Natural City (2003)

Director:

Byung-chun Min

Writer:

Byung-chun Min (writer)

Release Date:

5 September 2003 (South Korea)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Action | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The war has begun...

Plot:

In the year 2080, the world is connected by a massive computer network. Combiners have developed a process...

Plot Keywords:

2080s | Robot Woman | Robot Behaves Like Human | Cyberpunk | Cyborg

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Ji-tae Yu	...	R
Jae-un Lee	...	Cyon
Rin Seo	...	Ria
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Eun-pyo Jeong	...	Croy
Doo-hong Jung	...	Cyper
Eul-dong Kim
Hyo-seon Kim
Ju-hye Ko	...	Ami
Chang Yun	...	Noma

Directed by
Byung-chun Min

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Byung-chun Min		writer

Produced by
Lee Dong Jun	....	producer

Original Music by
Jae-jin Lee

Cinematography by
Byung-chun Min

Film Editing by
Min-ho Kyung

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Doo-hong Jung	....	martial arts director

Special Effects by
Do-ahn Jung	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Danny Shinwoong Kang	....	concept artist

Camera and Electrical Department
Ji-sung Kim	....	lighting assistant

Music Department
Jan Holzner	....	music recording engineer

Production Companies

• Jowoo Entertainment
• Tube Entertainment

Distributors

• Media Suits (2005) (Japan) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• HK Video (2002) (Korea) (DVD)
• KinoVista (2006) (France) (TV)
• MTV Netherlands (2006) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Moviemax (2004) (Italy) (all media)
• Optimum Releasing (2004) (UK) (DVD)
• Prooptiki (2005) (Greece) (VHS)
• Rialto Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• Splendid Film (2007) (Germany) (DVD) (as Amasia)
• Tartan Video USA (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2005) (Finland) (DVD)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, language and brief nudity

Runtime:

South Korea:114 min | Italy:104 min

Country:

South Korea

Language:

Korean

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Germany:16 | UK:15 | Australia:MA | Japan:PG-12 | USA:R | Finland:K-15 | South Korea:15 | Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating) | Singapore:PG (cut) | Canada:13+ (Québec)

Company:

Jowoo Entertainment

Goofs:

Continuity: Early in the movie R is shot in the hand. He wears a bandage around his hand after that. This bandage appears and disappears on his hand throughout the rest of the movie.

Excellent film

I don't understand the low rating of this picture.

THIS is what science fiction SHOULD be!!! Too much sci-fi has become pretty people in black PVC or leather bondage gear blowing things up in 360 slow-mo. Natural City actually sits back and tells a tells a story without bludgeoning us with Matrix-lite effects.

This is as much a sad tale of love denied as it is a renegade cop, a cyborg, a "hooker with(out) a heart of gold" and the military-industrial complex of a the future.

YES, the story is derivative of Blade Runner. Most, if not all, sci-fi of today is derivative of either Blade Runner, Mad Max or 1984. Move on. Enjoy the good stuff when it happens.

LOVED the fact that they did not stomp all over the subtleties of this movie with the standard industrial metal soundtrack that is de riguer in much sci-fi. The piano score was haunting and kept us grounded in R's sorrow for his pending loss.

Come into Natural City with an open mind and no Blade Runner hang-ups and you will be rewarded with a very good film. Not since Minority Report have we seen sci-fi done with this much respect paid to thinking grown ups.