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1. kai 10.13.21 / 4pm

   Parasite is a great film that best depicts symbolism and themes. This review did a great job at talking about those important aspects. With the use of foreshadowing, themes, and execution of the narrative, Parasite would not have had the same impact on its audience as it did. The film was clearly separated into two parts as mentioned in the review and I thought this was an important thing to mention. The first half was more lighthearted and playful, while the second half got more gritty and dark. Without this contrast, the narrative’s message wouldn’t have gotten across. In the end, both of the families were parasites to each other.
2. Nichole allan 10.15.21 / 10pm

   This movie was very interesting. It was originally in Korean however translated into English. This film is not a low budget film at all. It was the first non-English film to won an Oscar and made $35 million US dollars. It falls into the genre of thriller comedy. Parasite is also a high concept movie due to the fact that is easy to understand the storyline and the plot is easy to describe.
3. Holly Neville 10.26.21 / 8am

   I watched Parasite almost a year ago and I still remember the whole story. I agree that the execution of this film is spectacular. It is so unique and not like any movie I have ever seen. I had no idea that the turning event takes place exactly half way through the movie. It shows the precision of the film and how it is so interesting and nearly flawless.
4. Esai Aviles 10.30.21 / 8am

   I really like your review! It’s very detailed and opened my eyes to things that went right over my head when watching this film. I thought that this movie was really interesting. I had never seen Korean movies like this before, so I had no idea what to expect. I also didn’t watch any trailers for this movie and only had a slight idea of the plot when I began watching the film. I had no idea that there were professions like that in Korea and became very interested in the movie as soon as it began. I also had no clue the turning point in the movie happened at the exact halfway mark, and I thought that was very interesting and now I wonder what made the director film it this way.
5. Waylon Rose 11.06.21 / 2pm

   This review is very detailed and explains things that are not so obvious in the film. It really opened my eyes about the film and about what it really is about. This film is so different from any other film that I have seen and it shows how the films in South Korea are getting more impressive all the time. This reviews explains the feeling of watching this movie greatly as it leaves the audience with chills down their spine. It talks about how the movie just makes the audience want to see the different theories about the movie, that is the most kind of interesting films to me. It reminds me a little bit of Donnie Darko and how it leaves the audience speechless and almost scratching their head.
6. Luozhen Wang 03.10.22 / 4am

   This film Parasite portrays and depicts many intriguing scenes. The scene that you described in the review is also one of my It’s also one of the scene that impresses me most, the Kim family as parasites come out of the basement, living in the houses of the rich and upper class, enjoying a life that does not belong to them, but because of the return of the owner and had to flee home reflects the clear difference between their original lives and the Park family’s life, and as a narrative structure, shows us the difference between the two families, representing the different social positions in society. Moreover, the film’s shooting angle also highlights the class differences, at the beginning, the camera shows the viewer that they live further down in the basement than the floor by filming the view from the Kim’s house looking out to the outside. Not only that, in order to describe the inner feelings of the characters in detail and promote the development of the story, the director pays great attention to the close-up shots to portray the facial expressions and body movements of the characters. At the same time, the light and tone of the film is changing as a way to distinguish the poor from the rich. Park’s house is always surrounded by warm and bright colors, on the contrary, Kim’s house is dirty, dim and crowded, the feeling conveyed to the audience is different. These are very important in the thematic expression of the film, as well as in the portrayal of the characters, as the design of the film.
7. Jesus Lopez 07.09.22 / 10pm

   Parasite is a film that will leave you thinking who is the real parasite? The Park family who constantly take take take or the Kim family who con their way into their jobs to take from the Park family. I agree on how Boong Joon Ho greatly portrayed problems that face both the families and how different the results are for both of them. While both families face a storm the outcomes are worlds apart. A film that perfectly displays the class divisions within the country of South Korea. So well that it resinated to people throughout the whole world. This will end up being a film that stands the test of time.
8. Rachelle F 09.07.22 / 8pm

