Parasite (2019)

AKA: 기생충 (Gisaengchung)

A poor family of grifters attempt to ingratiate themselves within the employ of a wealthy household. A searing satire of monumental proportions, the way this film builds and builds upon itself is brilliant. This stuff is as captivating as Game of Thrones. It's such a fun twisty-turny ride, I'd rather not say anything more about it and let the viewer experience it for themselves. Submitted as a non-English entry at the Oscars, it won awards for Best International Feature as well as Best Picture, the first film of its kind to do so.

5 blinking lights out of 5

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)

The unusual lack of music in Mr. Vengeance, which is the first film in Dir. Park Chan-wook's 'Vengeance' trilogy, is as requisite to the feelings that the work engenders as much as the wonderful use of music is to the two subsequent films. While having such a traditional element of the viewing experience absent helps viewers achieve a measure of 'sympathy' for the key players, the tragic events and grim humour that colour the story (of a brother's well-meaning attempt to ensure that his terminally ill sister receives a replacement kidney) can be tough going at times. In addition, the absence makes the violence feel all the more real, some of which is truly unforgettable stuff.

4 skimming stones out of 5

The Host (2006)

A screw-up father gets his dog day when a fishy mutation descends upon the town in which he lives and begins snacking on civilians.
The typically bleak attitude of Korean drama is dyed blackly humorous. I felt bad laughing at the family’s misery, but it was hilarious.
The crisis not only spurs a stepping up to the mark for selfless reasons, it also restores something that was absent from the protagonists lives. Sometimes the thing worth living for is the same as the thing worth dying for.
The CGI creature is well-realised, but in truth it could be anything, the actual focus isn't on it. It's not Hollywood. Bong Joon-Ho’s direction is excellent, proficiently adaptive to each scene’s differing requirements.

4 cold beers out of 5

SNOWPIERCER [2013]

With Park Chan-wook's Stoker and Kim Ji-woon's The Last Stand both being the South Korean director's first Hollywood films, it only seemed inevitable that Bong Joon-ho would come out with Snowpiercer the same year.
An absurd sci-fi social satire, the dark film is filled with wildly strange metaphors galore, making it seems like a bizarre hybrid of Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Terry Gilliam's best work.  As a piece of art it excels, with careful attention to detail, heavy character moments and layer upon layer of conflict, while as a Hollywood film it might seem a bit strange for many but packs enough punch and heroism to please those willing to indulge in this intriguing world.

4 poisonous fish out of 5

THIRST [2009]

Park Chan-Wook's Thirst is essentially Émile Zola's Thérèse Raquin with the elements of vampires tossed into the mix for maximum ick factor. 

As always, varied actor Song Kang-ho executes a wonderful performance that's both terrifying, sympathetic and oddly hilarious.  It's a bit long but Park keeps it weird enough to keep you curious till the end.  

It's a vampire love triangle without the sparkles.  The kids won't understand.  

3½ slurping sound effects that make you squirm out of 5

The Good, The Bad, The Weird [2008]

Director Kim Ji-woon's bizarre and highly entertaining Western film The Good, The Bad, The Weird is a wonderful delight front to back.

There's some obvious nods to the classic western genre, humorous action set pieces that reminds me of the outrageous choreography of the Pirates Of The Caribbean series and outlandish, yet strangely human performances that all make up for some pretty damned good fun.

If it's a thought provoking character-driven story, I might go elsewhere.  This is just good fun and attempts to be nothing more.

3½ spikes up the bum out of 5

Salinui chueok (Memories Of Murder) - 2003

Clumsy & silly first act of this Korean mystery thriller almost turns you off.

Excellent believable characters, setting and ending make up for it.

3.5 panties on the head out of 5