Okja Review

Frustrating dissonance plagues Bong Joon Ho's offbeat film that doesn't live up to its premise or directorial hype.

Snowpiercer is quite possibly my favorite film, and I understand Ho's genre mashing at it's most magnificent, but Okja is not simply a genre blend, it is a thematic traffic jam. There were plotlines and themes that simply couldn't gel with the childrens-movie-esque nature of the film, and there was an overwhelming sense of narrative dissatisfaction in the latter half of the generous run-time. Ho builds up some major narratives that resonate with his themes, but some never truly pan out.

Certain majorly emotional plot points did not affect me in the slightest, usually due to simple confusion of motivation, and there were moments of extreme tragedy that felt out of place.
The film is saved by merits such as a beautiful look, fun action, occasional humor, great acting, and unique and fun characters. Gyllenhaal takes the adjective "unique" and expands on its definition. Paul Dano as the leader of the ALF is actually captivating and is the most memorable character in the flick.

I know that Ho had a vision for this work, and I usually trust his incredibly unique and visionary direction, but I think that this particular premise doesn't fit his style. 

4/10