   Parasite is such a thought provoking film as it opens our minds to the wealth inequality in such a new way. We often think of the rich and bad and poor as good, however, in this film the rich Parks have done nothing blatantly bad, whereas the Kim’s practically scam other people out of their jobs in order to take it over. Yet, I still found myself rooting for them. The reviews mention of the scene of Mrs. Park on the phone speaking of the rain sets off an acute turning point as it is the moment Kim Ki-taek realizes their difference in situation. I think the idea of the Kim family all having to attend their party the next day, despite all their belongings being stripped away was the most eye opening part of the film.
9. Anna Liu 10.24.22 / 12am

   It’s so funny you mentioned Christopher Nolan because I was thinking the exact same thing- and how both directors are masters at meticulously mapping out every little detail so that they all somehow add to the themes this movie is trying to portray.
   I didn’t even connect the flood in this film to climate change, before thinking it over, it felt very sudden in the film to have a rainstorm. It was so heartbreaking, watching the family struggle to retrieve what little possessions they had, even though it was clear it was forever damaged. I also liked how it added another layer of resentment towards the Park family, because of their inability to see past their own privilege, but also how it holds up a mirror to the privileges that the audiences may have. Like personally, my favorite weather happens to be wildfire weather; hot and windy, and after watching this film, I definitely hope no one has heard me say that.

   After reading your review, I went back to rewatch the scene of the Kim family retreating back towards their home. I noticed that the camera angle has reverted back to the birds eye lens that they used at the beginning of the film when they were still all unemployed. I liked how it signified their descent back towards the lower class, whether literally (adding to the suspense that will culminate in them being worse off than before) or metaphorically (signifying the moment where they finally realize that all this effort to elevate themselves, was just to end up being servants).
10. Devin Borges 10.29.22 / 12pm

    “Parasite” was definitely my film of the year when I watched it in 2019 and there should be no surprise as you mention it was phenomenal, the plot, acting, and cinematography all came together to make an amazing film. The naming of the film is great in its own way with it believing the family to be the parasites but for it to actually be the husband of the current maid, switching the what you thought you know. The acting from the cast was great with how well they played the part of the characters. Bong Joon Ho’s film was amazing and one of my favorite films in the recent past.
11. Yulin Jin 11.05.22 / 11am

    The movie parasite was indeed an absolute masterpiece in my opinion too. The plot of the film was well thought out and shows the level of creativity the films producer, who brought it to life, Bong Joon Ho, has. The turn of the trajectory of the film was quite astounding, I had not seen that coming at all. The title of the film, “Parasite”, was also well formulates. As the title suggests, the film is about a family of poor people who act as parasites and leech of of a wealthier family. Your review has captured well the feeling and emotion one has as they watch and complete watching the film.
12. Duncan Matz 03.14.23 / 5pm

    This is a really good review of the film Parasite. It does a good job of taking into account all the themes that are relevant to it, such as climate change and the separation of classes within Korean society and society as a whole. as they outlined the Storms for the rich are good because it gets rid of the pollution but for the poorer family it floods there home which shows the polarity between the two and how the poor can feel spiteful of the rich. The movie itself is great, it uses unique mise en scene to really allow the viewer to feel this contrast between the rich and poor.
13. Jordan Ramirez 06.29.23 / 1pm

    I really enjoyed reading this review. I really liked the movie “Parasite”. I thought the acting was very good, the effects were great, lighting in the house and throughout the film was good for camera angles. I thought the twist at the middle of the movie was great. I thought the part in the movie where the Kim family were practicing their lines in their house and the movie was transitioning between the two scenes was awesome to see and it felt like it didn’t hurt the movie in any way. The acting of each character in the movie portrayed their character in a way that seemed realistic and at some points it didn’t seem like a movie.
14. Jordan Ramirez 06.29.23 / 2pm

    I really enjoyed reading this review. I really liked the movie “Parasite”. I thought the acting was very good, the effects were great, lighting in the house and throughout the film was good for camera angles. I thought the twist at the middle of the movie was great. I thought the part in the movie where the Kim family were practicing their lines in their house and the movie was transitioning between the two scenes was awesome to see and it felt like it didn’t hurt the movie in any way. The acting of each character in the movie portrayed their character in a way that seemed realistic and at some points it didn’t seem like a movie.
15. Dima Shylo 10.20.23 / 6pm

