Exit (2019)

Light disaster movie

I love disaster movies! This one has a blend of comedy which usually happens when Jo Jung Suk is on screen.

The story is a little bit farfetched, and there's really not much background on the disgruntled scientist releasing a toxic gas, but that's not what matters. There's not much story but the action scenes were nailbiting, (although i know they wont fall and die)!

For the majority of the movie, you will just see the two leads running and using their rockclimbing skills to get away from the toxic gas and reach safety. So it's just a mix of watching them run, climb, run, climb until they get rescued! It was still entertaining though and never got boring! There were some scenes were it was sad because when put in a life or death situation, it is tough to choose - do you try to save yourself, save your family, or save other people?

I also loved how social media played a big role in their rescue. The romance between between Jo Jung Suk and Yoona were implied and subtle. Great for a fun friday night movie.

Rating: 8/10

Leer más

Funny Thriller that will leave you breathless!

So this started out as a family show, with some comedy sprinkled in! Yong Nam (Jo Jung Suk) is an unemployed man who rock climbs. He is of course the family black sheep disgrace, but has to put up appearances at his mother's 70th Birthday. The celebration reunites him with Eui Joo (Im Yoon Ah) a climbing companion from his student days, a girl he had previously asked out and been rejected by! How backward.

Then suddenly the movie morphs into a terrorism play where an employee who has been fired and his patents stolen by a company, takes revenge by releasing a bunch of poison gas at the company, gas that spreads outwards and upwards, killing all in its path. I'm not gonna lie, at this point I was worried this was going to turn into another Korean Zombie movie, because, well ... Korean Zombie movies? But it didn't! It's just poison gas. Now the entire city and our intrepid family (among others) is at risk. What follows is a taut, tight, exciting action thriller which showcases both the main leads ingenuity, resourcefulness, partnership and most of all, the lengths people will go through to survive. Sprinkle in some drones and good music and now the climbing scenes are both exciting AND poetic.

Now the rock climbing is pretty tame. I'm a fan of mountaineering movies so this wasn't the same caliber as Free Solo, The Summit (K2), Nanga Parbat, Touching The Void, The Wildest Dream (George Mallory) or even the cheesy Vertical Limit. But we did manage to see some examples of technical climbing including an exciting drone assisted improvised zip-line. Nice!

This review can best be summarized in the words of my almost teenage child - "I nearly had a heart attack Mommy! I'm out of breath and I wasn't even there." I guess this means we both enjoyed the laughter and thrills this had to offer!

Leer más

A feel-good disaster movie

Yes you read it right, although it is hard to combine delight with disasters that mostly contains tragedy, death, and sorrow, Exit managed to give that adrenaline rush while keeping an overall enthusiastic tone.

Honestly, I didn't expect much of this movie, especially that I am not a fan of rock climbing, and only thought of it as a typical Action/Comedy to pass the time, but luckily, It kept me on the edge of my seat and pleased me in so many ways.

First, It was satisfying to see a slacker who was ridiculed by everyone in his family turning into a hero, not in a fancy way, but in a very diligent manner that showed his heartwarming care for his family and his silly side of showing off in front of his crush. I was even more relieved that their efforts to survive (jong suk and Yoona) were mutual instead of one-sided. That's where their chemistry shines, not their romance, through their hectic thriving to stay alive. Even when the viewer wants to lose hope, they keep on trying using the least available tools to go on. This hopeful encouraging take kept the movie exciting to watch! Throughout all of that, you'll find some hilarious moments, even in their most desperate situations. I kept bursting into laughter whenever they started crying and throwing fits like babies, which was silly and cute and again kept the thrill delightful :D

Another thing to mention is the use of simple technology to help their escape all along, and how applying that can be helpful in similar real-life situations. Also, the end song (Superhero by Lee Seung Hwan), from which you can learn an SOS call, was fireeeeeee!

Leer más

Most K-Movies I’ve watched seems pretty boring from the beginning til the end. But E.X.I.T is different from the any other. It may seem pretty boring in the start, but once it reaches the main plot, everything will be fun but also intense to watch, even though the genre of this movie is Action, this movie also brought slight comedy which makes it way more entertaining to watch.

I was curious the other day because many celebrities came to watch the movie and I thought I should also give it a watch.

