Zombies, robots and asteroids out of control! Yes, you've seen similar flicks on these subjects, but not covered in the fashion of "Doomsday Book"! The three vignettes in this film are markedly different, but each seems to flow seemlessly into the next, as we wonder how the world might end in each episode.Perhaps the most enticing and maybe frightening is the innocuously-entitled "Happy Birthday," where a little girl calls up an alien website (they exist, don't they?) and accidentally ends up ordering, perhaps, the end of our planet!
A fascinating exploration into what might just happen in the near future; I recommend "Doomsday Book" to all adult audiences.
"Doomsday Book" is really three films into one, helmed by two different Korean directors. The first segment, "Brave New World," directed by Yim Pil-Sung, hits you in the gut, and you should see it a couple hours after having dinner, as it deals with the effect of an epidemic a la "Mad Cow disease," when people become zombie-like creatures after eating infected beef. We meet a young man on a date with an attractive young lady, and how, after eating in an all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue, they get sicker and sicker. It follows the epidemic from the slaughterhouse all the way to the media frenzy created by it. And it is the media frenzy, I think, that steals the show, as it might remind you of the current state of the art of our media sensationalism. The second segment, "The Heavenly Creature," helmed by Kim-Ji-woon, is, in short, a masterpiece, one of the smartest films despite its length I have ever seen. It's about a robot that is member of a Buddhist monastery. He is the only non-human within all the humans. However, one day the repairman is contacted, because the lead monk believes that the robot is not well; apparently, it is claiming to be Buddha. The repairman can't find anything wrong with the robot, and the owner of the company, as well as his henchmen, arrive to the location, ordering the destruction of the robot as well as others of the same series, because it has become too intelligent and, thereby, a threat. The owner of the company asks, in regards to the robot, "Who could have known its greatest gift would become its mortal affliction? A robot must never construe or trespass on the domains of man." And there are, of course, philosophical answers to these arguments, which are explored in this awesome segment. The last part of the movie, under the direction of Yim Pil-Sung, and called "Happy Birthday," is about a meteor that will hit earth in a few hours, and the frenzy that it generates. The meteor is shaped as a number eight billiard ball, which coincides with a ball that a little girl lost from her uncle earlier in the film. Years later, while being in an underground shelter waiting for the meteor's impact, we find out the meaning of it all. Again, the director explores, in a hilarious way, the media frenzy over this event.
"Doomsday Book" gives us three stories or point of views about the future, at least two of them possible, and the other, with some imagination, might also be possible. It is intelligent filmmaking, not from Hollywood, but from South Korea. (South Korea, 2012, color, 114 min).
Reviewed on December 23, 2012 by Eric Gonzales for Well Go USA Blu-rayBy their very nature, anthology films are a mixed bag. They'll contain two or three or four smaller stories essentially `shorts,' cobbled together into one complete film usually connected by one central theme. The upside is that, if the theme is flexible enough to support multiple interpretations, the audience is treated to an insightful exploration from different (and differing) perspectives. The downside? There can be several, not the least of which is the viewer ends up stuck in a loop supportive of that main idea where nothing all that original unfolds not once but twice, or thrice, or ... well, however many installments the producers managed to cram in there!
(NOTE: the following review will contain minor spoilers necessary solely for the discussion of plot and characters. If you're the kind of reader who prefers a review entirely spoiler-free, then I'd encourage you to skip down to the last two paragraphs for my final assessment. If, however, you're accepting of a few hints at `things to come,' then read on ...)
Since DOOMSDAY BOOK is a collection of three short films, I'll break them down individually for clarity.
In the first chapter, "Brave New World," a brand new virus incorporated into the food supply by way of food recycling brings the city of Seoul to the brink of social collapse by turning its victims into zombies. The short is bookended with the tale of two young people who find one another on their first date once the chaos begins, they're forced by circumstances to go their separate ways; as fate requires, true love will find a way, and our lovers are re-united in the segment's closing moments. In between, the story develops its satirical themes, showing us in some rather comical fashion, how civic leaders de-evolve while the rest of the world looks on. Technically, it's all very accomplished with some impressive effects, but, in the end, I found much of it fairly routine `stock' for a zombie picture. On my five star scale, I'd give it a strong three stars.
The second chapter, "The Heavenly Creature," a temple's service robot supplied by the UR Corporation experiences an epiphany, leaving the monks to believe they've found the latest incarnation of Buddha. The narrative focus for the tale explores the confusion experienced by the service technician sent by the company to diagnose whether the android is reparable or needs a system recall. This segment from start to finish is nothing short of brilliant; it's chocked full of exceptional, probing dialogue with questions by real people trying to understand these curious circumstances and what it means for mankind. Also, there's a wonderful little bit involving a debutante and failed her mechanical dog that explores humanity at its most crass. Technically, it's exceptionally staged and photographed with some images the sight of the droid locked in prayer that'll stay with you long after the story ends. On my five star scale, this one easily earns the highest praise with a perfect score.