    Parasite was an amazing movie. I loved it throughout the whole thing. The themes of the movie were very well portrayed, the class differences were made super obvious and the changes throughout the movie were very well noticeable. I loved the design of the movie because everything fit so well with the narrative. The theme and design went hand in hand. The mise en scene was great throughout the whole movie, the shadows and lighting was perfect and underlined the personality and characteristics of all characters. It is a movie with a great meaning and I suggest anyone who hasn’t watched it yet to watch it.
16. Madison Lanfair 12.13.23 / 9pm

    Hi Maria, I really enjoyed reading your review. I think you highlighted some really interesting points here. I really liked how in detail you got regarding the reoccurring theme of climate change. I like how Bong Joon Ho depicted two families experiencing this climate change is very different ways. I also noticed how brilliant the cinematography was I this film. I really enjoyed how you described it as “the film has great shots that may not be obvious at first but have a deeper meaning”. That is the pure talent we seen from Bong Joon Ho in this film. You described the feeling of seeing this movie for the first time perfectly, great job!!
17. Summer Rose Hayashi 03.02.24 / 10pm

    Hello Maria, I hadn’t thought about the idea of climate change in this movie, but this is an interesting point. Something I love about this movie is how it uses space. The higher classes are literally higher up, and because of this they are ignorant to the many issues around them, such as the flooding. I think this issue of blissful ignorance of the rich is showed right from the beginning when Ki-Woo’s friend gifts them the rock in the scene you mention and the mother comments that he should have brought food instead. Their world is built off of niceties and not genuine help or support, and that is part of what has led to the Park family’s demise.
18. Mariah F Slechter 03.11.24 / 10pm

    Great review on the movie Parasite. This movie was so different then any other movie I have ever seen. A film about the differences between wealth classes while adding in some dark comedy really hit home for me. I would agree with what you said about watching it again and maybe finding some hidden comments and notes.
    There were a few symbols that I also picked up on and that is that even though money was so vastly different from these families both the Kim family and the Park family deeply care about their families. For example in the park family the dad brings home gifts to his son and the mother is always worried for him trying to get him help. The parents in the Park family even sleep on the couch in the pouring rain so they can make sure their son is safe. THe Kim family eat every meal together. When the Flooding happened Mr.Kim told his kids not to go into the water because of its danger. It is an important theme to note that although money plays a difference they can connect on they’re love for their families.
    Yes, the Cinematography was incredible. There are so many scenes that stay in mine but the one that I will never forget is when they are trying to save their house from the flooding and Jessica is in the bathroom and the toilet shoots out sewage and it is flying up in the air. She is just surrounded by feces and then closes the toilet and lights up a cigarette.
19. Maraiya Espada 03.18.24 / 10pm

    I completely agree on this review of “Parasite,” when watching this film almost a year ago, it made me want to watch it over again. It was the plot and the theme that made this film so interesting just the whole meaning to it. It was also very humbling and that you shouldn’t take for granted what you already have. In my film class we are learning the concept of mise-en-scene. This film uses symbolism through objects, objects and props are used symbolically to reinforce the film’s themes. For example, the scholar’s rock in the Park family’s living room becomes a recurring motif that represents wealth and status. Similarly, the use of peaches as a recurring symbol of luxury and decadence adds layers of meaning to the narrative.
20. Lily Grant 04.13.24 / 5pm

    I really liked your review, and after watching the film for the first time I also found myself left wanting to know more! I appreciate your mention of the details, I believe that they serve an important role in the film and contain many hidden meanings. After watching for a second time I couldn’t help but notice the inspiration taken from classic film noir movies and the modern interpretation of them in Parasite is absolutely genius. Although it does not take place in America, the Kims seem to be in pursuit of what some may consider the American Dream, and willing to do whatever it takes to achieve success. The film is a powerful one that cleverly conveys important modern issues, including underlying themes of climate change and obvious social commentary on the rapidly increasing wealth gap. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire plot, and the ending was the perfect unexpected twist to really tie it all together.

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