YOONA and Jo Jung Suk’s acting was also spot on! ⭐️ I DON’T REGRET WATCHING THIS MOVIE AT ALL! Definitely a must watch!

Leer más

This movie is so much fun

I stumbled upon this movie by accident on a plane; the lady sitting in front of me was watching it, and the on-screen action was so intriguing that I paused the movie I was currently watching and switched over to Exit. Best decision ever.

Exit is one of those rare movies that aims to be two things at once and actually pulls it off. The first act sets up a dysfunctional family comedy which dramatically transforms into a natural disaster action flick at the half hour mark. This plotline transition works fairly well, and even as the stakes are raised in the second and third acts, the script maintains the first act's humorous undertones, and lands many of its jokes, both subtle and overt. The adrenaline-pumping action sequences have many impressive building-climbing and sprinting stunts worthy of the Mission Impossible franchise. And the female lead is particularly badass.

Exit is hardly a perfect movie; there are a few too many melodramatic scenes of screaming and crying and some unresolved character/plot developments. But in the end, the action-packed cityscape set pieces, wry humor, and good old fashioned race-against-time story arc make this a genuinely enjoyable film. Exit is a great time; don't think too hard and just watch it.

Leer más

As much as I love Yoona, I wasn’t sure this movie will be good, nor her role will be that of an eye candy, basically it might be a good movie, but hollow, if you know what I mean. Plus when I first read the synopsis, I thought it kinda dumb, what kind of gas can really destroy a whole city! But to my surprise, the movie proved itself to be an entertained watch, not at all unrealistic, funny, thrilling, yet emotional at times!

The plot: I mentioned how I thought the gas idea was stupid, however, it’s only affecting one zone of Korea, not like the zombie apocalypse, so kinda like a big fire, and therefore, the story feels grounded. What adds to the grounded feeling is the main character, his action is funny, but it’s not at all done as a joke or that he’s being silly. He’s scared to death, but he thinks for his family and therefore pulls stupid stuffs that make it funny xD and yoona’s character here is really different from all other characters she played. Maybe because it’s a movie, no one can mention or did mention how pretty she is. Instead her character speaks for itself: a capable, know what’s important, and good heart girl.

So if you are going in wondering if this is worth it, I can tell you it is. If you are going in doubting the two leads, don’t be. They managed to show two characters trying their best to survive while holding on to their humanity, what make them a good person! And while at time, they are pulling some silly stuffs, to them, it’s not silly, it’s life and death. You will be pining for these two to survive, and you appreciate the humanity they display even though in doing so, they are putting themselves at death door.

Totally recommended xD

Leer más

Exit is a movie I never expected to like.
At first glance it feels like a rock climbing action thriller with hints of bioterrorism. And it was. But it was so much more than that. I laughed - A LOT - and felt for the characters. The plot is as simple as described in the synopsis. But it's so complete. It is what it is and it is done simply and effectively - ah the wonders of modern science. And you're not left wondering what the hell that gas is made of because you're so focused on the lead cast, willing them to survive. Even the conclusion of the film is so simple and satisfying. It's set up nicely, executed effectively and concluded with few plot holes. I loved it. There is no heroism, just human honesty, resourcefulness and the desire to survive or die trying.

It also seamlessly tied in the dated trope of large-scale-disaster with the perks and ingenuity of modern technology. With the use of drones operated by people of all ages to make it a community event, these people no longer became individuals, but a larger whole and by inclusion showed the propensity for human-kind to help each other survive despite not being intimately involved. It was an ingenious choice to include this and gave the story a breath of fresh air.

Im Yoona and Jo Jung Suk were so perfectly in sync and chemistry that I find it difficult to imagine any other two actors that have the sense and experience enough to fill these roles. Seeing her and Jung Suk perfectly bounce off each other without awkwardness or pretense, nothing felt forced, it felt largely natural which is a great compliment to the filming crew as well. Excellent.

Music - Loved it. It fit well though not super memorable despite the special choreography MV released with Yoona and Jung Suk.

Overall I would definitely re-watch Exit every now and then for the laugh out loud moments and it will probably stick in my mind as a highly enjoyable comedy action thriller that was done right.

Leer más