Hijack 1971

Beware: this movie needs some time to get started and even the actual plane hijacking at first looks rather lame and uneventful, but this movie has a slow build up in suspsense and your patience willl be rewarded with a dramatic action packed final.

The good: leave it to the South Koreans to deliver another solid crime drama, they are masters at incorporating action AND drama and they pulll it off again.

Any bad? Dont expect fireworks, this is NOT a gungho action movie, but firstmost a DRAMA with really solid leading acting performances.

Based on a true story, which makes it even more impressive to watch...

Excellent hijack movie, very well made and well scripted. The plot was based on actual events, though the beginning was a little slow but it ended up with great thrill and intensity. Honestly this is one of the best Korean movies that one wouldn't regret seeing at the cinema, what I like about the movie is its tightly packed without much long drag and unrelated sidelines, unlike a lot of overrated boring flicks flooded with fake reviews and ratings. The actors' were all well acted and the setups were decent. The only issue is the CGI of the planes isn't at the highest quality that looked kind of fake which can be a bit more realistic, and some of the CG shots were a little too fast, but those were only minor flaws that didn't affect the overall integrity.

Hijack 1971 is a tightly executed thriller based on a real-life hijacking, told with sharp focus and simmering tension. While the setup is familiar, the film avoids melodrama and unnecessary flash, delivering a suspenseful narrative within the claustrophobic setting of a plane. Its controlled pacing and stripped-down style build to a strong emotional payoff. A fine example of economical storytelling, Hijack 1971 stands out as one of the more effective and disciplined thrillers in recent Korean cinema.

How 'Hijack 1971' builds the tension is freaking crazy. It is gradual and follows a step-by-step manual, and it makes sure that each step is impactful enough. I don't think I've watched this quality of action sequences happening in planes in Korean movies. The CGI effect is satisfactory as well. There are some weaknesses, but they are not about technology itself, but how the director uses it is too outdated. Slow motion right after the bomb exploded is just too cliche and even cringy. Also, there are some tear-jerking soap opera moments that hinders the focus of the audience because the director intends to focus not only on action but also on the story of each character. Even so, I get the intention, and I'm glad that 'Hijack 1971' is not about CGI pew-pew. Because of that story, the movie brings more reality and thus tension and thrill in the end.

What to say other than this is a solid movie with a solid plot and solid CGI and solid acting. However, for a Korean film, I thought it fell short in comparison to some of the greats. I mean, not every movie would be great, but Koreans are exceptional with the balance of comedy and tragedy. Many Korean movies really move the emotions, having you laugh in tears in the beginning and sobbing uncontrollably in the end.

The reason a lot of Korean films are losing their strength is because they're trying too hard to copy Hollywood. This film would be one of those and so the story seems generic and the dialogues just move the story along without making any real impact. As such the movie doesn't leave much of an impression.

I think a better writer could've made this movie great by going back to what they do best, comedy and tragedy.

6/10.