Fukushima 50 (2020) [Film Review]

Fukushima 50; or, When Disaster Strikes
     We believed we controlled nature. It was human ego.
Exactly 9 years after the disastrous Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, Fukushima 50 is the first live-action motion picture which retells the tragic events that ensued in Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Directed by Setsuro Wakamatsu, and inspired by the non-fiction novel On the Brink: The Inside Story of Fukushima Daiichi by Ryusho Kadota, the film is both a poignant drama as well as faithful retelling of the latest nuclear disaster in our history.

General Info

Directed by: Setsuro Wakamatsu Starring: Koichi Sato, Ken Watanabe, Hidetaka Yoshioka

Language: Japanese Original Title: フクシマフィフティ Runtime: 120 min

Synopsis
March 11, 2011. The Tohoku earthquake generates a massive tsunami which is supposed to hit the Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant. The authorities are confident that nothing bad will happen because the plant is well-prepared for such emergencies. However, the tsunami is much bigger than it was estimated. It hits the plant and cuts off the electrical power. Workers at the plant led by the site superintendent, Masao Yoshida (Ken Watanabe), and the shift supervisor, Toshio Isaki (Koichi Sato), do everything they can in order to prevent a nuclear meltdown. Meanwhile, residents living within a 20km radius of the power plant are being evacuated.

Desperate Measures
I vividly remember the day when I got back from high school, turned on TV and saw dramatic news reports from Japan about the Tohoku earthquake. However, the news about Fukushima started coming in a few days later. Unable to gather what exactly happened there just from the mainstream media, I turned to documentaries, but still found it very hard to understand the complexities which led to level 7 meltdowns in three reactors at Fukushima Daiichi. Thankfully, the movie (similarly to other biopics about popular disasters like the Charnobyl (2019) miniseries or Deep Water Horizon (2016)) lays out everything in a clear, step-by-step fashion.

Evidently, the story of Fukushima 50 is the story about brave workers at the plant who did not abandon their posts and did everything they could to prevent the contamination of half of Japanese soil. Additionally, the movie focuses on profit-oriented executives completely oblivious to the situation at Fukushima, and on the families living in the plant’s vicinity forced to abandon their homes. Some could think that the inclusion of so many characters, apart from the plant workers, is unnecessary, but the story of Fukushima is theirs story as well.

Watching the film is certainly a powerful experience because it is a dramatisation of real-life events. With regard as to how the filmmakers handled and presented this sensitive topic which is still fresh in Japanese hearts, I dare to say that the film communicates the anti-nuclear message much better than the fictional Pandora film from 2016.

With regard to performances, both Koichi Sato and Ken Watanabe are a class act. I also appreciated the supporting parts of such well-known actors and actresses as Hidetaka Yoshioka, Narumi Yasuda, Yasuko Tomita, Shiro Sano, Masane Tsukayama, and Dankan.

Recommendations
If you want to know more about the history behind Fukushima Daiichi, then I recommend Setsuro Wakamatsu’s Fukushima 50. Indeed, it is a well-made film that will provide you with valuable pieces of information and subsequent food for thought. I sincerely hope that international communities will learn from Fukushima’s tragedy and implement necessary safety precautions at power plants.
Overall score: 8/10

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Peninsula (2020) [Film Review]

Peninsula; or, Never Let Me Go
     Thirty-one cars… passed us by. I thought the first car would pick us up… but there were 30 more passing by.
Peninsula is a sequel to the popular Korean zombie flick Train to Busan from 2016. While initially entitled Train to Busan 2: Peninsula, the first part of the title was quickly dropped and replaced with Train to Busan Presents. Indeed, Peninsula is a movie happening in the same universe as Train to Busan and Seoul Station (2016) anime, but with different characters and a brand new story. Let’s see how this new iteration of Koreans vs. bloodthirsty zombies holds up.
Release Info

