so these facats could make humor during the movie. Therefore, the host is funniest monster movie I have ever seen, so this film gave me entertainning and humorous. Furthermover, The Host made great use of its ensemble cast. I think that Each of cast has interesting character and it was able to make higher quality films. Finally, the host have had a lot of success in korean movie industry in 2006 and the director, jun-ho bong became most popular movie director in Korea because of the host's success. two success facts are the host's director; jun-ho bong's humanity and humor in movie and made great use of its ensemble cast. I was scared of that hideous monster in the movie and it has made me think about the chances of a monster living in the Han River. However, I was really enjoy during the movie and it gaves me scientific imagination while I saw the movie
The title,The Host and its monochromatic poster suggests a serious SF thriller while this film is full of satire and humor. In fact, some of comedic aspects are too much and crosses the line until I could feel some disturbance to follow the story. For example, it was funny and also uncomfortable to watch the scene Hyun-seo’s family, the four main characters get together and start to grieve for their loss. additionally, when Hyun-seo’s father, Kang du is investigated and examined by cops, doctors and governmental agents, those people are just divided by two side, black and white: the family members as victims are too weak to insist what they believe and the governmental authority is blinded by uncertain justification. Actually, every characters in this film seems so fool and empty even as if they competes for the dummiest character except Hyun-seo. I think this foolishness of characters successfully irritate audience; in a way of watching desperate fight of the weak. In the beginning, the scene with two scientists open up two different subject-matters: an environmental problem and a visible relation between U.S and Korea. It is unclear how that toxic chemicals happen to create a giant monster and why there is only one monster. I think the director could play with more foreshadowing of this creature before it appears in the film. As the movie goes further, it reveals the obvious relation of two countries which is unbalanced like food chain. The villain is not anymore the monster but the U.S (or WHO?) in the middle of film. In my opinion, it is very exaggerated but there are some truth behind; I just read an article about unrevealed treaty of environmental right with U.S army base in Korea. After all, the director emphasizes the typical family affection. Since there are so many things go on, I was little confused from the middle of the film (fumigator trucks? and what is that yellow machine? it was look like just another monster) whether the monster really matters to people or not. However, all of those subject-matters help to make this film light enough to enjoy.
This film has been mentioned as a classic by many people in South Korea. After watching the film, I fairly enjoyed the film even though there some aspects I disliked. One aspect that I liked about the movie is the combination of humor and horror. The protagonist, Park Gang-Doo, is a prime example of this combination. He's humorous throughout the movie but will be serious at certain points throughout the movie. For example, he is intent on saving his daughter from the monster but it suddenly turns comical once they are at the memorial service.
However, one thing that I didn't like about the movie is the continual bashing of the United States. The Host starts with an American man pressuring a Korean scientist to pour chemicals down the drain. This leaves an impression that Americans could be a bad influence on Koreans. There are many other examples throughout the movie that portrays Americans as a bad influence. For example, the scene with the American doctor interrogating Park Gang-Doo and then ultimately deciding to go with the surgery. This kind of give me the impression that Americans disregard South Korean's opinions despite the truth. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie despite the bashing of the US.
The Host Throughout the whole movie, I noticed very much of director’s detail-obsessed approach. With a belief that this movie is a blockbuster in mind, The Host has generated Korean’s unique Koreanized blockbuster. Copious amount of different scenes – from Han River, companies, hospital, used-car composite field, old store, evacuated gym, parking lot, etc – collaborate to have a big puzzle completed. Within the scenes, Director Bong has put many detailed objects, zoom-ins, and fast moving scrolls have made such a puzzling and yet fulfilling performance. As a host an engine of car, the movie contains sufficient amount of scenes that build up the flesh and bones of that car. Speaking critically, the movie itself has promoted an image of Seoul of Korea – sophisticated, reversely and complicatedly intertwined Seoul. Despite the running time of the movie, I enjoyed how this concept of monster projected the love of family and satire as well. An approach never seen before, this movie is the very first Korean “monster” movie I ever seen. At the first time, I was concentrated on the actions of the actors over to the contents and messages of it. But as few more opportunities have granted to watch it again, I came to realize that the messages are stronger than any. The wrong deed of what happened in U.S. base camp, enjoying a party right next to a temporary operating container, ignoring the lower class, and many more carried a prosecution of society of U.S.’s influence upon Korea. As well as the dramatic and tragic story of Park Family sided with the citizen’s merciful minds. The movie calls for a correct treatments between U.S. and Korea, particular attention to citizen’s voice is needed. As the number of audience indicates, many people of different perspectives and status quo enjoyed the movie which carries a lot of messages ranging from societal, family, international issues.
Elise Huerta
ReplyDeleteWell… I’m glad it was mentioned last week that we can feel free to critique the films, because this is the first one we’ve watched in class that I very firmly disliked. In all fairness, I realized about halfway through that I was lacking the appropriate political/historical background necessary to understand or enjoy the film. Retrospectively I’m starting to wonder whether I just watched the film with the completely wrong expectations, but even so there were some serious fundamental shortcomings I can’t imagine being able to overlook.
The symbolism was overkill. Did they really have to call the chemical “Agent Yellow” to get the point across? Or make the monster’s mouth look exactly like a vagina? And then, if you didn’t catch it the first time, have Hyun-Seo pulled head first out of its mouth by her father…? To me, hitting the audience over the head with these kinds of blatant references ruined the effect, turning what could have been a subtle social critique into a joke. Maybe it was supposed to be a joke… I’m not sure, but I don’t generally enjoy films that pull you by the hand and tell you what to think about politics: it feels more like propaganda than art. Moreover, characters were used as symbols and their development was heavily compromised as a result. I don’t know if it was just me, but I had almost no emotional attachment to any of the characters and didn’t even care whether or not they died (with the exception of Se-joo, and that’s only because they exploited his cuteness). Anyway, I don’t even know what to discuss in terms of some of the more obvious points of the film (bad white people tear apart traditional Korean values with their evil chemical warfare; the Korean government doesn’t care, technology is destroying the world; then in the end soju saves the day, the monster is defeated, and Gang-du gives up on his terrible blonde hairstyle, etc).
I do want to address the role of women in the films we’ve watched so far, because it seems like there is a consistent contrast between the oppressed woman seeking revenge and the neglectful/absent mother that keeps coming up. “The Host” is interesting because there’s a female monster but a man created her (more specifically, an American man. American women are mysteriously absent in the film). Therefore, I think it can be read through a similar “female revenge” lens through which we see Sadako from “Ringu” or the doctor from “Cure.” In this context, though, I’m not sure how to deal with the neglectful/absent mother (both Hyun-Seo and Gang-du from “The Host” have no mothers, while Reiko in “Ringu” is a virtually absent mother). Gang-du’s father even blames his psychological “problems” on not having a mother. I’m not sure how to reconcile these characters or what these films are trying to say about women in general. Are women vengeful monsters that are victims of Neo-Confucian oppression? Or is their own neglect/absence to blame? Do men create female monsters, or do women create male shortcomings?
lol.....
DeleteMonster movies typically have actions scenes within the movie, mainly in the form of chasing, escaping, and attacking the monster. In the movie, the audience is engaged in these types of action scenes by panning shots. In the beginning of the movie when the monster first attacks the people on the shore of the Han River and people are running away, the camera follows certain characters and moves along with the people running. It takes the audience and puts them in the middle of the action. By engaging the audience in the scene, it allows them to better understand the fear that comes with seeing the monster, similar to a 3D ride, where the audience is fully engaged. Within the panning scenes, there are also close ups of the monster, which would be similar to when someone who is running away would turn around and see how close the monster is to them. The camera movements in the “action” scenes in the movie seem to be analogous to what humans would do. It moves the same way a person would (running and looking closely at the monster). It effectively engages the audience in the movie.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that I found interesting is the use of comedy in the film. Monster films typically don’t contain any funny aspects as people are usually getting attacked but this movie purposely includes comedy. The characters themselves are over the top in certain actions and that alone serves as a base for the comedic aspect of the film. I thought it was pretty interesting how funny parts would be sandwiched between serious scenes and how certain scenes that would normally portrayed in a serious matter were done so comically (ie. escaping the hospital).
