Train to Busan: A Ride You Don't Want to Miss - Review

Ever see a movie that you just loved so much, that you want to shout to the whole world, ‘See this film!’? For me, Train to Busan was that movie. To me, it is simply the greatest zombie/virus movie ever made.

Now, granted, unless you like end of the world films or are a zombie enthusiast, you’re not going to feel the same way. But if you like zombie or virus movies … this one is epic. E-P-I-C

Train to Busan is a Korean film, and yes, there are subtitles, however, I implore you not to let that influence your decision to watch. I promise you, fifteen minutes in, you’ll be like, ‘what subtitles’. It’s apocalypse, dialogue is minimal and as my son put it, the actors were animated in delivery and the dialogue went with the action, you didn’t need to read it.

The premises, a father (Yoo Gong) takes his daughter (soo-an Kim) on a train to see her mother. Unbeknownst to them, the outbreak has begun and it’s on the train, their destination may be one of the only safe places remaining …if they can get there.

The movie is about what people will do, and how far they would go for those they love and strangers. The film covers a wide range of characters that act and react a certain way to the danger and stress. Each character could be someone you know.

The acting is top notch and I fell in love with Don Lee’s (Ma Dong-Seuk) character. He’s tough, believable and he does an amazing job. His chemistry with his pregnant wife and the others is instant, and he provides a lot of comic relief when it is so desperately needed.

Let’s not forget the little girl Soo-an, she’s outstanding and delivers a performance never seen in this genre.

The focus is on the people, and you care about them, really care about them. Yes, we see some really cool zombies or infected, but the gore is actually PG rated, really, very little blood and violence. Your fear comes from the point of view of those on the train. It pulls no punches and will emotionally rip your heart out. Yeah … you’ll cry during a zombie film.

I have heard it compared to 28 Days later and World War Z, while the infected are similar, Train to Busan crushes them both. Another comparison … Snowpiercer. Yeah, good movie, it has nothing on this one. There is no down time. In fact, unlike those two films, on my third time watching Train to Busan, I had no desire to hit a fast forward over slow scenes … there are none.

I don’t want to give too much away, because you deserve to watch this film. I’m telling you to watch this movie. You’ll thank me for it. Just a heads up, in the beginning, once you see the father and daughter in the car going to the train … buckle up, it doesn’t stop from there.

10 Cloverfield Lane: A Review

Let me start by saying, “I love John Goodman.” That alone will tell you my mindset going into this film.

So, as I usually do, I give warning.

WARNING. May contain Spoilers.

You’ve been warned. Here we go.

Being a late night movie goer it is tough to get a viewing companion so I went to this one alone. I really didn’t know what to expect, except that I heard it had something to do with the movie Cloverfield and it had John Goodman. That was all I knew. I went to seek reviews, and when I saw a review title, ‘Go to the movie first, don’t spoil it by reviews.’ I paid attention.

Now … that reviewer was wrong. He insinuated that by reading a review it would ruin this HUGE surprise ending that no one is supposed to see coming. Okay, unless you lived under a movie rock, you’ll know the ending to this one. Although the teenagers I spoke to after the movie lived under a rock. They came out saying, “Dude, I didn’t see it coming.”

Really? Really.

“Did you see the movie Cloverfield?”

“Yes.”

“Then how did you not see it coming? Notice the movie title?”

“Ooooooh.”

But rest assured the movie is not about what is happening to the world, it is about human nature, trust and what happens in this really cool decked out bomb shelter.

Howard is a navy veteran. A survivalist with a keen sense of seeing what is coming. He’s divorced and we learn that his wife took off with his daughter whom he adored. Howard is played by Goodman.

Michelle is running from her relationship problems, in a dick move she packs up and leaves her boyfriend. While on the run, she is in an automobile accident and is rescued by Howard. When she wakes up, he tells her the world has ended.