Directed by: Yeon Sang Ho Starring: Gang Dong Won, Lee Jung Hyun, Lee Re, Lee Ye Won
Language: Korean, English Original Title: 반도 Runtime: 116 min

Synopsis
Four years after the outbreak of a deadly virus on the Korean Peninsula, Han Jung Seok (Gang Dong Won), an ex-military officer lives as a refugee in Hong Kong. His brother-in-law, Goo Chul Min (Kim Do Yoon), cannot forgive Jung Seok that he didn’t try hard enough to save his wife and child. Due to their low-life status, the two men are recruited by mobsters and given the following assignment: go back to South Korea and retrieve a truck loaded with 20 million dollars. Upon arriving there, the mission is interrupted by dangerous scavengers who built a little world of their own in the zombie city. Jung Seok and Chul Min are separated. Jung Seok ends up being saved by a family of survivors unaffiliated with the scavengers. He remembers that they are the same people whom he refused to help four years earlier. Together with Min Jung (Lee Jung Hyun), the mother of the family, Jung Seok sneaks into the scavengers’ camp to retrieve a satellite phone. The only chance for rescue...

Here We Go Again
I have to admit that I was a bit reluctant to check out Peninsula immediately after it premiered due to many unfavourable reviews which I read online. With incredibly low expectations, I finally watched the film and I was surprised that it is very much watchable.

Similarly to such films as Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) and Aliens (1986) (two sequels to classic masterpieces), the dangers and stakes are already established, so instead of rehashing them, the filmmakers should build on them. This is very much the case with Peninsula. We do not have yet another train survival story, but extensive world building. I liked the premise that those who managed to escape Korea are looked down by the rest of the world. Nevertheless, there are also people who were left behind and managed to stay alive. Even North Korea is referenced as the zombie-free place (obvious wink at one of the scenes from World War Z (2013)).

What I like the most about the film are the characters and their dynamics. Jung Seok is a decent guy struggling with traumatic past, Min Jung is a super cool protective mother saving the day, whereas the children Joon Yi and Yoo Jin (Lee Re and Lee Ye Won, respectively) and the grandpa (Kwon Hae Hyo) provide a much needed comic relief in tense situations. I particularly enjoyed the witty remarks of Ye Won’s character; this kid is gold!

With the bigger budget than the previous film, Peninsula also cranks up the action aspect to the maximum level. However, while watching hordes of zombies getting killed in many ways is certainly enjoyable, the film also goes a bit too far in a few places. The subplot about the scavengers living in a dilapidated city resembled too many popular post-apocalyptic flicks. At times, I was genuinely convinced that Peninsula is remaking chunks of Max Mad: Beyond Thunderdome (1985) and 28 Days Later (2002). In addition, the chase scene in the third act (lots of CGI) clearly drew inspiration from Fury Road (2015).

That being sad, Peninsula is not a bad film. I appreciated the pacing and also the significantly toned down melodrama (Train to Busan relied too much on harrowing moments). If you couldn’t come to terms with the ending of the first film, then the conclusion of Peninsula will certainly leave you satisfied.

With regard to performances, Lee Jung Hyun and Gang Dong Won certainly carry the weight of the picture. I remember Jung Hyun from Battleship Island (2017) and she is undeniably an awesome actress. As for Gang Dong Won, he obviously manned up after the last time I saw him in The Priests (2015). In addition, Lee Re and Lee Ye Won are wonderful as the children fighting the zombies.

At the end of this review, I think I should address the untimely coincidence that is repeated by other reviewers. That is to say, Peninsula is a movie (about a zombie virus) released in the year of the real global pandemic. Well, the movie is fiction and one should be able to differentiate it from real life. Peninsula was commissioned in 2018 and entered production in 2019, so it is not like director Yeon Sang Ho could see into the future and write a script based on the foreshadowings. If some people desperately want to see correlations between life and art, then I suggest watching Wolfgang Petersen’s Outbreak from 1995.

