Jigureul jikyeora! (2003)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Joon-Hwan Jang

Writer:

Joon-Hwan Jang (writer)

Release Date:

4 April 2003 (South Korea)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Perhaps you, are an alien?

Plot:

Byeong-gu believes that the world is on the verge of an alien invasion, and sets out to save the world. |

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Evil Plot | Parking Garage | Torture | Investigation

Awards:

9 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Ha-kyun Shin	...	Lee Byeong-gu
Yun-shik Baek	...	Kang Man-shik
Jeong-min Hwang	...	Su-ni
Jae-yong Lee	...	Inspector Choo
Ju-hyeon Lee	...	Inspector Kim
Ju-bong Gi	...	Squad Leader Lee
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Roe-ha Kim
Mu-hyeon Lee

Also Known As:

Save the Green Planet! (International: English title)

Runtime:

Canada:118 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | USA:118 min

Country:

South Korea

Language:

Korean

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:Unrated | Germany:18 | France:-16 | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Italy:VM14 | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | UK:18

Company:

Sidus Pictures

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Blade Runner (1982)

But... who will save the Earth now?

South Korea, the country that brought us films like Oldboy and Tae Guk Gi, is becoming a powerhouse in film-making. This has been more evident in 2005 than in any other year. With films like A Bittersweet Life and Crying Fist duking it out at the box office, and the recent battle between Sympathy For Lady Vengeance and Welcome To Dongmakgol, South Korean film seems to be healthier than it ever has been. And while Save The Green Planet came out in 2003, it should still be considered among the top works the country has produced for the new millennium. Mixing as many genres as seemingly possible, STGP is a 2-hour mind trip that will delight movie-goers looking for a unique experience.

Director Jun-hwan Jeong pulls no punches in any of the suspenseful scenes. Blood and gore abound, this film may not be for weak stomachs. The film tells the story of Lee Byeong-gu, a paranoid anti-hero who believes aliens are among us, kidnaps Kang Man-shik, an important businessman, thinking he is the king of an extraterrestrial race. What happens after the opening credits is a non-stop mish-mash of comedy, horror, romance, science fiction, police drama, and a sentimental tale of a man who misses his mother. Save The Green Planet triumphs in its stunning cinematography, most notably Byeong-gu's underground sadism lair, which also pays a spectacular amount of attention to detail. To think this is Jeong's debut film is hard to believe. It is an admirable achievement, and I personally can't wait to see more from the man. Especially since, for the first time in my life, the film ends exactly how I've always wanted to see a film end. I won't spoil what happens, but I recommended buying this and experiencing it for yourself.