Moderator One Armed Boxer Posted December 11, 2016 Moderator Share Posted December 11, 2016 Review originally posted here - http://cityonfire.com/train-to-busan-2016-review/ Korea’s film industry is one which is rarely associated with the medium of animation, however one name that may change all that is director Yeong Sang-ho, who’s been successfully carving out a name for himself within the animated arena. His hard hitting features like 'King of Pigs' and 'The Fake', which display a biting social commentary towards modern day Korea, have drawn international acclaim, and were widely screened on the festival circuit. Sang-ho ventured outside the realistic trappings of his most recognised work for the 2015 feature 'Seoul Station', which deals with a zombie outbreak in the Korean capital, and a year later he followed it up with an immediate sequel in the form of 'Train to Busan'. What makes 'Train to Busan' a unique sequel is that, instead of being animated, it’s a live action follow-up. Similar to Hollywood director Brad Bird, who after rising to prominence with the likes of 'The Incredibles' decided to take on live action with 'Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol', so fans of Sang-ho have also been looking forward to seeing the director work on a live action production. The fact that his first foray was to involve Korea being overrun by a zombie outbreak was a welcome bonus. Rather than drawing on comparisons to other zombie flicks though, the movie that immediately springs to mind when watching 'Train to Busan' is fellow Korean director Bong Joon-ho’s 'Snowpiercer'. Despite one revolving around an outbreak of the undead, and one being a futuristic vision of humans surviving on a train in an earth which has frozen over, both share the same thematic overtones and setting. Far from being a visceral thrill ride of an undead bloodbath, Sang-ho has constructed a tale which is more about the invisible divides that exist between the social classes, the members of whom are very much alive. As expected, proceedings unfold which see a group of survivors on a train travelling from Seoul, located in the north of South Korea, travelling to Busan, a coastal city in the South. Gong Yoo plays the main character, most recognizable as the lead from the 2013 action movie 'The Suspect'. His character is that of a stereotypical salary man, one who is so involved in his work that he’s already divorced, with a young daughter that wants to go and stay with her Mum in Busan. For his daughter’s birthday, he agrees to take her to Busan to meet her mother, until of course events get interrupted by a zombie outbreak. The cast of characters who convene to form the group of survivors are like a who’s who of disaster movie archetypes – we have the good hearted working class couple, played by Ma Dong-seok (the stocky muscular guy from any Korean movie made within the last 10 years) and Jeong Yu-mi. There’s a slimy middle aged business man who’ll happily sacrifice others to save himself played by Kim Eui-seong, a faithful train driver, a pair of old ladies, a teenage couple, and a homeless guy just for good measure. Sang-ho wastes no time getting down to business, and within 15 minutes we’re already on the train watching events unfurl, as a stray zombie who managed to get on-board just before it pulls away from the platform begins to wreak havoc. For the remainder of the almost 2 hour runtime, we stay within the confines of the train, or never far from it. As a result of almost 75 minutes being spent in train carriages, there are times when the action begins to strain. At the end of the day, its zombies on a train, and as expected, most of the tension is wringed from the survivors frantically dashing from one carriage to the other, closing the door seconds before a horde of the undead pile up in pursuit. It’s initially effective, but by the umpteenth time we see it, all sense of danger has effectively dissipated. Sang-ho’s script also makes the most interesting characters the supporting ones. Gong Yoo’s fund manager who doesn’t have time for his family is as dull as dishwater, despite being the main character. Before the first five minutes are over, it’s obvious that he’s going to take the train with his daughter, be put in peril, and realise that family is more important than work. It’s a cliché that’s been recycled time and time again in Korean cinema, and both the script and Yoo’s bland performance add nothing new to it. Dong-seok’s dedicated husband on the other hand stands out, both relatable and willing to do anything to protect his heavily pregnant wife, he easily steals the show whenever he’s onscreen. One of the best scenes has Dong-seok round up Yoo and a teenage baseball player, to