World Famous Comics: The Host (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
The Host (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Directed By: Bong Joon-ho Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Binding: DVD Format: Anamorphic, Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen Label: Magnolia Home Entertainment Number of Items: 2 Region Code: 1 Release Date: July 24, 2007 Running Time: 120 minutes Theatrical Release Date: 2006
Product Description: A creature plunges from the Han River Bridge into the river emerging on its shores for a feeding frenzy upon onlookers. When a young girl is snatched in the melee her family set off to recover her from the monster that the government claims to be a host of an unidentified virus. This special edition is loaded with bonus content.System Requirements:Running Time: 119 minsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: HORROR Rating: NR UPC: 876964000994 Manufacturer No: 10099
Amazon.com: Aficionados of movie monsters will find things in The Host that they have been waiting to see all their lives: a monster lazily unfurling itself from the girders beneath a bridge, for instance, or a view from a moving elevated train that frames the monster as it gallops lustily across a park filled with scattering locals. If the realization of a creature were all this movie had going for it, director Bong Joon-ho would have enough to be proud of, but The Host offers more food for thought, and plenty of food for the monster. Bong creates both a deeply eccentric comedy about family and a cheeky gloss on political currents. The monster is created when a U.S. military doctor (Scott Wilson in an unnerving cameo) orders a South Korean soldier to discard chemicals into the Han River in Seoul. Sure enough, a toxic monster is born, as we see in an opening reel that is surely the most exhilarating monster intro in years. Our central figure--of the human variety, that is--is played by Song Kang-ho (who also starred in Bong's Memories of Murder), as a hilariously lazy slob who must fight to discover what happened to his daughter after she was snatched up by the creature. Along the way, the film makes some pointed cracks at the ease with which governments can exploit public fear for their own purposes, and there's some satire aimed at U.S. intervention in global affairs. The film has some serious lulls, and would have been a tighter, crazier head-rush if it were 90 minutes long instead of two hours. But in general this is a much smarter Godzilla movie than Godzilla movies ever were. --Robert Horton
LIke Jaws or Alien? Give me a break ... I was eager to see this after reading several reviews that raved how it was similar to Jaws and Alien. What a major disappointment. How anyone could even begin to compare this 2+ hour snooze fest to those movies is just amazing to me. Yes I get that the director was trying to be satirical and campy. It did not work for me. It was not scary. There was almost no suspense. And ... I did not think it was funny either.
GOOD OVERALL, BUT THE STORY IS FULL OF HOLES 8 OUT OF 10 The Host is not the best monster movie ever made. It offers good times, but it really is a mixed bag film. Unfortunately I'd have to disagree with some of the critical acclaim on the box because this film is not at par with Jaws, and it certainly isn't scary. It is worth a look, but don't expect the greatest monster movie you'll ever see. WHAT IT'S ABOUT: The story begins in a morgue where two morticians are getting rid of dangerous chemicals by pouring them down the sink, where the contents went into the Han River. It takes the B-movie approach by having a dangerous creature morph into an abomination because of these chemicals. Then one day onlookers stare at a strange creature that is holding onto the bridge. It then jumps into the river, swims to shore, and then begins attacking people on the shore and eating them. When a girl gets taken by the monster, her family is determined to find her and kill the creature that the government claims the host of some kind of mysterious virus. MUSIC: The score is excellent and superbly crafted, one of the best parts of the movie. STORY: The story is uneven and riddled with holes and displays an overall sloppy presentation (Not to mention the awful ending). The lowest point of the entire film. Plus, there are some parts you can't take seriously because they are cheesy. This film's comedic humor manages to save some parts of the story but feel out of place. ENTERTAINMENT: It all depends on how much like monster movies, you can like and you can hate it. It all depends on your preferences of films. I found it to be good, but flawed because of the storyline. This film will not scare you. OVERALL: It's good, but flawed because of a sloppy story. But the great music, atmosphere, certain creature scenes, and a few extras keep things moving. THE GOOD: Cool monster, great music, cool scenes, funny humor. THE BAD: Sloppy story, some cheesy scenes, don't ever watch this in the English language; it's painful put on Korean and insert English subtitles.
Sub-Compact Godzilla THE HOST is a South Korean film that is similar to the old Godzilla movies, but with a more believable monster. It can hang by its tail from the girders of bridges, do acrobatic backflips into the Han river, and swallow victims whole.
The story begins when deadly chemicals are illegally discarded into the river. This creates a mutant creature that terrorizes the riverfront. The plot mostly revolves around the misadventures of one dysfunctional family, after the young daughter is taken by the monster into the sewers, and their attempts to rescue her.
This film is clearly "B" grade, but it's fun anyway. It's dubbed into English which gives it a comedic undertone, particulary with the several pratfalls seen throughout. Some of the actor's histrionics are hilarious. They look like they're having a good time making it.
So, if you don't take the film too seriously, and don't pay too much to view it, THE HOST can be very entertaining. The director Bong Joon-ho is worth watching.
Charlie Z July 6, 2008
I wouldn't want this "host" at my party This had to be one of the worst movies I've ever watched. Bad dubbing,bad acting,stupid story and a silly monster. It was so dumb I skipped to the end just to see how the monster was destroyed. That too was ridiculous.
Uneven Movie, Yet Enjoyable This movie started out great and then quickly fell apart on me. The first real monster scene was incredible. Everyone is standing around looking at this thing on a bridge... and it was pretty freaky. The monster looked great from far away as it dangled off the bridge and the next scene when we actually see the monster attack was awesome! After that it was pretty much downhill. It turned into a movie about the family, all of who were annoying except for the main character who was looking for his daughter. I liked him, but the rest of the family were lame. This movie tried too hard to be funny and to make a social commentary, but it didn't try hard enough to be scary. It wasn't scary at all after the first 30 minutes. The special effects seemed to get worse as the minutes ticked away and there were a few scenes of the monster where it looked so silly and fake that it was disappointing. However there were other scenes of the monster where it looked very cool and ultra creepy. This movie suffers from being uneven and scattered. I can't figure out in my head how to classify this movie... Was it a monster movie? Was it an action movie? Was it a black comedy? Was it a pandemic movie? I guess the answer is that it is all of these things to a certain point, but for my money a monster movie should be about a monster if you want a classic on your hands. This isn't a classic, but it is worth watching.
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