Movie So I finally watched Parasite, twice!! (1 Viewer)

[Darkseid]

Looks like everyone and their mother has been raving about this movie this year, and it's won the prestigious Palme d'Or at the Cannes film festival too. There's pretty good Oscar buzz around it as well, heading into Academy Awards season. As someone who considers myself a movie aficionado, especially Asian cinema, I figured I should give it a try. I couldn't find any legal way to watch it where I live, so ended up using torrents to download

Anyway, I've been a fan of the director Bong Joon Ho's work even before this. His 2002 movie Memories of Murder is one of the best crime films in the last 20 years, and starred Song Kang Ho, who also stars in this one. For people unfamiliar with that name, he's basically top of the food chain as far as Korean actors go. Think Robert De Niro/DiCaprio/Daniel Day Lewis. Alongside him stars Choi Wooshik who was also in Train to Busan (the high school student, Wonder Girl Sohee's boyfriend), Park So Damn Fine ahem, I mean Park So Dam, and Cho Yeojeong (JYP's Fever).

With movies like this, it's tricky because all the hype makes your expectations skyrocket. Thankfully, Parasite not only meets them but shatters them. This is the undisputed best movie of the year, maybe of the last few years. The direction is top notch, in many scenes the movie tells a lot visually without even needing words, which makes you understand the characters and their thoughts so well. When they finally do something, you perfectly understand what their motivation is, and what has compelled them to do that. Kudos also to the excellent acting, which helps realize this vision of the director. The movie also shifts in and out of several tones/genres, and the transitions are so seamless, you don't realize when it's turned from a satire/comedy to a thriller and back again. One particular extended sequence which flits between two locations and shows the contrast during the same time is the highlight, but I don't want to spoil anything. The movie tackles class divide, provides social commentary, but even without that it's still a fascinating watch. One that offers more and more to appreciate on repeated viewings.

Basically, don't miss it. This is my fav Korean film in a long time, I haven't been this impressed since the first time I saw Oldboy maybe.

 

[messagetyper]

ahhhh finally a thread about Parasite. I had to watch it illegally too the first time I watched it cuz I didn't really care about the movie at all when it was showing in the cinemas here lol but a few weeks ago a cinema nearby decided to screen it again and ofc I had to watch it twice (I was planning on watching my pirated copy again that time anyways lol)

Spoiler: that ending

I gotta say I can't help but think that the ending felt like reading the final lines of a book. A pretty dark ending I gotta say tbh

 

[Darkseid]

ahhhh finally a thread about Parasite. I had to watch it illegally too the first time I watched it cuz I didn't really care about the movie at all when it was showing in the cinemas here lol but a few weeks ago a cinema nearby decided to screen it again and ofc I had to watch it twice (I was planning on watching my pirated copy again that time anyways lol)

Spoiler: that ending

I gotta say I can't help but think that the ending felt like reading the final lines of a book. A pretty dark ending I gotta say tbh

Lol they don't even screen Korean movies or any foreign movies outside big Hollywood blockbusters here
Although if it wins something at the Oscars, they might have some limited shows, but unlikely.

Spoiler: About the ending

I really loved it, that rock could symbolize so many things, it really is metaphorical like Kiwoo said at the start lol. But him finally letting go of it imo symbolizes that he's decided to stop living as a "parasite" and finally move forward honestly. But his goal is so far off and unrealistic, can he ever achieve it? All the while his dad is trapped in the same basement. It was a very bleak ending lol.

 

[Hajima]

I downloaded it illegally but haven't watched it yet.. this movie is everywhere lately it's like the 2019 Train to busan.

 

[messagetyper]

Lol they don't even screen Korean movies or any foreign movies outside big Hollywood blockbusters here
Although if it wins something at the Oscars, they might have some limited shows, but unlikely.

Spoiler: About the ending

I really loved it, that rock could symbolize so many things, it really is metaphorical like Kiwoo said at the start lol. But him finally letting go of it imo symbolizes that he's decided to stop living as a "parasite" and finally move forward honestly. But his goal is so far off and unrealistic, can he ever achieve it? All the while his dad is trapped in the same basement. It was a very bleak ending lol.

Spoiler

what did you think Kiwoo was gonna do with the rock during the party? I'd like to think that he started seeing the rock as bad luck and wanted to reconcile with the people in the basement by giving it to them, although it could be that he just straight up wanted to kill them lol

 

[Darkseid]

Spoiler

what did you think Kiwoo was gonna do with the rock during the party? I'd like to think that he started seeing the rock as bad luck and wanted to reconcile with the people in the basement by giving it to them, although it could be that he just straight up wanted to kill them lol

Spoiler

Oh I definitely think he was looking to straight up kill them lol. They literally had their worst night ever thanks to the sudden discovery of the basement and the old housekeeper's husband, and I think he wanted to get rid of them for good so the family could move on to their real plans and he finally gets to marry his student and stuff
It's only after waking up from a coma, finding his sister's dead and discovering his father is alive in the basement when he finally gets his shit together and decides to let go of his greed/schemes.

EDIT: Also wait, you're a Miracle?

 

[eclipsoul]

same here, i was so surprised that they brought it to theaters in my country that i had to see it three times and it just got better each time. what an amazing movie tbh. one of my favourites this year.

 

[Darkseid]

same here, i was so surprised that they brought it to theaters in my country that i had to see it three times and it just got better each time. what an amazing movie tbh. one of my favourites this year.

Yes, I find new details and themes to appreciate every time lol. You can find so many connecting links and symbolism too on repeated viewing, which makes it even better. It also gets funnier for some reason lmao.

