Curiosity Killed The Cat

I watched Jung_E several days ago and couldn't figure out how to express a review right away, so I rewatched the pertinent scenes again and here I am STILL not really knowing how to say just how bad this was. The pertinent scenes throughout the entire 1 hour 33 mins and 45 seconds (fade to black) maybe, MAYBE numbered 5 in total. Maybe a total of 15 mins in all holding the movie together like glue which has been dabbed in spots on a heavy sheet of metal which hasn't dried before being hung onto a sheet rock plastered wall.

The beginning held promise with what I thought was live action from our main female lead, Kim Hyun Joo (the mother). The CGI was on par with the best gaming experience on the market today. Then the reality of the plot was revealed. In the present as an adult, Kang Soo Yeon (the daughter), is overseeing her "mother's" combat ready machine generated "body & brain", that Son Young Sun (the grandmother), had signed over under the Type C contract when she was about 12 years old (played by Park So Yi) after her mother died during combat. The Type C contract allowed living and educational expenses for her granddaughter, Park So Yi, but gave the government complete access in how her mother's brain data would be used in the future. This would allow for her mother to "live on", albeit as a robot. By presenting the "level" families could choose from upon the death of a loved one, and the futuristic health care facility we are shown this was set sometime well past our present time wayyy in the future.

I won't go into detail about the apopcalyptic conditions of Earth except to say it was a wasteland of water covering to the mountain tops. The few citizens that were unable to be transported to a colony in space were living in dire starving conditions underground to escape the war above.

The premise of the movie, the use of the mother's brain data to be used in manufacturing squadrons of elite soldiers was never quite fully formed as we learn somewhere during this 1 hour+ disaster. The daughter, Kang Soo Yeon, apparently had utilized her education since she was 12 years old to become the project manager overseeing her mother's brain data (in the present time). The project was dismantled due to the failure of it being obsolete compared to that of the robotic soldiers of the enemy from 2 other colonies which were at war with all the other colonies and Earth. Thus, the story revolves around saving her mother's brain data instead of being scaped per the appearance for 3 mins tops, Uhm Ji Won, who was the head of whatever authority she represented.

Enter more CGI fighting until the end in which the daughter "freed" the mother, albeit the robot, upon Earth to roam to her "heart's delight", I assume.

Lord have mercy. I hate, really hate this was the last project of Kang Soo Yeon. This role didn't do her justice, and thankfully she has an outstanding list of awards for her other roles, dramas, and movies for us to enjoy and remember her by.

The extremely limited roles were exceptionally acted given what they were which was very little screen time. Beyond the mains, the others were planted mainly to say they were there ONLY. I agree with another reviewer that said this could have been a great series of 16 or more episodes. The story fell flat with 1 premise in the mind of the writer. Also, why the daughter at 12 had surgery for cancer for the cancer to return when she was an adult had nothing to do with driving the plot. The love between mother & daughter could've been utilized differently. The music was unexceptional in that I can't remember it at all even after watching again this morning right before writing this review.

Yes, I feel like I wasted 1 hour 33 mins and 45 seconds PLUS the extra 20 mins it took to write this review. If you're curious, well, you know what happened to the cat, right?

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The zombies aren't to be feared.......

as much as the monster, the father. Outside is a movie based on a family's struggle, and the decline of said family against the backdrop of a zombie outbreak.

The father's childhood trauma, and subsequent c-PTSD, and his knowledge of his wife's 'secret' with his older brother is the core of the storyline.

His wife is the mother to 2 sons, the latter of which, is the father's biological son. The wife warily navigates her husband's animosity towards her.

By just over the halfway point in the movie, the father has already sabotaged his family thrice. Deliberately withholding info and lying about said info, and burning a map his brother had left with him of the possible Camp the wife and oldest son had mentioned earlier. When that 'scene' during the Christmas dinner is shown the viewer knows the father has completely lost all reasoning and is on the edge of madness.

The movie is about the family. Their relationships with one another. It isn't about the zombies. The family's failed struggle IS the basis of Outside. The movie could have survived without the zombie outbreak as a plot/plots. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone unless they're into intense family dynamics that aren't resolved amicably.

ps. The focus on the father's 'item' from his father was especially poignant. Time, for the father, once he was back in his childhood home, had stood still.

pss. The zombies shown on screen were much better portrayed than the movie poster, and yes, they can talk. Their utterances rasped with their concerns or fears in their zombie state.

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History Lesson???

I'm sitting here pondering over how best to describe The DMZ when there are only 3 speaking roles with very little speaking involved. The visuals are the driving force in The DMZ, and could be used as a supplement in a history lesson on the Korean War.

Studying the Korean War lead me to dramas and movies from my favorite country (aside from my own country (USA) and those from which my ancestors came (Germany/France, Ireland/Scotland)).

I watched because I've been fascinated with the Republic of Korea's history. Watch purely FOR the history, and for the history of the black & white film. It's rare to be able to see outside of the regional area. You can find it on YouTube as of the date of this review.

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Do NOT read the synopsis.

I've no idea who wrote the extremely hyped up synopsis which, after viewing, is actually quite the opposite of what is shown in the movie. I've never run across a synopsis worded in such a way as to 'cover' for the lack of substance, plot, story, etc, but here it is. I was HIGHLY disappointed in this movie. The acting was great. But that was it.

Their tranquil life was not disrupted. There is no sense of tension between Seong Hye's husband and Chae Yun so she doesn't sense it, and her there is no unease when In Gu (doesn't) threaten to expose her past to Jeong Bong. There are no emotions to escalate and no secrets were unsurfaced, the four were not entangled in a web of jealousy and mistrust. There was no storm of emotion. Maybe if there had been any of this it would've been a good movie. The acting was well done despite the uncommonly slow story? plot?

Seriously, I don't give participation awards to every drama or movie because in doing so it doesn't challenge writers to give their best. Maybe the consequences of giving ratings too high in comparation to the drama or movie's worth is being felt in the poor selection of drama and movies coming out of S Korea in the past 2 yrs or so. Yes, a few have been extremely well written though.

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Have your tissues handy

"Remember" might be uncomfortable for some given the subject matter of the Japanese occupation of Korea. Forced labor to other countries of Korea's young men, young women under the guise of working in a factory being forced to give "comfort" to a foreign invader's military men, businesses aquisitioned for the growth of the invading power are but a few of the points at the forefront.

"Remember" was tight and lacked the flaws usually found in a film. The determination of the lead character in his mission was lead by an equal fixation of the scripwriter and director. The plot was straight forward with no detours. Action, Thriller, and Historical genres were given equal measure, with suspense heavily-laden. There was NO room for romance. No room for dilly dallying away precious time in a nearby coffee shop. The story was moved along with one goal in mind. And it was fantastic!!!

I have no descriptions for the 2 main leads. There aren't enough superlatives. The supporting cast were mainly veteran actors who never give less than in any project. It was a male-driven film.

Oh, and if the truth about the past is not remembered & preserved we'll definitely be inclined to repeat it.

Seriously, the ONLY thing that bothered the heck out of me during the entire 2 hours and 8 mins was the Americanized nicknames for the T.G.I.F's (more commonly known now as Friday's) employees which I've seen in other dramas. THE USE OF JASON AND FREDDIE GRATED ON MY NERVES. I hope this one factor isn't an issue with the local employees of the international company. It's degrading and disrespectful.

I rated the music lower ONLY because, well, did it have music???

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