war is hell - and no one can deny it

Rating: 10/10 (2 July 2005)

We didn't know anything about "Tae Guk Gi" when we rented it, but we were blown away. The plot centers on two South Korean brothers who have to join the army during the Korean War. But what you really notice about the movie is the way that it portrays the carnage of the war. Even if you know absolutely nothing about the Korean War, this movie will truly shake you. You feel the violence in the same way that you do in "Saving Private Ryan", but unlike that one, "Tae Guk Gi" never idealizes anything; it shows that when you get right down to any issues, there are no good guys in wartime. I recommend this movie, but I should warn you: this is not a movie for the squeamish.