Read Mixed User Reviews for Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula

4

bertobellamyAug 30, 2020

Peninsula destroys the Train to Busan universe with an idiotic full action film that doesn't bring the social and affective values from the last one.

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5

Jes1310May 2, 2021

I really enjoyed the first movie and it took me by surprise, so I was really looking forward to Peninsula. The trailer looked cool and I was hoping for an Carpenter - Escape from New York feeling to it, but that was not to be the case... InI really enjoyed the first movie and it took me by surprise, so I was really looking forward to Peninsula. The trailer looked cool and I was hoping for an Carpenter - Escape from New York feeling to it, but that was not to be the case... In the first movie, there was a continous feeling of horror and that everything could go wrong in the next scene. This time that feeling is never present and i predicted every survivor and which character that would survive 30 minutes in.
Action is plentiful but the use od cgi is underwhelming and especially the car chases are just plain stupid.… Expand

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4

PanchogulSep 8, 2020

Normal cayendo en lo decepcionante, si bien Train to Busan tampoco era una película de 10 ⭐, al menos tenía ciertos aspectos que la volvían dinámica y entretenida, la presente secuela no aprovechó lo bueno que cosechó con la primera entrega yNormal cayendo en lo decepcionante, si bien Train to Busan tampoco era una película de 10 ⭐, al menos tenía ciertos aspectos que la volvían dinámica y entretenida, la presente secuela no aprovechó lo bueno que cosechó con la primera entrega y se limitaron a hacer una secuela sin espíritu, genérica, cliché y a ratos aburrida, no estuvo a la altura de las expectativas.… Expand

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5

JLuis_001Sep 11, 2020

I have a very big problem with this film and most of all it's due to everything that encompasses it conceptually.

The complete title of this film is Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula and from there we have already started badly. Why?I have a very big problem with this film and most of all it's due to everything that encompasses it conceptually.

The complete title of this film is Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula and from there we have already started badly. Why? Because this is a sequel to Train to Busan but it's a sequel that feels more like a spin-off.
Beyond the Zombies and that it sets in Korea, there's no other relationship with the previous film.

The problem with Peninsula is very basic and is the change of formula.
I applauded that the creators did that, even though I really don't think that would have caused them problems with the audience. The issue is that the change relies on a completely predictable formula.

Yes, the scale is definitely much more ambitious but at all times it feels like its director wasn't sure of what he wanted to try with this new world.
A clear example of mediocre execution, because you tried to bite off more than you could chew.

The most interesting topics are completely unexplored and the script never tries to fix it. The protagonist, Jung-seokes (Gang Dong-won) is incredibly uncharismatic and his entire emotional arc feels completely forced. Especially in that final stretch.

The female protagonists; Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Re and Lee Ye-won contribute more than him, even though they're simply functional for what is provided to them.
The characters in Train to Busan were not as developed either, but they also didn't felt so dull.

Peninsula is the look at the apocalyptic future of this world after the outbreak and in that respect it delivers, but that also becomes the flaw because Peninsula offers nothing different that has not been seen in films with the same scenario and threat.

Peninsula is just two hours of action that I think will entertain you if you're both a fan of the genre and Train to Busan, but if you expect a notable new mention for the zombie genre, forget it.

This was pretty disappointing.
I'll see what Seoul Station has in store for me.… Expand

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4

SoulWarfareSep 7, 2020

AKA "Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula" is a standalone sequel to one of the best zombie movies in decades "Train to Busan". When I first heard they were making a sequel and that director "Yeon Sang-ho" will return to direct the sequel I wasAKA "Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula" is a standalone sequel to one of the best zombie movies in decades "Train to Busan". When I first heard they were making a sequel and that director "Yeon Sang-ho" will return to direct the sequel I was thrilled. The film synopsis is that "It's been four long years since the catastrophic events of Train to Busan (2016), and a virulent zombie outbreak sweeps South Korea from end to end. Now, on the carcass of the levelled city of Incheon, the guilt-ridden former Marine Captain, Jung-seok, embarks on a suicide mission to locate a truck carrying bags crammed with $20 million in cash, along with a trio of equally reckless fortune seekers". The trailer for this movie is completely different from the first movie and the director calls it a "standalone sequel" so i'm going to try and avoid any comparison to the first movie.

