Las Latinas Review: The Host

"The event described in the beginning of [The Host] is based on an actual event. In February 2000 in a US military facility located in the center of Seoul, US military civilian employee Mr. McFarland ordered to dispose formaldehyde into the sewer system leading to Han River despite the objection of a Korean subordinate. Korean government attempted to prosecute Mr. McFarland in Korean court but US military refused to hand over the custody of Mr. McFarland to the Korean legal system. Later, a Korean judge convicted Mr. McFarland in absentia. Public enraged at the Korean government's inability to enforce its law on its own soil. In 2005, nearly five years after the original incident, Mr. McFarland was finally found guilty in Korean court in his presence. He never served the actual prison sentence, however."

Blah, blah, blah.

Las Latinas rarely venture into movie theaters, unless we're actually in the mood to relive the night we lost our virginity to Coco Lopez (oh, yes: the same guy l.o.v.e.d. us all equally). The Host was totally worth it, though. We may have still been drunk from San Patricio's Day, but we're confident our perception was accurate.

The movie is scary. Obvi. But it's also smart, funny, and touching. Action-packed and symbolic. Beautifully shot and a sour escape.

Catch it if you can, especially because, in less than 5 years, Spanish subtitles will be the rule.

Viva Korea!!