Review for first time watching: 4*: Engaging and funny though with a questionable character actions. The performances are all great! The production design and cinematography excellent! The story is razor-sharp until it gets revealed that the old housekeeper's husband is living in the house's bunker. From there, the actions of the characters became questionable, until the very end. Why didn't anyone take the phone away from the housekeeper when she was recording them in the bunker? Why didn't anything happen with Da-Song figuring out that someone was communicating to him in Morse code? Why did Ki-taek snap and kill Mr. Park when Mr. Park was disgusted with the smell of Geun-sae, who probably smelled bad because he hasn't actually showered in days and is covered in blood (thus, a different smell from Ki-taek and his family)? Also, I was kinda expecting/hoping for more in the final act. I was hoping that it would be more messed up. More f*cked up. More 'Parasite'-like persay. But, of course, I had to remind myself that Park Chan-wook wasn't the director, but still. The final act could've not been rushed and executed better. Other than that, a great film! I hope to see this film get some Oscar nominations! On a side note, this film has become my favorite of Bong Joon-Ho, with Mother and Snowpiercer being other favorites. Wasn't a fan of Okja or The Host though...

Review for second time watching: 3.5*: I've been wanting to rewatch Parasite ever since I first saw it in theaters when it first came out, but didn't until today (about one year later). I still have the same sentiments upon my second watch. The film was entertaining and engaging though very much overrated. I still felt that the film wasn't as deep or poignant as critics raved it to be. And I still don't like the climax which felt like a cheap cop-out gore fest where characters make decisions that don't make any sense, particularly Mr. Kim killing Mr. Park because Mr. Park was disgusted by the smell of Moon-Gwang's husband and yet he did nothing to the husband who stabbed his daughter. The fact that the husband smelt made sense as he probably hasn't showered in awhile since he was living underground. Mr. Kim's snap didn't make sense which made the climax and its consequences feel unearned. However, the film was still the best choice for the Best Picture Oscar of 2019 as it was my favourite film of 2019. On a side note, I cannot wait to see what Bong Joon-Ho cooks up next!