Gurochan First off, I have no idea how so many people can say they don't understand the humour in this film - it's simple, slapstick stuff. A lot of it was obviously to hammer home how dysfunctional the Park family are (such as the funeral scene), and it works well. The people who don't understand it seem to be overthinking it.The film has good and bad points, like most. Some of the good points: The monster looks good, it moves in a really cool way and isn't something that's been done before. It looks like a huge, mutated mudskipper or newt. The family at the centre of the film are quite likeable even with all their faults. That seems to be a problem with a lot of horror films nowadays, the characters tend to be so shallow and stereotypical that you have a hard time caring about them. A lot of unexpected things happen in this film. The ending particularly. It was upsetting, but at the same time it was a refreshing change from the usual formula. CGI, sound, lighting and the camera shots all seemed excellent to me, there was one slightly dodgy moment when the monster falls over at the end but other than that it was great. The jokes/slapstick moments were funny. There wasn't some huge culture barrier, it probably just wasn't to everyone's taste. It's the sort of film that will have a character do something, and you'll find yourself laughing and facepalming at the same time. It's pretty accessible for western audiences. I've seen a few Korean films that were sometimes hard to understand, but this one is easy. Everything is understandable to a western audience and the subtitles are very well done.Bad points: At no point is the film actually scary. It tries to be, but because of the comedy it doesn't quite ever feel frightening. It's more of a drama with a monster in it than a horror movie. It mixes comedy and tragedy, which you don't see often. There's the odd plot hole or two - what the heck was with the fake virus (why?) and where were all the quarantine/police guys after the first half hour? They did have a bit of a dig at the Americans. I thought it was pretty funny, not being one, but I imagine some of them would have been upset by it. Shin Godzilla did the same thing, maybe the Americans are replacing us Brits as the 2D movie bad guys now?All in all, it's well worth watching. I've spent most of this week watching monster movies and this was definitely one of the better ones. It's pretty hard to get it right in this genre, but, although it has a few issues, this film is one of the better ones.

sfinancing This movie has the feel of the classics of the monster movie genre(if monster movies are a genre that is). It brings to mind the original King Kong or Godzilla.Acting, well done on all levels, with somewhat 2D characters(Lost a point here). Plot, a bit tired, but still well done. Script decent, but nothing really new. Special effects, not big budget but better than most for what was spent on the film. Scripting was decent. Suspenseful, amusing in spots, serious in spots. Could have had a better soundtrack(-point 2).Overall, a decent way to spend a couple hours.

Dan Phillips The first time I tried to watch this, I was drawn by all the raving reviews and the eye-catching special effect sequences in the trailers.But I just couldn't last the whole movie. The messy, over-the-top, all-over-the-place performances of the lead adult actors combined with the messy, unfocused narrative just turned me off. It was hard to focus on a main character; but each candidate (apart from the little girl) just was the sort of person who, in real life, would make you back away slowly so as not to attract attention, and find something entirely else to do, far away.So years later, again caught by all the praise the movie gets from all quarters, I made myself try again, and sit through it.This time I got it, I caught the sort-of center to the plot, and more or less enjoyed it. (The 7 is generous.) But I warn you. Aesthetically, it's not unlike watching a runny nose for two hours. If you would do such a thing.

punishmentpark Quentin Tarantino once advised me (not personally, I shall add) to see this, and it blew away the first time. This later time around, I am still very much impressed, but I can't give it 10 out of 10 anymore. Especially the opening sequence is still easily worth a full 10, but other parts just aren't all that perfect, but still good or even very good.The characters (especially big sleepy lug Park Gang-Doo, adorable and smart Park Hyun-seo and the wise grandfather) are all perfectly thought out and wonderfully played, the story has lots of clever, weird or endearing elements and details in it and the monster itself is really a great concoction of weird, agile, filthy and brutal, all rolled into one. The fact that the little girl who is taken, does not survive, makes this one stand out even more within the monster-film standard.Really, a work of monster-film art. A big 9 out of 10.