Recommendations
All in all, Peninsula may not be as good as Train for Busan, but it is still worth watching. I do not regret spending two hours on this film. It was a joyous ride, even though it was a one time experience. To be honest, I’m now waiting for the fourth instalment of the zombie saga in which North Korea steps into action. Please Supreme Leader, greenlit this film!Overall score: 7/10

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Train to Busan (2016) [Film Review]

Train to Busan; or, Shinkansen Daibakuha meets Zombie Apocalypse

     Attention, everyone. For the safety of those on board we won't be making any stops. We're heading straight for Busan.

It’s just a day like every other day. You wake up early in the morning, travel by car (did fire-fighters’ trucks just pass you?), and reach a railway station. You buy your ticket, take your seat and... relax? Nope! Because a girl infected with a zombie virus just ran into the compartment. Welcome on the Train to Busan!
Release Info

Directed by: Yeon Sang Ho Starring: Gong Yoo, Ma Dong Seok, Jung Yu Mi, Kim Su An

Language: Korean Original Title: 부산행 Runtime: 118 min

 

Synopsis

Seok Woo (Gong Yoo) is an ever-busy fund manager from Seoul who does not have the time for his daughter Soo An (Kim Su An). On the day of her birthday, she pleads with the father to take her to Busan to see her mother.  Seok-woo reluctantly complies and they depart on the KTX train the next morning. Nevertheless, it turns out in the news that some kind of violent riots are breaking out across the country. The truth about the impending zombie apocalypse is finally revealed when one of the infected passengers transforms and proceeds to attack other people on the train. Now, those who are still alive (Seok Woo and his daughter, Sang Hwa (Ma Dong Seok) and his pregnant wife Seong Kyeong (Jung Yu Mi), a high school baseball team, two elderly sisters, and a hobo) have to fight for their survival until they reach Busan.

 

Get in or Die

First of all, I should point out that I’m not a huge fan of zombie flicks. The Walking Dead series is something totally strange to me and that stupefying Brad Pitt movie based on a great novel did not impress me. However, Train to Busan pleasantly surprised me. It’s not a horror, but at the same time, something more than just another zombie story. Specifically, it is a high-speed action drama with neatly sketched out characters and a thrilling screenplay.

 

Though Train to Busan starts off as a typical Korean drama (father and daughter issues), when the action kicks in, it kicks you right in the guts, and it keeps kicking you until the closing credits roll. It would be a gross indiscretion from my part to mention any spoilers, so I will just limit myself to the following comment: The film successfully keeps your adrenaline level up with lots of exciting sequences inside the train (the rescue mission is icing on the cake!) as well as outside of it (the final act).

 

However, the movie is not just about making one’s way through hurdles of the un-dead flesh-gourmets. It is also a subtle study case of an epidemic (shared similarity with Contagion (2011)), a father-daughter reconciliation set against the background of a raging pandemonium, and the examination of the virtues of altruism (unintentional reference to Ayn Rand?).

 

All of the abovementioned features are what makes Train to Busan such an exhilarating cinematic experience. Not forgetting about the cast, Gong Yoo delivers another fine performance together with Jung Yu Mi (they starred alongside together in The Crucible (2011)). Also, Kim Eui Sung as a snobby executive who turns into a heartless, rotten-to-the-core, antagonist does a great job. Honourable mentions go to Ma Dong Seok as a straightforward working-class husband and Kim Su An as Seok Woo’s daughter. Jang Young-Gyu’s music score varies greatly across the film, yet works in every scene (though, I don’t feel encouraged to listen to it independently).

 

Recommendations

I can safely recommend it to everyone. Train to Busan has everything which a solid entertaining movie requires. It’s got the story, disaster, human drama, vivid characters, and a train. In other words, it’s a multi-layered entertainer which effortlessly excels in the genres of disaster and zombie flicks. Train to Busan takes you on a wild ride, which can only be equalled by the thrilling journeys of The Bullet Train (1975) and Runaway Train (1985). This Korean hit has something for everybody and it’s definitely worth checking it out on the big screen.

