Directed By: Shin Sang-ok

MVP’s: Chang Sŏnhŭi, Kenpachiro Satsuma, Ri Ingwŏn, Pak Yŏnghak, Yu Kyŏngae, Masao Fukazawa, Ham Kisŏp, Ri Ryongun

Plot: In feudal Korea, an evil King rules with an iron fist. When a beloved blacksmith is tortured he infuses a tiny rice figure with his blood and thus is Pulgusari, the people’s monster, born.

Response: Dig the eyeliner wearing bandits. Dig the metal-eating manila toad.

Background: Shin Sang-ok was a popular and prolific director in South Korea dubbed “the prince of South Korean cinema”. He churned out historical epics, romances, melodramas, and political-awareness films; sometimes two per year! This was during South Korean cinema’s “golden period” One of his films, The Houseguest and My Mother becomes the first South Korean entry to the Best International Feature Film at the academy awards. Eventually he starts his own production company, and in the 60’s they produce 300 films! By the 70’s, South Korean films begin facing heavy government censorship and his studio closes. He gets work in Hong Kong though, directing ghost pictures for the Shaw Brothers.

Meanwhile, North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il was a film fan who kept a huge stock of Swedish, French and American film prints that his regime wouldn’t allow the people to see. Still, he wanted to sway international opinion about the Worker’s party of Korea. So he kidnaps Shin Sang-ok and Sang-ok’s ex-wife, the movie star, Choi Eun-hee and forces them to make pictures for him including this Godzilla rip-off. Shin and Choi curry enough good favor over the years to gain a longer and longer leash eventually escaping in Vienna and seeking asylum in the United States where they lived for two years in hiding in Virginia.

But making movies is in his blood, so in 1995 he directs his final picture, 3 Ninjas: Knuckle Up. Making him the only director in the history of cinema to make movies in Hollywood, Hong Kong, South Korea and North Korea.

Quick Review: Interesting as a companion piece to Melania if only to show that when North Korea wants to make nationalistic agitprop it gets an internationally renowned director (through violent and oppressive means, yes) and works with Toho getting the best monster suit specialists as well as 80’s Godzilla suit actor, Kenpachiro Satsuma, and original Manilla suit actor, Masao Fukazawa. It goes all out. When our own homegrown oppressive regime wants to make nationalistic agitprop it gets Brett Ratner to make a booooooring 90 minute commercial of the first lady walking around doing nothing. I’m saying MAGA’s pathetic is what I’m saying. Not even good by dictator standards. And yeah, Rush Hour slaps. And also, yeah, I picked a Rob Cohen movie to spotlight for yesterday’s Halloween picture (don’t look too close!) so I’m not exactly on a moral high ground. (I thought it was a Steve Sommers joint like the other mummies!)