In the last chapter, "Happy Birthday," a little girl hoping to please her father logs on to the web and orders him a new eight ball for his pool table. Two years later, an unidentified meteor is heading straight for a collision with the Earth, and, to her surprise, she learns what role she may've played in mankind's impending demise. This installment is a weaker satire than the first chapter, mostly because there's little substance to the grand `reveal' (which I won't spoil); instead, the story takes a rather serpentine route to deliver the audience to its destination, and it ends up being relatively routine. I do think, however, that "Happy Birthday" could've been stronger with more focus on the comic characters it's a family, and they all clearly love one another despite their respective quirks. In this anthology format, there just wasn't enough time for it all to mean that much. On the five star scale, I'd give it a middling two stars at best.
The single greatest strength to DOOMSDAY BOOK in the three-story format is that the audience doesn't spend too much time with the lesser sections, making most of it feel fairly benign. The weakness as I prescribed in my first paragraph is that the directors delivered three stories of vastly differing appeal. Yes, they're all sci-fi, giving us a glance at possible (but not all that probable) futures, but when the first and the final chapters feel more than a bit incomplete, I come away not feeling I've seen the best these stories had to offer (with the exception of "The Heavenly Creature").
Still, I'd strongly argue that each of these ideas had great foundation for fuller pictures completely on their own. Granted, a full 90 minutes dedicated to the eradication of mankind by a magic-8-ball (not the game, but a legitimate 8-ball from a pool table set) may not seem all that revelatory, but you have to take it in context. I would've loved to spend more time in each of these visions, especially one where a robot uncovers its desire to pray, and that's something to think about.
DOOMSDAY BOOK is produced by Gio Entertainment and Timestory. DVD distribution (stateside) is being handled by Well Go USA Entertainment. As for the technical specifications, it all looks and sounds impressive, and each chapter boasts some very solid performances by all of the players. Also, I'd be remiss in my duties if I didn't point out that the feature won the 2012 Fantasia Cheval Noir Award; and was an official selection of the 2012 Hawaii International Film Festival, the 2012 New York Asian Film Festival, and 2012 Fantastic Fest. Sadly, there are no special features to speak of.
RECOMMENDED. You like zombie films? Check! You like thoughtful heart-tugging science fiction flicks? Check! You like end-of-the-world tales told with more than a hint of irony? Check! Certainly, each piece of DOOMSDAY BOOK is solidly produced; but, as can happen all too often in anthology films, these stories end up wildly mixing influences and producing varying results. It's safe to say that I would have rather seen each installment expanded and turned into its own feature the zombie short had some solid ideas but methinks some of its dark humor was lost in translation, and the disaster from the heavens could've been elevated by more exploration of its decidedly quirky four main characters because, in their present format, there just wasn't enough. Only the middle chapter the robot who found enlightenment was strong enough to stand on its own, but I would've loved to have spent more time in that inspired, thought-provoking reality.
In the interests of fairness, I'm please to disclose that the fine folks at Well Go USA Entertainment provided me with a DVD screener of DOOMSDAY BOOK for the expressed purposes of completing this review.
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This film is in Korean with English subtitles. It defaults to no subtitles. The DVD lacks any commentary, which I would have watched on this particular film.This production consists of three sharp stories, the first being my favorite.
The first feature smartly utilizes the story of the apple in the garden of Eden as a metaphor for Pandora's box. A rotten apple finds its way into the food chain as cow meal. Humans consume meat from the cow and get a "mad cow's disease" which causes them to act like zombies. The film claims it is a virus, but clearly it is prions. Oprah was right! I loved this zombie explanation.
The second feature is about a robot who develops his own conscientiousness and is proclaimed to be Buddha due to his enlightenment. This segment contains heavy speeches concerning how man has become slaves to his inventions to the point that they impact on his evolution.
The third segment concerns a young girl who orders an eight ball on line only to find out it is being delivered from outer space in the form of a huge meteor that will destroy the planet.
I love colorful Asian cinematography. This one has adopted an appropriate western sound track which gave it the feel of a Hollywood production. The characters were well done. The movie oozes with comedy and satire as well as philosophy. This is without a doubt one of the best "end of the world" films that have come out here of late.
Parental Guide: F-bombs in first episode (spoken and printed in English). No sex or nudity.
Want Doomsday Book (2012) Discount?
there are a few different stories on this Disc, from zombies to just strange end of the world stories to robots with a soul movie.the movies are each very short, There is no real meaning, no action, no strong gripping Drama, not amazing acting.
it's even awkward at times and mostly seems like a waste of time.
if you think of a cool futuristic looking movie, do not watch this, this movie has nothing going for it.
the cover looks cool, but the robot is in only one short clip, and the rest if very boring.
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