Spoiler

I love how their home is like this semi-basement type. They literally are so low they almost live underground, but they can get a small glimpse of the outside world/neighbourhood, which you can say symbolizes their hopes/aspirations of living a better life despite their current condition.
Then of course the rich house is luxuriant af, has their own balcony and garden, the French Window through which they get a complete view of the world outside. And in the end, the father ends up in the basement, completely buried and cut off from everything lol.

 

[messagetyper]

Spoiler

Oh I definitely think he was looking to straight up kill them lol. They literally had their worst night ever thanks to the sudden discovery of the basement and the old housekeeper's husband, and I think he wanted to get rid of them for good so the family could move on to their real plans and he finally gets to marry his student and stuff
It's only after waking up from a coma, finding his sister's dead and discovering his father is alive in the basement when he finally gets his shit together and decides to let go of his greed/schemes.

EDIT: Also wait, you're a Miracle?

yep! ulting OMG rn tbh

Spoiler

I love how their home is like this semi-basement type. They literally are so low they almost live underground, but they can get a small glimpse of the outside world/neighbourhood, which you can say symbolizes their hopes/aspirations of living a better life despite their current condition.
Then of course the rich house is luxuriant af, has their own balcony and garden, the French Window through which they get a complete view of the world outside. And in the end, the father ends up in the basement, completely buried and cut off from everything lol.

Spoiler

I also like to think about the fact that they're just halfway underground means that they're not at the bottom but definitely not at the top too although that's from my own perspective lol. Semi basements could mean an entirely different thing for Koreans.

I notice how everyone in the family's somewhat skilled at something, it's just that they're being held back financially and thus not allowing them to pursue other things.

 

[Darkseid]

yep! ulting OMG rn tbh

Spoiler

I also like to think about the fact that they're just halfway underground means that they're not at the bottom but definitely not at the top too although that's from my own perspective lol. Semi basements could mean an entirely different thing for Koreans.

I notice how everyone in the family's somewhat skilled at something, it's just that they're being held back financially and thus not allowing them to pursue other things.

Yess OMG are my ults too
I used to ult Twice and GFriend but OMG just won me over. It started with SSFWL, then I watched all their old stuff, varieties and everything. And then of course Queendom
Who's your bias?

Spoiler

True, they're not completely at the bottom but still pretty downtrodden. Like how they look to steal free wifi from others, or just open their windows for free fumigation and look for that pizza place job lol. But it's interesting how despite all that, they're all skilled at something, but maybe due to societal circumstances or poverty or their own lack of effort/motivation, they haven't achieved much in life.
Kiwoo almost idolizes that Park Seo Joon character and ends up falling for the same girl, wanting to ask her out once she's in Uni etc. I guess he wants to become him in a way.

 

[messagetyper]

Yess OMG are my ults too
I used to ult Twice and GFriend but OMG just won me over. It started with SSFWL, then I watched all their old stuff, varieties and everything. And then of course Queendom
Who's your bias?

Spoiler

True, they're not completely at the bottom but still pretty downtrodden. Like how they look to steal free wifi from others, or just open their windows for free fumigation and look for that pizza place job lol. But it's interesting how despite all that, they're all skilled at something, but maybe due to societal circumstances or poverty or their own lack of effort/motivation, they haven't achieved much in life.
Kiwoo almost idolizes that Park Seo Joon character and ends up falling for the same girl, wanting to ask her out once she's in Uni etc. I guess he wants to become him in a way.

Seunghee as of now hehe

i didn't really watch queendom but i did listen to everyone's songs there because the show's lineup of contestants is just too good

 

[Darkseid]

Seunghee as of now hehe

i didn't really watch queendom but i did listen to everyone's songs there because the show's lineup of contestants is just too good

Seunghee is so extra lmao, her reactions during Queendom were a mood. My bias is Candy Leader Hyojung but Yooa is a strong wrecker
You should give Queendom a try when you can, it's very fun and wholesome lol.

 

[messagetyper]

Seunghee is so extra lmao, her reactions during Queendom were a mood. My bias is Candy Leader Hyojung but Yooa is a strong wrecker
You should give Queendom a try when you can, it's very fun and wholesome lol.

Btw have you seen The Handmaiden? It's a pretty good movie too and thanks to Oh My Girl, I probably would've heard about that movie sooner LOL

 

[Darkseid]

Btw have you seen The Handmaiden? It's a pretty good movie too and thanks to Oh My Girl, I probably would've heard about that movie sooner LOL

Yes The Handmaiden, I enjoyed it for the plot and ahem........other reasons
Did OMG recommend that movie to fans?

 

[yeji]

I really want to try watching it sometime. Iz definitely seems to be the new must see korean movie

 

[Darkseid]

I really want to try watching it sometime. Iz definitely seems to be the new must see korean movie

It's funny and still dark, very layered and subtle too. Watch it whenever you can

 

[yeji]

It's funny and still dark, very layered and subtle too. Watch it whenever you can

I may do that I guess when the holidays are over

 

[Darkseid]

I may do that I guess when the holidays are over

Find somewhere legal to watch it if torrents don't work in Germany

 

[yeji]

Find somewhere legal to watch it if torrents don't work in Germany

well I think Netflix will for sure get it on their site they have been adding a ton of k- dramas and movies here

 

[Darkseid]

well I think Netflix will for sure get it on their site they have been adding a ton of k- dramas and movies here

It doesn't add new movies that fast, but hopefully