Oh, and this movie creeped me out more because that monster was DISGUSTING!
I've actually watched part of this movie in another class before, but again the anti-American sentiments just left a bad taste for me. The film made the Americans out to be unsympathetic anti-environmentalist cheats who like to experiment on human beings. While America has had a past in which lobotomy was prominent as a psychiatric treatment, the scene in which the military doctor pokes at Gang-du's head and proclaims that the virus is in there just portrays Americans in a bad light in which we are monsters. Not to mention not to be trusted because Americans lie as inferred where the military doctor mentions that there is no virus. The same goes for the scene in which "Agent Yellow" is released and the protesters holding up a picture of Gang-du succumb to the yellow fog, showing American insensitivity towards environmental damage as well as human life. These scenes together depict American oppression of the South Korean people by expressing a negative image in the way they operate.
ReplyDeleteIn translation, this movie expresses huge anti-American sentiments that probably has to do with America's military post in South Korea. I felt that this movie overall hinted that American military occupation in South Korea will lead to its devastation. While I can understand that South Korea wants to be in charge of its own government and affairs, which isn't what happened in the film because the "US and WHO found S.Korea to be inadequate in handling the creature, thus they had to send in Agent Yellow"; it doesn't seem fair to put all the blame of what happened in the movie on Americans. While the beginning sequence in which the mortician told his employee to pour the embalming fluid into the Han River is actually a true story, I felt that South Korea should take more responsibility on its behalf to exercise stricter regulations as well as investing in better waste filtration systems considering how they are environmentally friendly.
Manyi Xu
In my other class we focused a lot on the historical and societal contexts that made this film so attractive to the Korean audience, so to avoid beating a dead horse, I'm going to write about how Bong Joon-Ho showed the theme of misinformation through the scene of the monster's first attack.
ReplyDeleteMisinformation and confusion in the context of government and US intervention was a very obvious theme throughout the film. I believe the first truly clear example of this is when the man in the yellow hazard suit turns on the news to give all the "contaminated" people the information they are requesting, but nothing was on. In the monster's first attack, the chaos that ensued also included a lot of clueless people who didn't seem to register what was happening, even though it was literally right in front of them. When the monster is first running on land and Gang-Du is looking at it, there are people leisurely walking, completely unaware of the giant mutated monster only a few yards behind them. Another example is a cut from a shot of people running and screaming, to a woman sitting on the grass peacefully digging the dirt out of her nails while listening to some relaxing music. You can see blurred people running in the background and she has no idea what is going on until it is too late and the monster tramples her. This provides comic relief, but it also shows a complete lack of awareness. The last shot I want to include in this example is the view of the old woman from the train that is passing by. She is watching the monster chase dozens of people and she adjusts her glasses, but doesn't have any kind of strong reaction to what she sees.
I believe these shots of people in complete ignorance of the giant monster in front of them is correlated to the overall theme of ignorance and misinformation that is prevalent throughout the film. There are arguments that the true monsters in the film are the United States' intervention in South Korea and the inept domestic police and military. Even when the corruption is right in front of their eyes, they just sit back and accept what they're told. "The government says there's a virus, so we have to believe them. What can we do?"
“The Host” is a movie that reveals director’s point on its surface as movie began. Director Bong, Joon-ho is sending a message to audiences by showing them a scene of pouring chemical toxic substances into the sink which is directly connected to Han River. This beginning scene implies that how human beings have abused the environment and disregarded warnings from the environment. When the creature first appeared, citizens threw their food into the water without thinking about the pollution of the river which indicates their curiosity and poor environmental awareness overcame the fear of unknown subject. Director Bong points out that humans do not reflect on themselves but instead, they utilized stronger chemical substance to eliminate the creature, by showing the last scene where “Agent Yellow” appears. Agent Yellow made more progress on creature’s deformity and affected on human’s body such as bleeding noise and ears. The consequence is that humans pay what they owe to the nature and suffer to learn a lesson.
ReplyDeleteAnother trait that I recognized was movie’s slow-motion effect. Since the movie is composed of active scenes, slow-motion effect amplified the sense of urgent and fear. As well as, audiences could deeply link into actors/actresses’ emotion. When the creature was destroying Han River, both creature and people’s movements were in slow-motion. Also, camera angle was very distinctive. Director Bong tried various angles such as shooting from the top when Gang-du was running into the bridge to find his daughter. Face-close takes were used to deliver actor/actress’ emotion and anticipate the future story.
There were some elements of this movie that I did not really understand. FIrst of all, if Agent Yellow was supposed to kill all biological beings, why were none of the main characters killed when they came in contact with the chemicals? We see some people in the crowd throwing up blood and coughing, but that's about it. Another thing was when Nam-Joo was knocked into that deep trench by the monster; how was she able to just climb out of there? It seemed like just a straight, deep drop without much to aid her escape. Also when the kids, Hyun-Seo and Se-Joo, are hiding in the little tunnel of the sewer, how is it that they are screaming in fear in one scene while trying to fend off the monster, and in the next scene they are sleeping? Did they just fall asleep because they were tired from fighting off a vicious monster? These things may be very trivial and not worth pointing out, but they made the movie feel very cheap to me. (I would also like to point out when the TV just happened to be in the middle of the grieving room after the attacks for the people to watch the news, which in a way goes back to the concept of the the answer to the solutions just magically appearing).
ReplyDeleteDespite these trivial complaints, I thought the movie was somewhat entertaining. This movie was an unconventional horror movie, in the sense that a lot of humor was involved. I found myself thinking whether this movie was intended to be a thriller or a comedy. Maybe the contrast of seriousness was intended to make the action/horror scenes more intense and scary. Another thing I noticed in this movie that is different from a lot of others is in the scene with Nam-il and his "friend" when they are in the elevator going up to the office. There was a dialogue between the two, and as the speaker changed, the camera just swiftly went across to the next person, as opposed to quick cuts. I just thought it was interesting, and that it made less room for error in the takes because it was like a longer cut (sort of like the long cuts in "The Cure"). I know that my response is all over the place, but these are the elements of the movie that really stood out to me.
-Andrew Park
Jin Ah Kim
ReplyDeleteThe Host by Bong Joon-ho has a lot of elements and factors that are debatable such as the acts of Americans in the film, the government’s role, society, etc. However one thing that I found extremely interesting in this film was the way how family relationships were portrayed. This film begins with a man pouring chemicals down the sink. Then the scene changes to show a family owning a small store in front of the Han River. This family is (in a way) an unordinary family; the head of the family Hee-bong, oldest son Gang-du, younger son Nam-il, daughter Nam-joo and granddaughter Hyun-seo. In this family, neither a typical mother figure nor a fathers’ power/authority is present. One thing that is in fact present is the fathers’ instinctive love towards their children. It is important to point out the ‘space’ that this family shares. They often stay in their small store which is very confined with only liminal space is allowed for each person. During the film, the family having supper in that space gets shown. The fact that they’re eating fast food with the imagination of Hyun-seo being there with the rest of the family members symbolizes the fantasy and their social class. The sharing of space bold out the family relationships and also the forming of new relationships. For example, after the Monster takes Hyun-seo away, she protects herself by hiding in the round space in the sewer. When the little boy arrives, Hyun-seo shares this space and protects him. Like Hee-bong dies while protecting his children, Gang-du (also Nam-il and Nam-joo) do not stop themselves from risking their life to find Hyun-seo. Hyun-seo herself also passes on this ‘love’ in a family relationship before she dies by protecting the little boy who in the end meets Gang-du forming a new relationship. This family in The Host cannot be seen as a typical family however it seems as if the family members themselves do not see the absence of mother figures as unnatural. In fact, each and every family member is even more valuable to each other.
Amanda Kim
ReplyDeleteAfter three viewings of The Host, it still has not gotten any better to watch. The first time I watched this film without any back knowledge I found it a bit stupid. After acquiring some understanding about the historical significance behind the happenings on screen, it makes a bit more sense, but that does not change the fact that I just do not like this movie as a whole, mostly on account of nuances with the characters and script.
