I was stationed at the DMZ for 9 months. I know I can't understanded what is in the mind of the average South Korean. HOWEVER!!!!
To make you understand, this movie is like saying that any US Civil war film in which a north/south friendship existed was a basis for a political statement.
You have no idea about the culture, the history, the ideologies, the politics, and the sensitivities of the country. Some big differences - during the Civil War in the U.S., people traveled easily between north and south, it only lasted a few years, and people could actually choose sides. In Korea, families separated for life, they are still technically at war, the border is impassable, and for most of the recent history of Korea, there has been almost zero exchange of information between the two sides. You couldn't fathom the immensity of the repercussions of such activity between north and south korean soldiers during that time in both countries.
Basically, what I'm trying to say: don't spout off your mouth with stupid opinions based on knowledge or experience that was in the point of view of your caveman senses.
Thanks.
i think this is one of the best movie ever! the story is very very strong, great characters, enjoyable plot, good acting (except for all the english dialogue, sounds weird), great cinematography, and some memorable great scenes
shareSadly i can't claim to know how every north or south korean feels about their neighbours. All i can say is that this film was a great watch, that never lapsed into being a boring investigation. It kept up the pace well for a movie that revolves completly around it's central characters.
sharei lived in korea for a couple of years, visited the dmz, but am not south korean so don't have a full insight into the feelings of the south korean people in regards their seperation from their countrymen and women. i do have korean friends however, and in their opinion this movie is a fantasy, a glimpse of a make-believe land where men from each side could (literally) meet in the middle and lark around in the way that adult korean males do. could it happen? never. the psychological conditioning from the north would make any interactions almost impossible with the current generation of adults from the north. this film tells the story of 'if only...'
as a movie it was sentimental and warm, and crossed genres in a way that only korean, and to the most part asian, films can do. the korean performances were all really strong, but the acting and dialogue from the westerners was poor to say the least. it's not an excuse to say 'that's how foreigners speak english' - there are plenty of international actors with a greater command of english who are far more skilled in front of the camera than the efforts from this cast. the swiss general, (with a pipe?!) and the blonde soldier were miscast and poorly directed in my opinion.
a good film, a possible introduction to a painful conflict, but only that.
So what you're saying is...
That your South Korean friends think that North Koreans are all brain-washed kill-bots, with no capacity for human feeling...
Sounds a bit like neither side can make much of a claim to being really human then!
"Piss on you. I'm working for Mel Brooks!"
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This is a good movie.
It deserves all the recognition it has received worldwide.
How does the fact that a) the OP was stationed at the DMZ or b) that they don't understand the Korean psyche make it a bad movie? Talk about nonsensical...
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rather than the OP's military experience or their knowledge of the korean psyche, i think the op's opinion that it's only a bad movie can be discounted by their use of 'understanded'.
maybe a typo, but anyone one with half a savvy would spell check before posting on an internet forum...
Maybe I read your post wrong, but there were many friendships, and even more families, across the north and south in the civil war. At the time, if movies existed, I could easily see a movie about a friendship across the north and south a basis for a political statement.
share