- Director : Lee Yong Zoo
- Actors : Gong Yoo, Park Bo Gum, Jo Woo Jin, Jang Young Nam, Park Byung Eun
- Media Format : Subtitled, Widescreen
- Run time : 1 hour and 54 minutes
- Studio : Well Go Usa
- Country of Origin : South Korea
- MPAA rating : NR (Not Rated)
- Release date : February 15, 2022
I’ve seen science fiction films with a similar
premise, action films with similar set-ups, and South Korean films with similar
themes. In other words, there is little original about Seobok: Project Clone,
but with genre films that is not always a bad thing. Seobok delivers on
the sci-fi premise, spectacle-filled action sequences, and a character-driven
narrative balanced between themes of revenge and redemption. While it may
resemble other movies I have seen before, that did not prevent me from enjoying
Seobok.
When special
agent Gi-heon (Gong Yoo) is brought in on a special mission, it provides him with
the chance to combat a life-threatening illness. If he can safely escort the
world’s first human clone, the scientists responsible agree to give him an experimental
treatment which could save his life. Gi-heon doesn’t anticipate how much he
will be impacted by the clone named Seo Bok (Park Bo-gum), who he grows closer
to during the mission, despite many treating him as nothing more than a test subject.
On the journey
to transport Seo Bok, they are attacked by mercenaries hired to intercept the
valuable asset. With both government agencies and hired soldiers hunting them
down, Gi-heon must protect Seo Bok in order to save himself. Although the
initial relationship between the two is based on mutual dependency, a
friendship forms during their journey. It is a wonderful blend of road trip, buddy
action, and fish-out-of-water narratives.
Seo Bok is unfamiliar
with the way the world works and must rely on Gi-heon to show him the way after
an attack leaves them on their own. On the other hand, when they face obstacles
too great for the trained special agent, Seo Bok proves more than capable of
protecting himself. The cloning experiment inexplicably resulted in Seo Bok
developing the ability to control matter around him, essentially making him a telekinetic
fighter. This allows for the addition of themes often seen in superhero narratives
and giving another layer of familiar content to the film.
Like many South
Korean action films, there is an emotional core to the narrative of Seobok.
At the same time, there is plenty of effects-driven spectacle, which may be
reason enough to watch the film on high-definition Blu-ray. Unfortunately, with
no special features beyond trailers, there is little reason beyond this for the
Blu-ray.
Entertainment Value:
8/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 7/10
Historical
Significance: 5.5/10
Special Features: 1/10
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