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

The Crucible (2011) [Mini Review]

The Crucible (2011)

This time, I would like to make an exclusive mini-review of the South Korean drama film called The Crucible (released internationally as Silenced).

Release Info

Directed by: Hwang Dong Hyuk

Starring: Gong Yoo, Jung Yu Mi, Kim Hyung Soo

Language: Korean

Original Title: 도가니

Runtime: 125 min

I picked it up because I have recently seen Train to Busan (2016), as I have wanted to check out something more of Gong Yoo and Jung Yu Mi. Well, after checking out The Crucible, the film left me completely gobsmacked. I was so shocked that, in my view, a regular review of the film seems pointless, because it will not give it enough justice.

Don’t get me wrong, The Crucible is a great movie, but I would like to refer to the sensitive topic that it explores. The story is based on real events which took place at Gwangju Inhwa School (go here for further details) and, in short, the movie focuses on a teacher who discovers that faculty members of a school for deaf children are sexually assaulting their students. The highlight, as well as the issue, of the film is that it does not present its topic subtly. It grips the viewer by the throat and slaps him in the face with highly explicit content. The first half of the film is a brutal exposition as the main character, Kang In Ho (Gong Yoo), unravels the uncomfortable truth; whereas the second part is a nasty courtroom drama as he and human rights activist Seo Yoo Jin (Jung Yu Mi) struggle to make the offenders pay for their crimes.

To be honest, it is not a movie for everyone. If you’re faint-hearted or feel very distressed about sensitive issues, then give this film a pass. However, if you feel up to going through some upsetting sequences, then The Crucible will provide you some intellectual food for thought. It is no wonder that the film actually led to some legislative reforms in South Korea.

Overall score: 8/10

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