Almost Sterile, But Nice...Sort Of

It's like good new age music. I'll give you a moment to think of the last time you heard good new age music. Yeah, that's what this movie is like.

Can't help wonder what kind of response 'The Host' will get. There's a lot of interest online but I'm thinking box office may not pan out that great.

.

All the Major Plot Points of 'The Host' in 90 Seconds Flat

.

Joon-ho Bong's 'Snowpiercer' Taken From Le Transperceneige

Joon-ho Bong is one of those directors whose visual style sets him apart. Much of 'The Host' reminded me of Spielberg's camera work. The quality is there even in the above still from 'Snowpiercer'. Really, most directors could not produce a frame this well done.

There's a lot of interest in the film. One bit that catches my attention is from the synopsis from Wiki:

• The film is set in a future where, after a failed experiment to stop global warming, an Ice Age kills off all life on the planet except for the inhabitants of the Snow Piercer, a train that travels around the globe and is powered by a sacred perpetual-motion engine. A class system evolves on the train but a revolution brews.

A 'sacred perpetual motion engine'? The perpetual motion part is pretty good but the sacred part is even better. Very interesting. There's plot possibilities in that.

Another interesting thing is the story takes place after a 'failed experiment to stop global warming'. Well...so? Yeah, that would be par for the course for a screenplay these days -- there ain't a lot of people who argue about the changing environment anymore -- except this movie is based on the graphic novel 'Le Transperceneige'.

The novel was written between 1978 and 1982. So, a story about mankind after global warming has wrecked the environment which was written decades ago and probably conceived of 40 years ago. Somehow, worth noting.

The cast is noteworthy, too.

I mean, really. Could this be any more must-see.

If you missed them, here's some concept art.

These, I believe, are from the novel.

.

New Hi-Rez Stills from Stephenie Meyer's 'The Host'

Here's a couple you may not have seen.

And a couple you've probably seen:

.

Teaser Trailer for 'The Host'

Doesn't do much for me. Very 'made for TV'.

















.

The Host Rolls Out

Director Bong Joon-ho has created quite a stir with 'The Host'. Movie has broken box office records in Korea. Released on 71 screens in the US in March 'The Host' has already taken over $1 million.

Adam Kempenaar and Sam Van Hallgren over at Filmspotting have posted their take on 'The Host' -- this is probably the most objective appraisal I've come across -- you can listen to the podcast here. They're calling this picture an 'absurdist-tragedy', and a 'monster movie with the cast of Little Miss Sunshine'. Their description of how the main characters (a dysfunctional family) try to 'out-grieve' each other upon learning the monster has (apparently) killed a family member is worth a listen.

If you haven't seen a trailer yet (or haven't seen a clean copy), try hitting the official site, which opens with a pristine copy. The look of the site gives you some idea of how important a movie this has become to Hollywood. A lot of money was spent to make it top-drawer.

When I first saw a clip from this movie it struck me as being very Spielberg-esque, except more fluid, both in camera-style and in ability to handle actors. I found a recent interview with Joon-ho at MovieWeb where he discusses the background on 'The Host', and mentions future projects. Look for good things from this director.

A Hollywood remake is in the works by Universal, but Joon-ho will not direct so I'm not holding out much hope that it will have the heart of the original. Joon-ho, on the other hand, has a pragmatic view (interview at SciFiWire) -- if the remake is good...great, if it's crap then his version will be the definitive one.

This is one of the best looking movies I've ever seen. The script and camera are witty but not self-conscious. Brings life to a tired genre. So far this year, 'The Host' is the only DVD I'm looking forward to buying.

Reinventing The Horror Movie

Rick Kleffel tells us how the structure of "The Host", the new Korean horror sensation by director Bong Joon-ho, reverses the normal rules of suspense, setup, and payoff with 'amazing success', blending comedy and shocks in what he calls 'The Royal Tenenbaums vs. Godzilla'.

Clips From The Host

Bloody-Disgusting has 5 clips from "The Host", the Korean horror flick that's breaking box office records, and will be seen in this country soon.

Plans for a Hollywood remake are in the works -- although, I can't imagine Hollywood can match the quality of this film.

Director Bong Joon-ho crafts sequences that remind me of a young Spielberg -- except with more confidence and subtlety. These clips are some of the best I've seen.