What Is the Story About?
Jung_E is set in a post-apocalyptic near-future, where AI is as common as it can be. Seo Hyun is a researcher at a popular humanoid robot lab. She leads the project to end the long-running Adrian civil war by cloning the brain of a heroic soldier — her own mother. Things take a terrible turn when the company decides to put an end to the project and then grab her brain-data.
Performances?
Kang Soo-yeon’s performance as Seo Hyun tries to give the emotional anchor to the slow burning piece of sci-fi drama. Even when the film becomes a drag-affair, her beautifully emotive eyes and voice captivates.
Analysis
Yeon Sang-ho, the person behind humanizing and dramatising zombie-horror in Train To Busan, and the creator of South Korea’s first super-hero film ‘Psychokinesis’, directs Jung_E, a take on futuristic humanoid relationships and sci-fi. The film had huge expectations built on its back, and sadly fails to deliver on that account.
Jung_E’s premise is positioned in a desolated dystopian Earth in the 22nd century that is no longer habitable due to climate change, and humans are forced to live in man-made shelters built in space. As the humans settle down in around 80 of those shelters, shelter No. 8, 12 and 13 declared themselves as the Adrian Republic and began attacking Earth and other shelters, resulting in a civil war between the Allied Force and Adrian Republic.
Researcher and scientist Seo-hyun is tasked by Kronoid – an Institute in charge of creating AI to create a super-efficient combat AI named Jung_E by cloning a mercenary Captain Yun Jung-yi’s brain. Captain Yun Jung-yi is a legendary mercenary of the Allied Forces who led her team to countless successful missions against the Adrian Republic. The reason why became a mercenary was to cover Yun Seo-hyun’s medical expenses. On the day of her daughter’s surgery, she dies on a mission.
What follows is a tussle of the government, defense and corporates in the project that leads Seo Hyun to believing that her mother’s memories would be misused by the company and government in immediate future. How Seo Hyun saves her mothers memory data and escapes the lab forms the main crux of the Jung_E.
One of the biggest assets of Jung_E is it’s concept. The exploration of the humane-ness of AI and what relationships would mean in future, is a versatile concept with a huge potential. The dystopian world created in Jung_E looks interesting too, but the writing doesn’t put any effort in exploring the world. Most of the film’s proceedings happen amidst four walls.
While the writing tries to humanise technology to some extent, the output mostly is loaded with superficial emotional scenes that are artificially superposed. The two lead actors and supporting cast also appear solid, but they don’t have enough material to work with.
The writing stretches itself way too long to exhaustion. Things pick up pace only when the climactic combat takes off, but that doesn’t last long either. To sum it up, Jung_E could’ve been a lot lot better because the intentions and ambitions are visible. Too bad, the writing doesn’t even take off to land anywhere.
Other Artists?
Kim Hyun-Joo as Yun Jung-yi – the super soldier and JUNG_E – the android robot does give Kang Soo Yeon the right support in their combination scenes together. With distinct characteristics yet the same heart, she pulls off the robot and glimpses of a human mother with ease.
Music and Other Departments?
Kim Dong-wook’s music doesn’t make any impact. Neither in the combat scenes, nor in the dramatic scenes. The visual conceptualisation and camera work has however succeeded in transitioning the audience to a stunning dystopia.
Highlights?
Kang Soo-yeon’s performance
Action set-pieces
Core Concept
Drawbacks?
Too Overlong
Overload of Bland scenes
Fails to gather momentum
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes. In parts.
Will You Recommend It?
Yes. But with huge limitations.
Jung_E Korean Movie Review by Binged Bureau
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