The Western Hemisphere has always been on the hunt for the Fountain of Youth, the Holy Grail, all of those mystical magical things that gives eternal life. Here is proof that the Eastern Hemisphere is not so free from the same temptations, going to shocking and horrific extremes (1 Extreme) to pull it off.
Have any of you seen that South park episode where they drink the vials of stem cells to keep young? That's, basically, what this is. This film could have been made in America and the symbolism would be utterly smashing. Being that it's Asian, however, does that mean it's coming from a different source? What now is happening in Asian society that causes such a discomforting focus? The story, as it were, details an ex-actress who finds a woman who makes magical dumplings that rejuvenate youth. The dumplings are made from baby foetuses (foeti???), and after her initial disgust she gets very involved in finding just the right magical formula for maintaining her eternal beauty.
It's some very disturbing shock value. Too bad that's about all it is.
Don't get me wrong, it was effective enough for me to state that it's a "good movie." It's just not an amazing or wonderful movie. It has no atmosphere, it doesn't even really seem necessary to make it into a film. Somebody could have told you the story in passing and it would have been effective. It could have been a book and been more disturbing. Nothing in the film-making or presentation itself really defended this movie's purpose.
It was well-enough put together that it earns it's credit, but there's much more compelling stuff out there that can trigger the same disturbed emotion mechanism and come off a little more profound.
--PolarisDiB
Have any of you seen that South park episode where they drink the vials of stem cells to keep young? That's, basically, what this is. This film could have been made in America and the symbolism would be utterly smashing. Being that it's Asian, however, does that mean it's coming from a different source? What now is happening in Asian society that causes such a discomforting focus? The story, as it were, details an ex-actress who finds a woman who makes magical dumplings that rejuvenate youth. The dumplings are made from baby foetuses (foeti???), and after her initial disgust she gets very involved in finding just the right magical formula for maintaining her eternal beauty.
It's some very disturbing shock value. Too bad that's about all it is.
Don't get me wrong, it was effective enough for me to state that it's a "good movie." It's just not an amazing or wonderful movie. It has no atmosphere, it doesn't even really seem necessary to make it into a film. Somebody could have told you the story in passing and it would have been effective. It could have been a book and been more disturbing. Nothing in the film-making or presentation itself really defended this movie's purpose.
It was well-enough put together that it earns it's credit, but there's much more compelling stuff out there that can trigger the same disturbed emotion mechanism and come off a little more profound.
--PolarisDiB