Natural City (2003)

Fresh and Exciting

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

This is a mindless action flick dressed up as sci-fi.It has some themes in common with common but lacks any of the intelligence or depth.The pace is slow, very little happens for most of the film, flashes of action and violence but very formulaic and dull.The characters are 2 dimensional, as you'd expect from an action flick.The plot doesn't hang together very well and the clichés pile up continuously.The ending is poor; we have the annoying cliché of the super villains, who earlier were so good one of them could slaughter a troop of soldiers without getting a bruise, suddenly turning into cannon fodder for the hero with all their speed and skill vanishing because now he is serious and angry! Some of the visuals are good but nothing original or spectacular.This is pure paint-by-number, no vision or imagination, not terrible but never approaching good.I was expecting something better, worth a glance if it's on TV and there is nothing else but not worth paying any money to watch.

Having been a long time fan of Asian films within multiple genre, I found this title to be a great example of Korean sci-fi perspective finely wrought. Though some might focus on flaws in minute detail, this reviewer is rating this film on a comparative basis. No need to list other K-movie titles here as that would detract from my intent. Suffice to say that many lesser craft were floated in the sea of Korean science fiction films.I read reviews here comparing this to the fine Phillip K. Dick adaptation titled "Bladerunner" and agree there are many parallel themes. Given current global trends, this reviewer feels that Natural City is a natural expansion on the ideas incorporated in the original fiction story.Well produced with an eye for detail by both director(s) and editors, as well as seemingly terse but at times poignant acting, this is a title well worth a second look.I read someone here say the acting was wooden. Hmmmm. Perhaps that poster does not understand Asian demeanor nor the intent of the director to display the dislocated environment within which these characters live. Science-Fiction is extrapolation. No less and no more. If one expects ideas and human elements combined with adequate acting and direction, then this product will entertain.Derivations aside, (even "Bladerunner" was an adaptation) some critics may perhaps broaden their climes and see that imitation is both flattery and homage to thought and endeavour. Enough said.This is my first review here as I was piqued by some of the critics.In summary...good acting and direction, detailed and well shot. Hope to see more from these players all.

I read through the reviews here before I watched it and didn't know what to expect: a classic or a bummer? In my view, the truth is in the middle and the average vote of currently 5.8 seems justified. "Natural City" is by no means a movie on the "Blade Runner" level. Take away the futuristic eye-candy, and what is left? A man is in love with a cyborg lady without really telling us why, how or what for. Real character development is not happening! He gets in a conflict with his friend over the cyborgs which leads to gratuitous violence with faces covered in blood like in a million action flicks before. Meanwhile, a girl plants flowers in a roof garden to provide a contrast to the post-war destruction scenery around. "Natural City" doesn't really have any new ideas, it simply spices up the collection of familiar trade marks with "Matrix/Equilibrium Next Generation" visuals which is fine for web 2.0 designers but not for the art of film making. Everybody who truly believes this is going to be a classic should go watch "Soylent Green" where it was the actors and the story that mattered. Still, "Natural City" is a movie that has its touching or stunning moments. Actually, I liked that explanations were not provided in many cases. One might argue whether it is a deliberate attempt to open it for interpretation or simply plot holes. But I think, if we once really caught a glimpse of the year 2080, there would be much that we won't comprehend, either. You know how silly SF movies of the 1950s seem today because they applied manners, moral standards and ways of conversation that are outdated. In this respect, I'm curious what people will think of "Natural City" in the future. Keep it in the archive.

I don't suggest this film. I wasn't able to watch more than 20' of this film... I wonder how did this movie have above 1 ratting... :( very bad film... There is almost NO connection between the scenes... I'm afraid that this movie has nothing to provide... Only laugh but sometimes even laugh gets boring... The hypothesis is lost... The whole setting is u-n-r-e-a-l-i-s-t-i-c... This is my 1rst comment on a movie here and I'm so sad that it is for a "bad" comment..PS. there are thousand film to watch except the Natural City.. trust me....I 'll vote: 1