Space Sweepers (2021)

Don’t sleep on this movie!!

I kept seeing Space Sweepers come up in my Netflix queue and I kept bypassing. It even had one of my favorite actors starring in it but I just wasn’t feeling the whole science fiction theme. That is until I started watching it. I told myself I would only watch half the movie but I ended watching the entire movie. Why? Because even the beginning had me interested in what would happen next. I also enjoyed the action scenes and the fact that while the movie is Korean, they still had some English speaking scenes. I also appreciate that there is a strong woman as part of the team. While I have to admit this is not a run to the theater blockbuster hit. It still is quite good and entertaining to watch. I found myself relating to the characters and rooting for them in the end. For this to be the first Korean space movie, it is quite impressive and the producers/directors did an excellent job with selecting the cast. All the main actors held there own and the chemistry of the actors was good as well.

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This movie could easily rival Hollywood blockbusters with its scale, action sequences and CGI. There were big shoot-outs, smart-ass robots, everybody’s favorite found family trope with an adorable little kid to boot...

One thing that I adored was that the movie didn’t adopt English as the universal future world language. They all spoke in their own native tongues using universal translators. What a smart idea. Sure, it took a while to get used to - personally, I’m used to watching a movie/series in one language so after a while I can follow its melody, its flow which meant that I had to pay close attention here but I didn’t mind. It was a really interesting idea.

Two things I wished they explored more in-depth were both connected to Sullivan: a) why/how did Cpt. Jang tried to kill Sullivan and b) the fact that Kim Tae Ho was the only child soldier that Sullivan had a personal connection with. Those two things felt like wasted opportunities.

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Deserves to be on the big screen!

Was so excited for this due to Kim Tae-Ri's breathtaking performance on the iconic KDrama series, Mr Sunshine and she didn't disappoint. If anything deserved to be on the big screen, it was this - shows what $24million can actually get you in terms of effects. The VFX is stunning! It draws you in during the first five minutes and it's so good to see something of this scale after so long. In Hollywood, $24million would get you the first 15 minutes of an MCU film - not a whole film! There are bits that are a little patchy but it doesn't detract from the story.

The character development can be a bit slow if you're not used to it, but as is the way with a kdrama or korean film, the character development is a bit of a rollercoaster ride - but if drags you and in and you become so invested in their journey.

Kim Tae-Ri is her classic brilliance and while I've not seen Decendants of the Sun yet, but Song Joong Ki is a great lead. The rest of the cast of the main team is great too, each with a story and you see them all band together in classic style - a bit like Guardians of the Galaxy but in Earths orbit haha.

If there is a negative, then it's the Western cast and/or dialogue. It just gets a bit diluted in translation - but then that seems to be the norm in KDrama's so makes sense to see it here too. It's a shame as the villain (Sillivan) was one of the main actors in the Hobbit!

Please give it a watch on the largest screen you can!

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Though the plot was cliche and predictable, Space Sweepers was a fun sci-fi romp we don't often get to see in the kdrama world. Sporting some great visuals and a very likeable cast, we're dumped into a future that's been shown a dozen times before and yet still managed to feel fresh and interesting. With a very international cast showcasing a lot of different languages and characters, it managed to feel very real and organic. And even though I knew where it was headed early on, I didn't get the least bit tired. There are some awkward lines and some bad acting from side characters, but overall it's an enjoyable watch. Definitely worth your time!

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Enjoyable

I was super excited for this. This is the kind of genre I absolutely love, with that being said this was completely enjoyable, but lacking in many ways too.

The good:

Incredibly interesting, fun, and loveable characters. Each and every one had their own personality, and their banter together was really fun to watch. I really was invested with every character, and would love to see another film just to have more screentime with them.

The world building was also excellent. Not unique - it's been done before - but no one expected something new with this. The future was painted well, and it's a world I could see wanting to explore more in.

The visuals were great. Shakey camera was a bit of a problem, but the cgi was stunning, and that's all you want from a sci-fi movie in my opinion.

The bad (rather not-so-good):

Nothing sinful here, just things that were lacking.