The Host broadly covers issues with Korea-US relations, domestic affairs, and the power (or oppression) of the ordinary citizen, all with a nationalistic undercurrent. However clear these motifs are, without proper knowledge of historical events, these themes are as broad and as thinly spread as the mortician in the opening scene’s reason for dumping formaldehyde into the sink.
It is understandable that sentiments towards US foreign policy is questionable, with the US playing the world’s police and taking little to no responsibility for its mistakes. However Director Bong Joon Ho overplays the “bad cop” US and gives its American characters power but no purpose other than to instigate trouble by giving orders that make no sense. Meaningless antagonists with no function other than existing just for problem’s sake is dull, and one of the many reasons I do not enjoy this movie.
Hand-in-hand with the anti-US sentiment goes the “westernization” of the country. The younger brother of the dim-witted protagonist, characterized as the alcoholic college graduate says “I gave my youth to the democratization of our country, and those f***ers won’t even give me a job.” This goes to speak about the Korea that is changing and becoming more democratic, more “American,” and how that system is failing its citizens.
Falling in line with other typical movies, The Host shows the ordinary citizen/family’s rise as they overcome obstacles which are bigger than themselves, in this case the monster and the government.
The film ends unconventionally with the captured daughter’s death and subsequent adoption of the little homeless boy, so it is fairly creative in that respect. And the fact that much of the movie was shot in medium to close-up shots, you were able to feel the actors’ emotions better than you would have through primarily long shots. I personally found these, as well as a couple of other uncommon facets such as the comedic bits inserted here and there to be the film’s only redeeming characteristics.
Political circumstance, distortion of mass media and ruthless society. These are main factors that the director want to criticize through this movie, 'The Host". At the beginning of the movie, American scientist told Korean scientist to trash all chemical toxics that might make huge environmental pollution. Korean Scientist refused at first, but did not strongly oppose commision and followed what he said. There are two issues we need to mention in this point. If the country they threw away those toxical liquids was America not Korea, is the American scientist will dare to tell Korean scientist to trash it? And Korean scientist does not agree with the American scientist's decision, but he still followed it without argument. This situation is pointing out our real modern political circumstance between Korea and America. United States's unfair treat which caused great damage to many of poor Korean people's means of living. And Korea government was not making any solution for them and ignore what they need and want.
ReplyDeleteI was also able to find strong family bond that all family members who were not concerning each other gather up together to revenge for their family member's death. It was very touching.
The monster movie “The Host” directed by Joonho Bong was successful in both commercial and critically. For me, this movie clearly shows anti-American sentiment. The hazardous chemical waste which was dumped by scientists from US ARMY facility was the reason for creation of the host. Also the scene that the American doctor says there is no virus even though the virus is the reason of why they are in Korea. However, the director shows not only anti-American sentiment but also humanity. All the family member of Gang-du fights against the host although the society was chasing after them. Hyunseo tried to protect a kid even risking herself.
ReplyDeleteI think traditionally in American film, the monster is imaginary creature such as dragon and unicorn. In this movie, the host is imaginable creature from mutation of the fish. In fact, there was big issue about Han-river’s mutant fish that its back was crooked several years ago. I believe that the issue was before the movie made and the director illustrates this abnormality fish to create the host. Also traditional Asian film can be compared with the host. The monster or creature like ghost in traditional Asian movies usually have story but the host only have reasons of its existence.
In the movie The Host, directed by Bong Joon-ho, the depiction of the role of the United States is more negative than positive based on the social aspect. It could be said that the United States was the one that created the monster in the Han River because of the order to pour dirty formaldehyde in the sink, which goes into the river. Although the United States have intervened and tried to help, the situation seems to get worse with misinformation and deaths of civilians from Agent Yellow.
ReplyDeleteI learned from another class that this movie could be seen as an allegory of Korean history and it also show the bad relationship between the U.S. and South Korea during the early 2000s. The opening scene is actually based on a true story about the McFarland Incident, but the movie had toned down the language of the American’s order. Also, the death of Hyun-seo can be a reference to the death of the two school girls, Mi-seon and Hyo-seon, in 2002, where an American tank had ran over the two girls. These two incidents have deeply affected the Koreans and caused them to protest the presence of U.S. military in Korea. This movie can see as a product of the bitterness that the Koreans felt during that time frame.
Furthermore, there was one scene that still confused me. This doesn’t relate to the previous paragraphs, but I wanted to add this because I can’t understand the message from this scene. When the Park family was sitting down to eat noodles, Hyun-seo suddenly appeared and started eating. Each family member started to feed her some food. None of them seem to react to her sudden appearance, nor do we get an explanation to why she was there. What is the significance does this scene to the movie?
The movie The Host, talks about a monster, which lives in Han River, has taken a girl into a sewer. When the family of the girl thinks that she has been dead, her father receive a phone call from her knowing that she is still alive, and the family decide to go fight with the monster and save the girl’s life. Monster in this movie is not a main character; instead, the movie is focus more on the family. The family represents love; father’s love, family’s love, and love of caring. Father’s love comes from the grandfather and the father. The Hyun-Seo is the girl who gets taken by the monster. Her father, Gang-Du, loves her so much; to him, his daughter is everything in his life. In the scene where Gang-Du is sleeping in the store, he only raises his head up when he thinks his daughter is calling him (however, that girl is not his daughter). Also, when the monster is chasing the people down, the first thing Gang-Du does is to grab his daughter’s hand and run, leaving his father in the store by himself. Another way to show Gang-Du love his daughter is that he always try his best to escape from the hospital and go save his daughter in the sewer. Also, Gang-Du’s father, Hee-Bong, is the one who show father’s love in this movie. There is a scene where the whole family (except the girl) stays in the store and eats ramen; Hee-Bong is putting hot water into the ramen cup for his children. In Korean culture, serving the elder first is young adults’ job. But in this scene, Hee-Bong is actually filling up the hot water for his children, and when the hot water gets to him, the hot water is went out. As Asian, we all know that ramen does not taste good if water is not enough; however, Hee-Bong does not care. Another scene where Hee-Bong tries to kill the monster himself, Hee-Bong is telling his children to leave, and he is going to “take care” of the monster. When Hee-Bong has found out that the gun is out of bullet, he turns back and wave at his son. To me, the wave means that “I am not able to kill him, hurry up and leave, do not stay here.” Once again, Hee-Bong is doing something that the young adult should do, to protect the elders; however, Hee-Bong rather chooses to face the monster by himself than let his children to face the danger. Family’s love show where the family get unity together and fight with the monster in order to get Hyun-Seo out of the sewer. Finally, Hyun-Seo is the one who shows the love of caring. In the movie, Hyun-Seo is protecting the little boy all the time. She always hugs the little boy into her body, which is a way of showing protection of the boy, and she choose to take a risk on her own (run onto the monster’s body and grab the clothes chain) rather putting the little in a risk.
ReplyDeleteAlso, The Host has a sense of criticizing the government, telling the audiences that the government is useless. When the guy, (officer??) who wear the yellow protection clothes, walk into the gym, he falls on the ground, he cannot answer people’s questioning about what is going on in Han River, and he does not know how to operate the TV, shows that these people who work for the government are useless, which reflects that the government is useless too. Another scene to show the useless of the government is that no one actually tracks down the phone call for Gang-Du. It is easy to track down a phone call, but no one is helping Gang-Du to do so. Also, when Gang-Du hostages a doctor and walk out from the lab, the military people are doing BBQ. The Military at that time should searching for the monster, but not doing BBQ next to Han River and enjoying their lives.
TINA KIM
ReplyDeleteThe Host
In this monster movie, the camera movement supported the creation and movement of the monster. The scene that was shown in the beginning of the film where a scientist was dumping all of the toxic chemicals down the drain showed the creation of the monster by the panning of the camera. The camera moved to show all of the bottles that have been drained and the scene then smoothly transitioned into the Hans River. This revealed that the chemicals have polluted the water in a great amount and thus created a monster. There were several scenes where the monster was moving around in the water. How the camera moved around and captured the water’s surface showed the monster’s movements and at the same time, created some tension since we could not see the monster.
