Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War (Taegukgi hwinalrimyeo (태극기 휘날리며) (2004)

Posted : 13 minutes, 19 seconds ago at Nov 22 7:06

''Jin-tae: [pulls out Jin-seok's pen that he lost] I found this in the fire. I've been holding onto this for you. Jin-seok: Give it to me... when I see you again.'' I wish this was all just a dream. I want to wake up in my bed, and over breakfast, I'd tell you that I had a strange dream. Then I would go to school, and you and mom would go to work. Early, one Sunday Morning, in late June of the year 1950, was the beginning of a terrible turbulent conflict that would rip a people apart. Thousands of casualties, a whole unity of a nation being the biggest of all. Korea, a country still plagued by a guilty past, divided even to this day. Told through the eyes of Jin-tae Lee, played by Dong-Kun Jang and younger brother Jin-seok Lee played by Bin Won , who go to ...Read more

Rating : 10/10

Posted : 1 year, 2 months ago at Sep 2 6:34

After seeing this in Asda for less than £10 I was instantly drawn to it due to my unassailable desire to watch every single war film ever made and my love of a cheap DVD. This bargain stuck out like a Commie in a Nazi rally. After a few minutes of setting the scene with the customary happy home life of the brothers and the habitual flash forward which is almost a guarantee in any mediocre war film since Pearl Harbour, I did not have too greater hope for the usually generic and predictable plot these films almost always offer. However this is where the story started to unfold and as soon as the Brothers are drafted and forced into battle it is clear that this is no two a penny 'shoot em up' making a quick buck from the tragedy of war. The battle scenes are as bloody and as brutal as...Read more

Rating : 10/10

Posted : 1 year, 2 months ago at Aug 24 20:06

Two brothers are press-ganged into the South Korean army to defend their country from the invading North Koreans. The elder of the two feels it his duty to protect the younger, and do what he can to ensure they both get home safely but in doing so becomes brutalised by the war and loses his humanity. An outstanding film that vividly depicts the horror of war and the effects it has on combatants and civilians alike. The combat scenes in the trenches especially convey the sheer brutality. Impacting artillery shells, exploding bodies, desperate hand-to-hand combat are all graphically portrayed. The blood spatters on the camera lens adds to the realism too! Then there's the sense of futility that the film carries through it, how death becomes normal and killing an everyday occurence. Fam...Read more

Rating : 10/10

Posted : 1 year, 5 months ago at Jun 6 9:28

A friend recommended this film to me as one i had to watch, and i am extremely glad he did. The story itself is beautiful, the way it portrays the love of a brother for his younger sibling and how he will go to any length to protect him. The props and settings used for the film are excellent, making it a very convincing story which holds no punches in opening your eyes to the horrors of war. This film left me feeling extremely thankful that i have never had to fight in a war and likely never will, especially a trench war as horrific as this one! It also left me feeling sad i will never get to feel that kind of brotherly bond, as i only have a sister. This film is a definite must for all, and i cant imagine it ever getting a bad review/rating as it hits every single button correctly and d...Read more

Rating : 10/10

Posted : 2 years, 9 months ago at Feb 11 11:45

I thought this film was outstanding. The combat scenes were choreographed brilliantly and it was extremely intense seeing most of the fighting carried out with fists and bayonets rather than just long range shooting. It seemed far more brutal and realistic that way. The budget must have been pretty high and it's competent use of CGI surprised me, considering this isn't a big-money Hollywood spectacular. The film follows the story of two brothers who are both accidentally drafted into the South Korean Army following the invasion by their northern counterparts. The elder then constantly takes on increasingly difficult missions in order to get a promotion that will ensure the sage passage of his younger sibling back home. During this time, his persona changes and as the war rages on, he...Read more

Rating : 9/10