Jung_E - A Movie Review

Yeon Sang-ho, the director behind the hit film "Train to Busan," is back with his latest offering, "Jung_E," which is now streaming on Netflix. While "Train to Busan" was a nod to the works of pioneers like George A. Romero, "Jung_E" is a foray into the sci-fi action genre, taking inspiration from films like "The Terminator" and "Blade Runner." However, despite its strong start and impressive action set-pieces, the film suffers from a bloated and overlong center that focuses too much on discussing its philosophical themes instead of embedding them into an interesting story.

The film is set in the year 2194, where humanity has long since made the planet uninhabitable and has retreated to man-made shelters. Three factions of humanity are engaged in a war, and the battle was once led by a skilled soldier named Yun Jung-yi (Kim Hyun-joo). In this future, consciousness can be downloaded into A.I., and a team of experts is trying to turn Yun's expertise into a killing machine named Jung_E. However, they keep failing in their efforts, attempting to recreate the day Yun died in combat, hoping to map her brain in a way to get past that fateful event so that she can become even more unstoppable and win the war.

Seohyun (played by the late Kang Soo-yeon, to whom the film is dedicated), Yun's daughter, leads the project. She has a personal connection to the project, as she is trying to save not only her mother's consciousness but also to overcome what killed her. She is balanced by the more cynical Sang-Hoon (Ryu Kyung-soo), who sees the project in more clinical terms and is concerned about the government shutting it down.

While the film plays with some interesting ethical ideas, it becomes too talky and spends too much time spinning its wheels as Sang-Hoon and Seohyun discuss how to fix the project. There's a good scene that reveals how economic inequity comes into play even after death, with the poorest people having no control over their consciousness. However, the film lacks the emotional and philosophical depth needed for a film of this nature to be confined to research chambers for so long.

The film does explode into a few action sequences, including an excellent one on a speeding train, in the climax. However, it makes one wish that they had been spread out throughout the film instead of so many repeated conversations. "Jung_E" feels like a movie made by an undeniably talented director who just didn't have quite enough ideas to fill its 99-minute runtime. It's more like the start of a movie or the first episode of a TV show than a satisfying project on its own terms. Nonetheless, it does set up a vision of the future that could support richer, more ambitious storytelling in a sequel. Perhaps that sequel could even include some zombies.

Overall, "Jung_E" has some interesting ideas, particularly regarding the intersection of technology and humanity, but the execution falls short. While the action sequences are well-done, they are too few and far between, leaving the viewer to slog through lengthy stretches of exposition and philosophical discussions that lack the necessary emotional weight to engage the audience.

One of the major problems with "Jung_E" is its bloated center. The film spends too much time in the research chambers with Sang-Hoon and Seohyun discussing the progress of the project and their various ethical and technical concerns. While some of these conversations are interesting, they become repetitive and tiresome after a while. The film would have been better served by cutting back on these scenes and incorporating more action sequences throughout the runtime.

Another issue with "Jung_E" is its lack of character development. While the film sets up some interesting conflicts and relationships, particularly between Seohyun and Sang-Hoon, it doesn't follow through on them. The characters remain largely one-dimensional, with little growth or change over the course of the film. This is particularly disappointing given the talent of the cast, including Kim Hyun-joo, Ryu Kyung-soo, and the late Kang Soo-yeon.

Despite these flaws, "Jung_E" does have its strengths. The opening action sequence is impressive, showcasing Yeon's skill with set-pieces. The film's vision of the future is intriguing, with its depiction of a world where consciousness can be downloaded into A.I. and economic inequality persists even after death. The last 15 minutes of the film, which includes the climactic train sequence, are also exciting and well-executed.

In the end, "Jung_E" feels like a missed opportunity. It has some promising ideas and strong action sequences, but its repetitive dialogue and lack of character development make it a slog to get through. It's a film that's more concerned with discussing its themes than embedding them in an engaging story. While it sets up a potentially rich world for future storytelling, it doesn't fully deliver on its own potential.

In conclusion, "Jung_E" is a mixed bag that will likely appeal to fans of sci-fi action flicks, but may leave others feeling underwhelmed. If you're looking for an action-packed thrill ride with deep philosophical underpinnings, there are moments in this film that will satisfy that craving. However, if you're looking for a well-rounded and emotionally engaging story, you may want to look elsewhere.