The story. Average, the kind of thing that's been done a hundred times. Everything was predictable, but that didn't make it any less enjoyable, because I think the characters were so well done. Admittedly, they did seem to try and throw a lot of sci-fi tropes in there all at once, and that really did take away from the story.

The music. Completely boring, unimaginative. Forgettable stuff. In a way, this doesn't matter at all. But then I remember movies I watch again and again because the soundtrack is so fun, so minus points for this.

All in all, good movie. Not great. Just good. A sequal would be nice.

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it should've been Captain Jang focused

this was like a westernized korean movie, or a koreanized western movie?
the cast was so "diverse" that the only koreans were the 5 mains with 2 "guest roles" and so it felt like the mixed A listers with C listers and they lost alot of substance by casting "basic" foreigners.
though in some ways I did appreciate the "inclusivity", man I wish I knew/tried to audition as Pierre or the cop Kim Taeri threatened ;D


Storywise it was pretty basic too, they went with the -cheap- easy way out and chose a really simple "heartwarming" approach by adding a kid and tbh I am a sucker for adorable babies that need protection which leads to familymance, but the backstory for Tae Ho really ruined it.
I don't know how they tried to make him seem like a hero when he was a horrible person.
he used to kill people for UTS until he met the baby he adopted but he lost all of his money and statues and he turned into a drunken gambler. he even mistreated his daughter to the point he pushed her away to her death. (and before that he took her with him to his gambling business) and from that I really didn't care for him anymore and his affection for
Kot Nim seemed like a cheap attempted to redo his lost "dadness"




now for the good:
uncle tiger was the real hero and "unexpected" sweety. honestly between him and taeoh, he was enough.

Captain Jang was EVERYTHING! not just because I love kim taeri but again she was another "element" they tried to replicate in taeoh which was the "cold" doesn't give a sh*t but is secretly a soft UWU and a dangerous killer they needed.
I so so so wish the "main" storyline was about her! they robbed us of a great backstory and the best "momance"! like why did she try to kill UTS's boss? how did it really work out? who was she working with? there was so many unanswered questions ;(

Bubs was a cutie and again what was her relationship with captain jang? cuz when bubs was dying captain jang tried really hard to save her and the end face was a dream "casting ship" between kim taeri and Kim Hyang Gi whom I think really look alike (which again goes back to what was their relationship, why did they "look" like sisters)

Kot Nim was an unexpected surprise for me, I really didn't know what the main plot was about until I watched it xD but as soon as I did I knew EVERYTHING that was going to happen and that's how shallow it was



I watched this with my mom as it aired, so since I knew nothing I theorized with her and I really said dorothy is the reason Mars is green and UTS lied that she's a bomb and wants to destroy her so earth isn't revived. and that was literally it... that was all clear as soon as she showed up in their ship, though their 1st meeting was funny and cute it was too obvious..

no need to talk about the great cinematography or the CGI, it was obviously amazing and way better than american movies. and the plot too tbh was better than the avengers so I don't want to be too critical about the shallowness of the plot ;)

and actually a rewatch is a must cuz one can focus more on captain jang ;)

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Swashbuckling Space Adventure

Initially, I did not think much about this movie. I know it's on Netflix, but I was not really planning to watch it. Since I was bored and I've just finished S6 of The Golden Girls, why not try watching something different, right? And I'm glad I did watch this movie.

Like what I have told my friend, this is like Guardians of the Galaxy but with more heart. Also, I like that each nationality was speaking their native tongue. That was honestly a nice touch. Additionally, I can't help but relate the movie to capitalism, privilege, and how some people (in this case 1 man) manipulates public opinion to suit their own needs. I could go on and on about the movie's implication in today's society, but well, this would make the review very long. Not only was the movie entertaining, but it makes you think as well.

The actors, what can I say? They are very good. With that cast, I'd be very surprised if anyone fell short in acting. Everyone brought their A-game and the cast is such a lovely ensemble. Not to mention the special effects??? It's seriously good. Kudos to the special effects team. It added more entertainment value to the movie. They really went all out with the effects and CGIs. It's a good adventure movie. Although I hope we got to see more of Captain's back story. Captain's seriously such a badass. You'll just love her.

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Visually, a fantastic spectacle !!

