Asian Home Cinema: THE HOST Amok On the DVD

The Host is a movie that breaking all box office records in

Korea

’s history, critically acclaimed and also well received by audience world-wide. Now it’s ready to entertain your home cinema, the region 1 US DVD will be released on July 24^th, 2007 in both single disc and a two disc collector’s edition in DVD, HD-DVD, and Blu-Ray formats. There are rumors that the rights to "The Host" have already been purchased for an American remake, and it is easy to see why. The film's monster elements are well-done, interesting and exciting. So please do not wait for Hollywood to butcher this movie to see it! Seek out and watch the original version!

The story is focusing on a small Park family, which runs a small snack bar on the banks of Seoul’s Han River. Head of the family is a man in his late 60’s Park Hee-bong who has three children, his elder son Gang-du is a man who seems a bit slow mentally, he has a precocious teenage daughter, Hyeun-seo, whose mother ran off after giving birth to her. Nam-il the youngest son, an alcoholic who has not made much of himself since graduating from college, and Nam-joo is Gang-du’s sister, an archery medalist and member of the national team. One fine day an ugly mutant amphibious creature, born of chemicals dumped at a nearby U.S military base, emerges from the polluted water and starts to attack the people lounging by the side of the river. As Gang-du runs away from the monster, he sees Hyun-seo. Recently came out from the snack bar, unaware of the danger. Trying to grabs her hand to save her but he stumbles and grabs another girl hands, too late to realize his error, Gang-du sees the monster grab his daughter and drag her into the river.
Gathering in the aftermath of tragedy, the Park family is stunned when the Korean government announces that the monster is not only a direct risk, but also “the host” of a virus. Then the government representative in biohazard suits arrive and demand to know who were in direct contact with the creature and quarantined them for fear they have been exposed to a new virus, including Gang-du that was joined by his family. While in quarantine, Gang-du receives a call from Hyun-seo’s mobile. It does convince that she’s still alive and trapped somewhere in a sewer in Seoul, but no-one believes him except his family. In order to save his daughter, Gang-du and his family escape the hospital and start to searching by them self with all of the most extremes way, from battling health professionals, military personnel, and other manifestations of the government and ultimately, against the large monster itself.
Meanwhile, Hyun-seo waits alone, she’s hiding in a pipe within the sewer, and cannot escape. The creature drops the bodies of its victims nearby, saving them for its dinner later. She finds them dead or mortally wounded, except for young orphan boy who’s snatched by the monster while he and his brother were stealing in her abandoned snack bar. Together they plan to climb out of the sewer using the victim’s clothes as a rope.

A monster movie for the 21st century, "The Host" takes familiar issue elements and then crushes them in much the same way the title mutant runs wreaking havoc along the Seoul riverbank it calls home. Written and directed by South Korean director Bong Joon-ho, it's a film that was patchy at best and there were funny moments too, all the while building to a surprisingly emotional climax.
The monster in the film is all done in CGI, but The CGI amazingly makes the monster look and seem believable with its design, movements and actions, created by the San Francisco based F/X Company The Orphanage.
Even in some sense, this is one of the best monster movies in years. But the movie's strongest area isn't its slick looking monster but its heart and soul. The Park families are so likable and believable that you wish them to succeed in their mission. It was emotionally attached to these characters and when one of them dies, you’ll felt it. Actually, all the acting is fantastic. Every character is fleshed out. They're unique, and interesting. Nonetheless, it's like watching a real family squabble, rather than some actors on a screen pretending to be connected.

P.S: On June 19, it was announced that a sequel was in progress for a 2008 release, with a different director.