a Masterpiece

Rating: Null/10 (3 September 2004)

Obviously, this movie deserves a spot as one of best war movie ever made regardless popularity.
The budget to produce Tae Guk Gi is $13M while Saving Private Ryan spent $25M only on advertisement. W/ $13 M of the budget, they wouldn't hire any of Hollywood experts. But this movie really has a good quality, some of which are no shorter than Hollywood technique.
Obviously, this movie has one of most difficult story line to depict as a war movie. If it had been reviewed by Hollywood movie writer, there should have been many revision as it would be very unusual to its standard. If you recall "Saving Private Ryan", there is no strong character development as movie progresses. The main characters have very simple rock-solid heroic image, which entertains audience and is directly related to success of the movie. Two main characters in TaeGukGi have dynamics transit among every possible role as movie progresses. In many cases, these types of rapid changes in character image can cause much of confusion to audience who especially not familiar with supporting background. It would specially cause a big confusion to those (western viewer) who called the Korean war as forgotten war. In fact, Korean war was never a forgotten war to Korean, which makes this movie simplify many supporting scene. and western viewer need more background to fully understand.
1 out 3 Korean( including those in elementary school who can't see this movie) in South Korea saw this movie. However, to a surprise, the critics and grade of this movie by South Koreans is not too high ( 8/10) compared to other true Hollywood blockbusters. The historic value of this movie is not so significant to Koreans but only a lot to those who calls it the forgotten war. Then what is it? It is obviously emotional value of this movie, which most Western view will think melodramatic. Brotherhood is very common and important virtue to Korean Family. It is very common for older brother to take care of his younger by his sacrifice. Choosing brotherhood to describe Korean War is more than extraordinary.(Obviously, there is not much of relation with "Saving Private Ryan" as "saving private lee" is based on completely different value system.) The brotherhood has very strong symbolic depiction of North and South Korea. Melodramatic appeal on this movie is also perfect as it is more realistic to Korean who went through horrible civil war 50 years ago. If American Civil War happened only 50 year ago, then many of civil-war Hollywood movie would use melodramatic appeal as the audience or society can digest as the very reality.
Another big value of this movie is Korean War movie made by Korean. Maybe if compared to Vietnam war, which is easier for many people to understand, think about Vietnam war made by Vietnamese not by American. To eye of Vietnamese, the platoon would be a just stupid-Americanized movie far from the reality...(don't get me wrong, it is a great war movie!).
Overall, TaeGukGi won't be a blockbuster outside of Korea even this movie is one of masterpieces in war movie class and many will talk about years after years. However, if Korean war wasn't the forgotten war to the rest of world, then without a doubt, it would be international blockbuster.
PS There are about 5 Million Koreans died out of 20 Million.
There were more bombs used in this forgotten war than in whole WW II.
When Chinese invaded, they said, "There were more Chinese soldiers than the number of bullets S Korean or UN have"
J from DC