Student Film Reviews

Film reviews from theaters, couches, and film festivals

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1. Clare Duganne 02.25.20 / 9pm

   I agree with what you say about ‘Parasite’ being a “never done before movie”. Before I saw this film I had read many reviews saying that Bong Joon-ho had created a new genre of film. I was a little confused trying to imagine what that would be, but after I saw the film I completely understand. You are right, there is so much detail in the setting and design of this film it is immaculate, and creates verisimilitude. The design also starkly compares the lives of the upper-class to those living in poverty so the audience is able to understand both ways of life. I could not agree more that this film was so original, suspenseful and had many unseen plot twists.
2. Paula Diaz 03.04.20 / 10pm

   Thank so much you for your review of the film “Parasite”. I have heard a lot about this film and was not sure if I wanted to go out and watch it. Your review has sold me the film. I am excited to go out and see what narrative this film uses. Watching a foreign film will be very interesting to see whether I will be able to pick up the implicit meaning. Often those messages are a little more difficult to find as they lie below the surface. Often times, translated subtitles do not do the movie justice and are detailed enough to substitute audio.
3. Bryce Mateer 03.06.20 / 11pm

   I agree that the movie ‘Parasite’ expressed very well the different social classes of society. The design of the film gives thrill to the viewer due to it’s uniqueness. They used the mise-en-scene very well. From the family hiding under the coffee table and the glass window, to the families hiding in a very wealthy families bunker. The actors and actresses expresses many emotions such as dedication, insanity, passion, and jealousy.
4. hpesniak 04.11.20 / 2am

   Hi, Lily
   Good review. I agree with you that “Parasite” is an interesting film. I do disagree with you on some points – I found the plot to be somewhat predictable, at least from the middle of the film. The film is not jaw-dropping, especially if you think about the plot from the director’s perspective. However, I believe that the hidden meaning of the plot is what makes this movie stand out, and actually remain in the memory of the viewers. Yet one can watch this film and still be impressed with the visual part of it, which is rather fascinating, but I think that in order to understand the hidden meaning of the film, one has to explore and really understand class injustice (and how hard it is to break through it) on a deeper level. Overall, great review
5. colton tedesco 06.05.20 / 8pm

   “Parasite” is definitely in my top 3 films of 2019. I enjoyed every minute of it and found the cinematography was amazing throughout the film. I also found the lighting to be incredible. Specifically the scene in the tent with the kids flashlight shinning into through the window. I can’t forget about the under the table scene. Few movies have put me that far on the edge of my set than “Parasite.” An absolutely incredible film.
6. Jamal Khidir 06.06.20 / 8pm

   Hey Lily,
   Thank you for your review on the film Parasite. Parasite is definitely one of my favorite films of the year. Throughout the movie I was on edge and curious onto what would happen next. The film prospered in the use of camera angles and details. The film also did well with the mise-en-scene whether it was from the man living under the bunker to the family hiding under the coffee table. Parasite truly deserves all the awards that it has received.
7. Tiantian Zhao 06.06.20 / 8pm

   Good review. The tonal changes in the movie are also important. .Cold and warm colors: the combination of cold and warm, rendering the emotions of the film, highlighting the gap between the poor and the rich. In the film, the transition of warm and cold tones can be seen everywhere. When the camera is switched to different families, the tones will change, echoing the emotions of the characters. Tones of rich people: symbolizes warmth and happiness, and gives the audience a feeling of clean sunshine. The head of the servant’s family lives in a luxurious residential area. There are huge floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room, and you can see the green grass outside, and you can see the bright blue sky and white clouds on the grass. The furnishings in the house are everything. The warm and bright light always surrounds the head servant’s family. The warm tones suggest that the servant president’s family is well-funded, and life is stable and prosperous. But the tones of the poor: dirty, dim and crowded, symbolizing weakness, sadness.
8. Emily Lorenzana 06.06.20 / 8pm

