david l
Pulgasari is basically a North Korean version of Godzilla. The titular creature is solid and memorable, the plot is standard but well told, and the ending is quite unexpected and interesting. The movie can be silly and the action and set pieces weren't nearly as memorable as they should have been. It also lacks originality throughout, but at least it's fun. But the most interesting thing about this movie is actually the backstory behind its production. Apparently, Kim Jong-il kidnapped a South Korean director and ordered him to make kaiju flicks while the crew also tricked Toho into coming to the country and doing the VFX on the movie. It's such a crazy story that itself would make for an awesome movie.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
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Audience Member
CITIZEN KANE WHO???
Pulgasari represents everything good about cinema.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
01/31/23
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Audience Member
With its weirdly magnetic protagonist and an underlying message about the danger of arms race, Pulgasari still stands out among kaiju films not only as a rare testimony from one of the most inscrutable countries of the world, but also as a proof of how cinema can blend mythology with history and politics across the centuries.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
01/14/23
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Audience Member
Pulgasari is a solid kaiju flick that is about the same quality as Godzilla 2014. Positives include an original monster design, good physical effects, good performances, a very deep plot, and a rather interesting backstory. Negatives include uneven special effects and a terrible soundtrack. Despite this, it's worth a watch.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
02/15/23
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Audience Member
Something of an oddity in that might be the only North Korean creature feature ever made, although the director was a South Korean kidnapped by Kim Jong-Il! In light of this, it might be tempting to think it's a propaganda film, with the beast representing the scourge of Capitalism, but I didn't see much evidence of that. For me, it's just a fun Kaiju flick in the Godzilla mould about an iron-eating monster made by a blacksmith from a ball of rice, who helps defend the peasants against their feudal overlords. The government actually come out of it with no credibility; the army general doing his best impression of Wile E. Coyote, cooking up one hair-brained scheme after another to bring down Pulgasari.
Hilariously bad acting, visual and sound effects (high pitched synth stabs for sword fights, localized echo chambers) all just add to the enjoyment.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
01/29/23
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Audience Member
Uneven, yet enjoyable. It can't seem to decide if it wants to be a comedy or a serious film. The monster is a bit goofy, but it's still neat. The plot is good, the characters are decent, and the ending is satisfying. Confusing moments, but overall, it's an interesting monster film.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
02/02/23
Full Review
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