The camera also takes several close-ups of the characters throughout the film. This helps display fear of the characters. The scene where the protagonist daughter was about to attempt to get help by climbing out of the sewers was taken as a close-up by the camera. This reveals her fear and determination to the audience and the homeless boy. Close up shots of the monster was also taken which was meant to show its gruesome characteristics to the characters and audience. This supported the character’s fear. Another close-up of the rope that was to help the daughter escape gave it significance to the character.
Social irregularities in “The Host”
ReplyDeleteThe monster was in the movie to catch interest from people but the main point in this movie was to make a bitter satire on Korean society. The monster symbolizes irrationality of society that a family composed of what society considers as failures faces. In the movie, people in the position of suppose to protect the family (such as a doctor, police man, government, friend, and etc.) actually drives them to the edge of the cliff, in the end the family had to solve the problem by themselves. The family had to sacrifice many to put end of the problem, and live in fear that the monster might come out again even after its death.
The movie is telling us by the decisions people from high degree makes underdog of the society suffers; the underdogs have to stand up and fight against such irrationalities to solve the problem.
What bothered me the most about “The Host” was the amount I laughed and the guilt I felt afterwards. Not only is this film a paradoxical genre combination of tragedy and comedy, it is also science fiction and family drama. However, its trait as a comic tragedy stood out the most. Right before the impending disaster, amused passer-bys who caught sight of the monster were throwing food into the Han River as if they were at the zoo hoping to get some entertainment from this “Amazon river dolphin”. In the funeral hall scene, Hyun-seo’s family members ended up in catfights and rolled around on the floor, not to add the announcement to move a parked car in the background and the man in yellow disinfectant coat who fell and hurriedly stood up pretending nothing happened. And of course, nobody will forget the moment when Gang-du miscounted the number of bullets that led to the death of his father and the way he alternated between begging and swearing in the operation room. The urge to laugh in a supposedly tragic scene gives one a sense of absurdity, and this seems to hint that there is something very wrong with society in the context of the film. This is further amplified by the chaos caused by the monster, which is in itself a form of distortion, and the dysfunctional protagonist family.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, this is one of the films that impressed me the most with its cinematography. The political satire at America’s influence in South Korea was obvious throughout with the contrast of how Gang-du and Donald White were treated, but I felt that the starting scene was most successful. It was a symmetrical shot of a room, with an American military pathologist on one side and a Korean pathologist on the other. The neat symmetry seemed to hint that these two men were of equivalent rank, but this was later overturned when the American took off his cap and said, “that’s an order”, and commanded Mr. Kim to pour the formaldehyde into the sink. Later on, the dissolve technique was used to create a superimposition of the bottles of formaldehyde that were fading out and the Han River that was fading in. The use of computer-generated imagery for the monster with the backdrop of Han River successfully blends the surreal and real together. The relationship between the surreal and real was further explored by crosscutting between the archery contest on television and the disaster that was happening outside the house, the capture of the girl who was listening to music and was hence in her own surreal world, the use of overcrank to create a slow-motion effect and the sound block-out (I couldn’t find the cinematography term for this, it was like there was a filter between the sounds and our ears) when Hyun-seo was captured by the monster, the fantasy scene whereby Hyun-seo appeared and ate together with the family etc.
Hui Wen, Tea
'Monster' is a story that deserves to talk aside.
ReplyDeleteEven with the usual aim at summer,
this movie talks about ideas that reflects typical fable a variety of Korean society upside down once.
Eventhough some might critique about movie's tempo and CG the director 'Bong' pointed about what he wanted to talk about in the movie
'Bong' wanted to point out typical Kroean society problem movie 'The Host'. For example, Korean society is dependent upon strong and weak.
In this movie, KangDo's family symbolizes the weak in society, when he confronted that the monster's blood was splashed on his face the
government people took him away like he did something wrong. Not only that, but also when KangDo got the call from his daughter, nobody believed him and
just concluded that he was crazy. Even though KangDo is brave enough to stand up and fight for his daughter, because he was not powerful, no one listened to him.
In addition, the host in the movie swallowed people and suck out everything and spit out bones, I think this symbolizes the power upon the weak.
I do not think that this actually is anit-american movie, in my opinion the formaldehyde that americans dumped symbloizes Social, cultural, political product of some from America.
I think that 'Bong' wanted to address the host as some powerful people who does not authoritly use their power over people.
'The host' is the korean movie that the most people watched in a theatre. A mutant fish in the Han river and the touching scenes by a family to save their daughter from the host is evaluated as a fresh material and this new topic attracted many people into the screen.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the director of the host not only tried to criticize the irresponsible and immoral act committed by U.S army but also blame the Korean goverment's fault.
In 2002, two femal middle school students were squeezed to death by the U.S military's armored car. Those two U.S soldiers, who killed the girls, were found not guilty and left for home without any apogize or compensation.
We can see the U.S forces' ridiculous deed through the movie.
At the beginning of the movie, the 8th army of the U.S force secretly ejected toxic substance into the Han river, which was actually happened in real. As the result, the host was created and it led to a serious siuation. Also, they fettered Gangdu and forcily investigaed his condition. Moreover, they hided the cause of death of the U.S sergeant died of shock during the operation. Thus, the host represents the U.S force's viciousness and their irresposibility.
Another thing that does not make any sense is that the korean government did not show any effort to eliminate the host but just focused on catching the family and securing the virus. Since the past accident, the korean government has shown disappointing action of it and gotten condemned from the nation.
Overally, this movie externally showed many action scenes and touching moments and internally denouneced the U.S force's inhuman act as well as the korean government's fault.
The Host is a 2006 monster film directed by Joon-Ho Bong. The film does a good job at achieving comedic drama. The main character, Gang-du Park, is already seen as a goof-ball when he is first introduced, but when the monster first attacks, the film takes on a serious tone like any other disaster or monster movie. The chaos goes into a slow-motion sequence where Gang-du is running away from the monster with his daughter. The two fall down and frames change while Gang-du pulls his daughter back up by what appears to be her hand due to the rest of her image being in the offscreen direction. Gradually, it is revealed that Gang-du got hold of someone else’s daughter as a new face of a confused girl is carried away by a concerned father. The whole sequence takes advantage of the slow motion showing expressive faces and creates an unexpected twist on a traditional trope that ends up being pretty funny.
ReplyDeleteAnother sequence like this happens also in slow motion when Nam-il is tossing Molotov cocktails at the monster and he drops the last one that will burn the monster. This scene grants a laugh as well, but returns to the seriousness of the situation with Nam-joo taking up the burning cloth with her arrow and finishing the job. Overall, Bong executes well on the scenes, but it is a bit difficult to tell whether he is making fun of such films that use sequences like these or just putting his take on it.
Scene Composition in "The Host"
ReplyDeleteWhitney Phipps
The composition of scenes in the film helped to convey a message of the characters’ state of mind. It is interesting to note that chaos of the environment and how each character survives in it. The composition flows throughout the film and there is almost always no middle ground.
The first scene is grey with equipment in complete disarray. In fact, the American scientist describes it as being completely coated in dust. He then tells his, what we assume to be his assistant, to dump the contents of the bottles, down the drain. The empty bottles are then very neatly placed on the tables. Why is it that there is an extreme contrast of safety (the toxic contents are in the bottles, though they may be dirty and haphazardly stored) to one of danger (the contents have now been dumped). Though simple, the scene seems to echo that ignorance is not bliss and the unknown can indeed cause harm.
The use of composition to highlight chaos is not a unique task. What is unique, however, is the bubble of safety that is created by certain characters as chaos in the environment ensues. One of the most obvious bubbles that is seen is that of the woman listening to music whilst all around her people are running and screaming. She is seen surrounded by her belongings neatly arranged. Her bubble is both physical and mental. When she realizes that something is wrong, the bubble bursts and she is caught up in the surrounding chaos. Another truly physical bubble is that of Hyeon-Su. She is trapped in the sewer but unbeknownst to her, is that she is that she is safe from the chaos of the outside world. The message again echoes that the unknown can be harmful. The sewer is a drab grey just as the lab in the first scene was. To her, it is suffocating and represents imminent death.