She of course, doesn’t believe him. Which sets the tone for the movie. Is Howard lying and just a kidnapper or did the world really end. Now any attempt by JJ Abrams to confuse the audience, keep them guessing, is tossed out the window about thirty minutes into the movie. Unless you’re thick, dense or in the bathroom, the ‘I never seen it coming’ ending is pretty much given away there. Hell, it’s given away in the preview.

What you see in the preview is what you get in the movie. Although it has some good comedy moments, tense moments and ultra cool monologues with great music.

Did I like it? Yes.

It’s The Divide meets Misery. No kidding. It is.

Should you go see it at the movies? Yes for the visual effects. But don’t go alone. It is one of those movies you really want to discuss with someone afterward.

For example …. My big question still is, what the hell did the daughter have to do with the story line.

10 Cloverfield is certainly one I will own on digital Download. I’d say DVD, but does anyone really buy them anymore?

Godzilla 2014 Review - Monster with Testicular Fortitude

If you were that Saturday night ‘B’ movie watcher, or Sunday afternoon waiting on Godzilla to play on television, then you may be a little surprised if you go to see the newest version of the ageless monster, Godzilla.

This review may contain SPOILERS, but really how much of a spoiler can it be. It’s Godzilla.

I wasn’t really a big Godzilla buff, back in the day, I thought the Matthew Broderick one was decent, but the best one I saw was the Japanese Godzilla 2000.  But when I saw the destruction, the look and feel of a dystopian world, all in this new preview, I knew I had to see this one.

I went to the premiere showing with my niece and friend. My friend and for anonymity, we call him Tom. Which is not his name, it sounds like ‘Tom’ but it’s not.

Tom is a consummate movie lover. A good one to have around, although I will wager that he won’t go see another movie with me. Especially my niece, who by genetics, talks as loud as I do.

We sat in the very last row in a pretty empty theater watching the 3D version. I took my Tums for motion sickness and Advil for that 3D headache. I was ready to go.

SPOILER – The story is about a monster, a big monster., But there is a twist about it. Not about the creation of the monster, just the monster storyline.

As far as a story goes, hands down this was the most original of all. Pay attention to the opening credits and the opening scene. Don’t blink, you’ll be asking the person next to you what the time line is. To me, Godzilla doesn’t really look different, just less cheesy.

The acting is good, really good and nothing is overdone. Except the Japanese Doctor, who when asked what it was, turned with drama and seriousness, twitched his upper lip, and while looking at his peers, said in a deep heavily lazed Dialect, “Gah-zheeela”

I laughed. No one else did. Tom nudged me to stop. I’m still not convinced that it wasn’t an inside joke on set.

Visually, the movie is stunning. For those who like destruction … it’s there. For those who want a glimpse into a post apocalypse world, it has it (SPOILER) they show a quarantined city, fifteen years later.

If you hate 3D because it makes you sick and the cinematographer goes overboard, than this is the 3D movie for you. Nothing overdone or bad camera movements that will make you sick. I know, I am sensitive to it. At one point I was tricked. First time sitting in the back row, the heads of the guys in front kept bobbing into the picture and for a split second I thought the 3D was super realistic.

The movie is nonstop action and fun, and it pulls at the heartstrings. And SPOILER, you find yourself cheering for Godzilla. And yes, I'll admit it. I teared up. Then again, I tear up when I watch The Voice.

The thing that I liked best was the trailers didn’t give it away. It didn’t give you the whole movie in 2 minutes. They gave nothing away. In fact they were misleading in a good way.

At one point, SPOILER I was watching them battle on the West Coast and I leaned to Tom and said, “How the heck are they gonna make it all the way to the East then  Paris.”

“What are you talking about?” he asked.

“The trailer showed a destroyed Statue of Liberty and Eiffel Tower.”

“Uh, Jack, that was the Vegas scene.”

Ahhhhh. The editors were very crafty.

Anyhow, I highly recommend this move, it’s a fun summer one. And just one final note: I won't say where or when, but I will say, let me know if I am the only one that saw a Giant, swinging, Yellow Testicle.