“Alienoid 2” with a budget of 53 million USD: Mind-blowing visuals, but the plot is all over the place
The buzzworthy “Alienoid 2” rocked the scene with a production budget soaring up to 70 billion won. The sequel to the interdimensional battle is helmed by director Choi Dong Hoon, featuring the original cast. Unfortunately, “Alienoid 2” falls short of audience expectations.
This film is a rare blend, bringing together characters ranging from aliens and robots to modern folks and sword-wielding heroes. “Alienoid 2” script feels overloaded, turning into a bit of a mess.
Grandiose special effects but messy plot
“Alienoid 2” takes us on Ean’s (Kim Tae Ri) quest to find the robot Thunder (Kim Woo Bin) and a time machine to get back to the present, thwarting an alien invasion. Ean gets tangled up with those wielding the “god sword,” a powerful weapon.
There’s the intriguing backstory of the monk Muruk (Ryu Joon Yeol). After digging into the enemy Jajang’s (Kim Eui Sung) background, Muruk rushes to find Ean for answers. Muruk’s unique powers even pique the curiosity of the quirky sorcerer duo Lam Tu – Black Lady (Jo Woo Jin – Yum Jung Ah).
Back in the present, the toxic gas haava is still causing trouble. Customs officer Min Gaelin (Lee Ha Nee) knows the score and actively joins the battle after a message from the blind swordsman Nong Pa. The film truly delivers a multidimensional battle, happening between the years 2022 and the Goryeo dynasty.
Although Kim Woo Bin’s role is somewhat limited, Thunder still manages to win the audience’s hearts with its cheerful and humorous vibe. And let’s not forget the enchanting performances of the magical cat duo, Left Foot and Right Foot, played by Shin Jung Geun and Lee Si Hoon.
Director Choi Dong Hoon reveals that “Alienoid 2” unravels the mysteries from the previous installment, wrapping up the story around the characters. But, there’s a flip side – the script gets tangled and meanders a bit. Plus, the transitions in some scenes lack a tight connection, creating discomfort for viewers.
However, “Alienoid 2” deserves praise for its visual effects and costume design. The action scene and tech element are handled with finesse.
Massive budget but not enough
“Alienoid” is probably the most expensive franchise in the history of Korean cinema, with a budget of 70 billion won for two films. With such a huge production budget, “Alienoid 2” only delivers on visuals, set design, and costumes.
“To be honest, the film is bland, with some unnecessary comedic bits. Action scenes are few and not very intense. Given the plot, it should have been way more spectacular,” one viewer commented.
According to stats from the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), “Alienoid 2” has pulled in 5 million USD worldwide as of January 15.
Overall, director Choi Dong Hoon goes big with a dual-storyline and a diverse cast but falls short on the cast’s performances, leaving no lasting impact. The biggest bummer is that the script feels like a maze with no way out. Still, “Alienoid 2” opens doors for Korean cinema to roll out Hollywood-style action blockbusters.
Source: zingnews
