Concrete Utopia
The world has been reduced to rubble by a massive earthquake. While no one knows for sure how far the ruins stretch, or what the cause of the earthquake may be, in the heart of Seoul there is only one apartment building left standing. It is called Hwang Gung Apartments. As time passes, outsiders start coming in to Hwang Gung Apartments trying to escape the extreme cold. Before long, the apartment residents are unable to cope with the increasing numbers. Feeling a threat to their very survival, the residents enact a special measure.
- Released: 2023-12-31
- Runtime: 130 minutes
- Genre: Drama, Thrillers
- Stars: Lee Byung-hun, Park Bo-young, Park Seo-jun, Park Ji-hu, Kim Do-yoon, Kim Sun-young, Na Chul, Lee Hyo-je, Um Tae-goo, Kim Hak-sun, Gong Min-jeung, Jung Young-ki, Oh Hee-joon, Kim Joon-bae, Lee Seo-hwan, Kang Ae-sim, Nam Jin-bok, Byun Jin-su, Kim Yong-jun, Gwak Ja-hyeong
- Director: Um Tae-hwa
Comments
- Movie_Rating_n_Ranking - 18 June 2024
Roland Emmerich likes this
Several movies run through my mind at various points in this footage. Train to Busan, Deep Impact, Moonfall, among others. Roland Emmerich probably really enjoyed Concrete Utopia and may have gotten a couple of solid notes out of it.
This new Korean natural disaster film contains much of what the general audience needs to get hooked. Shots of destruction, disputes between sides, action and drama. Yes, the Korean passion for drama cannot be left out.
Now, let's agree that there are many moments where logic is sacrificed in pursuit of an attractive plot. That is undeniable. And it works. But at the end of the day this is the representation of an incipient micro society in a brutal, discouraging and agonizing context. That's the real attraction.
But, the movie is flawed. The cast's performances are uneven. The soundtrack is quite generic. VFX lacks realistic details. By tightening and loosening some pegs, the film would have been much more solid.
In short, recommended, although not for all audiences. - SoumikBanerjee1996 - 31 January 2024
Something amiss
The idea is undeniably intriguing, taking quite a unique approach within the realm of post apocalyptic features. However, the execution falls short of doing it complete justice, as the presentation leaves much to be desired. Followers of Korean cinema, in particular, would likely agree that this film does not live up to the exceptional quality they are usually known for producing.
The main issue is the tonal inconsistency of the writing. At times, the story takes on a serious tone as expected in typical dystopian stories, but then it abruptly tries to incorporate elements of dark comedy, culminating in a jarring blend that felt out of place and unnecessary.