Overall score: 9/10

Tunnel (2016) [Film Review]

Tunnel; or, No Easy Way Out

     You're saving urine in the empty bottles, right? Urine is sterile, so you can drink it.

Did it ever occur to you how much are you drinking or how much food are you eating during the day? Are you saving the battery in your cell? How often do you think about your loved ones? Would you help out a person in need in a life-threatening situation? A 2016 Korean summer hit Tunnel makes you think about such issues, and even more, as it presents a one man's survival drama and the politically-charged rescue operation.

Release Info

Directed by: Kim Seong Hun Starring: Ha Jung Woo, Bae Doona, Oh Dal Su

Language: Korean Original Title: 터널 Runtime: 127 min

 

Synopsis

Lee Jung Soo (Ha Jung Woo) is a successful car seller who is on his way from home to work. Taking a gas at the station takes a little bit longer, an elderly employee gives him two bottles of water; finally, Lee Jung Soo resumes his journey. He drives into a newly built tunnel leading from Seoul to Hada. All of a sudden, the whole construction collapses right in front of his eyes as he’s still driving through it. From this point on, the rescue team led by Captain Dae Kyung (Oh Dal Su) steps in in order to save Lee Jung Soo, who is trapped inside his car under the slide of dirt and concrete. However, due to a series of horrendous mistakes and political pressures, the government actually considers aborting the rescue operation. This is unbearable not only to trapped Lee Jung Soo, but also his wife, Se Hyun (Bae Doona).

Daylight: Korean Edition

After seeing the trailer for Tunnel first, I was prepared for a rehashed remake of a not-so-memorable disaster flick with Sylvester Stallone. Thankfully, as soon as the film started, I realised my mistake. As it can always be expected from Korean productions, even such a disaster film as Tunnel is not at all about epic action and larger-than-life heroes. In fact, it is about careful insight into human drama and objective examination of an extreme situation. Yet, don’t feel disappointed! There is still action and it neatly blends together with the story. The whole collapse sequence, though done mostly in CGI, is impressive and Captain Dae Kyung’s wild drive in reverse through the tunnel kept me on the edge of my seat, not to mention the brilliant third act as Lee Jung Soo survives the aftershocks caused by nearby explosions. Nevertheless, as I have stated earlier, the film is primarily a one man’s survival story.

Very much as in Bear Grylls’ Ultimate Survival, Lee Jung Soo has to ration his water and food (daughter’s birthday cake) in order to make it until the rescue arrives. Surprisingly, things spin out of control very quickly for our protagonist. Meanwhile, on the surface, the absurdity of the situation hits the politicians. Is it worth spending millions of dollars every day in order to save one man? Well... get real! Of course, it’s worth it. This is the only moment in the entire film where my suspension of disbelief shatters completely. In real life, no sane politician or party would voice such objections due to possible re-elections. Still, I understand that politicians were made outright hypocritical villains of the story, because the characters of Lee Jung Soo’s wife and Dae Kyung needed their own drama and obstacles to overcome.

Se Hyun has to deal with social ostracism when the public starts believing in her husband’s death. Even she is full of doubts after Lee Jung Soo’s phone finally goes dead and ruthless politicians are pounding on her door. In turn, Dae Kyung has to cut through a lot of red tape in order to keep the rescue mission going. He is the only one who makes an effort to save Lee Jung Soo and firmly believes he’s still alive, though it’s been weeks since the collapse. Lee Jung Soo himself undergoes a life-changing experience underground and, at one point, attempts to get out of the tunnel on his own.

In terms of performances, all of the three main actors give their best. Ha Jung Woo authentically portrays the survivor in a trap, whereas Bae Doona complements his performance as a wife desperate to have her husband back, but (a word of warning for the fans) there's not a lot of her in this picture. Oh Dal Su is a joy to watch as he fights degenerate politicians, journalists, and administrative workers in order to get things done. Also, the music score by Mok Young Jin and Vitek Kral deserves an honourable mention as it conveys some great action cues as well as soothing, slow-paced themes.

