Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War (2004)

It is not often that the chance comes by to watch a remarkable film, however, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to watch a screening of this film in Seoul with English subtitles.

Overall, the movie is an experience well worth seeing, not only for its portrayal of conflict on the Korean peninsular during the time (1950's), but also for the relationship that develops between the two main brothers.

There are, of course, some distractions from this great film - one of them, the overly "shaky" camera movements, particularly during action scenes. Another, the under-developed English subtitles. I sincerely hope that the English scripting will be improved if this film gains international exposure. As a "foreigner", I felt a real lack of emotion and feeling from the subtitles. Quite rightly, Koreans will feel much more from this film than others, as they know too well the effect of North Korea on the South.

The only other piece of criticism I could provide would be that a couple of times when it really felt like a scene was developing nicely, it was cut and we ended up in a completely different scene. Perhaps there were good reasons for this, but I felt that some scenes needed just a little more time to develop fully.

Overall, however, an impressive film that is probably not one for the kids, considering the level of violence. Well worth seeing if you get the chance.

Fmovies: The Korean War is thought of as the "forgotten" war in the U.S. because it came on the tail end of WW2. For Koreans it symbolizes a conflict that never ended, a civil war between a nation divided that has never been resolved. If you watch the movie in this context then the symbolism of the protagonists and the name has a much deeper meaning. Viewers have criticized the melodrama involved but there are events in war similar to the ones in the film that have happened. The film steps away from glorifying war and shows it as brutal and unforgiving and sometimes turns family members on each other. It is a state of complete breakdown of human rationale and consequences There is no real "happy" ending like in many Hollywood films and the violence is not glorified. This movie is a testament to Korean War veterans all over the world. It is to South Korea's credit that they could make such an important film for future generations.

Whereas Saving Private Ryan's plot was a "situation" rather than a story--it's fatal flaw in my opinion)-- this harrowing film of the Korean War is a well paced and heart-wrenching tale of two brothers caught up in one of the twentieth century's most vicious conflicts.

The superbly realistic battle scenes are more brutal than any war movie I've ever seen...it makes you realize that combat is one of the most horrifying of all human experiences. In film it is a good thing; It is necessary to communicate and teach the horror of war.

By the way, "Tae Guk Gi" is the name of the South Korean flag. I give this movie ten out of ten stars.

Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War fmovies. In 1950, in South Korea, the shoe-shiner Jin-tae Lee (Dong-Kun Jang) and his eighteen years old student brother Jin-seok Lee (Bin Won) form a poor but happy family with their mother (Yeong-ran Lee), Jin-tae's fiancé Young-shin Kim (Eun-ju Lee) and her young sisters. Jin-tae and his mother are tough workers, who sacrifice themselves to send Jin-seok to the university. When North Korea invades the South, the family escapes to a relative's house in the country, but along their journey, Jin-seok is forced to join the army to fight in the front, and Jin-tae enlists too to protect his young brother. The commander promises Jin-tae that if he gets a medal he would release his brother, and Jin-tae becomes the braver soldier in the company. Along the bloody war between brothers, the relationship of Jin-seok with his older brother deteriorates leading to a dramatic and tragic end.

I have just watched one of the most spectacular movies of war of the cinema industry, if not the best. The stunning and overwhelming "Taegukgi Hwinalrimyeo" is impressive and the brilliant direction of Je-gyu Kang and his crew is among the most perfect I have ever seen, with realistic and gore battles and fights. The cinematography is amazing and the camera work in most of the moments seems to be a documentary, so realistic it is. The sad and dramatic story shakes the emotions of the viewer, with another stupid war, and worst, between brothers. Probably this is the best and most visceral anti-war movie ever made. Dong-Kun Jang and Bin Won are amazing and I felt deeply sorrow with the fate of the character performed by the gorgeous Eun-ju Lee. How can this movie be not nominated to the Oscar? My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): "A Irmandade da Guerra" ("The Brotherhood of the War")

The best war movie ever, period. All the Saving Private Ryans of this world pale in comparison to Taegukgi. Don't be deceived by the fact that this movie took only $13 million to make (expensive by Korean standards but pocket change in the world of Hollywood), I dare say the visual/sound effects in the movie surpasses any multi-million dollar Hollywood blockbuster. If you thought the Omaha Beach sequence in Saving Private Ryan was amazing, prepare to be blown away, this movie is about to rewrite history books. Outside of Hollywood, Korea is the ONLY country that is capable of making movies that are this good-looking and well polished. The scale and ambition of this film is massive, and even with all the risks involved in making films such as this, the director nails it on the head everytime. The amazing war sequences aside, the dramatic elements shine out as well, supported by an amazing cast of talented actors. It's a very tragic and moving story, more than few tears will shed where I watched the movie, and you will all cry too, when you're not staring in awe at the action sequences that is ^^ Anyways, a breakthrough film, the best movie of 2004 overall so far. I am shocked and surprised as to how much Korean filmmaking has progressed in a few short years, if this trend continues, within 10 years time, even Hollywood would be cowering in fear and begging for mercy. Korean movies ARE the future, this film is a testimony to that. See it for yourself, and believe it.

Possible Spoilers*** First of all, major praise goes to Jang Dong Gun's riveting performance. He captured the essence of a nation divided, the immorality of war as your own folks become your enemies, and love for your brother regardless of the situation of the world and/or personal vendetta. The transformation he undergoes and the madness of war he evokes and invokes leaves quite an impact garnering notice.

I knew I was in for something as soon as I saw the archaeological dig of a battlefield starting the film as a grandfather's story is slowly drawn out. The flashback sequence between two brothers is heartwarming as you see the elder brother watching over and sacrificing for his younger sibling and the bond that they have. Being an only child, I wish I had a brother like that. Then the war hits and everything turns upside down as the gut wrenching begins.

The haunting thing about this movie is that the enemy is your own people and they speak your own language and share the same ancestors and genetics. What's more you kill your own kin because of circumstance in a situation of kill or be killed. The simmering conflict between the two brothers deserves special attention because it will hit home as the core message of the movie is made by it. The film made me think of what my parents and grandparents lived through.

-About Saving Private Ryan. To me they were worlds apart in situation, meaning and focus but similar in execution and structure. Just as Saving Private Ryan spoke so resounding to its audience, Taegukgi does the same for its own.