Current Events > Watching a "lost" Korean kaiju flick, Yongary

(+) Yeah! (+)

Whats interesting is that the original Korean version has been lost, save for a 40 minute cut that was found about a decade ago. Only the English dub remains. And unfortunately that is the most interesting thing about the movie. >_>

I know its a pretty basic bitch complaint that the monster doesnt show up for so long!, but legit *nothing* happens for like, 30 minutes. There isnt even a story to set up. Theres an earthquake. Oh shit its a giant lizard. 30 minutes to tell us that.

To be fair, once Yongary does show up and starts fucking up Korea the movie is pretty fun to watch. Pretty decent variety of sets and geography; quality isnt entirely convincing, but its very nicely detailed and really pops against the gloomy gray-blue skybox. You get to see the monster trek around from a lot of different vantage points. And its pretty much a non-stop tour of destruction from that point, with only minimal breaks to the human plot as they progress their plan with addressing the monster. Ill give the movie that much credit. If youre not going to invest in an interesting plot, or characters, or even a theme, may as well keep the camera on the action. >_>

Movie ends with a token nod to the fact that the kaiju is really just a big animal who didnt deserve to die, made slightly more poignant as it was observed by a child character, but eh.

Id rate it a flat 5/10. I dont regret watching it, but I couldnt see myself recommending this to anyone other than as a historical curiosity. And if Im recommending Korean kaiju films as a historical curiosity, Pulgasari would be the more interesting one, if only because of how fucked the production was <_<

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There's an 80 minute cut out there, still the English dub.

AlisLandale posted...

And if Im recommending Korean kaiju films as a historical curiosity, Pulgasari would be the more interesting one, if only because of how fucked the production was <_<

Was going to ask if you've seen this. I'm curious as I'm getting more into kaiju and other Asian rubber suit monster stuff (tokusatsu?)

Where did you watch this?

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I rented this once as a kid, could barely sit through it.

smoke_break posted...

Where did you watch this?

Internet Searches are a pathway to many abilities that some would consider to be...unnatural.

Surprisingly easy to find, though searching for it now brings up that apparently MST3K riffed it in the new series? I wasnt a fan of the MST3K reboot but tbh it might be the most entertaining way to watch this movie. >_>


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I saw it once as a small child and once as an adult. The part I remember is the monster dancing while the child watches and laughs. That, and a shot of outer space which looks like a blanket with holes punched in it.

how can it be lost if MST3K covered it

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YourLovelyTina posted...

how can it be lost if MST3K covered it

the original Korean version has been lost, save for a 40 minute cut that was found about a decade ago. Only the English dub remains.

The only full version of the movie that exists is the dub. This is also why I put lost in quotation marks lol

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AlisLandale posted...

Pulgasari would be the more interesting one, if only because of how fucked the production was <_<

Oh come on now. Just because a dictator ordered government spies to kidnap a film director and a movie actress from a foreign government he was actively at war with to make a monster movie in chronological order (couple with complete production changes and a waste of film) with American prisoners of war/defectors forced to act under fear of death doesn't mean the production was fucked up!

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Director: "What am I doing here? Let me see my wife. I'm not a spy!"
Propagandist: "Our glorious leader, Kim Jung Il, has a request of you."
Director: "A request...?"
Propagandist: "You are to direct a Godzilla movie for the benefit of North Korea."
Director: "..."