I recently watched an excellent movie about the Korean War from the South Korean Army's perspective. The movie, "Tae Guk Gi", revolves around two brothers who are pressed into service in the opening days of the North's invasion. The story is wonderfully complex and provides the viewer with a fair understanding of the complexities (personal and political) faced by the South Korean soldiers.

The cinematography has that "Saving Private Ryan" feel to it and the combat scenes make the first 20 minutes of Private Ryan seem tame in comparison. Tae Guk Gi is three hours long, and is in sub-titles,but the story is fast paced and keeps you involved.

It's excellent if you have surround sound.

Best Wishes
Steve

I think the only US Korean war movies are Bridges at Toko-Ri, Pork Chop hill, and Sayornara. And they are real old

With that, it really puts the "Forgotten War" into perspective huh?

I wish they would make a few movies about that war. I think the problem is, that it does not have the "glamour" of WWII or the controversy of Vietnam. And that, I find astounding. I think they could make a hell of a movie regarding the Pusan Perimeter or the Frozen Chosin...I'm more than certain that there are stories worthy of repeating from that war. And, those guy's deserve their story to be told.


Dismounting soap box.

Don't forget Inchon...Doug MacArthur's genious at work. I think Chosin would be great, but Hollywood did that type in one of their early Bastogne pictures (can't remember the name) and the depiction of Pusan would be too close to Pork Chop Hill for Hollywoods taste, but Inchon with the intricate planning and timing and then atching it unfold might be a good story to attract more than us war buffs

I'm ashamed to admit it, but my knowledge of Korea is limited. Most of my work was with the B-29s in WWII and it carried over into the Korean War. I've been slowly adding to my Korean collection and knowledge, yet as the saying goes...I've long row to hoe. So essentially it's spotty and revolves around specific units.



Hmmm. we should discuss MacArthur's genious sometime. I'm not so certain I'm sold on it.

There should be no doubt that if you are interested in war movies (and I am pretty sure that everyone here is) then you should put this DVD into your player and watch it.

Very powerful....it had me in tears by the end. And I didn't even cry in first grade when we watched "Old Yeller".

I have to agree - Tae Guk Gi was a great movie. Really great story, rent the DVD or On Demand cable - it's worth a look.

I've got the movie as well and I love it!

Very good and good for some diorama ideas! :-)

Martin

yes, this is a great movie.

Over here in Singapore, it's named "Brotherhood".

Only thing is, weird that i didn't see any T-34s in the North's army.

Finally got around to watching it -- with the exception of the crappy CGI'd Corsairs, and the whole final part, it is a good movie. I think it tracked very well until the final battle when I thought the whole attack on the Flag Unit, the rescue, the reconciliation, the sacrifice were a bit overdone -- the same story could have been told with a bit more plausible sequence.

Many of the scenes of civilian life, soldiers, food, equipment, etc, tracked very well with what I have seen in several Korean museums -- I have no doubt that many older Koreans 50-60 & up had some problems watching the movie due to memories brought back.

Steve mentioned 3 US Korean War movies; here are the ones I can recall:

All the Young Men
Battle Circus
Battle Hymn
Bridges at Toko-Ri
MASH
McConnell Story
Men in War
Men of the Fighting Lady
Pork Chop Hill

I have the ROK Army history of the war, in 3 volumes, Univ of Nebraska Press, but haven't gotten started on it yet. I kinda wanted to read them with a US Army, US Marines, and a couple general histories so I could compare the "view" of events ....

John

Hmmmm, I think I may just have to check this one out...how old is the film?...ie when did it come out....just curious.

Thanks for making me aware of this...it sounds good from you are saying.

Eddie

Eddie: Taegukgi was produced in 2004.