MovieChat Forums > Busanhaeng (2016) Discussion > If this wasn't an asian movie it would g...

If this wasn't an asian movie it would get a huge amounts of hate

posted 7 years ago by svalinanikola
18 replies | jump to latest

This movie has a huge rating on IMDb so far, but if it wasn't an asian movie the rating would be much lower.

It has some pretty big flaws, characters can make some really idiotic mistakes (think about it, most of the main characters die because of their own stupidity, even the father), there's some inconsistencies when it comes to zombie behavior and the way the infection works, a lot of cliches.

Sure, the movie is fun and all, but that wouldn't save the movie. These are all the things people on IMDb really hate, so why does this get a free pass? I guess it really must be because it's an asian movie. Some movies can have the same flaws as some asian movie and get a 6.9 score here, but that asian movie will have like 8.1.

[–] bollielollie 7 years ago

okay

[–] omaraguirre11 7 years ago

So a fun movie is considered bad? Ever heard of guilty pleasures, or movies that are meant to just entertain? Not everything has be made flawless you know. When writing stuff, sometimes you'll have to sacrifice a flaw in order to make something else better.

[–] svalinanikola 7 years ago

I love Demons, but that movie obviously doesn't take itself seriously (plus, the writing is weird in most of Italian horror movies, they go for dream logic).

Besides, why can't good writing go along with the fun factor?

[–] WiseKing 7 years ago

If it was American? It would be rushed, and full of punk rock music and soft porn. In other words, "Snakes on a Plane" which "Busan" is long term greater. This is Zombies on a Train, and is much more creative/complete of a film.

The Fame? The Asian director found a smart way to move both the Cast and Zombies throughout the city rather than running around skyscrapers and boarding up windows.

Because of the Train? They are traveling, but their legs are not moving, so in a way, the director is truly camping the cast to eye. The genius is that locations are moving around them to our eye as well. The story progress is kept from camp.

[–] svalinanikola 7 years ago

If it was American? It would be rushed, and full of punk rock music and soft porn. In other words, "Snakes on a Plane" which "Busan" is long term greater. This is Zombies on a Train, and is much more creative/complete of a film.

You compared it to Snakes on a Plane, a movie which doesn't take itself seriously.

Besides, what about all those slower paced american zombie movies which are not rushed etc.? Like Dawn of the Dead.

The Fame? The Asian director found a smart way to move both the Cast and Zombies throughout the city rather than running around skyscrapers and boarding up windows.

Because of the Train? They are traveling, but their legs are not moving, so in a way, the director is truly camping the cast to eye. The genius is that locations are moving around them to our eye as well. The story progress is kept from camp.

If we're looking at it like that then Flight of the Living Dead is also genius.

[–] WiseKing 7 years ago

If we're looking at it like that then Flight of the Living Dead is also genius.

Mmmmm...... windows are an important thing. Just seeing white sky clouds the whole time doesn't provide the feel of travel or progression. Plane films, and boat movies often die because of this if no worthy story. Clouds are boring and don't bring energy/life among the wide shots. Kinda Mirrors camp.

If buildings are passing by, and public chaos is shown at ground level? Train is best/better vehicle. It isn't too far away from it all, the city, and must go through it all because of the tracks. Meaning, the cast getting out for the traditional city zombie run around? Could at anytime. And? They did get out to run by foot the old classic way.

The Director did his homework here, mixing it up, saved the film. Planes, and boats lock settings very much. Snakes on a plane? Yeah, it got dry because windows of clouds, and limited setting.

Avoiding camp is where is gets it's stars/credited, and if you're making a Zombie film, that is goal nearing number one. Everybody already knows the monster, just progress them in a new way.

[–] tokoyo 7 years ago

So far it sounds more like there's several white people -- or one who keeps posting? -- who can't read Asian expressions ("All the characters are wooden!"), prefer American movies where everyone over-acts and everything explodes ("Nothing beats Dawn of the Dead!"), and dislikes this movie because it's Asian.

Maybe you'd have better taste if you regularly watched movies made in all parts of the world and spent less time wondering if other people are biased for/against Asian movies like you.

[–] RAJH (533) 6 years ago

"Maybe you'd have better taste if you regularly watched movies made in all parts of the world and spent less time wondering if other people are biased for/against Asian movies like you."

I like lots of Asian films and I agree with the OP.
So...No basically.

[–] johnral (138) 7 years ago

I tend to agree with this. This is just a typical, stock, standard, run-of-the-mill zombie movie, with perhaps a couple of twists. People become zombies, zombies chase people, people run from zombies, there are a few interpersonal issues among the non-zombies, etc. Been there, done that... Not sure of the high ratings - maybe the Asian thing.

[–] dxben99 (63) 6 years ago

Solid 6-6,5/10 for me.

[–] cyguration (3843) 2 years ago

Nah, I liked it because it was tense and most of the characters used common sense or made you root for them.

The whole baseball team were awesome in my opinion, and it reminded me of a nod to Walter Hill's Baseball Furies from The Warriors.

We don't get that kind of action-choreography in most other zombie films, which seem to all try way too hard to be "philosophical" and "transcendental" even though people aren't choosing to watch zombie films for any sort of sociopolitical messaging, they just want a good, well told story with plenty of well-shot brain smashing and skull shattering.

[–] RAJH (533) 6 years ago

I think you're right tbh.
People are pretentious. It makes them feel intelligent to say they like foreign films.

This film wasn't that good. Just lots of zombies on a train....There was nothing about it that made it stand out from other Zombie films.

[–] TheArgentinian (6432) 3 years ago

I do think it wouldn't get so hyped up if it were just another American zombie movie.

[–] PaladinNJ (20310) 2 years ago

Guess we’ll get our chance to see. An American version is coming soon.

[–] acidraindrop (3055) 3 years ago

I've been wondering about this for a while. I've heard so much about it over the years, and just never gotten around to it. But from what I have heard, I haven't heard anything about why it would stand out in front of a plethora of other good zombie films.

characters can make some really idiotic mistakes (think about it, most of the main characters die because of their own stupidity, even the father)

I've heard this complaint which doesn't quite excite me.
I kinda just been dismissing all the hype cause Korean cinema has been trendy for a minute, but I prolly should get to this at some point.