A Tremendously Poignant Tale A+

Rating: 10/10 (5 July 2012)

All too often the Korean War is called the "The Forgotten War" and in a sense I suppose it's true. Ask the young ones of today and they'll most likely have the vaguest of ideas. The amount of films about this particular war as opposed to the enormous succession of Vietnam and WW II movies is staggering. This movie is by all means a must see first and foremost because it details a brutal conflict that the world hasn't truly paid tribute to. The acting is sensational and all the more I find myself South Korean cinema. It certainly feels like a high budget epic of a war film, and rightfully so.
Like a true masterpiece, the film displays the sickening effects of the war on ideology on both sides. One Jang Dong-gun's character is molded by the tide of the war, becoming a mere shadow of who he once was. Won Bin is also excellent, not to mention Lee Eun-joo. The atmosphere is one displaying how turbulent the times were and how the atrocity destroyed lives. The score by Lee Dong-jun is also quite magnificent, bringing many emotions to the film. I highly recommend this movie.