Comments on: Movie Review – The Host (2007) http://commentarytrack.com/2007/04/01/review-the-host-2007/ movie reviews, news and discussion Thu, 17 May 2012 20:53:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: James http://commentarytrack.com/2007/04/01/review-the-host-2007/#comment-179 James Tue, 03 Apr 2007 14:39:23 +0000 http://commentarytrack.com/2007/04/01/review-the-host-2007/#comment-179 Although there was a noticeable anti-American sentiment, I'd say there was also some blame being centered on the incompetent South Korean government as well. In this sense, I see "The Host" as being derisive of ruling bodies and bureaucracy in general when it comes to confronting crises. As for the shifts in tone, I found them to be wonderfully atypical and a pleasant shift from the formulae of many current Hollywood products. The funeral scene was a great example of this film's ability to hit multiple emotions at once: tragedy begets confusion begets hilarity. A great movie and one I look forward to watching again. Although there was a noticeable anti-American sentiment, I’d say there was also some blame being centered on the incompetent South Korean government as well. In this sense, I see “The Host” as being derisive of ruling bodies and bureaucracy in general when it comes to confronting crises.

As for the shifts in tone, I found them to be wonderfully atypical and a pleasant shift from the formulae of many current Hollywood products. The funeral scene was a great example of this film’s ability to hit multiple emotions at once: tragedy begets confusion begets hilarity.

A great movie and one I look forward to watching again.

]]> By: Helen http://commentarytrack.com/2007/04/01/review-the-host-2007/#comment-178 Helen Mon, 02 Apr 2007 13:45:56 +0000 http://commentarytrack.com/2007/04/01/review-the-host-2007/#comment-178 I really liked most of The Host, especially the Park family dynamics. I completely agree with the last paragraph of the review. But I can't recommend the film. The ending ruined the movie for me. I can't be more specific without including spoilers, except to say that it was the one switch in tone I found too big for the rest of the movie to support. The anti-Americanism was irritating in itself and because it dragged out the conclusion, dissipating the tension. Scenes and plot turns were included with no purpose other than to further the anti-American theme when the movie should have been rushing to its conclusion to keep the audience from noticing how absurd the whole enterprise is. I don't agree that the anti-Americanism was as benign as Rishi describes; America was not presented merely as incompetent, but as actively malicious. I really liked most of The Host, especially the Park family dynamics. I completely agree with the last paragraph of the review. But I can’t recommend the film. The ending ruined the movie for me. I can’t be more specific without including spoilers, except to say that it was the one switch in tone I found too big for the rest of the movie to support.

The anti-Americanism was irritating in itself and because it dragged out the conclusion, dissipating the tension. Scenes and plot turns were included with no purpose other than to further the anti-American theme when the movie should have been rushing to its conclusion to keep the audience from noticing how absurd the whole enterprise is. I don’t agree that the anti-Americanism was as benign as Rishi describes; America was not presented merely as incompetent, but as actively malicious.

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