Usually, I start with the praises but this time I'm going to start with the negatives because this movie has a lot of flaws. The characters in this movie are just not that interesting. Jung-seok (Gang Dong-won), who is the main lead, is the most interesting as he is grieving the loss of his sister and is quite suicidal in this movie as he always puts himself at risk for the sake of others. However, he doesn't go through any dramatic character arc until right at the end and it isn't even that huge of a change. He is a cool-headed, badass shooting dude throughout the whole movie and even by the end is still that. The supporting characters are just the most over the top cartooney characters who are really lacking in any depth. I don't want to blame the actors but every single actor portrays their character in a really outlandish way that makes me cringe. The villains are especially outlandish and it just feel like they are right out of Mad Max (which might be the director's intention). There is one grounded support character Min-jung (Lee Jung-hyun) who has a connection with the main lead but she is a very one note character unfortunately.

A gripe I have is the so-called "emotional moments". They are just not emotional whatsoever and if anything really feels like they force it upon the viewers. The movie wants us to feel sad when a character dies but when the character themselves are uninteresting then it just doesn't work. On that note, the deaths and twist are very predictable. You can probably guess a majority of them so even the story isn't going to surprise you or anything. A majority of this movie contains a lot of car chases which are all entirely CGI including the zombies and they are not very good either. These scenes make it seem like you're watching a PS2 cutscene. The zombies are also not scary and they just get powered through with ease. Also, a problem that is also in the first movie is that characters make dumb decisions. It range from not killing someone or just not checking the back of a truck. They're usually done because the plot demands it but that can really pull you out of the movie because it feels really silly.

If I have any praise for the movie its the John Wick style of shooting in this movie which is pretty cool to be fair. There are some shootout scenes with zombies or humans that are visually pleasing to watch. While I do bash the PS2 CGI car chase, it is so ridiculous that it is kind of entertaining to watch. Additionally, the last act of the movie is predictable but still watching it was a nice moment. The movie also delves into some interesting aspects in terms of world-building. For example, there is racism against South Korean because of the infection and even the rest of the world's reaction to South Korea zombie plague. Overall, the movie is nothing compared to "Train to Busan". It does nothing new with the zombie genre and has none of the charms from the first movie. However, if you think of it as just Mad Max with zombies then there is some fun to be had here. It does feel like a B movie but it's a pretty entertaining B movie. Just don't think of it as a sequel to the legendary "Train to Busan" and you can probably avoid the disappointment.… Expand

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6

greenisgoodSep 4, 2020

TL;DR - Overly Americanized in it's execution aka high on action over character writing, Peninsula is still a decent one and done watch on merits of acting performances, cinematography and overall dystopian Korea setting.

The Good Jung-hyunTL;DR - Overly Americanized in it's execution aka high on action over character writing, Peninsula is still a decent one and done watch on merits of acting performances, cinematography and overall dystopian Korea setting.

The Good

Jung-hyun Lee, Dong-Won, and Min-Jae playing Min Jung, Jung Seok and Sergeant Hwang respectively were the best performances in the movie. And since we spend the most time with these 3 it was definitely positive considering the screenplay execution.
Cinematography was excellent in the film with interesting color grading in the night scenes and very a scary dystopian/zombie apocalypse setting. Especially the chilling 'Wild Dog' ring at the Unit 631 base and the whole devolution of humanity aspect that surrounds the area. Some of the action set-pieces that involved gun play was directed very John Wick like, not as refined but were interesting nonetheless.

The Bad

Wow did they drop the ball on a lot of the writing with story and character writing suffering the most even without viewing this as a sequel to Train to Busan 2016, on it's own this film is and average one time watch but as a sequel it is bad.
Clearly made with American audiences in mind the film is very high on action and chase sequences but bad CGI hurts the movie which makes you wonder why did they want to make an action heavy film if the budget did not support the VFX set pieces.
The chase sequences are the biggest losers in the film as they are so absurd and over the top they almost rival the latter Fast and Furious entries which was amusing in it's own way, the chase sequences would have been fun due to it's absurdity but the VFX are poorly done breaking all attempts at a suspension of disbelief. Most of the acting aside of the three key characters was really bland and a giant disappointment especially compared to the 2016 movie that brought people to tears with it's emotional scenes.

