JUNG_E (2023) - Review
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© Cho Wonjin/Netflix
Directed by: Yeon Sang-ho
Written by: Yeon Sang-ho
Starring: Kang Soo-yeon, Kim Hyun-joo, Ryu Kyung-soo
Runtime: 98 min
Synopsis: In a post-apocalyptic near-future, a researcher at an AI lab leads the effort to end a civil war by cloning the brain of a heroic soldier - her mother.
© Cho Wonjin/Netflix
Editor's Note: Original review was written for That Shelf. Full article can be found below.
REVIEW SUMMARY
JUNG_E is not what viewers expect. A war flick without the war, Yeon Sang-ho places the post-apocalyptic action in the background and instead focuses on a compelling study of what it means to be human with a touching mother-daughter relationship at its core. Despite some frustratingly over-the-top performances and one intolerably irritating character, the filmmaker's message is well-intended, clear, and meaningful. Unnecessary exposition and inconsistent visual effects don't help elevate the generic premise, but the impressive stunt work, epic score, and some genuinely captivating combat sequences make it an overall satisfying viewing.