single handedly fight their way through several carriages of zombies, in order to get to a group of stranded passengers further down the train. Watching his burly frame punch and wrestle though several waves of the undead almost makes you wish that he was the main character, and it’s certainly a breath of fresh air to see zombies being dispatched with plain old brute force rather than the traditional bullet in the head. However for those checking in hoping to see a Korean version of 'Dawn of the Dead', those expectations should be adjusted accordingly. Despite several victims falling prey to the zombies insatiable appetite, 'Train to Busan' feels like a tame affair when it comes to violence, with very little imagination shown when it comes to the nitty gritty of zombies doing what they do best. Indeed it seems that rather than going for visceral thrills, Sang-ho is more interested in using the outbreak as a plot device in which to frame his commentary on the questionable decisions of those in authority. There’s been a number of Korean movies of late which take swipes at the countries government, a prime example being the excellent 'Inside Men', and 'Train to Busan' also comes with a message for its audience. The issue is that it’s not a subtle one, and the moments when Sang-ho’s script wants to say something, it does so in a way which sticks out like a sore thumb. A newsreader announces “We must keep calm and trust the government” over images of a burning cityscape, and in another scene an employee, who knows the orders he received will condemn people to certain death, questions that it’s not his fault if he’s just doing what he’s told to do. The lack of imaginative violence, social commentary, and a particularly awkward change in tone that switches to a melodramatic finale, all point to Sang-ho looking to appeal to as wide an audience as possible. The issues is that when you want to appeal to such a broad audience, a movie can easily lose its identity. To a degree that seems to be the main issue with 'Train to Busan'. Is it a Korean zombie flick? Is it a scathing commentary on those in authority? Is it the tale of a father and daughter reconciling their relationship? Sang-ho has tried to make it all of those things, and it doesn’t quite succeed at being any of them, at least not in a way which effectively connects with those watching. The zombies don’t feel scary enough, the characters aren’t fleshed out enough, and the swipes at the authorities aren’t subtle enough. With that being said, it’s unfair to write off 'Train to Busan' as a bad movie. It’s not, and to Sang-ho’s credit it remains watchable throughout, even if by the end it has worn out its welcome ever so slightly. As a first foray into live-action, Sang-ho hasn’t quite hit the mark, but his talent is still very much on display, with the distinct visual style present in his animated productions successfully carried over into a live action environment. Next time, hopefully he’ll return with a sharper and more focused script, and when that happens I’ll be more than happy to buy a return ticket. But for now, 'Train to Busan' is thankfully just a one-way trip. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator One Armed Boxer Posted December 27, 2016 Author Moderator Share Posted December 27, 2016 For those who like pretty packaging, the Korean Limited Edition DVD hit the shelves on 22nd December. Expect a Blu-ray release to follow soon. - 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member AlbertV Posted December 28, 2016 Member Share Posted December 28, 2016 (edited) Well Go USA's DVD and Blu-ray will be out on January 17 and it is available now on Digital HD. Edited December 29, 2016 by AlbertV 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Chatnoir Posted December 31, 2016 Member Share Posted December 31, 2016 I found it a little hard to watch - doesn't seem well thought out enough and zombies don't fit what previous films have done...I'll pass. Laura 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator thekfc Posted January 2, 2017 Moderator Share Posted January 2, 2017 I may have to go for that Limited edition DVD set. I love the movie and the fact that it didn't follow what other zombies movies have done in the past - that the zombies were not some slow a$$ zombies like in some other previous zombies movies. The 2 characters that I cared the most about/rooting for (Soo-an Kim's & Yu-mi Jung's) made it to the tunnel but I was hoping that Kim Eui-seong's character gets it in the worst way. It is a movie that can easily be on my re-watchable list - well I saw it twice in the theater. