Seven years removed from the catastrophic failure of the Korean Aeronautic Space Command’s first foray into space, the crew of the Woori-ho attempts a mission to the moon. The stench of embarrassment lingers in the air around the KASC; trying to recover from the loss of the Narae-ho. That mission failed, when it exploded in a fashion similar to the ill- fated Space Shuttle Challenger launch of 1986. The fate of the Korean space program rests on the shoulders of this mission. The plan is to land on the moon, joining the Americans as the only humans to ever step on Earth’s only natural satellite, recover soil samples that could be used to propagate an era of new energy, found trapped in the soil of the moon and return home safely, to the fanfare of a grateful nation. What could possibly go wrong?
Everything.
The three man crew of the Woori-ho is bombarded with radiation from an unusually aggressive solar storm; which knocks out communications. The same communications that can’t warn them of an incoming meteor shower that cripples the vessel, killing two astronauts in the aftermath. The sole survivor is Seon-woo Hwang (Kyung-soo Do) a rookie astronaut, who’s now stranded, near the moon with increasingly depleting supplies,
From director Yong-hwa Kim, known for his work direction the fantasy epic series Along with the Gods, brings a familiar tale of survival in extreme circumstances. Evoking the gritty resolve of Apollo 13 (1995) and the visual splendor of Gravity (2013), The Moon is ultimately crushed under the weight of a faulty script. The film is rife with nationalism, as it seems that the mission is more about international posturing within the space community, than it is about tackling the fossil fuel conundrum. Politicians seem to have more influence than actual rocket scientists, which has lasting effects on the integrity of the mission.
Another gripe is the portrayal of NASA, the American space agency. The KASC call for help in their recovery efforts and for some chronically obtuse reason, the American sneer and growl at the thought of helping the recovery efforts. Why? There wasn’t a good enough reason given, for the Americans to take the demonstrably petty position of ‘you can’t sit with us (in space). That immersion breaking plot development really put a damper on what was a fairly competent survival drama.
Overall, The Moon is an overdramatic romp, choking on the fat of the worst political theater, that really takes away from the film’s mission: There’s a guy, stranded on the moon. That’s it. That’s they story. Unfortunately, the film loses focus, but is upheld by lovely set pieces and a stirring performance from Kyung-soo Do.
Grade: B-
Not Rated by the MPA (Rated 12+ in Korea)
Runtime: 129 minutes
Reporter / Film Critic
I have always loved stories. Whether it’s in books or movies, I’m a sucker for a compelling story. Compared to watching television, seeing movies in a theater has always been a visceral experience. There’s just something about having the full IMAX experience or sharing an unspoken moment of anguish, joy and laughter with complete strangers. Movies have always had a special place in my heart and that’s what brings me back to the theater. As the amount of prequels, sequels and spinoffs increase, I’ve increased my efforts to see more different, and compelling stories. I hope the reviews that follow reflect my efforts to take my moviegoing off the beaten path.
When I’m not in your local theater, I’m probably at a baseball game or wrestling event. Do drop me a line on the Twitter Machine @GiantKrabb