Recommendations

Highly recommended to anyone who is into disaster/survival films. Although the film lasts slightly over two hours, it doesn’t feel that much. A very well executed story with great three acts will keep you engaged, not forgetting about a decent cast. Tunnel is a fine entry in the disaster genre and a definite highlight among the rich set of 2016 Korean cinematic hits.

Overall score: 8/10

Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989) [Tokusatsu Review]

Godzilla vs. Biollante; or, the King and the Overgrown Weed

Four years after the moderately successful reboot of the Godzilla franchise and the start-up of the Heisei Series, the Big G returns again from the dead in order to fight off a mutant product of reckless science known as Biollante.

Release Info

Directed by: Kazuki Ōmori Starring: Koji Takahashi, Kunihiko Mitamura, Yoshiko Tanaka, Megumi Odaka
Language: Japanese Original Title: ゴジラvsビオランテ Runtime: 105 min

Synopsis

The film opens with the aftermath of Godzilla 1984’s finale. A deadly mercenary steals Godzilla cell samples from Tokyo ruins and gives them to Dr. Genshiro Shiragami (Koji Takahashi) at the Saradia Institute of Technology and Science. The Japanese scientist wants to use the cells to produce genetically modified plants for the foreign superpower of Saradia. However, there is an explosion at the institute in which Shiragami’s daughter, Erika (Yasuko Sawaguchi) dies. Five years later, a massive volcanic eruption occurs at Mount Mihara and, as it turns out, Godzilla is still alive. Bio-Major terrorists threaten Japan to force them to give up Godzilla’s cells, or otherwise, they will blow up the mountain and unleash the King. Meanwhile, Dr. Shiragami is experimenting on his own with the cells on Erika’s roses, leading to the creation of the abominable Biollante. Now, only the King can face the horrible monster.

The Real Eco-terror
Allegedly, the makers of the film held a public story contest for a possible film script and, thus, they eventually went with the idea about a gigantic plant and a dead daughter devised by a dentist. Interestingly, the second-best script in the contest was about Godzilla facing a highly advanced AI Computer (that’s the Kaiju film I’d love to see!), but instead of saving it for later, Toho reworked it and made Gunhed (1989) movie.

Nevertheless, how does Godzilla vs. Biollante hold up? It is certainly a better film than Godzilla 1984 in terms of the improved King’s appearance and better special effects, but it has a few flaws. Firstly, there’s too much spy elements incorporated in the story. We have over-the-top Bio-Major mercenaries, a Saradian assassin ("Damn, it's Godzilla!"), police investigators, wiretapping, classified documents and so on.

 

Secondly, the music score by Koichi Sugeyama is quite interesting, but it is nowhere near as great as the memorable themes of Akira Ifukube. Allegedly, the working cut of the film had Ifukube's music incorporated, but for some reason, Toho decided to change it. Aside from that, the film is more than watchable. We get great action, a lot of rumble and destruction. Even though Biollante seems a weak enemy at first, she becomes a badass opponent in the finale when extremely wounding the King, but we all know who’s going to be the winner in the end.

With regard to performances, Kenpachiro Satsuma obviously rocks as Godzilla. In terms of human characters, Koji Takahashi as Shiragami, Toru Minegishi as Gondo, Yoshiko Tanaka as Asuka, and Megumi Odaka as Miki Saegusa are all great, especially Miki whose character will go on to have a special relation with the King for the rest of the Heisei series.

Recommendations

Highly recommended to all Kaiju fans. Apart from the fact that Godzilla vs. Biollante may seem to some as an outdated film, it is certainly still entertaining and has great battles in it. Godzilla vs. Biollante is a classic entry in the series in its own right.

Overall score: 7/10