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator thekfc Posted January 17, 2017 Moderator Share Posted January 17, 2017 I am ready and set to buy this on Blu-ray but something is going on with this release. Amazon have is for $29.98 but they are temporarily out of stock (went from in stock to out of stock in a few minutes) Target have it for $14.99 (which should be the correct price) but they have a 1/31 release date. Walmart have it for $23.47 Bestbuy do not have it listed - they previously had just about every other Well Go USA release. B&N have it online but not showing store available. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member theThirdMaster Posted January 20, 2017 Member Share Posted January 20, 2017 I watched this last night. I'd say it's a really good zombie movie. One of the better ones in recent years, in a genre that has become over saturated. The zombies are very fast (like 28 Day Later) and they look pretty good. They don't have much in common with Romero zombies. The characters are stereotypes and their story lines are predictable. That sounds kind of bad on paper, but the characters are very likable, enough to keep you engaged in the story. The ones that aren't are fun to hate. Which is good because there is a fair amount of melodrama in this movie. The energy, tone, and pacing of this movie is spot on. And that's really where this movie shines. Highly recommended for zombie fans. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Writ Posted January 25, 2017 Member Share Posted January 25, 2017 Repost of this amazing gif (before the forums went down)! Ma Dong Seok showing us how to eat fried chicken! This is probably his secret to pummeling zombies in the face. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator thekfc Posted March 16, 2017 Moderator Share Posted March 16, 2017 For those who haven't seen this or is holding out, Google Play have this movie (Digital HD) on sale for $1 - that is to own & not rental. Google, Amazon & VUDU usually have good sales on recent movies (Digital) for less than $5, but the sale usually don't last 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member DragonClaws Posted March 17, 2017 Member Share Posted March 17, 2017 This weekend only: From Seoul to Busan U.K moive fans can catch the animated short Seoul Station and Train To Busan asa double bill on the big screen. News from IMPACTonline, click on the link below for more detials and a list of cineam screenings. Link- http://www.impactonline.co/film/14094-seoul-busan-double-bill/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member nectarsis Posted June 28, 2017 Member Share Posted June 28, 2017 On 12/31/2016 at 10:18 AM, Chatnoir said: I found it a little hard to watch - doesn't seem well thought out enough and zombies don't fit what previous films have done...I'll pass. Laura Similar zombies have been done like this for YEARS now (28 Days, World War Z, etc). I usually don't like them much but the mob of slow shamblers wouldn't work here. I for one REALLY enjoyed it, watched it 2 days in a row (even got the wife to watch and she liked it as well.....and she HATES Horror, especially zombies). 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator One Armed Boxer Posted June 28, 2017 Author Moderator Share Posted June 28, 2017 1 hour ago, nectarsis said: I for one REALLY enjoyed it, watched it 2 days in a row (even got the wife to watch and she liked it as well.....and she HATES Horror, especially zombies). If you like zombie movies, I'd strongly recommend checking out Japan's 'I Am a Hero', which I thought was far superior to 'Train to Busan'. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator thekfc Posted June 28, 2017 Moderator Share Posted June 28, 2017 16 hours ago, One Armed Boxer said: If you like zombie movies, I'd strongly recommend checking out Japan's 'I Am a Hero', which I thought was far superior to 'Train to Busan'. I would also recommend "I Am A Hero", both myself and the wife enjoyed it. At first, she didn't want to watch it saying "you watching zombie again" but then with her "sneak peekings" she sat down and watch it with me. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member nectarsis Posted June 29, 2017 Member Share Posted June 29, 2017 Thanks for the heads up guys 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member AlbertV Posted August 14, 2018 Member Share Posted August 14, 2018 A sequel to the film is apparently being developed, tentatively titled Peninsula. Yeon Sang-Ho is working on the details and is planning to direct the sequel. In the new film, the zombie virus will apparently be extended to the entire Korean peninsula.https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3515257/yeon-sang-ho-reportedly-working-sequel-zombie-film-train-busan/ 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member nectarsis Posted August 14, 2018 Member Share Posted August 14, 2018 Just saw this the other day, TOTALLY hyped 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Drunken Monk Posted August 15, 2018 Member Share Posted August 15, 2018 While I couldn't get through Train to Busan (I found it dull and frustrating), I did watch I Am a Hero last night. WOW! One of the best zombie films I've ever seen, Asian or otherwise. