This movie was awful. The plot was completely nonsensical. The US somehow created a monster by ordering a spineless Korean to pour chemicals down the sink, then tried to coverup the origins of the creature with a virus scare. Uh, yeah. Okay. Even if you're able to ignore the heavy handed anti-USA political subtext, the rest of the plot is just irritating. The entire family of protagonists started off a bit quirky but funny while together, then deteriorated into a complete mess of individualized and decidedly not funny arcs before the movie hit the halfway point. The writers decided somewhere along the line, it'd be better to introduce two brand new characters and save one of them instead of the kid who was literally the focus of the entire plot. It was very disappointing, poorly written, poorly conceived and poorly acted. Do yourself a favor and don't watch this.

This is a great non-cliche monster movie! Actually, the interesting part is that the story revolves around analyzing the human nature. Although the mutant creature is the cause of everything, the characters matter the most ("The mist" comes in mind somehow). Mixed feelings is the definition of this. Satirical, funny, awkwardly funny, then there's drama and so much drama that it turns out to be funny; also some action scenes, some ridiculously funny scenes and many awkward moments; the black comedy is pretty prominent here actually. I like how it jumps from dramatic scenes to comedy scenes. There are some symbolic scenes here too. I'm not going to reveal them of course, but I must mention the scene where all 4 main characters are gathered at the table and then something happens. This is not a spoiler because the scene is very obvious. Powerful and emotional moments like this are actually scattered throughout the whole movie. I don't know why I saw some horror tags. I don't actually see too much horror in this... maybe some shocking moments, but far from horror. The creature's animation was awesome. I'm not a big fan of CGI (especially movies abusing special effects), but this is CGI done with style. The movements and... acrobatics of the creature look very organic, they're very smooth and delicate. I was trying to understand the concept of the creature, for some reason... it's an ichthyo-amphibian mutant or something, but its behavior is not at all similar to a fish or a salamander or frog. Well, this is not the point; the point is that the governmental corporations are corrupted and USA sucks... look I'm being funny now. No, seriously... great movie!

The first time I tried to watch this, I was drawn by all the raving reviews and the eye-catching special effect sequences in the trailers.But I just couldn't last the whole movie. The messy, over-the-top, all-over-the-place performances of the lead adult actors combined with the messy, unfocused narrative just turned me off. It was hard to focus on a main character; but each candidate (apart from the little girl) just was the sort of person who, in real life, would make you back away slowly so as not to attract attention, and find something entirely else to do, far away.So years later, again caught by all the praise the movie gets from all quarters, I made myself try again, and sit through it.This time I got it, I caught the sort-of center to the plot, and more or less enjoyed it. (The 7 is generous.) But I warn you. Aesthetically, it's not unlike watching a runny nose for two hours. If you would do such a thing.

Quentin Tarantino once advised me (not personally, I shall add) to see this, and it blew away the first time. This later time around, I am still very much impressed, but I can't give it 10 out of 10 anymore. Especially the opening sequence is still easily worth a full 10, but other parts just aren't all that perfect, but still good or even very good.The characters (especially big sleepy lug Park Gang-Doo, adorable and smart Park Hyun-seo and the wise grandfather) are all perfectly thought out and wonderfully played, the story has lots of clever, weird or endearing elements and details in it and the monster itself is really a great concoction of weird, agile, filthy and brutal, all rolled into one. The fact that the little girl who is taken, does not survive, makes this one stand out even more within the monster-film standard.Really, a work of monster-film art. A big 9 out of 10.