   I really enjoyed your review about the film, while reading your review I learned new information about the film. I did not know that they created the whole set as in the houses. I also did not know that they made each house have a certain smell, I think that detail is super unique in order to help the actors play the characters as naturally as possible. The film was very unique and it played out in a way that I did not know was going to happen. Half way through the film I thought the whole point was for Ki-woo (Kevin) to get his family the job working for the Parks, but then the movie kept going and new unique ideas were presented. Great job finding the words to put a review together for this film because it left me speechless.
9. Mathias Hounsa 06.06.20 / 9pm

   Great review. I was very much surprised when I finally watched “Parasite” because it was better than I expected.
   The mise-en scene was well done. The difference between the lower class and the higher class is portrayed in a very interesting way. The lighting was very well executed and worked well. For example, with the scene when the family is hidden under the table at night. The sound is also something I enjoyed, it is very clear. The plot twist of the movie came in unexpected! Parasite was definitely among my favorites of the last year. The message about the social classes injustice is very well conveyed which I appreciated as well.
10. Emilee Doering 06.10.20 / 9pm

    Perfect review! I was also very impressed with the film and its incredible detail. The stark contrast between the two families serves to highlight the focus on the class struggle within the film and this is reinforced by the realistic form of the film. The mise-en-scene of film, especially the costumes of the actors, helped to create the image of the poor family and demonstrate the contrast between the luxury of the wealthy family. The difference between the two families was also emphasized by explicit details like the smell of a family that took the subway vs the habits of the Park family, such as eating hefty fruit plates and throwing last-minute garden parties. Overall, it was a very impressive film.
11. Austin Raymond 06.11.20 / 3am

    I think your in-depth analysis of the set design was really interesting, however, I think the importance and impact this film had surrounded its political message. The contrast had to look real because anything else would have detracted from the film’s overall theme. In my opinion, the most important part of any work is the narrative, and while you wrote a brief synopsis of the film, I would have liked to see more analysis on the director’s intention. Bong Joon-Ho is famous for his portrayal of class conflict, from the revolution in Snow Piercer to quasi-mutiny in Parasite, and I think he intends to show the audience what happens when the proletariate reaches a breaking point. I would maybe like to see some exploration of the double meaning of the title of the film. Who is the real parasite? The wealthy family that leeches off of society and cannot exist without the Kim family, or the struggling but resilient family that utilizes hard work and intelligence to get by? If this is a film review, where do you review the story, the symbolism, or how this film contrasts to other contemporary films?
12. Andrew Hedrick 07.20.20 / 5pm

    The standout scene for me was the long walk they family took from the lavish home, back to the slums they live in, all while a storm rages. The wide shot of them descending the stairs was impressive for the insane effort that must have gone into the storm effects but also for enhancing the film’s symbolic. Another symbolic scene I didn’t quite pick up on during my first viewing was the meal the family made at the rich house. They combined cheap noodles with expensive beef, again pointing out the class divide. This film caught me by surprise in the best way. I don’t think I took my eyes off the screen for a second. As you mentioned in your review, the rich house was created with special effects which is it he best kind off effect: the one you don’t notice as an effect.
13. Mickinzy Seneff 10.16.20 / 11pm

    I agree with your statement, ‘parasite’ is first of its kind. I was late to watching the movie, but everyone around me was discussing the new category of horror. Foreign films are often overlooked as many are too lazy to watch, but everyone watched this movie. ‘Parasite’ is quite interesting and is worth the watch whether it is your first time or not. The lighting in each scene is also important as it goes along with the mood of the scene.
14. Matti Vahtola 10.29.20 / 9pm

    What a fantastic review! I also loved how the actors, designers, and producers of “Parasite” poured their hearts out for this film in an effort to make it as real as possible for the viewers. The scene that stuck with me most visually was also the scene in which Ki-woo is hit in the head with his “metaphorical” rock. I liked your observation of in other movies, they probably would’ve revised this scene to make it a little more dramatic; but for “Parasite” – it was perfect. Definitely a “never been done before” movie!
15. Ulises Flores 11.04.20 / 7pm

