Massive, blockbuster cinema is considered by many as belonging solely to Hollywood studios and recognizable franchises, however filmmakers world wide have proved that concept mistaken repeatedly. This yr alone has already seen the wild success of India’s spectacular RRR, and now South Korea is leaping into the world with Alienoid. It’s an enormous, dense, high-energy mix of motion, sci-fi, and comedy with half its operating time set within the 14th century. It strikes quick, even at over two hours lengthy, and it’s assured to depart you prepared for the sequel due subsequent yr.

You don’t count on to see an SUV barreling by way of shacks throughout Korea’s Goryeo Dynasty within the yr 1391, however issues solely get wilder from there. It appears an intergalactic conflict between species past our creativeness has resulted in prisoners being secured inside human our bodies. The people don’t know and go on dwelling their lives, however once they die the alien prisoner does too. An artificial humanoid named Guard (Kim Woo-bin) and his remodeling sidekick Thunder (additionally Kim in human kind, however in any other case voiced by Kim Dae-myung) are stationed on Earth and tasked with overseeing new prisoner drop offs and stopping escapes. The pair can journey by way of time utilizing a magical dagger, and a visit from the current to the 14th century sees them return with an toddler in any other case left for useless — a selection that kicks off the motion each from time to time.

Author/director Choi Dong-hoon is comfortably at dwelling with huge, fast-moving tales populated by enjoyable, shifty characters, and Alienoid is not any completely different — except for being his greatest movie but. Humor performs an enormous position in almost all of his movies (Tazza: The Excessive Rollers, 2006; Woochi: The Demon Slayer, 2009; The Thieves, 2012), so it’s no shock that his newest delivers some huge laughs alongside the best way. Followers of 2015’s glorious and extra severe Assassination received’t be upset, although, as its sturdy ensemble, incredible motion, and complex construction are equally current right here.

The movie strikes between the 2 intervals with two seemingly completely different story threads, however all of it’s destined to tie collectively. Guard and Thunder are coping with a messy prisoner drop off within the current, one which catches the eye of their now pre-teen “daughter” Ean (Choi Yu-ri), and that results in explosive carnage by way of town streets. The story unfolding six centuries earlier (concurrently?) sees a magical bounty hunter named Muruk (Ryu Jun-yeol) trying to find the Divine Blade, however he’s not the one one. He’s joined by a pair of cats who dwell in a hand fan and switch into people (don’t ask) and competing with a number of others. One is a vicious, masked madman named Jajang (Kim Eui-sung), there’s a pair of magically mischievous inventors known as Madam Black (Yum Jung-ah) and Mr. Blue (Jo Woo-jin), after which there’s a younger lady recognized solely as The Woman Who Shoots Thunder (Kim Tae-ri) — as a result of she’s carrying a semi-automatic pistol.

There’s so much to digest in Alienoid, clearly, however fortunately it’s made simpler for viewers in two methods. First, the quite a few plot specifics and relationships are much less necessary than what you’ll intuitively decide up about all of it. And second, Choi excels at juggling the characters, story particulars, and dramatic beats in extremely entertaining methods. It’s only a enjoyable time watching the characters work together and banter earlier than, throughout, and after the movie’s multitude of motion sequences.

To that time, whereas laughs and motion spill by way of each time intervals, every has a distinct precedence with different success. The current is crammed with extra and larger set-pieces as alien crafts dogfight over metropolis streets inflicting large injury to surrounding buildings. Combating continues on the bottom as Guard faces off in opposition to the alien customer intent on releasing a selected prisoner, and it comes alive by way of gun play, fisticuffs, and a Marvel movie’s price of CG. It’s all strong sufficient, however Guard’s flat have an effect on and the abundance of CG makes it tougher for viewers to develop connected on the character entrance.

There’s no such drawback with Alienoid‘s 14th century scenes, although. The motion is a mixture of extra grounded fights and wuxia-inspired, gravity defying antics, all of which thrill. But it surely’s right here the place Choi’s eye and ear for comedy and character completely shine. Ryu is extremely charismatic and really humorous because the newbie however extremely gifted dosa (magician) who stumbles into the plot unintentionally. From his bodily mannerisms to his line supply he’s the comedian heart of the movie. Shut behind him, although, is the Black & Blue pairing — siblings? romantic couple? enterprise companions? — who steal each one among their scenes whether or not they’re hawking magical innovations like Hoyt Axton in Gremlins or utilizing their mystical chops in fight.

If there’s a much bigger sense of disjointedness in Alienoid it’s within the movie’s cliffhanger ending. It’s by design, and the sequel is already in post-production with a launch scheduled for subsequent yr, but it surely nonetheless leaves the narrative incomplete in a really direct approach. That mentioned, there’s no doubting you’ll be happy spending each your time and money watching this one. It’s huge, enjoyable world-building with motion that excites, laughs that land, a rating that compels, and characters you care about. Most Hollywood blockbusters ought to be so fortunate.

Associated Matters: South Korea

Rob Hunter has been writing for Movie Faculty Rejects since earlier than you have been born, which is bizarre seeing as he is so rattling younger. He is our Chief Movie Critic and Affiliate Editor and lists ‘Broadcast Information’ as his favourite movie of all time. Be happy to say hello should you see him on Twitter @FakeRobHunter.