JUNG_E Review: Similar to ‘The 100,’ Yet Powered With Motherly Sentiment 

The most-awaited Korean sci-fi action movie JUNG_E directed and written by Hellbound fame Yeon Sang-ho has been released today, on January 20, 2023. Following the life of a lab researcher, the movie portrays a new perspective on AI technology, especially during a global crisis. Starring veteran and famous Korean actors, fans are promised and guaranteed an outstanding outcome.

The official Netflix synopsis of the movie reads,

In a post-apocalyptic near-future, a researcher at an AI lab leads the effort to end a civil war by cloning the brain of a heroic soldier — her mother.

The full cast of the movie includes Kang Soo-youn as Yun Seo-hyun, Kim Hyun-joo as Jung_E/Yun Jung-yi, Ryu Kyung-soo as Sang-hun and Park So-yi as young Yun Seo-hyun. With around 50+ VFX crew members, the movie promises outstanding graphics apt for the post-apocalyptic AI-themed plot.

– JUNG_E Review Contains No Spoilers –

At the beginning of the movie, you’ll get a quick foundation of what’s happened to the earth and why the area that the camera is focussing on has robots crushed on the ground. Then we’re straight-up introduced to a woman who fights off all the robots before ending up killed. However, we soon find that she is only a clone of a famous soldier, Yun Jung-Yi, who is being tested on simulations.

The first few minutes pulled me in because the action sequences were splendid, and the VFX team nailed it. We can’t deny the atmosphere created by the art team because it was so rusty and downright eccentric. Moving on, the soldier clone, Yun Jung-yi is none other than the researcher’s late mother. After this, the movie will follow what happened to her and what’s going to happen with the Jung_E project.

While watching the movie, I was hugely reminded of The 100 series because JUNG_E‘s aspects, such as replicating a brain so that someone can live forever, seemed identical. Moreover, the spacecraft in the Korean film to show where the humans live looked uncanny to the prop used in the previously mentioned series. Maybe, Yeon Sang-ho could have been inspired by the English series, but thankfully JUNG_E did feel authentic with other noteworthy concepts.

As we dive more into the movie, we are introduced to many more characters who will baffle us once we truly know their identity. While the movie’s first half focuses on successfully establishing the project, the second half will take you on an emotional rollercoaster. The backstory of Yun Jung-yi and her daughter Yun Seo-hyun (the research head of the project) are tear-jerkers.

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I have to applaud the excellent acting of the late Kang Soo-youn, who acted as the adult Yun Seo-hyun. The way she cried while also trying to control her emotions could easily make the viewers tear up. From then on, we will witness action scenes backed with pure sentiment. Not too much, neither too less. However, the heart-aching emotional storyline threw away the first half’s impact.

JUNG_E: Final Verdict

I particularly believed that the director would show the post-apocalyptic earth and ]] Jung-yi’s importance in ending the civil war. However, we only got to see the emotions of the AI, unaware of her grown-up daughter and the daughter’s fight to bring honour to her mother’s bravery. Hopefully, there is another part because the end did seem like this movie was a prequel.

We are left with questions like, what’s AI’s next move? Is the war going to end? What will happen to Yun Seo-hyun? All these questions can be answered only if there is another part to this plot. Nevertheless, the movie will make sense even if it doesn’t bring a sequel.

Overall, JUNG_E is a very nice Sci-Fi thriller to watch that also gives a visual feast to the viewers. If you haven’t watched the movie, check it out on Netflix.

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