STACK #248 June 2025

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BONG JOON HO

Although he made waves with Memories of Murder , The Host , and Snowpiercer , it was the Oscar-sweeping success of Parasite that catapulted Korean filmmaker Bong Joon Ho to international stardom. Known for his genre bending style and visual artistry, his latest film, Mickey 17 , continues to showcase his brilliance. Here are three iconic trademarks. Camera angles to reflect social classes As demonstrated in most of his work, he uses camera angles to subtly reflect social hierarchies, often shooting the wealthy from elevated perspectives and the poor from below or underground. This visual contrast reinforces class divisions, making the separation almost tangible for viewers. Dark comedy/satire He weaves dark satire into his films to expose societal flaws with scathing humour. Through exaggerated situations and ironic twists, he critiques issues of capitalism, inequality, and institutional failure, making heavy themes both accessible and unsettling for his audience. Layered visual storytelling One of Bong Joon Ho’s standout narrative techniques is capturing multiple story threads within a single frame. Through depth, background action, and precise character positioning, he conveys layered storytelling - like in Parasite , where the wealthy family enjoys a garden party while the underprivileged family hides on the margins.

JUNE

What’s a movie you saw as a child that has left a lasting impression on you? I can’t name one, so here are three. The Dark Crystal, Jaws, and An American Werewolf in London . Was I too young to watch them? Yes! I still can’t swim in the ocean, and I am also still scared of werewolves. What’s one of your all-time favourite films, and why? Jurassic Park . I was 12 when it came out and I just loved all of it. Even the soundtrack, I just loved. I saw it three times at the cinemas and have, of course, introduced it to my kids. What’s one of your all-time favourite TV series, and why? Friends . It’s my go-to when I am sad. I was obsessed with it as a teenager and bought all of the tapes (yes, VHS) as they came out. I was heartbroken when Matthew Perry died. What have you been watching lately that you’d recommend? Dexter . I love that we are on the bad guy’s side for a change and that we want him to literally get away with murder. People hate the ending of the series, but I really liked it.

’ s ROVING REPORTER

JEMMA STEWART @ JB Tea Tree Plaza, SA

FUN FACT

What’s the best thing about working at JB? The people. I have worked with a lot of people over the years and they have all been amazing. JB has also been a very supportive workplace.

Comedy legend John Hughes ( The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles ) conceived and wrote the original story for Dumb & Dumber

and requested his name be removed from the writing credits.

QUIZ

Q7 Which Ridley Scott movie centres on a military operation in Somalia? Q8 Which movie director is the brother of Nicolas Cage’s father? Q9 “Joker” Davis and “Gomer Pyle” are two characters in which 1987 anti-war movie? Q10 (Phone conversation) “Who are you talking to?”“Nobody, ‘cos there’s a dead man on the end of this phone.” Dialogue from what movie, and which actor uttered the last line?

Doris Day’s character go to see a Doris Day movie? Q3 Name the western in which four sets of brothers play four sets of brothers? Q4 In what film did the character Dr Hannibal Lecter first appear? Q5 Which renowned film director played Charlie the meter reader in a 1956 sci-fi movie? Q6 Rex Harrison, Eddie Murphy, and Robert Downey Jr. have all played which fictional character onscreen?

The 2022 hit Sisu is getting a sequel, tentatively scheduled for release this November. The original film is a brutal, revenge-driven story set in 1940s Finland, where a skilled gold prospector seeks IN DEVELOPMENT

Q1 Name the Hollywood actress who delivered the classic line “ Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy night ”, and in which movie? Q2 In which film does

vengeance on Nazis who steal his treasure. While plot details for the sequel remain scarce, director Jalmari Helander is returning, and American actors Stephen Lang ( Avatar ) and Richard Brake ( Barbarian ) are joining the cast. Sony Pictures will release the film globally.

MAY 2025 (Issue 247) ANSWERS - A1. Elmo Lincoln in the 1918 silent movie Tarzan of the Apes A2. Alexander Skarsgard in The Legend of Tarzan (2016) A3. Sea of Love A4. Foreign Correspondent (1940) A5. The Three Stooges A6. Kiss of Death (1947) A7. Colonel Kilgore (Robert Duvall in Apocalypse Now - 1979) A8. Pale Rider (1985) A9. Rob Roy A10. Robert Redford in War Hunt .

20 JUNE 2025

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