The idea behind the film’s scene composition may not original in that the scenes are reflective of the characters but the extremes that it takes by not showing transitional stages such as, Gang-du being messy and unreliable in the first portion and after Hyeon-Su’s death, becoming neat and responsible, does cause the viewer to really ponder the significance of composition.
"The Host" movie directed by Joonho Bong. It started by showing a scene of two scientists are arguing about toxic chemicals whether to pour or not. American scientist forced to dump the chemicals to sink and result in creation of the host in Hans River. This scene criticized the government and the relationship with American. It showed the government is nothing but useless that only expect the American to solve the problem. Also when American scientist said there is no virus even they came for treatment and plan, their only "way" was releasing "Yellow Agent" which only deteriorates the host but harms people's health and environment. However, Korean government has responsibility of the host too. The government ordered to imprison all the citizen and threw people into chaos by using media. Again, Korean scientist has responsibility too in first scene. He knew it would be a huge problem to Hans River and pepople's lives.
ReplyDeleteJoonhoo Bong Director took close up shot through the film. It made the more emotional weight of people. When people were scared of the host and death, the camera brought people face closer to show the tension and fear. He also took the close up shot of the host how this monster is enormous and hideous monster to us.
Jaewon Lee
ReplyDeleteThe Host was a movie that brought a very hot issue, during the meantime movie was out. It was evaluated variously as an social criticism movie, an humanity report of ideology, and a philosophical and theological meaning by the movie fans, but I estimate the movie as an typical commercial movie with high tech graphics and visuals. Although the movie was full of quality detail installations based on Director Bong's auteurisme, it was dredged by the hollywood style typical story plot that made the details worth just as parts to laugh on.
As a Korean and Korea citizen, I do like the details that Director Bong used such as reminding the true event of Hyosun and Misoon, who are driven to death by US Army, and taking the images from the student demonstration(Cocktail bomb), focusing on the petit-bourgeois life, I still am bit dissapointed about the simple and typical hollywood monster movie story plot and how the Monster was so weak and has lack of existence. If there were more specialty in the story just as the details Director Bong concerned, it might have been a greater movie.
Grace Chang
ReplyDeleteBong Jun-ho usually satires society in his films has done a great job in 괴물, ‘The Host’. In ‘The Host’, which was made in the very sensitive period of U.S-Korea relationship, mainly portrays the ‘negative’ political role of the United States in Korea. Bong Jun-ho captures actual historical events that had happened in Korea due to U.S. army and remakes them into fictional, yet realistic scenes in this movie. From the very opening scene, the movie depicts U.S. as a culprit and a bystander. This incident is based on a true story where McFarland, a mortician working for U.S. Forces in Korea, ordered his Korean employee to dispose toxic embalming fluid to Han River in July 2000. Also, the death of a school girl and her portrait picture resemble the death of Mi-Seon and Hyo-Soon in 2002; these two high school students were run over by a U.S. military tank, and many South Koreans were outraged at the non-guilty verdict over tank drivers, which ignited mass protests. As far as I know, there still are number of people who do not want the existence of U.S. army bases especially in Seoul. However, Donald White, a U.S. soldier who has a Korean girlfriend (or wife) seems to be the only remaining hope of America and Korea relationship. He is portrayed like a super hero figure who is courageous enough to sacrifice himself to protect the innocent Korean citizens. These small details that Bong Jun-ho put in this movie might mean that U.S. has done wrong to Koreans, but the U.S. also cannot be viewed 100% evil to Koreans.
Another interesting character in the Host is Nam-il. When Nam-il first appears in the movie, there is a close-up shot of soju bottle instead of his face. He seems to be an iconic figure of student protest, representing student democracy movement in 1980s. He is a college graduate who does not have any job and says “he sacrificed himself for the democracy party, and this is the result.” Also, he seems to know how to make the soju bottle bombs while he was moving to Won-hyo Bridge. These evidences tell the audience that he might have participated in some type of movements or riots while he was in college, and it might have been the reason why he could not get a job. We can also see the usage of “agent yellow” being similar to tear gas that was commonly used in order to stop riots and political movements majorly created by students and civilians back in 1980s.
The director Bong Jun-ho has talent in turning tragedy to comedy, which can be seen in many scenes in The Host. (dad grabbing a random girl’s hand when they were trying to escape, family fighting in the public funeral, no bullet left for the grandfather when fighting the Host, and so on). The movie also uses smart transition from scene to scene For instance, the smoke from air-purifier transits to smoke from a truck. Another example is shown when the two homeless boys trying to escape from the Host to the food stand. When the older brother grabs the door knob to open the door, the scene changes to the grandfather opening the door to the food stand.
After watching "The Host", the first comment came to my mind was that this film could be barely classified into any single category of cinema. In the respect of plot, in "The Host" we can see that so many elements were mixed together, such as how the family united together after Hyun-Seo was captured, how this normal family fought against the monster, the political issues involved between Korea and United States, and the reactions of human beings facing sudden disaster, etc. In the respect of cinema technique, we can easily recognize the tremendous use of CG effects in order to depict the monster and the disaster, as well as the normal cinematography like close-up to depict trivial change of emotions. The mood of the film was frequently switched among frightening horror, humor, sentiment, and tension. The mixture of all these elements provided us a highly entertaining film, also left me too much comments to write here. To be more concise, I would write about one scene to which I was most impressed with.
ReplyDeleteWhen the family came to the Han River area to rescue Hyun-seo, they went to one abandoned store for food. At first, they were very depressed and obviously lacked the interest in eating. However, when the three siblings and the father got together and ate, they naturally created a strong atmosphere of home, even under this dangerous and depressing situation. Moreover, the family felt that Hyun-seo was eating together with them, which can be interpreted as that the atmosphere of eating together reminded the whole family that Hyun-seo needs food as well. They realized that they had to pull themselves out of depression and save Hyun-seo. It seems that by the end of the dinner, all the family members somewhat regained the courage and confidence. Throughout the dinner, nobody spoke a single word at all. However, this scene not only depicted a strong feel of family connections but also reflected how strong the strength generated within a family could be. Interestingly, after the dinner scene, the worry of the family was confirmed by cutting to the scene in which Hyun-seo was drinking water drained down into the sewer.
Another issue I want to bring up is the political metaphor in this film. I believe that almost every person who watched this film would notice the political implications reflected through this story. However, the part that I feel most interesting is the disinterest of Park family in all these political issues involved. In fact, all the Park family's attempts to get help from the public and the government were rejected. This led to their detachment on the outside politics. I feel that this part of the film is trying to let us know that the gap between politics and normal people's everyday life would lead to the loss of trust between the government and citizens.
Shangqing Li
Sunghun Jeon - the host
ReplyDeleteThe movie host is one of the most popular Korean movies by the most popular director, Joon-Ho Bong. This movie begins with the brief summary scenes in which the audience could get to know about the behind story for the cause of the host. Beside the action scenes with the monster, funny scenes over the story all of sudden appear in order to people relax of laughing, but to give tension to the audiences on horror or actions scenes more effectively. For example, Gangdu's silly actions including the scenes of barely speaking 'no...virus?' at the hospital or his yonger brother, Nam-Il's way of speaking swear words grant a laugh to the audiences.
Also the way of describing American scientists as greedy who are the cause of the host in overall involves the Director's idea of criticism on American including the scenes of how Gangdu was tested for his brain by force at the hospital. Moreover, as the daughter who was captured and escaped at the end plays a significant role in the movie, the actions and efforts of the family to save Hyun-seo describe sympathetic family affection to the audiences. Lastly, as the movie is basically horrific monster movie, the last scene of how the monster gets burned by Nam-joo's arrow decorates the end of horrofic action movie after the failure of Nam-Il's throwing to the monster which grants a laugh to the audiences as well.
