Save The Green Planet! (Jigureul jikyeora! )
Here Is What You Need To Know:
Save The Green Planet! is one weird ass wild ride. This is most certainly not a sci-fi/horror/comedy/social commentary film for everyone. In fact, you won’t see too much comedy in most of the flick unless you’re a bit twisted, or a guy, its usually a guy, that likes hurting people. That said what makes Save The Green Planet! so much fun is the brilliantly constructed script that truly keeps the audience guessing and off-balanced. This Korean film from 2003 takes a fairly direct premise, one in which a young and man and his girlfriend kidnap a business executive who they believe to be an alien, and the film proceeds to steer that concept in all sorts of interesting and entertaining directions.
Newbie director and writer Jang Jun-hwan cranks out a really nice looking movie, full of great attention to detail. This is a must see for the sci-fi/horror fan, who feels that they have seen everything as this one may have very well slipped “under the radar” with Western audiences. I would tell you more, but I fear ruining your time. While, not for everyone, if you are indeed, a true sci-fi or horror film junkie like yours truly, then you must add Save The Green Planet! to your lexicon.
What Was Cool:
Oh my God an original screenplay? Sure, there are a lot of elements that you have seen elsewhere, to give examples would be to give away too much about the film. Much of the film is shot in one location, but it can mostly be overlooked. Save The Green Planet! is innovative and to some extent, so innovative it has a bit of built in shielding from the Hollywood Remake Machine. Hollywood could remake this film, but it would suck beyond words if they tried. In fact, while the film is littered with gory scenes, what frightened me most of all was the thought of some studio executive zipping up his pants after “doing” his secretary only to pick up a pen and greenlight a remake of this film.
What Was Stupid:
Save The Green Planet! is a innovative film, especially for a small budget and is just a lot of fun, often in unexpected ways.
The Film's Real Genius or Geniuses:
This film is all about "the Jang…"
Overlooked Performance/Accomplishment:
The entire cast is awesome and all the supporting players helped make the film feel large, full and pretty polished. Nice work.
Story A
Use of Science B-
Acting A (Great acting performances are everywhere in the film. Save The Green Planet! truly highlights the importance of good casting.)
Portrayal of Women B (Okay, the main female character is sort of insane, but that is fine this time around.)
Visuals-Visuals and Special Effects B+
Visuals-Set Design/Props B+
Wardrobe/Costumes B+ (How can you not enjoy a little subtle forced cross-dressing, oh its in their, just look for it.)
Style/Sex Appeal A
Enjoyability Grade A
Home Theater/HD Factor A
Gut Check (Level of Studio Executive Guts) A
Overall Innovation A
Overall Grade A (Probably not for everyone, such as old people that say, “what is happening?” “who is that again?” or “Is that the same guy as before?” but most fans of sci-fi/horror will have a good time. While there are comedic elements, I don’t know if I would go as far as to say this is a sci-fi comedy as some have done. Mostly it’s a film that is tough to drop into a clean category and that is good stuff folks.)
A Little Fact About Cherie:
I found the sight of beating a man tied to a chair with a hot clothing iron, strangely appealing. Oh I am just kidding. Rent this flick, its bad ass, weird but bad ass.
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