The Host (2006)

Nicely done but lightyears away from great. Overhyped too.

I have no idea why this film is being compared to ALIEN or JAWS. It is offensively inferior.

Basically, there is a Korean family. Then there is this monster who captures the little girl. Family goes after the monster. Monster keeps the girl in its sewer hideout full of other victim's bones. Family finds the monster. Monster is attracted to the city where there's a trap. Monster gets killed.

The effects are nicely done and the crowd scenes where the monster runs at large and eats people are very well staged (and must have been expensive to shoot). That explains why there are only two of those big scenes in the entire film.

The rest of the film is just the family looking for the monster and little girl hiding from the monster.

The film lacks more spectacle (although the little it has is very well done).

And the acting is very strange. It is very histrionic... like if everybody were in a Masked Rider or Ultraman episode. In a way, it looked like those old Japanese TV shows... but made with CGI.

I got very disappointed after all the hype.
I am sure it worked a lot better with Asian audiences who are more in tune with many elements... like the histrionic acting, some characters, the fact that one of the protagonists is an Olympic bow and arrow winner (a big sport in Korea)... and many other things.

Rent. Don't buy. July 30, 2008

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. July 20, 2008

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. July 13, 2008

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
July 7, 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.
July 5, 2008

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