Hope

As for what I see now, it proves nothing!" Hope is the most ambitious project of Na Hong-jin , and the most expensive korean flick. And you can see where the money has been spent and results might not be satisfying for all, but you can't question the idea he had and how he wanted to show it. The movie opens with great uncertainty and lingering fear of something which we cannot comprehend, and just like characters, audience also follow the path of destruction that has been left behind by something sinister which we haven't witnessed yet, and those 40-45 mins where we just chasing the trail is something that you haven't witnessed in survival thriller. It's a great build-up technique while providing sequences that are a treat to watch. And when the reveal finally happens, it does take you back a little with unusual CGI of monsters, but you get used to it as the movie goes on, and it only gets better with other creatures introduced later. The first half is absolute banger and you are totally strapped in, but in second half it feels we kind of moving nowhere with the story, we still see the non stop one after another action sequences, only at the end you realise, this is not the end and we dont get to see clear picture of alien intentions, falling of ship, importance of prince. There are a lot of things that are missing. There is a saying "It's the HOPE that kills you" if you are hoping for no nonsense Survival thriller with sleek action sequences and camera work for more than 2 hours then this is your heaven, but if you are hoping for something of masterful storytelling with same action sequences, then i guess it will be small let down. I feel i understand critics/People at Cannes did not rate it high, I don't think it's just issues in CGI, the film was made with the intention of a sequel and because of that film has many loose ends and uncovered parts, which does make not sense. And even the ending was a bit abrupt, like Ma'veyyo wanted to revive the prince, but the queen had a different plan and talked abt a true fate. So i just think of Cannes audiences and especially in the competition category, people/critics expect a standalone film, with no IP gimmick, and a better story. I am sure this film will be cult among action fans, just because adrenaline rush it gives constantly without disappointed, and the way each scene was shot, especially those scenes in the woods and that fucking car chase, its so exhilarating to watch that. In the end i would say, its a very niche film for niche audience, it fucking feeds a feast to them, but as overall for me i enjoyed it bits and pieces, and the movie gave me hope at the beginning and killed me at the end.