Christine Kim
ReplyDeleteI found The Host to be full of contradictions in plot, themes, and executive film style decisions. As mentioned by several other students, the theme of US-Korea relations is very prominent in this film, with most students suggesting that it portrays the US in a negative light. I actually thought that the film made fun of the inadequacies of Koreans and Americans, rather than focus exclusively on the Americans. The film alluded to several historical interactions between the two countries, but frankly the failures of both countries were continuously pointed out, and I don’t think that either country was necessarily praised more than the other. The film was not quite what I anticipated in regards to the stereotypical “monster genre film” as I found myself laughing at seemingly serious scenes. I found this comedic relief to be both distracting and entertaining, because it didn’t always seem to take place at the most appropriate times. The director frequently utilized “slow motion” to emphasize and dramatize the chaotic nature of certain scenes, such as when the monster initially attacks people at the park and Gang-du grabs a different girl’s hand instead of his daughter’s. However, he also applied this technique in scenes that start off as serious, but then he incorporates a comedic instant, such as when Nam-il drops the final Molotov cocktail when he’s attempting to fight the monster and in the aforementioned scene, when the viewer realizes that it’s a different girl, that too is entertaining. I found the director’s choices of comedic moments to be questionable, because I felt that they detracted from the genre’s typical objectives of instilling fear and being supernatural. Perhaps the director was trying to create a comedy-monster film, in which case he succeeded, but I found much of the film to be overwhelming, as it tried to do too much.
Ng Hui Shin
ReplyDeleteThe movie appears to mock the Korean government and Koreans. Rather than hosts of true viruses, it appears to taunt mankind that they are actually hosts to stupidity and blind follow-ship. It begins when the Korean scientist follows the American’s orders to pour formaldehyde into Han River despite his own misgivings. It sets the scene for the rest of the film – Americans are to be revered, while Koreans are to follow; superiority is to be revered, while the rest should just follow. When the American doctor appeared to comfort Gang-du but later pointed that the problem is instead in his head, it feels like a huge betrayal. It is as if Americans, who are supposed to solve problems, are actually just as clueless as Koreans, thus appearing to mock the American government as well. By pointing out that the problem is in Gang-du’s head, the film also conveys that the real problems lie in people’s thinking, it is mankind’s stupidity that creates problems. In the last scene where Gang-du and the boy were having dinner, the boy says that nothing is interesting on the TV, and Gang-du uses his foot to switch off the TV. This again, represents a sign of disrespect and perhaps a tint of contempt for the American government.
The film also pokes fun at the vocational and academic hierarchy of Korean society. A bronze medallist (Nam-joo), an unemployed university graduate (Nam-il), and a slow-witted man (Gang-du), all possess different statuses and respect in the Korean society, but in the end, all of them strive for a common goal, and lead common lives. At the end of the day, it is also the underdogs of society (the ‘infected’ family and a homeless guy) who defeat the monster and save the rest of mankind, instead of people who hold ‘superior’ positions.
In this movie, I like the idea of ‘Seo-ri – a right of the hungry’. It seems to point that the monster is right in eating people, as it is simply hungry. At the same time, it also points out that principles in this world can be very simple – what one does not have, one borrows; there is no right or wrong, only a necessity. It is something that is so simple to understand, yet is often regarded as theft or as something negative by mankind. In a way, this appears to mock the selfishness and unnecessary complexity of mankind as well. I also like the idea of using a monster film as a parody to showcase mankind’s misgivings, instead of directly pointing out man’s sins. However, perhaps Bong Joon-ho was a tad too ambitious in trying to stitch together a tight plot, computer graphics, and in incorporating morals. It appears as if he has touched all these points, but has not developed each point to their finest. Thus, the end-results are acceptable, but not great.
Christina Ho
ReplyDeleteWhen I tried to describe "The Host" right after I watched it, I was unsure of what genre to classify it under. It was a monster movie, and it was somewhat of a tragedy because the main child and main grandpa figures die. Yet it was very funny, and even the most serious scenes of the movie had humor behind it. How quickly the movie managed to create comedy out of very tragic or serious scenes was disturbing to me at times.
The first example of this is shown when the monster first surfaces and starts its rampage. The camera shifts to a close-up of someone cleaning her dirty fingernails with a bobby pin. Soothing classical music plays, and the camera shifts and you see a clear side picture of a woman sitting on the grass, her headphones on listening to the music. As she idly cleaning her fingernails, she's completely oblivious to the people (and animals) running in panic in the blurry background. The audience knows whats going to happen, and we think to ourselves that she probably deserves it. And sure enough, when she finally does look up, it is to see the monster grabbing her face violently, and she most likely dies from this attack. It's uncomfortably funny how she died because she was so absorbed with her mundane (and slightly disgusting) task that she was unaware of the huge monstrosity that was right behind her.
A second example of this humor-horror pairing is seen the way Hongseo gets captured by the monster. We see her dad, Park Gang-du, grab her hand, and then the camera shows mostly only slow-motion close-ups of his face as he runs, falls, grabs someone's hand, and runs again. By the way the camera doesn't show whose hand he grabs, the audience already has a feeling that this loser of a father has probably made a mistake. And yes, we find that he has grabbed the hand of another man's daughter, who gives him a dirty look as he grabs his daughter back. The scene is hilarious, but then the camera faces Hongseo as she slowly gets up from the ground, and the monster is charging right behind her, and we are horrified when we see that she has no escape. Again, the camera shifts to the side and stays mostly still as the monster's tail wraps around Hongseo, violently snatching her away from the scene, and we are left with an empty gray picture, and a small bird flying away in fright. The movie plays with emotions quickly, from humor to horror.
Some shorter examples. From sorrow to laughter: When the family gathers for the mass funeral and mourns for Hongseo. At first this scene actually made me tear up from sorrow, but soon I was laughing as the family made a pantomime of their mourning, and from a somewhat bird's eye view, we see them scrambling about and crying wildly, and it's pathetic to the point of comedy. From laughter to sorrow: Gang-du inadvertently lets his father die pitifully because he accidentally miscounts the number of bullets he had left in his gun. This scene is funny for a split second, but then the monster grabs his father and smashes him into the concrete. His father is a dead, bloody mess on the ground. These kind of scenes happen again and again.
Though I'm sure it was purposeful, I'm still not sure why the movie chose to repeatedly pair these types of emotions besides for entertainment purposes. As a message, the movie seemed to loosely be a commentary about the unity Korean families and the involvement of the American military in the Korean government. The girl was so close to living, but she did not survive. Gang-du's father did not have to die. Gang-du himself was so pitiful, that it seemed like a sin that he was allowed to live while his daughter, "an accident" was allowed to die. At the end of it all, I felt pretty hollow.
Christina Ho
DeleteAs for the title of the movie, since it was revealed that the virus did not exist, it seems that "The Host", or mankind itself, is the virus. Because the American scientist does not listen to his Korean inferior's protests, and because the Korean scientist eventually follows his orders despite knowing that his actions were wrong, the monster is created. Because Gang-du looks and acts like a loser, no one but his family will believe him when he says his daughter is alive. Nam-il asks a friend to help him find his niece, and his friend is ready to sell him out for money. The American government first falsely announces that there is a virus, and after discovering and knowing about their mistake, they continue to proceed with Agent Yellow anyway, perhaps out of pride. Ears bleed, mouths bleed, and it's like no one can hear or speak the truth.
But if pride, betrayal, and carelessness is the poison to mankind, teamwork and yes, love would be the remedy. After all, the monster dies, not from Agent Yellow and government intervention, but from the teamwork of the surviving family members. The movie does not end on a hopeless note. Hungseo's bravery and self-sacrifice results in the survival of her friend. Gang-du gets another chance at being a good father, and mankind gets another chance to redeem itself.
I really wish that I could have come into the movie not knowing as much as I know from my Korean culture class, but I will try my best to go from what I first knew about certain elements of the film and what I said in that class.
ReplyDeleteThat being said there were many things that frustrated me about this movie. I knew from the start of the movie that there was a backstory that I didn’t fully understand. Being one of the older people in the class I thought of things that I had heard had happened in Korea and remembered several things, but nothing about a scientist. The part that really bothered me was after the death of the girl the funeral was turned into a comedic scene that I could not comprehend. I had a friend in the Army who told me the story of the two Korean girls being run over by American soldiers and he was very upset about it. After seeing the image of the girl in her school uniform I knew that it had to do with that. I’m actually greatful for the comedy because otherwise I would have cried. Sadly since the girl ultimately dies I know that it was saying that no matter how much the US tries to interfere it has ultimately killed S. Koreans. The facts are in that there was no virus at all and yet they still kept the main character locked up to be tested on. Yes agent yellow did help a little but it took the perserverence of Korean people to ultimately take care of the problems that faced their country.
