Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mack4289]

So I was reading the Joong Ang Daily today and in an article about Korean movies and I see this: "In 2004, after seeing �Taegukgi,� a tragedy featuring two brothers and their struggles struggling during the Korean War, Kim told all his friends and family that it was a film every Korean should be forced to see." From my memory of Taegukgi, I would have to be forced to watch that movie again. One time is more than enough.

I understand why "Taegukgi" would be popular. We Americans are probably more voracious consumers of patriotic hackery than people of any other nationality. Anyone who had to endure the patriotic country music that was released after 9/11; or, even worse, Paul McCartney's "Freedom"; could attest to that.

Beyond patriotic sentiment, though, "Taegukgi" is a bad movie; a sloppy, melodramatic mess loaded with unintentional comedy. It's been over a year since I saw it, but here's what stands out in my memory (there are spoilers here):

- the invasion of Seoul scene. This was a promising start to the movie and did a good job of conveying how terrifying being invaded must be, especially when the it's a surprise invasion (was this an accurate depiction? Did the citizens of Seoul really have no idea it was coming?).

- the battle scenes. "Taegukgi" depicts war like it's a basketball game, with Dong-Kun Jang playing the Michael Jordan role, singlehandedly leading his side to victory. This is when my expectations for the movie were lowered a great deal.

- the end. I was prepared for something overdone, but still never could've guessed that Dong-Kun would actually start fighting for North Korea and start looking like a Korean Che Guevara. The basketball analogy isn't even appropriate here, this turns the Korean war into something like professional wrestling.

"Taegukgi" was so disappointing because I was interested in the Korean war and looking forward to seeing a quality movie about it. Instead I got the Korean cinematic equivalent of a Toby Keith song: a heavyhanded, oversimplified attempt to exploit people's affection for patriotic art.

[jvalmer]

Yes, the invasion was a suprise to the average citizen. Once news of the invasion came the government told the citizens to stay and promised Seoul would be defended. But, those same polititians were already in Busan when they said this.

[djsmnc]

The whole "This is Korea Saving Lyan movie" hoopla got to me a bit, and the brother not recognizing his younger brother was a bit too Korean drama fluff/cheesy/lame enough to almost cripple a good film for me, but all in all, I enjoyed it.

What I would like to see is a nitty gritty American movie about the Korean war. Sure it would probably have its lame heroics as well, but that was a big war and there just aren't any recent movies out there on par with films about Vietnam and World War 2.

[itaewonguy]

it wasnt platoon!

[Pligganease]

I liked it. It was a little melodramatic, but I would say that it was a good movie. I thought it was very well made.

Also, you must consider the fact that it was made for Koreans. Since I'm not Korean, I can't fully appreciate the emotional undertones the movie contained.

[Alyallen]

[CasperTheFriendlyGhost]

Two and a half stars. Over the top battle scenes witha focus on ultra-violence. Major plot leaps. Decent acting and conemetography.

[the_beaver]

Liked everything but the Hershey's bar.

[mack4289]

If an American movie was made about the American Civil War, starring Vin Diesel and Paul Walker as brothers, in which Vin Diesel almost-singlehandedly won a series of battles against the South but then was somehow betrayed by an Northerner so decided to switch sides and fight for the South and the movie seriously exaggerated the significance of this, how would it get treated by the critics? How would you guys react to it? Maybe I'm reaching here, but are you guys taking it easy on this movie because you have lower standards for Korean films?

By the way, the movie I described would be hilarious. I wish someone would make that movie.

[Smee]

[Alyallen]

[contrarian]

I thoroughly enjoyed it> I found it dramatic and painful, which is a pretty fair reflection of life.

I bought the disc box version of it and have shown it to friends in Canada.

I also enjoyed Silmido.

[nicholas_chiasson]

-It could have mentioned the 54,246 americans who died in the war. That was my biggest gripe about the movie, it portrays the war as a solo effort.

[The Perfect Cup of Coffee]

Good action and a solid story. I'd watch it again. Two favorite parts were:

1. The stalemate in the summer when the ROK soldiers are all getting pissed off at each other because of the heat and they decide to launch a night-time raid.

2. The Chinese counter-offensive where those thousands of PLA soldiers just start pouring across the border between China and North Korea, running across the snow. Cool cinematography.

Solid movie. 7.5/10

[silvertoes]

Jang Dong Gun is hawt.