Mickey 17, recently released in theaters on Mar. 7, is one of the newest releases from the prominent South Korean filmmaker, Bong Joon Ho.
Ho, known for his explorative movies that critique society, didn’t disappoint with this movie adaptation of Edward Ashton’s 2022 novel, Mickey 7. While the movie is inspired by the book, Ho made drastic changes to the story, adding his own style to it.
The movie’s main character is Mickey Barnes—played by Robert Pattinson—who mistakenly becomes an “Expendable,” a disposable crew member on a space expedition whose body and memories are saved on a hard drive, allowing his body to be endlessly rebuilt after death. Pattinson’s acting depicted the internal conflict of a man who has to experience such dehumanizing misery, losing himself in the process.
“The idea of someone being called an “Expendable” and just used over and over, even being tortured to death, is really messed up,” said junior Tina Zhou.
The story begins when the scientists in charge of reprinting Mickey mistakenly create Mickey 18, Mickey 17’s duplicate, while Mickey 17 is still alive. What ensues is a hilarious critique of our society.
After being asked how she would feel in the role of Mickey, Zhou stated, “Honestly, I would feel terrified and dehumanized. Even if it’s for an expedition, being treated like that is probably one of the worst things that could happen to someone, knowing that you’re just there to suffer and die for others.”
Not only did the acting make the audience feel immersed in the movie, the digital special effects were just as well developed. They were used to portray the alien planet, Niflheim, as a cold, icy, and unforgivable planet, adding on to the idea of the harshness of survival. The regeneration sequences demonstrate the futuristic technology that supports the movie’s concept.
While the special effects were stunning, the same can’t be said for the movie’s tone. With awkward pacing and sudden shifts, it gets confusing for the audience.
“I didn’t really enjoy the movie,” said junior Jonathan Yuan. “I didn’t get the point of the movie at all.”
Despite this though, Mickey 17 managed to mix moments of comedy with serious social commentary, pointing out the flaws of greed, exploitation, and dehumanization. As human suffering is normalized for the greater good, it recreates the idea of how certain lives are treated as expendable in capitalistic systems.
Additionally, themes of greed and political incompetence are discussed through Kenneth Marshall, a failed politician who manipulates his following into believing in him despite his incompetence.
While, Mickey 17 thrives on its big ideas, it gets lost in its themes. But, for fans of dark comedy and sci-fi—who don’t mind a few narrative stumbles—it’s definitely worth watching.
Photo Courtesy of WIKIMEDIACOMMONS.COM
