Castaway on the Moon

This film, although simple in premise is beautifully told, and superbly acted. Jae-Yeong Jeong has now become one of my favorite actors on the strength of this film. His range is incredible, and is deserved of an Oscar (Hollywood, take note). This film is incredibly easy to watch and entertaining. It will make you laugh out loud, and will also pull on those heartstrings. The comparisons to Tom Hank's Castaway is inevitable, but like other reviewers have said, it's way more than what Castaway had to offer. It's a real gem of a movie and is highly recommended.

Bravo to all involved making this movie!

Castaway on the Moon is a 2009 Korean film about 2 people who don't want to interact with society or others anymore. It's a sublime under the radar film (to U.S. audiences anyway) that's definitely worth a watch. I caught this film when it first came out a few years ago, and just watched it again recently. Bottom line; it's competently made, totally engrossing, and absolutely terrific...HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

First and foremost, this film has nothing to do with living on the moon, or being stranded on a far away desert island for eternity; it's actually the polar opposite! Some people (I call them morons) will try to explain that this movie is very similar to/a rip off of the American film 'Castaway" starring Tom Hanks. Although there are some parallels to be drawn, these two films have only one thing in common (i.e. there's a guy that's separated from society). Don't get me wrong, I actually like Tom Hanks' "Castaway" quite a bit, but aside from the fact the both film's protagonists are stuck on an island, these two films aren't really related to each other whatsoever; the primary difference being one movie's protagonist wants to get back to his life, and the other wants to escape it.

What this particular movie is about is a guy who's essentially tired of, and has been beaten down by, the "rat race" that is his life in modern society. He wants to "end it all" by committing suicide, but he fails in doing so, and is subsequently presented an accidental opportunity to "escape from it all" instead. After some initial resistance, he soon comes to fully embrace this opportunity he has been given. On the parallel side, this movie is also about a very odd girl who's afraid of society and can no longer cope in order to function within it. She's long ago "shut herself off" (or, perhaps, "shut herself in", would be more appropriate) from interacting with anyone on any type of personal level.

As the film progresses, these two main protagonists (who pretty much occupy 95+% of the screen time), slowly form an unconventional bond via highly unusual means, and they each come to rely on one another more and more as time goes by while they both try to overcome their own societal fears, concerns, and issues, as best they can.

The way the main characters interact with each other from a distance throughout the entire film is unique, profound, and charming. Both the primary actor and actress are spot on perfect in their respective roles, and they both do a magnificent job of what's asked of them within the framework of the story.

Ultimately, all this really boils down to is just a simple & finely paced film that it is immensely watchable and quite enjoyable. In many ways, it's also a fine little parable regarding what modern society has become over the years, and how we all must interact within it, or face getting left behind.

Personally, I could hardly look away from this film. It's equal parts odd, funny, sweet, sad, beautiful, and it is Borderline Brilliant! What more can I say?...other than; "Korean cinema does it again!"

Highly Recommended! Not Optional Viewing! This is a MUST SEE Film!!!

9 out of 10 stars!

I can't believe I hadn't heard of this movie until it showed up in my Netflix recommendations. Why isn't everyone talking about this movie? Why didn't it win best foreign picture? Why... Oh, right. No car chases. No sex scenes. No scenes in bars, or at football games. Subtitles. If you can enjoy a movie with subtitles, if you don't think someone has to look or act just like you to be comprehensible as a human being, if you've ever read a poem and loved it, you will likely love this movie.

I'm not even going to talk about the plot. The plot is wonderful, but not really the point. This is a movie about isolation, and human connections, and what makes us human at all. It is a social commentary, and a beautifully told fable. To call it a romantic comedy, to compare it to an American movie with a similar title, is to miss the point entirely.

Warning: before you watch this movie, you'd better figure out where you can find a local source for black bean noodles ('jajangmyun' in Korean). Even if you've never tasted them, you'll be craving them by the end of the movie. I have tasted them - fresh from a street vendor in Seoul - and I'm now nearly wild for black bean noodles.

And this basic hunger for a simple comfort food - for enjoyment of sustenance with all the associations that come with true comfort food - sums up the movie nicely.

Castaway on the Moon is a beautiful film about self-made reality and what is actually real, about our infinite connection to the natural world, and how nothing is ever final even when it seems so. Although the mainstream man will squirm and sigh at certain scenes where love is apparent, it is a part of the human world and this movie, so if you cannot handle it then it is not for you. I almost feel like not everyone is worthy of this movie. It has many instances of magical realism and fantasy. The atmosphere reminded me of Amelie. I would give it a 12 if I could.

This movie is a gift, watch it.

I was really stunned by this film. Expected something good - I have high opinion of South Corean cinema (Oldboy!!), but this exceeded all my expectations. To cut a long story short: it excels in every aspect of film-making - directing, script, music, photography and acting. The main male character is very good, but the female is a revelation. This little film blows Hanks' "Cast away" out of the water completely, by originality, depth, intelligence, wit, emotionality. And for a film apparently quite sad it contains an amazing amount of humor. It reminded me a little of "Chungking Express", another Asian favorite of mine, as that one is also about social outcasts, weirdos, loneliness and... food. Funny thing, I do not know the English title of this Corean gem. It is highly recommended.