The Korean Time Travelling Sci-fi Blockbuster Alienoid gets a sequel Alienoid: Return to the Future. New to Blu-ray from Well Go USA.
The Film
Writer/Director Choi Dong-hoon’s bold and brilliant sequel Alienoid: Return to the Future is an adroit mixture of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Time Travel. The results are a wildly entertaining thrill-ride conclusion (we think…) to the story that began with Alienoid. Though there’s a recap within the film let us be clear Alienoid: Return to the Future is a true second half of the story that began with the original film. Do not go into this one unless you’ve already seen the first wildly entertaining original.
Alienoid: Return to the Future like its predecessor feels like a heartfelt family adventure in the vein of the very best output of Amblin Entertainment in the 1980s. Think of the one-two punch of Back to the Future and Back to the Future: Part II. Return the Future is similar to the Zemeckis sequel as it adds in new wrinkles to an already complicated (for our heroes) journey and goal. Now that the Alien Prisoners have escaped their human bonds, they have traveled back with our heroes to the 14th century to ensure they finish off not just Guard (Kim Woo-bin) and Thunder (voiced by Kim Dae-myung) but the mysterious woman (Kim Tae-ri) [no spoilers here but her identity does play a huge part of the sequel’s narrative].
Director Choi’s sequel is every bit the equal of the original but does exactly what you want a sequel to do; more action, more humor, more story, more heart. Part of the beauty of these films is just how humane and character-based they are. The way they take characters that are the butt of jokes (see the two Cat/Humans Right Paw and Left Paw) but over the course of both films are given moments that endear them to us so when they are put in peril it matters. It is rarer and rarer nowadays that these types of characters are either cannon fodder or plot points and nothing more. It’s this sort of care and character-first writing and filmmaking that elevates a film but is rarely found in event filmmaking.
It isn’t just the character work that makes Alienoid: Return to the Future such a successful film. It also has the ability to mix mythology and science fiction troupes to create something adroitly fun for anyone that had an adoration for both Wuxia-style martial Arts films and Hard Science Fiction. Moreso, the way it’s integrated into the storytelling and visual style elevates the film, where things are not explained away, even when characters ask, it smartly keeps those info dumps to a minimum – because there isn’t a need.
The film earns its big-budget event-style ending because of the 3.5 hours of groundwork laid by director Choi and company. In fact, the promise of the series ending, and the bait and switch at the end doesn’t feel so terrible considering how successful the film is. One will find themselves smiling at the prospect of a third Alienoid film because of just how well-built and executed the first two are. This like the original delivers on both big-budget spectacle and human-scale drama/comedy resulting in the kind of throw-back original blockbuster filmmaking we rarely see from Hollywood.
The Transfer
The transfer provided to Well Go USA is another winner in a long line of winners. The digitally shot film looks crisp and sharp on Blu-Ray. The handsome image has no issues with handling anything the VFX-heavy film has to throw at it. One wonders how the IMAX-released film would look on 4K UHD as the Blu-ray pushes out the very limits.
The Extras
They include the following;
Making Of
Character Trailer
Trailer
Making Of (3:15) – an all-to-brief making of that’s filled with some great b-roll behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the cast and crew. Korean with English Subtitles.
Character Trailer (3:23) – a great compilation of moments that catch you up on the various characters and where we are with them in the series. Korean with English Subtitles.
Trailer (1:44) – Korean with English Subtitles
The Final Thought
Alienoid: Return to the Future is big-budget event filmmaking at its best. Highest possible recommendations!
The Korean Time Travelling Sci-fi Blockbuster Alienoid gets a sequel Alienoid: Return to the Future. New to Blu-ray from Well Go USA.
The Film
Writer/Director Choi Dong-hoon’s bold and brilliant sequel Alienoid: Return to the Future is an adroit mixture of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Time Travel. The results are a wildly entertaining thrill-ride conclusion (we think…) to the story that began with Alienoid. Though there’s a recap within the film let us be clear Alienoid: Return to the Future is a true second half of the story that began with the original film. Do not go into this one unless you’ve already seen the first wildly entertaining original.
Alienoid: Return to the Future like its predecessor feels like a heartfelt family adventure in the vein of the very best output of Amblin Entertainment in the 1980s. Think of the one-two punch of Back to the Future and Back to the Future: Part II. Return the Future is similar to the Zemeckis sequel as it adds in new wrinkles to an already complicated (for our heroes) journey and goal. Now that the Alien Prisoners have escaped their human bonds, they have traveled back with our heroes to the 14th century to ensure they finish off not just Guard (Kim Woo-bin) and Thunder (voiced by Kim Dae-myung) but the mysterious woman (Kim Tae-ri) [no spoilers here but her identity does play a huge part of the sequel’s narrative].
Director Choi’s sequel is every bit the equal of the original but does exactly what you want a sequel to do; more action, more humor, more story, more heart. Part of the beauty of these films is just how humane and character-based they are. The way they take characters that are the butt of jokes (see the two Cat/Humans Right Paw and Left Paw) but over the course of both films are given moments that endear them to us so when they are put in peril it matters. It is rarer and rarer nowadays that these types of characters are either cannon fodder or plot points and nothing more. It’s this sort of care and character-first writing and filmmaking that elevates a film but is rarely found in event filmmaking.
It isn’t just the character work that makes Alienoid: Return to the Future such a successful film. It also has the ability to mix mythology and science fiction troupes to create something adroitly fun for anyone that had an adoration for both Wuxia-style martial Arts films and Hard Science Fiction. Moreso, the way it’s integrated into the storytelling and visual style elevates the film, where things are not explained away, even when characters ask, it smartly keeps those info dumps to a minimum – because there isn’t a need.
The film earns its big-budget event-style ending because of the 3.5 hours of groundwork laid by director Choi and company. In fact, the promise of the series ending, and the bait and switch at the end doesn’t feel so terrible considering how successful the film is. One will find themselves smiling at the prospect of a third Alienoid film because of just how well-built and executed the first two are. This like the original delivers on both big-budget spectacle and human-scale drama/comedy resulting in the kind of throw-back original blockbuster filmmaking we rarely see from Hollywood.
The Transfer
The transfer provided to Well Go USA is another winner in a long line of winners. The digitally shot film looks crisp and sharp on Blu-Ray. The handsome image has no issues with handling anything the VFX-heavy film has to throw at it. One wonders how the IMAX-released film would look on 4K UHD as the Blu-ray pushes out the very limits.
The Extras
They include the following;
Making Of (3:15) – an all-to-brief making of that’s filled with some great b-roll behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the cast and crew. Korean with English Subtitles.
Character Trailer (3:23) – a great compilation of moments that catch you up on the various characters and where we are with them in the series. Korean with English Subtitles.
Trailer (1:44) – Korean with English Subtitles
The Final Thought
Alienoid: Return to the Future is big-budget event filmmaking at its best. Highest possible recommendations!
Well Go USA Blu-Ray edition of Alienoid: Return to the Future is out July 30th
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