Director: Jo-Sung-hee

Cast: Ye-Rin Park, Song Joong-ki, Kim Tae-ri, Yoo Hai-Jin, Jin Seon-kyu, & Richard Armitage

* * *

OH this was such an unexpected fun ride! When I first read the early description of this film, I started thinking this was going to be some cartoonish, pulp sci-fi film comedy similar to what you get from the #Spaceballs trailer of 1987. Now there’s nothing wrong with that particular genre, but to see the genre in a space context felt antediluvian, and I wasn’t as intrigued by it. 

But then I started seeing sponsored posts across my social media timelines with high praise, so I figured I’d check it out and “see about that…” (Hmmm…I wonder will this saying come across like I want it LOL).

Despite one small, odd moment in the film, #SpaceSweepers was actually a blast to watch. 

* * *

Below are my grades for key components in #SpaceSweepers that I find to be key in any story/film—Theme, Plot, Pacing, and Character Arc/Development. I think it is also important for me to add that moving forward, I will not include a plus-rating in my breakdown, but will continue with minus-ratings.

Additionally, I have added an entertainment factor scale to help you determine whether or not the film is something you’d be interested in taking time out of your weekend, evening, or day to watch. The scale range consists of: Worth the Watch, Interesting Enough (if looking for something new to start), & Don’t Rush.

I have also added a few non-spoiling thoughts, wonderings, and comments as I watched the film to help give some rationale for my grades and entertainment scale. 

* * *

Theme: A 

Plot: A

Pacing: A 

Character Arc/Development: A

Entertainment Factor: Worth the Watch

* * *

Takeaways: 

1. I liked the villain. The quick character arc we get was well done. 👍🏾👍🏾

2. The levels of diversity in this film is admirable! Especially how it “exists” in the film is definitely one of my favorite things about #SpaceSweepers. I hope that this can be a reality one day. 🙌🏾🙌🏾

3. The cinematography! My goodness. Just beautiful! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

4. Seeing the Space Sweepers in action was fun…👍🏾👍🏾

5. …and to continue with point #4, recognizing the deeper issue with the Space Sweepers as part the plot was appreciated. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👍🏾

6. There were 2 main themes that stood out to me while watching this film—one centered around the theme starter of Humanity,’ and the other around ‘acceptance and grief’—but the ways in which “humanity” is manifested is really great. 👍🏾👍🏾🙌🏾

7. The “transporter” from Earth to Space… OMG! I was geeking out on the inside. I just love subtle, yet creative interpretations of the now. 😩🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾❤️

8. To piggyback off of point #2, though I appreciated the diversity, I am not 100% in support of the Korean character with locs… … … I mean, yeah it gave him some edge, but I’d prefer someone Black in that role…or at least make the locs actually look like what they’re supposed to look like on individuals with that particular hair texture…he legit had coarse hair… even from the shape up. 🤨🤨🤦🏾‍♂️

9. I think I know how our villain started to have those “particular moments,” but it did come from left field a little bit. 🥴

10. Okay for the Black Wolves! 🙌🏾🙌🏾

11. Chiiiiiiiiiile… Camilla! She played no games. 🤣

12. The subtle weaving of the “nanobots….”👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👍🏾

13. And speaking of point #12, this film does a really great job at making sure that moments later in the film is justified due to small/subtle situation earlier in the film. It’s always appreciated when attention to such details are given in film. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👍🏾

14. AWWWWWWW, Dorothy! Especially the moment when our protagonist has the “realization” and the entire ship reacts. 😩😩🤣🤣

15. The club scene! Yeeesssssss! 🙌🏾🙌🏾

16. That ending plan… wow. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

17. So my small issue… At the 59:01 mark to 1:06:52 mark… it got randomly cartoony… It was like someone in editing took a lunch break, and a high schooler came in to play around with it, and no one caught it. 🥴

18. Bubs is such a fascinating character representing identity! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾❤️

* * *

Overall, #SpaceSweepers isn’t a film I would have naturally been drawn to, but I am glad to have come across it. Now I am not sure if this was an adaptation of an anime at all, but if it is, this would be my entry point to becoming a die hard anime fan—to see well thought out, well acted, and well produced live action versions of these stories. I was truly entertained and satisfied.