    I enjoyed reviewing your post this film is applicable to modern time in several ways! The wide shots the director captured really brought the weather and main characters into the audiences focus. At first I assumed this film was going to be a typical horror film but the unexpected twist left me in awe. I agree that in a typical film the narrative would be for the main characters to escape the problem and not escalate the problem to the point of no return. As you stated in your response “A scene that sticks out to me was when Ki-woo got hit in the head with the rock. If this was any other movie they would have made Ki-woo dodge the blow to the head but Bong Joon-Ho did something different and made everyone fair game to get injured.” I would recommend this dramatic thrill seeking film to anyone that enjoys thrillers!
16. ava steimle 02.18.21 / 10pm

    Great review! I like how you emphasize the differences between the two families in this film. The Parks and the Kims had two entirely different lifestyles. It suggests a lot about the socioeconomic factors in South Korea. I also agree how incredible the production of this film was and how much work must have went into it. The movie was highly suggested to me by a friend and I am so glad I watched it. The thrill and suspense of this film keeps the plot always entertaining. Not to mention how it ended! Overall, I enjoyed reading your review on this movie and recommend it to anyone who hasn’t seen it yet!
17. Serena Campos 10.23.21 / 12pm

    Hi Lily,
    This is an incredibly interesting review of the film Parasite, one of my favorite films! I loved all the background information you provided on the film: I had no idea that the sets were hand-made by the crew! In other films I’ve seen the filmmakers use already existing locations to film at. Something notable to me were the entirely different mise-en-scenes between the two families. One is meticulously decorated, bright lighting and open floor-plans and the family is always dressed nicely. While the other has dark and dim lighting, crammed angle perspectives, and the costumes are ragged which represents the theme of duality and class systems. This was done intentionally to represent the theme of duality and class systems. Great job!
18. Mychal Montoya 03.01.22 / 8pm

    I agree with the review that this film was is built on the polar opposite families, focusing heavily on class stratification. This base of opposition is what the very complex, cunning and attention grabbing plot is built off of. It was also very immersive and the mise-en-scene was able to create a feeling of inclusion for the viewer, specifically from the point of the camping trip to the birthday party. This section of the movie is the build up to the climax and when the viewer is most on the edge of the seat, feeling very anxious due to the multiple close calls and happenings taking place throughout the house. Lastly, I agree with the review that Bong Joon-Ho purposely took an unconventional route by allowing Ki-Woo to be struck by the rock. This conveyed that no one was safe from the madness of the film and successfully delivered a shock to the viewers even when they believed they had grown accustomed to the film’s patterns and style.
19. Mychal Montoya 03.02.22 / 9am

    I agree with the review that this film was is built on the polar opposite families, focusing heavily on class stratification. This base of opposition is what the very complex, cunning and attention grabbing plot is built off of. It was also very immersive and the mise-en-scene was able to create a feeling of inclusion for the viewer, specifically from the point of the camping trip to the birthday party. This section of the movie is the build up to the climax and when the viewer is most on the edge of the seat, feeling very anxious due to the multiple close calls and happenings taking place throughout the house. Lastly, I agree with the review that Bong Joon-Ho purposely took an unconventional route by allowing Ki-Woo to be struck by the rock. This conveyed that no one was safe from the madness of the film and successfully delivered a shock to the viewers even when they believed they had grown accustomed to the film’s patterns and style
20. Sophie Brack 03.16.23 / 2pm

    This was a great film review. I liked how this review talked about the detailed setting and how they made the characters feel like the acting was their everyday lifestyle. I think of explicit meanings and implicit meanings in the plot. The implicit meaning in this plot has to do with the word parasite. There is not only one meaning to this word but two which are created by the Parks. The Parks are part of the Parasite meaning in they can not do anything for themselves so they use cheap labor to get all of their tasks done. The explicit meaning of this film is that the poor family is the parasite, while they get money from the rich, but as you watch the movie, you learn that both of the families are parasites. It is very interesting to see how one views this film as every-time you go back and watch this movie, you can analyze even more scenes and clues that give away the ending.

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