TRAIN TO BUSAN PRESENTS: PENINSULA really goes all out and bigger than before ultimately failing to be bigger and better, also sacrifices the intricacies of character development and emotional connection to be a action heavy flick ultimately failing at this as well.
If you are a zombie flick fan it is best served as a one time watch and if you are a Train to Busan 2016 fan it will be very unsatisfying thereby being a forgetful movie across the board.… Expand

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6

zNeverSleepingSep 6, 2020

Minhas expectativas eram acima da media por se tratar de um filme no mesmo universo do "train to busan", mas eu gostei do respeito pela primeira obra em não usar o titulo para chamar atenção e nem reverenciar o primeiro filme, trazendoMinhas expectativas eram acima da media por se tratar de um filme no mesmo universo do "train to busan", mas eu gostei do respeito pela primeira obra em não usar o titulo para chamar atenção e nem reverenciar o primeiro filme, trazendo personagens do mesmo apenas por fan service. Invés disso, o diretor Yeon Sang-ho, junto ao segundo roteirista Ryu Yong-jae, decidiram explorar novas historia provenientes do mesmo universo sem desgastar a obra original.

Aqui, temos uma pegada mais enérgica, onde a ação corporal fala mais alto que o desenvolvimentos dos personagens. Não se enganem, há sim um desenvolvimento bacana, mas nada comparado ao primeiro filme. Acredito que o apelo dramático não tenha funcionado tão bem na maior parte dos momentos, por conta de pouco espaço de tela mesmo. É possível se emocionar com a morte de um personagem, mas ao menos deixe-o falar. Há poucos diálogos e isso pesa demais na reação que temos ao presenciarmos seu destino.

O ambientação da Peninsula está muito bem feita. Gostei muito do trabalho de iluminação, relacionado a luz lunar. A destruição, junto ao clima pós-apocalíptico da natureza tomando conta de tudo também tá legal. A fotografia é boa, assim como a OST, que me chamou atenção em alguns momentos. As cenas de ação são acima da media, resultado de um ótimo treino vindo de Kang Dong-won. Os momentos cômicos são ok, visto que o humor asiático nem sempre me pega - mas sim, funciona aqui. Gostei da subversão relacionada aos zombies serem menos perigosos a noite, dando mais folga para trabalhar com o filme a noite. Um quesito que me decepcionou bastante foi o CGI dos carros, que é bem perceptível. Não chegou a atrapalhar minha experiencia, por conta de minha tolerância quando a isso ser alta, mas poderia ser bem melhor.

O filme é ok. Me prendeu, conta com performances, personagens e ação acima da media.… Expand

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6

MaxwooSep 6, 2020

I would say if compared, it's definitely not as good as the first one, I mean I have seen some potential sences in it, but that's it, Sang-ho Yeon messed up most of the parts, wonder whether he really made the first one?

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4

EnriqueCatalanPJun 16, 2021

Español

Primero, no es una mala película de hecho, entretiene, pero pierde toda la atmosfera que hacia una gran película a la anterior. En la primera película se sentía una atmosfera de claustrofobia lo que hacia a "Train to Busan" distintaEspañol

Primero, no es una mala película de hecho, entretiene, pero pierde toda la atmosfera que hacia una gran película a la anterior. En la primera película se sentía una atmosfera de claustrofobia lo que hacia a "Train to Busan" distinta a las 999.999.999 otras películas de zombies que existen, pero para esta secuela se olvidaron de todo eso para transformarse en una mezcla rara y no tan buena de "Mad Max:Fury Road" y "Resident Evil 4 (El juego)".

English

First, it's not a bad movie in fact, it entertains, but it loses all the atmosphere that made a great movie the previous one.In the first film there was an atmosphere of claustrophobia which made "Train to Busan" different from the 999,999,999 other zombie movies that exist, but for this sequel they forgot all that to transform into a rare and not so good mix of "Mad Max:Fury Road" and "Resident Evil 4 (The game)".… Expand

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