the greatest foreign language film ever

Rating: 10/10 (17 February 2004)

I've seen this movie in my hometown, and i was left in complete awe for no less than 10hours. It's a smash box-office hit here in south korea, and i do hope that this amazing film will become a n international hit as well.This film is the most accurate potrayal of the korean war, and the emotional depth is almost overwhelming. the two leading stars, jang dong gun and won bin are both popular hearthrobs in south korea, and this was the first time when they have shown what real acting is supposed to be.Both of them are mesmerizing. handsome as they are, they really got into acting so much to care about their good looks, and the results are terrific. The two actors have reportedly sacrificed their bodies and souls for this movie, during the marathon 8-month shoot, they have lived on nothing but rice cakes(think sushi without any relish)and mr.jang even broke his leg while shooting an intense battle sequence. The movie itself is fascinating, the plot is a complete mixture of historical facts, fiction, with such emotions like love, hate, madness, brotherhood and tragedy perfectly blended in. You really have to watch the movie at least twice to appreciate its full value, and millions of Koreans are watching this film over and over again. I'm so proud to be a Korean, wow this movie is even better than Private Ryan or Band of Brothers. it is a sad part of history that this film shows us, but the fabulous director Kang has done the great job of letting the world know what we've all been through, Koreans and Americans alike. The movie's complicated, but the message is simple. There is nothing such as a good war.