I know that Thoma5 had made mention of this movie in a SPR thread a couple of months back. "Brotherhood" was released on DVD here in the states about a week and a half ago.
"Taegukgi" is the story of two brothers sent off to fight in the Korean War, Jin-Seok and Jin-Tae. Jin Tae becomes a decorated war hero, motivated to do his best for his country, as well as use his performances as a means to get his brother off of the warfield. The two are eventually seperated, and Jin-Tae believes his brother to be dead, and he ultimately sides with North Korea, after a string of personal tragedy befalls him, as well as enduring the mental corruption that comes with war. It encompasses the war at home, the wars within ones self, and the essence of the struggles of a country divided by politics.
The films end is worth the rental cost, and is the peak of the emotional mountain that these brothers embarked upon, putting all their differences aside. It's a beautiful film, and while it's more or less the Korean "Saving Private Ryan", there is a lot to set the two apart, considering the deeper personal connection I found in "Brotherhood".
Last edited by Cory Chaos on Feb 23rd, 2005 at 08:01 PM
Korea 1950 - War breaks out between communist North Korea and South Korea. Two brothers from the south end up being drafetd into the army and as the eldest makes up a commitment to do all he can to have his younger sibling be sent home unharmed and alive, War begins to transform him into a killing machine. As the spoils of war progress , the brothers start to change and they end up having to battle their inner conflicts.
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As both parties of soldiers from south and north korea , are all very young and drafted quickly into the army, the movie displays a lot of hand to hand combat with action at plenty from their bayonets. It gets gory in some parts.
Its a story of two brothers scarred by war , with their family thats been decimated by terrorised by both South and North Koreans. The eldest takes revenge on the south koreans by rebuking his medal of honor in exchange of a post in the commie army until he gets the same reputation of a killer he once got in his former ranks.
Blinded by hatred he knows none of his former people and does not recognise his brother until the final moment he decides to turn back on the North Koreans and accomplish his mission - To assure the survival of his younger brother.
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I rented this earlier from Blockbuster like a week or so ago...very powerful film. The first 20 mins dragged, but that's understandable since we have to see the brothers relationships, via flashback once the old man is notified of his next of kin's findings at the old battlefields.
Wonderfully crafted, and even though the camera work was almost artistically the same as Saving Private Ryan, it was wayyy more gorier...Had me on the edge the entire time. Once the action started it hardly stopped...and this movie is 2 hours and 20 mins in length....It was simply awesome. Easily two thumbs up.
Should've picked this up for $8 in Van City when i had the chance...
__________________ "Below courage there's nothing" "I will never let my comrades die"
I like the hand-held camera for war epics, and I know it's cliche, but it just works. Extras on that DVD were a little less than stellar, since they were mostly interviews, but what can ya do...?
always works that hand held camera ; recently i noticed the same in FMJ.
dunno if there was a connectiuon, but you know when Jin-Sek and Jin-Tao are talking to other soldiers just after having been drafted and one of the soldiers is surprised that both brothers have been enroled in. He says something along the lines of " They cant draft both of you ; who will carry on the family name? "
something similar to the reason why Pvt. Ryan should be saved in Spielberg's war Academy Award Winner.
All his 3 brothers have succumbed to war and he was the only one left.
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Deferrals get you nowhere - Just Do It.........Or Ineptitude will consume your life like a Cancer
In WW2 when brothers enlisted together...they could still fight....just not in the same unit. This prevented them from dying together in case their unit was taken out. Sort of a chance for their kin to return home, at least.
But ya...regarding the family honor, would Jin-Sek and Jin-Tao have been able to contest both of them going to war? Would they have allowed one to stay behind once their problem has been addressed?
__________________ "Below courage there's nothing" "I will never let my comrades die"
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Feb 23rd, 2005 07:59 PM