Also what was with the end and the Americans standing and watching?
--Ren (Karen) Curry
I couldn't exactly figure out the purpose of this film's critical humor, but I'm not sure that really matters; it was fun to watch, and that may be purpose enough. An obvious target may be US/Korea relations, another may be the monster subgenre of horror as a whole, but what I took away was the originality inherent in constructing a monster film around parody, comedy and absurdity. Someone mentioned they didn’t feel any sympathy for the characters, but I don’t think that was an accident or mistake on the part of the filmmakers. When they family first thinks Hyun-seo is dead, for example, their exaggerated grieving and weeping felt like it was supposed to be funny. Or maybe not funny, exactly, but definitely not sad. At one point in that sequence, the camera shot the four of them from above, with the photographers hounding after them in a circle. The brother is cursing, the family is writhing all over the floor, and the whole scene feels over-the-top in its portrayal of grief.
ReplyDeleteWhile all that absurdity did get me to laugh a few times, it never seemed focused or clever enough to make a salient criticism of any of its comedic targets. Watching the scene with the American doctor and his translator, I was thinking, “Okay, here’s the part where they make fun of the Americans again,” or, “here’s the film poking fun at the people in charge with saving everyone,” but it didn’t really strike me on a deep enough level to really resonate as successful humor or political commentary.
-Brendan Donley
The Host
ReplyDeleteZachary McCoy
A favorite aspect of this film has got to be the insistent humor that occurs during the film. It is worthy of noting that the humor even strikes at odd (and even awkwardly inappropriate times, such as during a death scene). The humor is very clever and tends to pop up when humor is the furthest thing from your mind. The lightness of the beginning of the film was well-appreciated and appreciation continued throughout the film as it provided relief from some of the more serious scenes. Clearly humor is an important aspect of this film and it's obvious that removing or heavily altering the humor would greatly impact the feeling and general impression of the work.
A topic of criticism must be the technology that is implemented during the film. For a film that was released a recently as 2006, I must say that I am thoroughly disappointed in the computer simulations generated in the film. I have confidence that the level of technology at that time was at a much more advanced place than the film demonstrated. This bothered me from beginning to end. For a film that seems so highly acclaimed and successful, it surely was riddled by poor graphics rendering, design, and physics (such as the physics of the movement of the beast and how it, say, jumps into the water). This was a constant frustration for me.
Technology aside, how about symbolism? There was one particularly clever bit of symbolism that I noticed used a few times throughout the film -- the use of hanging objects. To briefly describe this, we first see the monster hanging upside down, like a bat, from the bridge over the Han River. At the very end of the film, when it comes to the destruction of the monster by use of "Agent Yellow," we see that device used for the distribution of the chemical gas is in a very similar shape to that of the beast when we see it hanging throughout the film. Lastly, just as the final "fighting" scene concludes, we see an "Agent Yellow" banner that is ripped and torn hanging upside down (much like the Agent Yellow mechanism and the monster) but set aflame, perhaps symbolizing the destruction of the burning monster.
Another part of criticism would be how terribly cheesy the roles of the main characters were and how predictable their role in the final fighting scene was. For example, Nam-joo using her bow and arrows as well as Nam-il, being an "alcoholic activist", using Soju bottles set on fire (a common demonstration technique) to conquer the beast. This cheesiness and predictability was almost too much to bear.
It's also worth noting the subtly in the music during scenes with the monster. The music in most of the film is very normal and tonal, but in each scene that the monster is present, it is not only dark and ominous, but it also serial and atonal -- even further depicting chaos and loss of control mixed with the presence of terror. This atonality, clearly different in style from the tonal music, was a clever yet subtle touch that I really appreciated. To contrast more clearly, the composer could have just written the "monster music" as just dark and aggressive, but, instead, he chose to lose almost all sense of tonality (in most instances, at least).
Lastly, I must say bravo to the ending of the film and the overall story. The entire experience was immensely touching and I enjoyed how things seemed to end somewhat "happily" (despite the fact that so many people [namely important characters] tragically died).
In the opening of this movie, an American pathologist orders a Korean assistant to pour toxic chemicals into the Han River. This scene is very important because although the Korean doctor played a small role in the movie, to me he represented a subordinate who has to take orders from someone who is far more powerful. Even though he voiced out his opinion, he was ignored. This is similar to the social commentary that the director wanted to make about a similar incident in 2000. America is a powerful country and has always been able to go into a country and intervene whether locals like it or not. When the South Korean government lets the American military intervene with the issue of killing the monster and dealing with a “virus”, Koreans who wanted to object were ignored. The Korean government is also portrayed as being unhelpful and subordinating to what the American forces preferred. Thus like the doctor, they followed orders even when the existence of the virus wasn’t confirmed. When huge groups of people were quarantined and Hyun-seo’s family was not listened to, this expressed the frustration of citizens and the inability of the government to solve the issue at hand. I found it surprising that people who killed the monster at the very end were young adults, who were commoners in society. A homeless person even took part in the process of killing the monster. These people are the ones who are constantly neglected in society, but in this movie they are portrayed as the heroes. It’s almost like the director wanted to tell people not to underestimate the power of mass crowds or the average citizen.
ReplyDeleteThe dinner scene where Hyun-seo appeared really surprised me. It was a mixture of the family’s imagination emerging with reality. I almost thought she really came back. This family wanted to believe that everything was okay and they were having a family dinner where everyone was feeding Hyun-seo. At the very end of the movie, there’s also a scene where Gang-du picks up the child who he imagined as his daughter but was actually a boy who was an orphan. Even though this is a movie about a monster with some social commentaries, I think the film also does a very good job of portraying the importance of family members when the whole family goes against so many obstacles to save Hyun-seo. When the little boy replaces Hyun-seo’s spot in the family, he was able to have a family to rely on. If Gang-du had not taken him in, the little boy would have just been another orphan on the streets of South Korea. An additional homeless that people ignore, but the society as a whole should also deal with.
Callie Disney
ReplyDeleteI think the film, The Host, expresses the resentment that some South Koreans felt about the long United States military presence in South Korea. I learned in another class that this film actually has many references to real life events that occurred such as the opening scene of an American demanding a Korean soldier to dump toxins into the Han River. Hyun-seo’s death is a reference to two girls who were killed by US tanks in 2002. Also, Agent Yellow and the protesting from citizens is in reference to the 1980s Student Democracy Movement in which students protested against military dictatorship and were tear gased by the government in an effort to break up the demonstrations.
Because of these events, many Koreans formed a negative opinion of the United States. I think it’s important to know about these events before watching the film because this film plays on some of those popular Korean opinions of the United States’ government and military during that time. I think the opinion expressed in the film is very clear. Many thought the US was incompetent and evil. The United States has come to South Korea and makes demands that Koreans do not agree with, but because of the US political power, they obey the commands anyway. This in turn has created problems in Korea that cause chaos and disorder not only amongst Korean people but also with the US trying to “solve” this problem they created. It seems that with these problems, the US even has difficulty coming up with a solution and takes unnecessary precautions (out of fear) and unnecessary steps in order to find a solution. For example, the soldiers went crazy after learning that Gang-du had been in contact with the host and had him go through a series of unnecessary tests until another character admitted that there was no virus. The ending scene even plays on an idea that the US does not admit to their wrongful actions and blamed the host on misinformation.
Overall, because of the inclusion of comedy, I think this film is a satire targeting the incompetency of the United States and the reactions of South Koreans in the situation. The unity of this unique family going against the authorities and fighting to save Hyun-seo, and also the protest to free Gang-du and stop the yellow agent leads me to believe that this film also sends a message that collective efforts of people from any class or background can defeat a “monster,” or change the political system. I thought it was an interesting film.
