My Way

After taking a hokey Hollywood approach to the Korean War in Tae Guk Gi, writer-director Kang Je-kyu applies the same formula—namely, interspersing lots of bombastic battle sequences with mawkish melodramatic interludes, especially death scenes—to World War II. The story of two marathon runners—one Korean, the other Japanese—who play musical chairs with military uniforms while stumbling their way from China to Omaha Beach, this might as well have been titled Chariots of Clichés. The first half-hour introduces Tatsuo (Joe Odagiri) and Kim (Jang Dong-gun) as older boys during the years of Japan's occupation of Korea. Tatsuo, grandson of the military governor, and Kim, son of a servant in the governor's household, both love to run, and soon become competitors representing their respective nations, trading victories and defeats. When war breaks out and Kim is forced to join the Japanese army, he finds himself serving under Tatsuo, a rabid martinet who treats his childhood rival cruelly. A Soviet assault lands them both in a prisoner-of-war camp and—following the German invasion—into the ranks of the desperate Russian army. But they will still wind up separately in German uniforms before rediscovering one another on the beaches at Normandy during D-Day. Although inspired by a true story, Kang plays this utterly contrived and unbelievable scenario full-tilt, exulting in the numerous battle sequences while also drenching every maudlin episode in shameless sentiment. With its widescreen cinematography, elaborate period detail, and big action set pieces, My Way is visually impressive; unfortunately, it's also hopelessly old-fashioned and finally risible. Not recommended. (F. Swietek)