Years ago, a friend lent us a copy of a Korean film director’s monster film, The Host. It was creative, imaginative, funny, suspenseful, and the creature was wonderful. The director was Bong Joon Ho. His film, Parasite, won the Oscar for Best Picture in 2019. Both are highly recommended.
We recently rewatched The Host to wash the ick off from the series, Monarch. This series had great potential with a veteran sci-fi actor, Kurt Russell, and two classic monsters, Godzilla and Kong. However, a plodding storyline and a trio of whiny characters, it’s tough to watch. The Host lifted our spirits.
I realized that we’d never seen Bong Joon Ho’s follow up to Parasite, Mickey 17. It’s the story of a man who has nothing to lose and becomes an expendable – a worker who is used for dangerous tasks and, if he should die, they print another. Mickey is part of a crew on a mission to a far off planet led by an egotistical failed politician and his wife surrounded by enablers and sycophants. The planet is cold, snowy and barren and inhabited by a species of creatures that are both intimidating and, well, cute.
The contradictory nature of the creatures and his characters is what is engaging about the film. Like his other films, Bong Joon Ho shows us the good and bad in life. Stories of struggle and challenges that test the characters. He makes great films. I don’t think that Mickey 17 is not his best work but it’s worthy of watching and reflection.
