Reptilian (film)

Infobox Film
name = Reptilian / Yonggary


image_size =
caption = Original poster to "Reptilian" / "Yonggary"
director = Shim Hyung-rae [Infobox data from imdb title|id=0272425|title=Yonggary]
producer = Shim Hyung-rae
writer = Marty Poole
Shim Hyung-rae
starring = Dan Cashman
Bruce Cornwell
Dennis Howard
music = Jo Sung-woo
cinematography = Kim An-hong
editing = Steve Swersky
distributor =
released = July 17, 1999 (South Korea)
runtime =
country = South Korea
language = Korean
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website = http://www.2001yonggary.com/
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0272425

"Reptilian" (용가리 - "Yonggari") is a 1999 South Korean film.

Background

Inspired by the success of the Heisei era Godzilla and Gamera films in Japan, and Roland Emmerich's Godzilla remake, director Shim Hyung-rae envisioned his own monster film. Titled "Yonggari" in South Korea, internationally Yonggary, and in the US "Reptilian". A remake in name only of "Yonggary" (1967), Shim's film uses conventional computer-generated imagery effects, and an American cast to appeal to international markets.

Synopsis

An archaeological party explore some caverns underground. Dr. Campbell and Dr. Huges ar the two leaders of the archaeological expedition, and get separated. While Dr. Huge finds an alien corpse with a fossilized diamond, Dr. Cambell finds hieroglyphics at the cost of the party except for Huges and himself. Two years later, Campbell and his assistant Holly are digging up the bones of Yonggary, a gargantuan dinosaur 50 times the size of a tyrannosaurus rex. Out of nowhere, people slowly are being killed around the site. While Holly is working Dr. Huges, who has been legally dead for 2 years, goes to Holly and tells her to stop the dig. Dr. Campbell comes into the tent and sends Dr. Huges off. Holly quits the expedition when another "Accident" occurs. In the town bar, Dr. Huges finds Holly and takes her back to her Hotel room to tell her why he thinks the bones of the Dinosaur, which he calls Yonggary, are going to bring the end of the world. After explaining, Holly and Huges go to the site to stop Campbell but it is too late and Aliens ressurect Yonggary. After Yonggary's first appearance, the Army comes in and takes Holly and Campbell to an army base when Yonggary is dispatched by the aliens again. The army sends choppers after Yonggary, but he destroys them. Yonggary is then sent to the city (which is hinted at to be New York, but is actually Seoul, Korea) and does some damage, where some jets attack him. Then Yonggary is transported to a power plant where he is attacked by rocket pack soldiers. During the fight, Huges and Holly find out that the diamond on Yonggary's forehead is the thing giving the aliens control of Yonggary. Yonggary is transported back into the city, where the remainder of the soldiers destroy the diamond on his head. Enraged, the aliens send down their own monster Cycler. Yonggary and Cyclor battle, with Yonggary winning. The following morning, Yonggary is sent to an uninhabited island where Yonggary can adjust to normal life.

The New Yonggary

The new design of Yonggary is completely different from the creature from the 1967 film. He is taller, has three horns on his head, and has a diamond on his forehead. It was placed there by the aliens, so that they can control Yonggary and use him to destroy planet Earth. When it is destroyed, they lost all control over Yonggary, and Yonggary turned good and helped mankind defeat the aliens. The original Yonggary had flamethrower breath and could shoot a laser beam from the horn on his snout. The new Yonggary shoots fireballs from his mouth and, according to the aliens at the end of the film, has powers he has yet to discover.

Reception

The film started it's publicity in 1998. This film was supposed to be the one film to bring Korean Film Market into International stature. In a news paper article from Variety, it was stated that of the $6.1 million spent on the budget, $2.1 million was already earned through pre-sales through the Cannes and Mifeld film markets, along with consideration from the American Film Market. Also, while American, Japanese, and some European territory's distribution of the film was pending, an interview with the film's Director of Photography, An-Hong Kim by Kodak confirmed that Germany, Poland, Turkey, Maylsia, Indonesia, Russia, China, Taiwan, and Latic America was confirmed along with Korea. It was around this time that Sonokong made it's 12 inch Walking Yonggary figure. In Korea, CNN was on a regular basis talking of the film, including showing clips. And the film was released on July 17, 1999...

The film was panned by critics, but the film sold 3 million tickets. Many audiences praised the special effects. But overall, it was successful in Korea, comparable to Godzilla 2000's US release. The film was also released in Pakistan and was featured in the Cannes film festival. The film did poor on a world wide scale, though, but has since gotten a cult following. Publicity, while low in the media, was large. Giant posters on the outside of Korean theaters were hung and a parade with a life size replica of Yonggary from head to waist was made. Along with that, the toy company Songokong released more Yonggary figures including a SD Wind and Walk figure and a 12 inch vinyl figure. The SD Wind and walk was the least produced of the figures and most of the 12 vinyl figures were shipped to Japan.

Two years later, Yonggary's 2001 update was released in Japan on DVD, which an unknown company issued a SD Yonggary Keychain figure exclusive with the dvd release.

Yonggary Upgrade

The film was re-released in 2001, with improved special effects and additional scenes. The re-release didn't do well in the box office, possibly due to poor promotion. This version of the film was first shown at a Japanese film Festival in 2000, being retitled ARMAGGEDON BEAST: YONGGARY, before it's 2001 showing at the film's native country South Korea. When the film was shown in South Korea for a special showing on the 14th (6 days before it's widespread release in South Korea), Hyung Rae Shim did introduce the film in person. Overall, when it was widespread released on Jan. 20th 2001, it only reached at highest, number 10 at the box office. Unlike the first version of the film, this 2001 Upgrade edition had barely any publicity. Among the scenes that are added to the "2001 Upgrade", the beginning scene with a team of archeologists entering the cave was an addition. Along with Added scenes, an extra character "Mr. Mills", the original Korean instrumental score by Sung Woo Cho was replaced by a techno score by Chris Desmond. Overall, the original version of the film was tampered with by 60% to make 2001 Yonggary.

Availability

Although a box office success, "Yonggary" was not popular in South Korea due to the usage of American actors and weak storyline, and has not been released on DVD there, although there is a Korean sybtitled VHS in which is out of print. In the United States, Japan and France, it can be purchased online and at some stores. It has also been broadcast on the SciFi Channel. All DVD and VHS versions of "Yonggary" are of the 2001 version and not the 1999 version. And all of the DVDs have special features. The Japanese release has a trailer, the French one has a trailer, file on Yonggary, and a documentary on easter monsters. The American release, titled "Replilian", has a modest amount of extras, including trailers for the 1998 "Godzilla", "Godzilla 2000", and the DVD release trailer. The US release also has production notes, a file on Yonggary, a photo gallery, and an option to see the film in English or French.

Overall, all releases of Yonggary are of the 2001 version. The 1999 version has not been released as of 2008.

Trivia

*In front of the Yonggu Art Headquarters, there is a eight foot statue of Yonggary in the parking lot
*In an interview, Shim Hyung Rae said that most of his fan mail regarding Yonggary came from Japan
*Along with America, Thailand also calls this film REPTILIAN
*Because of the popularity of the SD forms of Yonggary and Cycler, there is a brand of food, particularly chicken nuggets, in Korea that used the SD forms of the characters.
*Before the theatrical release of YONGGARY, there were plans for a sequel. It is unknown whether this plan is still in the works or not.
*Yonggary's name means HUGE DRAGON.

References

ources

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Film remakes