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Audio Format: DD 5.1, DD 2.0 Video Format: Widescreen 1.85:1 (Anamorphic) Languages: Korean, English Subtitles: English, Spanish Region Code: 1 Year Made: 2006 Running Time: 119
Local sci-fi films have been disappointing. They either clumsily render a futuristic world or create strange creatures that have the audience bursting into sudden laughter. Or simply, they are poor epigones of Hollywood blockbusters with flimsy stories. But that was all before director Bong Joon-ho's new film, ``The Host."
 The film is technically evolved, in terms of visual effects, and has an interesting story, which Bong blends with his unique satirical humor to tackle social issues. It is now ready to write a new chapter in the domestic sci-fi film history. The film revolves around Park Hee-bong (played by Byun Hee-bong), a man in his late 60s. Park runs a small snack bar on the banks of the Seoul's Han River and lives with his two sons, one daughter and one granddaughter.
The Parks seem to lead a quite ordinary and peaceful life, or maybe a tad bit poorer than the average Seoulite. Hee-bong's elder son Gang-du (by Song Gang-ho) is an immature and incompetent man in his 40s, whose wife left home long ago. Nam-il (by Park Hae-il) is the youngest son, an unemployed grumbler, and daughter Nam-joo (by Bae Du-na) is an archery medallist and member of the national team.
One day, an unidentified mutant suddenly appears from the depths of the Han River and spreads panic and death, and Gang-du's daughter Hyun-seo is carried off by the monster and disappears. All the family members are in a great agony as they have lost someone dearest to them. But as they find out she is still alive, they resolve to save her.
The film's production budget is 15 billion won, and one third of it was spent for the creation of the monster, aided by the staff from the ``Harry Potter'' and ``The Lord of Rings'' series. The result is quite satisfying as audiences can see the computer-generated images are successfully blended with real pictures without many flaws.
But the real beauty of the monster is that it doesn't overshadow the story and the film maintains focus on the people who fight against it. Although there is no heroic character with supernatural powers or great ambition to save the world, the film has its own message _ seemingly weak individuals are the ones who protect what is worthy to them, not through the government's aid. More interestingly, as the story unfolds, it also tackles current-day controversial issues.
Korean monster movie ``The Host" overtook the epic film King and the Clown becoming the most-viewed film at the box office in Korean cinema history, and its phenomenal success was setting new records.
 The blockbuster directed by Bong Jun-ho broke the previous ticket sale record _ 12.3 million set earlier this year by the historical piece ``The King and the Clown" in just 38 days; the latter took 112 days. ``It was spectacular with its computer graphics" Lee Kyu-jung, a 29-year-old office worker, said. ``I saw the film after it broke the 10 million-viewer mark as I was curious why so many people had seen it.
The film"s fastest pace is attributed to its general appeal to a broad audience with an interesting story and superb special effects. The film revolves around a family, who fight against a mutant _ acclaimed for its graphic rendering _ rising from the Han River.
``At a glace, the film is an ordinary monster blockbuster such as the `Jurassic Park" series" said Gina Yo, a film critic and professor at Dongguk University. ``But what makes the film different from such summer blockbusters is it also deals with social issues about minorities, and talks about a new concept of family.
Special Features
- Deleted Scenes
- Commentary with Director
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