Here's a South Korean zombie movie on a train (mostly) with a sad ending.

They really got me with this one.

Not just with the end, but with how flexible actors they managed to find for the initial zombies, with the flaming train, with the double Wii, with the comedic bits and pieces contained even with the saddest moments. With the real tears. With a lot of things here. It's in the details. It's in the emotion. It's in the desperation. It feels real.

I did not however feel entirely convinced by the masses of crashing glass, or the big crash, or the wreckage. Some bits came across a bit fake. Maybe they're aged, as this really isn't the newest movie anymore either.

But it was GOOD.

 rated 4.5/5: almost awesome

It's a little slow. It's a little casual. It's a little... not sure what, but it doesn't go all the way.

And when I see the old buildings I'm suddenly thinking how that's what those old buildings look like today. How we're remaking history with these.

Each time you see old locales in a new movie - where they haven't actually made a whole new set for said movie - we're not conveying history as it were, but actually remaking it. History as it is now. Old buildings carefully selected as to still seem old, and new actors playing old roles, and when you see it like that... I'd much rather actually watch an old movie, where the locales really were locales of said time.

Cinema history's living history.

Even if the premise of whatever movie you play deals with the past or present in regard to said time, they still convey it with the mannerisms, and with the people, of the time at which it was filmed.

Especially back in the day when the setups weren't as complex it's like traveling through a portal; into another era.

But setting all that aside... it's not bad. It's a spy drama/romance dealing with a particular protagonist, David Tennant, who's stationed in Warsaw, who spies on the Nazis before the war really breaks out, and falls in love with a girl, and you know there's bound to be a twist or quirk in planning somewhere along the line...

Won't spoil that. It's classy. It feels suitably authentic. It ends...

 rated 3/5: not bad

Italian grimy seventies crime movie. Let me give you a sample...

The Chinaman (writing): Frenk... How do you spell Frenk, with an E?

Goon: No, with an A.

Chinaman: Then why do you pronounce it Frenk? Frenk...

...

The blood might look like paint again, the zoom-in's sometimes a bit cheesy, the punches not all like real punches but still... it's gritty in a good way. They have a somewhat elaborate heist bit. The cars look great. The sceneries great. The characters exhibit strength and charisma and the pace isn't bad either.

Was thinking I might skim but this one kept me in. Feels a bit like The Good, The Bad, The Ugly but in the city, not the wild. Dirty Harry-like.

Wouldn't surprise me if it was inspired by both of those.

 rated 4/5: fo shizzle

I really wasn't prepared for where this movie would take me!

Who would've thought an ordinary German with a knack for cracking safes, recruited by a group of international heist partakers in the middle of a brewing zombie apocalypse, to crack a series of safes inspired by Richard Wagner's Opera, would take this route?

The scenery's beautiful. The filmography's polished. The characters are great. I didn't know most of the cast, but then suddenly there's Ana de la Reguera in the middle of it all, and Bautista with a quick cameo. The things you expect the least...

I feel like some of the action scenes could've been choreographed better - the bullet wound in particular looks like a paintball splash - but the drama's definitely there. And a strange kind of comedy. Feels as refreshing as the theme itself, like they're finally deciding to open some new doors in the stagnant Hollywood brewery, but also... slightly depressing.

Whatever happened to those two girls? Really doesn't feel complete without them.

 rated 4.5/5: almost awesome

Atmospheric, with intricate props, a spiritual undertone, a lot of blue special effects, limited cast, fragmented plot, and unfortunately pretty mediocre script/dialog and drawn-out runtime that in the end made it feel like... not the best way I could've spent these particular two hours.

I did love the prop design. I loved the monster. I loved the soundtrack.

I also enjoyed how much intensity the main character managed in some scenes - though unfortunately the lack of intensity around her sometimes made for an almost comical contrast.

They re-used a lot of the scenery too. You see the artificial womb maybe one too many times. They show up their background gadgetry like they're proud they made it, and want to give it a little more runtime in the movie, and I do get their want but... it comes across a little repetitive. They show buildings from a down-looking-up perspective a bit too many times too. One too many car rides through the same city where those buildings indeed do loom above your head. Somewhat dystopian. I get it.

If they were going for Cyberpunk kind of vibe with the lack emotion and at times somewhat apathetic tone they unfortunately didn't manage all the way. Comes across a little bland. They have some redeeming qualities, and the props and filming really was on point, but the rest... it's missing something.

 rated 3.5/5: not bad at all

He looks a bit like Chow Yun-fat, doesn't he? Henry Golding.

Similar charisma. Similar features. Maybe even better fighting skill? Potentially similar superstar in the making!

The fight choreography's kick-ass, though it feels like he let go of his vengeance a bit too easily. People overall flip too fast. They don't really convey the signs enough. It's awesome but: a little inconsistent.

The truck with all the swords through the windshield though: that's one memorable bit. And the credits.

Good watch overall.

 rated 4/5: fo shizzle