Save the Green Planet!

The set-up alone for Save the Green Planet demands your attention.

When a drugged up, marginalized bee-keeper (Ha-kyun Shin) researches the background of a powerful industrialist (Yun-shik Baek), he can draw only one conclusion: the latter is an alien from Andromeda with designs on taking over the Earth on the next eclipse. And he does what any paranoid, stimulant-addled citizen might do -- kidnap the man, shackle him in his basement, and torture the truth out of him.

From this wacky premise comes one of those rare films that successfully mixes dark comedy with true pathos. But the real excitement comes with the film-making, which offers cinematic parodies, inventive plotting, and some penetrating commentary on the evolution of humankind. If Charlie Kaufman were South Korean, this would be the kind of film he'd make.

Alternative history fans will roll in the aisles with the film's wry treatment of UFOs, the death of the dinosaurs, alien abduction, and all sorts of science fiction clichés. Save the Green Planet is just plain fun -- scary fun, uncomfortable fun -- but you won't dare doze off for even an instant.

Very strange film.. It's a comedy, drama, sometimes serious sometimes not.. And sad.

Anyone who is a true fan of film will find this interesting at worst..

UFO/Sci-fi fans stay away... This isn't an Alien film and you won't find what you're looking for.

The film tells the story of a fanatic who tracks down aliens that are living in our society. He comes across an important business man and keeps him in his basement to force him to give up information about his alien race.

Now this is something different, that is one thing I can assure you. I didn't know what to expect from this piece. So let's start somewhere. If you like original movies, this one qualifies! It is a weird (but good) mix of different genres here, and all in all it is one superb hybrid film. It has it what it takes to keep you focused, changing rapidly between some more thriller/horror moments and all of a sudden there is a large dose of a more comedy touch - all blended with a feeling of sci-fi. Ha-Kyun Shin makes a superb performance here, and you develop some kind of hate-love for his character. South Korea keeps supplying us with great movies, and here's a solid 8/10. If you like "Oldboy" and familiar stuff, I bet you will like this one. At least give it a try.

In preparation to experience the latest Yorgos Lanthimos film this week, I wanted to see the movie upon which it is based. Lucky for me I had a DVD I had gotten at one time from one of those $2 carded discs at a Family Dollar store. It was filed away, but I had never watched it. There is a right time for everything.

According to a poll taken in 2024, one in three Americans believe that aliens from another planet are living among us disguised as human beings. Nearly half of all Americans believe that aliens from another planet exist. Still, 37% of Americans believing that people are walking around as body-snatched aliens is quite alarming. What sorts of lengths might people go to, to expose these aliens? Could they, for instance, kidnap the CEO of a company?

This is what happens in Save the Green Planet. Kang Man-shik (Baek Yoon-shik) is president and CEO of Yoojae Chemical Company, a corporation that is engaging in experimentation to develop drugs. Lee Byeong-gu (Shin Ha-kyun) believes that Kang is an alien leader from the planet Andromeda. Lee also worked in one of Kang's plants with his mother. Now he has Kang in his mountain "fortress" dungeon, torturing him and hoping that his efforts will ward off the impending alien invasion.

Assisting him is his girlfriend Sooni (Hwang Jung-min). On the case is disgraced Inspector Choo (Lee Jae-yong), who plays by his own rules. Also tasked with looking into the kidnapping is recent graduate of the academy Tae-sik (Kim Dong-hyun). This is comedic at times, but far more tragic than that. The culmination of the film is bloody and violent, with a surprise ending that you will not believe (or will you?).

This classic Korean sci-fi/crime thriller mash-up is not as widely seen as it should be. Although I thought the now out of print DVD looked fine, it needs an upgrade. Perhaps considering its pedigree fueling the latest from Lanthimos, it may get some love on physical media. It is nowhere to be found on streaming, so good luck if you want to see it. Writer director Jang Joon-hwan crafted this minor masterpiece from whole cloth and deserves much credit for making Bugonia a possibility. I hope he gets an honorable mention if award season gives birth to acceptance speeches. Also, Lee Dong-jun has provided the film with a haunting score. I am now ready for my Lanthimos.

I watched this movie quite some time ago. And I have to admit, that I wasn't so sure about the movie or how I should feel about it! I originally would've only have given it 6/10, if I had voted for it back then.

I don't think that there are many people who know this little gem, outside from Korea! And it's almost impossible to recommend it to somebody. Because it's a very special movie. It does go against the flow and it's not at all a Blockbuster! What it is, is unique, thought provoking, always challenging and disturbing. But mostly in a good way (even if it takes you longer to figure out, how you feel about it, as was the case with me)! To tell you anything at all about the story would be spoiling the fun of discovering it on your own ... If you think you can handle a movie, where you just don't know what to make of it ... watch this! That's all I'm going to say ...