I thought the use of having still frames while the characters just sit and talk really pushes the audience to listen to/read what they are saying. There's nothing distracting going on, it's just pure conversation which was different from other films we've watched.
@EmmaOwen27 That's a really good point! I was also comparing that to Decision to Leave and how the ocean in both cases kind of seems like a source of hope. It's kind of symbolic like when the characters look out at sea, they're waiting for something new to wash up onto shore.
@VoskampGav28593 I was wondering the same thing. I feel like when we are shown only a black screen with the number 2, it was a way to show (a jump in time)that she was back in Korea after being abroad. I also wonder what it means every time a scene starts with her sleeping at the beach
I'm very curious about what's going on in this scene. Why is Younghee being carried away? Could this be the same man who asked for the time as well as the one who was cleaning the windows? Why did the movie then shift to her being back in Korea after this scene happened? 26:47
I thought it was interesting how the use of background music was very subtle. Two points in the movie the background music came from a character playing an instrument and other times the music was usually gentle and not abrupt or loud. 5:42 and 16:25 are the scenes with the piano
The birds-eye view gave the feeling that everything was out of detective Jang Hae-jun's control. This view kind of limits where the audience can look, which can be somewhat of a parallel to how he was unable to find Seo-rae despite standing over the spot she buried herself.
Decision to Leave. I noticed that the detective and Seo-rae shared a lot of intimate moments where it almost seemed like they were more like husband and wife than the detective and his actual wife. 22:08 and 45:25 are some scenes in particular that stood out. #smc355
I thought the emphasis on rings was subtle yet impactful since both characters notice each other's rings & multiple times throughout the movie the camera had close focused shots. It was like a reminder that the detective was married yet, we see more of Seo-rae than his own wife
@MaxBarnes654528 I think this is meant to represent the heavy emotions the detective may feel throughout the movie of trying to solve the cases as well as deal with his conflicting emotions about Seo-rae since he's fallen for her, yet she's one of the suspects, & he knows she is guilty for murder
@kaelynb_ That's a good point, I didn't even notice that! It's also interesting how we have two scenes of Seo-rae in the mountains & at the sea & how both symbolize a kind of 'coming to terms'/end, in which her mother & grandmother's ashes are spread & when she buries herself at the beach
@JimmyH_723 I noticed that as well, with the beginning, only the American guy was trying to fight the monster along side Gang-doo and they bring an American scientist in to share the news that there is no virus, along with American military for the yellow gas to kill the monster.
The ending was unique to me because they report on all the events and there being no virus in English. The characters show no interest in what has to be said likely due to it being in English as well. It's kind of like they're ending what they experienced by turning off the tv.
Even if they had moments where they slip up, such as when Gang-doo grabbed the wrong girl in the beginning or miscounted how many bullets he had in the gun, or when the last bottle with the lighter fluid slipped from Nam-il's hand, they still had redeeming moments as well
Even though the family is ordinary, they still contribute some level of skill in trying to save/find Hyun-seo. Nam-il was able to find her location and Nam-joo delivered the final shot to the monster. Gang-doo pulls Hyun-seo from the monster's mouth, not caring for his own safety
23:25 It's clear the siblings don't really get along that well at times & Hyun-seo is the only one who brings them together. Even though they don't get along, the siblings still believed Gang-doo when he told them Hyun-seo called him & they all worked together to try and find her
@jadeincinema I agree with your point, many times we see the father taking care of all his children even though they are adults--such as when he's getting threatened to give all of his money to the men in order to get the white truck and his kids are just waiting in the car. ~42:25
@miller_bry18625 I think that's interesting as well when Namgoong calls his daughter a "train baby" and how these kids only know about the train and nothing beyond it.
@VoskampGav28593 I also find this interesting because the only thing that determined their position on the train was the ticket they had. Since they're all that's left of humanity on the train I wonder why they had to keep the tail of the train in such poor conditions.
28:07 It was interesting to see how whenever there was a lot of action in a scene or a lot of chaos going on the camera would shake a lot which I think is to help show how unorderly things really are on the train and how disorienting & unpredictable a situation could be . #smc355
Was it intentional of Wilford to have the guns closest to the tail of the train to have no bullets? Was it to psychologically manipulate Curtis into taking the first steps of the revolt since we find out later bullets still existed? #smc355