Films about the Korean War from this side of the Pacific have largely portrayed it as an American affair--think M*A*S*H* or Pork Chop Hill--so one told from a Korean perspective is both long overdue and welcome. Unfortunately, while Kang Je-Gyu's epic is visually strong--particularly in the elaborate battle sequences, even if they often degenerate into protracted fistfights--from a narrative standpoint Tae Guk Gi (the title refers to a Korean term for the national flag, like “Old Glory”) resembles the rather sappy Hollywood war movies of the 1940s and '50s. The story centers on two brothers drafted into service as the war begins: the older one, Jin-tae (Dong-Kun Jang), a laborer devoted to helping his weaker intellectual sibling Jin-teok (Bin Won), continues his protective habits in the ranks; indeed, he's so anxious to secure Jin-teok's release to civilian status that he becomes heedless of his own safety, quickly becoming a national hero. But after a series of tragedies leads Jin-tae to defect to the northern side, Jin-teok puts himself at risk to reclaim him. Surrounding this overwrought pair are the other battalion members, stereotyped in ways that John Ford would have found embarrassing. Technically impressive, but too melodramatic by half, Tae Guk Gi is--despite its flaws--a strong optional purchase. [Note: DVD extras on this double-disc set include a collection of behind-the-scenes “making-of” featurettes and historical background on the war, as well as the option to watch a subtitled or dubbed version; unfortunately, in either case the dialogue remains banal. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a so-so film.] (F. Swietek)
Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War
Sony, 2 discs, 148 min., in Korean w/English subtitles, R, DVD: $28.98 Volume 20, Issue 3
Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War
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