Rather than a classical monster movie, The Host could be more interpreted as a critique of how the corrupted place we live in. The label of the title "The Host," doesn't seem to point out merely on the actual character of the story, but the actual social media. In the film, when Hyeon-seo is found undead, none of the investigators, policemen, doctors, nor the citizens tried to listen or help. For an example, when Gang-Du, Heyon-seo's father was thrown to investigate, none of the doctors have listened to Gang-Du. Nevertheless, they have simply predicted that his reactions were result of the mental shock. The behavior of the policeman walking away from Gang-Du draws a bigger theme of the story, where the society neglects to help the weak individuals. Hyeon-seo was able to be found with no other help but the sacrifices of her family members. In fact, the media had continued to fail in attempts to kill the monster. The "yellow agents" did nothing but to cause the troubles in bringing the protesters and disappointments. In the last scene where the monster is being killed, the homeless person throws out the flaming oil to the monster, highlighting the idea that the citizens can only survive through themselves.
ReplyDeleteEunice Won
Yunjin Chang
ReplyDeleteThe host featured a monster that was created by the pollution in the Han River.I remembered that the host have had a lot of success in korean movie industry in 2006.
At that time,the host, which sold just over 13 milion tickets. And the host may have been helped by it's large opening weekend,but it was able to have the success it did because people enjoyed the film and told others to go see it. I am also one of the person who saw this movie by friend's recommendation. In addtion, the director, jun-ho bong became most popular movie director in Korea because of the host's success.Moreover, I heard that jun-ho bong received the award for Best Director at 2007 Oporto International Film Festival and at the 2007 Grand Bell Awards for his film 'The Host.I think that the host has two success facts . First of all, the host's director; jun-ho bong's humanity and humor in movie. From the movie,there were lots of funny things.
For examples, the main characters' funny husiness and swearing gave comic elements in the movie and
the main characters' action was light,but it did not seem to be cheesy, so these facats could make humor during the movie.
Therefore, the host is funniest monster movie I have ever seen, so this film gave me entertainning and humorous.
Furthermover, The Host made great use of its ensemble cast. I think that Each of cast has interesting character and it was able to make higher quality films.
Finally, the host have had a lot of success in korean movie industry in 2006 and the director, jun-ho bong became most popular movie director in Korea because of the host's success.
two success facts are the host's director; jun-ho bong's humanity and humor in movie and made great use of its ensemble cast. I was scared of that hideous monster in the movie and
it has made me think about the chances of a monster living in the Han River. However, I was really enjoy during the movie and it gaves me scientific imagination while I saw the movie
The host featured a monster that was created by the pollution in the Han River.I remembered that the host have had a lot of success in korean movie industry in 2006.
ReplyDeleteAt that time,the host, which sold just over 13 milion tickets. And the host may have been helped by it's large opening weekend,
but it was able to have the success it did because people enjoyed the film and told others to go see it.
I am also one of the person who saw this movie by friend's recommendation. In addtion, the director, jun-ho bong became most popular movie director in Korea because of the host's success. Moreover, I heard that jun-ho bong received the award for Best Director at 2007 Oporto International Film Festival and at the 2007 Grand Bell Awards for his film 'The Host.
I think that the host has two success facts . First of all, the host's director; jun-ho bong's humanity and humor in movie. From the movie,there were lots of funny things.
For examples, the main characters' funny husiness and swearing gave comic elements in the movie and the main characters' action was light,but it did not seem to be cheesy, so these facats could make humor during the movie.
Therefore, the host is funniest monster movie I have ever seen, so this film gave me entertainning and humorous. Furthermover, The Host made great use of its ensemble cast. I think that Each of cast has interesting character and it was able to make higher quality films.
Finally, the host have had a lot of success in korean movie industry in 2006 and the director, jun-ho bong became most popular movie director in Korea because of the host's success.
two success facts are the host's director; jun-ho bong's humanity and humor in movie and made great use of its ensemble cast. I was scared of that hideous monster in the movie and
it has made me think about the chances of a monster living in the Han River. However, I was really enjoy during the movie and it gaves me scientific imagination while I saw the movie
JiEun Lee
ReplyDeleteThe Host
The title,The Host and its monochromatic poster suggests a serious SF thriller while this film is full of satire and humor. In fact, some of comedic aspects are too much and crosses the line until I could feel some disturbance to follow the story. For example, it was funny and also uncomfortable to watch the scene Hyun-seo’s family, the four main characters get together and start to grieve for their loss. additionally, when Hyun-seo’s father, Kang du is investigated and examined by cops, doctors and governmental agents, those people are just divided by two side, black and white: the family members as victims are too weak to insist what they believe and the governmental authority is blinded by uncertain justification. Actually, every characters in this film seems so fool and empty even as if they competes for the dummiest character except Hyun-seo. I think this foolishness of characters successfully irritate audience; in a way of watching desperate fight of the weak.
In the beginning, the scene with two scientists open up two different subject-matters: an environmental problem and a visible relation between U.S and Korea. It is unclear how that toxic chemicals happen to create a giant monster and why there is only one monster. I think the director could play with more foreshadowing of this creature before it appears in the film. As the movie goes further, it reveals the obvious relation of two countries which is unbalanced like food chain. The villain is not anymore the monster but the U.S (or WHO?) in the middle of film. In my opinion, it is very exaggerated but there are some truth behind; I just read an article about unrevealed treaty of environmental right with U.S army base in Korea. After all, the director emphasizes the typical family affection. Since there are so many things go on, I was little confused from the middle of the film (fumigator trucks? and what is that yellow machine? it was look like just another monster) whether the monster really matters to people or not. However, all of those subject-matters help to make this film light enough to enjoy.
This film has been mentioned as a classic by many people in South Korea. After watching the film, I fairly enjoyed the film even though there some aspects I disliked. One aspect that I liked about the movie is the combination of humor and horror. The protagonist, Park Gang-Doo, is a prime example of this combination. He's humorous throughout the movie but will be serious at certain points throughout the movie. For example, he is intent on saving his daughter from the monster but it suddenly turns comical once they are at the memorial service.
ReplyDeleteHowever, one thing that I didn't like about the movie is the continual bashing of the United States. The Host starts with an American man pressuring a Korean scientist to pour chemicals down the drain. This leaves an impression that Americans could be a bad influence on Koreans. There are many other examples throughout the movie that portrays Americans as a bad influence. For example, the scene with the American doctor interrogating Park Gang-Doo and then ultimately deciding to go with the surgery. This kind of give me the impression that Americans disregard South Korean's opinions despite the truth. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie despite the bashing of the US.
- Tyler McBride
The Host
ReplyDeleteThroughout the whole movie, I noticed very much of director’s detail-obsessed approach. With a belief that this movie is a blockbuster in mind, The Host has generated Korean’s unique Koreanized blockbuster. Copious amount of different scenes – from Han River, companies, hospital, used-car composite field, old store, evacuated gym, parking lot, etc – collaborate to have a big puzzle completed. Within the scenes, Director Bong has put many detailed objects, zoom-ins, and fast moving scrolls have made such a puzzling and yet fulfilling performance. As a host an engine of car, the movie contains sufficient amount of scenes that build up the flesh and bones of that car. Speaking critically, the movie itself has promoted an image of Seoul of Korea – sophisticated, reversely and complicatedly intertwined Seoul. Despite the running time of the movie, I enjoyed how this concept of monster projected the love of family and satire as well.
An approach never seen before, this movie is the very first Korean “monster” movie I ever seen. At the first time, I was concentrated on the actions of the actors over to the contents and messages of it. But as few more opportunities have granted to watch it again, I came to realize that the messages are stronger than any. The wrong deed of what happened in U.S. base camp, enjoying a party right next to a temporary operating container, ignoring the lower class, and many more carried a prosecution of society of U.S.’s influence upon Korea. As well as the dramatic and tragic story of Park Family sided with the citizen’s merciful minds. The movie calls for a correct treatments between U.S. and Korea, particular attention to citizen’s voice is needed. As the number of audience indicates, many people of different perspectives and status quo enjoyed the movie which carries a lot of messages ranging from societal, family, international issues.