// OUTLINE // A motley crew salvaging space debris has deir lives changed wen dey stumble upon a 7-yr-old human like robot. Space Sweepers is packed wid dogfights & androids, wid the Earth on de brink of disaster..

De theme & de environment dat Space Sweepers is set in had great potential, but de film remains content with its largely simplistic storyline. Within these confines however, we get an entertaining two-odd hours entertainer. De cast greatly helps wid dis, as Song Joong-Ki is good &Kim Tae-Ri particularly shines in her role as the no-nonsense Captain Jang.

//VERDICT // Generally a fair amount of fun, though with maybe half an hour of edits would have been a much tighter and less inconsistent viewing experience

https://dramacool.pe/space-sweepers-2021-episode-1.html

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One of the best Korean movie I have ever seen

"Everytime I watched Space Sweepers, I cried 😭😭 It is SO emotional and fun, This is such a worth watching Korean movie, One of my favs. Everyone played their role wonderfully. The story is gripping, the visuals are stunning, and the characters are deeply relatable. The blend of action, humor, and heartfelt moments makes it a cinematic gem. Highly recommend it to anyone looking for a touching and exciting film experience! Just make sure to have tissues nearby. This is the best korean movie. Song Joong-Ki and Kim Tae-ri and the cast were extraoridinary. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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Catch a Ride Don't Sweep By °7.6° °VG°

‘That haul is worth $500.00.’ That thar haul’s a massive load of metal ~ the size of a medium building ~ and they give him 500 bucks. Space sweepers are scrappers who sell what they find floating out in the expanse. Making a livin ain't easy. They are paid in cash, because people that aren't citizens of the UTS Corporation aren't afforded any credit. Our crew runs into trouble when they're scrapping a wreck and find a little girl in the rubble.

There's pictures of this little girl all over the news. Apparently, she's an android with a hydrogen bomb planted inside of her. By the time the crew realizes this, they already have her on the ship. They're terrified, until they realize they could probably make some money off of her. That's how it starts. They keep the action flowing. It goes by fast for the time allotment - there's no dead spots. SS is a 2021 136-minute release that is rated 70/78 on RT, 6.5 on IMDB, 86 on AWiki, and 8.3 on MDL.

Song Joong-ki (Arthdal Chronicles, Descendants of the Sun-8.3, Reborn Rich) is ML, Tae-ho. Kim Tae-ri (Mr. Sunshine, Revenant) plays Captain Jang. Yoo Hai-jin (A Taxi Driver, Exhuma) gives voice to Bubs. Kim Hyang-gi (Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds-7.2, Salon De Nabi) is Bubs' New Body. Jin Sun-kyu (Uprising, Through the Darkness, Revenant) portrays Tiger Park. Richard Armitage (The Hobbit (liked it), North and South(loved it), & Castlevania-8.4) portrays James Sullivan / The CEO of UTS. Kim Moo-yul (Forgotten, Juvenile Justice) plays Kang Hyun-woo, and Oh Ji-yul (The Glory) is Su-ni. The screenwriter/director is Jo Sung Hee of A Werewolf Boy and additional screenwriters are Yoon Seung Min & Yoo Kang Seo Ae. The film is based on original creator/webtoonist Hongjacga's work.

SS is a classic style Sci-fi film. The primary criticism would be that it's formulaic. It follows some familiar flows and patterns, as well as recycled plot devices typical of action films. At this point in entertainment, we can't expect new things all the time, because most human stories actually do follow similar patterns. Human behavior is such. What's good about SS is the acting, the artistry and the sets, which are excellent with their well used, dirty, not pristine state. The plot may feel familiar, but there are a couple departures. There's a little twist at the end which is rather nice, and everybody does not get what they want.

SS doesn't deserve the 6.5 rating that it currently has on IMDB. I arrived at a 7.6 which means it doesn't quite reach an 8, but it is very good. This is for people who enjoy space films. Everything in SS is solidly competent. One has to wonder if people turned away when they realized it wasn't an entirely English-speaking film? It's primarily Korean, but several different nationalities and languages are featured before things settle down with the one K-crew. It has an international feel which is rather nice.

