The Chaser (2008, South Korea)

Any definition of grim and dark is not complete without mentioning Asian cinema. And any list of Asian cinema masterpieces is not complete without mentioning “The Chaser”.

Although at times the film feels too macabre to be anything but a dark fantasy it is based on true events:  the story of the South Korean serial killer and cannibal Yoo Young-chul who is currently on death row since 2004. His crimes are still sparkling the death penalty debate in South Korea, the country where death penalty is still permissible by the law but hasn’t been executed since 1997.

What is the best about the film is that it feels like real life with all its randomness. South Korean police is not shown as incapable. They are real people who make reasonably logical judgments in the circumstances they are in. They get side-tracked on other, more “important” things, get tired, and make mistakes. Plus their minds just can’t comprehend the full extent of the un-human illogical horror that is Yoo Young-chul.

There is a bit of hope added into the scary mix in the form of Eom Joong-ho, dirty cop turned pimp. He is the main force that drives the chase which is as much the chase after the remains of his humanity as the chase after the serial killer.

I had to hold on to the edge of my seat during the excellent ending and there were some fabulous twists too. Watch this is you like Asian cinema, and watch this if you never watched Asian cinema before. This film is a good starting point .

Pacific Rim

To say that I felt apprehensive before watching Pacific Rim is to say nothing. I thought I have seen enough Kaiju films to last me a lifetime and didn’t want a to see a copy of “The Host”. But I have to eat my hat and admit that Guillermo del Toro can do no wrong for me, even if it is a film about Giant Sharks vs Giant Robots. Even if it is a film that tells me that Russians look like this:

What can I say? Switch your brain off and enjoy the joy and the beauty of humongous monsters fighting humongous robots! Don’t look for too much plot – there isn’t too much of it in “Pacific Rim” and don’t look for any exceptional actor performances neither. Let’s admit it that any actor that can deliver phrases like “Today we are canceling the apocalypse!” with a straight face deserve recognition. 

But just take it seriously for a minute, and the marvelously created monster battles will help you to do so. Forget the reality of your life. Feel the surge of adrenalin and the visual pleasure. This is Pacific Rim. 

Oh yes, my second brain ( my lizard brain ) enjoyed this very very much.