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member ShaOW!linDude Posted August 15, 2018 Member Share Posted August 15, 2018 I thought I'd posted about this. Mid-July me and the Mrs. watch Seoul Station (the animated precursor to TTB) and then Train To Busan. SS takes a while to get going but once it does, it's a solid movie. I really enjoyed TTB. Had some really hairy moments for me. Probably the only thing that got a little tedious was the fact that it's confined to a train the whole time, but what could you expect? Still, for me it's one of the best zombie films to come out in a while. Been wanting to see I Am A Hero. I hear nothing but good things about it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member AlbertV Posted September 26, 2018 Member Share Posted September 26, 2018 A remake is being sought after with James Wan to serve as producer. New Line Cinema is in talks to make the remake with It co-writer Gary Dauberman to write it. https://deadline.com/2018/09/train-to-busan-remake-gary-dauberman-james-wan-zombie-remake-thriller-auction-1202470994/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Drunken Monk Posted September 26, 2018 Member Share Posted September 26, 2018 I finally made it through this film a week or so again. Just as expected, it's not very good...at all. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Koravec Posted September 26, 2018 Member Share Posted September 26, 2018 (edited) I agree. Im not one for the zombie genre either. I just really enjoyed the protagonists sloppy fashion sense and attitude throughout the movie. I found that really amusing and entertaining, that was about all I took away from this movie. Oh wow... Im thinking of a completely different movie, disregard...lol. I was thinking of The Host, not even a zombie movie. But a lot of these films looks similar, man has to protect little girl.. Ill be skipping this one as zombies arent my thing, trains are cool though 🤔, but then again Railroad Tigers kind of hurt that for me a little too. Edited September 28, 2018 by Koravec Im an idiot, my bad.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Tex Killer Posted October 3, 2018 Member Share Posted October 3, 2018 Disappointing..And big time..Trailed made believe this will be action packed zombie flick but it felt like drama with bit zombieism...Felt nothing for actors as they were unknown for me...recycle stuff absolutely, never need to see again. And red light for watching remake. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator One Armed Boxer Posted October 3, 2018 Author Moderator Share Posted October 3, 2018 On 9/26/2018 at 10:09 PM, AlbertV said: A remake is being sought after with James Wan to serve as producer. Train to Boston? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator thekfc Posted October 3, 2018 Moderator Share Posted October 3, 2018 Well Go USA is releasing a steelbook next month - November 6th. That release I will also get. Pre-order at Amazon 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member whitesnake Posted July 20, 2019 Member Share Posted July 20, 2019 (edited) From - https://asianmoviepulse.com/2019/06/confirmed-plot-details-and-star-cast-for-train-to-busan-sequel-peninsula/ Peninsula "will be set 4 years after the event of 'Train to Busan', in which time the entire Korean Peninsula has become uninhabitable wasteland. However, small groups of humans have survived, still trapped and without any certainty of any rescue or respite. Superstar Kang Dong-won will take Gong Yoo's place as the lead in the sequel, starring as Jung-suk, alongside actress/singer Lee Jung-hyun ('A Petal', 'The Battleship Island'), who plays Min-jung, a strong-willed survivor equipped with both unending hope and leadership. Young actress Lee Re, who so effortlessly portrayed the title charater in ' Hope', will bring the cuteness as Joon-yi. Veteran actor Kwon Hae-hyo ('The Day After') will play Kim No-in, the oldest surviving member of Min-Jung's crew, while versatile actor Kim Min-jae ('Unstoppable') and Koo Kyo-hwan ('Maggie') will be parts of what remains of the peninsula's rescue forces." Filming began on June 24, 2019, with a movie release either later in 2019 or early 2020. Edited July 18, 2020 by whitesnake 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.