I've been hooked on foreign features for a while, as Hollywood has been so dumbed down it's insulting. With their overabundance of outstanding actors, Asian features are my current favorites - The thespians are definitely there for their merit. I'm a big fan of Korean shows, and the confidence & range of their child actors is always astounding. What's been missing is the high quality special-effects, but SS represents a change. Kdrama and Chinese features are getting more popular and their budgets are booming. So, hop on SS and other foreign features for a great ride.


〰🖍 IMHO

🎬8 🖊️〰7 🎭8.5 🌞8 🎨7.5 ⚡8 😅6 🤔6 🔚9


👁📺again? Not opposed


Recommendations:

⚡/🚀 -
K2 8,
Flex X Cop-8.5,
Private Lives 8.1,
When the Camellia Blooms-8,
Glitch-8,
Vagabond-8,
Uncanny counter season-1 only-S1-8.4 S2-4,
Inspector Koo-8.4,
Sisyphus 8,
Tunnel 8.5,
Signal 8.6,
Revenge of Others-8.6,
Blood Free-8.5,
Moving-8.3,,
D.P.-8.4,
The Cursed 8.3,
Flower of Evil 8.9,
The Man from Nowhere 8.9,
The Wailing-8.8,
Parasite-9,
Mother-8.8,
Black 9,
Squid Game 8.4,
Kingdom 8.3,
Sweet Home 8.4

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Aims for the stars, doesn't reach them, but a valiant effort nonetheless

Always count on the Koreans to make the most batshit crazy movies these days.

When laying out their space opera story, I suppose the question they asked themselves wasn't whether they could do what they envisioned, but instead, how they were gonna do it. Whether they had too much on their plate doesn't seem to have been brought up on the table at all. And somehow, I'd say it worked for me.

My theory is that they threw everything at the wall and hoped something would stick. The human parts did, at least. As did the set design/production design, which were great. Obviously this movie was inspired by American sci-fi movies. Nearly ripping off them, in fact, but since they added this unmistakable Korean touch as soon as the ship crew were brought into the narrative, we'll let it fly. Off the top of my head, I recognized elements of:

WALL-E
Elysium
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and just Star Wars in general.
Firefly/Serenity
Guardians of the Galaxy

And add in The Wandering Earth into the pile, although that's not American.

You get all the crazy, shoddy special effects and endless display of ambition typical of Chinese mainland movies, only without the propaganda. What surprised me the most was that the special effects weren't so bad actually. A few cheap shots here and there sure, but there were many gorgeous effect shots throughout this movie, which was surprising considering its low budget. They managed to accomplish a lot with the resources they had. Also it's worth mentioning but I loved the film's multi-lingual aspect. I heard over 5 different languages spoken extensively in this movie, but it's fine because the characters have universal translators so they understand each other. It's purely there for flavor and worldbuilding, and because they could so they did, which I liked.

The wishful thinking behind the movie's ending was unintentionally hilarious though. Oh sweet summer child…

Speaking of child, the "Cute Kid With Superpowers" MacGuffin is starting to become a bit of a tired cliché.

As for the characters, look... wherever Kim Tae-ri goes, I follow. Firefly-style, drunk and down on her luck captain who's hella badass? Quite the change of pace from her role in The Handmaiden that's for sure. She doesn't look the part, AND gives a speech that essentially inspires the whole planet to fight against corporate overlords (who are headed by Richard Armitage?!) and, however cheesy that was, there's no way in hell she wouldn't win me over. Like nick atkinson on letterboxd said, she makes looking cool so effortless.

You know what, in today's climate, a more realistic take on the ending would have been to show the UTS citizens cheering at the mention of the villain's idea of blowing up this shithole of a planet. "Better them than me! The poor can go hang in the dirt for all I care…" Doesn't sound so far-fetched when you think about it. This movie's sense of morality is a bit too on-the-nose for it to be realistic or believable.

Lastly, the robot who wanted to become a woman was also a highlight for me.

Verdict: Fun and ambitious, albeit uneven. Lots of ideas meshed together. Tonally inconsistent and a tad too long. Aims for the stars, doesn't reach them, but a valiant effort nonetheless.

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