Although already a lot of Korean drama that aired on tv-tv Indonesia, but still counted rarely Korean movie that can penetrate the cinema Indonesia. One of them is a Korean movie that dominates our local cinemas over the past three weeks, Train to Busan.
For those who do not like thriller or scared zombie, I think definitely interested to see this movie because there Gong Yoo deh in posternya. Oppa eh ahjussi handsome is indeed quite famous in Indonesia because of the success of his drama Coffee Prince. Gong Yoo plays a father who intends to take her daughter to meet her mother by train from Seoul to Busan. Suddenly a virus outbreak that turned all Koreans into zombies broke out when they were in a train. This film tells the story of their struggle to find the last refuge of a virus that may mark the end of time.
From the beginning, the appearance of zombies in this movie is directly invite click amazed. In his interview at the 2016 Cannes Festival director Yeon Sang Ho expressed his concern for the zombie visualization, which has been more synonymous with western filmmakers, may not suit the eastern culture. Therefore, the preparation stage of production related zombie concept in this film takes a long time.
From sightings, walks, to the smallest detail attempted to illustrate the perfect mix between the spirit of World War Z's final day tragedy in the South Korean setting. At first glance when compared with most zombie movies, zombies in this movie move very quickly. Perhaps the unique way of moving comes from the idea of a director who sees zombies not just as a living corpse, but a raging creature because his life was taken away.
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No play around lho preparation of extra actors who become zombies. They were not just extras that only came during the day of filming, but all the movement was actually choreographed professionally prepared from the beginning. There is even an official name, bonebraking or dance 'break the bone'. Besides from the beginning of the concept is different, zombies are super fast it may be contrived because the Koreans are rushing rush .. railway to send food should be fast cepet-cepet. If the western zombie should be slow, the Korean zombie should be 'ppali ppali' alias quickly.
The outbreak of a virus that threatens the survival of human civilization is not new in apocalypse movies. The story between father and son who is the highlight in this film is also actually similar to Tom Cruise's 2005 film War of the World. But strangely the cliched story that has been repeatedly raised these Hollywood movies was fresh in the hands of director Yeon Sang Ho.
In addition to its upgraded zombies, a very fast storyline and narrow isolated train settings present extra tension in the film. Except for one scene at the end where Gong Yoo recalls the moment of birth of her daughter, there is absolutely no flash back or flashback that usually serves to slow the flow by making the audience come nostalgic look back. Therefore, if asked which part to be climax, throughout the duration of 118 minutes from this film we feel continued to be treated to the climax from beginning to end.
Another ingenious element used by the director to increase the level of film greget is how the plot of the story progresses from hopper to carriage in a speeding train. Like playing games, in every car the main characters meet a new challenge that must be passed to get to Busan. When talking train, so remembered one of the film directed by South Korean director Bong Joon Ho is Snow Piercer who also uses the same method. Whether or not it is typical of South Korean directors or just coincidence, but these two films include two of the few Korean movies that successfully penetrate the world box office.
Like humans, movies may also not be perfect yes. The first hour of this film feels like being in the highest heaven of a zombie movie, revolutionary and no death. But that seems too perfect it finally began to look cracked, especially in developing the narrative story of each character to impress only as a side of the action.
Each scene that serves to strengthen the character of the characters feel like after thought or tucked the back is not natural. Suppose, internal conflict felt by the main character Gong Yoo when knowing that his company has a share in the outbreak of the virus. The scene that emerged after the middle of the film seemed futile because it was not needed, too late, and ultimately not included in the completion of the story.
The narrative weakness of this film may be caused by the lack of experience of the director who had previously only directed animated films. Perhaps when compared with animation, the narrative by involving the emotions and expression of the actor is much more complex so it is more difficult to be directed and manifested.
Although less smooth way of telling the story, but actually many real problems in South Korea are lifted in this action-packed movie. The problems that are often referred to in this film are the selfishness and individualism of today's society who only had time to think of themselves, even in front of the disaster though.
In this film, the problems that are often encountered in South Korea is highlighted from the point of view of the character Kim Su An, the character of Gong Yoo's daughter. This little girl is already aware there is something wrong in the train since the beginning of the story of this film. But every time he voiced his worries, the people around him were too busy looking down at their smart phone screens.
The film seems to be trying to explore 'humanity' from all sides. First, the relationship between the various human characters depicted through the characters from various social backgrounds and ages. In front of common threats, there are those who help each other but others are suspicious of each other and try to protect themselves.
Second, humanity is even compared to lifeless creatures like zombies. Even when the main character and a number of his friends managed to get through all the zombies in the train, they were not allowed to enter by fellow humans who inhabit the front car. The series of scenes seemed to illustrate that among all the ghosts, zombies, and other supernatural beings, the most frightening human enemy is actually still the man himself.
The character played by Kim Su An is a key character in Train to Busan. The symbol of all the goodness and hope that humans have. In the midst of the tragedy and the commotion caused by zombies and selfish humans, this little girl never loses her character.
The Aloha 'Oe song sung by Kim Su An at the end of the movie also holds its own meaning. Aloha 'Oe is a traditional Hawaiian song that is in English roughly meaning,
good luck my love until we meet again
The song is a farewell greeting on the previous 'home' that has been devastated. But even so this song is also filled with optimism about the future.